resignation

North Eleuthera MP Sylvanus Petty remained mum when news circulated that he would be fired after he revealed in a court case that his daughter was granted a maintenance contract with the Water and Sewage Corporation where he served as executive chairman.

However, when the Office of the Prime Minister accepted the resignation at the request of Prime Minister Philip Davis, Petty took to social media. “Thank you all for the tremendous amount of support, the calls, texts, messages and most importantly the prayers.

“It is much appreciated.”

Prior, local dailies reported he was unreachable for comment and may have turned off his phone over the last few days. Now, this recent posting on social media may be an indication he is ready to talk.

Since he took the stand on Monday to testify in the Adrian Gibson court case, Gibson’s lawyer Damian Gomez KC hit him with a cross-examination, asking an unexpected question about a contract granted to his daughter, to which Petty said, “None of my family ever came to the board for a contract for us to vote on.”

Gomez then revealed that his daughter Sylatheia Gierszewsk was granted a contract of $26,000 for her company Mainscape Maintenance, which never came to the board’s attention.

Petty responded, “They are of smaller value. They don’t come to the board.”

Petty then doubled down that he does not frown upon nepotism because “everyone in the Bahamas was family.”

The Free National Movement Chairman Duane Sands then called for his resignation, prompting Davis to respond, who said he would review the claims. Days later Davis then requested a resignation letter from Petty.

On Wednesday, he posted to Facebook, a scripture verse from Galatians 6:9, “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap if we faint not.”

Others responded, “Be encouraged Syl (his nickname.) No weapon formed against you shall prosper.”

Another supporter Jerome Deleveaux added, “Fret not thyself of evildoers, my friend.”

Petty remains the deputy house speaker.

After months of waiting to see if the controversial sitting North Abaco MP Kirk Cornish will face charges for the alleged sexual and physical assault of his former girlfriend, the first-time MP will be arraigned on charges of sexual assault and threats of death.

The new and stunning development came Tuesday evening though police reports failed to specifically identify the “48-year-old male of Abaco.”

Cornish responded after reports circulated that he was indeed the individual to be arraigned in the Magistrate’s Court at 10 am.

“The charges are based on allegations which are totally false.

“I am fully confident that the facts which emerge during the judicial process will prove my innocence. I look forward to ending this nightmare,” he said in a statement.

This statement came after he resigned as Parliamentary Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister, to which PM Philip Davis said the Director of Public Prosecutions “determined that there is sufficient evidence to bring charges” against Cornish.

“It is now up to our judicial system to resolve the outcome,” Davis summed up in a press release.

Cornish was questioned in May about the alleged incident which occurred in April and turned himself in to authorities in Grand Bahama where the police report was filed, but was soon released after questioning.

Many in the public doubted his arrest considering his public profile.

This case is unprecedented in nature and rarely do Bahamians see the arrest and charge of parliamentary members.

His charge and arraignment means he has a case to answer but Cornish said the evidence will show that “this was a break up that was manipulated and exploited for political reasons—and nothing more.

“The truth will set me free.”

Cornish remains the member of parliament for North Abaco.

Newly appointed British Prime Minister Liz Truss resigned her position following an economic plan many described as disastrous.

Truss spent only a month and half in office following her official appointment by Queen Elizabeth II on September 6.

Key points

• Her new mini budget plunged the British pound. Though she reversed it and appointed a new chancellor, she faced opposition within her party and the economic market as UK grapples with inflation.
• She is now the shortest-serving prime minister in British history.
• She will remain on as PM until the Conservative Party selects a new party leader next week.
• She served under former PMs Theresa May and Boris Johnson in various capacities. After Johnson resigned, she was the favourite to replace him.

DNA Leader Arinthia Komolafe announced her resignation from the Democratic National Alliance, after the party’s third unsuccessful attempt at the electoral poll.

Komolafe made an official announcement at the party’s headquarters on Friday, citing various reasons, including a financial strain on her personal resources.

Komolafe acknowledged the difficulty of third parties to secure funding for campaigns, while admitting that she spent nearly six figures to fund the DNA’s recent political campaign.

“Third party politics in the Bahamas is brutal and extremely difficult. It involves taking on established guards of the PLP and the FNM,” she said.

Komolafe lamented the current model of operation within the party stating it is unsustainable since the party depends on volunteers. Komolafe said during her tenure, she served as the financier of operations, writer of press releases and charged the administrative work of the party.

She said the candidates in the recent election personally funded their campaigns.

The big picture

Arinthia Komolafe succeeded the party’s founder Branville McCartney, to become leader of the party in 2017.

In the run up to the election, the party faced internal turmoil and fighting made public.

