Philip Davis and Rodney Moncur.
NASSAU, The Bahamas--As controversy swirled around government’s decision to hire talk show host Rodney Moncur as a crime consultant, Prime Minister (PM) Philip Davis defended the move.
When a reporter asked him to respond to criticism of the move from some individuals, Davis replied, “Persons like who? Identify them, because I have been hearing from the former prime minister. I heard him. That is the only person I heard who criticised it. So, ask him, ‘What about Omar Archer?’”
Davis was referring to the former government’s decision to hire Archer, a controversial social media personality, who has been charged with criminal libel multiple times, as contractors registrar at the Ministry of Works in 2018, in spite of his having been convicted for threatening to harm a police officer. During his time serving in the position, Archer made headlines on numerous occasions for being critical of Ministry of Works officials, including the then-minister Desmond Bannister, and Director of Works Melanie Roach.
During a press briefing on Thursday, Office of the Prime Minister Director of Communications Latrae Rahming confirmed that Moncur, a former senator, was hired by the Ministry of National Security as a consultant on crime. He said that Moncur will act as a “violence disrupter” and will be able to “reach people ordinarily that me or you cannot reach”.
Former Prime Minister Hubert Minnis raised the issue in the House of Assembly on Wednesday and questioned if Moncur was making a $60,000 a year salary with benefits. However, Rahming said he did not know the details regarding Moncur’s salary and directed that inquiry to Minister of National Security Wayne Munroe. But when questioned about the matter on Sunday, Munroe said he did not have the information as he insisted that Moncur is not an employee.
“He does not have a salary because he is not an employee,” he said. Munroe added, “A consultant would be an employee. He is an independent contractor…But that is the most that I could say without getting express details from my permanent secretary and deputy permanent secretary, who are addressing the details of it.”
When asked who approved the hiring of Moncur, Munroe said, “Any decision involving a government engagement is a matter of collective responsibility.”
When the Progressive Liberal Party was in opposition, Munroe appeared on Moncur’s show as a recurring co-host for months. ~ The Nassau Guardian ~
