“Galanis tells marchers: Priority goes to Majority Rule celebration” – The Tribune

Excerpt from this article; “Former Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) MP Philip Galanis yesterday warned organizers of We March Bahamas not to ‘kid themselves’ in attempting to align or equate their campaign narrative to the country’s achievement of Majority Rule.

Taking a stance on the drama unfolding around the historic holiday, Mr. Galanis added that it was senseless to ‘cloud or confuse’ the significance of Majority Rule Day with the group’s protest on national issues.

He declared that January 10, 1967, was second only to emancipation and slavery in 1834 and the attainment if Independence in 1973, all of which are sacrosanct.”

It is simply amazing the manner in which Mr. Galanis can take such a jaundiced view to Majority Rule Day, as it pertains to the group We March Bahamas planning a march on that day to raise awareness of issues of national importance especially in light of the fact that Majority Rule Day was born out of an act of civil disobedience by the late Sir. Lynden Pindling to raise awareness to certain injustices that were going on under the United Bahamian Party (UBP) at the time.

Let us go back and fill in the blanks; “The event that is believed to be the most significant in the struggle for majority rule occurred on April 27^th, 1965, now known as Black Tuesday.  Sir Lynden, Leader of the Opposition, during a heated debate over the issues of boundaries but in a carefully orchestrated move, threw the Mace, the Speakers’ symbol of authority, out of the window of the House of Assembly.  The act led to the defection of three MP’s from the PLP who formed the National Democratic Party (NDP), led by Paul L. Adderley, Orville Turnquest and Spurgen Bethel.  However the PLP emerged stronger as the party’s popular support increased headed into the general elections on January 10, 1967.  Both the PLP and the UBP won 18 seats and the remaining two seats went to Randol Fawkes of the Labour Party and Alvin Braynen, a while Independent.

Sir Randol and Sir Alvin threw their support behind the PLP and Sir Lynden was asked to form a government by British governor Sir Ralph Grey, thus ushering in majority rule.  Sir Randol was made Minister of Labour and Welfare in the first PLP cabinet and Sir Alvin became Speaker of the House of Assembly.”

Excerpt from “The Struggle to Majority Rule” – myplp.org

It is a fact that the upcoming Majority Rule Day will mark the 50^th anniversary of that day and it should be celebrated but it is my contention that due to the fact that this being the third year that Majority Rule Day has been an official holiday it is odd that this is the very first time the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) government to whom this day is so ‘sacrosanct’ have only chosen now to show the day any significance; not even marking the very first Majority Rule Day with any celebration at all.

Do not kid yourselves but I see this as being nothing more than a petty political move by a hapless, inept and incompetent government to silence the voice of the people and while Mr. Galanis would speak to the ‘campaign narrative’ of We March Bahamas; of which there is none, it is really sad that him and his government has found themselves lacking for what is being asked of them by this organization and the country at large – accountability and transparency; two principle with which they seem to fight ‘tooth and nail’ against.

The Progressive Liberal Party fails for one reason, it is their nature.

END

Reading yesterdays Tribune, I could not help but get this odd but familiar feeling of déjà vu; it was as if I had heard what was being said all before.

“Govt. on ‘course of correction’ after downgrade announcement” – The Tribune 28^th December 2016

Excerpt from this article; “The government is charting a course of correction and fiscal responsibility, Prime Minister Perry Christie insisted earlier this week as he cautioned those who may be alarmed over the recent decision by international; credit rating agency Standard &Poor’s (S&P) to downgrade the country’s credit rating to ‘junk’ status.

In an interview with The Tribune during the Boxing Day Junkanoo Parade, Mr. Christie called for calm amidst the concern that has arisen in wake of S&P’s announcement.

He said his administration ‘sit comfortable’ with the move as it sees it a ‘simple misunderstanding with timing’, contending that(S&P) sees positive economic growth on the horizon for The Bahamas, nut until 2018.”

“A ‘simple misunderstanding with timing”……Really?!

