The Tribune

By DANA SMITH

Tribune Staff Reporter

dsmith@tribunemedia.net

FNM leader Hubert Minnis said he will now push for the passage of the Freedom of Information Act, in the aftermath of leaked documents detailing abuse done to Cuban detainees at the detention centre by Defence Force officers, so that such information cannot be withheld.

Dr Minnis said he was “not surprised” by the context of the documents – which included a young marine admitting to punching, kicking, and beating unresisting Cuban detainees with a stick, on the instructions of superiors.

“The facts and truth always speaks for itself,” Dr Minnis said. “The facts have now come out, the facts now speak for itself.”

He said the FNM party will continue to watch the situation and he is certain the Bahamian people “will have their eyes open” as well, following the leak.

“That is why it is very important for us to have the Freedom of Information Act so the public and press could know what’s going on and none can withhold information,” Dr Minnis continued.

“This FNM, we will be pushing to ensure that Christie and those bring forth the Freedom of Information Act because we believe in transparency, accountability, and integrity. We believe in honesty... We cannot live in a cloud of darkness any more.”

The Killarney MP added: “Our former prime minister Hubert Ingraham had freed the airways and brought about transparency and we want to continue that legacy. We want to continue to move forward.”

It was last week, prior to the leak, that Dr Minnis had said his party discovered a “major cover-up” and detailed how the FNM found out about an attempted escape from the detention centre by Cuban detainees.

He called on the government to release the “full and unedited” reports of all investigations that had been conducted to date into Cuban detainees at the Carmichael Road Detention Centre.

He also called on Prime Minister Perry Christie to fire Foreign Minister Fred Mitchell from his Cabinet.

“Despite becoming aware that a serious instance of abuse had taken place, the Minister of Foreign Affairs has continued to use well-chosen language to mislead the public,” the party leader had said.

“Minister Mitchell continued to use strong, combative and undiplomatic language intended to deflect attention from the underlying legitimacy of the issue raised by the demonstrators. He had multiple opportunities to tell the Bahamian people and the international community the full truth of what had transpired. Instead, he has chosen to engage in a full-fledged cover-up.”

In response, Mr Mitchell had said at the time that he did not know how many times he had to tell the Opposition that an investigation was still continuing into the matter and when it is done the government will follow the results of the investigation.

The prime minister also responded, stating the government had nothing to hide in getting to the bottom of what had happened at the centre. Mr Christie also said he wished the probe into the claims had happened sooner because the country was “suffering” as a result of it.