By NICO SCAVELLA

Tribune Staff Reporter

nscavella@tribunemedia.net

NASSAU Village MP Dion Smith yesterday said a police investigation has been launched into “erroneous” allegations circulating on social media that he had to be “taken down” from the Paradise Island Bridge over the weekend so he wouldn’t commit suicide.

Mr Smith, the executive chairman of the Bahamas Agricultural and Industrial Corporation (BAIC) and deputy speaker in the House of Assembly, said those responsible for the allegations will be brought to justice “if deemed necessary.”

Mr Smith said that he was not on the bridge when the alleged “incident” was reported to have taken place. He added that while he does not know who could possibly be responsible for the allegations, the rumours were likely the end result of “political mischief” in an attempt by some to “create confusion and spread malicious lies” about him.

On Sunday, www.breakingnews242.com, claimed it received reports that a certain “PLP MP” was involved in an “incident” on one of the two Paradise Island bridges. The website claimed that persons spent “about half an hour” trying to “talk the young PLP lawyer and MP down from the bridge.”

Although the website never used the word suicide in their report, a sentence beneath a 2012 campaign picture of Mr Smith read: “Dion Smith would be the 6th MP to jump off the bridge to the future,” a snide reference to the resignations of several persons from Cabinet and the Progressive Liberal Party who were considered to be a part of the PLP’s “new generation” of leaders.

At a press conference at the BAIC’s corporate office on Old Trail Road, however, Mr Smith, accompanied by his wife, Rose Smith, denied the rumour, adding that it is “unfortunate that some in our society would go to the extreme to cause harm to others.”

“It is extremely disappointing to see where political mischief would lead people and the extent that they are prepared to go as this article was totally untrue,” he said. “I wish to state for the record that these detractors will not succeed in deterring me from the mission at hand.

“I am focused on my mission to serve the good people of the great constituency of Nassau Village by trying to help the wide majority. Although I have not been able to wipe every tear from every eye, these constituents deserve the very best.

“…It is also my duty to bring the community of Nassau Village closer together in an effort to combat the scourge of crime. This is what I am focused on and I do not have time for distractions. I remain steadfast and committed to helping my constituents and also carrying out my duties in my capacity as deputy speaker of the House of Assembly and the executive chairman of BAIC.”

When questioned as to whether he was near any of the bridges on the day in question, Mr Smith said: “No, never was. That is why it is so disturbing. As I said in the statement, the extent to which people would go to, it’s just unbecoming, and I think we, as a country, we are bigger than this, definitely.”