At this point I can only say that the Prime Minister has taken pointless to a whole new level, as he continues to view the average Bahamian citizen as being totally ignorant; because it would be my opinion that one would have to be totally ignorant or just plain stupid to actually believe that this Christie led Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) government has an economic ‘handle’ on the fiscal affairs of the country, given their past performance.

So now we are about to enter the year 2017 with four downgrades in as many years and are being asked by the Prime Minister/Minister of Finance and his government to be ‘calm’, but there is real reason to be alarmed Mr. Prime Minister/Minister of Finance, because we have been through this with you and your government before and that time did not work out to well for us either and now we seem to have you conceding the fact that your government has not been on course for the past four and half years.

Remember this Mr. Prime Minister/Minister of Finance when you sent your Minister of State for Finance to tell us basically the same nonsense you are attempting to feed to us now?

“Govt. not worried – Halkitis: Govt. knows what to do to prevent Moody’s downgrade” – The Nassau Guardian; July 5^th 2016

Excerpt from this article; “Minister of State for Finance Michael Halkitis said yesterday that the government is not worried by an announcement by the ratings agency Moody’s that it is likely to downgrade The Bahamas’ credit rating within 60 days.

Halkitis said the Christie administration knows what to do to address the concerns raised by Moody’s and it is committed to doing it.”, by August of the same year Moody’s had downgraded The Bahamas’ credit rating to Baa3 , with a stable outlook; this under a government that claimed that knew what to do and was committed to doing it, now the very same government claims to be ‘charting a course of correction and fiscal responsibility’, the odd thing is that these were two things that this very same government claimed to be committed to when they took office in 2010 and reformed the tax system and introduce value-Added Tax (VAT); which to date had exceeded all expectations, collecting over a billion dollars ($1 bn).

It is clear that either the Christie administration has failed at its plans, if they indeed had any to begin with, or just do not know what they are doing  or both; they have failed simply because of the fact that they are out of their depth and have been from Day One.

The Progressive Liberal Party fails for one reason, it is their nature.

END

There is continuous debate on the matter of just how much is a human life worth.  There have been actual studies done to attempt to put a dollar value to the human life.

“The Value of a Human Life: $129,000” – Time magazine May 20 2008

Excerpt from this article; “In theory, a year of human life is priceless.  In reality it’s worth $50,000.

That’s the international standard most private and government-run insurance plans worldwide use to determine whether to cover a new medical procedure.  More simply, insurance companies calculate that to make a treatment worth its cost, it must guarantee one year of ‘quality life;’ for $50,000 or less.  New research, however, would argue that figure is far too low.”

While most would consider life to be ‘priceless’, it would seem that the average Bahamian life for a certain Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Member of Parliament is worth about $250 – $1,500 (US); the cost of a replica high-end watch by Folex.  This does not even come close to the $50,000 that ‘bloodsucking’ insurance companies use as a standard to determine a policy; but yet this Member of Parliament seems pleased with the fact that he can offer these to his constituents instead of ensuring that they have potable drinking water.

If we all recall it was this very same elected official that later explained that he was unable to tell his constituents that they were being poisoned by the very water that they were drinking, a fact that he was aware of over a year before he was forced to reveal it, because he would have lost his job.

The Progressive Liberal Party fails for one reason, it is their nature.

END

Unemployment numbers have been said to have decreased during the last six months due largely to the impact of Hurricane Matthew and the country’s ongoing re-building efforts but now the Prime Minister would blame the same storm – an act of God – as being one of the major factors as to why the country’s sovereign credit rating has been downgraded by rating’s agency Standards and Poor’s (S&P) because it could not possibly be due to the poor stewardship of the country’s economy by his Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) government.

“PM on defensive over downgrade – Christie says act of God caused negative S&P action” – The Nassau Guardian.

