The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Perry Christie’s leadership has come into question over his delay concerning the resignation of V Alfred Gray from Cabinet following allegations of judicial interference.

Mr Gray, the MP for MICAL and Minister of Agriculture, is accused of using his position to have a man in his constituency freed following conviction and sentencing.

The Free National Movement believes that Mr Gray’s Cabinet post would conflict with the police investigations into allegations against him and has called for his resignation.

Michael Pintard, the party’s chairman, yesterday noted that Mr Gray remaining on as minister in the Christie administration highlights the weakness of the Prime Minister’s leadership and sends a wrong message to the public.

“The FNM called for an investigation into the action of Mr Gray … because we wish to determine in a very transparent way whether additional punishment was warranted in the case of the minister,” said the FNM chairman.

“We believe prior to any investigation that there was sufficient information in the public domain, and Mr Gray’s own comments were sufficient to warrant his resignation or being fired.”

Mr Pintard said that Mr Christie has again delayed making a tough decision. “It is taking entirely too long to address this issue. There are so many serious matters that government can turn its attention to, and each day Mr Gray remains he continues to serve as a distraction to the government’s agenda, which is not working properly.”

Mr Pintard believes that the incident should force legislators to look at ending the practice of an Island Administrator functioning in dual capacity as magistrates and administrators. He said such practice lends itself to the kind of confusion and undue influence witnessed in the Gray affair.

“We must amend the relevant legislation in order to create a clear separation in our Family Islands between the Judiciary and the Executive branch. We may need to go to a system of itinerant magistrates that can work, and a number of the matters being adjudicated in the Family Islands are of sufficient complexity that requires trained persons in law in those positions,” he said.

Mr Christie has said that 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.