The Tribune

By SANCHESKA BROWN

Tribune Staff Reporter

sbrown@tribunemedia.net

OPPOSITION Leader Dr Hubert Minnis yesterday called for the immediate resignation of Minister of National Security Keith Bell for his “personal assault” on Commissioner of Police Ellison Greensalde and the “entire membership of the Royal Bahamas Police Force”.

Dr Minnis said Mr Bell’s comments were disrespectful and disturbing, especially at a time when “residents are living in fear” and the blood of Bahamians “stain our streets”.

Last week, Mr Bell suggested that Mr Greenslade is failing to carry out the government’s crime fighting initiatives and indicated that it may be time for new leadership in the Royal Bahamas Police Force.

Dr Minnis reassured Commissioner Greenslade and all of “his officers” that they have a friend in him and the Free National Movement (FNM).

“I wish to remind Commissioner Greenslade and all of his fine officers that they have a friend in me, the present leader of the opposition, who supports the great sacrifice that the Royal Bahamas Police Force continues to make to keep our Bahamas safe,” Dr Minnis said in a statement. “Comments attributed to State Minister for National Security Keith Bell published on the front page of a local daily on November 20, represent a striking disconnect between the government and its law enforcement agencies.

“The State Minister’s comments also serve as disrespectful and an offensive characterisation of the hard and dedicated work being carried out by the leadership and entire membership of the Royal Bahamas Police Force. Bell suggested in the article that Police Commissioner Ellison Greenslade is failing to carry out all of the government’s crime-fighting initiatives, and went as far as indicating perhaps the leadership of the police force needs to be changed.

“This is a personal assault on Commissioner Greenslade’s career and the Christie government has also grossly insulted the relentless efforts of the committed men and women of the Royal Bahamas Police Force. Unfortunately, but not surprising, Christie and his government refuse to take any level of responsibility for the troubling state of our country.”

Dr Minnis called on Prime Minister Perry Christie to reveal whether he agrees with Mr Bells’ statements. He said if Mr Bell “acted on behalf on himself and not the government” then he should resign immediately.

“Sadly, Prime Minister Christie is acting like a man in dreamland hoping to wake up and to find that all of our problems would have disappeared. Bell in his capacity as State Minister speaks for the government of The Bahamas. If the State Minister’s damning comments do in fact represent Christie’s position, the Prime Minister has taken a cowardly approach to attack Commissioner Greenslade and his team,” Dr Minnis said.

“If Bell has acted like a government unto himself, he should do the honourable thing and resign or Nottage should wake Christie up, remind him that the people of The Bahamas elected him to lead and that there is cause for Bell to be fired. Should there be a question to the failing government as to who is really in charge, then the entire government should resign and an election should be called.”

Dr Minnis said the people of the Bahamas can rest assured that this “Christie nightmare leadership will soon come to an end” and a Minnis-led FNM government will partner more effectively with the police and all stakeholders to help combat violent crime.