By RASHAD ROLLE
Tribune Staff Reporter
rrolle@tribunemedia.net
PRESS Secretary Anthony Newbold said he does not know what makes Omar Archer qualified to be the registrar of the Ministry of Works even as he insisted yesterday the controversial figure must have met the standards of the ministry.
Mr Archer has had several run-ins with law enforcement over the years.
In 2017, he was convicted of threatening to harm a senior police officer.
Two years earlier, he jumped from the second-storey window of the Magistrate’s Court in an attempt to evade police.
He has sometimes used his popular Facebook profile to push unverified, scandalous information, such as once alleging that a Cabinet minister under the former Christie administration contracted AIDS.
Given this, Mr Newbold was asked if Mr Archer was the best, most qualified person in The Bahamas for his new position.
Mr Newbold said: “I’m not saying that at all. The Ministry of Works is saying this man, we think should be in this position. Whatever those qualifications were or are, a decision was made that he was the best person to put in that role.”
His appointment, he added, is “something that would have come through the usual system. The specifics of how that happened, I presumed the position was available and he applied for it. About Omar Archer or qualifications for that registrar position, I don’t (know) but I’m sure whatever those qualifications are he must have met them. Nobody is going to be hired and not meet the qualifications for a specific job”.
It is unclear if the registrar position was advertised to other potential applicants. In his new role, Mr Archer has already courted controversy after Leonard Sands accused him of waging a behind-the-scenes campaign to force his ouster from the Bahamas Contractors Association. Mr Sands quit as BCA president and also as a member of the Free National Movement over the friction.
The FNM has repeatedly tried to distinguish itself from the Progressive Liberal Party over the years by accusing that party of cronyism.
Asked if hiring Mr Archer complicates its ability to continue doing this, Mr Newbold said: “I don’t know why it should.”
Mr Archer was a vocal supporter of the FNM ahead of the last general election.
Comments
proudloudandfnm 5 years, 6 months ago
Insanity is a qualification???
joeblow 5 years, 6 months ago
no, but being FNM is!
TalRussell 5 years, 6 months ago
PM's Press Secretary "Anthony" ( note, he longer wants be in media refereed to as "Ace") might easily disclaim any and all knowledge how a PeoplesPublicPurse's Appointment was made.... but get ready confer the Profile in Courage Award to the comrade red shirts who be charged dares to have calls in the Appointee to let them know that their services on job is no longer required.
Even with fresh change in governing come 2022 - the new PM and his AG, might have send in Defense Forces tank blast away unstuck likes Krazy glue the previous governing party's political appointee from they chair. {Who in all common sense could have possibly made up this even "Top's Loretta's two political appointments she made Senate }.
jackbnimble 5 years, 6 months ago
"....Nobody is going to be hired and not meet the qualifications for a specific job”.
Man, I had a good hoot just reading THIS!!!
Socrates 5 years, 6 months ago
poor Ace.. yet again, plenty talking but saying nothing. he couldn't say a single word that defends Archer's appointment, couldn't list his relevant training or experience,.... nothing. don't need to have a high IQ to figure out what happened...
BahamasForBahamians 5 years, 6 months ago
Ace has allowed Minnis to destroy the little credibility he had before this term.
Minnis should be smart enough not to run again. He's shown the country what the worst prime minister in history looks like...
I thought Christie had that dance move downpack.
TalRussell 5 years, 6 months ago
by TalRussell
The_Oracle 5 years, 6 months ago
Bring your detractors into the fold, PLP's included! Qualifications? Have we really required them since 1973?
Bahamianbychoice 5 years, 6 months ago
I would like to know what does Bannister have in his back pocket on the PM?? Given the stupidity of BPL... and now this...man has to be something!!! There sure is the appearance of corruption...
BONEFISH 5 years, 6 months ago
He is completely unqualified and unsuited for this position. He is just like the acting financial ssecretary. Payback for services during the election.The FNM party have their cronies just like the PLP. I am increasingly dismayed by the direction and actions of this government.
ThisIsOurs 5 years, 6 months ago
No one should doubt Minnis'motivation. First Johnson to make sure noone "taking money under the table" and now Archer to say who gets on the roll
The_Oracle 5 years, 6 months ago
The problem is neither party can see over the throng of gravy train "my turn" cronies and seek expertise a little beyond that crowd. And I do not mean foreigners, although they are needed also.
mandela 5 years, 6 months ago
Wow.??????????????? Only in The Bahamas
John 5 years, 6 months ago
So who is more qualified for their post: Marlon Johnson as financial secretary or Omar Archer as registrar in Ministry of Works. What is certain is that with the two party system, especially of late, the modus operandi is that when a party gets kicked out of office, the incoming party fills positions with party supporters. Even to the contracts to clean parks and street verges. Is this a good policy? Well, of course it can be costly, especially when qualified people are replaced with less qualified or unqualified workers. And their most crucial qualification is they are party supporters. And the most dangerous activity of these political appointees is when they go on these jobs and try to clear out everyone else who is not a party supporter. Or they set policies, albeit, or engage in actions that affect or hinder persons in the business sector or general community that they assume are not their party supporters. Then election comes again and the exercise starts all over again.
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