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  • February 11, 2025
PM: The US has not provided the identity of the corrupt official

PM: The US has not provided the identity of the corrupt official

PM: The US has not provided the identity of the corrupt official

Prime Minister Philip ‘Brave’ Davis arrives at the Fox Hill Community Center for a lunch with ministers, greeted by FNM protesters chanting for the Prime Minister to ‘go’ and for the resignation of National Security Minister Wayne Munroe. Photo: Chappell Whyms Jr

By JADE RUSSELL

Tribune staff reporter

[email protected]

According to the explosive indictment from the US Southern District of New York, an unnamed politician was expected to authorize Bahamian law enforcement agencies to facilitate a $2 million cocaine smuggling scheme into the US.

“I told them to make the said politician known to me,” he said during a lunch with local pastors on how to revitalize the role of churches in Bahamian society. “They haven’t done it yet. My colleagues don’t know.”

“They portray the Bahamas as a bunch of corrupt government officials.

“I asked them to identify who they are. Are they civil servants? We have bad apples among ourselves, and we must root them out where we find them. But on several occasions I asked them to help me identify them, but they didn’t. They are willing not to let me know who they are, but they are willing to sue them.”

One pastor expressed concern about how the Bahamas’ international reputation could be tarnished by the lack of information government and police officials have about the people responsible for the alleged crimes.

“There is no doubt that the Bahamas is being somewhat and unfairly tarnished,” Davis said, adding that he will not allow the country’s reputation to be unfairly tarnished. “I met them and told them my position on it.”

He noted that neither he nor Police Commissioner Clayton Fernander, who recently resigned, had any knowledge of the US indictment before it came to light, suggesting he was as shocked as the public.

He said he had contacted the former police commissioner, senior officers and the US charge d’affaires, all of whom told him they were unaware of the allegations in the indictment.

Nevertheless, he claimed that the country’s position on the “international stage has never been better.”

Mr. Davis, in making accusations, said the U.S. is not aware of local political parties, but only sees the Bahamas as a small “black country.”

He said the country is struggling to defend itself against major accusations.

At one point, in response to a preacher’s question, Mr. Davis played a CBS news recording that allegedly caught dozens of American law enforcement leaders — sheriffs, captains, lieutenants, chiefs of police — buying and illegally selling firearms in 23 US states, Puerto Rico Rico and Washington, DC.

Mr Davis said he did not play the audio to excuse the shocking allegations against the Bahamas, but suggested the US is familiar with similar challenges.

Meanwhile, Secretary of State Fred Mitchell told reporters that the administration is still waiting for a response from U.S. officials to a diplomatic note his ministry sent seeking more details about the unnamed Bahamian politician.

U.S. officials have not arrested all of the Bahamians named in the federal indictment, some of whom are believed to be in the Bahamas. Mr Mitchell declined to discuss possible extradition proceedings, noting that he is the minister responsible for such matters.

Responding to an allegation circulating last night about the Minister of National Security alleging a conversation had taken place between the US Chargé d’Affaires and Mr Davis, Mr Mitchell blamed the FNM for the story, saying: That FNM story is a lie. .” He has not provided any evidence for his claim.