Excerpt from this article; “In the face of another downgrade of the country’s sovereign credit rating to sub investment level grade level, Prime Minister Perry Christie said yesterday that it must be acknowledged that international rating agency Standards and Poor’s noted in its report that the downgrade is in part due to the impact and costs associated with hurricanes Joaquin and Matthew.

‘We’re talking about a country that has been devastated not by the decisions of the government, but by the allowances of God.” Christie said in Grand Bahama.

‘There is nothing we could have done other than pray that nobody loses their lives, thank God.”

The first and most obvious question of the Prime Minister in the wake of this statement is what about the three downgraded before this one?

Yes, thank God that no one lost their life, Mr. Prime Minister, but at the same time that you wish to blame God for the current state of the economy, I must ask just how serious are you?

 There is still widespread belief that the manner in which the government reacted to the filing of Chapter 11 by the original developer of Baha Mar, Sarkis Izmirlian, was not only unwarranted but a total act of incompetence and ineptitude and has contributed to the resort having stalled but the Prime Minister would have us believe that him and his government did nothing wrong to contribute to Baha Mar being delayed and to cause this recent downgrade.

“S&P threatens to downgrade Bahamas – The Nassau Guardian; July 02, 2016

Excerpt from this article; “The international credit rating agency Standards and Poor’s said yesterday it was placing the long-term and short-term foreign and local currency sovereign credit ratings for the Bahamas on Credit Watch with negative implication as a result of Baha Mar’s decision to file for chapter 11 bankruptcy in the United States on Monday.

S&P warned, ‘ We could lower our ratings on The Bahamas by one or more notches if we believe there will be a prolonged delay reopening of the resort, or if the project fails.”

It would seem that S&P had taken a “wait and see approach” to the outcome of the chapter 11 proceedings that the developer had filed in a US court to gain protection from his US based construction partner; as they had become locked in a bitter ‘war’ into which the government decided to then biasly intercede but still they wish to claim that nothing that they have done has contributed to the latest downgrade – the point being that the S&P downgrade was predicated largely on the outcome of Baha Mar, even with significant tax reform (Value-Added Tax) in place and outperforming all projections.

“They say ‘you must be crazy, you’ve lost your mind, delusional’; subjecting the prime minister of The Bahamas with the responsibility to leading the government of The Bahamas in dealing with this adverse impact that did not come about through negligence or bad decision making of the government,’ he said” and they just may be correct in their assessment, Mr. Prime Minister, especially once you had told us once that you have been anointed by God to be Prime Minister and we can call out to our member of Parliament to help you but in the end you would have to come to you [Gods appointed] for assistance but now you wish blames God for the recent ills of the country and your short comings?

Shame.

The Progressive Liberal Party fails for one reason, it is their nature.

END

“Halkitis: downgrade means borrowing costs will go up.” – The Nassau Guardian Business Section

Excerpt from this article; “The recent downgrade to ‘junk status’ by Standard & Poor’s (S&P) is a great ‘incentive’ for the government to reduce borrowing, Minister of State for Finance Michael Halkitis said yesterday.

While appearing as a guest on Guardian Radio’s Morning Blend with host Dwight Strachan, Halkitis explained that the downgrade could potentially result in higher borrowing costs for the government because there is strengthened perception that credit is now ‘risky”.

As Minister of State for Finance, the Hon. Michael Halkitis goes on to explain to the masses what most of them already know; i.e. the possible and most likely ramifications of the downgrade for The  Bahamas, I must ask him if he is serious when he says “……there is a strengthened perception that credit is more risky’ and did we have to come to this point for the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) government to realize there is indeed a great need to reduce borrowing, as they add two additional seats to be contested in the upcoming elections. Maybe this should read that “there is strengthened perception that the Christie administration has failed at its mandate of a “Stronger Bahamas”; one of it mains goals being [To create a] Prosperous Bahamas, Boosting economic opportunities by focusing on growing the economy, creating jobs, and promoting investment in The Bahamas.” 

