Mitchell says protest won't change 'diddly squat'

Fred Mitchell

As of Friday, November 25, 2016

By AVA TURNQUEST

Tribune Chief Reporter

aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

HOURS before the start of the 'We March' demonstration in Nassau on Friday, an apparent audio recording of Minister of Foreign Affairs Fred Mitchell condemning the protest as a propaganda exercise and forbidding his party's supporters to attend was released on social media.

In the recording, Mr Mitchell aligns himself with political website bahamasuncensored.com - an admission that has long been rumoured due to the pro-Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) slant of its content and vitriolic takedowns of persons or entities in opposition to the Cabinet minister and Fox Hill MP.

Mr Mitchell noted that the demonstration had got "young PLPs in a tizzy" but insisted that the march won't change "diddly squat".

He described the list of demands presented by organisers as not special or revolutionary.

The recording starts: "Good morning I just wanted to share some thoughts with you about this so-called Black Friday march which is scheduled to take place today.

"I'd like to read from bahamasuncensored.com column and encourage you on a regular basis to read bahamasuncensored.com and Fred Mitchell minute-by-minute on Facebook because it tells you what I'm doing and it also aligns with much of my thinking on political issues."

Reading from the column, titled "The Fake and Phony Black Friday March", the recording continues: "A few weeks ago, Renard Henfield woke up on the wrong side of the bed and said: I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take it any more. His response was to sit down with former FNM Senator and son of the FNM Grand Dame Janet Bostwick Henry Jr to plan a Black Friday march from 25 November. He set out a list of things, none of them revolutionary and of any special import, quite pedestrian really, that he demanded the government should do.

It continued: "Of course he could demand all he wants; good luck there. However, there is this constant drum beat in the media and especially social media about people dressing up in black (men) and women in orange to demand the government change.

"Its got all the young PLPs in a tizzy. Oh dear what are we gonna do? Wonder if these people on this march are registered to vote? An election is coming soon, why not spend time doing something useful instead of idle time on a march. The march won’t change diddly squat."

Still reading from the column, the audio continued: "We smell a rat here. You have this fellow saying that this is not political and he wants people of all stripes to appear but he is not speaking the truth. Once you see Janet Bostwick’s son in it, it’s an FNM propaganda exercise plain and simple and no PLP will be caught dead on it.

"The old saying if its walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it’s a damn duck. This is nothing but an FNM in disguise with glasses. Pretending to be neutral but they are FNM."

Promoted as a silent protest, 'We March' began at Arawak Cay at 1pm, with one estimate of up to 1,000 gathering at the start point. Among them were three Cabinet ministers - Shane Gibson, Jerome Fitzgerald and Kenred Dorsett.

The protestors walked down West Bay Street towards Rawson Square, singing the national anthem and chanting.

The protest has attracted significant support from activists and civic organisations, as well as the support of the country’s two umbrella unions, the Obie Ferguson-led Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the John Pinder-led National Congress of Trade Unions Bahamas (NCTUB).

On Thursday, Opposition Leader Dr Hubert Minnis encouraged all Bahamians to participate in the “people’s march”.

Last night, Prime Minister Perry Christie released a letter to organisers that stated he was “painfully aware” that the country has suffered tremendous setbacks and extended an invitation for a meeting.

Mr Fitzgerald also released a statement on Thursday defending his effectiveness as Minister for Education in the face of calls for Freedom of Information legislation and an overhaul of the education system.

Honestman 7 years, 4 months ago

Mitchell is an arrogant s.o.b. This is the beginning of the end for the criminal fraternity that is the PLP. He knows it - the tide of popular anger is coming like a Tsunami. Christie and the PLP will be decimated at the polls next year. Enjoy your last few months in power Mitchell because very soon you and your party will be consigned to the dustbin of history.

EasternGate 7 years, 4 months ago

true

licks2 7 years, 4 months ago

MR. MITCHELL NEEDS TO GO DOWN TWON AND SEE WHAT HE AND HIS PARTY IS UP-AGAINST. . .THE TOWN IS NOW SHUPT-DOWN FOR THE REST OF THE DAY. . .SIR!

