commissionerofpolice

Just about eleven months after stepping down as Commissioner of Police, Clayton Fernander has resurfaced as Consul General to Toronto, Canada.

His appointment comes on the heels of a turbulent period for the Royal Bahamas Police Force, marked by allegations that officers under his command used their positions to smuggle contraband into the United States.

Though Fernander was not personally implicated in the wrongdoing, his sudden resignation on December 4, 2024, raised questions. Now, his diplomatic posting has many asking:

How did we get here?

November 26, 2024: A force under scrutiny

The RBPF faced one of its most serious public scandals when U.S. authorities reportedly uncovered a network involving Bahamian officers–two officers of the Royal Bahamas Police Force and one officer of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, accused of using their position to facilitate contraband smuggling operations into the US.

December 4, 2024: Clayton Fernander resigns

Fernander was never named in the allegations, but the issue cast such a shadow over his leadership that calls for accountability grew louder. He resigned as Commissioner, with Prime Minister Philip Davis announcing in the House of Assembly that he accepted the resignation, saying the police force “needs change.”

November 3, 2025: From resignation to redeployment

About eleven months later, the government announced Fernander’s appointment as Consul General in Toronto, one of the country’s key diplomatic posts, with a large Bahamian diaspora.

This has caught many by surprise. Some argue that the appointment suggests a “soft landing” for a top official exiting under pressure, while supporters say Fernander’s experience and international training with Canadian contacts make him fit for the role.

What does a Consul General do?

The Consul General represents the Bahamas abroad, assisting Bahamian citizens, promoting the country and supporting diplomatic missions.

The post comes with perks: official residence and a good salary.

These appointments are made directly by the Cabinet, often reflecting the government’s confidence in the individual’s loyalty and leadership skills.

Why this matters

Fernander’s return to public office in a diplomatic role defines about how accountability works in the Bahamas.

Some may ask, ‘Why do some officials reappear in powerful posts so soon after controversy? And ‘Is this a reflection of how political loyalty outweighs public perception?’

Fernander’s appointment is a familiar pattern in Bahamian politics, where resignation amidst a scandal is without accountability, but is followed by reward through a form of redeployment.

The bottom line

Fernander’s move from the country’s top cop to the country’s representative in Toronto is a case study in how the system in the Bahamas deals with power and political loyalty.

Though named Clayton Fernander’s successor, Shanta Knowles has yet to be officially appointed police commissioner.

Knowles was Fernander’s pick when he surprisingly resigned last week Wednesday, amidst a backdrop of a high-profile United States indictment implicating members of the police in corruption, with other allegations of a chief superintendent colluding with criminals.

“Shanta Knowles, who has oversight of the northern district as you know and is stationed in Grand Bahama, is winding up her affairs there and, of course, as the handover ceremony is planned, an announcement of the date will be made in the days ahead,” Acting Press Secretary Keishla Adderley said at a press conference at the Office of the Prime Minister.

Before being named, Knowles was the Assistant Commissioner Shanta Knowles, overseeing the northern district and stationed in Grand Bahama.

When she becomes Commissioner, she will be the first woman to prepare for a handover ceremony, signaling a new chapter for the RBPF.

The exact date has not yet been announced.

It remains to be seen the decisive steps that the government will take to ensure a smooth transition and how Knowles will address the systemic and outstanding issues plaguing the organization.

In the wake of recent events that have shaken the foundations of the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF), the eyes of the nation are fixated on new Commissioner of Police Shanta Knowles, tapped for the post after the resignation of Clayton Fernander, in the wake of a U.S. indictment of a chief superintendent and a sergeant of the organization.

The question is whether Knowles can steer the RBPF toward trust, integrity, and efficacy.

Knowles, a veteran with over 33 years of service, has held a leadership role within the RBPF. Her time has been marked by management of the sexual offenses squad and the Trafficking in Person squad, with her diverse experience across various divisions of the RBPF, including the Criminal Investigations Department and the National Crime Prevention Office.

