BAHAMA NEWS ON GIBSON'S RESIGNATION
19th February
Shane Gibson Resigns
By Candia Dames
Putting days of speculation to rest, Immigration and Labour Minister Shane Gibson announced his resignation from the Cabinet of Prime Minister Perry Christie shortly after 9 o’clock last night, amid ongoing controversy surrounding his involvement with the late American celebrity Anna Nicole Smith.
The resignation came nearly a week after the Tribune newspaper published photographs showing the minister and Ms. Smith in warm embraces, and it followed allegations that the minister had received a Rolex watch from Ms. Smith as a thank you present for the approval of her permanent residency application last year.
Setting the record straight, Mr. Gibson unequivocally denied that he had accepted any gift or favour from anyone as reward for the granting or as an inducement to grant any permit to Ms. Smith or anyone else.
"I unconditionally deny that I ever abused my ministerial office by granting Anna Nicole Smith any permit of which she was undeserving or for which she was not qualified under the laws of The Bahamas and long established immigration policies," Mr. Gibson said.
"I flatly deny the scurrilous lie that I had a sexual relationship with the late Anna Nicole Smith. This is the dirtiest, most lowdown lie of all; not a shred of it is true. My friendship with Anna Nicole Smith was shared with my wife, my children and my parents. There was nothing that was in anyway improper about this relationship."
Mr. Gibson, who made his announcement on ZNS television, said he lives in the fear of the Lord, but no man.
"I can tell you, therefore, that every fiber of my being tells me to fight this thing, to stand to slug it out with those who are determined to bring me down," he said. "There is also, however, a quieter voice within me that tells me to let go and let God. It is this same voice that reminds me that after God, I have to put my family first."
Mr. Gibson said his family has suffered enough already.
"For far too long, they’ve had to listen on a daily basis to one nasty lie after another, one vicious untruth after another, and it can only get worse as long as I remain on the frontlines of the current controversy. I am not prepared to let them suffer any further. It is time for their anguish to end so that the wounds they have suffered already can begin to heal," he said.
Mr. Gibson said his continued presence on the frontlines would make it extremely difficult for the government to focus on the issues that are of central concern to Bahamians at this time, including crime, illegal immigration, education, National Health Insurance, the economy, affordable housing and social welfare.
"It is vitally important that nothing be allowed to distract the government from presenting its case to the nation on these all important matters," he said.
"I’ve therefore tendered my resignation from the cabinet with immediate effect. This is a decision I’ve arrived at after close consultation with my family and the prime minister. I’m convinced, however, that it is the right decision for the reasons I’ve given."
Mr. Gibson also offered an apology.
"I want to apologize to all persons who may in any way have been offended by anything I have said, done or perceived to have said or done. Further, to the extent that my beloved country may have in any way suffered from anything that I was perceived to have said or done, I want to apologize to the Bahamian people as a whole," he said.
"It was never my intention to cause any damage, hurt or embarrassment to anyone."
Mr. Gibson said he intends to commit himself to helping his family heal and to ensuring the success of the Progressive Liberal Party in the next general election.
"I also intend to seek a complete vindication of my reputation and my character from the vicious and wicked lies that have been told against me," he said. "Although I am stepping down from the cabinet, I have every intention of continuing my quest to bring the full truth of this matter to the Bahamian people."
Moments later, Prime Minister Perry Christie made an address of his own, saying Mr. Gibson’s resignation represented an occasion of "deep regret".
"Indeed, to lose such a competent and capable individual from the cabinet is a loss for the entire country," the prime minister said.
"The loss for me is made even more painful by the fact that Shane in addition to being a valued political colleague is also a true and genuine friend, but however sad Shane’s decision to resign may be, I also believe as does he that it is the correct course of action for him to take in all of the circumstances, and for that I applaud him as indeed we all should."
Mr. Christie said Mr. Gibson’s "dynamism, organizational prowess and sense of urgency in getting the job done were evident throughout his stewardship of my government’s housing programme."
More recently as immigration minister, Mr. Gibson’s tough, no-nonsense approach led to remarkable success in the interdiction and repatriation of illegal immigrants, the prime minister said.
Addressing his comments directly to Mr. Gibson’s relatives, Prime Minister Christie said he was "personally sorry" over what they have been put through by some areas of the media and "certain thoughtless and insensitive politicians who seem to think that a man’s wife and parents are fair game in politics."
"I believe that I should also say how very ironic it is that when substantiated allegations of serious impropriety were made against no fewer than three ministers in his own cabinet, the same man, who now professes to be so concerned over Shane Gibson did absolutely nothing about it, nor for that matter did any of the three ministers concerned," the prime minister said.
"Instead, they all arrogantly carried on as if nothing had happened. Now that Shane Gibson has resigned, these same gentlemen would do well to recall what they themselves did not do when they found themselves in circumstances that cried out even more loudly for them to do the right thing. Be that as it may, they and all others whose heads the cap may fit should be assured of one thing: there will be no more tolerance of any hypocrisy, double standards or deception from anyone."
The prime minister was clearly referring to former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham and the controversy that had engulfed certain of his ministers during his time in office.
Mr. Christie said he planned to elaborate on this theme during a PLP rally scheduled for Pinewood Park on Tuesday night.
In the meantime, he said the important business of the government must continue without unnecessary distraction.
As a consequence of Mr. Gibson’s resignation, he said he will be announcing certain ministerial adjustments today.
Neither Mr. Gibson nor Prime Minister Christie made any reference to whether Mr. Gibson will run on the PLP’s ticket in the upcoming election.
Last night, Mr. Ingraham announced that he would have a press conference at FNM headquarters in New Providence at noon today.
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