Public Figure Scrutiny Focus

He also pledged no political interference in police investigations.

Speculation rages unchecked as Ellison Greenslade and Marvin Dames – the two assistant commissioners of police tapped by public opinion to be the next commissioner and deputy commissioner – have returned from their secondment in Canada. Both men are on leave until January 5.

Mr. Greenslade spent the last 11 months with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) – Canada’s national police force – and Mr. Dames was with the Toronto Police Service (TPS) – the largest metropolitan police branch in the country.

The prime minister told the House of Assembly shortly before the two men were sent to Canada that he was particularly interested in their exposure to the RCMP and TPS techniques for investigating public figures.

National Security Minister Tommy Turnquest told the Journal he expected the investigation of public officers to take a more important role going forward.

"Both [officers] have had exposure and experience with that over the past 11 months and we expect to see that as a part of the focus going forward," he said.

"One of the things that the Canadians have done extremely well – as the prime minister spoke about, and as we looked at when they were being assigned to the Canadian services, both the RCMP and the Toronto Police Service – is their balance between civilian oversight and policing."

"While they have civilian oversight, the civilian oversight does not interfere with their law enforcement protocols," the minister said. "So that is something that impressed us, and that we expect to see brought into the Bahamian scene as they come back."

Mr. Turnquest underscored his intention to see that there is no political interference with police investigations.

"There will always be oversight," he said. "In terms of the national security of The Bahamas, the prime minister is the chairman of the National Security Council and responsible for the overall national security, but he has delegated national security to me, and so the buck stops with me."

"I take a very strong view of the oversight of the Police Force, the Defence Force and Her Majesty’s Prisons."

The Journal understands that the government spent $200,000 on the training of Messrs. Greenslade and Dames.

The men returned from Canada last week, where Mr. Greenslade was seconded to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and Mr. Dames was seconded to the Toronto Police Service (TPS). In addition to his own high marks, Mr. Turnquest noted both men had been given high praise by the commanders of the TPS and the RCMP.