The Tribune

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

FREE National Movement Leader Dr Hubert Minnis yesterday insisted that his party will be unrelenting in its calls for the full resignation of MICAL MP V Alfred Gray from the Cabinet post of minister of agriculture and marine resources over his alleged interference in the court case of a resident from his Mayaguana constituency.

Speaking to reporters, Dr Minnis said the failure of Prime Minister Perry Christie to terminate Mr Gray from his Cabinet would be a blatant assault on the independence of the judiciary.

He insisted that no Cabinet minister had the right to call a magistrate to give any kind of advice or instructions on how to exercise their power as a member of the judiciary. Dr Minnis said Mr Gray’s actions have brought the administration of justice in the Bahamas into disrepute.

The comments came during a press conference outside the Ministry of Agriculture where Dr Minnis was flanked by scores of party MPs and supporters while police officers guarded the building’s main entrance.

Dr Minnis said: “The FNM will do whatever is necessary. This will be a twin delivery. Alfred Gray today and after that baby is born completely (and) not halfway then (Deputy Prime Minister Philip) ‘Brave’ Davis will be delivered.”

“What is necessary to be done will be done, but Alfred Gray will not sit as a Cabinet minister, not in that Parliament. Democracy will prevail.”

Dr Minnis said the accusations against Mr Gray are “threatening our livelihood”.

He said: “Can you imagine the message you are sending out to the world? Why would you want to invest here and invest in a country where politicians (allegedly) interfere with the judiciary?

“Therefore those who are making this country unsafe must go because they are a danger to your livelihood, my livelihood, my kids’ livelihood and your kids’ future.”

Progressive Liberal Party Chairman Bradley Roberts yesterday criticised the FNM saying the party must respect due process.

Mr Roberts said it was “disgraceful” that Dr Minnis and his parliamentary colleagues continue to show contempt for the principle of process. He said their continuous protests have contaminated the investigative process and “perverts” the course of justice for purely political means.

“I am here not to defend Minister V Alfred Gray,” Mr Roberts said, “but to defend the principle of due process in dispensing justice. Ignoring calls by the attorney general to refrain from commentary on a matter under active police investigation, Dr Hubert Minnis and his parliamentary colleagues continue to show contempt for the principle of due process as they seek to wilfully contaminate the investigative process and pervert the course of justice for purely political means. This is disgraceful. Dr Minnis knows better and stands condemned.”

Mr Roberts went on to accuse Dr Minnis of standing idly by when he was a Cabinet minister under the previous Ingraham administration when other ministers found themselves in controversy.

He urged Bahamians to ignore Dr Minnis and not to rush to judgment.

Mr Gray has been the subject of immense criticism since the FNM accused him of abusing his power after he contacted Administrator Zephaniah Newbold nearly two weeks ago about a man convicted in Mayaguana and sentenced to a prison term.

Although Mr Gray has confirmed that he did contact the island administrator, he has strongly denied that he in any way attempted to sway the course of justice.

He has said he only advised the administrator that he had the option of granting bail, since an appeal had been filed.

However, according to media reports Mr Newbold, who is the local magistrate on the island, said he released the convicted youth outright “after an order came forth.” He said the young man was not on bail as Mr Gray had claimed.

The differences in accounts are being looked at by the Royal Bahamas Police Force.

Last week, Mr Christie said Mr Gray requested that the local government portfolio be transferred to another minister pending the outcome of the police investigation. It was transferred to Financial Services Minister Hope Strachan.