The Tribune

By Morgan Adderley

Tribune Staff Reporter

madderley@tribunemedia.net

“PEOPLE have a right to criticise,” National Security Minister Marvin Dames said yesterday in response to the scathing rebuke the brother of slain Royal Bahamas Defence Force Petty Officer Percival Philip Perpall delivered against the RBDF at Perpall’s funeral last Thursday.

Speaking to reporters ahead of a Cabinet meeting, Mr Dames was very sympathetic about the matter, noting he is close to the issue “on both sides”.

He added RBDF Commodore Tellis Bethel has taken these remarks “into account” and is “taking steps” towards any necessary improvements.

“This is a very touching and very unfortunate situation and so I am not going to get in between that,” Mr Dames said.

“This is a matter too that is very close to me on both sides and so you know it’s a very unfortunate and emotional time and people are allowed to express themselves and we just have to look and see what we need to do to ensure that we are meeting the needs of our officers and people are allowed to criticise. That’s how we get better.”

Mr Dames also addressed the way forward. 

“The commodore would have taken into account what would have been said and is taking steps to address anything that he and his agency see as a need to improve upon. This is a very sad situation and we can’t fault anyone for making comments we just have too look and see what we need to do to improve and to provide better service to those persons who continue to give their lives in the service of country and that’s what’s important.”

Perpall, a 30-year veteran of the RBDF, was fatally shot while sitting in the guard room of Government House with two of his colleagues around 2.30am on April 28, according to police reports.

Another RBDF officer has since been charged with one count of murder and two counts of attempted murder in connection with the incident.

Shortly after the tragedy, Mr Dames told reporters he has a familial connection to the victim.

“This family is no stranger to me,” he said at the time. “As a matter of fact, the deceased is the brother of my brother-in-law, the deceased’s brother is married to my sister. I know this family and so our hearts go out to them.”

During Perpall’s funeral on May 16, the deceased’s brother Tyrone Perpall delivered a blistering attack against the RBDF, as a he described the circumstances surrounding Perpall’s murder as a “national disaster”.

Mr Perpall also said there must be a “clarion call for a thorough investigation” in the wake of the incident. 

His criticism of the RBDF spanned decades, as he accused the organisation of giving Perpall’s family a “hard fight” in the late ‘80s when the the agency reportedly resisted the family’s pleas for the slain marine to be let out of training to “mourn his mother’s death”.

He also said that the RBDF previously punished Perpall for working a side job by assigning him to mop and detention duties while those who were “not so decorated” were promoted.

Mr Perpall made these comments from the pulpit of Church of God Auditorium as he delivered his tribute for his dear brother — and as he was standing mere feet away from Commodore Bethel, who earlier in the service had made warm-hearted remarks about Perpall’s life and service.