The Tribune

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

NATIONAL Security Minister Dr Bernard Nottage was yesterday on the defensive following demands from the FNM for answers over which government official authorised a wedding of a man being held at the Central Police station.

On Tuesday, Deputy Leader Loretta Butler-Turner insisted that “heads should roll” over the incident after Police Commissioner Ellison Greenslade said an Assistant Superintendent was facing charges with respect to this matter.

That senior official could be dismissed as a result, while three other junior officers involved have returned to work.

Mrs Butler-Turner said she was assured from police sources that it was State Minister of National Security Keith Bell who authorised the wedding.

However, when The Tribune questioned Dr Nottage about the matter, he said the claims were “foolish”. He warned that if this reporter wanted the interview to continue such questions should not be asked.

“No executive,” Dr Nottage said, “in the Ministry of National Security can sanction such an act.”

It was then clarified that by “executive”, Mrs Butler-Turner was referring to either the Minister of National Security, or his Minister of State.

To that, Dr Nottage replied: “If you want to have a good interview with me you would not talk foolishness.

“Loretta is looking for headlines, but she won’t get one through this minister.”

On March 9, 35-year-old Kendrick Tinker of Freeport, Grand Bahama, was allowed to marry his fiancée in the Central Police Station in downtown Nassau.

In speaking to The Tribune on Tuesday, Mrs Butler-Turner claimed that she was advised that the authorisation came from Mr Bell after the Commissioner of Police made it clear that he would not support a marriage at Central Station.

“From the top, the executives of government, because my understanding is that the Commissioner was side-stepped and his instructions were gone against,” Mrs. Turner Butler had said.

“This whole situation smacks of the way that this administration has governed and specialises in cover-ups.

“Quite frankly heads must roll in this government. They are out of control because there are too many things that they are doing that goes against good governance,” she claimed.

Attempts were made to contact Mr Bell, however up to press time they were unsuccessful.