By RASHAD ROLLE
Tribune Staff Reporter
rrolle@tribunemedia.net
OPPOSITION Leader Philip "Brave" Davis says the Minnis administration's witch-hunt against the Progressive Liberal Party is continuing, with its most recent target being former Financial Secretary Simon Wilson.
Contrary to a report in The Punch yesterday, Mr Wilson has not been fired, but the administration has begun the process of firing him, sending him a letter asking him to explain why he should not be fired, The Tribune understands.
Mr Wilson was replaced as financial secretary by Marlon Johnson in early September 2017. He was placed on leave for a year. The move to fire him hasn't sat well with senior PLPs, some of whom are expected to defend him against accusations they expect to be levelled if he is fired.
During a press conference yesterday, Mr Davis said: "This morning we open up our newspapers to reports a senior public servant, Simon Wilson, being fired. That is false but it gave the opportunity to parrot a number of false allegations against the PLP in furtherance of the political campaign of the FNM to falsely paint the PLP and those associated with it as corrupt and to hinder Mr Wilson's reputation. I've spoken to the attorneys of Mr Wilson and they are satisfied he has a good and arguable defence in those matters. He also has a good and arguable case founded in defamation. When he worked as financial secretary I was satisfied that he never moved a penny unless he had an authority to do so."
Yesterday, Press Secretary Anthony Newbold demurred when asked about Mr Wilson's job status.
"Whatever may or may not be going on with Mr Wilson would be between him and the public service," he said. "I don't know if he's been fired so I can't comment on that."
He said if Mr Wilson is fired, "once that decision is made, yeah, it will be revealed to the public" why it happened.
Comments
Well_mudda_take_sic 5 years, 8 months ago
Political victimization is alive and well under the dimwitted Doc, much as it was under Christie and Ingraham. Many no doubt feel short changed and very disappointed that all we've got under the dimwitted Doc is plenty more of the same political foolishness that has been going on for decades. The only difference now though is that our national ship has taken on much too much water and may not survive the incompetence of Minnis and Turnquest.
BahamasForBahamians 5 years, 8 months ago
Victimization.. doc is taking a page from Pindling's book..
So much for reelection.
sheeprunner12 5 years, 8 months ago
Simon Wilson was a senior public officer who was appointed by Perry ........ Can you imagine if he did not follow orders from Perry and Halkitis?????
The belief that senior public officers can "advise" politicians is a joke ..... they are gofers and fall guys for corrupt and opportunistic politicians.
Ask the present FS office holder ............. he is stooge just like his predecessor.
BONEFISH 5 years, 8 months ago
i was told Wilson would have been fired from last year.That was not followed through because very prominent FNMS opposed it. But this movie has played before.The same with Laville. A forensic audit would be done to find an excuse to fire him. I would predict this,the Laville's firing and other things are going to end bad for this Minnis government,
bogart 5 years, 8 months ago
Political appointed persons to Boards of Directors.....we have had numerous govt agencies operating with losses...numbrrs of questions raised over the years...but money keeps getting poured into them...money that could have gone to more critical areas....like the fixing of PMH roof or equipment...fixing family island airports.....how can millions of dollars propping up agencies be equated with equipment personnel for brain surgeries...hospital medical care....drinkable water for family islands....
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