By SANCHESKA BROWN

Tribune Staff Reporter

sbrown@tribunemedia.net

FREE National Movement Leader Dr Hubert Minnis said yesterday “he was not surprised” at MICAL MP V Alfred Gray’s “attack” on Fort Charlotte MP Dr Andre Rollins, because Mr Gray is a “gutter politician trying to defend the indefensible”.

Speaking with The Tribune, Dr Minnis said Mr Gray would not want to meet Dr Rollins outside of the House of Assembly, because the Ft Charlotte MP would “rip him to pieces.”

On Wednesday night in the House of Assembly, Mr Gray told Dr Rollins to “go to hell in a wastebasket” after Dr Rollins accused him of abusing his power by “interfering with the judiciary” last year.

In a heated exchange, Dr Rollins accused Mr Gray of “berating a judge” and said the government should have removed Mr Gray from the Cabinet while the matter was being investigated.

In response, Mr Gray said he wished he could “meet Dr Rollins in the right place” and said the Ft Charlotte MP could join him “whenever he is ready”.

Dr Rollins was referring to the decision of the Attorney General’s Office not to bring charges against Mr Gray after accusations were made that he used his Cabinet position to interfere in a judicial matter.

“Mr Gray would not want to meet Rollins outside, he would rip him to pieces,” Dr Minnis said when contacted for comment.

“Gray was getting as low as he can to defend something he could not defend. When you attempt to defend something and use the gutter as a form of defence, then you know you are wrong. Dr Rollins had Gray in the corner, he threw a knock out punch and Gray staggered and rather than fall, his only relief was to go to the gutter.

“Gray’s back was against the wall because he knew he interfered with the judiciary and Rollins pointed it out. Gray can deny it all he wants, but the record clearly reflects that he called the magistrate.”

During the heated exchange in the House, Mr Gray also accused Dr Rollins of using him to “sing for his supper” as a new member of the Free National Movement. He then said Dr Rollins “lost his senses” after he was slapped by Long Island MP Loretta Butler Turner in 2013. Dr Rollins was a member of the Progressive Liberal Party at the time.

Dr Minnis said “nothing Mr Gray says is a surprise anymore.”

Last year, police launched an investigation into whether Mr Gray abused his power by contacting Mayaguana administrator Zephaniah Newbold about a young man convicted on the island, Mr Gray’s constituent, and sentenced to prison. Mr Newbold has said he released the man without bail after having a conversation with Mr Gray and alleged that he felt “threatened.”

Mr Gray confirmed that he did contact the island administrator, but strongly denied that he attempted to sway the course of justice.

During the investigation, Mr Gray resigned from his position as minister of local government but remained minister of agriculture and marine resources.

Last May, the Office of the Attorney General decided not to pursue legal action against anyone involved in the case, citing a conflicting “nature of evidence” as reason to not “institute criminal proceedings.”