The Anti-Corruption Unit of the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) appears to be powerless now that the Minnis Administration has been kicked out of office.
The unit, that relentlessly searched for complainants who were then coerced into filing complaints against prominent PLP members in 2017, has made no effort to investigate allegations of corruption committed during the Free National Movement’s term in office.
An internal investigation revealed “evidence of misappropriation” of Hurricane Dorian funds given to the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture.
The contents of the report were never made public but Lanisha Rolle resigned as Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture five days after it was turned over to then-Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis.
The Bahamas Public Parks and Beaches Authority audit revealed several irregularities related to the issuance of contracts. The Authority consistently went over its budget by millions of dollars between 2019 and 2021.
In the Disaster Reconstruction Authority (DRA), failed FNM candidate Heather Hunt was not only double-dipping as the Authority’s attorney and a contractor, the former senator was paid $300,000 a month by the DRA to clean up the Treasure Cay Dump Site.
An inspection by the new Board revealed that no work had been carried out on the site for weeks and the only piece of equipment on property was a broken down tractor.
Was the Anti-Corruption Unit really formed to stamp out corruption and avoid the abuse of the public purse or was it a political arm of the police force designed to fabricate complaints and falsely accuse PLPs of crimes they didn’t commit?
Under the Minnis-led government, officers swarmed the streets like flies harassing members of the public and intimidating them into giving false statements.
Barbara Hanna, the key witness in the Frank Smith trial, was called by then-Minister of National Security Marvin Dames 13 times before she filed a complaint against Smith. She then admitted in court that she was testifying against her will. The Unit has lost every single one of the high profile cases brought before the courts.
Four years later, the Anti-Corruption Unit is faced with credible evidence of corruption included in audits conducted by credible firms but officers refuse to act.
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