Prime Minister Perry Christie has declined to comment on the rape allegation against Works and Utilities Minister Bradley Roberts, other than to say that allegations do not breach the code of ethics he has announced for his government.
While Mr. Christie admitted that the personal code of ethics he outlined shortly after taking office could be “tightened and broadened” he did not suggest it be changed to include the regulation of “moral” behaviour.
Mr. Christie said of the allegation against Mr. Roberts, “From my point of view, I have nothing to say with respect to that, because of the position I hold and the implications it may have.”
He said that the Attorney General Alfred Sears has stated that the allegation is “receiving the most exact examination”.
“The Prime Minister must therefore exercise the greatest care, because anything he says may have some negative implication either to the accused or to the accuser,” said Mr. Christie.
“The morality issue has not been respected in the code of ethics other than, I have admonished myself and colleagues that if we are to maintain public confidence in the integrity of the political direction, then we must be seen to see, as the matter of first importance, maintaining the highest priority of public life,” said the prime minister.
Source: Paco Nunez, The Tribune
