PM to meet with RBDF commodore to ‘evaluate’ agency | News

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Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis plans to soon meet with Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) Commodore Raymond King to “evaluate” what is happening in that agency after a chief petty officer was indicted in the United States for alleged cocaine and firearms trafficking, Director of Communications in the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) Latrae Rahming said yesterday.

Rahming said Davis has spoken to King by phone, but had yet to meet with him in person.

Rahming was asked what sort of reform was planned for other law enforcement agencies after the resignation of Commissioner of Police Clayton Fernander in the wake of the indictment.

Fernander has not been accused of any wrongdoing, however he faced immense pressure to resign after Chief Superintendent Elvis Curtis, officer-in-charge of the Airport Division, Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) Sergeant Prince Albert Symonette, who worked closely with Curtis, and RBDF Chief Petty Officer Darrin Roker were named in the indictment as conspirators who helped facilitate the transshipment of tons of cocaine from South America through The Bahamas and ultimately into the United States.

Eight other Bahamians and two Colombians were also indicted.

“The prime minister has not met — he’s spoken with the commodore of the defense force by phone,” Rahming said.

“He has not at the time met with the leadership of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force. He intends to do so to get an understanding of the kind of initiatives that they see from their perspective and to further evaluate what is happening in the Royal Bahamas Defence Force.”

The indictment alleged that Roker facilitated maritime drug trafficking by using his position in the RBDF “to obtain sensitive information about law enforcement operations by the US Coast Guard and OPBAT and alert drug traffickers in exchange for bribe payments”.

The official opposition has called for a commission of inquiry to look into law enforcement corruption after the indictment was unsealed.

Rahming said Davis believes that legislation tabled in Parliament on Wednesday, which will create the Independent Commission of Investigations to probe corruption allegations against law enforcement officers or public officials, is enough.

“The prime minister and by extension the [Davis] administration believes that the bill being proposed is sufficient,” said Rahming when asked about a commission of inquiry.

He said the proposed commission will step in and investigate the RBDF if needed.

“The Independent Investigations Commission will have the power, the authority, to deal specifically with the Royal Bahamas Defence Force,” Rahming said.

“So if there is a need to investigate further any level of misconduct, this independent commission will have the ability to do so.”

Rahming suggested that the proposed Independent Investigations Commission would have more teeth than a commission of inquiry.

“With the independent commission, that commission will have the ability to refer charges if they find gross misconduct and breaches in the law,” he said.

After Fernander’s resignation, Davis announced that Assistant Commissioner of Police Shanta Knowles has been selected to replace him as police commissioner.

Deputy Commissioner Leamond Deleveaux is set to retire December 10.

Deleveaux said yesterday that his retirement was already in the works ahead of Fernander’s resignation and is not connected to the prime minister’s plan to shake up the police force.

Rahming was asked about Davis’ planned changes, but said he had not been briefed on them.

“The prime minister has spoken to his intent to make further changes in the Royal Bahamas Police Force,” Rahming said. “He has not communicated those further changes to me. Obviously the intent of the prime minister now is to ensure that the force leadership is able to take on the level of reforms needed.”

At a Free National Movement (FNM) meeting on Wednesday night, Pintard said the opposition party needed more time to consult on Knowles’ appointment as commissioner and “did not know” her. Pintard said the FNM wanted to look into Knowles’ background and track record.

Rahming said OPM was left “confused” by Pintard’s stance, adding that the Davis administration received a letter yesterday morning from Pintard affirming the opposition’s support of Knowles’ appointment.

“I’ve been advised ... that the leader of the opposition has sent a letter committing his support to her,” Rahming said.

“We were confused yesterday afternoon when we heard that he didn’t know her. ... I don’t know which terms he was referring to, but she has been in charge of the northern division for a year. I suspect that the leader of the opposition will speak more broadly to his support.”

Rahming could not say when Fernander will officially demit office.

Yesterday, the RBPF said Symonette was discharged from the force on Monday in accordance with Section 21(1)© of the Police Act.

A recommendation has been made for Curtis to be officially discharged “because he has ceased to become an efficient police officer”, the RBPF said.

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