The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.

On May 12, 2012, Rt Hon Perry Christie announced his Cabinet and the matter was gazetted officially. It is interesting to read carefully the wording of that announcement, as it directly affects the correct decision, which if not the Prime Minister should have taken, certainly Mr Gray should have.

CONSTITUTION OF THE BAHAMAS

ALLOCATION OF PORTFOLIOS

It is announced for general information that Her Excellency, The Governor-General, acting under the provisions of Article 77 of The Constitution, has charged the Ministers whose names appear in the first column of the Schedule hereto, and who are designated as appear in said column, with the responsibility for matters or groups of matters set out against their names, in the second column of the Schedule and for the Department of Government set out in the third column.

The Charges take affect on May 14, 2012.

The Hon V Alfred Gray, MP, Minister of Agriculture, Marine Resources and Local Government.

So Mr Gray was charged and sworn-in with ministerial responsibilities covering “groups of matters” not three single charges, one charge but three responsibilities.

If Mr Gray breached any of the required ministerial protocols, in his management of the group of Charges given to him by the Prime Minister and sworn the oath to uphold to the Governor-General, then Mr Gray has only one decent thing to do – resign.

No Prime Minister should be satisfied with what has seemingly happened, Mr Gray has recognised that he possibly breached ministerial protocol in “one-account” so in him incredible judgment can offer his resignation, temporary seemingly from that and continue as the de facto Minister of the two remaining Charges of the three given on his appointment.

Constitutionally the Governor-General can legally intervene and require Mr. Gray to resign totally, but we will never see that although there are many precedents in the Commonwealth.

We will make a further mockery of The Constitution, whilst Mr Christie wishes to amend it through a Referendum that he requires to be a sure-thing, as he will not proceed without a unanimous acceptance by all 38 MPs - I suggest such a referendum in the broadest sense of any interpretation is void, as the eventual outcome is known before a single vote is cast, or hopefully for Mr Christie. We recall Mr Hubert Ingraham thought the same and had to smart on the decisive vote against every measure on the ballot and eventually the loss at the immediate next Election Poll.

Mr V Alfred Gray do the right thing and resign. Your appointment is for a single Ministerial position, not three.

W THOMPSON,

Nassau,

March 27, 2015.