The Tribune

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

MICAL MP V Alfred Gray yesterday insisted that he would never knowingly break the laws of the country as he defended himself following the Free National Movement’s attempts to stop him from speaking in the House of Assembly.

His comments marked the first time he referred to allegations of judicial interference – involving a case with an island administrator and one of his constituents – since the Office of the Attorney General decided not to press charges in the matter.

Mr Gray said he was thankful that the situation was over and that he could move on with his life, suggesting that he was confident in the outcome of the case because he had done nothing wrong.

“I could never ever break the law knowingly. I will never do it. Never ever,” Mr Gray said.

“I don’t want to go into anything. I’ll stop there. I just thank God because I know if the matter is over and they (are) behaving like that could you imagine what they planned for me If they were the government,” he said, referring to the FNM. “Mr Speaker it is not thinkable that God would put me in their hands.

“You just think about what justice might be and it is my view, Mr Speaker, that they were never ever interested in justice. They wanted me, no matter what the situation turned out to be.”

He added that the FNM likely thought if the party could silence him it would be a “big prize.”

“But, Mr Speaker, he who God keeps is well kept and I stand on His promise. When you do nothing, you fear nothing. That is my position then and that is my position now and I just thank God that it is behind me. My life is going on with or without them.”

Mr Gray went on to thank his wife, children, colleagues and friends for their “prayerful support”.

Earlier this year the FNM alleged that Mr Gray interfered in the course of justice when he contacted Mayaguana Administrator Zephaniah Newbold after the official convicted and sentenced 19-year-old Jaquan Charlton.

Mr Newbold ordered the teen to serve a three-month prison sentence for assaulting a police officer. Shortly after Mr Gray telephoned Mr Newbold, the magistrate ordered the teen’s release – even though he had been sentenced days earlier.

Mr Newbold later alleged that he felt threatened by Mr Gray to release the teen, something Mr Gray denied.

After a police investigation, the Office of the Attorney General decided not to proceed with charges, citing a “conflicting nature of evidence”.

During the evening session of Parliament, the opposition refused to allow Mr Gray to speak. They protested by loudly banging their desk in a bid to prevent the MICAL MP from making his contribution to the 2015/2016 budget debate.

This led to FNM Leader Dr Hubert Minnis, St Anne’s MP Hubert Chipman, and Central Grand Bahama MP Neko Grant’s suspension from yesterday’s evening House session.

Mr Gray was able to make his contribution after the Speaker ordered the members of the opposition, who were present, to leave the House.