FNM leader Dr Hubert Minnis.
By AVA TURNQUEST
Tribune Chief Reporter
aturnquest@tribunemedia.net
FREE National Movement Leader Dr Hubert Minnis yesterday hinted that his party was working to expose another high-level politician in the Christie-led administration.
Dr Minnis suggested that the party’s investigation of the unnamed official was nearly complete, and that the revelation would be made in similar style of allegations against Minister of Agriculture V Alfred Gray and the insurance scandal at the Bahamas Agriculture and Marine Science Institute (BAMSI).
He remained tight-lipped over further details, but said the FNM’s campaign for a change in governance has been well received in the Family Islands.
“We are in a delivery process,” he said. “We are in twin delivery. Mr Christie tried to do a half birth, but this is delivery that we are going to follow through. The first delivery is Gray, the second delivery is the deputy prime minister, and there is movement for possibly a third delivery.
“That’s not going to be an easy delivery, we might have to deliver that one. But that one will come even if we have to do a caesarean (section).”
The Killarney MP’s threat comes as the police continue their probe into Mr Gray’s alleged interference in the court case of a resident from his Mayaguana constituency.
In the House of Assembly last week, Dr Minnis said the investigation was the direct result of the Official Opposition’s efforts to expose “alleged troubling abuse of power and unconstitutionality” on the part of Mr Gray, whose ministerial portfolio included local government.
The FNM accused Mr Gray of abusing his power after he contacted Administrator Zephaniah Newbold nearly two weeks ago about a 19-year-old convicted in Mayaguana and sentenced to three months in prison.
Mr Gray’s local government portfolio has been transferred to Financial Services Minister Hope Strachan pending the outcome of the police investigation.
Yesterday, Dr Minnis claimed that the controversy surrounding Mr Gray would not distract the party or the wider public from the continuing BAMSI controversy.
In February, Deputy Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis said, during a House of Assembly session, that the BAMSI dormitory damaged by fire in January had contractor’s all-risk insurance. At that time, he explained that the policy had lapsed because the contractor had not paid for an extension when completion ran out of time.
However, he later admitted to parliamentarians that the building was never insured, adding that he did not know this until he reviewed the contractor’s file on March 2.
The FNM subsequently accused Mr Davis of misleading the House and demanded his immediate resignation.
Arnold Forbes, Minister of State for Works, told The Tribune last week that Ministry of Works had determined that all of the other buildings at BAMSI are insured.
Meanwhile Dr Minnis said his party is gaining traction throughout the country.
“We were in Exuma recently, the response is excellent. As we move through the community and have our town meetings, we would give residents a little insight of where we want to take the country. We ask them: do you think you are better off today than yesterday, and they all said ‘no’, and if they are ready for change and their response is ‘yes’.
“They are ready for honesty, transparency, and accountability.”
Comments
cocacola1 9 years ago
Is this a new campaign strategy? laughs
ThisIsOurs 9 years ago
I hope so, I hope they expose every thievin' lyin', scum bucket scrappin' PLP, and then I hope the PLP does the same to the FNM. Get rid of ALL thievin' lyin', scum bucket scrappin' politicians, we need honest ethical statesmen if we are to save this country.
Sickened 9 years ago
Agreed. Why the PLP don't expose the past FNM mis-dealings is beyond me. A whole bunch of past and present politician's need to get stoned in the square. And yes, I would cast the first stone!!!
SP 9 years ago
Dr. Minnis can also expose what happened to the $5M that his former FNM Cabinet colleague Minister Of Tourism walked away with through his shell company just before the 2012 elections.
PLP and FNM both must have shared that $5M up because neither has ever breathed a word about it.
Get rid of both corrupt parties.......PLP & FNM...SUCKS!
birdiestrachan 9 years ago
Minnis seems to be in the business of destroying people. that is what the Devil does , roam through the earth seeing whom he may destroy........He has no vision and no ideas as to how he can move the Bahamas forward..
