A former senior officer of the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF), Prince Albert Symonette, has been granted permission to challenge his dismissal following a Supreme Court ruling that Commissioner Clayton Fernander may have acted unlawfully. Symonette, who served for over 30 years, was discharged on December 12, 2024, after being implicated in a US federal indictment alleging cocaine trafficking and firearm-related offenses. The indictment accused Bahamian officials of facilitating drug smuggling operations, using The Bahamas as a transit point for cocaine destined for the United States. While former Royal Bahamas Defence Force officer Darrin Alexander Roker has pleaded guilty in the case, it remains unclear whether Symonette faces extradition proceedings. According to court documents, Symonette was summoned to a meeting at police headquarters, where he was stripped of his credentials and handed a discharge certificate dated ten days prior to the meeting. Commissioner Fernander claimed Symonette’s contract was not renewed due to the controversy surrounding the indictment, which had caused negative public perception. However, Justice Bazard ruled that Symonette was denied due process, as no hearing or opportunity to appeal was provided before his dismissal. Citing Regulation 42 of the Police Disciplinary Regulations, Justice Bazard emphasized that the Commissioner was required to follow a statutory procedure, including notifying the Secretary to the Cabinet and allowing the officer to respond before recommending dismissal to the Governor General. The judge referenced the landmark 1964 case Ridge v Baldwin, which established that dismissing an officer without a hearing violates natural justice. Justice Bazard also noted that the discharge certificate was pre-dated, suggesting the decision was made in advance. Government lawyers argued that Symonette should have appealed to the Governor General under Section 21(2) of the Police Act, but the judge found exceptional circumstances justifying judicial review. Symonette, who became pensionable in 2019, seeks declarations that his dismissal was unlawful and unconstitutional, along with compensation for lost salary since December 2024.
Former senior officer named in US cocaine indictment challenging RBPF over dismissal
