MARCO City MP Greg Moss announced last night in the House of Assembly that he recently formed the United Democratic Party in Grand Bahama and has been elected leader of the organisation.
He said the party was formed on Sunday, November 22, and would contest every seat in the House of Assembly during the next general election.
“Going forward, Mr Speaker, when I speak in this House, I will be speaking as the leader of the United Democratic Party (UDP),” he said.
A press statement issued by the UDP shortly after Mr Moss made his announcement, said the party was formed by a group of “Bahamian patriots.”
The statement said, in part, that the party is united in the “common zeal with common purpose to defend our democracy, our people and our way of life.”
The party’s executives are C Allen Johnson, chairman; Melissa Selver, secretary; Islyn McIntosh, treasurer; Pastor Lorenzo McKenzie, chaplain; Eden Gaitor, youth chairman and Charlene Bullard-Carey, public relations chairman.
The UDP’s press release also said the party will hold a convention no later than July 31, 2016.
Mr Moss, a former member of the governing Progressive Liberal Party (PLP), announced in September that he planned to form a new political party.
At the time, he said the country must move away from “maximum leaders”.
“That is what led to the problem that we are in right now, where we basically set up one individual and basically crowned him king,” said Mr Moss, who made the announcement on the Peace 107.5 FM talk show “Hard Copy” with host Steve McKinney.
“That mindset is the beginning of corruption. Anyone who wants to call himself a leader in a democratic country, especially a young country like ours, must be a leader by the acclaim of his people. He must understand that he is subverted to the people as a whole.”
The outspoken MP quit the PLP in June, citing problems with the party’s leadership and that the party had veered away from its founding principles.
Comments
Well_mudda_take_sic 8 years, 4 months ago
Big mistake with the name UDP......much too close to UBP! The words "United" and "Party" should have been avoided.
sheeprunner12 8 years, 4 months ago
This level of stupidity has to stop ............. United denotes commonality in a cause and Democratic denotes the broad involvement of the people in governance ................ Party has been used since the eighteenth century Britain ......................... go fascist/socialist and talk about Movement and Force
TruePeople 8 years, 4 months ago
Should have called themselves TNO "The Next Option".... of better yet STV "Split the Vote"
sheeprunner12 8 years, 4 months ago
If Greg Moss can successfully pull together all of the anti PLPs (Perry) and anti FNMs (Minnis) into a cohesive coalition then he can be a viable third force ..................... then he will have my vote as well ...................... Until then, we will observe the show
ThisIsOurs 8 years, 4 months ago
I'm thinking about it. I like what I hear from him. He sounds reasonable. Will wait to see his team and hopefully get to know more about his management skills, character and belief system.
realfreethinker 8 years, 4 months ago
Five more years of the plp here we come
licks2 8 years, 4 months ago
Mr. Moss made a mistake in forming this party. . .become a spoiler party for PLP and DNA!
The disaffected PLPs and DNAs will not likely go to the FNM. . .hence former DNA/FNMs are more likely return to their party before going to the PLP. . .less likely to join Moss' new fledgling party.
Therefore, I predict that Dr. Minnis will be the next PM of the Bahamas. . .he seem to have much support in the public!!
Emac 8 years, 4 months ago
Look, I don't trust nobody who was a part of the PLP in the first place. Like I always say, the PLP did not just become corrupt over night. They have been stealing and victimizing for over two decades now! So anyone who joins this party, do so for reasons that are certainly not in the best interest of county. Moss, Rollins and that other whimpy man who crossed over to the FNM are all big pretenders who looking for power. What really bites is that Bahamians have such short memory. They are too quick to accept those who were once borderline criminals as future leaders. As far as I am concerned, Moss and his crew can go to hell...WAKE UP BAHAMAS!
TruePeople 8 years, 4 months ago
good point
TalRussell 8 years, 4 months ago
by TalRussell
themessenger 8 years, 4 months ago
What the hell is wrong with Bahamians? The PLP's political head served up to them on a silver platter and all they can do is squabble over who gets to lead while nobody follows. Mr Moss like Mr McCartney will be just another voice in the political wilderness, their black crab ego's coming before the common good as usual. I would say God help us but I think He's turned His back on the new Sodom and Gomorrah that is our Bahamaland.
