The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

LONG Island MP Andre Rollins accused Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell of hypocrisy in Parliament on Monday, pointing to a past protest in which Mr Mitchell destroyed a copy of the Constitution, as a bitter clash over the country’s reputation unfolded.

The exchange erupted after Mr Mitchell, during his contribution to a resolution relating to Speech from the Throne, criticised what he described as efforts to portray The Bahamas as corrupt, crime-ridden and tainted by drug allegations.

“I was thinking that if somebody looked at the newspapers as they are online in The Bahamas, they would really get a skewed picture of what is happening in this country," Mr Mitchell said.

"They think that all of us are suddenly drug barons or infested by crime, that we're corrupt, that we're crooked, and so on. Every day there's drum beat, drum beat, drum beat with this rubbish. And we're not. We're a great country," he said.

Mr Mitchell said he would continue defending the country’s image abroad.

"I am not going to let anyone, friend or foe, domestic or foreign, destroy the reputation of this country. And particularly in this House," he said.

Standing on a point of order, Dr Rollins accused the Fox Hill MP of hypocrisy, recalling a past protest in which Mr Mitchell publicly destroyed a copy of the Constitution.

"The member for Fox Hill tore up and burned a copy of the Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas because in his estimation, the country's democracy was under threat," he said.

"That is no different in what this side in 2026 is concerned about, that this country's democracy is under threat."

Dr Rollins insisted that opposition members were not trying to harm the country.

"We wish this country no harm,” he said. “We are patriotic Bahamians who care deeply about this country. There's absolutely no way that we will allow him to mischaracterize the reputation of the members of the opposition. It is wrong, and I ask him to cease and desist."

The exchange intensified when Mr Mitchell accused the Free National Movement of opposing independence.

"The FNM opposed independence. That's what they did. You are defaming the country," he said.

Dr Rollins responded by reminding House members that Mr Mitchell first entered Parliament with FNM support.

"He came to this Parliament in 1989 for the first time because of the FNM. He accepted an appointment to be a member of the upper house by the Right Honorable Hubert Ingraham," Dr Rollins shouted.

Mr Mitchell fired back: "You got the chance to be here because of me.”

The dispute then shifted to allegations surrounding “Politician One,” the unidentified political figure referenced in US court proceedings linked to an alleged drug trafficking conspiracy.

Dr Rollins objected to suggestions that the opposition was damaging the country’s reputation.

"The reality is the reason we are mired in this controversy is that someone who is labeled as politician one is said to have been involved in a drug deal for $30 million in the precincts of this House. And that person is not on this side," he said.

He then challenged government members to identify the person.

"If you don't want us defaming the reputation of the House, honorable member, tell us who politician one is on that side."

Mr Mitchell responded by referencing past allegations involving the FNM.

"We know who counted the money. The money ended up with your side, with people in the courts. Remember that?" he said. "Crookedness resides in the FNM."

The debate escalated again when Dr Rollins accused the Speaker of zealously protecting government members while not affording the same treatment to opposition MPs.

A visibly upset Speaker rebuked him.

"I rebuke you,” she said, shouting: “And I'm telling you, you better take a seat. You better take a seat. I am tired of you challenging me, and you don't know anything about me nor my character. Do you hear me? I am not covering up for anybody. Anybody. You hear me? I am not covering for anybody in this honorable assembly."

Opposition Leader Michael Pintard later entered the debate, arguing that opposition members were right to object to comments suggesting they were harming the country’s reputation.

"We are upset, Madam Speaker, because the subject that we are debating on, a crooked deal being done in the House, originated on that side," Mr Pintard said. "It should not be allowed for him to put that on us."

Mr Pintard said exposing wrongdoing does not damage the country’s reputation.

"When the truth of the matter is, if somebody is carrying out a criminal act and you defend that person who's carrying out a criminal act, that is destroying the reputation of The Bahamas,” he added. “And so, it's wrong for him to try to put that on us.

Speaker Deveaux said she had already ordered the offending remarks removed from the parliamentary record and urged Mr Pintard to rein in Dr Rollins.