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

This past week got off to a rocky start for the Free National Movement (FNM), when Edison Key accused Dr. Hubert Minnis, Leader of the Official Opposition Free National Movement of undermining him and having ‘private’ meetings in his constituency to have him replaced as the party’s candidate for South and Central Abaco in the upcoming elections.

“Key Lashes Minnis” – The Nassau Guardian Dec. 05^th 2016

Excerpt from this article; “South and Central Abaco MP Edison Key confirmed on Saturday that he will not run again on the Free National Movement’s (FNM) ticket and excoriated   FNM Leader Dr. Hubert Minnis, claiming he is not a man of his word, and is ‘destroying’ the party ahead of the general election.

Key claimed Minnis has plotted behind his back with certain operatives in Abaco to end his (Keys) political career, and did not give him the courtesy of knowing ‘secret’ meetings were being held in his own constituency.”  If the allegations are indeed true then what would be the point of making Mr. Key aware of ‘secret’ meetings; this then makes the whole exercise moot but I tend to jest about a very grave matter.

For Edison Key MP to take such a stance against Dr. Minnis, he must also then take the stance against the party itself because it would seem that the Chairman, Sidney Collie, is also complicate in this deed to expel him (Mr. Key) and has engineered a grand story to defend the party’s actions; I mean Dr. Minnis’ actions, according to Mr. Edison Key.

“Collie: FNM sought to replacement only after Key said he was retiring” – The Tribune – Dec. 7^th 2016

Excerpt from this article; “The Free National Movement only began seeking a new candidate for the Central and South Abaco constituency after area MP Edison Key informed the organization that he would not be seeking another nomination because he was retiring from front line politics, party Chairman Sidney Collie said yesterday.”

So, according to the Chairman of the Free National Movement, the Hon. Edison Key had already informed the party that he was no longer running; are they [the party] lying or has Mr. Key simply forgotten this communication?  Maybe he was just thinking out loud at the time.

By any rate, the ‘act of deception’ on Dr. Minnis’ behalf seem to be the ‘straw to break the camel’s back’, and so we had what has been termed as an ‘FNM Revolt’, but this only seem to be among the parliamentarians and those supporters that seem to look for a reason, any reason, to complain about Dr. Minnis as Leader of the Free National Movement.

“FNM Revolt” – “Seven MP’s vote to oust Minnis as leader of opposition”

-“Butler-Turner is chosen to replace Minnis in House”

-“Call for rebels to quit party in late-night meeting”

The Tribune – Dec. 8^th, 2016

Excerpt from this article; “In a bold move that stunned Parliament, seven Opposition MP’s submitted a letter to both House Speaker Dr. Kendal Major and Governor Dame Marguerite Pindling yesterday, revealing that a vote was taken among them for Long Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner to be the new Official Leader in the House of Assembly.”

The Wayward Seven actions were brought about, in their words, by “Voter apathy and the Free National Movement’s failure to capitalize on the Progressive Liberal Party’s mistakes”, but many now ask what did any of The Seven do to help the Free National Movement capitalize on the governments shortfalls and what are their future plans; as Ms. Butler-Turner is made Leader of the Opposition in the House of Assembly in a 3pm ceremony this afternoon?

More importantly, what are the plans of The Seven as the party continues to move forward toward the 2017 General Elections, as Dr. Minnis is still Leader of the Free National Movement?

What is their ‘End Game’?

Edison Key is heard saying that the Free National Movement “FNM needs to bring Ingraham back”, so if their ‘end game’ was to remove Dr. Minnis as leader and replace him with the Hon. Loretta Butler-Turner but still having thoughts of bringing Ingraham back; is this to say that he [Key] and maybe others in the bunch have no confidence in Ms. Butler-Turner to lead the party?  Then, as Ms. Butler-Turner has brought this situation about, questions have arisen about her credulity and trust worthiness; how does she calm these ‘fears’ in the minds of the average Bahamian citizen?

How does she and her six parliamentary colleagues address the damage that they have done to the momentum that the party had began to gain under Dr. Minnis and how if anyone denies that the party had began to build forward momentum, then that person; in my humble opinion, has lied not only to themselves but to the others that they have convinced or hoped to convinced that what has happened on Wednesday of this past week helps the Free National Movement ahead of next year’s General Elections.

END

“Rebel FNM’s refuse to quit –Key: I won’t be forced out of party” – The Tribune

Excerpt from this article; “In the aftermath of Free National Movement Leader Dr. Hubert Minnis call for the ‘rebel’ seven members if Parliament to resign from the party or face disciplinary action, several signatories on the letter to revoke his appointment as Official Opposition leader in Parliament have said that they are declining to quit, one of them insisting ‘I won’t be forced out’ of the organization.

