The incident between Mt Moriah MP Keod Smith and Kennedy MP Kenyatta Gibson also reportedly led to the intervention of a female Cabinet Minister who tried to calm the two men.
According to a government source who spoke to The Guardian on condition of anonymity, the meeting at the Cabinet office was called to discuss a plan of action for today’s sitting of the House of Assembly, among other matters.
The source said the heated argument erupted between the junior MPs when Mr Smith reportedly questioned Mr Gibson, who is also Chairman of the Gaming Board, about the alleged firing of a Gaming Board employee this May.
Mr Smith is reportedly representing the former employee.
Very strong words were reportedly exchanged between the two men, prompting Mr Smith to allegedly push Mr Gibson into a window.
When The Guardian called Mr Smith last night, he did not deny nor confirm the bust-up between himself and the Kennedy MP, but only said that he had no comment.
“I have no comment for this thing that I have been hearing myself,” he said. “I have no comment.”
The same “no comment” was given by Social Services Minister Melanie Griffin when The Guardian asked her about the incident, but she too did not deny nor confirm that the alleged exchange took place.
Up to press time last night, all calls placed to Mr Gibson were not returned.
Earlier this year, officials of the Gaming Board reportedly fired Teron Fowler from his post as Gaming Inspector.
The move led to a protest by executive members of the Bahamas Public Services
Union who claimed that the termination was unfair.
At the time, BPSU President John Pinder told the press that according to information he received from officials at the Board, Mr Fowler was under investigation for some “illegal activity” that took place prior to him being hired as an inspector.
However, authorities at the Gaming Board had no evidence of Mr Fowler being involved in any wrongful activities, and they were trying to ruin his reputation for personal gain, said Mr Pinder.
A letter written by Mr Fowler claimed that he was involved in a money transaction with Gaming Board Chairman Kenyatta Gibson. He said that Mr Gibson acted as lawyer for Hellerian Butler (Larry) during the course of him purchasing a house from Mr Fowler.
In the letter, Mr Fowler said he decided that he wanted Mr Butler out of his house and claimed that Mr Gibson “failed to meet the financial requirements”
while Mr Butler lived in the Johnson Road home “not paying any rent” after more than five months of “holding up on over $150,000 of the balance.”
“On Thursday, May 18, I returned a $20,000 (deposit) to the lawyer representing Larry and Sherry Butler,” Mr Fowler wrote. “On Friday, May 19, accompanied with a court order and the assistance of the police, I served the eviction notice on the tenants of my house. On Monday, May 22, I was terminated by Mr Kenyatta Gibson.”
By: TAMARA McKENZIE, The Nassau Guardian