It is interesting to note that just in July of this year Minister of State for Finance, the Hon. Michael Halkitis said the government was not worried by the announcement by rating agency Moody’s that it would likely downgrade The Bahamas’ credit rating within 60 days [from July 5^th 2016].  Mr. Halkitis said ‘The Christie administration knows what to do to address the concerns raised by Moody’s, and is [was] committed to doing it.’, yet here we are in December with a downgrade by ratings agency S&P, I guess the minister can always justify his statement by claiming he was addressing Moody’s concerns but hasn’t this ratings agency also downgraded our credit rating since this warning and since the Minister of State for Finance expressed the commitment of his government to doing what they know that they had to do?

What went wrong?

Now we embark on a new year, with a higher borrowing cost i.e. higher interest rates and the only  way that I can see this government fixing the problem, using PLP logic is to increase Value-Added Tax from 7.5 percent to 15 percent; I know we as a people will not stand for this, right?

The Progressive Liberal Party fails for one reason, it is their nature.

END

As Bahamians prepared for a festive holiday season, trying to put aside the ‘shock and awe’ created by the Leader of The Opposition’s senate selections, it would appear that the governing Progressive Liberal Party (PL) had its own ‘shock and awe’ for its people just in time for Christmas as the credit rating agency, Standard and Poor’s (S&P) downgraded the country’s credit rating, yet again.

“Junk Status” – The Nassau Guardian

Excerpt from this article; “Standards and Poor’s (S&P), the world’s largest credit rating agency yesterday downgraded the Bahamas’ sovereign credit rating to sub investment-grade level, widely considered ‘junk status’, in a grim economic report on the country’s fiscal health and future.

The international ratings giant dropped the credit rating by one notch to ‘BB+/B’ from ‘BBB-/A-3’, along with a threat to lower the credit rating over the next two years if public finances continue to ‘deteriorate’, although it did elevate the country’s outlook from negative to stable.

This is the fourth downgrade from a major ratings agency since the current Christie administration took office.”

Last night I saw a post on social media concerning this and I thought to myself that this must be wrong, we could not have gotten here, not with the great strides which have been taken in tax reform [Value-Added Tax, which has netted over a billion dollars and it is claimed has outpaced its projections] in order to lower the country’s deficit and improve our credit rating and economic outlook, and with constant reassurances from the government that they know what they are doing.

In July of this year, the ratings agency, Moody’s issued a warning to the government that it was looking to downgrade the country’s sovereign credit rating; at the time Minister of State for Finance, Mr. Michael Halkitis claimed that the government knows ‘what to do to prevent [a] Moody’s downgrade’, at this time Standards and Poor’s was holding its position and had taken a wait and see approach; since this time both rating agencies have downgraded the countries sovereign credit rating, so either the present government does not know what to do or they just simply failed at what they had proposed, so moving forward what is their plan?

“The government is disappointed in this development [the downgrade], and is of the view that S&P’s decision does not give appropriate weight to important developments on the ground, nor the Bahamas’ strong commitment to address its economic and fiscal challenges.

The Government remains focused on its plans to grow the economy, through responsible, balanced and sustainable policy initiatives and measures.  The Government recognizes the centrality and imperative of the economic growth objectives to reducing domestic risk factors: – strong economic growth is required to generate more job opportunities for Bahamians and to support the near-terms goals of a balanced budget and sustainable debt-to-GDP ratios.”

For some strange reason this all sounds like, ‘Don’t worry, we know what we are doing’, all over again and it is clear that this government is totally out of it depth.  Simply put, you cannot continuously attempt to reassure the people of The Bahamas and convince them that you know what you are doing when your record of failures to these people over the past four plus years speak for itself and leaves them with the prospects of a bleak holiday season and anxious as to what the New Year will bring.

The Progressive Liberal Party fails for one reason, it is their nature.

END

The Executives of the Democratic National Alliance claim to be fully behind the ‘deal’ between Loretta Butler-Turner and Branville McCartney; the question that I would like to ask is does Branville and the Executives speak for all of the 8.48 percent of persons that voted for the Democratic National Alliance (DNA) in the 2012 General Election; and is this really the sentiments of the entire Executive body of the DNA?

