Minister of Education Jerome Fitzgerald discussed emails involving Save the Bays in Parliament last year.
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Do you think Education Minister Jerome Fitzgerald was right to share private email exchanges in the House of Assembly?
- Yes, he was right.
- No, he was not right.
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By RASHAD ROLLE
Tribune Staff Reporter
rrolle@tribunemedia.net
EDUCATION Minister Jerome Fitzgerald yesterday dismissed calls from a law firm to provide information about the private email exchanges he shared about people connected to Save The Bays (STB) in Parliament several weeks ago, saying the leak should be the “least of their worries”.
He also warned members of the environmental group to “batten down” because a “category five” hurricane was on its way, as he threatened to table “every single” email and bank statement in his possession if needed to protect his integrity and parliamentary privilege.
In the House of Assembly last month, Mr Fitzgerald alleged that members of STB were engaged in a well-financed plot to destabilise the government, and he disclosed email messages about their activities to substantiate his point.
He has maintained that he did not have “unauthorised” access to the emails but stressed that his actions were protected by parliamentary privilege.
His decision to disclose their private information without their authorisation drew criticism from many, including the data protection commissioner.
House Speaker Dr Kendal Major said yesterday that he would address the controversy at the next sitting of Parliament.
However, Dr Major did not object when Mr Fitzgerald originally made the statements.
Ferron Bethell, of Harry B Sands, Lobosky & Company, who represents Zack Bacon (brother of billionaire Louis Bacon) and Fred Smith, QC, sent Mr Fitzgerald a letter on April 1, seeking his assistance in determining how he got the private information.
In response, Mr Fitzgerald scoffed at the requests.
“I know the Bahamian public is trying to figure out why a so-called environmental group would want to call for an injunction, would run to the data commissioner and now sending a letter requesting assistance with what was undoubtedly a move by many to destabilise the government,” he told reporters outside Cabinet yesterday. “I find it strange that they are now seeking assistance from the person who their plan was targeted at. It’s obvious to me now that they . . . mix up like conch salad.
“First they accused me of hacking, a criminal offence, then they said I got the information from the National Intelligence Agency and now they are claiming I received the information from one among themselves. They will have to figure out who among themselves leaked the information and that’s for them to figure out. I’m reminded of the old saying there’s no honour among thieves, so that’s for them to figure out.”
The Marathon MP added: “As far as worrying about where I got the information from and who gave it to me, right now that’s really the least of their problems. They have some serious, serious issues to be concerned with. Mr Bacon has to be concerned about the IRS. Mr Fred Smith has to be concerned about his professional career. Callendars and Co, because of Fred Smith’s actions, may have been brought down. A very reputable law firm and there’s no doubt to me today that Colin Calendar has turned over in his grave with the revelation of what I have been able to uncover.
“If I were them, I would batten down because a hurricane is coming and it’s a category five hurricane. They just need to hold on. It makes no sense worrying about me right now. The emails are already out. That cat is already out the bag and there’s more to come. When it comes to a member’s privilege there is no bounds to which we cannot go to protect our privilege. And so I would read every single email. I would table every single bank statement. I will table every single wire transfer if I have to if it comes to my integrity and my privilege.”
In his letter to Mr Fitzgerald, Mr Bethell wrote: “A very small number of people would have legitimately had access to this correspondence and nobody was entitled to make it public. It therefore follows that someone has disclosed the private email exchange to you when s/he was unauthorised to do so and in breach of our clients confidentiality.”
Mr Bethell also asked Mr Fitzgerald to reveal the “details of the circumstances pursuant to which these email exchanges and other documents came into your possession, including the names of your friends in the US who are referred to in The Punch article.” He also asked the minister to refrain from disclosing further confidential information relating to the STB members “other than in proper exercise of parliamentary privilege, including private email exchanges occurring between our clients or their legal representatives.”
Mr Fitzgerald said there is no evidence his decision to disclose people’s private emails and financial information will worry potential investors.
He described STB as a peculiar example of an organisation that purports to have one function when in fact it has political motivations.
He added that there’s no need to reform parliamentary laws to prevent members from disclosing information in Parliament without being held accountable.
Mr Bethell has also written to Tall Pines MP Leslie Miller, who last month told Parliament he had information to suggest five members of STB have a combined salary of $740,000.
Comments
happyfly 8 years, 8 months ago
So this is what the new National Intelligence Agency was set up for huh ? Digging up dirt on a bunch of environmentalists. Shame on you Jerome
kairosmatt 8 years, 8 months ago
Hang on, he gets to illegally steal confidential information and then turn around and accuse the victims for it?
At the same time he gets to use people's salaries against them (legal salaries) while him and his party refuse to disclose-at minimum-what they are making in the Bahamas? What they are legally required to disclose?
Not to mention what they are hiding off shore.
I hope him and the whole crew turn up in the Panama Papers.
