Free National Movement Chairman Michael Pintard said the FNM will continue to fight tirelessly until the Minister of Agriculture and Marine Resources V. Alfred Gray steps down or is fired because the decision to relieve him as minister of local government is offensive.

“This decision is offensive and presumes that Bahamians are so apathetic and unaware of required standards of behaviour of public officials that we would permit this terrible decision to stand,” Pintard said in a statement yesterday.

“Mr. Alfred Gray’s inappropriate behaviour was carried out by him in his capacity as minister, not as a half minister.”

Pintard believes that Prime Minister Perry Christie’s delay in firing Gray would risk further damage to the country’s reputation.

“This is dangerous especially since we are presently battling tremendous negative international press as a result of the level crime in The Bahamas and the government management of it and our handling of immigration matters,” Pintard said.

He urged that the prime minister must send the unequivocal message to Bahamians and non-Bahamians alike that the government will not tolerate any member of the executive branch interfering with or giving the appearance of interfering with the judiciary.

Pintard explained that this is a chance for the prime minister to set standards that discourage the abuse of power.

The FNM is accusing Gray of interfering in a legal matter involving a resident of Mayaguana. The matter has been turned over to police for further investigation.

According to Pintard, a young resident of Mayaguana was tried, convicted and remanded for several offences which include the assault of a police officer.

“The police took him into custody to await a flight to Nassau to commence serving his sentence. A short time after sentencing was completed Minister Gray called the magistrate twice and the clear suggestion is that he ordered the magistrate (who otherwise serves as island administrator) to release the prisoner. The police was unwilling to comply with the order issued to the magistrate and since the committal order was not in hand the officers returned the prisoner to the magistrate who summarily and unconditionally released the prisoner,” Pintard said.

“Contrary to what Mr. Gray said it was him who called the Magistrate twice. Contrary to what Mr. Gray said bail was not granted and could not have been granted since no formal appeal was filed and heard in the Supreme Court,” Pintard explained.
He added that Gray’s actions are “equivalent of opening a cell door at Fox Hill Prison and permitting a prisoner to go free without paying for the crime committed.”

Gray has since denied the allegations brought against him by the FNM and he insisted that he had no intentions of stepping down because he did nothing wrong.