First, Happy 51st Independence Day to the Commonwealth of The Bahamas!
Although some may say we have come a long way and are fit and proper to govern ourselves accordingly, many, I am sure, are still largely concerned with the current ‘Lord of the Flies’ state of affairs under this New Ultra-Vires Government. I didn’t want to discuss this. In fact, I was looking forward to moving on to protecting out financial services industry, but I guess we will get to that next week.
As we say in The Bahamas, “Too much tings happening” and with great dissatisfaction this week’s #FiveCentsFridays is obligated to discuss the recent developments of The Crime Crisis plaguing our beautiful country.
The morning we released “The Positive Gang (Part 1)” the capital was rocked by revelations of alleged corruption in the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) and the Criminal Investigation Department Head, Chief Superintendent Michael Johnson being put on ‘garden leave’ because whistle-blower Sylvens Metayor leaked an audio recording indicating an alleged bribery involving Chief Supt. Johnson.
The Leader of His Majesty’s Royal Opposition and our FNM Leader, the Hon. Michael Pintard requested participation from international law enforcement namely, the Scotland Yard in London, UK or the Federal Bureau of Intelligence (FBI) in the USA.
It is important to note that these two agencies are not equal in reach or operation. The Scotland Yard is the territorial police force responsible for policing Greater London's 32 boroughs and the FBI well… it’s a federal (i.e., national) agency. The latter’s UK equivalent would be the National Crime Agency (NCA). If we really want to know answers, one may classify the USA’ CIA as the UK’s Secret Intelligence Service (MI6). Moreover, given the Government Communications Headquarters’ (GCHQ) statutory mandate, one ought not to knock on the GCHQ’s door nor any of the latter UK intelligence agency for that matter. I digress.
Notwithstanding this, the Commissioner of Police (COP), Clayton Fernander QPM held a press brief outlining the internal investigatory approach consisting of a selected team from the Security and Intelligence grounds of the RBPF. This advisory team will be supported by the Assistant Independent Inspector Board and communications with international partners in the UK and US to ensure an independent, impartial, and fair investigation.
However, we are not currently aware who the international partners are and, as the adage goes, “Where there is smoke, there is fire!”. Since leaking evidence, this week Mr Metayor was shot while on a Facebook live in Hollywood, USA. This is after he revealed further information about alleged corruption throughout the RBPF including individuals like the current COP. As a result, it is becoming more and more unlikely the administration of justice will be nor seen to be independent, impartial, and fair under the New Ultra-Vires Government proposed approach. At this point, my UK mates would say, “Fire burn dese sirens”.
Cue UK's finest, @SimplySayo
In light of this (see what I did there 🔥), I say call the King and agree with the former Prime Minister the Right Hon Dr Hubert Minnis and the alternative submission made by Pintard calling for the Governor General to strike a Commission of Inquiry to investigate the prevalence of criminal gangs.
The procedure is quite straightforward with potential public hearings or in camera questioning of key witnesses by an independent commission to investigate the subject matter and report to Parliament on its findings. I don’t see anything preventing international partners being involved with the commission's work. Indeed, ‘what a time’ for truth and justice. Yet, the PLP opposes a Commission of Inquiry and, as the noble prize novel predicts, we may be one more fatal act away from burning everything down to the grow in the hopes of rebuilt better and stronger.
As an aspiring attorney, one of my core duties is to uphold and build trust with our RBPF. None of my previous articles on crime intend to undermine this duty nor the public’s trust in either profession. I shed light on political issues to enlighten our conscience souls. In many ways, I have personally given the RBPF a plethora of opportunities to uphold said duty especially in the face of abuse (of process). Some have done good, and others, being human, fall short. The only additional recommendations I may add at this material time is for (un)learning and (re)training and then some more (un)learning and (re)training in the RBPF.
Until next week, “Happy Independence Bahamas” (Elkin’s voice)!
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