The Nassau Guardian
Police ‘not at fault’ on security lapse
Commissioner of Police Ellison Greenslade said yesterday police are not at fault for the lack of a stationed security detail when then Acting Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis was robbed at his home last week.
Last Monday, three armed men drove onto Davis’ West Ridge compound, accosted his unarmed chauffer and robbed Davis and his wife at gunpoint in their home, police said.
The masked men entered Davis’ home after 7 a.m. after they assaulted the chauffer outside.
Greenslade said the police provide every government official who is entitled to a certain level of protection with that protection and “no fault can be found in this instance with the police department”.
He said he wanted to be careful not to breach national security by revealing too many details regarding security issues.
When pressed on the matter, Greenslade alluded to Minister of National Security Dr. Bernard Nottage as the appropriate person to answer that question.
“Where the commissioner is required to provide aides — you call them bodyguards — those people were in place for the respective people,” he said at a press conference at Police Headquarters on East Street.
“That has never been an issue and it is not an issue in this instance.
“When you speak to the issue of 24/7 coverage that we refer to as static guard duties, at a residence, those are issues in a very secure arena that are handled at a much higher level.
“I suspect that at some future point that discussion might be had, but I don’t believe the commissioner will be the person to speak to it.”
The lack of armed aides at Davis’ residence drew criticism from the Official Opposition, which called the incident a “terrible breach of security”.
FNM Deputy Leader Loretta Butler-Turner questioned whether the incident may have been prevented if Davis was afforded the same security detail as Prime Minister Perry Christie.
At the time of the robbery, Christie was leading a ministerial delegation to South Africa to attend the state memorial service for former South African President Nelson Mandela.
“I would like to know, had the deputy prime minister been afforded the prime minister’s security detail whether this would have averted this very sad news this morning,” Butler-Turner said.
The incident has also drawn attention in other areas.
On Friday, the United States Embassy in Nassau warned Americans living in and traveling to The Bahamas to be on the alert, as armed robbery remains a major threat facing U.S. visitors and residents.
The embassy highlighted the incident involving Davis.
Yesterday, Greenslade said the police cannot be held accountable for something that is not within their purview.
“A basic bit of research in terms of how these matters are handled and who would have responsibility for things of that nature would clearly illuminate the answer that one is looking for,” he said.
“As a commissioner of police, I understand the police is the anvil upon which...society beats out of frustration.
“Someone has to be blamed and if the commissioner is an easy target, then you take a shot at the commissioner.
“The commissioner is not going to be defensive, but again I repeat, Bahamians are intelligent people.”
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