The Nassau Guardian
Nottage, Greenslade defend police force
Amid new speculation about the police force’s crime reports, Minister of National Security Dr. Bernard Nottage and Commissioner of Police Ellison Greenslade yesterday defended the integrity of the organization.
A recent Nassau Guardian article pointed out that a new U.S. Embassy crime warning referenced an attempted armed robbery of an armored truck at Wendy’s restaurant at Cable Beach week before last that was not included in the crime reports.
Nottage, who was asked for comment, said it is “ridiculous” for anyone to assert there has been any cover-up.
“Cover-up by who?” asked Nottage, following the Second National Consultation on Youth Gangs and Violence in Schools and Communities workshop at Police Headquarters.
“That is a ridiculous assertion and those who make those types of assertions for whatever reasons really ought to stop.”
Free National Movement Deputy Chairman Dr. Duane Sands questioned on Monday whether it was an accident, a deliberate omission or the political directorate that sought to suppress that information.
Greenslade, who was also asked for comment, said, “I am totally embarrassed, totally distressed and totally offended.”
He suggested there is an agenda driving the issue.
“Please, I beg you, stop selling The Bahamas short,” said Greenslade, who insisted his comments were not directed at the U.S. Embassy.
“I have difficulty with that and I am not sure what that agenda is [but] it must be an agenda, and it is not a good agenda.”
When asked who those comments were directed at, Greenslade did not respond directly.
“I am not sure what the agenda is,” he reiterated.
“I will tell you whatever has been said based on the intelligence I have, and the intelligence our people in this country have, there is something terribly wrong with the conversation.”
Despite police not reporting the attempted robbery, Greenslade said he is satisfied with the level of transparency of his organization.
He also commended the police press liaison officers.
“Superintendent Stephen Dean, my goodness what else could you ask of him,” Greenslade said.
“Mrs. [Tericita] Pinder in Freeport, my goodness what else could you ask of her?
“Every single day, several times a day, during wee hours of the morning we report to you in a spirit of openness.
“It is there for the world to see. Let’s stop making an issue of a non-issue.”
On Sunday, Assistant Commissioner of Police Anthony Ferguson also defended the police.
He confirmed the attempted armed robbery of the armored truck and said a firearm was recovered.
“What could have very well happened [is that] the information did not get to the press officer in time when he was sending out his release,” said Ferguson, when asked why the incident was not reported.
He added, “Obviously, if the U.S. Embassy got it, they must have gotten it from a police source.”
Yesterday, Greenslade said it is “out of order” for any comments to be made on a matter without him properly verifying the facts.
“No other person reserves the right to speak for me unless I brief them,” he said.
“And those people that I brief are the minister of national security and the right honorable prime minister of this country.
“Anyone else is offering an opinion and the public would do very well to be careful of those opinions.”
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