Free National Movement Leader Dr. Hubert Minnis said the removal of V. Alfred Gray only as minister of local government and not minister of agriculture and marine resources makes no sense and it is an insult to Bahamians and the House of Assembly.

“I think the prime minister has insulted both the Bahamian populous and his parliament,” Dr. Minnis said yesterday.

“Minister Gray has interfered in the judiciary and that is grounds for immediate dismissal. What the prime minister has done is to remove the local government portfolio from him, but he remains as minister. If I were the prime minister this would not have happened.”

Dr. Minnis said Minister Gray’s consequences are unfair and send the wrong message internationally and also to criminals.

“Minister Gray interfering with judiciary sends a bad message to the international arena,” he said.

“Individuals would question, especially investors, the safety of their money in this country when executives can interfere with the judiciary. What message are you sending to criminals when we are plagued with high levels of crime?”

Dr. Minnis said it’s time for the prime minister to step up and do what is right.

He believes Minister Gray should be relieved of all of his portfolios for the sake of what’s right.

Dr. Minnis urged that Prime Minister Perry Christie should show stronger leadership skills.

“We demand and we will continue to demand that Minister Gray be fired,” he said.

“Prime Minister Christie should show leadership. This weak leadership that he has shown in his previous administration continues to spill off in this administration.”

Dr. Minnis compared the entire situation to a pregnancy. He said by Minister Gray being only relieved of his local government duties but still being a Cabinet minister is similar to being “half pregnant.”

“This is unheard of and we demand that the government dismiss Minister Gray immediately,” he said.

“Not in a half pregnant state either. Either you’re pregnant or you’re not and in this particular case Minister Gray was pregnant so undo the pregnancy!”

In the House of Assembly yesterday, Dr. Minnis made attempts to give a statement on matters concerning Minister Gray but was challenged by government members.

The speaker of the House of Assembly however, allowed Dr. Minnis to speak where he again called for the full dismissal of Minister Gray.