The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.

I am amazed and perplexed beyond imagination, of what I heard reported over the airwaves this morning.

The report stated that six members of the official opposition, have drafted a letter to the Governor General to have Dr Hubert Minnis removed as Leader of the Opposition and to appoint Mrs. Loretta Butler-Turner in his stead. But have not delivered the said letter.

In essence, the parliamentary members of the FNM, have lost confidence in the leadership of Dr Hubert Minnis.

In the movie “The Good, The Bad and The Ugly” one of the characters, who I think was Lee Van Cleff, said: “When you pull your gun, you shoot not talk!”

I do not categorise the parliamentary group for wanting to remove the leader. However, I do condemn that group severely in the manner in which they are attempting to remove Dr Minnis.

Had the letter been delivered, it would have been a done deal, and the FNM and country would have had to deal with the consequences of the actions taken. In actuality, that grouping would have had garnered the respect of those, who even did not agree with them of removing Dr Minnis as leader, in that they had the courage and the confidence to make a decision, that they thought was best for the Party and the Country.

What in fact their actions demonstrate, is that the grouping is motivated by personal agendas, lacking confidence and is short sighted. My deceased mother always said to me and my siblings and my extended family “do not hang your underwear in public”.

This Parliamentary group had with their action, broken one of the cardinal rules imbedded in me by my dear mother.

Let me state emphatically that I am FNM, having campaigned throughout the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, and have held office as Counsel Representative, Appointed Executive, Elected Executive and Deputy Secretary General.

Since 1970 upon the passing of the common entrance exam, Sir Roland Symonette visited my home and invited me together with a group of other young boys in the Shirlea area to work for that summer, in cleaning up the area. Mr Craig Bethel and I were appointed co-leaders of that grouping. Actually it was the beginning of our initiation into politics, and community involvement for me. Craig was a PLP, like 80 per cent of my friends and will remain.

The current action by the parliamentary group of the FNM, is one of the most distasteful actions that I have ever seen, taken by politicians in the past 45 years.

As I would not vote for numbers two and four of the referendum bills, I will not support this particular action of the Parliamentary group of the FNM.

I would use any influence that I may have, to stop this madness by the Parliamentary group.

Are they trying to have the PLP win the next general election by their actions? What kind of silliness and ineptitude pills have they taken?

DAS DAT!

Somebody please tell me that this is not true!

BARRY A SAWYER,

Nassau,

May 30, 2016.