Honestman 8 years, 8 months ago
Mr Fitzgerald said there is no evidence his decision to disclose people’s private emails and financial information will worry potential investors.
Common sense would suggest that Fitzgerald's disclosures WILL have an adverse effect on the perception of The Bahamas as a place where business affairs can be conducted in privacy. In his arrogance, however, he is prepared to run the risk. We can only hope that the good people of Marathon kick this joker into touch next May. With his disgraceful neglect of their interests over the Rubis affair, and now this, they will surely take their revenge at the ballot boxes?
BMW 8 years, 8 months ago
the problem is none of them have any common sense!!!!!!!
bluesky 8 years, 8 months ago
Here goes another Law suite by the Out Spoken QC.... Fitzgerald is begging for it.... Get him Fred....
sealice 8 years, 8 months ago
just what a fucking idiot?
themessenger 8 years, 8 months ago
Does he really believe that parliamentary privilege will protect him from prosecution under the Data Protection Act if STB's can prove that he hacked their private emails and confidential financial information information and the police do their job? What sort of message are these idiots sending to the Bahamian public, other NGOs and the financial world at large? This goes way beyond Noli Prosequi and Rubis, time for Fitzgerald to either resign or get fired. With Wishy Washy Christie presiding this is merely wishful thinking as it will without a doubt be whitewashed like all other government dirt.
DonAnthony 8 years, 8 months ago
How would Mr. Fitzgerald like it if someone stole his private emails and made them public? This is criminal, where is the police commissioner - silent again. There is no law in this country for the political elite, and sadly no shame or honor, especially in Mr. Fitzgerald. In a civilized country if he was an honorable person he would have already resigned.
Economist 8 years, 8 months ago
It is always interesting how the military juntas and other South American Dictatorships would always run the line that outside forces were trying to destabilize their country. Galtieri of Argentina even started a war.
Maduro of Venezuela is always talking about this. It distracts the less educated population from the desperate economic and social woes of the country.
So what is Fitzgerald really telling us?
Honestman 8 years, 8 months ago
Fitzgerald wears a fancy suit and along with the other PLP "made men" believes he is untouchable. Observe his arrogance.
mangogirl01 8 years, 8 months ago
This is really disgusting and sickening that this big nose arrogant man believes he is untouchable when he is in Parliament! Why didn't he use this vigor and drive to advise his constituents of the reported oil leak in Marathon but no, he was scare to lose his job!
EasternGate 8 years, 8 months ago
What an arrogant ass!
proudloudandfnm 8 years, 8 months ago
So Jerome is a moron and an asshole.....
Who would've thunk it....
ThisIsOurs 8 years, 8 months ago
Can someone admit that they are going to commit an illegal act and announce that they will do it in parliament where they are free from prosecution? This seems the outside of everything that is sensical.
Secondly, he fails to realize that no individual can control who sends them information, but each person who comes into possession of private information has immediately gotten a new responsibility to deal with that information responsibly and to respect the privacy of the subjects.
So Mr Fitzgerald your crime will not be how you got the information, that's the crime of the person who gave the information to you. Your crime will be: once in possession of private information, you carelessly, deliberately and obscenely released it without cause.
IT IS NOT YOUR RIGHT TO DETERMINE IF THE INFORMATION NEEDS TO BE RELEASED. THAT WOULD LEAD TO SHEER CHAOS IF EVERYONE FOLLOWED YOUR EXAMPLE.
You are to leave the decision to release or not to release up to the judgement of an office like the data commissioner .
Stop acting like you have no character, ethics or leadership skills.
TalRussell 8 years, 8 months ago
Comrades I am in shock over the calls to do away with honourable members the House & Senate, and persons appearing to give testimony before them, to be denied the freedom to make allegations that they genuinely believes at the time to be true, or at least worthy of investigation.
If you think the House does not work now, just you watch them in action without the freedom to talk freely. This freedom of speech is equally available and has been used often by the red party members, both as opposition and government.
Comrades this important privilege is vital to both the government and opposition parties doing the peoples business in parliament.
I have a whole list of things that were said on the floor of the House, by government and opposition members, that they would not have dared to repeat outside off the floor honourable House.
The_Oracle 8 years, 8 months ago
Now that they have wrested control of the country out of the hands of rule of law, They are free to persecute and prosecute any and all, in the name of self preservation, self enrichment and power lust. A national Intelligence agency with no supporting legislation is nothing more than a Ton Ton Macoute. Thugs and bullies making people disappear for political cover. Reversing the perversion has been damn near impossible historically everywhere else it has happened, as it has with the same formula and approach. Are we so special it cannot happen here? Sleep on, no worries Mon.............
realfreethinker 8 years, 8 months ago
I note that hope Strachan is concerned about the leak of finacial and other information from the law firm in Panama,but showed no concern when her colleague did the same thing in the HOA, Disgraceful
Emac 8 years, 8 months ago
She probably concerned about that because she or her law firm caught up in it some how
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