Is Gray in contempt

Fri, Mar 27th 2015, 12:48 AM

Dear Editor,

I am not writing as a member of any political party, but as a concerned Bahamian who wants the best for my country that has given me so much. Every tub must stand on its own bottom. The cry of many Bahamians since time immemorial is that regular people who run afoul of the law are in deep trouble when it is time for representation, but the well-connected are often let off "scot-free".

This has for the most part been a question of unproven allegation, hearsay and innuendo, but now we finally have  the case of an attorney, a member of Parliament, and I daresay an integral part of the Cabinet, with not only ministerial responsibilities but who is the substantive minister of local government, under whose purview the island administrators fall.

V. Alfred Gray has allegedly interfered in the "due process of the law". Smell it yet? Democracy in The Bahamas has taken many blows as conflict of interest has been the order of the day. In fact, no one seems to be concerned whenever such questions are raised.

Allegations of conflict of interest have been levied against many members of Parliament on both sides of the political divide, but no one is held to account. No one! Also, meddling in various cases has been alleged and denied, but who could say that this particular incident with the loquacious Mr. Gray is not the "straw that broke the camel's back"?

I am not a legal scholar, therefore I cannot quote any part of law that would substantiate my concern, but I know this: It is alleged that Gray interfered in a case before the courts by his suggestion, advice or otherwise, as to what should or could happen. Is it safe to say that he directed his subordinate as to how he could or should go?

I stand to be corrected, but can he be held in contempt of court? There is a disquieting feeling, like we are now a lawless society. Many things have happened to suggest this, but none has been so blatant in suggesting that this country is like the "wild wild west", like this brazen and unapologetic act by Gray. As much as Gray talks, there is absolutely no explanation that can fix this.

The recently elected president of the Bar Association would have rendered his organization and all of its members impotent, if he did not gather the courage to address this embarrassing act. We, John Q. Public, will be waiting to see who enters stage left and what recitation will be read. I know that the quiet that is being heard is one of disgust. Many are now asking, "What next?"

Louis D. Brandeis said, "Our government... teaches the whole people by its example. If the government becomes the lawbreaker, it breeds contempt for law; it invites every man to become a law unto himself; it invites anarchy".

As Bahamians we all are starved for something to be proud of, but this has set us back decades. Please do not insult us with fancy PR, we are considerably wiser that one would imagine. The undercurrent is humming a song; I wonder what the words to the song will be. Time will tell.

Maya Angelou said, "Courage is the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently."

I am, and always will be totally unafraid of any human being. I fear Jesus Christ only, both now and forever, Amen!

- Ivoine W. Ingraham.

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