Minister of National Security Dr. Bernard Nottage said on Saturday he had no prior knowledge that police planned to execute a search warrant at the home of Free National Movement (FNM) Chairman Darron Cash, nor did he inquire about details after learning of the incident.
When contacted for comment, Cash told The Nassau Guardian that "ignorance" seems to be a convenient excuse for the Christie administration.
On Thursday, Leader of the Opposition Dr. Hubert Minnis accused the government of orchestrating a "political witch hunt" against Cash.
But Nottage called this statement "foolish".
Nottage said Minnis' suggestions that the seizure of two laptops and a smartphone from Cash's home by police on Thursday was politically motivated "smacks of political mischief".
"But that's not surprising to anybody because the opposition leader is becoming known as one who routinely puts his foot in his mouth with inappropriate and off-colored remarks," Nottage said.
"For the record, as the substantive minister responsible [for] the Ministry of National Security, I take the lead in setting government policy.
"I do not interfere with the operations of the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) as that is the responsibility of the commissioner of police and his executive team according to the dictates of the law.
"As trained officers in law enforcement, the police were simply discharging their duties under the law and the person of Mr. Cash is immaterial to the job of the police as nobody is above the law."
Minnis said he was not in a position to comment when contacted yesterday.
He did say the FNM will hold a rally tomorrow night and will discuss further action at a council meeting tonight.
However, Cash said he was not surprised by Nottage's statement.
"One needs not to have been a minister to know that rule number one of Cabinet government is that ministers are responsible for their own acts and the acts of their departments. Ignorance is no excuse, except under Perry Christie."
He added: "Neither he nor the prime minister seem to know or own up to what is happening in the RBPF unless and until it is convenient for them.
"As to the minister of national security's lame claim that no one is above the law, that is a big joke. If he turns to his left and right in Cabinet he will see at least two fellow ministers who have violated the existing data privacy laws."
Cash said Nottage has tried to distance himself from the police force's alleged "wire-tapping and eavesdropping of the phones of opposition politicians and other targets of his government's wrath".
On Thursday, three officers seized the items from Cash's home, reportedly in connection to a probe into the alleged leak of confidential information from the Bank of The Bahamas (BOB).
FNM Senator Carl Bethel, Cash's lawyer, has said the items were grabbed out of Cash's hands and taken by police. Bethel also said police "refused to deliver or leave a copy of the 'search warrant'" with his client.
Bethel said he will appear before Senior Justice Jon Isaacs on Wednesday to challenge the constitutionality of police search and seizure.
The FNM raised concerns about BOB after The Punch reported a series of allegations regarding loans from the bank.
Cash has spoken out on the issue several times over the past few months.
On Friday Cash denied that he or his wife, who works at BOB, are behind alleged leaks of sensitive bank information.

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