South Andros and Mangrove Cay MP Picewell Forbes, Exuma and Ragged Island MP Chester Cooper and PLP Leader Philip 'Brave' Davis in the House of Assembly. Photo: Terrel W Carey/Tribune staff
By RASHAD ROLLE
Tribune Staff Reporter
rrolle@tribunemedia.net
IN a surprising and unusual speech from the chair yesterday, House Speaker Halson Moultrie launched personal attacks against members of the Progressive Liberal Party while defending his decision to suspend Englerston MP Glenys Hanna Martin last week.
Among other things, Mr Moultrie took a swipe at the foreign-born status of the wife of PLP Leader Philip “Brave” Davis. And in an apparent dig at PLP Chairman Fred Mitchell, he accused Mr Davis of taking advice from “reprobates” and “perverts.”
Mr Moultrie also lashed out at retired parliamentary clerk Maurice Tynes.
At a press conference called not long after the House of Assembly adjourned, PLP officials described the Speaker’s conduct as bizarre and shocking.
Mr Davis called him a “bullying buffoon” and referred to him as a “dergin.”
“He is unprincipled and disgraceful,” Mr Davis said. Mr Mitchell said he was not troubled by Mr Moultrie’s references to him, but is “happy” to meet him “in the street” if the latter desired.
Among the criticisms that appeared to irritate Mr Moultrie the most was Mr Davis’ allegation on Sunday that misogyny influenced his treatment of Mrs Hanna Martin.
Responding, Mr Moultrie said yesterday: “While I can give you more than 90 reasons why the member for Cat Island, Rum Cay and San Salvador’s allegation is absolutely absurd, I shall confine my response to the fact that I am married to a beautiful and wonderfully made Bain and Grants Town woman for the past 38 years. And I want to emphasise to the member for Cat Island, Rum Cay and San Salvador, that my wife is an indigenous Bahamian woman and that I have had in over those 38 years no reason for a divorce,” he said.
“Our marriage has been touted by the church, marriage groups and by the Broadcasting Corporation of the Bahamas as a model love affair and as a husband I have been deemed a role model of how husbands should love and treat his wife,” Mr Moultrie said.
“Member for Cat Island, Rum Cay and San Salvador, he is fully aware of past encounters with myself, that I do not have a track record of hating women. You know, the member and I have a mutual best friend and if the member had consulted our best friend on this matter I’m sure he would’ve been advised to leave that path and to leave this matter alone. “Notwithstanding, the member has allowed in my estimation reprobates and perverts with track records of denying and hating women to insert such a ludicrous assertion into his press release. My name might begin with ‘M’ but the first three letters are Mou and not Mit. Don’t mix me up. I am not a soft powder puff man. I am a real man,” he said, in an apparent reference to Mr Mitchell.
“While I may not be able to engage in the debate, I am certainly permitted to defend my integrity. I love my wife, an indigenous Bain and Grants Town woman and highly cherish and respect all women but I happen to also agree with King Solomon in Proverbs 21:19. What it says to the effect is it is better to live in a desert than to live in the home of a quarrelsome woman.”
‘Coward’
Mr Davis, at the press conference, said he interpreted the Speaker’s references to wives as an attack on his own wife, who was born in Trinidad and Tobago.
“I don’t think much of a man who attacks another’s wife,” he said. “That man is a snivelling coward. From the chair, he shows his lack of intelligence; he shows he’s not fit for office that he occupies… Talking about one’s wife is highly provocative which very often leads to a breach of the peace. I don’t understand why the Speaker would be so provocative when we in this society are trying to teach young men and women to pursue the things that make for peace.”
For his part, Mr Mitchell said he wouldn’t address the Speaker’s references to him head on.
“I told people as it relates to myself, in a sense you don’t want to dignify the stupidity of those comments this morning by responding to it. I could tell him all about his ma, about his wife, his children and all the rest of them… but I won’t go there, at least not now. But you see what it opens up, because what it does is it unleashes every follower in the country to go in that direction and I want to caution people about not going in that direction because that’s not governance we support.