IF YOU ARE SO SURE OF YOURSELF. . .GO DOWN TOWN AND IF YOU ARE IN ONE PIECE AFTER WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT THEM MARCHERS. . .THEN YOU ARE RIGHT. . .IT WILL NOT CHANGE A THING!

BUT IF YOU ARE TOO CHICKENED TO SHOW YOUR FACE DOWN TOWN. . .THINGS HAVE ALREADY CHANGED FOR YOU AND YOUR PARTY. . .YOU ARE RUNNING AWAY FROM THE WRATH OF THE PEOPLE. YOU ARE ACTUALLY ONE OF THE PLP MINISTERS THAT PERSONS ACROSS THE BOARD LIKE! I ADVISE YOU NOT TO GO THERE SIR. . .THEY WILL BEAT YOU TO A PULP. . .SO PLEASE STAY AWAY FROM DOWN THERE. . .LET THEM MARCH IN PEACE. . .

THERE ARE PLP DOWN THERE TOO. . .SOME WHO SIT AROUND THE CABINET TABLE WITH YOU SIR. . . AND OTHERS. . .THE PLP IS NO MORE. . .OUR TOWN IS NOW OFFICIALLY "SHUT-DOWN" FOR THE REST OF THE BUSINESS DAY! IT MAKES NO SENSE TO GO THROUGH TOWN IF YOU ARE NOT MARCHING. . .

Honestman 7 years, 4 months ago

"Among the marchers were three Cabinet ministers - Shane Gibson, Jerome Fitzgerald and Kenred Dorsett."

WTF????? Are these idiots for real????

Well_mudda_take_sic 7 years, 4 months ago

The three idiots you mention should be thrown into Nassau Harbour along with Crooked Christie, Bag Man Baltron Bethel, the Wicked Witch Maynard-Gibson and all others like them. Then we need to go after and claw back the wealth stolen from our country by the likes of Sir Snake, with the help of international authorities.

EasternGate 7 years, 4 months ago

LMAO

licks2 7 years, 4 months ago

That's the rearguard for the survival of the defunct PLP party. . .but they too will be punished with the rest of that rogue group. . .THIS THE THIRD TIME THAT WE THE PEOPLE HAVE COME TOGETHER ENMASSES AGAINST THIS GOVERNMENT. . .THAT PARTY HAS BEEN SOUNDLY REJECTED BY THE PEOPLE. . .THEY NEED TO CALL THE ELECTION. . .

Honestman 7 years, 4 months ago

Now that they know they are going down, they will call the election on the last day of the last month. Over the next six months, they will spend the People's money like there is no tomorrow, awarding contracts to friends and family. They know that this will be their last opportunity to enrich themselves and so they will go for broke. The new government will have to deal with their treasonous acts over the last five years and it will take a while to sort out. I hope the public realise that things will have to get worse before they get better. The new government is going to have a herculean task ahead of it in turning this country around. This PLP administration has set us back 20 years! People are going to have to appreciate this fact and give the new government time to sort out the mess. God help us.

licks2 7 years, 4 months ago

If they try that . . .the people will "COME BACK FOR THEM". . .and its no telling what they will do with those PLP ministers. . .that ship has sailed. . .

OMG 7 years, 4 months ago

What an arrogant SOB. Has he ever heard of the words "democratic rights" ? Its this total disregard for the views of a large percentage of the population that epitomizes the way in which the government runs the country. On a basic level what is stopping the government granting full transparency of public income and expenditure, after all it isn't the money of ministers but belongs to the Bahamian public. Obviously there are facts they don't want us to know and in Mr Mitchells case how much he costs the country on his regular overseas trips.

Naughtydread 7 years, 4 months ago

This comment was removed by the site staff for violation of the usage agreement.

