How can they appoint Dr. Smith after he committed plagiarism which is the highest academic offense. Wow! This definitely confirms the college's lack of integrity.

Rodney Smith 2.0 will be better than Perry 2.0 and UR 2.0 ................ LOL

Even the young Comrade students at the COB are taught if something inside you is telling you it’s wrong to be cheating on a class assignment or test, then don’t do it. I guess the elite board members over at the COB didn’t get the same ethics memo in their inbox's as their students, or why would they have appealed the People's Privy Council verdict that the sentence intended by the “public-at-large” following the COB’s former president's 2005 resignation amounted to cruel and unusual punishment for "plagiarism." That to now ask them as a board to uphold a “lifetime career death sentence for plagiarism" is too cruel a punishment to impose, regardless of the shame this man brought to his office, to all students and his fellow faculty colleagues at COB. For the sake of Jesus, pray tell me the Christie cabinet's fingerprints will not be found on this one too?

This generation thinks that "cut and paste" is really research ......... welcome to the techie age ............ I suppose Doc Smith is on the cutting edge

This is unforgivable. Who made the decision to hire a cheater to be in charge of a school.

The Doc is an academic ......... he said he did not plagiarize ........ even Martin Luther King Jr. borrowed information ............... do you think all of Perry's and Obama's speeches are originals????????????? They have brilliant speech writers who borrow from other politicians??????? SMDH

Why is everyone so surprised? Its the PLP way-Revive the dead, bring back the damaged goods and place them in lofty positions. No one can deny that the Bahamas is one of the most whoring nation in the world. We ain gat no shame or dignity and we would sell our front to anyone for the right price. Don't blame the government, the people are the ones who keep putting them back in power!

Mr. Smiths plagiarism was not citing a source he used...in a speech during his speech.

"Many people are reluctant to show mercy because they don't understand the difference between trust and forgiveness. Forgiveness is letting go of the past. Trust has to do with future behavior." ~Rick Warren

COB is to be commended for understanding the difference between trust and forgiveness. Most great leaders - including presidents, kings, prophets, and saints - have made mistakes. The mistakes, the risks, the successes are what make great leaders. The fundamental question is whether COB can trust Dr. Smith with its future and the resounding answer is YES!

I hope the extend the same courtesy to their students when they follow the leader!

Exactly! This just opens a can of worms. Now the argument will be if he can do it and get away with it so can I. This matter has nothing to do with forgiveness and trust. It has everything to do with policies and procedures taken when someone does not follow the college rules. A COLLEGE PRESIDENT should be held to the highest accountability.

Plagiarizing is most certainly NOT a mistake. It is a willful act. This man should be both ashamed and unwilling to put COB in such a terrible position. They are seeking university status. Who will be able to take the institution seriously with a known, proven CHEAT - a thief of another's work. What sort of example is this to set for the students of COB? How will the College take action when students are found to plagiarize or cheat?

Mistakes do not make great leaders. They make messes.

A cheat and a thief cannot be trusted. Rodney Smith does not deserve trust.

@afficianado/@MaLambee
JUST AN FYI - Dr. Smith was WRONGLY accused of plagiarism.

p.s. If a person is put in jail for murder and 3 years later are freed because of incorrect accusations, is that person still considered a murderer?

The answer is no..

Where is the proof? Why was this announcement NOT made prior to him being reinstated as president?

THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION. The Media should have already made it known that he was falsely accused of plagiarism so this matter would not even be at question. The work that Dr. Smith was accused of plagiarizing was that of one if his friends. That person had given Dr. Smith permission to use the work people are saying was plagiarized. I don't see how this is considered "cheating" or setting a bad example for students.

Well the onus is really on him to clear his name.

Alfred Sears is the Council President ,Frankie Wilson is a major contributor. Duhhhh! This the Bahamas folks, even though we never was know for growing bananas, we have all the semblances of a Banana Republic. We should change our name to the Commonwealth of Bananas.SMH

It's the Bahamian mentality, the same way we can only elect 2 persons over and over again to be Prime minister, we only choose those who have failed us before to lead us again!

Get rid of this money pitt, send your kids to florida for school or somewhere else in the U.S. The government can make a deal with many major colleges in the U.S to provide a in state or reduced cost to Bahamian students. Example Brigham Young University offers a great deal with $5200 tuition, come up with housing and books and u get a great education. The money they spend on this government money pit along with private donations can be used for scholarships for good students from low income areas.