Is she a competent candidate to lead the force in these turbulent times?

The challenges ahead are tough and tempestuous.

The indictment that led to the resignation of Fernander has cast a shadow over the RBPF, raising concerns about systemic corruption and the integrity of law enforcement in the Bahamas.

The public’s trust was eroded when another chief superintendent was placed on leave in June after audio recordings of collusion with criminals in an airport heist were circulated on social media. These instances add to years of allegations from the public about corruption in the organization.

Restoring trust will require not only a change in leadership but a noticeable shift in the culture of the police force.

Knowles’ approach to policing, characterized by community outreach and a focus on crime prevention, could be the key to transforming the public’s perspective of the RBPF.

She has a history as its liaison officer which suggests she has strong communication skills useful in building transparency that could in turn be instrumental in rebuilding confidence in the force.

As the first woman poised to lead the RBPF, Knowles also represents a break from tradition and hopefully inspires a new generation of officers committed to decent and ethical service.

Her appointment offers a chance to redefine the values and vision of the RBPF.

The task is Herculean. The road ahead for Knowles and the RBPF will undoubtedly be fraught with obstacles. We can only hope Knowles has the fortitude, judgment, and moral compass to guide the organization into a new era of policing where integrity is non-negotiable, community relations are paramount, and the badge is worn with honor, untainted by corruption.

Only time will tell.

Shanta Knowles is named the new Commissioner of Police following the surprised resignation of Clayton Fernander in the wake of a US indictment of senior law enforcement officers.

Prime Minister Philip Davis announced Fernander’s resignation in the House of Assembly on Wednesday. This comes as public cries grow loud amid law enforcement officers’ indictment for conspiracy to transport cocaine out of the Bahamas and into the United States. The officers will stand trial in a New York court.

This is one of many allegations of corruption, plaguing the organization.

Knowles will be the country’s first woman Commissioner of Police.

Here’s what to know about her:

1. Before the new position, she was the Assistant Commissioner of Police in Grand Bahama & Northern Bahamas. She was the Commander of the Grand Bahama and Northern Bahamas Division.
2. Knowles also served as the press liaison officer in New Providence.
3. She has been a member of the Royal Bahamas Police Force for the past 33 years.
4. Knowles served 28 years in criminal investigation and has managed the sexual offenses squad and the Trafficking in Person’s squad.
5. During the period 2017-2020, ACP Knowles served as the Director of the National Crime Prevention Office.
6. She was the first woman to head the Criminal Investigation Department, where she was responsible for the investigation of major crimes in the country.

With a little more than 2 weeks in the new year, the Bahamas is now faced with nearly 10 murders, all but one instance, occurring in New Providence.

2022 ended with 123 murders and now it seems the murder rate is set to trend upward for 2023.

Killings have taken their toll on New Providence and it is worrying that the surge may continue.

Those most impacted are young men.

The latest murder case involved 30-year-old Defense Force Officer Alvarez McCoy who was gunned down at his residence in Fox Hill on Wednesday morning after arriving home in his vehicle.

About 4 hours before that tragedy, a man identified on social media as Robert aka Wong, 32, was killed on the front porch of a family residence on Sumner Street, Red Land Acres when gunmen exited a vehicle and fired gunshots at him.

Then earlier on Tuesday morning, a man in his mid-thirties was killed in his car on his way to work when gunmen intercepted him and shot through his car window, killing him instantly.

Then Monday, in Abaco, 24-year-old John Joseph, was killed around 6.30 pm as he arrived home in Bahama Coral. A gunman shot him multiple times and fled in a vehicle.

Why is this happening?

Commissioner of Police Clayton Fernander has attributed the heightened crime last year to illegal guns on the streets and bail granted to suspects charged with murder who commit other acts of violence after release.

Just Wednesday, he told reporters that the criminals charged with murder last year were already given bail and are back on the streets.

