By NICO SCAVELLA

Tribune Staff Reporter

nscavella@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Perry Christie has been accused of trying to suppress freedom of speech by the leader of the FNM, Dr Hubert Minnis.

On Thursday, the prime minister issued a statement saying that he would sue the chairman of the FNM, Michael Pintard, for defamation over allegations made regarding the arrest of Randy Rolle, the Bahamas Consul General to Atlanta, during a visit to Bimini. The statement also said he had instructed his attorney to take action against the newspapers.

Dr Minnis said: “Prime Minister Christie has been called upon to explain the circumstances surrounding the arrest and speedy release of Consul General Rolle.

“Instead, he has chosen to try to silence freedom of speech and information by threatening to sue the Press, the FNM and its chairman, Senator Pintard.

“Mr Rolle has given conflicting accounts to the media. Initially, it was reported that he said he had not been arrested. He later admitted that he had been detained by the police.

“The Commissioner of Police went further, stating that Rolle was arrested for disorderly conduct... Clearly, in the face of all this confusion, the prime minister, Mr Rolle and the Commissioner of Police have much to explain to the nation.”

Dr Minnis said the FNM would not be distracted from speaking up. He added: “We will not be intimidated. We will not be silenced. The government owes an explanation to the Bahamian people. It’s time to come clean.”

Earlier, it was revealed that Mr Pintard has retained lawyer Fred Smith, QC, to defend him against the possible defamation lawsuit.

In his statement on Thursday, Mr Christie claimed that Mr Pintard had “falsely and maliciously” accused him of interfering in the release of Bahamas Consul General to Atlanta Randy Rolle from police detention over the Easter holiday weekend.

When contacted yesterday, Mr Smith told The Tribune that he and his client received a letter from Graham Thompson and Co on behalf of Mr Christie requesting an apology, a retraction of his statements and for damages to be paid.

Mr Smith said a response to the letter would be issued by Wednesday.

He said to his knowledge no writ has yet been issued.

While in Bimini, reportedly hoping to conclude a major deal for the island, Mr Rolle was handcuffed and taken into custody on April 3 by police there for “disorderly conduct”.

The matter did not come to light until the following Tuesday, when Mr Pintard released a press statement saying that Mr Christie was duty bound to explain the circumstances surrounding Mr Rolle’s arrest and subsequent release.

Mr Pintard claimed that while Mr Rolle was in police custody he was allowed a phone call that led to his eventual release.

“A short time thereafter apparently the commissioner of police called the head of the Bimini Police Station,” Mr Pintard alleged. “As a result of that conversation Mr Rolle was unconditionally released.”

Last Wednesday, however, Police Commissioner Ellison Greenslade said it was “erroneous” for anyone to assert that he ordered the release of Mr Rolle. He further denied that he or any politician, including Mr Christie, had intervened on Mr Rolle’s behalf, adding that his release was the result of a decision by an assistant superintendent on the island.

Mr Greenslade said he became aware of the incident after Mr Rolle was released from police custody. He said Mr Rolle had sent him a message on the mobile messenger service WhatsApp, followed by an email to communicate the series of events.

It was then that the commissioner said that he ordered the superintendent in Bimini to look into the matter.

Additionally, Mr Rolle has also denied the claims of political interference, and said the matter was “resolved without recourse to any politician.”

Nonetheless, Mr Christie announced on Thursday that he planned to take legal action against Mr Pintard for defaming his character.

“What Senator Pintard said about me was completely and utterly false,” Mr Christie said in a statement. “Now he will have to account for his defamatory assault in a court of law.”

Last week Mr Rolle confirmed that he was instructed to report to New Providence to give an account of what led to his arrest, but maintained that he was confident he would remain in his diplomatic post.

He said there were no grounds for him to be terminated as he was not charged with an offence.

On Thursday, a government spokesman confirmed that Mr Rolle had returned to the Bahamas for “consultations” with Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials in Nassau.

A two-line statement from the government spokesman said Mr Rolle was to meet “with his principals at the headquarters”.

When contacted yesterday, Mr Rolle said he was in a meeting and could not respond to questions. He could not be reached for comment later in the day.