Cobalt 7 years, 4 months ago

I blame the residence of Fox Hill. They are the ones who voted for Fred Mitchell

BoopaDoop 7 years, 4 months ago

residents

Cobalt 7 years, 4 months ago

thx

themessenger 7 years, 4 months ago

Fred's Hitler like tendencies coming to the forefront, who the hell does he think he is to FORBID Bahamians their constitutional right of Freedom of Assembly? This ass is a legend in his own mind.

OMG 7 years, 4 months ago

I hope "diddly squat" votes his arrogant arse out at the election. Might be a shock if he has to pay his own travel expenses.

TalRussell 7 years, 4 months ago

Comrades, I am not saying I agree with the minister and yes it’s true that Minister Freddy can sometimes be too foot in the mouth critical when shouting down critics of the PLP government…. but let’s be honest and not be so quick to dismiss all the points the minister has raised…. And long before the minister recorded a Black Friday Protest word, the system of government as we know it has long been shattered into a million pieces of ineptness, forgetfulness, corruption and broken promises. There is nothing new under the sun of how political parties operate against the good of the people once they win governing power....but they win power only by receiving a majority of the peoples votes or at least win under how we define a majority government under our colonial electoral system
The Guardian's Juan (not Joshua) McCartney just one year on the job as one the radio station's more junior talk show hosts was gleefully smiling ear to ear to be reporting positively on Black Friday's Protest out Rawson Square.
Somebody should tell Juan that despite his fullness of himself with bully sidekick microphone in hand, the much media anticipated guess who's going to be the "Joshua" coming to the Black Friday Protest, for instant recognition as the "Peoples Joshua," never did surface. A peoples "Joshua" never did honour the much smaller than anticipated crowd assembled in Rawson Square with their presence, and despite what many in the media had predicated would be emerging from today's Black Friday Protest. In fact, not only was this "Joshua" a no show, but also the only "Joshua" to have made their appearance was Juan's cousin Bran, representing both cousins fringe DNA green party. And, remember the media couldn’t restrain from predicting people in the many thousands would show up for what for weeks was being promoted widely as a major non-political peoples protest.
Sorry Comrades cousins Juan and Bran. Hundreds, not thousands answered the calls by their media spokespersons. You two aren’t even in the peoples viewfinders of picks be their Promise Land's Joshua. Two cousins that I'd be willing wage better than numbers man's odds, neither cousin have experienced the inside of an over the hill’s outside toilet. Blackness, this protest was seriously missing.

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by TalRussell

pileit 7 years, 4 months ago

You is a real arse, carry your "Joshua" backside from roun here.

ThisIsOurs 7 years, 4 months ago

Think you're wrong. It looks like thousandS not just one thousand. Second, this is just the tip of the iceberg for the SS PLP. In 40 years they have never seen anything like it. This is significant. I'm wondering if they will even make it to a voluntary election date.

Honestman 7 years, 4 months ago

Apparently it got a lot busier after 5 pm when many persons joined in after work.

licks2 7 years, 4 months ago

It was at least 5000 to 7000 persons. . .initially. . .but many more all through the night! The people are mad as hell against yinna. . .

realfreethinker 7 years, 4 months ago

F@#k fred perry,jerome,shame. Tho hell with all of them. come election we will send yhem to the dust bin of history

EasternGate 7 years, 4 months ago

Their funky ass finished!

bahamalove 7 years, 4 months ago

This is a guy that Sir Lynden Pindling did not even care for that much and were often at odds with him. After his passing all of a sudden Mr. Mitchell starts drooling all over the good part of Sir Lynden's legacy like they were best friends. Nowadays he is all up in anything related to Sir LOP. All of these politicians are real opportunists!

TalRussell 7 years, 4 months ago

Comrade Bahamalove, what makes you think that the back and forth more gentle friction between Minister Freddy and Pindling was anywhere to the hell hot degree of that Pindling experienced with his other two PLP's Perry and Papa Hubert, that some have sworn could peel paint off cold steel.

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