By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

FREE National Movement Leader Dr Hubert Minnis yesterday advised MICAL MP V Alfred Gray not to be “arrogant” about the judicial interference allegations against him, saying the embattled MP should remember that the Bahamian people have the final say on the matter.

Dr Minnis told The Tribune it was voters who elected Mr Gray and they have the power to ensure that he no longer has a seat in the House of Assembly.

He said Mr Gray should now formulate his resignation letter along with offering an apology to the Bahamian people.

Dr Minnis was responding to Mr Gray’s comment on Monday that he would have “the last say” following the investigation into allegations that he used his position of power to help free a man in Mayaguana who was convicted and sentenced to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services.

“I want Gray to know that the people put him there and they can surely take him out,” Dr Minnis said when contacted yesterday.

“Mr Gray should address the nation, apologise for calling the magistrate and offer his immediate resignation from the post of minister for agriculture and marine resources. If he doesn’t then Prime Minister Perry Christie should step up to the plate and fire him.”

Dr Minnis again stressed that if Mr Christie fails to remove Mr Gray from his Cabinet then the prime minister should also be terminated.

“The prime minister must now strengthen himself so he can present the image of a leader. Mr Christie as chief executive officer of this country is showing that he is indecisive because making a decision on Gray should have been easy.”

Last week lawyer Wayne Munroe, QC, confirmed to this newspaper that he was retained by Mr Gray to offer legal advice over the judicial interference allegations.

Mr Munroe added that the MICAL MP has also been seeking advice on whether there are grounds for defamation of character lawsuits following numerous reports about the controversy featured in the media.

Police are looking into allegations that Mr Gray abused his power by contacting Mayaguana Administrator Zephaniah Newbold about a 19-year-old man convicted on the island and sentenced to a three-month prison term by the administrator.

According to Acting Deputy Commissioner Anthony Ferguson, police investigations are continuing into the matter. He said on Monday that authorities had yet to interview Mr Gray.

The FNM has alleged that shortly after Mr Gray’s conversation, Administrator Newbold released the teenager in question, Jaquan Charlton, days after he had convicted him.

Mr Gray has previously confirmed that he did contact Mr Newbold, but has strongly denied that he attempted to sway the course of justice. He has reportedly said that he only contacted Mr Newbold to let him know that he had the option of granting bail in the matter, as an appeal had, according to Mr Gray, been filed.

However, it was reported that the administrator released the 19-year-old after an “order” came. It was claimed that the was not released on bail.

Last month, Mr Christie revealed that Mr Gray invited him to relieve him of his post as minister of local government pending the outcome of the police probe. However, he is still minister of agriculture and marine resources.