AG Fires Back at FNM Over Criticism of Bastian and Miller-Brice’s Cabinet Posts

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NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Bring the matter to the courts, that’s the challenge the Progressive Liberal Party is laying at the feet of the opposing Free National Movement over the appointment of two cabinet ministers with gaming ties.

A back and forth ensued in the Senate last evening during the budget debate.

Attorney General and Leader of Government Business in the Senate, Wayne Munroe, challenging the Free National Movement to take the appointment of Cabinet Ministers Sebas Bastian and Leslia Miller-Brice to court.

His comments came in the Senate on Tuesday after FNM Senator Arinthia Komolafe once again pointed to the Davis administration’s failure to address concerns over its appointment of individuals with ties to the gaming industry as cabinet ministers.

And while her exact words were struck from the record by Senate President Lashell Adderley, Munroe rose to his feet and made this challenge.

Wayne Munroe K.C. – Leader of Government Business, Senate

“The Senator suggests that the government, of which three senators here are a part, have breached the rule of law, which is a very serious allegation. I know that the party, the FNM, had threatened to file an action in the court, and that is where a rule of law plays out. If you have a view, you test it in front of the courts.”

Back in March, two months before the general election, Bastian stepped down as Island Luck CEO, while Brice’s husband, Leander Brice, resigned from his position as chief executive officer of A Sure Win.

The Gaming Board later released a statement saying the Gaming Act does not create any bar or qualification for appointment to the Cabinet and that it only restricts and regulates who may hold the types of licenses provided for thereunder.

But also rising to his feet was Opposition Business Leader in the Senate, Ellsworth Johnson, defending Komolafe and saying the explanation is not enough.

Ellsworth Johnson – Leader of Opposition Business, Senate

“The body responsible for monitoring and supervising the gaming industry has not done a sufficient job to answer the question as to whether or not there is any connection between the persons appointed to the Cabinet and those businesses. That body doesn’t have the luxury to give uncertain answers. It should be a yes or no.”

Leslie Miller – Former MP

“Gaming Commission. So let’s see what happens in the next few days. They have to give an account of it. The chairman of the Gaming Board and his crew must step forward and explain to the Bahamian people why they felt it was okay for them to give those two casinos a pass. My daughter’s no different from nobody else, a Bahamian just like us. You’re in Parliament, do your job.

So why do you think the government hasn’t given that transparency as yet?

Because they just won. They’re settling into their different portfolios. Nobody even knows who’s in office again. You know, Sebastian doesn’t know where he’s going, Leslie doesn’t know where she’s going, and half of them who just got picked don’t even know where they’re going.”