Prime Minister Phillip Davis Wednesday said he had accepted the resignation of Police Commissioner, Clayton Fernander, as the fallout continues from the indictment by US law enforcement authorities of a senior Bahamian police officer on charges of conspiracy to import cocaine as well as possession and use of firearms last week.
“I have met with the commissioner of police. I have received and accepted his resignation. The commissioner has served the force with distinction and I want to emphasize that there are no allegations of wrongdoing against him,” Prime Minister Davis told Parliament.
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He said that the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) “needs change” and that he has since “identified a highly qualified successor who is well-suited to oversee the necessary reform.
“This appointment requires consultation with the leader of the Opposition (Michael Clifton Pintard). I ask the clerk to deliver this letter to the leader, which I invite him to receive and discuss with me at the adjournment of Parliament today,” Davis said, adding that he is confident that Pintard “recognizes the urgency of consulting with me swiftly so that I am able to make a recommendation to the Governor-General”.
In a nationwide broadcast on Sunday night, Fernander said the arrest of the senior police officer, Elvis Curtis, was “not just shocking, it was devastating”.
He said the indictment outlines allegations against Curtis that raise serious questions about activities that allegedly began in May 2021 and has already spoken with former commissioner of police, Paul Rolle, who served from March 2020 to July 2022, and that he intends to contact former commissioner, Anthony Ferguson, who served from October 30, 2017, to March 29, 2021.
“In addition to former leaders outside of the force, I intend to reach out to former prime minister Dr Hubert Minnis and former minister of national security Marvin Dames, who were in office from 2017-2021, during the period in which the alleged crimes are said to have begun,” Fernander said.
Minnis has since said he would prefer to appear before a commission of inquiry instead of holding talks with the police commissioner.
Last Wednesday, Prime Minister Davis told legislators that the revelations by the United States authorities linking members of the RBPF and the Royal Bahamas Defense Force (RBDF) strike at the “core of who we are as a nation”.
“Madam Speaker, this House and the Bahamian people deserve answers,” he said, adding that the government of The Bahamas will act decisively to ensure that those responsible for these breaches, regardless of rank or position, are held accountable”.
Davis told Parliament on Wednesday that he has since “taken steps to address breaches of trust within our law enforcement agencies, including meetings held with senior officials during which we discussed reform and the urgency of restoring trust.
“I also met with the US Charge d’Affaires, who confirmed she had been in receipt of a formal diplomatic note requesting the disclosure of the name of the high-ranking Bahamian politician mentioned in the indictment. The formal diplomatic note was issued to underscore the seriousness of the matter.”
Prime Minister Davis said that the question arose as to the arrest of Bahamians indicted who are in the country.
“Following a formal request for interdiction, we will cooperate in the arrest of the Bahamians named in the indictment,” he said, adding that he has asked Minister of National Security, Wayne Munroe to introduce legislation to establish an Independent Commission of Investigations for public consultation.
“Independent oversight will play a vital role in building trust between the police and the communities they serve,” Davis added.
The prime minister said he will announce further changes at the leadership level of the Royal Bahamas Police Force in the coming days.
“In addition, the minister of national security will introduce today new legislation to create an independent oversight authority for all of our law enforcement agencies. Independent oversight will play a vital role in building trust between the police and the communities they serve.
“I want to say a word to the many police officers who work hard, stay away from trouble, and face danger daily in order to protect the rest of us. Keep your heads up. The work you do is more important than ever. You have our gratitude and our respect. And you will have the changes necessary in the force to ensure you can focus on your jobs without further distraction. ”
Prime Minister Davis said that trust between the police and the people is essential to preventing crime and to solving crime, and thus essential to creating the safer communities we all yearn for.
“Today, we are taking important steps to restore trust and accountability,” he added. CMC
