Case of Alaska Repub's alleged corruption has international implications.

[JohnyCanuck]

Seems that the VECO corporation,currently building a new prison (among other projects) in Barbados, has a track record of sleazy behavior, bribing politicians etc. This latest Republican corruption scandal involves some Alaskan politicians, one of whom, namely former House speaker Pete Kott, apparently thought an appropriate reward for selling out Alaska's taxpayers to VECO would be a plum assignment as warden in VECO's new prison in sunny and warm Barbados in the Caribbean. I am sure he'd miss the opportunities to go snowshoeing, dog sledding and ice fishing, but the year round sailing, golfing and days off spent relaxing under the palm trees on tropical beaches while sipping on exotic drinks with little umbrellas in them would no doubt go a long way to make up for that.

JUNEAU, Alaska -- For several thousand dollars and other promises, an Alaska legislator and two former lawmakers threw their support behind a tax scheme and a natural gas pipeline plan that would have benefited an oil services company, prosecutors said.

SNIP

Kohring was charged with extortion, attempted extortion, bribery and conspiracy, according to a federal grand jury indictment unsealed Friday. Kott and Weyhrauch each entered their pleas to four counts, including conspiracy to commit extortion, extortion, bribery and fraud. If convicted of all charges, each of the men could face up to 55 years in prison and a $1 million fine.

Prosecutors allege the three were involved in a scheme that unfolded as lawmakers weighed a new petroleum profits tax structure and a contract for a natural gas pipeline last year.

Kott, the former House speaker, explicitly said during a teleconference with company officials that he would support the pipeline and the company's preferred version of the tax proposal if he was made warden of a prison the company was building in the Caribbean, according to the indictment.

"You'll get your gas line, the governor gets his bill, and I'll get my job in Barbados," he told company executives, the indictment states.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/05/AR2007050500223.html

Of course the locals in Barbados are now wondering in light of VECO's track record and somewhat dubious historical connections with US politicans and some past questionable behavior by their own politicians what er, um..."incentives" might have been offered Barbadian politicians to get this new prison building contract for which there was apparently no tendering process.

VECO Corporation Heavily Involved With Barbados Politicians, Government Projects

Breaking News: On Friday, May 4, 2007, American politicians and businessmen were indicted in a bribery scheme involving VECO Corporation, a company that is heavily involved with the Barbados government and various Barbados politicians and business people. VECO’s Barbados projects include the oil terminal and pipeline, and the building of the new prison.

At least one of the arrested Alaska politicians was secretly recorded by the FBI in conversations where he spoke about receiving a position with VECO’s Barbados prison operations. As there are hundreds of hours of police recordings, there is no doubt that further Barbados revelations will occur at the trial.

This Is A Big Story - And It Will Get Bigger

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VECO Corporation and it’s wholly owned subsidiary Commonwealth Construction were the primary contractors on the Barbados Terminal and Pipeline project, and the (then) “$120 Million” new Barbados jail.

The company has often been criticized for having a corporate culture of unethical behaviour, bribes and undermining democracy. (Obviously, the American Federal Bureau of Investigation would probably agree with that statement.)

If VECO Corporation has acted unethically on their home turf of Alaska, one has to wonder what they might be guilty of in a foreign country like Barbados.

http://barbadosfreepress.wordpress.com/2007/05/05/breaking-news-us-politicians-indicted-for-takingarranging-bribes-in-veco-scandal-involves-new-barbados-prison

[Blue_In_AK]

1. Ah, the plot thickens....

This is going to get GOOD. Kott's a jerk, I'm glad they got him. Now I want to see VECO's Bill Allen in handcuffs, and little Ben Stevens, who was Senate president at the time all this wheeling and dealing was going on, who's in it up to his neck.

Politics in Alaska is SO MUCH FUN.

[Erika]

2. GOP ethics. Screw Americans

This makes me so angry.

[JohnyCanuck]

3. Looks like they're quite happy to screw other nationalities besides Americans

They're an equal opportunity screwer.