By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Perry Christie should have returned to the country immediately following the armed robbery of his Deputy Philip ‘Brave’ Davis and his wife, according to Opposition Leader Dr Hubert Minnis.

He further criticised Mr Davis for acting as though there was not a “breach of National Security at the highest level” bevause he still travelled to Exuma hours after the ordeal on government business.

Such actions, Dr Minnis said during a press conference at his party’s headquarters, have shown criminals that they are in total control of the country.

Mr Christie is attending the memorial and funeral service of former South African President Nelson Mandela in Johannesburg. He left along with a delegation on Sunday, December 8.  In his absence, Mr Davis is the Acting Prime Minister.

Dr Minnis said: “The Acting Prime Minister jumped onto a plane, headed off to the Exumas as if the very fabric of our democracy was not threatened, as if the armed robbery of the acting Commander in Chief was no big deal. 

“Prime Minister Perry Christie continued on his journey to South Africa as if  nothing serious had happened, as if the incident involved some petty street justice, with individuals known to each other, nothing for the good people of the Bahamas to get too stressed about.

“Are they serious? Why are they down-playing the most serious breach of national security in our country’s history?

“A serious Prime Minister would have returned to town immediately and reassured a shocked and fear-filled nation that we and not the criminals are firmly in control.

“A serious Prime Minister would take serious action and  announce a full shake-up of his national security team given their admitted failure to address crime as promised as highlighted by their failure to provide adequate protection for the Acting Prime Minister.

“It is crystal clear that as the minister in charge of Urban Renewal has been held hostage in a home invasion, Urban Renewal 2.0 has failed.”

Dr Minnis said the FNM was committed to lend its help to the government.

“My colleagues and I in the FNM remain firm in our resolve to work hand in hand with the Christie Administration to break the back of crime. We are ready, willing and able to present solutions to this national catastrophe.”