NASSAU, Bahamas — Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis accepted the resignation of Health Minister Dr Duane Sands late Monday evening, “a stunning climax to a fast-moving controversy that has now dimmed Dr Sands’ political career,” The Tribune, one of The Bahamas’ leading newspapers, reported on Tuesday, May 5.
“I thank him for his service to the Bahamas, including during the COVID-19 pandemic. I will make a further statement on this matter (today), including on who will serve as minister of health,” Dr Minnis said in a brief statement issued shortly before 10 p.m.
Dr. Sands, MP for Elizabeth, offered his resignation to Dr Minnis for his actions related to six permanent residents who landed in the country last week with COVID-19 testing supplies and were allowed to quarantine at home before they produced a negative COVID-19 test result.
“Some Bahamians were initially angry over the episode because hundreds who have wanted to return to the country have been stuck abroad,” The Tribune reported, adding that on Sunday, Dr Minnis said “protocol was breached during the episode.”
The Tribune noted that although Dr Sands said on Sunday that he would not resign from Cabinet over the affair, but “he did just that through a statement yesterday.
“I refer to the unfortunate controversy surrounding the delivery of COVID-19 test swabs and the landing of permanent residents under what you have termed a breach of protocol regulating the entry to the Bahamas by Bahamian citizens and permanent residents under Emergency (COVID-19) Regulations,” he said in a letter to Dr Minnis, which was posted to the Elizabeth MP’s Facebook page yesterday afternoon
“I accept responsibility for this breach of protocol. I acknowledge that I acted outside of the scope of my authority in this matter. My actions were guided by my great desire to obtain the much-needed testing swabs which are in short supply both here and internationally and which are key to our efforts to trace the spread of the coronavirus so as to better focus our responses. I acted at all times in good faith.
“Nevertheless, I acknowledge that my actions have caused embarrassment for which I express sincere regret. We continue in the midst of a most serious pandemic when focused attention should be trained only on how best the spread of COVID-19 might be slowed and eventually be stopped. I believe that my continued presence in the Cabinet may serve as a distraction from our effort and hence I offer my resignation from your Cabinet. I thank you for the opportunity to serve our great country.” See the full Tribune story at http://www.tribune242.com/news/2020/may/05/sands-goes/
