FNM Agrees With Discharge of PLP MP

In a statement the FNM sent out over the weekend, it said that the nation was stunned at the unfortunate incident that occurred at the PLP Convention recently when Mr. Forbes announced to the convention that former PLP Senator Pleasant Bridgewater was a free woman, which was untrue as the jury was still deliberating.

Bridgewater and former Grand Bahama ambulance driver, Tarino Lightbourne are charged with conspiring to extort and attempting to extort $25 million from Hollywood actor, John Travolta, after his son, Jett, died earlier this year.

"The presiding judge, Senior Justice Allen, declared a mistrial and dismissed the jury, and so the case must be heard all over again at considerable expense to Bahamian taxpayers and a waste of the court’s time," the FNM statement said.

"Senior Justice Allen decided that in light of an unconditional apology by Mr. Forbes and the fact that he has suffered ridicule and vilification, she would dispose of the matter with a reprimand rather than a fine or incarceration for contempt."

Mr. Forbes was summoned to court on October 23 to show cause as to why he should not have been held in contempt. However, the matter did not proceed until last Thursday as his attorneys had informed the court that they needed more time to research the matter.

It was on Thursday, that Senior Justice Allen discharged Mr. Forbes of the contempt citation.

  "The FNM is pleased with the decision of the judge not to punish Mr. Forbes further and agrees with her that he has suffered and will continue to suffer for his ill-considered action," the statement continued.

  "Mr. Forbes’s colleagues in the PLP seemed to have grasped the seriousness of the matter and also issued an unconditional apology.  However, the FNM would like to suggest to the leaders of the PLP that they reconsider their practice of visiting the court during the trial."

    The statement said that although such persons have a right as citizens to do so, they should consider whether visits by their Leader and former Prime Minister Perry Christie, former Deputy Prime Minister Cynthia Pratt and other MPs might give a wrong impression. 

"This case revolves around allegations of criminal conduct and has nothing to do with politics or political issues," the statement said.