In the 2021 early election, the party suffered its worst support, garnering only 1,742 votes in 22 seats; in 2017, the DNA received 7,537 votes in its run for 39 constituencies; and in 2012, the DNA got more than 13,000 votes in 13 constituencies.

Why it matters

A third party has never won a general election nor seats in the House of Assembly. Leaders of third parties wound up joining the established parties after being wooed by positions and support.

Komolafe was praised as the first woman leader of a political party. However, she seemed to have never electrified her base.

What’s next?

Komolafe said she will not leave front line politics. But at the moment, she will focus on personal endeavors.

The party’s deputy leader Steven Nesbitt becomes interim leader.

Former Coalition of Independents member Wellington Roberts said he would reveal damning details about the party if members persist in criticizing his decision to leave and support the Progressive Liberal Party.

“I ain’t tell the full story. If I tell the full story, the wall of Jericho will come crumbling down,” Roberts warned.

When Roberts initially resigned from the COI, he cited health, safety, and financial concerns after receiving the nomination to run for the party in the North Andros and the Berry Island constituency.

However, on Monday, Roberts insisted there were other reasons why he left the party, “that I would not mention at this time.”

Since the move to leave the party, Roberts has received backlash on social media with many calling him a “traitor.”

Roberts said on Monday during a social media live, “I ain’t tell the full story yet. I am begging you and your organization to leave me alone. The slick jeers, the slick comments…you’ll leave me alone.”

He spoke directly to Bain, “Talk to them, because you’ll control them. They are you’ll ‘blackanites,’ ‘COInites,’ ‘Lincolnites.’ Talk to them. Leave me alone. Let sleeping dogs lie. I ain’t tell the full story.”

Why it matters

Roberts was considered an influential member of the third-party COI before his resignation. He garnered a large number of social media followings as he worked with Bain to expose “corruption” that they said are in the governing party and the PLP.

On the day of his resignation, he was seen dressed in a PLP shirt standing with Opposition Leader Philip Davis, while campaigning for the party.

Roberts said he now supports the PLP’s candidate for the North Andros and the Berry Islands Leonardo Lighbourne

Former Cabinet Minister Lanisha Rolle said a resignation letter released by Cabinet has caused her “hurt and harm.”

During her presentation in the House of Assembly on Tuesday afternoon, Rolle sought to clarify the rumors surrounding her resignation from her ministerial post as Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture.

“…I requested further clarification of the statement made by the Cabinet, which incorrectly insinuated that my resignation was as a result of some investigation. The good member for Killarney (Prime Minister Hubert Minnis) to some degree clarified in a public statement to the press that there was no investigation concerning this member. I thank him.

“Sometimes, however, what you give to the world, you can not take back. Appreciating the hurt and harm this has caused me, I do not wish on any other…”

The big story

In February, after Rolle, the only woman minister in the Minnis-led administration, submitted a resignation letter to Prime Minister Hubert Minnis, Cabinet soon released a confirmation letter of Rolle’s resignation as Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, stating that, “certain matters have been brought to the attention of the prime minister and are under investigation.”

Rolle was then replaced with Iram Lewis who now serves in the post.

What Lanisha Rolle says

“…No ministry I kept, held money. I want to make that clear because the public seems to think that there was some chest of money that a minister holds…What cheque? Ministers don’t sign cheques. Minister don’t hold cheques…No ministry I kept, held money…” she said.

Rolle said all financial transactions can be verified.

She then asserted that as a woman minister, she was bullied and was not protected.

“But I stood my ground. Even if I stood alone.”

Why it matters

Speculations swirled that Rolle was involved in some impropriety within her ministry, which led many people to believe her resignation was a result of financial wrongdoing.

Since, February, Rolle nor Cabinet has directly stated the reason for her resignation.

Former Cabinet Minister Lanisha Rolle broke her silence on Tuesday for the first time since the FNM’s decision to not renominate her for the upcoming general election.

During the budget debate, Rolle used the opportunity to set the record straight in regard to the party’s decision to nominate a new candidate for the Sea Breeze constituency, at times scolding the government in its handling of the issue.

In her critique of the government’s handling of her, Rolle said, ” It’s not what you do. It’s how you do it.”

The party recently nominated Maxine Rolle instead for the constituency, which Rolle won in 2017 when she ran on the FNM’s ticket. Rolle has since become a controversial figure within the party with numerous complaints coming from the two ministerial posts she once held–Minister of Social Services and Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture.

Rolle said she is disappointed that the party did not renominate her for the 2022 General Election, saying that her interest was to serve the constituents of Sea Breeze.