“When you look at the [number] of individuals who were charged last year, and the [detection] rate is high. You don’t see that in the world when you’re talking about over 60 percent [detection] rate with respect to homicides.

“And out of that 67 percent, you are looking at between 80 to 90 matters solved, and if you were to do your research, you would note that the majority of those individuals are on bail as we speak. That’s a problem,” he said.

“I’m talking about individuals who are on bail for two and three murders and something is wrong with that…

“Individuals who are found in possession of a firearm, 95 percent of the serious crimes that are occurring the weapon of choice is a firearm, so we want to work hand in hand with the … justice system to make sure that it works and we will do our part as law enforcement,” Fernander said.

Following the killing of a four-year-old on Tuesday night, some members of the public are calling for the ultimate punishment for convicts accused of killing children.

Reports are that Kenton Seymour Jr was in a vehicle with his parents on West and Fleming Streets around 10 pm, when gunmen reportedly chased and fired shots at a man, instead shooting into the windshield of a car, killing the young boy who was sitting on his mother’s lap.

The child was rushed to the hospital but died a short time later.

Renewed calls for capital punishment were echoed on social media.

“Our biggest problem is the Privy Council. They never deem anything ‘the worst of the worst’. Our own judicial system here has been failing us,” Taylor Mara said.

Brittonee Newry asked, “How many kids have to die for the nation to get serious? Does the violence have to hit the home of some elites for the ax to come down on the heads of these murderers?”

Alexandra Major lamented, “This is unacceptable. Something must be done about all these killings and guns.”

Senator Maxine Seymour joined in the chorus, responding to a post by Helen Johnson who asked, “How many more innocent children’s lives will be taken by these ruthless thugs? Members of Parliament and Senators, please make changes to the law.”

Seymour said, ” You’re quite right. Anyone who harms a child in any way, not just death, deserves the ultimate punishment.”

Though the death penalty remains on law books, it has not been carried out since January 2000.

The Bahamas’ highest court based in London, The Privy Council, ruled in 2011 that the death penalty law should only apply to murders deemed the “worst of the worst”–a person who kills a police or defence force officer, a member of the Departments of Customs or Immigration, judiciary or prison services would be eligible for a death sentence; a person convicted of murdering someone during a rape, robbery, kidnapping or during an act of terrorism.

Kenton’s murder was one of three shooting incidents yesterday.

Police said they have seen an uptick in homicide cases. 82 murders have been recorded for the year.

Police said they have the intended target in custody and are searching for the suspects in this latest homicide.

Newly appointed Commissioner of Police Clayton Fernander openly questioned Former Commissioner Paul Rolle’s motive to express his displeasure with the Minnis administration’s decision to place senior officers on leave.

“Why wait until now to highlight that to the members of the public? Fernander who was one of the senior officers sidelined, asked as he appeared as a guest on Global Paradigm Shift with Michelle Malcolm.

Before his retirement, Rolle made headlines last week when he revealed that the Minnis administration pressured him to sideline senior police officers known as ‘PLP operatives’ in 2019 and assign them to various ministries.

Malcolm suggested that perhaps Rolle, who handed the reins of power to Fernander on Tuesday, thought that it was safer to reveal it before his exit

“I guess he figure, he going now, they can’t do him nothing,” Malcolm said.

Fernander retorted, “But why wait now? Why now?”

Malcolm then suggested that Rolle could have “shame them (Minnis administration) then and come out then and say it.” To which Fernander responded, “Exactly.”

Rolle shockingly revealed that the political pressure nearly caused him to resign as Commissioner of Police.

“I think the relationship was getting a little tense because of my stance,” he told a daily.

“I refused to do it. I said, ‘You give me something in writing and I will carry out your instructions. Without that, I’m not going to do it.’”

The senior officers were eventually returned to their posts when the Progressive Liberal Party won the General Election in 2021, one of whom, Leamond Deleveaux was promoted to Deputy Commissioner on Wednesday.

Another suspect attempted to shoot at police in Grand Bahama resulting in the suspect being shot in the arm, before running in bushes where he was found injured by a police firearm.