What I find interesting and what I am more curious about is how Loretta Butler-Turner, Leader of the Opposition Free National Movement in the House of Assembly, now makes Branville McCartney, Leader of the Democratic National Alliance, Opposition business in the Upper Chamber; and I must ask what has been promised to him and under what terms and conditions, as revelations of the failed deal between Dr. Hubert Minnis, leader of the Free National Movement (FNM) and Branville McCartney now come to light.

DNA wanted 14 seats uncontested during coalition talks with FNM” – The Tribune

Excerpt from this article; “During negotiations for the union between their two parties earlier this year, Democratic National Alliance Leader Branville McCartney wanted the Free National Movement to leave as many as 14 seats uncontested to clear the way for the DNA candidates in those constituencies, sources familiar with the talks said.

But the negotiations broke down during the summer after FNM Leader Dr. Hubert Minnis refused Mr. McCartney’s request, The Tribune understands.

The two parties aroused national interest in May when they appeared open to a coalition to challenge the Progressive Liberal Party.

Mr. McCartney and Dr. Minnis negotiated terms for the union over several months, meeting face-to-face multiple times with advisors and high-ranking officials in the party, The Tribune understands.

The pair had several meeting prior to the FM’s convention in July and just after that.

However the talks feel through after the two failed to compromise on two key issues: the number of seats the FNM would leave uncontested and he question of whether the DNA would disband and join the party.”

In my humble opinion, the both of these men erred in this ‘standoff’ and I can see why the ‘deal’ then fell apart.

I cannot see how Dr. Minnis would find it conceivable and could reasonably except Mr. McCartney to disband this party and join the Free National Movement and there should be no reasonable expectation for Mr. McCartney to except Dr. Minnis to acquiesce to his demands of leaving fourteen seats uncontested for the DNA; what does the party, realistically, really bring to the table to make such a demand?  Because as Ms. Loretta Butler-Turner once said when defending her position of not wanting the FNM to form a coalition with the DNA; “Loretta Butler-Turner yesterday rejected a coalition between the FNM and DNA as ‘not a good idea’ given the third party’s fledgling status.” (23^rd May 2016), this then brings me back to my original point, what has been promised and under what conditions; as Mr. McCartney seems to find it appropriate to make proclamations for  “…..Minnis to quit”?

By any rate, I cannot image the Executives of the Democratic National Alliance being too pleased with the new ‘deal’ being struck between two persons who were not only adamantly against a coalition when it was proposed at one time or another but by two factions of two parties that saw themselves as better off without the other but not the tides have seems to have turned as the ‘common enemy’ has changed but quiet as it is kept.

END

We’re working to remove Minnis’- Rollins: FNM leader is incompetent” – The Nassau Guardian

Except from this article; “Fort Charlotte MP Dr. Andre Rollins said yesterday that he and ‘others’ are working on having Free National Movement (FNM) Leader Dr. Hubert Minnis removed as party leader before the next general election because he is incompetent and unable to lead.

While a guest on talk show ‘Freedom March’ with Rodney Moncur, Rollins said, ‘We’re organizing to remove any possibility of having Hubert Minnis lead the opposition into the next general election.

‘Dr. Minnis is, and I say this without trying to attack his character; because as I’ve said earlier, he may be by all appearances a nice fellow, but he is utterly incompetent as a leader.”

My first and most obvious question to Dr. Rollins is who is “we”?  I have given this statement some thought and to the best of my knowledge and someone please correct me if I am wrong, the only way to remove Dr. Minnis as the Leader of the Free National Movement (FNM) are;

1. Have another convection
2. Force him to resign
3. Have a vote of no confidence of him at the General Council level or
4. He dies; either naturally or unnaturally.

