By AVA TURNQUEST
Tribune Chief Reporter
aturnquest@tribunemedia.net
MARCO City MP Greg Moss yesterday said the name and symbol of his previously foreshadowed political party will not be revealed until November when it plans to present a “definitive alternative” to the candidate offerings of major organisations.
Mr Moss clarified that while he anticipates leading the fourth party into the next general election, the organisation’s structure – part of which is a steering committee – would ultimately make that decision.
He insisted that the official roll-out in November would be the “exact opposite” of a convention, adding that the party will unveil its platform even if the PLP and DNA conventions – also scheduled that month – are postponed.
“No one person can form a party out of thin air,” he said. “You come out with a platform policy statement and governing board, and you let people (decide).
“We obviously have our people in mind, alternative persons in mind, but that will be significantly impacted by the constituencies themselves. Representatives should not be imposed on the constituency, they should come out of the constituency so that the people can see them move about and not only during the campaign and then in five years to make amends.”
Mr Moss suggested that the entrance of a fourth political party has sparked turmoil among established parties, whom he said were now trying to get their “houses in order” and could possibly postpone scheduled conventions or political events.
He pointed out that the Free National Movement, the official opposition, has also noticeably delayed rolling out its slate of candidates.
The outspoken MP quit the PLP in June, explaining that the party had veered away from its founding principles and had issues with leadership.
As a guest on Peace 107.5FM show Hardcopy earlier this month, Mr Moss said he wants to be prime minister of the country.
However, he told host Steve McKinney that a leader in a democratic country could only be leader by the “acclaim of his people” – adding that this was the DNA’s critical flaw.
In an interview with The Tribune yesterday, he expressed concerns that public welfare was getting lost in the ongoing “political stampede” - particularly the fate of Grand Bahamians.
He underscored the prevalence of substandard living conditions along the southern shore of the island, where he claimed persons were living in handmade shacks.
“I’m very concerned that one thing getting lost in political stampede going on is the day-to-day fate of the people in Grand Bahama,” he said.
“There is significant suffering going on. I am still finding people living in handmade shacks on the southern shore in the Bahamia area, in the Barbary Beach area, this is a travesty. This is something that is known by social services and it’s something that we cannot continue to cover up, that is the ultimate responsibility of everyone in public office.”
Mr Moss renewed criticisms over the mandatory fees embedded in the public school system, and its toll on struggling families, and maintained his position that the proposed National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme would only move significant debt from one sector of society to another. He challenged that NHI was only an advancement to a nation that did not already have a free public health care infrastructure, and predicted that an accompanying tax would have the same social impact as value added tax.
Mr Moss said: “I understand that everyone is involved in political wrangling, but it should not take precedence over people.”
“Yes, there is an evolutionary process involved in political life, and I note with great interest persons trying to recast themselves to run away from their own reputation over the last three years.”
He added: “While we’re in this process, we need not to take our eyes off our duty to take care of the people.”
Mr Moss said he planned to make a more detailed announcement concerning the new party in Grand Bahama within the next week.
Comments
TalRussell 8 years, 7 months ago
Comrades, other than what I've read in the newspapers I know so little about Marco's Greg Moss.
If i were to be asked to give Greg the best of my advice, it would be to fully and sincerely acknowledge that the people seem ready to accept new leadership.
Believe it or not, most people do not only want to be lead but they want to also be entertained by their politicians, or if not up to the task, you better have a far and much better substitute to attract and keep their attention, right up until the times all the polling stations officially close.
The most difficult thing will be to most effectively take on the leaders of the two mainstream parties, from the outside of their political structures.
You do have the advantage of being a sitting member House of Assembly, and with that comes certain privileges, not afforded to the Green Party's Bran. Use them wisely.
It will be hard enough to win the prime minister's chair, come the 2017 General - but impossible for him, if Greg does not perform correctly or adequately to be confirmed the new party's leader between now and November.
Good luck to you My Dear Comrade Greg. I shall observe your decisions, strategies and political uniting moves over coming weeks.
Zakary 8 years, 7 months ago
Representatives should not be imposed on the constituency, they should come out of the constituency so that the people can see them move about and not only during the campaign and then in five years to make amends.
I agree 100%.
Most, if not all constituencies receive absolutely dismal representation across the board in parliament. We accept whatever pathetic candidate a party throws at us.
This should be the other way around, a constituency should be mandating who they want representing them, and not taking garbage from anyone. That’s how you make political parties wet their pants and establish a precedent of good representation, easy.
This representative should be visible, working, and circulating within the community for the entire term of governance, anything less is not acceptable.
Moss obviously understands the spirit of the constitution, but I don’t think the same can be said for the general population who have yet to understand the extent of the power they hold and this could be a miscalculation for Moss, but who knows what the future holds...
We are at a crossroads, and we need real leaders, not people who function as if the government runs on autopilot. The government doesn’t have an autopilot switch.
We need leaders who are servants of the people running the show, not political prancers or rhetorical masters who can make people laugh or believe in unicorns.
countryfirst 8 years, 7 months ago
I simply believe that no one should be able to represent a constituency that he/she doesn't live in full-time.
Publius 8 years, 7 months ago
One person does not start or make a political party, one person starts or makes a cult. Where are the people who are a part of this party and if they exist, why are their identities not known? The only voice you hear and see is Moss. One man is not a party. Where is the actual party? When will its officers be elected and by which mechanism will such elections be held if his party is not having a convention? He threw barbs at Branville in this regard, but so far has no room to do so.
Stapedius 8 years, 7 months ago
Just crawl back into that hole you came out of. No problem with Moss, but sometimes you move on and pack up ya marbles.
sheeprunner12 8 years, 7 months ago
He should have listened to Noelle Nicholls and Alana Rodgers yesterday on Guardian Radio with Carlton Smith ................... one of them should be his Deputy or senior advisor
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