The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune

JUST why do our politicians refuse to comply with what is so obvious - time and time again contradiction in action and process.

Which awards system is legally correct?

The Bahamas is a ‘realm” country that is Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth is Queen of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas.

We have had for generations since colonisation the privilege to receive honours of Her Majesty and past monarchs.

So in the Ingraham initial term he created what could only be called a Mickey Mouse honours system only to be awarded I believe once then dying - along comes the last Christie government and under the influence of Fred Mitchell - Rev Sebastian Campbell legislation was approved to create a Bahamas Honours Awards only to be amended by the now Minnis government. It is interesting Fr Campbell serves as an honorary consul for a foreign government.

So New Years, 2019 the Minnis government decides well why not let’s award under the Queen’s Honours system - one Dame - one cheap man’s knighthood, CMG and lower honours but one must ask has The Bahamas obtained approval from Buckingham Palace so that Her Majesty’s representative, our Governor General can firstly be The Chancellor of these new Bahamas Awards Orders and secondly to continue to award both the Honours of Her Majesty and the new Bahamas Awards? Does the Queen know of the existence of these new Bahamas Orders?

Other realm countries like Australia - Canada and New Zealand have their own Honours BUT appropriate UK legislation was approved to create them - records do not show any such similar for The Bahamas.

Release from OPM - Minnis indicating he has all the authority needed to award both the Honours of Her Majesty and the Honours of The Bahamas - I really wonder if the PM knows or has examined this as this is not on the face of the issue legal to say the least.

In the issue of Orders of Official Precedence an awardee of the Honours of Her Majesty do they come first over the Bahamas Awards? Yes because it is of the Head of State but more seriously the Minnis government threw on the position of Governor General a position which I suggested without approval of Buckingham Palace or the Court of St James, London that makes the Bahamas Honours void.

Oh what a mess these politicians create - please Attorney General give an opinion on this at your earliest opportunity?

Can the OPM release the exchanges with Buckingham Palace recognising the establishment of these new Honours.

K SANDS

Nassau

January 10, 2019