“Approximately three weeks ago, the Free National Movement chose to ratify another candidate in my stead to contest the upcoming general election. Given the truth of my labour, investment and sacrifice, given the overwhelming support of the Sea Breeze executives up to the time of that decision, and the ongoing support of the Sea Breeze constituents over the last 5 years, this decision and the events leading up to it, is most disappointing,” she said.

She added that her intention was to continue to serve the constituency, however, “the party has its perogative and can exercise its power intrusted in it, and can do as it sees fit.”

“It is well,” Rolle expounded. “My only wish is that your words be guided with the truth.”

Rolle said she received “overwhelming support from the executives of the Sea Breeze constituency” adding that the executives “were all disappointed to see the position the party took, notwithstanding their expressed support” for her.

“I hold no malice or ill-will. I wish the FNM all the best,” she said. But the situation, like many, most unfortunate, in my mind, was distasteful,” she said.

Rolle said when she realized that she was not ratified early like other parliamentarians, she then wrote the party notifying it that she would not seek renomination for 2022.

In his new appointment as Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, Iram Lewis said he commits to further develop sports and the country’s youth since the resignation of former minister Lanisha Rolle.

Why it matters

Prime Minister Hubert Minnis appointed Lewis, a former athlete, to the new ministerial post. Lewis is the former minister of state for Disaster Preparedness, Management and Reconstruction.

The big picture

Former Sports Minister Rolle resigned yesterday, not giving any reasons for the resignation. But a statement later released by the Cabinet’s Office stated that “certain matters have been brought to the attention of the Prime Minister and are under investigation.”

What Lewis says

“As a former athlete, a constant supporter of our young people and their potential, and as someone committed to our creative cultural communities, I am excited to take on this responsibility.  I look forward to engaging with the cultural and creative arts community in the ongoing development and promotion of Bahamian arts, culture and heritage. Because the development of our young people is at the heart of national development, I will be a champion for Bahamian youth and young adults.

Lewis continued, “I also understand the vital role that sports play in the holistic development of young people and our communities. In keeping with the recent announcement by the Prime Minister, I look forward to the reintroduction of the Bahamas Games.

“I pledge to work in a spirit of respect and courtesy with those in my ministry and the various youth, sports and cultural groups with whom we engage. I will listen to advice. I will work to bring people together to advance causes that help our athletes, young people and cultural groups. The Bahamas is a great little country. Our people have so much talent.

“My focus will be on helping nurture that talent in a spirit of unity and togetherness,” Lewis said.

Prime Minister Hubert Minnis is investigating matters in the Ministry of Youth Sports and Culture after Lanisha Rolle announced her resignation from the post as Minister.

“Certain matters have been brought to the attention of the Prime Minister and are under investigation,” according to a statement from the Cabinet Office.

Why it matters?

Lanisha Rolle presented her resignation from the ministerial post on Tuesday, to the Governor-General. She did not cite her reasons for abandoning the post, only thanking Minnis, cabinet colleagues, support staff at the ministry, and her family for their support while she served as minister.

Rolle said she remained committed to serving as the Seabreeze MP for the remainder of her term as their representative.

The big picture

Minnis has accepted Rolle’s resignation.

Rolle is the fourth Cabinet minister to resign from the Minnis administration, joining Peter Turnquest, Dr Duane Sands, and Brent Symonette.

Who replaces Rolle?

Minister of State in the Ministry of Disaster Preparedness, Management and Reconstruction Iram Lewis will demit his post to become the substantive Minister of Youth, Sports, and Culture.

The Prime Minister has advised His Excellency the Governor-General to appoint the Hon. Iram Lewis to the post that Rolle once held. Minnis thanked Rolle for her service.

House Speaker and Member of Parliament for Nassau Village has formally resigned from the Free National Movement, becoming an independent member of Parliament, according to a letter seen circulated on social media.

In a letter addressed to the Secretary-General of the FNM, Sefrent Rolle, Moultrie says “with immediate effect, I formally end my seven-month consecutive withdrawal from the  Free National Movement, by tendering my resignation thereby cancelling my membership.”

The big picture

Moultrie joins Centerville MP Reece Chipman and Golden Isles MP Vaughn Miller in resigning from the party to become independent parliamentarians. Miller has since joined up with the Progressive Liberal Party.

Why it matters

Moultrie in recent times has publicly criticized the government, citing his convictions on the lack of autonomy and independence of the legislative body.

In the resignation letter, he makes mention of the faults he has with the party, again citing, “convictions on fundamental essentials of democracy and good governance such as the separation of powers, autonomy and independence of the legislature and judiciary, accountability and transparency, freedom of information and respect for the constitution.”