Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis responded to criticisms hurled following the appointment of a new Acting Commander of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF).

Opposition leader, Philip Davis recently criticized the move after it was revealed that newly appointed Deputy Commander of the RBDF will now act as Acting Commander as Commodore Tellis Bethel is on leave for the next several months.

Dr. Raymond King assumed the post of acting commander on October 7.

This past Sunday, the RBDF, in a press statement, announced that Dr. King would act as commander while the commodore is on leave. The opposition leader questioned whether this move would hamper ongoing recovery and reconstruction efforts.

During a press briefing yesterday morning, Dr. Minnis used the opportunity to refute the claim adding that he did not think the change in command would compromise efforts.

“We have been very, very focused on security. We’ve been very focused on the rebuilding efforts of Abaco, the Abaco Cays and Grand Bahama and will remain focused on the rebuilding efforts,” Dr. Minnis said.

“Like I said, it won’t happen overnight and the public and Bahamians, at large, must understand that. But we will continue to move with our reconstruction efforts.

“All throttles have been pushed ahead moving forward.”

He also remained adamant about the government’s policy regarding vacation and the amount accumulated over time.

“The government has a policy that individuals who have long extended vacation, from we came in, we enacted such a policy where we place individuals on leave,” he said.

“We are not in the business of paying individuals for three and four year vacation leave that they have accumulated. We put you on leave so as to save the Bahamian taxpayers money.”

This past summer, several high-ranking police and defence force officers, who had acquired months of vacation time, were sent on leave.