“Have no fear about me and whether what was said means anything to me. It means nothing to me. I’ve grown up in this society. I’m 64 and at this point it doesn’t matter to me. I will say whatever comes to my mouth if it is necessary for me to defend myself. So, Mr Speaker, if you want to meet me in the street, I am happy to do so,” Mr Mitchell said.
As for former clerk Mr Tynes, Mr Moultrie called him “troubled,” and insisted partisanship is the reason for his recent criticism of the Speaker’s decisions.
“I thought that the retired clerk was my friend,” he said. “I remember when I was in third party politics as leader of the Bahamian Freedom Alliance (BFA), the retired clerk would call me all the time and provide me with material to attack the Ingraham administration. His advice almost caused the former prime minister to sue me. I thought he was championing the cause for good governance and democracy, but alas he was only trying to help the PLP as he seems to be doing today while also attacking the acting and hopefully soon to be confirmed clerk of Parliament, David Forbes.
“I had the opportunity of working with the apparently troubled retired clerk from May 24, 2017 through August 31, 2017 and all I can say at this time is thank God for attrition. Imagine trusting, working with and relying on the advice of someone who has now publicly expressed his inner most feelings and the kind of political venom directed at the Speaker in the letter to the editor. Thank you very much, Mr Retired Clerk, may your soul rest in peace.”
Comments
TalRussell 6 years, 2 months ago
Ma Comrades, sufficient justification for the royal authority Governor General step-in dislodge the "Powder Puff" House Speaker from gone his head throne.Your Excellency, the Imperial Red States parliamentary state our island colony's House of Assembly has spun out normality control. You know they lost it when the conflicting Speaker and former minister Freddy is about dual down below in the People's Public Square. {No making up this parliamentary craziness when the Speaker still thinks things is going his way}.
Amen!
John 6 years, 2 months ago
.
John 6 years, 2 months ago
By attacking other members of the opposition on a personal level, the speaker confirms his attacks, on Hanna Martin, are of a personal nature. Especially when he threatens to reveal more information of personal nature about persons he already suspended. Information he ciaims he got from a mutual friend. Should common sense now prevail and the speaker take leave of the chair and allow the deputy speaker to take the chair and preside until the dust settles somewhat. In good faith the suspension should be reduced to ONE sitting to all suspended and everyone bury the hatchet, not in the speakers back, hopefully, and move forward, to the next round.
TalRussell 6 years, 2 months ago
Comrade John, the Speaker's out control behaviour just proved that the Imperial red state's incoming new government's selection team - couldn't even get their House Speaker's work program job placement scheme right.... and they criticized Loretta - when she gave little public purse job to elevate our Comrade Rodney Moncur to upper red chamber. {Why figure out way have make this up... and then the lady red MP opened her mouth and things deteriorated by the degree hell's fire}. At least Rodney's head wasn't out there on moon likes the Speaker's.
John 6 years, 2 months ago
what did Tal say?
stillwaters 6 years, 2 months ago
Dunno
DDK 6 years, 2 months ago
...........and all this utter nonsense while our poor country struggles to get a handle on itself.
OMG 6 years, 2 months ago
Grow up all of you.
DDK 6 years, 2 months ago
These folk should not be permitted to carry on in such a manner on The People's Time!!!
hrysippus 6 years, 2 months ago
It is interesting that halston Moultrie with his carefully cultivated faux posh English accent, which the brits would call "plummy" claims that his wife is an indigenous Bahamian. I hereby call him a liar and invite him to sue me for libel. There are no indigenous Bahamians left in the Bahamas. The Spanish deported all the indigenous Bahamian Natives to work their pearl diving industry. The mostly white pirates came next, the mostly white Eleutheran Adventurers came after them. Next came the huge influx of displaced Americans who had either supported the Crown or were slaves owned by someone who supported the crown , in the American War of Independence. This last group of immigrants was partly white but mostly black. I suspect Halstrom's wife belongs to the descendants of this last category. I have come to expect ignorance in many sectors of our society, mainly due to the earlier government's propensity to rewrite history and have the new version taught in the government schools. It is sad though to see this crass ignorance extend to the supposedly educated class.
