BAHAMAS-Correctional Services commissioner apologizes over statement made regarding women.

NASSAU, Bahamas, CMC – The Commissioner of the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services (BDCS), Doan Cleare, on Wednesday issued an apology over statements he made during the signing-on ceremony for the 81st cohort of Squad “A” earlier this week.

“I wish to state that my remarks were never intended to demean, disrespect, or discriminate against women. However, I recognize that the comments were inappropriate and caused offense,” Cleare said in a statement, adding “I accept responsibility for the impact of my words and sincerely regret the disappointment and concern they have caused”.

National Security Minister Myles LaRoda has said he strongly disagrees with Cleare’s statement on Monday, in which he told female recruits they could be quickly fired for making a mistake, while saying he would have more patience with male recruits.

Cleare said that the BDCS had set a target of 70 men and 30 women, but settled for a ratio of 60 men and 40 women, which officials still failed to meet because the department received more female than male applications.

The Commissioner said the department currently has over 400 females seeking to join the ranks; however, it has had difficulty finding enough qualified male candidates.

LaRoda said that he had summoned the Commissioner to his office “and I told him that what I had read in the papers, I told him that as a minister for national security and as a part of this government, I strongly disapprove of the words that were used.

“I informed him that as a member of this government, where you, Madam Speaker, [are] the leader of the legislative branch, that every female MP is a substantive Cabinet minister. The ministry of which I currently lead, you have a commissioner of police that’s female, the defense force has a deputy commodore, and that in his department that he recommended that the government approve, three of his assistant commissioners are females.”

LaRoda addressed the matter after opposition legislator Michela Barnett-Ellis requested clarification on whether Cleare’s comments reflect departmental policy and honor the government’s commitment to equal treatment.

Barnett-Ellis said that the law prohibits discrimination based on sex, and LaRoda said that Cleare told him that the comments were made during a “jovial” conversation with recruits.

“I told him, notwithstanding that his position carries a lot of weight, that there are females in his institution and there are other females in any institution in the country that should not be subjected to those types of words, even if it was said in jest or just jokingly,” LaRoda said, adding, “I told him that there is no place for that”.

In his statement, Cleare said that as a public servant he has “always held women in the highest regard and deeply appreciate their invaluable contributions to public service, nation building and the advancement of our society.

“I accept full responsibility for my remarks and acknowledge that they did not reflect the values, standards and principles upheld by the Ministry of National Security, the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services or the government of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.

“I sincerely regret my lapse in judgment and recognize that, as a leader and public servant, I am expected to communicate with professionalism, respect and sensitivity at all times”.