Deputy Commissioner of Police Clayton Fernander.
By SYANN THOMPSON
Tribune Staff Reporter
sthompson@tribunemedia.net
ASSISTANT Commissioner of Police Clayton Fernander has been deployed to the Ministry of Health on “special assignment” — the second senior officer of the Royal Bahamas Police Force seconded to a government ministry.
After returning from forced vacation leave yesterday, ACP Fernander received a letter informing him of the transfer to the Ministry of Health which takes effect January 27 with an initial period of 12 months.
ACP Fernander’s attorney Wayne Munroe told The Tribune the letter looks like a demotion, but his client will go the Ministry of Health to find out if there is an unprecedented police issue.
“He is currently an assistant commissioner of police responsible for crime for the entire Commonwealth of The Bahamas, so on the face of it, the letter can look like a demotion for someone in his position to address security concerns at the Ministry of Health,” said Mr Munroe.
For his part, ACP Fernander said he is “disappointed” with how officials have treated senior officers sent on forced leave.
“I am disappointed in the way the whole process was done. Not even to sit you down as a person, have a one-on-one and have a conversation,” said ACP Fernander.
ACP Fernander, who is responsible overall for crime in the RBPF, said that he has given sacrificial service for some 37 years to the police force. He expressed his dismay in how he and other senior officers have been treated.
“We have families, we spent more hours out there fighting crime than with our families and to be treated like this? When you do things of this nature, you do things in dignity and respect, that’s all I wanted,” ACP Fernander said.
Nevertheless, when asked if he had a good working relationship with the national security minister, he said, “Yes, as far as I’m concerned, we have a good relationship. I spoke to him up to early in the morning the day I had to take leave. As a young man in college, I took him on and took him out on the road, he would come and spend all his summer breaks at CID. We have a good relationship; I know his family and his family knows my family. I have no problem with him as far as I know.”
ACP Fernander is expected to meet with Minister of Health Dr Duane Sands to discuss the security concerns of that ministry and says he intends to carry out his job.
“We stick with protocol, and we love what we do, we sacrifice for what we do. As far as I’m concerned, we have no place else to go, this is our country, this is our home,” he said.
The Tribune spoke with Dr Sands, not directly about ACP Fernander’s secondment but on his ministry’s need for security.
“The Ministry of Health is seeking to strengthen security; we are open 24 hours,” Dr Sands said. “We have situations in the hospital where if someone comes in who was shot, what is to say that someone would not try to come into the hospital to finish that person off?
“PHA has been attempting to identify a leader for management security since the death of Mr (Alton) Virgil (former PMH head of security) and we have a very large and complex issue with security. Primarily at PMH, challenges at the various clinics in the communities, it is really a big deal. Doctors and nurses have been accosted in the parking lot. If you go to Blue Hill Road clinic, you would see a gunshot there in the door. How to you make sure people do not bring in weapons at the clinic or hospital? So addressing this and having someone who can deal with present and future concerns is a necessary investment and the most important resources.”
ACP Fernander is among eight senior police officers who were directed to take vacation in March 2019. He is the second officer to return to work only to discover that he was assigned elsewhere. ACP Kendal Strachan was advised upon his return from forced vacation leave in December 2019 to report to the Ministry of Social Services for a new role as chief of security at the Willie Mae Pratt and Simpson Penn juvenile detention centres.
ACP Strachan has fought the move and filed suit against the government.
Last year, Minister of National Security Marvin Dames said his ministry wants to carry out these changes at the RBPF by the Minnis administration with “respect and sensitivity”.
However, Mr Munroe believes the government is being “disingenuous”.
“I think this is foolishness, it’s just more lies and more shenanigans,” he said.
Meantime, Mr Munroe is awaiting a hearing date for ACP Strachan who is reportedly showing up to work daily but given nothing to do.
Comments
Chucky 4 years, 3 months ago
The state of policing and the defence force operations and their effectiveness is such that these guys should be hanging their heads in shame!
Corruption, bungled investigations, abuse of power, abuse of prisoners, abuse of the citizens, need I go on.
These two departments are a complete disgrace, and heads should roll at the top first.
A new rookie might be excused as he follows the lead of the old dogs on the force. But a person at the top, and one with 37 years , and allowing these operations to exist as they do, well that’s a testament to being the problem , not just part of it.
joeblow 4 years, 3 months ago
... this country is worse, not better off under these buffoons!
bogart 4 years, 3 months ago
....could not shut down the illegal operations of the Number houses even though public know where the Number Houses illegal gambling located for decades,...cannot yet take off the streets heavily tinted clearly suspicious vehicles,...unable to pull motorbikes dangerois driving jumping Red Traffic lights,...unable to carry out where thousands of illegals are caught but unable to arrest the home owners sheltering them,...unable to find and arrest the employers of thousands of illegals working,...unable to stop speeding way above limit on one road no turnoffs sideroads highways,...unable to send patrols on feet or bicycles through plenty juk juk corners an track roads, ...unable to turn off car sirens an go after criminals instead of warning them police a mile away,...unable to doing their part in illegal goings on in illegal shantytowns,...unable to have more frequent police cars patrols in ghetto poor areas than having plenty patrols in areas done have theit own security guards,...
tetelestai 4 years, 3 months ago
Fine Chucky, but then let the government have the temerity and say that incompetence is the reason why these officers are being disrespected. Let's not mask it in some supercilious, surreptitious political nonsense. Though, you and I both know well that these moves are all about politics and have not one iota to do with "bungled investigations, abuse of power", etc.
Chucky 4 years, 3 months ago
You’re so right! Sadly, as you say politics is taking priority, for otherwise these old timers would be fired for cause, not put out to pasture in a bogus made up job !
