The Tribune

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

Photo Gallery

Read excerpts and see images from the Cuban abuse investigation documents

FOLLOWING Dr Bernard Nottage’s failure to fulfil his promise and release details of the investigation into claims of abuse at the Carmichael Road Detention Centre early this week, Prime Minister Perry Christie yesterday assured the press an announcement will come soon.

Meanwhile, Dr Nottage’s commitment to release “bits and pieces” of the probe was itself a retreat from the position asserted by Minister of Foreign Affairs Fred Mitchell, who promised to release the entire report, along with a report into the detention centre conducted by the former government in 2009.

Following these contradictory statements, it remains unclear when the record will officially be set straight, with Mr Christie yesterday failing to give a definite time frame for results to be released.

“I think we have to make decisions, with respect to the Dentition Centre and how it is operated,” Mr Christie said before. “But as I have indicated before, governments never never commit themselves to abusive behaviour. It is not what we do in the Bahamas and most certainly we expect the Defence Force and whatever other inquires we make, to reach a conclusion on it shortly so that the country could see exactly what we have done.”

Miami-based Cuban Exile group leader Ramon Sanchez told The Tribune that while Mr Christie’s words are good news, he had expected to receive word yesterday that the full government report was already released.

“We were thinking that the Bahamas government would have already at least said something. But as long as they fully release the report it would be OK,” he said.

“Our main concern is that there has been a lot of back and forth over this situation. I have never seen a government that says yes and no at the same time so much.”

The Prime Minister has yet to answer a number of questions that The Tribune sought to put to him recently.

The Tribune had hoped to put the following questions to the Prime Minister:

• Why are both the Defence Force and Immigration refusing to investigate a claim of rape at the Detention Centre?

• Would you commit to assuring an investigation takes place if the claims are forwarded to your office?

• Who is Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell referring to when he speaks of “enemies of the Bahamas”?

• Do these enemies include prominent US congressman Marco Rubio?

• Do you think this is language appropriate for a minister of your government to be using and do you support his sentiments?

• Do you support your Foreign Minister 100 per cent?

• What is your comment on the recent spate of murders?

• The PLP vowed to reduce crime if elected. A year and a half on, the murder rate is just two less than at this point in 2012, and attempted murders are up. Has the government failed to live up to its promises?

• How do you react to shooting of the brother of Bamboo Town MP Renward Wells, considering that police have suggested that most murder victims are criminals known to police?