By KHRISNA VIRGIL
Tribune Staff Reporter
kvirgil@tribunemedia.net
UNITED Democratic Party Leader Greg Moss has insisted that his newly formed party is set to break the political status quo in the country, changing the climate from “theatrics” to presenting concrete proposals with a view to enhancing the lives of Bahamians.
Speaking to The Tribune yesterday, Mr Moss said the UDP sees corruption as the core of the majority of this country’s problems and was formed with a view to eliminate this issue.
Mr Moss also said his party plans to contest every seat in the 2017 general election.
While speaking in the House of Assembly on Monday the Marco City MP revealed that he had been elected leader of the UDP on November 22. A press release issued later said C Allen Johnson was selected as the party’s chairman.
When asked about concerns that Mr Johnson may bring the new party into disrepute, Mr Moss said he had no worries about this.
Some observers on social media questioned whether Mr Moss held the same convictions concerning women as his chairman who was involved in a bitter spat on Facebook with a woman in 2013.
Mr Moss said: “No I have no concerns about that. I hold his character to be in high esteem. I think he is one of the brightest minds so I don’t have any concerns.”
On his new party, Mr Moss said: “The most substantial difference between the UDP, the Progressive Liberal Party and the Free National Movement is this is a party that doesn’t believe in theatrics. It doesn’t believe in ‘politicking’ while the country is sliding into an abysmal decline.
“We believe in principle and not personalities and issues and not arguing. Not pointing fingers at other people and not just hot air and with a lot of empty words.”
He added: “The most significant problem is corruption. The other problems are being fed because of the corruption. Whether you are talking about crime, loss of jobs, failure to provide scholarships, whatever it is all of it has the same central nexus, which is corruption.”
Mr Moss said he, subject to the approval of House Speaker Dr Kendal Major, will on December 9 table a mortgage foreclosure bill, legislation aimed to change the way banks are able to sell homes.
His proposal will include a $100m fund to help people reacquire their homes and will also assist those who aren’t equipped to do so because they don’t have suitable jobs to sustain a residential mortgage.
The outspoken MP quit the PLP in June.
The announcement came as a surprise in the House of Assembly at the time, with Mr Moss informing Dr Major that he would have to assign him a new House seat for the next sitting.
The backbencher has spent much of his three years in office criticising the government over such issues as value added tax (VAT), crime and its proposed constitutional amendments to address gender equality.
He has said his conscience prompted him to leave the PLP because the party no longer abides by the founding principles that prompted its rise to power.
He has criticised the Christie administration for its performance in relation to such issues as crime, failed mortgage relief, Urban Renewal and the stalled development of Grand Bahama.
Comments
TruePeople 8 years, 5 months ago
changing the climate from “theatrics” to presenting concrete proposals with a view to enhancing the lives of Bahamians.
Believe it when i see it, right now it still looking like theatrics
banker 8 years, 5 months ago
Holey Shiite Batman - C. Allen Johnson is the chairman??? This man served over 7 years in the Big House in the United States for crimes such as Grand Theft, cell phone tapping and other crimes. He was deported as an undesirable. Now he goes under the moniker of Apostle and he is a DVD seller in Freeport.
Who the hell is going to take that seriously?????????????????
Emac 8 years, 5 months ago
Dream on my good fellow, dream on...
TalRussell 8 years, 5 months ago
Comrades I think Dr. Myles got it all right when he sang:
"Dr Myles Munroe Singing" - Brand New World"
...........////https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHNpr...">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHNpr...
asiseeit 8 years, 5 months ago
These people are trying to make sure this country is saddled with the PLP in 2017. I wonder if they really are paid to do this shed by the PLP? It most certainly is Mr. Moss putting himself before his countrty.
Honestman 8 years, 5 months ago
Moss and his new party HAVE NO CHANCE of making an impact in Bahamian politics. Huge question marks hang over anyone who could affiliate themselves with the PLP. Also, his egotistical, prima donna like performance whilst at NIB should put people on alert. Whether you rate Minnis or not, the country's only hope for salvation is an FNM government come May 2017. Sadly, there is no other realistic choice.
Emac 8 years, 5 months ago
Sigh...Sad but true.
TruePeople 8 years, 5 months ago
Sad.... and yet still very optimistic o_o
sheeprunner12 8 years, 5 months ago
Where will Bran figure in this????? ........... and Loretta??????? ........... and the other non-aligned political wingnuts??????????
Who will ensure that calmer heads prevail and that a UNITED opposition prevent another five years of PLP despotism and misery??????? ........... this is looking like 1977 right now
banker 8 years, 5 months ago
It just shows you that Moss is flawed and deluded like the worst of them.
TalRussell 8 years, 5 months ago
Comrade Banker we are all flawed.
A video well worth taking your time to watch in its entirety.
Rabbi Yitzchak built a city from the ground up, transformed the lives of thousands of at-risk children, mediated a skirmish in a New York Knicks game at Madison Square Garden, hosted an entire brigade of IDF paratroopers in the midst of the 2006 Lebanon war, revolutionised Israel’s prison rehabilitation system where an astonishing 80% do not return to jail), and won just about every national prize there is. Hear the story of a true Israeli folk hero.
Rabbi Yitzchak David Grosman: A Story of a Dedicated Life
.............//https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UU_ZV...">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UU_ZV...
banker 8 years, 5 months ago
We are all flawed, but some have flaws that disable them from perceiving reality accurately. The worst flaw of all is disseminating falsehoods on purpose -- that is a definition of pure evil.
MonkeeDoo 8 years, 5 months ago
I don't think that Moss will have any more impact than any of the lesser fly by nights, and I believe that the aura over Bran is fading now. Nonetheless any seat in the Bahamas could be won by a single vote these nitwits need to figure out where the goal post is before they go running off across the field to the sidelines. Dr, Minnis is similarly doomed and will carry fifty plus percent of the electorate with him in his vain failure. Why is it all about them for these people.
SP 8 years, 5 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!
banker 8 years, 5 months ago
But you don't start a political party with the chairman as a known criminal -- in spite of the PLP setting the precedent for that.
MonkeeDoo 8 years, 5 months ago
you just as fool as them bro
SP 8 years, 5 months ago
But not fool enough to vote for the dancing clown!
ThisIsOurs 8 years, 5 months ago
Hmmm, sorry to hear about all of this. I had hope that finally sensible people were entering the ring (well another sensible person, Dr Sands still there). I still think they're sensible, they have great ideas, but they can't ignore the pink elephant. The sad thing is, many of the men who think they're "good enough to be leader" and the "best person in the entire country to be leader", have huge egos and many have vomit inducing "sailor in port, woman" issues. Not all. But many do. These tendencies generally come off as totally disgusting to a wide group of women and even some family men. This is probably the nail in the coffin, especially after Mr Moss mentioned he knows about "other" things.
Honestman 8 years, 5 months ago
The Bahamas has lots of fine, intelligent men and woman who could lead this country. Unfortunately, none of them would dream of entering the Bahamas political arena because it is a disgusting cesspit that harbors only the greedy and the corrupt.
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