NASSAU, Bahamas, CMC

The Bahamas government says it will continue to work with the United States and all other friendly governments in the fight against the illegal drugs trade.

Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell has dismissed suggestions by former national security minister Tommy Turnquest that Washington was conducting un-armed drone flights over the Bahamas.

In a statement, Mitchell said that the matter had been brought to public attention over the last weekend and that Turnquest had informed the media that the past administration had knowledge and gave approval of the surveillance.

“In response to his comment, I told the press that I could not accept at face value anything the former Minister of National Security had to say. It was he who accepted responsibility then for the state of affairs.

He of course has no responsibility to-day in law and so can be as loose and irresponsible as he wishes.” Mitchell said that public officials and the political directorate have been briefed and that discussions have taken place with the American public officials at the highest levels resident in The Bahamas.

He said the “Americans released a press report which appears to be consistent with what those officials said in the meetings with Bahamian officials.