Mr Speaker:
In reference to the allegations
recently made against Minister Alfred Gray, the Member for MICAL, Iam
advised that the Hon. Attorney General has referred the matter to the Royal
Bahamas Police Force for a thorough investigation.
As a result of this development,
Minister Gray has invited me to relieve him of his ministerial responsibility
for Local Government pending the outcome of the Police investigation. In all
the circumstances, I consider that this is the correct thing to do.
Accordingly, I have advised Her Excellency the Governor General, pursuant to
Article 77 of the Constitution, to transfer ministerial responsibility for
Local Government from Minister Gray to Minister Hope Strachan, the Member for
Sea Breeze, by way of addition to her current portfolio responsibility as
Minister of Financial Services. This change will take place with immediate
effect.
The Member for MICAL is to be commended for his
responsible approach to this matter. This is to be favorably contrasted
with cases under the former administration involving allegations of serious and
major impropriety on the part of various Ministers in separate and unconnected
matters. In none of these cases did any of these FNM Ministers stand down from
all or any part of their ministerial positions pending the outcome of any investigations
that may have taken place.