Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration and Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Chairman, the Hon. Fred Mitchell has responded to claims linking the party to the arrest of Jonathan Eric Gardiner by United States authorities. Gardiner and others were rescued at sea following a plane crash on Tuesday, May 12th.
Mitchell said, “I know nothing about any of this except what I have read in the newspapers and what I would say is that the evidence suggests that this was misadventure or happenstance that that there was a plane crash.”
The plane was traveling from Marsh Harbour, Abaco to Grand Bahama when a crash landing at sea became necessary. Gardiner was wanted by US authorities and was found to have $30,000 cash on his person. It has been reported locally that US law enforcement officials have pointed to an unnamed government official, referred as Politician 1, as being involved in a drug investigation related to Gardiner’s arrest.
The PLP Chairman said any speculation beyond the known facts is premature. “All the people were rescued by the US Coast Guard. They ended up in the states and it turned out the one man was wanted. Now they come out with this salacious stuff supposedly with some cash and some politicians name on it. But you know, again, two and two equal four not five,” Mitchell said.
He also stated that any other conclusions being drawn at this stage are irresponsible. “It is really irresponsible this narrative that’s being pushed as if there’s something nefarious going on with the Progressive Liberal Party or any of our politicians, I assure you that is not the case. I wish people would just cease and desist from it.”
The minister assured that the relationship between The Bahamas and the United States remains strong.