TalRussell 8 years, 4 months ago
Comrades Freeporters are the the second best of the ideal voters to appeal to, if your political plan is to attempt to regurgitate the once powerful political attraction of the United Bahamian Party (UBP). Of course the number one UBP regurgitation spot remains up in the Abaco's.
And, I am not joking. How can be joking, when there has been growing talk from the colonialists on the blog pages to return Bahamaland back to her UBP "better governing" days. Their words, not mine.
Honestman 8 years, 4 months ago
What a waste of time!
TalRussell 8 years, 4 months ago
Comrade UDP Leader Greg, you having served via prime ministerial executive appointment at BTC, will you now investigate, if URCA's mandate permitted their board of directors to use a fine of $1,054,256.41 million collected from BTC to make a $1,054,256.41 million donation to NEMA?
If the existing mandate did in fact permit the donation, should URCA's mandate be changed to prevent further funds being disbursed at the sole discretion board of directors? Take note of the reason behind the fine and I have to ask, why the monies were not returned to BTC's customer.
Bluntly put Comrade UDP Leader - is there NO written policy where fine monies collected by URCA MUST end up?
Can these fine monies be order back into bank account URCA?
banker 8 years, 4 months ago
I was turned off by him naming a party chaplain. Obviously he hasn't learned the principle of separation of church and state. But a chaplain?????
For crying out loud, there are a hell of a lot more important posts to fill to make a party go, like National Policy Chairman, Constituency Organization Managers, Director of Communications, Membership Secretary, Caucus Whip, Chief Revenue Officer, Chief Information Officer, National Campaign Co-Chair, Party Manager and Chief Political Advisor and a host of other posts necessary to make a political party function.
What a Mickey Mouse outfit. Sounds like just a bunch of friends trying to sound important. They haven't a clue on how to run anything.
For example, before you announce, you should have a website. You should have a white paper outlining policies and principles. They should have a mission statement, a credo and a development plan. They should have had this before they launched.
We don't need more frigging amateurs, and this is so amateur that it belongs back in the bush.
TalRussell 8 years, 4 months ago
Comrade Banker for slight moment there I would have sworn you were talking about your own red party and that other junior red DNA party.
Obviously, been long while since you tried visiting your own red party's website? But it could just be in transition mode - just like Minnis's hold as party leader?
banker 8 years, 4 months ago
Dunno ... I figured that Pintard would bring a modicum of organisational rigour to the party ... and I am disappointed that he didn't., You know, when you take over a new house, you sweep da floors, clean the place up, put light bulbs in, make sure the gas is connected, a new coat of paint here and there. If you do the little things first, the big things will take care of themselves.
The FNM have done nothing like that. They are content to squat in the old house with the peeling paint. Their messaging is non-existent. LBT and others are feeding their ego and fomenting discord instead of doing the patriotic thing and getting behind the party for the good of the country. Collegiality is gone, and they are like a few tribes of potcakes forced to share an uneasy alliance in a ramshackle house.
The PLP advertises themselves as the stupid party, and they bully the intelligent ones in their ranks to get a lobotomy and have the chip inserted in their brains and other things inserted in their sphincters. The FNM do not whip their members into shape and make them toe the party line. In any organisation, you must lead, follow or get out of the way. LBT and her unwashed, intellectually-challenged, non-patriotic crew are typical Bahamian riff-raff -- what's in it for me baby.
So yeah, the FNM is behind the eight ball in terms of organisation, infrastructure, and policy purity. They need a good weeding, a good housecleaning, and a policy compass that is clearly enunciated to the stupid sheeple that the PLP has so assiduously bred.
You only live once, and you only have so many years allotted to you as a person, and my thought now are, that the poverty of spirit, quality of life, and excellence of governance is so lacking in this country, that it is lost, and any other horizon is better than the pile of excrement that we now inhabit.
The lucky ones are the ones with mobility and economic independence to savour a better life offshore.
themessenger 8 years, 4 months ago
Right on point Banker. Political tribalism, cannibalism and ego stroking is and has been the order of the day for some time which is why we are and will remain mired in the dung heap. LBT,Moss, McCartney, Rollins, Wells & Wells? SSDD.
