The Tribune

DESPITE yesterday’s calls for the prosecution of Defence Force officers responsible for a brutal assault on Cuban detainees – and demands for his own resignation – Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell failed to address the confession of four marines and the publication of evidence implicating several others.

Instead, Mr Mitchell remained silent until 4pm yesterday when he issued a long statement which, after digressing into an attack on his predecessor Brent Symonette, blamed the FNM for the leak of documents and called on the opposition party to apologise.

Mr Mitchell went on to repeat his claim that speaking about an ongoing investigation could affect its outcome.

However, he again failed to explain exactly how a non-specific admission that a beating did in fact take place – a fact which, according to official Defence Force documents, has been known to investigators since August 2 – could possibly have affected the result of the case.

Mr Mitchell also failed to say why, after the investigation is wrapped up, it is necessary for the matter to be reviewed by a retired judge and a senior clergyman, as opposed to being forwarded directly to the criminal justice system for prosecution.

He has also yet to name the judge and pastor.

In his statement yesterday, Mr Mitchell begins by claiming Mr Symonette remained silent when the conditions at the Detention Centre were called into question during his tenure.

“We are constrained again to point out that those, like the FNM, who are busy leaking documents whose authenticity and accuracy cannot be vouched for, must bear the responsibility at the end of the day if the inquiry into this matter is compromised by what they have done.

“There are clear legal principles at stake here,” he said, failing however to outline these.

“By its reckless behaviour, it is the FNM that seeks to damage the reputation of the Bahamas, to jeopardise this ongoing investigation and to put our public safety at risk, all in the name of politics.

“The FNM, the leakers and the Miami protectors should give a full, contrite and unqualified apology for their irresponsible actions aimed at defaming the international reputation of the Bahamas,” Mr Mitchell said.

He reiterated that the Christie administration had not concealed any information.

“We have nothing to hide. Time will not dim the truth. The chips will fall where they may. This is a law enforcement issue; the government of the Bahamas does not condone the abuse of detainees or wards of the state and will investigate and take appropriate actions where specific claims of abuse are made.

“No amount to posturing, political bluster and diatribe from the FNM or the protectors will deter or distract this government from its constitutional responsibility of ensuring the prevalence of the rule of law.”

When the story broke yesterday, angry Bahamians took to the internet to demand action.

Jeff Lloyd wrote: “Minister Fred Mitchell, either you fire somebody for the embarrassment that the mistreatment of detainees at the DC has caused us, or, you please resign.”

Nationbuilder said: “Tell us the exact law you claim has been broken in the PUBLIC receiving or the press reporting on a document produced by PUBLIC officers on PUBLIC time with PUBLIC funds by the PUBLIC’s Defence Force who are paid with PUBLIC funds and whose head takes directives from the elected PUBLIC servants (the politicians in power). Tell us the exact law on the books that has been broken – not your personal opinions or feelings – simply the actual and exact law, statute and section.”

Tap said: “Fred Mitchell is having the biggest governmental scandal/debacle in the Bahamas of all time.”

Guyfawkes8 wrote: “When this whole incident started, I had no intention to comment as this was a whole sad state of affairs. However, whether you are PLP or FNM you should not condone the ill treatment of detainees in the Bahamas.

“The government from the start of this ordeal treated it with total missteps. Instead of attacking everyone that dared to contradict their authority, should have simply stated what they knew to be the whole truth and as Minister Mitchell said let the chips fall where they may.

“But in a truly brutish fashion, the foreign minister tried to silence every critic, even claiming Her Majesty’s Loyal opposition of siding the enemies of the Bahamas. To this day I still can’t fully understand who these enemies are, as we have worked in amnesty with the USA, Cuba and Cuban Americans.”

Andrew Thompson wrote: “On May 7, 2004, United States Secretary of Defence Donald Rumsfeld stated in a hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee: ‘These events occurred on my watch. As secretary of defence, I am accountable for them. I take full responsibility. It is my obligation to evaluate what happened, to make sure those who have committed wrongdoing are brought to justice, and to make changes as needed to see that it doesn’t happen again.

‘I feel terrible about what happened to these Iraqi detainees. They are human beings. They were in US custody. Our country had an obligation to treat them right. We didn’t do that. That was wrong. To those Iraqis who were mistreated by members of US armed forces, I offer my deepest apology. It was un-American. And it was inconsistent with the values of our nation.’

“This is what true accountability and public decorum should have been. I am no fan of Don Rumsfeld but when this story broke, and these were Prisoners of WAR, not immigration detainees, this was his response and THIS is why the responsible MINISTER(S) should resign their posts, end of story.”

Peter T Carey wrote: “There is word that a senior PLP has asked that Fred be removed in the quickest, soonest, quietest and compassionate way as possible.”