There is no hope for us given the actions of our current and past governments.
Unless we find a new bread of leaders, we’re doomed!
birdiestrachan 4 years, 3 months ago
Sands and Dames are at it again. We remember Frank Smith's case .No Games was at the rally saying what is circulited on cell phones must be stopped. What is he and doc Minnis planning to do about it.
doc should be encouraging young black men from over the hill not to smoke anything at all.
Most parents do not like to see their children smoking. does doc want to see his children smoking, doc answer that you want your children smoking weed.?
Well_mudda_take_sic 4 years, 3 months ago
The laws, regulations and rules protecting the jobs of persons employed by government departments and agencies must be revised to more easily allow for the dismissal of persons for just cause. These laws, regs and rules are much too improperly balanced in favour of government employees. This situation has evolved under the guise of preventing political victimization that often comes about with a newly elected corrupt government that wants its own loyal supporters holding key positions throughout government. Sadly though, this is one of the reasons why our civil workforce has become so grossly over-bloated in size. With each change in government, public sector employees are shuffled around because they cannot be dismissed while new employees loyal to the new government of the day are hired to fill key positions or newly created positions. Therefore, in addition to allowing easier dismissal for just cause, we need to expect and accept the need for greater government employee turnover, especially as regards key positions, everytime there is a change in government.
tetelestai 4 years, 3 months ago
No argument, Mudda. But, until that day comes, these officers are not being treated fairly and , almost certainly are the victims of political nonsense.
Chucky 4 years, 3 months ago
Victims of political nonsense; huh! These bumbling buffoons should be fired given the state of policing in our country, not being put out to pasture in some made up job.
tetelestai 4 years, 3 months ago
You miss my point, Chucky. If that is how the government feels, then say that the are being "put to pasture" because they are "bumbling buffoons". Don't make up imaginary, never-before-seen positions...this is purely political, period.
BahamaRed 4 years, 3 months ago
All this shows is that these guys are all about pomp and pageantry. Because even though you may have been transferred to another area, your salary remains the same. Who cares if it is perceived as a demotion, you are essentially getting paid the same to do less work.
I for one would be quite alright with that, especially if I was close to retirement age. But as I said, these dudes are all looking for power and position so that's why they are so upset about the changes.
tetelestai 4 years, 3 months ago
There is a principle here, BahamaRed….oh, why am I attempting to explain Maslow's theory to someone whose only concern appears to be that "your salary remains the same."
BahamaRed 4 years, 3 months ago
What's the principle? The fact that senior people don't know when it's time to move off the scene gracefully. No, instead they have to be publicly embarrassed and make a whole scene.
I personally feel that if you've served in a senior capacity for a lengthy time, after sufficient time move along and allow someone else to be promoted. If you are retirement age, take your pension and go; if close to retirement, step back and be a mentor to the new regime.
I don't understand why people feel the need to stay in these top positions until they die. I for one don't intend to die still struggling to hold a job well after my retirement age and the obvious urgings to step back.
They need to stop embarrassing themselves...as I said it's all cause they don't want to lose power and position.
xtreme2x 4 years, 3 months ago
hahahaha...lol when you have power be merciful. how many persons he brutalize when he had the power of the police force behind him. God does things in time. be thankful you still have a monthly check. Do not feel sorry for ya.
TigerB 4 years, 3 months ago
Fernander joined the force in 1983, just like Cash in CDU, Greenslade (COP Brother) Bk jr., Steven Dean joined in 1982... how much longer do these fellas want to be in power? If they stay no one under them would be promoted. We need to understand the chain of command, Not politics here. They would have 37 years this year. So you saying they feel the country owe them a death of gratitude because they served that long? They got paid every month.. Last time I check it was 30 years, with the exception of the COP and D/Cop, its 30 years. And we sit here and talk about politics? The younger officers glad they gone, so they can get promoted and have a chance to make their mark as well. The PLP messed up the police by promoting a million officers. Dames trying to get it back the way it should be, 5 ACPs. We wouldn't know this except we wear the uniform.
sheeprunner12 4 years, 3 months ago
Yes TigerB …….. and this crap of keeping junior officers on "contract" after 25 years/retirement is another waste of our Treasury money ….. aka double dipping
moncurcool 4 years, 3 months ago
Police officers are moved all the time to different government agencies. So what is the big fuss with this guy? It happens. . But what I want to know, what is the ACP of Crime for the entire Bahamas? Only him uncharge of crime for all the Bahamas? Nobody else can do it. If that is the case, that is why he must go, so we could let crime be the portfolio of all police officers. Besides, if he is in charge, then that means he is higher than the commissioner of police eh?
bogart 4 years, 3 months ago
There are just too many gaps in this story which does not addup. As is there may other unheard, unseen groups which were part of the transfer. No superiors group could have made a decision without morale issues disjoint in established teamand no political group would have singly chosen to have this position without obvious rammifications. There would also be a group of peers, a group of unknown group and or who knows. There may have also groups gone to in making the decision still sticking. More reasons to bolster reason to transfer this top cop position to PMH and his taking this to the press. A more detailed role is also required rather than a role with patients and others trying to kill them. Is it the gangs are increasing, more dangerous threat? Does his role involve million dollar thefts at PMH? Does the entire PMH needs more security just being close to US new Embassy? The role must be expanded on to press. Perhaps he may be the only cop capable of doing best job at present or refurbishing PMH.
hrysippus 4 years, 3 months ago
You have served your term on the police force now please leave gracefully. You are not entitled to anything more than your pension. Some of these officers are just ridiculous.
BahamaRed 4 years, 3 months ago
The one main thing they will be remembered for now, is the fact they had to be dragged kicking and screaming to make way for a new regime.
Flicking embarrassing...
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