Responding to calls for the police to shut down web shop gaming, Police Commissioner Ellison Greenslade declared yesterday that no one can tell him how to do his job.
"No one has a right to tell me what date and what time and who and how," said Greenslade at a press conference at Police Headquarters on East Street.
"It can not happen...That is an insult to our intelligence. The Bahamian people must hear me say it can not happen."
However, Greenslade acknowledged that police have an obligation to shut down businesses that are conducting illegal activities.
Greenslade was responding to Free National Movement (FNM) Leader Dr. Hubert Minnis' criticisms of the government's and police force's "inaction".
Last week, Chief Justice Sir Michael Barnett lifted a conservatory order that protected web shops from interference by authorities.
On Sunday, Minnis urged the police to act in light of that ruling.
"We urge a forthright and immediate course of action by the police to obtain search warrants, to close down all illegal gambling and lottery operations, and to confiscate all computer terminals, servers and the ATM machines which are being used to facilitate illegal gambling, and illegal money transfers, whether that gambling takes place in the web shops themselves, or in private homes, so that the law of The Bahamas, the sound and well considered ruling of the chief justice, and the administration of justice generally are not brought into disrepute by what appears to be lame excuses, and no action by the police and the minister of national security," he said.
Prime Minister Perry Christie also responded to Minnis yesterday.
"The government, the prime minister doesn't get involved in enforcing it. The police know what their job must be," said Christie. "... I can't [insert] myself and say 'go and arrest this one; go and arrest that one.' The police officers are well-trained and a well-led organization and this whole thing about the leader of the opposition, you know what he can do -- tell him go have a swim."
Greenslade said the only thing that can hold his feet to the fire is the law.
"The commissioner is bound to the law," he said.
"I will not take instructions from anyone but the law. It's as simple as that. I'm not 'wishy- washy'.
"And that's a general comment to anyone. I'm not going to be disrespectful to anyone over me.
"I've asked my officers to follow my lead. I'm not going to respond or offer my opinions in an arena where I'm not allowed to. That would be disrespectful."
Greenslade acknowledged that the public has a right to comment on and question police action.
"When you offer a comment it's a comment being offered in The Bahamas, which is a country that you claim to love, I love and we all love and when we have destroyed it because of carelessness, there is no way of turning back," he said.
"I don't know if there is any other way that I can put that to you."
On January 28, a majority of people who voted in a referendum voted against the establishment of a national lottery and the regulation and taxation of web shops.
The next day, Christie ordered all web shop operators to shut down their gaming operations immediately or face arrest and prosecution.
On January 30, attorneys Wayne Munroe and Alfred Sears, a former attorney general, obtained the conservatory order on behalf of Island Luck, Island Game, Whatfall, FML Group of Companies, Asue Draw, Paradise Games and Chances.
The lawyers have appealed Sir Michael's ruling.

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