Alexander44Johnson 9 years ago
You shared my thoughts precisely. Why go around tearing down people instead of helping them build themselves and their quality of life. We must be more merciful, kind and caring towards one another in order to see success - after all, even white crabs know that.
ThisIsOurs 9 years ago
Jesus ripped up the temple, he told those Bishops, Preachers and Pastors that they made his church into a den of thieves with the all money they raked in for themselves. Jesus was no soft spoken easy going guy, he called a THIEF a THIEF.
ohdrap4 9 years ago
this govt has done nothing to build anyone's quality of life. you paid your light bill yet?
Sickened 9 years ago
What a bull shit comment! That's like saying why go around looking for murderer's or rapists.
newcitizen 9 years ago
Notice he's trying to bring light on the corrupt dealing of people who are stealing money from the Bahamian people and doing nothing to better anyone but themselve. How can you defend such corruption and theft?
GrassRoot 9 years ago
People destroy their own reputation, they can not blame other people of "destroying them". if you lay with dogs you wake up with fleas. At the end of the day it does not matter, who turns the light on in this sh** house, as long it is done.
Alexander44Johnson 9 years ago
Can someone help me understand why Dr. Minnis will watch the problem, gather information about the problem and not make an attempt to fix the problem? So exposing another Scandal will increase news media coverage and give the people a little more to be bitter about, yet the problem still exist. It is so frustrating to see how politics is played out in the media with very, very little corrective action. When will we become pro active instead of reactive. Our politicians must remember the people, the must remember the people who elected them and they must not think just for their selfish gain but for the people. I am saddened at the consistent public display of foolishness with very little results that benefit the people. Dr. Minnis, use your information for the good of the people. Instead of trying to make Prime Minister Christie look bad, help those involved so that the people can feel some relief, please. This is really allot for people who are struggling with to constantly deal with supposedly intelligent, legal minded leaders playing tricks for votes and support when people are hurting and need relief - not just help, but relief.
ohdrap4 9 years ago
if he can stop corruption, that is for the good of the people.
GrassRoot 9 years ago
ha, a dog is a dog and stays a dog, even if he tries to look like a cat. The things is and that is the sentiment throughout, all these politicians are abusing their powers, both when the they are in charge and if they are in the opposition. I do believe however it is a good thing, when they go at it each other. I am cheering for both parties and all players. Only this way, we have a chance dry up the swamp. I believe there are lots of people with an intact ethical and moral compass in the Bahamas. But it is too early for these people to turn up. Lets burn down Rome before we rebuild it.
newcitizen 9 years ago
He's not the one making the PM look bad, the PM and his own cabinet are doing that. Exposing the scandal means that at least one shady thing this government is doing will stop, and that benefits all Bahamians.
thomas 9 years ago
It is not the exposing of wrongdoing that is wrong but the act of doing wrong.
abacogrouper 9 years ago
I agree 100%. He is doing his job as official opposition - if no wrong was being done, then he would have nothing to expose.
birdiestrachan 9 years ago
Dr: Minnis has no vision. Now any fool and every fool can say what is wrong. But the Bahamas is in need of men and women with vision to take the Bahamas Forward , he jumps on everything the other day he was all over Mr :Bowe of the Defence Force as if Mr: Bowe and the Government were doing something dishonest. Only a fool opposes all the time with no solutions to what they are opposing. Any one can tear down and destroy, But it takes vision and hard work to build.
newcitizen 9 years ago
To rebuild, first you must tear down.
Islandgirl 9 years ago
Where were you when Bradley Roberts was doing exactly what you are suggesting Dr. Minnis is doing?
ispeakthetruth 9 years ago
If he exposes "official x" in the BEC bribe then, that's something. If he is going to pour water on a sinking ship, it means nothing other than he is less than that. To 'expose another scandal' is as pointless as he is proving to be; because the PLP seems to be on track to bury themselves. No assistance needed.
