The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune. IN THE elections of the fifties and sixties, there were many complaints and allegations of election bribery. CID officers were kept busy investigating the reports. I recall on one occasion a Member of Parliament called the commissioner to complain that we were harassing persons in his constituency with intense interrogations about bribery. The then Superintendent of the CID Mr Frank Russell, formerly of Scotland Yard, commended us for the work we were doing. He asked for assurance that we were being polite and discreet. In one of those elections, there was an allegation that the winning candidate of the United Bahamian Party in an Abaco constituency had used a private aircraft from which five pound Bahamian notes along with his election campaign leaflets were thrown. I was directed to visit Abaco and investigate. I spent a week in Abaco. I got a lot of support and information from voters in a settlement called "Fire Road". I collected leaflets and some five pound notes from several persons from whom I recorded statements describing the incident. Employees at the Marsh Harbour Airport assisted me by identifying a private plane, which turned out to be the one used. Upon conclusion of the investigation I submitted a report, which contained information about the pilot and the persons on board. A complete report was submitted to the Attorney General Mr LAW Orr, who commended my efforts and instructed that the UBP, MP... be arrested and charged. I completed my assignment by arresting and charging the MP as directed by the AG. The MP was represented by that famous Bahamian attorney the late Eugene Dupuch, QC. The trial judge warned the witnesses that they were exposed to prosecution if they admit on oath that they accepted the bribes. As a result of the warnings the witnesses declined to testify and the case was dismissed. I could not understand why the witnesses did not testify. They had our word, that they had done nothing wrong and in supporting prosecution they were not liable. I later learned, that on the evening before the trial the prosecution witnesses were in consultation with the defence attorney. In the coming months, our police officers are likely to be called on to investigate all sorts of contraventions of our election laws. I advise that they remember the oath of office, be circumspect, dedicated, impartial and investigate intensively all reports made to them. Re-examine the election laws to be familiar with them and be ready for any breaches observed. PAUL THOMPSON Nassau, January 27, 2012.