The Tribune

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

LONG Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner yesterday sought to differentiate herself from FNM Leader Dr Hubert Minnis insisting that she stands on her “unwavering” word and does not rock from side to side with the shift of the wind.

The FNM leader hopeful also criticised Dr Minnis’ ‘Roc wit Doc’ campaign, commenting on the Killarney MP’s decision to hold his launch on the same night as her “Forward-Together” kick-off.

She said she viewed it as a “divisive” tactic that would not auger well for supporters and delegates.

Both launch events were held last night creating a clash in scheduling, which Mrs Butler-Turner said was “unfortunate”.

She said in order for people to make informed decisions and for the delegates to understand who is going to present the strongest battle against the Progressive Liberal Party, it was only fair that they heard the proposals of both teams.

Otherwise, she said, this was not possible and would cause supporters and delegates to make quick decisions.

The Long Island MP went on to defend her choice of venue for the political gathering at Rawson Square during a telephone interview on radio talk show “Real Talk Reloaded” with host Lincoln Bain.

“I have chosen that we will meet in the seat of power in this country, in Parliament Square. The house for democracy and in the shadow of that House,” she said during the interview. “You understand this fight is not within the FNM. This fight is to let (Prime Minister) Perry Christie and his friends and his cronies and all the others know that this is a serious fight coming to wrestle the power from them (and) to make sure that we start to stand up and fight for the Bahamian people.

“My message does not change. I have been standing up for the Bahamian people in opposition since May of 2012. I have stood up for Dr Minnis. I made sure that when the police came to take us away I told them they will not put their hands on our leader. (That) they will not put their hands on any of our MPs and I will defend whatever it is to defend in the FNM. I have defended my leader. I defended my party. I will defend the Bahamian people.”

She was referring to a showdown in the House of Assembly in August 2013 when about nine police officers tried to remove Dr Minnis from the lower chamber after he was ordered to leave by House Speaker Dr Kendal Major, but remained in his seat.

The officers were ordered in after a motion was passed that Dr Minnis should be “named” and barred from the House for two sittings.

The action on August 7, 2013 came after Dr Major told Dr Minnis in mid-July that he would not be allowed to speak in the House until he withdrew claims that he had made about Prime Minister Perry Christie’s relationship with Lyford Cay resident and fashion mogul Peter Nygard.

Initially, the radio show was advertised with a flyer, which gave the impression that Dr Minnis and Mrs Butler-Turner were to faceoff against each other on-air. However, when the show went live yesterday, there appeared to be some confusion as to whether both candidates were to appear.

Ultimately, Dr Minnis did not call in or make an appearance over a purported mix-up in communication. However, Mr Bain insisted that Dr Minnis did initially agree to be on the show as a call in guest.

When asked about this, Mrs Butler-Turner responded: “I think Dr Minnis has to make his own decisions. I think people will have to make a judgment call on our performance whether it’s Dr Minnis’ performance or whether it’s his judgment. I am not going to be the one to attribute whether he is making bad judgment calls or whether he is doing things incorrectly.

“I think the Bahamian people will make that decision for themselves. I have no issue at any time any hour standing up and speaking on the convictions that I have and standing for the Bahamian people so whether Dr Minnis wanted to share his views or not was immaterial as to whether or not that would affect what I would do today.

“I have a plan I stick to the plan. My word is my bond. I gave you my word, Mr Bain. I stand by my word. It is one of the few things that people hold today and if there is anything Bahamians can hold me to is that when I stand on my word I am unwavering. I do not rock from side to side given the shift of the wind.”

Dr Minnis and party Deputy Leader Peter Turnquest will go head to head against Mrs Butler-Turner and running mate Dr Duane Sands during the party’s convention on July 27 to 29.