TalRussell 6 years, 2 months ago
Comrade Hrysippus, while clueless about the Speaker's claim, it going shock you but King's Council Freddy on his grandmother's side family - might just have one the deepest roots for laying claim belonging to indigenous people our Bahamaland. Yep, the King's Council is got's some serious native blood lines. Him sure looks Indian me... what you think?
hrysippus 6 years, 2 months ago
I have heard that one remaining lucayan was found on Cat Island when the post-Hispanic European settlers arrived. I have also notice a pronounced Indian cast in the features of some Long Islanders. This is also to be seen, in my eyes at least, in some of the Androsian families, The Androsians, of course have a proportion of Seminole blood, particularly Red Bays, I understand from that migration that happened after American Independence when the Americans were trying to exterminate the last undefeated Native American tribe.Possible the same holds true for LI. Descendants of the Lucayans still exist in the Dominican Republic although now declining. The only other possibility I know of is when the British Colonial Office imported several dozen Trinidadian women to strengthen the Bahamian Gene pool, Some Lucayan Blood could have come from there. If you have any information more than you have shared already I would be most pleased to learn it.
kairosmatt 6 years, 2 months ago
Red Bays are descended of a persecuted group of ex and escaped slaves called Black Seminoles. They were called that because they lived in Florida in peace and cooperation with the Seminale Indians. However, the communities were actually separate, and there was only limited inter marriage. So Red Bays probably does not have as many American Indian genes as commonly thought.
ThisIsOurs 6 years, 2 months ago
But what does all this mean? Is Moultrie's wife the last indigenous Bahamian woman or not?
Well_mudda_take_sic 6 years, 2 months ago
Minnis wanted a puppet Speaker of the House even if it meant appointing a dunce to the position. Just another shining example of Minnis's very poor judgement in engineering the appointment of unqualified and incompetent individuals to key posts. Marlon Johnson's appointment as Financial Secretary is another glaring example.
sealice 6 years, 2 months ago
THIS FOOL THINKS HE'S THE BLACK GRAND CHEETO - JUST BECAUSE RACISM AND SEXISM ARE POPULAR POLITICS IN THE STATES DOESN'T MEAN YOU HAVE TO BRING HTEM HERE - RACIST SEXIST CORNHOLES!!
hrysippus 6 years, 2 months ago
Hey Sealedlice, You are shouting in capitals again, it doesn't make you more right. Have you been drinking before breakfast again?
hrysippus 6 years, 2 months ago
And what is a grand cheeto anyway? Can we eat it? Am I one too?
stillwaters 6 years, 2 months ago
Ah Jesus, here we go again. Some people need to stay off this blog awhile. The hell is a black grand cheeto?
ohdrap4 6 years, 2 months ago
they call donald trump cheeto because he is orange
ThisIsOurs 6 years, 2 months ago
Lol
stillwaters 6 years, 2 months ago
Okay, Wow.......
joeblow 6 years, 2 months ago
A buffoon calling a buffoon a buffoon! Proof that WHERE you are doesn't change WHO you are!
TalRussell 6 years, 2 months ago
Ma Comrade Speaker turned Rapper "Hard Puff Powder" with his hit single “My name might begin with an M but the first three letters are Mou and not Mit. Don’t mix me up. I am not a soft, powder puff man. I am a real man" - failed recognize the democracy of the House is not just be left to the rule by the Imperial red majority - for without the voices the suspended official opposition - the proceedings of the House is then left to the ruling party Imperial red MPs - who don’t oppose the government as they are all in the same red boat and are deaf and blind to wrongdoings of the red government. The Speaker's decisions suspend members of the entire party opposite was a undemocratic and bad decision. Mr. "Hard Puff Powder" Speaker, Free the four PLP MP's to return Peoples Honourabe House!
John 6 years, 2 months ago
what DID TAL SAY?
sheeprunner12 6 years, 2 months ago
The whole episode was buffoonery .......... if I may say so ....... Why were the MPs allowed to speak on that matter??????? ........... It should have been ruled on by the Speaker and then let the Parliament get back to work.
birdiestrachan 6 years, 2 months ago
This is how the speaker talks. I, pause went, pause to. pause . It is agony listening to the man. If he is not Dumb. what is he. they say when you dumb you dangerous perhaps they meant the speaker.
