Bahamas Crisis Centre Director Dr. Sandra Dean-Patterson said yesterday she made it clear to Tall Pines MP Leslie Miller on Sunday that the center was not accepting his check.
Dean-Patterson, who called into the Gems radio talk show 'Reaction' with host Deborah Bartlett, said she specifically asked Miller to meet her at the Crisis Centre headquarters to share that information with him.
Miller offered the donation amid controversy surrounding comments he made in the House of Assembly about abusing an ex-girlfriend.
Dean-Patterson said she was confused to read that Miller said he was shocked to learn that his check was rejected.
"I was quite surprised to [read] in the paper that he said he didn't understand, because he left with his check," she said.
"That's why I didn't quite understand that."
She added, "I thought that we were on the same wave length."
In the statement issued on Sunday, the Crisis Centre said the acceptance of Miller's check would be "contrary to the principles that guide our work on behalf of victims of domestic violence".
Miller met with Dean-Patterson around 4 p.m. on Sunday and the center released the statement at 3 p.m.
"I didn't realize that it was going out so early, but it went out at 3 p.m. and I think after the meeting apparently he got a call and it seemed to really upset him," she said.
"I still don't understand because we had said it in the meeting. I remember specifically saying, 'I wanted to give you the respect of sitting down and meeting with you so you could understand why it was that we were not accepting the check'.
"I told him we were releasing a statement and I said I know when the statement is released the press will come after you and I wanted you to be able to say that we had talked and you had decided on the direction of giving the check to the agencies that provide housing (for abused women and children)."
On Monday, Miller said he was shocked that the center had rejected his donation of $1,000.
"She never said to Leslie Miller that she could not accept the check," he said.
"We had a very productive meeting, which surprised me. I mean I was on board with her and she was on board with me."
Miller said the press statement from the center would not affect his pledge to assist abused women in the country.
"Either you will be serious in assisting women, or you will have your organization where you have these highfalutin women who believe they have the answers to everything and want to try and make someone look bad," he said.
"It doesn't hurt me because I can give my money to anybody, as I always do."

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