By NICO SCAVELLA
Tribune Staff Reporter
nscavella@tribunemedia.net
NATIONAL Security Minister Dr Bernard Nottage yesterday distanced himself from recent comments made by Police Commissioner Ellison Greenslade as to how “distressed” he was about a “jailhouse wedding” that took place last year.
Dr Nottage told The Tribune that “further clarification” on Mr Greenslade’s comments would have to come from the commissioner himself.
The Bain and Grants Town MP added that suggestions from the commissioner that he had no authority to dispense justice against the officers who sanctioned the wedding had nothing to do with him. “(Mr Greenslade’s) remarks stand for themselves,” Dr Nottage said.
“I have no take on it. I heard what he said. As far as I’m aware, the Royal Bahamas Police Force has disciplinary procedures and has a disciplinary process that does not involve civilian authority, and certainly does not involve me, so you’d have to get further clarification from the commissioner.”
On March 7, 2014, Kendrick Tinker was arrested in connection with the seizure of 50 pounds of marijuana.
The next day, he was allowed to marry his fiancée at the Central Police Station after his family was unable to have him released on police bail.
A chief superintendent, a corporal and two constables were reported to have facilitated the wedding.
On Tuesday, Mr Greenslade told reporters he was still “very upset” about the matter.
He said if he had the “authority to dispense justice” in that situation he would have done so already. He also suggested that reporters put further questions to others about the matter.
“You will recall that when I spoke initially to members of the press and officers alike about that incident at Central, I appeared to be very distressed and very upset,” he said, responding to a question from a reporter.
“I am still very distressed, still very upset. My demeanour has not changed. If that matter was in my purview, and I had the authority to dispense justice, you would not have been asking me that question, because I would have dealt with that. I followed procedures that I must follow as a commissioner, in respect of a person who is wearing a khaki uniform at the assistant superintendent level. Those procedures are very different.
“Everyone in authority over me in this country understands clearly those procedures.
“I’m going to invite you to put that question to some other people.”
Speaking on the issue last year, however, former Free National Movement deputy leader Loretta Butler-Turner claimed that while sources within the RBPF insisted that Mr Greenslade was strongly opposed to the marriage, a senior officer at the station allegedly received the go-ahead from National Security State Minister Keith Bell after being unsuccessful in getting Mr Greenslade’s approval.
She subsequently demanded from the Ministry of National Security a full explanation of the events surrounding the wedding, including the authoritative figure who sanctioned the act.
For the wrongful approval, Mrs Butler-Turner said at the time that “heads must roll”.
However, when The Tribune questioned Dr Nottage about the matter last year, he said the claims were “foolish”.
He said no “executive” within the Ministry of National Security could sanction such an act.
Mr Bell did not want to comment on Mr Greenslade’s comments yesterday.
Comments
TalRussell 9 years, 2 months ago
Commish I'd begin wearing ya knifed-in-da-back protective vest. Da Honourable Security Minister and his Commish of Policemen's are both too smart of men's not to realize that their 'confusing' statements are reverberating island to island across Bahamaland, but not in the reassuring way citizens should expect from their elected and appointed Comrade representatives. The Commish and Minister must know that not only are the citizens capable of 'unfiltering' such statements made by they's officials - but that the long knives of this PLP cabinet is done practicing they aim to make Commish's job a casualty statistic of its own. Knowing this PLP cabinet's underhand ways, don't be surprised, if they ain't also got pair scissors cut Commish's too talkative tongue right out he mouth. But unlike them other three too talkative MP's Dr. Andre, Renard and Greg, there will no long drawn out disciplinary meetings, just one day the Tribune headline will read; Da Comrade Commish Policeman's announces, he quit his job spend more time he family.
by TalRussell
Well_mudda_take_sic 9 years, 2 months ago
Minister Nottage should immediately resign from his cabinet post if his assertion that he cannot get to the bottom of this matter is true or that he has no duty to do so. What the F#@K are we, the people, paying him for ??!!!!!!
realfreethinker 9 years, 2 months ago
An old decrepit asshole, It is scandalous that the minister and the COP aint communicating. It is obvious that the gov would like to see the back of Greenslade and he slip out the door.
duppyVAT 9 years, 2 months ago
Yep .......... Perry should remove BJ because there is NO way that he will have the support of the Prison and the Police anymore ............ and that is a disaster waiting to happen beyond the crime crisis that we have now. But will this clueless PM realize this at this stage????????
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