National Security Minister Marvin Dames  has disputed the Opposition’s claim that a senior police officer is being victimisized.

Progressive Liberal Party Leader Philip Davis yesterday charged that a letter from The Office of The Prime Minister has instructed Assistant Commissioner of Police Clarence Reckley to take vacation, after which retirement.

In addition to  Reckley, Deputy Commissioner of Police Emrick Seymour and Senior Assistant Commissioner Stephen Dean  are also retiring from the Royal Bahamas Police Force.

ACP Reckley is the husband of Former Deputy Director of Urban Renewal Michelle Reckley, who along with three others, was last month charged before a magistrate on charges of fraud. The four accused are all reportedly supporters of the PLP. 

“This is not only so for the Royal Bahamas Police Force, let’s not make it a police centric discussion. 

“We’re in the business of getting the service in order, getting it right, and when people reach the retirement age,  they should prepare for retirement.

“Our job when we’re in service is to prepare others to take over from us. There is no ill attempt, there’s nothing sinister behind what we’re doing here, we’re readying our agencies for the future,” he said.    

Minister Dames added that retirement is evident for anyone who would have served his/her time and that he doesn’t wish to turn the issue into a political discussion.

“This is something that we’re doing and we’re doing in every agency and as a matter of fact throughout government. 

“What do you do if you have someone with 90 or 100 weeks’ vacation that runs into their retirement, do we continue to go on like we don’t know?” 

“Like I said,  I met with the Deputy Commissioner  Seymour  and Senior Assistant Commissioner  Dean this morning and they’re excited, they’re prepared.” 

“They are prepared and ready to go on leave and that leave will run into their retirement.” 

“This is what it is about, why are we making this a political discussion? I don’t know,” he said. 

When questioned, Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis declined to comment on the opposition’s charges, saying only that if Mr. Davis wishes to say something at a press conference, he can also do so in the House of Assembly and that is where he will respond.