CatIslandBoy 8 years, 4 months ago
Of course Greg Moss is simply wasting his time, and taking a walk in the park. There are no followers, and there will be none. He won't even retain his seat in Parliament come next election. If his short stint as chairman of the National Insurance Board is any indication of how he would run a government, the Bahamian voters will shout a resounding "no thanks".
Emac 8 years, 4 months ago
@Tal-You are certainly right about the lackluster websites and other mediums being used by the FNM and DNA. The PLP always comes out on top when it comes to presentation. But the end result is always garbage. My Lord, look at that nifty Urban Renewal commercial leading up to the last election that highlighted solutions to crime. It almost had me fooled for a millimeter of a second. But that's what the PLP does best. The members of this ungodly party would dangle a juicy steak in front poor, hungry Bahamians and once they catch their bait(the poor Bahamians), they would shove an old bone down their throats...Ah my, poor Bahamians.
TalRussell 8 years, 4 months ago
Comrade Banker stick to the points you raised, not run on about Urban Renewal. The long list of party positions you said Greg's UDP required if he wanted be taken seriously - those positions DO NOT now, nor have ever they ever existed under either the FNM, PLP or Bran's DNA fringe party.
Political parties are not alone, take a close look at all the websites of the talk radio stations and they are so from the 1990's wide world web period.
banker 8 years, 4 months ago
The FNM had a really decent website when Papa run da joint. Then the PLP followed suit by hiring the non-Bahamian guy from Thyme-Online and that is why the PLP website is still up and modernised -- it was designed and maintained by a foreigner living here. SMT - about Bahamas for Bahamians.
And most political parties have generals who fulfill the functions that I mentioned, if not having the title that I mentioned. And maybe the Generals have a greater degree of granularity (OK Moses, you run dem Percy webshop guys, Ezekiel -- you make sure dems conch-avoiding Seven Day Adventists wote for us, Onan, you make sure da boyfrens of Brave's front-sellers wote fer us ... etc".). All in all those functions are necessary. You have to have folks on the ground to run a party, and a chaplain is up in da atmosphere. Prayer een gern hep. I bin prayin fer God ta smite Perry longtime now. Instead, that God fella just keeps sendin' me money. Almost wants to make me cure my heathenish ways.
TalRussell 8 years, 4 months ago
Comrade Banker guess what? A funny thing happen the only three times the red party achieved winning da governing rights at the polls - they were lead by a staunch PLP in soul, mind, body and mentality. Remember the time when Papa admitted he was more PLP than he is red, than any them PLP fellows sitting over on other side House isles?
Comrade Banker, you knows I didn't just make that Papa Hubert story up?
Who knows, despite never having been touched by Pindling's magic, Dr. Andre will emerge to replace Loretta's ambitions to become only the second red PM?
TruePeople 8 years, 4 months ago
If papa more red dan yellow den how you is be criticize dat man so much....? He's one of ya boys dem right?
themessenger 8 years, 4 months ago
"boyfrens of brave's front-sellers" LMAO Dat mussy da ones what is be by Long Wharf aye?
Abaconian 8 years, 4 months ago
He wont get any votes.
SP 8 years, 4 months ago
..................... Its no secret - PLP and FNM share the corruption pie 50/50 ................
Mr. Moss has a very strong argument!
The only way to begin fixing our country is to elect a 3rd party mandated to tackle decades of corruption shared by the PLP and FNM.
Regardless of four decades laden with scandals, any number of disappearing millions and MP's mysteriously becoming millionaires overnight, the incumbent PLP or FNM never seek to address corruption of the losing party which is undeniably evidence of collusion and endemic corruption across the board.
Unquestionably Bahamians should be seriously seeking alternatives to the PLP and FNM good old boys crew of pirates that have driven our country soundly into this huge ditch we now find ourselves in.
Be it DNA and UDP or whomever else comes, one thing for sure is the PLP and FNM group of pirates will NEVER be a consideration, and they will not see the X of my vote ever again!
The 2017 electoral race should be between DNA and UDP. OUT with the PLP and FNM!
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