pharoah
04-28-07, - 09:08 AM
http://www.thenassauguardian.com/national_local/298698555855370.php
Armed forces vote
By TAMARA McKENZIE, Guardian Political Editor
tamara@nasguard.com
The orders of Police Commissioner Paul Farqu-harson were blatantly defied Thursday as scores of officers who are members of the Police Staff Association sported their red shirts at various locations during yesterday's advanced poll. The shirts were in direct violation of the commissioner's warning not to wear them.
Yesterday Deputy Commis-sioner of Police John Rolle vowed that following an investigation, those officers who dissobeyed the commissioner's order will be "dealt with."
"It is a matter that will be investigated. The commissioner made an order and if anyone breaches the order, then they will be dealt with," said Rolle in a phone interview with The Guardian on Thursday.
Farquharson had reportedly advised the association in a letter earlier this week not to wear their red association t-shirts throughout the political season, in addition to any t-shirts that were yellow. It is believed that the move would signify that officers were not being neutral, and were supporting the Progressive Liberal Party or the Free National Movement.
Farquharson told The Guardian that if a report is made on the defiant officers, he is sure that the "appropriate" response would follow, and he would have Deputy Commissioner Rolle, who is the "disciplinarian" of the Force, investigate the matter. He said policemen are held to a higher standard and that the memo he issued earlier this week speaks for itself. The memo urged officers to continue to perform their duties professionally. But when asked if it was against the law for officers to wear the red shirts, he reiterated that the police were held to a higher standard referred the Guardian to the contents of his memo issued earlier this week, which urged officers to continue to perform their duties professionally and in accordance with the oath that they are sworn to uphold.
Chairman of the Police Staff Association, Inspector Bradley Sands, said most of his executive members and some board members — about 33 officers — all wore their red shirts Thursday, including himself. An obviously irate Sands said he was "offended" that the country was not focusing on more pressing issues that were facing police officers, such as proper health care, risk allowance and salaries. The association has also sought the counsel of top constitutional lawyer Damien Gomez, who told The Guardian earlier this week that he would take action on behalf of officers if they are penalized by higher ranks in the Force for wearing their red shirts.
"Everybody is complaining about the color of our shirts, but for God's sake, give us some health insurance," Sands charged. "Nobody is dealing with the fact that we have senior police officers that are busy campaigning for the Progressive Liberal Party. We have police officers who are riding around in Urban Renewal cars, campaigning for the PLP, and there are senior police officers who are assigned to be paid at rallies but they are dancing up on the stage," Sands alleged, yet, he added that everyone was putting an emphasis on the red shirts of the Association. Shirts, which he said were worn on two occasions last year.
Sands said even though members of the Association are police officers, their Constitutional rights should not be "flushed down the toilet" and the Police Act does is not rise above the Constitution. "The first thing we are taught in the police training college, is that the Constitution is the supreme law of The Bahamas, and you simply cannot violate people's rights because they wear a uniform, you just can't and I have a major problem with this."
Armed forces vote
By TAMARA McKENZIE, Guardian Political Editor
tamara@nasguard.com
The orders of Police Commissioner Paul Farqu-harson were blatantly defied Thursday as scores of officers who are members of the Police Staff Association sported their red shirts at various locations during yesterday's advanced poll. The shirts were in direct violation of the commissioner's warning not to wear them.
Yesterday Deputy Commis-sioner of Police John Rolle vowed that following an investigation, those officers who dissobeyed the commissioner's order will be "dealt with."
"It is a matter that will be investigated. The commissioner made an order and if anyone breaches the order, then they will be dealt with," said Rolle in a phone interview with The Guardian on Thursday.
Farquharson had reportedly advised the association in a letter earlier this week not to wear their red association t-shirts throughout the political season, in addition to any t-shirts that were yellow. It is believed that the move would signify that officers were not being neutral, and were supporting the Progressive Liberal Party or the Free National Movement.
Farquharson told The Guardian that if a report is made on the defiant officers, he is sure that the "appropriate" response would follow, and he would have Deputy Commissioner Rolle, who is the "disciplinarian" of the Force, investigate the matter. He said policemen are held to a higher standard and that the memo he issued earlier this week speaks for itself. The memo urged officers to continue to perform their duties professionally. But when asked if it was against the law for officers to wear the red shirts, he reiterated that the police were held to a higher standard referred the Guardian to the contents of his memo issued earlier this week, which urged officers to continue to perform their duties professionally and in accordance with the oath that they are sworn to uphold.
Chairman of the Police Staff Association, Inspector Bradley Sands, said most of his executive members and some board members — about 33 officers — all wore their red shirts Thursday, including himself. An obviously irate Sands said he was "offended" that the country was not focusing on more pressing issues that were facing police officers, such as proper health care, risk allowance and salaries. The association has also sought the counsel of top constitutional lawyer Damien Gomez, who told The Guardian earlier this week that he would take action on behalf of officers if they are penalized by higher ranks in the Force for wearing their red shirts.
"Everybody is complaining about the color of our shirts, but for God's sake, give us some health insurance," Sands charged. "Nobody is dealing with the fact that we have senior police officers that are busy campaigning for the Progressive Liberal Party. We have police officers who are riding around in Urban Renewal cars, campaigning for the PLP, and there are senior police officers who are assigned to be paid at rallies but they are dancing up on the stage," Sands alleged, yet, he added that everyone was putting an emphasis on the red shirts of the Association. Shirts, which he said were worn on two occasions last year.
Sands said even though members of the Association are police officers, their Constitutional rights should not be "flushed down the toilet" and the Police Act does is not rise above the Constitution. "The first thing we are taught in the police training college, is that the Constitution is the supreme law of The Bahamas, and you simply cannot violate people's rights because they wear a uniform, you just can't and I have a major problem with this."