The Tribune

By RICARDO WELLS

Tribune Staff Reporter

rwells@tribunemedia.net

FORMER FNM Deputy Leader Brent Symonette yesterday questioned State Minister for Legal Affairs Damian Gomez’s motivation to speak out against corruption and deficiencies in politics.

Mr Symonette, former minister of foreign affairs and immigration, said he does not believe that Mr Gomez is whole-heartedly working on behalf of the Bahamian public with comments he has raised in recent weeks. He also said that based on public comments from the Central and South Eleuthera MP, Mr Gomez should do the right thing and leave Cabinet.

Mr Gomez told the Nassau Guardian on Sunday that he intends to seek leave from a judge to file Election Court petitions against Free National Movement Leader Hubert Minnis and FNM Long Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner alleging that both parliamentarians are in violation of the Article 49 of the Constitution – a section with respect to conflict of interest.

Mrs Butler-Turner has strongly denied this claim and threatened to sue Mr Gomez for defamation of character. Dr Minnis has also said his lawyer is reviewing the matter.

This came a week after Mr Gomez told a local daily that the government is not being serious about battling outright corruption by serving politicians.

Mr Gomez has maintained that as a result of political corruption, the public perception is that the government does not take the matter seriously.

In addition to that, Mr Gomez said that to date, no administration has shown that it was serious about dealing with corruption in Bahamian politics.

According to Mr Symonette, the motives behind the hardline stance have to be brought in to question.

“Something is off with this matter,” the former deputy prime minister said when contacted by The Tribune.

“Crime, economic issues, mounting unemployment and this is what they (the government) want to spend time on – we have all sorts of things going on in this country and this is what they want to the public to focus on?”

“While his anti-corruption stance is commendable, it gives the impression that there are deeper issues here.

“(Prime Minister Perry) Christie doesn’t have control of his Cabinet. The move to vacate the two seats is a frivolous waste of time, pure desperation. A desperate attempt – what do they want – they are wasting time and money,” he added.

Mr Symonette stated that with all the points raised by Mr Gomez over the past two weeks, he and persons with similar thoughts would do everything in their power to distance themselves from corruption claims.

“With these issues (Mr Gomez) is pointing to, why hasn’t he resigned? Well he did to some extent – he said the prime minister didn’t accept it. I cry foul,” he said.

“Why hasn’t he resigned? Look at his comments, look at what he is alleging. I mean if these things are occurring in a Cabinet of which he is a part of, why is he still there?

“Get up, walk out and give up your plate. That is what Mr Gomez should do instead of making it seem as if he is completely shocked and appalled by the politics. His continuing presence in the Christie Cabinet makes it seem that he is complicit and talking not for a resolution – just to talk.”

Speculation that Mr Gomez would leave Cabinet began earlier this year, after reports surfaced in January that he was unhappy that his constituency was not being developed.

In April, it was reported that Mr Gomez gave his resignation letter to Mr Christie, however the prime minister did not accept it. Mr Gomez reportedly then asked to be transferred to another ministry, so as to avoid the appearance of conflict after the files of a group of men he represented while in private practice could not be located by the Office of the Attorney General. The men are facing extradition to the United States.

However, Mr Gomez has not been transferred.