Independent Member of Parliament for Bamboo Town Tennyson Wells said Wednesday that Bahamians should pay attention to what US Ambassador J Richard Blankenship said about the integrity of Royal Bahamas Defence Force officers.
Mr Wells made his comments during the morning session of the House of Assembly as Parliamentarians debated a Bill for an Act to Establish an Educational Loan Authority.
Ambassador Blankenship at a bi-annual meeting of the United States/Bahamas Drug Task Force on Dec. 7, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, criticized the Bahamas government for its failure to properly investigate Defence Force officers posted onboard the HMBS Inagua in 1992.
“What was said should have caused all of us to stand up and listen,” said Mr Wells.
“The US will not accept anybody whose background was not impeccable. The investigation was poorly handled and seems to be institutionally and politically motivated,” he said quoting a statement made by Ambassador Blankenship.
Mr Wells said that Mr Blankenship was referring to an incident which occurred onboard the HMBS Inagua, in the southern Bahamas.
As he understood it, he said, the Defence Force vessel arrested a boat which contained a quantity of drugs.
Mr Wells said the drugs were confiscated and placed onboard the HMBS Inagua, and were to be taken to the United States, but the Defence Force vessel encountered engine problems.
He said the HMBS Inagua made it to Nassau Harbour and the drugs were to be transported from there to the Coral Harbour Base.
But somehow between Nassau Harbour and the Coral Harbour Base, “some of the drugs went missing,” he said.
Mr Wells said he felt an entry should have been made in the captain’s log book about when and where the drugs were found and the amount involved.
He said at the time of the incident, Commodore Smith was in charge of the Defence Force with Commissioner Bonamy in charge of the Police Force, and Darrold Rolle served as the Minister of National Security, with Sean McWeeney serving as Attorney General.
Mr Wells said the events occurred during the final days of the Progressive Liberal Party administration, and ended in the first days of the Free National Movement’s tenure.
He said he was sure that former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham, Sir Arlington Butler, former Minister of National Security and then-Attorney General Sir Orville, were three people who would have known about the incident.
“When I was Attorney General I knew nothing about it because they said nothing to me; the public ought to know about it and not have the incident swept under the carpet,” said Mr Wells.
He said too many PLP and FNM politicians have turned a blind eye to many things that should have been dealt with.
“I feel the hypocrisy of MPs coming in here and speaking this and that needs to stop; they need to get their own houses in order and let the chips fall where they may,” he said.
Mr Wells said the United States is the economic life- blood of the local economy and every effort should be made to ensure that there is a good diplomatic relationship between the US and The Bahamas.
Rising on a point of order, Minister of Foreign Affairs Fred Mitchell said he did not wish to make any judgments about a 10-year-old incident.
He said no one should rush to judgment on the issue. “I have no first-hand knowledge of the incident. Please understand the sensitivity of the incident. It is best that we at this time, lower the temperature on the incident; I do not at this time wish to discuss this incident,” said Mr Mitchell.
Continuing, Mr Wells said that the “bread and butter” of all Bahamians depends on the good relationship the country has with The U.S.
He said he wanted to know who the persons were Ambassador Blankenship referred to who still serve on the Defence Force. Mr Wells said somebody should be called into account for what happened.
“I believe somebody knew, and that is the member for North Abaco,” said Mr Wells.
He said it would be wrong for Bahamians to suffer for the actions of a few.
However he cautioned Independents and Opposition members “not to kill the messenger and forget about the message.”
In the middle of Mr Wells’ contribution, Prime Minister Christie entered the chamber and rose on a point of order.
He said he found it peculiar that Mr Wells, as the former Attorney General, knew nothing about the incident.
Mr Christie told Mr Wells that he does not have to speculate on whether or not there was enough evidence.
“It is my clear understanding that the matter was investigated by police officers who followed every lead and every bit of evidence who were not bothered by political forces,” said Mr Christie.
He said the matter was never raised by former U.S. Ambassador Sidney Williams, nor Arthur Schechter.
Mr Christie said he discussed the issue with the relevant senior Police and Defence Force officers whose decisions were based on information received from their sources.
“We must determine that the local system of justice is something we have pride in, because if I doubt them, then it seeks to weaken the very system of justice I believe so strongly in,” said Mr Christie.
He further told the House that Ambassador Blankenship telephoned him after Friday’s meeting was adjourned and told him that it was not his intent to question the integrity of the Defence Force.
Mr Christie said he recalled telling Defence Force officers at their annual banquet, which was attended by both Ambassador Blankenship and Minister Mitchell, that The Bahamas and The United States are allies and that the Defence Force is built on integrity.
“No one should draw any conclusions on the integrity of the Defence Force based on the weaknesses of a few officers,” he said.
Mr Christie said his government will pursue the investigations.
“It is my specific advice that the Drug Enforcement Agency would have been aware of every step of the investigation to its inconclusive finding; it just wasn’t there,” he said.
Mr Christie said he asked investigating police officers if there was any political person or group of political persons who may have influenced their investigation.
“They said no,” Mr Christie advised.
By Sean Inniss, The Nassau Guardian
