By SANCHESKA BROWN
Tribune Staff Reporter
sbrown@tribunemedia.net
POLICE Commissioner Ellison Greenslade said no one has the right to tell him when and how he should act when it comes to web shop operations.
Mr Greenslade said he will not be dictated to by anyone but the law on what moves he should or should not be making because “it just does not work like that”.
He was responding to criticisms from Opposition Leader Dr Hubert Minnis, who said on Sunday that there was “no excuse” for the Commissioner not to take action and urged him to “obtain search warrants to close down all illegal gambling and lottery operations in The Bahamas”.
“The only thing that can hold my feet to the fire is the law. I am bound by the law. I will not take instructions from anyone but the law. I am not wishy-washy, it does not happen like that. I am not going to be disrespectful to anyone and I have asked my officers to follow my lead.
“I am not going to respond or offer opinions in an arena where I am not allowed to, that would be disrespectful. I cannot as a Commissioner come to the table and demonstrate respect by doing that. The public has every right to question and offer comment, that’s fine, but you have to look at it and recognise that when you offer a comment, it’s a comment being offered in a country you claim to love and when we destroy it by carelessness, there is no turning back,” he said.
“We have to be very careful. If a person in the Bahamas requests a business license, not from the commissioner and it is duly granted and their fees are paid and they indicate what it is that they are going into business to do, they employ people and they pay their contributions, whatever that business is, the Commissioner has no right to turn up and shut the door. There is no law that gives me that right.
“However, whatever that business is, if that person allows an illegal activity to take place on his or her premises, I have a right in law to do something about it.
“But here is my position. No one has the right to tell me what date, and what time and who and how. It cannot happen. It will not happen... that can’t happen. That is an insult to our intelligence and it cannot happen. It cannot happen and the Bahamian public must hear me say it, it cannot happen.
Last week, Chief Justice Sir Michael Barnett lifted a conservatory order that protected web shops from police interference.
Comments
nassaudaddy 11 years ago
Commissioner Greenslade can very well do a lot if he chooses to, in respect of the Web shops. If he really wants to he can send some trusted Police offices there and buy numbers with marked money and find out for sure if they're gambling Illegally. He chooses to be a patsy and a foot stool for the Christie govt. and thereby cannot even seem to do the job that the people of the Bahamas are paying him for. It's not about being dictated to, it's about upholding the law and showing the people of the Bahamas that you don't have a yellow line down the middle of your back. I believe you do,and you're afraid of all the' little nothings that are doing all this nonsense in our Land. Grow a spine Commissioner
Hollie 11 years ago
It seems like the Web shops have paid off everyone. This is like the the drug days of the 80s when the cartels had the government and police on lock. At least the drug boys pleaded not guilty and denied being drug boys. But these numbers boy are admitting and have admitted to these crimes publicly and continue to spit in the face of the law. These guys should be arrested, taken to criminal court and the criminal courts should decide if they have committed crimes. Commissioner I have now lost all faith in you and the police force. This is exactly why the country is in the crime ridden state it is in! You did not have to open an investigation to lock up Flowers in 2009. Stop using the business license thing as an excuse: I have a license for a pharmacy does that mean that I can now sell cocaine to the public?! Commission please get off you yellow back side and do you job or step down!
PKMShack 11 years ago
A land of not being held accountable is what we have on our hands, what will we come to in the next 4 yrs? is the question? Fire him won't work because no one in Government from Chrisite down has the concern of the people at hand. Does anyone know how we the people can have a vote of no confidence and call an early election? I sure would like to know so I can start the process myself. I have no horse in the race other than MY BAHAMAS.
B_I_D___ 11 years ago
Looks like the law has spoken and denied the appeal...The Commish better get cracking and enforce the LAW...no more waiting necessary.
USAhelp 11 years ago
As long as he gets his payday from the number shops he will not take action just run his mouth. High crime ships telling visitors that high crime in nassau so stay on the ship. We need a new commissioner now
TheObjectiveVoice 11 years ago
I love the Commissioner. Lolol He's correct when he said "We have to be very careful. If a person in the Bahamas requests a business license, not from the commissioner and it is duly granted and their fees are paid and they indicate what it is that they are going into business to do, they employ people and they pay their contributions, whatever that business is, the Commissioner has no right to turn up and shut the door. There is no law that gives me that right."
“However, whatever that business is, if that person allows an illegal activity to take place on his or her premises, I have a right in law to do something about it.
“But here is my position. No one has the right to tell me what date, and what time and who and how. It cannot happen. It will not happen... that can’t happen. That is an insult to our intelligence and it cannot happen. It cannot happen and the Bahamian public must hear me say it, it cannot happen."
BahamasGamingAssociation 9 years, 10 months ago
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bahama...">https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bahama...
WHICH ON OF THE BELOW REIGNS SUPREME IN THE BAHAMAS?
The Bahamas Lottery and Gaming Act Chapter 387 Section 50 Persons prohibited from Gaming
Or
The Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas Chapter III – Protection of Fundamental Rights and Freedom of the Individual. Section 26 Protection from Discrimination on grounds of Race, Place of Origin etc.
The Bahamas Gaming Association stands by the Ideology that all human beings who are 18 years or older should be treated equally in all sectors of the Bahamian Economy which is enshrined in the Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas.
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