The Tribune

By SANCHESKA BROWN

Tribune Staff Reporter

sbrown@tribunemedia.net

SENATOR Frank Smith yesterday accused the former government of using Urban Renewal offices as campaign centres for potential FNM candidates.

While making his contribution in the senate, Mr Smith said the FNM used Urban Renewal for its own "selfish, political motives" instead of helping those in need.

"They saw this programme as a way to spread their political wings in non-traditional support bases of the Free National Movement. They initially and originally signaled this at their earliest opportunity by appointing a former FNM candidate, that ran against our leader in the general election in 2007, as head of Urban Renewal. I saw personally in the Kemp Road Area Urban Renewal Office, where anyone who was considering running for the FNM as a candidate, their first stop would be to that office," he said.

"They sought to gather steam and gather support by using information, intelligence, and the guise of Urban Renewal to get into people's homes to further their own selfish political agenda. My involvement with the Urban Renewal was a supportive role, never to try to politically influence Urban Renewal, the staff of Urban Renewal or the initiatives of Urban Renewal."

Mr Smith said he often heard rumours that the offices were being used for FNM campaigning, but he never really believed it until he saw it for himself.

"I often heard rumours about some initiatives that were happening at Urban Renewal where I would not be invited but the FNM prospective candidate would be present dressed in red. So I decided to stop by and there was complete shock on their faces. The element of surprise is such a wonderful thing.

"So I stopped in that night and because it is known in the community that my office hours were on Thursdays starting at 6pm until - I decided to stop in there on my way and when I pulled in there, I thought I was attending an FNM branch meeting right in the Urban Renewal office.

"So you could see how they sought to use this programme, even though it was dampened and watered down they sought to use the programme as a means to further their political agenda as opposed to delivering good to people in need and I cry shame on them for that."