Barring any of these, the fact stands that Dr. Minnis has gone to convention twice and as won twice and to my knowledge, enjoys the support of most the Council; is Dr. Rollins suggesting that with months to the general election these persons have now changed their minds and would rather now go with a new leader?

If they were to go with a new leader, it is obvious that the only viable option would be the Hon. Loretta Butler-Turner MP for Long Island, whose credibility has recently been called into question by her most recent actions; along with the rest of the “Wayward 7”, none of whom could ever even be considered for the leadership position.

In my opinion the best plan to have removed Dr. Minnis would have been to set a plan in motion from the very first convention, wherein you and your other parliamentary colleagues that wanted him [Dr. Minnis] gone at that time, just simply ‘outshined’ him because if he was/is as incompetent as you all claim this would have been a simple enough to do, but yet they sat back and did nothing; not even to defend the party at the national level but now you seek to consort with ‘others’ to do what you have constantly failed to be able to achieve, and except the people to take them seriously.

It is indeed odd these ‘cries’ of no ‘confidence’, when the party has actually been on a steady re-building course in picking up some extremely formidable and viable candidates ahead of the next general election, while some along with ‘others’ simply sit back and openly criticized the party’s leader, accusing him of destroying the party.  This is very interesting indeed, and I feel that it is safe to say that the 7 along with ‘others’ have no faith in the work that has been done to date and the candidates that have been ratified.  Would it be wrong or irrational of me to intimate that the Wayward Seven’s actions to date have done more to destroy and hamper the party then Dr. Minnis has been accused off?

An interesting comment by Dr. Andre Rollins, who is known for his interesting comments; “…I could support him notwithstanding the fact that he is such a poor communicator, and that he is one who has zero debating skills.

But this is not the point; the point is that he has no interest in trying to fix the country because all he cares about is having the title of ‘prime minister’.”

Sometimes we are our own worst enemy.

END

The Progressive Liberal Party’s “The National Institute, has earlier this week listed a multitudinous list of ‘accomplishments’ that have been achieved by their government over the past four and a half years.

Oddly missing from this list is Baha Mar, which I thought would have been high on the list due to the recent sale of the property.

“Baha Mar sold – Phase opening in April” – The Nassau Guardian 13^th December 2016

Excerpt from this article; “Prime Minister Perry Christie yesterday announced that Baha Mar has been sold to CTM Bank Holdings Limited, a subsidiary of Hong Kong conglomerate Chow Tai Fook Enterprises Limited (CTFE) and said the executive sale and purchase agreement represents a ‘significant achievement for the Bahamas, and a milestone in the troubled history of the Baha Mar resort.’

Christie said while a sale and purchase agreement has been executed, there still remains ‘outstanding conditions and negotiations between the bank (Export-Import bank of China – CEXIM), which financed the project) and the CTF for various ancillary agreements’.

Ousted Baha Mar developer Sarkis Izmirlian filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in Delaware in June 2014, but al related cases have since been dismissed.

Speaking to the chronology of events since March 2014, Christie said that he and his administration have worked day and night to see the project remobilized, completed and opened and the money owed to former employees, creditors and contractors settled.

He said these objectives were embedded in the heads of agreement signed by the government, the bank, Perfect Luck Limited and Perfect Luck Assets Limited in August.

The agreement has seen nearly 2,000 terminated employees paid and hundreds of creditors’ claims settled to date.

Christie revealed that CEXIM committed $101.5 million to the payout exercise, which was provided as exgratia settlements for former employees and creditors.

He said the claims committee overseeing the payout exercise, headed by former Minister of State of Finance James Smith, has concluded nearly 90 percent of the claims of unsecured creditors.

The government has said it hopes to conclude the payout process by the end of the year.

Christie acknowledged that the August agreement with CEIXM remains sealed by the Supreme Court, a move that caused great backlash.”

It is indeed odd that this great achievement was not on this list, could this be due to the great uncertainty that still surrounds the project and still has the ‘arrangement’ shrouded’ in secrecy? 