Voters need to know who the serious candidates are...playing 'gotcha' politics does not (or should not) accomplish that end. If he wants to be taken seriously he should not be competing with The Punch. At the same time, people should stop falling for the rhetoric, and look for substance in the words and actions of these politicians. Because this...does not mean anything.
duppyVAT 9 years ago
HAM has a chance now to establish himself as a new generation, clean-hands, efficient, and accountable politician who is willing to break with the Pindling-style of governance ................. if he can prove that he can do that, we will be in good hands with Doc Minnis for the next election
caribguy 9 years ago
If the FNM hopes rests with HAM, I feel very sorry for the future of the FNM.
John 9 years ago
Random Poll suggests that elections with FNM headed by Hubert Minnis will be an easy victory for the PLP despite their many disappointments and allegations of corruption. Many feel that Minnis needs to establish a firm FNM platform and not just chase after PLP skeletons.
abacogrouper 9 years ago
"Chase after PLP skeletons"???? Are you kidding me? They don't have to chase after anything... the PLP are exposing all. lol
duppyVAT 9 years ago
Why is everyone writing Hubert Minnis off????????? There must be some positive leadership qualities about a man who started out in Baintown, who went to medical school, who became a successful entrepreneur and who is a popular MP ............... for real!!!!!!!!!!!!
We look at his average debating skills and growing pains as a young inexperienced political leader and we are ready to write him off ............. can we reflect on SLOP, Whitfield, and Ingraham's early years and then judge HAM after 3 years as FNM leader .......... SMT
jackflash 9 years ago
The next PLP scandal is -
The Defense Force vessel that hit the rock going into Andros was not insured.
The PLP never paid the premium, so no coverage was in effect!
NUA will not make a big fuss because they have millions of other big government contracts that they don't want to loose.
They are hoping that the government will now pay the other contracts off as this NEW SCANDLE becomes known. (many other buildings, etc, have not been paid on and are without coverage)...
In the meantime - who pays to fix the Arthur Hanna ??
TalRussell 9 years ago
Comrades, that Minnis is so funny a red shirt leader. Gosh, thanks Minnis, cuz I never thoughts it was your party that did da exposing?. While your party is in the fantasy exposing business - expose up the not a fantasy name, of the Hubert regime's appointed BEC board member, who USA court records state that they pocked under the table over a quarter of a million dollars? Can Minnis produce any correspondence where it will show the red party have in fact communicated with the Florida court to obtain the court transcripts for your study? Likewise, have you written to the PLP attorney general, demanding she launch an official investigation to expose the crooked red shirt? Has the red leader asked for a meeting with the former PM, to discuss this matter, if not why not? Wouldn't he want to know, if the former PM, may be able to shed some light, as to a possible list of crooked red suspects?
justthefactsplease 9 years ago
I gone DNA...they can't be any worse than these clowns. By the time their new blood learn how to manipulate the system, they might have done the country some good. Going to give the inexperienced non-politicians a try...the experienced politicians have obviously failed us and got rich doing it.
proudloudandfnm 9 years ago
Never ever announce you will expose a scandal. Simply expose the scandal. Stupid move....
GrassRoot 9 years ago
The only reason why most politicians are in politics in the Bahamas, is because they don't have skills that would land them any kind of other job.
duppyVAT 9 years ago
That is true for Perry ............. his wife took care of him for a long time. But that cannot be said of HAM and Bran ............ they are self made millionnaires!!!!!!!
birdiestrachan 9 years ago
I have heard that something is wrong with one of the new vessels.
SP 9 years ago
........................ Get Rid Of Both Corrupt Parties.......PLP & FNM...SUCKS! .....................
Dr. Minnis can also expose what happened to the $5M that his former FNM Cabinet colleague Minister Of Tourism walked away with through his shell company just before the 2012 elections.
PLP and FNM both must have shared that $5M up because neither has ever breathed a word about it.
licks2 9 years ago
It is so funny that the PLP them have so much "dirt" on the FNM dem on they tiefing too.. .yet they will not give any information to the police them!!! THE PLP IS THE GOVERNMENT. . .GET THEY TAILS FOR TIEFING OR JUST SHSUT YALL MOUTHS. . .YINNA JUST AS BAD!!
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