Mitchell: Those who have lost faith should look elsewhere

As of Wednesday, August 27, 2014

FOREIGN Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell said that, while dissenting opinions are valuable to organisations, those who have lost faith in the party should “look elsewhere”.

While Mr Mitchell did not specifically refer to anyone in his remarks, the comments came days after PLP MP for Fort Charlotte Dr Andre Rollins severely criticised Prime Minister Perry Christie in the House of Assembly.

Responding to perceived “threats” from Mr Christie over his outspoken and dissenting views, Dr Rollins said the country needs “new leadership”.

He also said he was tired of hearing the prime minister quote scripture in the House and also took the government to task for a number of outstanding issues.

Marco City MP Greg Moss has also been combative with members of his own party during debate in the House recently and has also lashed out at the prime minister.

During a speech delivered on Monday, Mr Mitchell said the PLP is not “a drawbridge upon which people can walk and just use for their purposes.” He made his remarks before the National Progressive Institute at the Lynden Pindling Centre at Gambier House on Monday night.

“During the FNM years, part of their political strategy was to seek to destroy the reputation of the PLP and so effective were they that even some of our own youngsters have adopted uncritically their narrative,” he said. “The bits about corruption and incompetence were part of their propaganda which is simply false.

“. . .Dissidence should occur within rules and regulations. We are in a volunteer organisation and we voluntarily agree to the rules. This requires discipline, loyalty faithful and trust. When people lose that in those who are their colleagues and give public voice to this without airing differences internally then it is time to look elsewhere.

“The organisation itself has a role in protecting its own integrity by ensuring that its rules are obeyed and be shown to be obeyed.”

Criticism

Mr Mitchell also urged younger members of the PLP to spread a counter-narrative to the “negative” press he said the government receives in the mainstream media, as he criticised reporters for lacking journalistic ethics.

He used the occasion to express condolences to the family of Latore Mackey, the deputy director of the Bahamas Information Services and press secretary to Prime Minister Perry Christie, who was fatally shot on Market Street early Monday morning.

The Fox Hill MP then criticised reporters at The Tribune and The Nassau Guardian for using their personal Facebook pages to make comments about members of government.

He said public figures are under more scrutiny than ever and that social media must be used as a tool to further the PLP’s message.

“This is the atmosphere in which we deal,” Mr Mitchell noted. “There are no lines it appears between private and public life, and it appears that reporters do not know that there are certain comments that they should not make because it compromises their independence in writing a news story.

“We who are public officials are in an intense period of scrutiny unlike any other in my political experience where before the public gets to digest one fact, there are others thrown at them and opinions come a mile a minute. The fact that this is the milieu within which we operate, does not change this immutable fact, I and I now say ‘we’ are responsible for our own image. We decide what are our image is or is not going to be.”

He added: “It is important for us to counter this narrative of a PLP that is not fit to govern, spun by the FNM and its fellow travellers with a counter narrative where we challenge the ethics of those who run and write newspapers and call them to account for their ethics or the lack thereof in the same why they challenge public officials. Social media provides us the space to do so.

“. . .The question then is what can National Progressive Institute do to help. If Latore were around, he would be able to tell you that a favourite saying of mine with which he agreed is that the PLP allows too much empty space to get filled with nonsense. In this milieu there is plenty of space to fill and if we do not fill it with our news, it will be filled with the news of those who oppose us.”

GrassRoot 9 years, 8 months ago

I am thankful of the press and social media. it keeps the bozos' in charge honest and at least requires them to respond to allegations whether true or not.

Sickened 9 years, 8 months ago

Mr. Mitchell... the PLP MP's you are talking about have not lost faith in the party... they have lost faith in the leader and deputy leader of the party. Big difference. Get rid of those two thick headed numbskulls and the party will run much better.

TalRussell 9 years, 8 months ago

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TalRussell 9 years, 8 months ago

Comrade Freddy you is my most respected Minister's but even this one stumped me. You do yourself have a long running history of being in and out curry favour with PM's. Sorry, I won't duck what's too damn funny, not poke fun at.

John 9 years, 8 months ago

This ain't the same Fred Mitchel who used the occasion of Guy Fawkes to beat (with a baseball bat), hang, and burn effigies of members of the reigning PLP government aye. Pindling got beaten, hanged and burned, so did A.D. Hanna, and Paul Adderley and other members of the cabinet, depending on what gripe Fred Mitchell had with them. Crime was basically non-existent back then, so this was probably the most violent and cruel thing that happened on Guy Fawkes night. It was only a short time after that thugs started setting real, living people on fire at Fort Charlotte and beating one another or stabbing, or killing, (Yes FRED taught them that), that the Guy Fawkes celebrations had to be cancelled and the event is hardly even mentioned today. THANK YOU FRED!!!

ThisIsOurs 9 years, 8 months ago

Beat with a baseball bat? LOL

Honestman 9 years, 8 months ago

He added: “It is important for us to counter this narrative of a PLP that is not fit to govern"

Well Fred there is an easy solution to solving the PLP's negative image:

Appoint a Prime Minister who is not afraid to make decisions,
Rid the party of those who place their own selfish interests ahead of the country's and
Begin governing the country with a modicum of efficiency.

How about that?

ThisIsOurs 9 years, 8 months ago

You forgot "stop the tiefin"

themessenger 9 years, 8 months ago

Be careful what you wish for.Before you know it we'll have Freddie for PM while ignoring point two with point three born dead as a result.

The_Oracle 9 years, 8 months ago

"During the FNM years, part of their political strategy was to seek to destroy the reputation of the PLP and so effective were they that even some of our own youngsters have adopted uncritically their narrative,” he said. “The bits about corruption and incompetence were part of their propaganda which is simply false". Well, that statement just blew your credibility down the toilet! If the PLP is a drawbridge, it is one that is up for those out of favor, down for those in favor, and rickety to the point of untrustworthy and condemnable! Cross that bridge at your own peril! As for the Journalists, if any fault is evident (in general terms) it is their lack of aggressive investigation skills, and laziness in learning their subject matter.

justthefactsplease 9 years, 8 months ago

Well Fred, I have lost faith... and apparently so have many other Bahamians, and we will be looking elsewhere in 2017. Hope you like it then.

Cobalt 9 years, 8 months ago

Yeah..... but at this point Fred and the PLP really don't care. They know they've got approximately three years to secure their retirement my sapping and leaching our pockets dry (not to mention the country). Come election 2017 Perry and Fred will be drinking scotch, smoking cigars, and thanking Bahamians for a lifetime of ignorance.

Well_mudda_take_sic 9 years, 8 months ago

Freddy Boy is perhaps the most dishonest deviant we have in the Bahamas today....and everyone knows it!

The_Messenger 9 years, 8 months ago

"If you, the people do not like how we are sinking this country then go support others who actually care about the Bahamas and it's people".

Well Fred, 2017 will certainly be game over for the PLP and anyone else who does not do their jobs properly from any party. You reap what you sow.

crabman 9 years, 8 months ago

B*&CH PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tommy77 9 years, 8 months ago

What a mess.http://s04.flagcounter.com/count//kfo..." height="1" width="1" />

asiseeit 9 years, 8 months ago

I wonder if he really believes what he say's? No corruption the PLP, then why are we in the mess we are in. Both dam party's have their fair share of corrupt members, the PLP is just way more blatant. Stop telling fib's Fred! Corruption is in the makeup of a Bahamian politician, how else could a certain someone spend 8 times the amount he made in that same time period??? Do you really think the Bahamian people are that stupid to believe you. Some are, but not all, by a long shot.

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