Three Bahamian Govt Ministers resign

Press, 10 October 1984, Page 10

Three Bahamian Govt Ministers resign

NZPA-Reuter Nassau the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Mr Arthur Hanna, and two other Cabinet Ministers resigned yesterday from the Bahamas Government of Sir Lynden Pindling. The Cabinet office announcing the resignations after weeks of speculation about the Government’s response to serious allegations made against Ministers to a special commission of inquiry investigating drug smuggling and ocrruption in the Bahamas. The Commission began its hearings in December. Mr Hanna said that he had resigned because of “certain fundamental matters,” which he did not explain. The other two Ministers to resign were the Youth Minister, Mr Kendal Nottage, and the Agriculture Minister, Mr George Smith.

Mr Nottage said that he had quit because of the “cloud of allegations, lies, and innuendos” made against him at the commission of inquiry. Mr Smith had no comment.

Mr Hanna, a long-time Pindling ally, had

recently as the leader of a group in the governing Progressive Liberal Party who wanted the Prime Minister, Sir Lynden, to step down. He has been Deputy Prime. Minister since the party first took office in 1967. Messrs Nottage and Smith are considered to be Pindling loyalists, but the investigations have tarnished their reputations. Evidence has linked Mr Smith to a fugitive Colombian drug kingpin, Carlos “Joe” Lehder, who allegedly,

ran a big smuggling business in Mr Smith’s constituency from 1977 to 1981. Mr Smith allegedly received a car from Mr Lehder.

Mr Nottage’s law firm allegedly helped launder millions of dollars in drug money for Michael .Salvatore Caruana, a reputed New England Mafia figure who was recently indicted in the United States on drug smuggling charges. Mr Caruana had Mr Nottage’s unlisted telephone numbers on him when he was arrested.

The commission is preparing its report, which will be delivered to the Government before the end of the year.

Sir Lyndon has consistently denied any wrongdoing by himself or members of his Government.

Although the Opposition Free National Movement, which has 11 seats in the 43seat Parliament, has called on Sir Lyndon to resign, there were no indications that a General Election would be called.

Sir Lyndon won the 1982 General Election by a landslide and is not required to call another until 1987.