The Speaker has no right to be in Mr: Davis personal business. it is the sort of thing little school girls indulge in , not even boys do that sort of thing, Then he attacked Mr Tynes. Why. ? Who cares how long he was married. Are they both happy or can they stand each other? since he brought it up inquiring minds would like to know.
hrysippus 6 years, 2 months ago
I agree with you Birdie on this one.
sheeprunner12 6 years, 2 months ago
How will the PLP members ever get back in Parliament with this approach???????
tetelestai 6 years, 2 months ago
You are blaming the PLP for the Hon. Speaker's reprehensible and petulant behavior? Geez, at least try and be objective.
realfreethinker 6 years, 2 months ago
I hope he resigns. I don't see how he can be objective after such personal attacks. I didn't have any problem with him suspending Glenys,but crossed the line with the personal attacks.
truetruebahamian 6 years, 2 months ago
Moultrie should check his facts. He says that his wife is an indigenous Bahamian. That is totally wrong. The indigenous peoples were killed off and removed by the other existing tribes and the Spanish long before her ancestors or even the Eleutherian Adventurers came to our islands!
truetruebahamian 6 years, 2 months ago
What is worse than being a buffoon is being an ignorant buffoon with a predisposition to self flattery. Go with God, Moultrie... but go.
ThisIsOurs 6 years, 2 months ago
No what is worse is the FNM is proposing to borrow 90 million and no one is there to ask them a thing about it. Everybody will bang on the desk and say yaaay....Have they looked at all of the governments needs? Is this the most pressing issue we have to deal with? Will this be the LAST request to borrow money before the next budget? How was the 185 million they just borrowed used? What happened to the two month surplus that the DPM announced last year? Now when the opposition asks them about this 90 million, they will say it was "debated". Een nothing change in this country. Contracts and jobs to business partners and friends. Take a wild guess at who's taken over Shane Gibson's role.
BahamasForBahamians 6 years, 2 months ago
The constitution does not permit them to pass any laws without the presence of a single member of Her Majesty's Loyal opposition. They can bang and say yea as much as they want, the speakers inexperience has effectively reduced the house to an FNM meeting off mackey street.
DEDDIE 6 years, 2 months ago
All my previous interaction with Mr. Moultrie, I have always find him to be a gentleman and a scholar.He sacrifice his job as a meteorologist to ran on the PLP ticket ironically several decades ago. I do believe that there is more going on than what we are aware of.
JMF 6 years, 2 months ago
"Power intoxicates men. When a man is intoxicated by alcohol, he can recover, but when intoxicated by power, he seldom recovers." James F. Byrnes
We must all ask ourselves, "what was accomplished?" The answer, absolutely nothing! Gentlemen stop serving yourselves and work for the ones who placed you where you are, "The People!"
John 6 years, 2 months ago
Someone one said today that Halson Moultrie let out all the PLP in him... wow!
Socrates 6 years, 2 months ago
seems like whatever disease characterized by stupidity infected the Trumpites, has now spread to the Bahamas.. i guess the 2nd coming draws nigh...
Truism 6 years, 2 months ago
Wonder how he feels about Frankie and his Ma. LMAO
John 6 years, 2 months ago
The budget passed in the US last night will push that country’s national debt to 21.6 TRILLION DOLLARS! This is 115% of the GDP for the past 12 months. In the main time gas prices are going back up, so are food prices, especially items like milk and meat. The stock market has saw its two worst days of single day declines in its entire history and despite unemployment being at nearly an all time low, consumer confidence is down and there is little increase in spending. The concern is about inflation and increased interest as Trump’s tax cuts take effect. The increase of cash flow into the US because of these cuts may not necessarily lead to corresponding increases in production. And if consumers continue to hold on to their money despite earning better wages and the country having near full employment, this will led to what is known as stagflation...the economy will be in recession but prices will continue to increase.....and with the tax cuts the national debt will soar! Guess what comes after that?
ashley14 6 years, 2 months ago
Thanks, All is true!
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