Police Commissioner revealed that the suspect shot at officers, shooting out the police vehicle’s windshield. Officers later found a 7.62 AK-47 assault rifle in the vehicle of the suspects.

This accounts for a recent spate of police-involved shootings that saw 21 incidents recorded for the year.

Though this latest incident did not end in a fatality, 13 police shootings ended in deaths, while 8 were non-fatal.

“Thirteen idiots crazy enough to pull gun on my officers. Officers will not sit by and let someone shoot at them,” he said.

In recent days, some in the public raised concerns about the recent increases in police-involved shootings, but Rolle assured that he will reveal the facts and is transparent in his dealings.

“Whatever the information is, we will make it public. I will not cover [anything]. The pressure is on me.”

He acknowledged specific concerns for 5 of the cases which are being investigated by an internal committee based on concerns raised by the public.

He said after the internal review, he will make recommendations to the coroner.

What did PM Davis say?

Prime Minister Philip Davis addressed the issue of police-involved shootings before Rolle came to the podium. Davis said he is talking to Rolle and is concerned that the incidents can affect the public’s confidence in the organization.

State of Play

In 2020, twenty police-involved shootings were recorded and 11 suspects died; and for 2019, thirteen cases are on record and 8 suspects died.

The Coroner’s Office has been slow in adjudicating these cases. There remains only one coroner.

Following the dramatic viral video involving the arrest of a belligerent motorcyclist on Monday, Commissioner Paul Rolle awarded two police officers for their actions during a traffic stop.

Constable Tyrese Smith and Sargeant Travis Strachan were given the Commissioner’s Commendation Award and one thousand dollars for showing restraint and being their brother’s keeper.

The big story

Smith, who served two years on the police force, stopped a motorcyclist who was driving recklessly on Tonique Williams Darling Highway on Monday.

The motorcyclist struggled with the officer, pushing and hitting, as he worked to retrain him.

With a gun drawn, Strachan, who was offduty and served 12 years on the police force, ran through traffic to assist Smith in restraining the violent motorcyclist, as other motorists looked on.

What Commissioner Rolle said

Rolle said the video is indicative that police officers put their lives on the line every day to keep the public safe.

Rolle added that he was disappointed that motorists did not assist the officer as he struggled with the motorist, instead chose to record the event.

“This is not a movie. This is a real-life situation. I thought it was in poor taste to make a social event out of it,” he said.

A promoter will be charged in the Magistrate’s Court for violating the COVID-19 protocols after receiving a $92,000 fine for hosting a large social event where attendees did not adhere to the emergency order.

The unknown promoter held a party on Sunday night at Bahama Barrels — a property owned by Graycliff and leased to entertainer Julien “Believe” Thompson and was attended by hundreds of partygoers who refused to comply with the mask mandate and the social distancing policies.

Why it matters

Since the implementation of the COVID-19 Emergency Order, the $92,000 citation is the biggest citation to be issued for violation of the order.

The order bans social gatherings and violators of the order are subject to a $2,000 fine and $300 fine for each person in attendance.

300 people were in attendance at the event over the weekend.

Mums the word

Commissioner of Police Paul Rolle did not release the name of the promoter since the matter will end up in court.

However, Thompson denied that he was responsible for the event even though the property was leased to him.

“It was not my event,” he told the Nassau Guardian.

Rolle warned the public to abide by the law.

“I want to say to people to desist,” he said.

“We are going to enforce the law and the penalties for these social gatherings are hefty. They have to take that into account when they decide that they want to invite people over to have social gatherings. When we find them, we are going to cite them. They are going to feel it.”

The big picture

The country has experienced an exponential increase in COVID-19 cases in recent weeks, surpassing 10,000 cases.

Between Friday and Saturday, 189 cases were–74 cases on Friday and 115 cases on Saturday.

Photo credit: Julien “Believe” Thompson  http://julienbelieveofficial.com/gallery/