Speaking publicly for the first time on the extradition of accused drug kingpin Samuel “Ninety” Knowles, Minister of Foreign Affairs Fred Mitchell said yesterday that based on the advice of others and his own personal position, he will not discuss any extradition case in any “way, shape or form” with the Bahamian public.
“I think this is the best course of action because it is often going to be the subject of some form of judicial review and therefore the matter is a legal matter and should be dealt with as a legal matter and I maintain that position. I do not comment on the manner in which that discretion is exercised,” said Mr Mitchell, who was a guest on Real Talk, the More 94.9 talk show hosted by Jeff Lloyd.
Knowles, who was extradited to the US in August to face drug-related charges, is expected to make his fourth appearance in a Miami Federal Court today for a pre-trial and detention hearing. He also awaits a bond hearing after being assigned a $10 million bond with a corporate surety.
During Knowles’ last appearance on September 19, he was told that federal public defender, Stewart Abrahams, could no longer represent him because his office was representing Brian Bethel, a Bahamian who is likely to testify during Knowles’ trial.
Last week, Supreme Court Justice John Lyons denied a motion to have Knowles returned to The Bahamas and also refused to hold government ministers in contempt over his extradition.
The move to extradite Knowles sparked a heated legal debate in some circles, given an outstanding habeas corpus hearing at the time.
Meanwhile, very guarded with his responses to the talk show host, Mr Mitchell said that since holding office as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, some six extradition warrants of surrender had been signed and none of them had elicited any particular concern.
“I certainly wouldn’t want it [the extradition of Samuel Knowles] to evolve or be seen in any sense as personal in any way, so it is better to allow the legal process to take place and I think the legal processes have taken place and I leave it there,” Mr Mitchell said.
The minister stressed that any one wanting to give his or her opinion about an extradition matter must be judicious and balanced, but he realised that this was difficult to do in a small country.
The Fox Hill MP said it was important for him to understand that even though there may be opponents and proponents of extradition, he could not make a personal decision on how an extradition matter should or should not be addressed.
“You respond in a way that is balanced and judicious,” Mr Mitchell said. “That is just my personal position. I maintain it. I think it is the right way to go and I think for all the advocates on all sides, it would be best if we conform our conduct by this view to be balanced, reasoned and reasonable in all we say.”
He acknowledged that ministers would sometimes take blows for their actions and he realised that this came with the territory of being a “minister.”
Asked if he felt that the PLP would suffer any political fall out because of its decision to extradite Knowles, Mr Mitchell said: “My experience on the ground in my constituency is that this was not an issue of concern.”
By: TAMARA McKENZIE, The Nassau Guardian