While the Prime Minister labels this as “a milestone in the troubled history of the Baha Mar resort”; does he go on to explain how the incompetence and ineptitude of his government created this crisis in the first place?  Maybe, it was all planned; who is to say but while he and is government list their accomplishments to date; will they acknowledge that unemployment is up as several resorts have laid off employees and is still on the rise; will they acknowledge that the national debt deficit are up despite the “successful “tax reform measures taken by his government, while the misery index also continues to rise

Will he acknowledge any of these failures?

The Progressive Liberal Party fails for one reason, it is their nature.

END

Over this past weekend rumor swirled about that the Hon. Loretta Butler-Turner; new Leader of the Opposition in the House Assembly, appointing Branville McCartney, Leader of the Democratic National Alliance (DNA) to the senate.  This morning dailies have since reported that the two had been in talks concerning this issue.

“Butler-Turner talks to DNA over Senate – McCartney ‘lined up for post in deal with rebels.” – The Tribune

Except from this article; “It was claimed last night that newly appointed Opposition leader Loretta Butler-Turner has offered a Senate seat to the Democratic National Alliance Leader Branville McCartney.

However, Mrs. Butler-Turner declined to comment on the report, saying she had made no decision, but would announce her Senate appointments within the next 24 hours.

On the heels of her historic appointment as the first female leader of the official Opposition, according to well-placed sources, Mrs. Butler-Turner was expected to name her one-time Cabinet colleague during the last Ingraham administration leader of Opposition business in the senate this week, if he accepts the offer.

The Tribune understands that after a weekend of ‘high level talks’, Mrs. Butler-Turner, the Free National Movement’s MP for Long Island, has offered a deal to the DNA ‘guaranteeing’ the third party an official voice in the build-up to the 2017 general election.”

Well, as of 1 pm today, Mr. Branville McCartney, DNA leader, has been sworn in to the Senate, appointed by Mrs. Butler-Turner, the Official Opposition’s leader in the House of Assembly as the leader of Opposition Business, which in light of her explanation makes perfect sense and is perfectly logical but it begins to build a ‘soft’ coalition between the Free National Movement (FNM) and the Democratic National Alliance (DNA); even if some would say it does not necessarily have to – let us be adults here and try not to insult one another intelligence.

This has been a ‘painful road’ and both parties involved; Mrs. Butler-Turner and Mr. McCartney at one point or another adamantly denied the possibility of this ever happening.

“FNM Coalition with the DNA ‘not a good idea” – The Tribune, 23 May 2016

Excerpt from this article; “Long Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner yesterday rejected a coalition between the FNM and DAN as ‘not a good idea’ given the third party’s fledgling status.

Mrs. Butler-Turner suggested that the way forward is a merger of the two parties and the disbanding of the DNA, whose only appeal she said was the ‘Branville McCartney brand”, my question now is if the DNA is actually in the process of disbanding, if you were to listen to its leader; of course not! But then he too has given some ‘double talk’ on this issue’.

“DNA: No plans for FNM talks – McCartney say FNM in state of disarray.” – The Nassau Guardian, 10 December 2016

Excerpt from this article; “Democratic National Alliance (DNA) Leader Branville McCartney yesterday said the party has ‘no plans to enter talks with the beleaguered Free National Movement (FNM), and has no time to be distracted by the Official Opposition’s current state of ‘complete disarray”, but yet today Mr. Branville McCartney proclaims “Patriotism over Partisan Politics”, as he enters into a deal with Mrs. Butler-Turner to enters the Senate.

Now a lot of factors may have gone into this decision and only time will tell us what they may have been; somewhat like the Baha Mar deal.  Then I can be far off in left field and over thinking this entire situation and Ms. Butler-Turner could have just offered him the position with a few months left to elections to give the DNA a voice and also Mr. Branville McCartney could have accepted on the grounds of ‘patriotism over partisan politics’, but as I said earlier; let us be adults about this.

END