Central and South Abaco MP Edison Key told The Tribune that Dr. Minnis could not force him to leave the FNM.  Mr. Key maintained that instead if Dr. Minnis calling for their resignations, he should be the one to bow out of the top post of the party because his parliamentary caucus no longer reposes confidence in his ability to lead them.

Mr. Key, 78, said he expected to be expelled.  However, he said, this does not mean anything to him.

Meanwhile, Central Grand Bahama MP Neko Grant said he ‘respectfully’ rejected the leader’s request to leave the party.  Montagu MP Richard Lightbourn, North Eleuthera MP Theo Neilly and St. Anne’s MP Hubert Chipman, speaking to ZNS News, also said they had no plans to resign from the party.”

It is indeed has become a very precarious situation because as Mr. Key says, “I am an elected member of Parliament,’ Mr. Key said yesterday when he was contacted.  He, (Dr. Minnis) can’t force me to resign.  What he should do is the honorable thing and step down.  The parliamentary group has lost all confidence in Dr. Minnis and the stalwarts in the party should replace him.”

Oddly, from what I gather the stalwarts/MCM’s within the party actually support Dr. Minnis but as Mr. Key asks for Dr. Minnis to do the ‘honorable thing and step down’, it is obvious that they seek to force Dr. Minnis from the leadership position of the party, while insisting that he [Dr. Minnis] cannot force them out of the party; this is nothing less than rank and utter hypocrisy.

Darron Cash, former chairman of the Free National Movement once said that the party needed to have a “Come to Jesus moment” and I feel that this is it, because as the party had just began to attract quality candidates and attention from many undecided’s and supporter of other political parties, we now have this and the questions that will stand ; what does Ms. Butler-Turner and her colleagues wish to accomplish by this move and how will this change attract these persons that were giving the Free National Movement another look and can certain person in the organization be trusted at their word?

 

END

Since the Free National Movements convention earlier this year, where Ms. Loretta Butler-Turner opposed Dr. Hubert Minnis for leadership of the party and was defeated – no not defeated; as she withdrew prior to ballots even being casted in the leadership race; all thought that the leadership race had become a non-issue until yesterday.

All thought that it had become a non-issue and I am guessing that even Dr. Minnis and most of the Executive were of this opinion as he [Dr. Minnis] went about his role as party leader along with the executives, building a party with formidable, impressive and worthy candidates.

“Opposition failed” – The Nassau Guardian

Excerpt from this article; “Long Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner said yesterday she and six other Free National Movement (FNM) MP’s wrote to Governor General Dame Marguerite Pindling, expressing a vote of no confidence in Leader of the Opposition, Dr, Hubert Minnis because the party has ‘failed’ as an effective opposition and the country needs change,’

In the Minority Room if the House of Assembly, Butler-Turner addressed the media alongside Central Grand Bahama MP Neko Grant; South and Central Abaco MO Edison Key; Montagu MP Richard Lightbourne; St. Anne’s MP Hubert Chipman; Fort Charlotte MP Dr. Andre Rollins and North Eleuthera MP Theo Neilly.

Butler-Turner said ‘We have failed to convince Bahamians that we represent a change for them to vote for.’

‘Instead, we have taken the position that the electorate will choose by default to vote against the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP).

‘Such a strategy fails to meet the challenges of our time and is not deserving of the confidence of our Bahamian people.”

I am quite aware that as Ms. Butler-Turner and her six parliamentary colleagues express a vote of ‘no confidence’ in the Leader of The Opposition and states that the Opposition has failed, that she is conceding that she and her group of six have also failed.  Out of the seven that has passed this indictment on Dr. Minnis and presented this letter to the Governor General  one would be hard pressed to find one out of the six that has made any meaningful contribution to the representation of their constituency that they were elected to serve, to the country and to the Free National Movement party over the past four plus years and if one were to find that one person, it would be quite safe to say that they only spoke when actually necessary or rose to their feet to defend their ‘record’.

Yes. Ms. Butler-Turner, ‘country is in a shambles’ and I seek to find how the actions of you and others have taken will correct this situation.  It would seem that the six lack motivation and looked to the leader to tell them what to do as a source of motivation; this is a sad indictment on their behalf; because as Perry Christie stood as the Official Opposition his members were out making him ‘look good’, when we all knew that it really was not him calling the shot, but they did what they needed to do to keep the party alive and did not wait on their leader to tell them what needed to be done.

END