ABIGAIL CARTWRIGHT TELLS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HOW THE FNM TREATS FORMER MINISTERS AND HOW THE U S TREATED GENERAL FLYNN

She writes from Freeport:

I watched with interest the morning’s headlines on Friday, December 1st. from the United States , as General Michael Flynn made his court appearance to face charges of giving false evidence to the FBI, earlier this year. General Flynn walked into the courthouse with his hands swinging (as we would say in the Bahamas); no handcuffs and no shackles on his feet. In other words, there was no public slave shaming. Why? General Flynn was a not security risk. He was not accused of a violent crime, and he was not a flight risk. Further, the fact that General Flynn has served his country with dignity over many years as a General in the army, and he also served as a National Security advisor, entitled him to some level of respect and privilege from the legal system.

Similarly, when General Flynn exited the courthouse, after pleading guilty, he again came out with his hands swinging. Yes, the media was present, but when General Flynn entered the courthouse he was not accompanied by the barrage of police officers, he was simply accompanied by two persons, who are presumed to be his attorneys.

Just a few months ago, in our country, Shane Gibson, Frank Smith, and Ken Dorsett were brought before the courts on charges of bribery and extortion. These men were ranking members of the previous government and even officers of the court. They were dragged to court in handcuffs, shackles and a bombardment of police officers, as though these men were some violent gangsters. Shane Gibson could barely walk. He posed no type of security risk.

Shame on us! This was done directly by the government to appease its supporters who are heard in loud choruses saying, “lock them up!” This treatment of our former government officials is downright despicable. Are we a Banana Republic? This does not happen in a modern, democratic society in an era where the whole world is watching. What type of precedence are we setting? Law suits are sure to follow. Everything is not political. Let’s grow up and do things in order and with decency, and in accordance with the law.

By Abigail Cartwright