Immigration Minister Keith Bell and Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis.
By EARYEL BOWLEG
Tribune Staff Reporter
ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis said Immigration Minister Keith Bell does not need to resign for overseeing a citizenship swearing-in ceremony at a funeral.
During a funeral for Franck Racine, Mr Bell swore in the man’s wife and two children, honouring the dead man’s wish.
“He did not give any citizenship to anyone at the funeral”, Mr Davis told reporters yesterday.
“I think he’s acknowledged that it was unconventional, alright, and I don’t think it rise to the point that he needs to resign.”
Audio of Mr Bell swearing in three people at the Metropolitan Church of the Nazarene last month went viral.
In the recording, Mr Bell acknowledged his actions at the funeral were unorthodox.
He can be heard presenting the people with certificates, saying he was doing so on behalf of the prime minister, the Cabinet, “and Bahamians everywhere”.
The Free National Movement insists the Davis administration has not adequately addressed the controversy, questioning whether the proper process was followed before the people were granted citizenship.
Former Immigration Minister Shane Gibson said he administered citizenship oaths.
Mr Gibson’s successor, Brent Symonette, said he never administered oaths. He said Mr Bell’s actions were “highly improper” and warranted his resignation from Cabinet.
More like this story
- ‘No law broken - but not something to happen again’
- Pintard demands Davis address Immigration Minister’s actions on citizenship grant
- BELL ‘IMPROPER’: Minister said oath given at funeral was unorthodox • Symonette says highly irregular move deserves resignation • Cabinet ‘had given approval’ to family
- Gibson: I performed citizenship oaths too
- EDITORIAL: Citizenship not a political favour
Comments
JokeyJack 1 year, 4 months ago
Of course he don't need to resign. He is one of we and we is one of he - right? We is all we, and we don't say pee, we say we we. Dat mean yes.
birdiestrachan 1 year, 4 months ago
FNMS all over the place saying who in the PLP should resign.. when they have their own serious issues. their FNM papa the one who gave away BTC says the PLP will make a mistake and then they will win or something like that. and they are all over picking at everything., they can not stand that so much is going the right way.
stillwaters 1 year, 4 months ago
Birdie, that's politics....when the FNM was in, the PLP were the ones all over picking at everything and the same will happen with any government getting in.
birdiestrachan 1 year, 4 months ago
This is the same Symonette who said if immigration documents were not received in a certain amount of time people could just by passs immigration. now speaks from his papers high horsey
ExposedU2C 1 year, 4 months ago
LOL. You conveniently forget that infamous crooked PLP cabinet minister who had the trunk of his car loaded with brand new Bahamian passports, most of them with Creole sounding names. He was a saint compared to Bell.
sheeprunner12 1 year, 4 months ago
Brave can keep Bell in Cabinet ......... That's his right.
But the ppl will have a say on it, sooner or later.
Brave will pay for his halting cowardice.
birdiestrachan 1 year, 4 months ago
IT TAKES A REAL MAN TO STAND UP for what he believes , AND NOT TO BE Swayed BY EVERY FNM wind ,,sheep runner who is the leader Pintard or Minnis ? .
themessenger 1 year, 4 months ago
Birdie, I see you still breaking wind through your mouth, those PLP horse apples you’ve been voraciously been devouring all these years have given you a really bad case of halitosis.
mandela 1 year, 4 months ago
The situation with Mr. Bell is noted and does not arise in his being fired. Now Mr. Cornish's investigation, on the other hand, has been handed to the commissioner of police from the DPP, but the commissioner of police Mr. Fernander is saying wait, wait and just stalling, we have to check something else out before we can act on what the findings on Mr. Cornish are. Transparency in the police force and our leaders is a foreign word, a word from Mars.
ThisIsOurs 1 year, 4 months ago
"he was doing so on behalf of the prime minister, the Cabinet, “and Bahamians everywhere”
He did that on behalf of himself. It was completely unnecessary
ExposedU2C 1 year, 4 months ago
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