Dr. Bernard Nottage, Leader of the Coalition for Democratic Reform while a guest on the on Love 97’s ‘Immediate Response’ talk show hosted by Jeff Lloyd yesterday, said that United States Ambassador J. Richard Blankenship has a message for the Bahamian people, and it is coming at a time when the country appears to be slipping once again into an era of drug trafficking.
Although he admitted he had no evidence to support his claim of the rise in drug activity, Mr. Nottage noted that there are a lot of allegations being thrown to and fro almost to make one feel that it is all “part of some other kind of conspiracy.”
“I believe that J. Richard Blankenship despite what everyone is saying is acting in accordance with instructions from his Government, and if he was not, I believe that he would not be here having regard to the uproar,” Mr. Nottage explained.
“And so, before we shoot the messenger let’s look at the message. He has a message for the Bahamian people and his message is coming at a time when our country appears to be once again slipping into an era of drug trafficking which appears to be growing,” he said. “I feel that some of the utterances by Mr. Blankenship appear to be instructions being given to The Bahamas Government in public by a foreign government, and I ask myself why is that happening like that.
“The prime minister has not addressed it, and I am asking myself why has the prime minister not addressed it. I am asking myself could it be that these matters have been addressed in private and the response has not been what was expected therefore they are being brought to the notice of the public,” Dr. Nottage wondered.
However, he informed that he will be seeking answers to those questions, because he believes the message is very important to The Bahamas.
Questioned as to whether he believed Mr. Blankenship’s behaviour is undiplomatic, he responded:
“It is abnormal for a diplomat. So I guess you would say it is undiplomatic.”
But nevertheless, Mr. Nottage stressed that The Bahamas must pay attention to the message.
“Absolutely, you must. We have a very real relationship with the United States of America. Our economy is tied to that of the United States of America, what happens there affects us. And the relationship between our two countries will affect our economy.
“I am saying as Bernard Nottage, I feel we should protect our sovereignty, that our sovereignty is precious, that we should make it quite clear to the United States Government and Mr. Blankenship that that is the case,” he said.
“This thing started in a meeting between the US Government and the Bahamas Government discussing processes to which we have been doing for many years in cooperation about drugs. That is where it started and ultimately that is what it is all about.
“I want to know what is the message. Why did it come up like this and why is it continuing,” he concluded.
By Keva Lightbourne, The Nassau Guardian
