PM’s comments in Grand Bahama ‘a sad menu of failure’

PLP Chairman Fred Mitchell. (File photo)

As of Tuesday, February 26, 2019

By RICARDO WELLS

Tribune Staff Reporter

rwells@tribunemedia.net

PROGRESSIVE Liberal Party chairman Fred Mitchell blasted Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis for his attacks on the opposition party in Grand Bahama last week.

In a statement yesterday, Mr Mitchell branded Dr Minnis’ comments to supporters in Grand Bahama as a “sad menu of failure”.

He insisted Dr Minnis opted to attack the PLP to deflect attention away from the fact that many of the plans he was presenting were initiated by the former Christie administration. “All the folk in Grand Bahama know, except those few FNM souls that showed up to the PM’s rally, that the FNM has done nothing since they came to power which has staunched the economic decline,” Mr Mitchell said. “Everyone knows the FNM has wrecked Grand Bahama’s economy. Go to the dock in Freeport every Friday and see people packing up and moving to Nassau.”

Mr Mitchell added: “It is one thing for the prime minister to tell the untruths that he spoke in Freeport but it is quite another thing for otherwise sensible people to get up and clap for nonsense. Every project that he announced (recently) was a PLP project: Smith’s Point Road, Fishing Hole Road and the cruise port. All were started by the PLP.

“As usual the prime minister came with old story time, with a set of personal attacks on the leader of the PLP. But while he was spinning his stories about corruption, he forgot the contract given to his minister for immigration to build the Post Office in his building.

“He forgot that two ministers stand judicially condemned for their conduct in the Frank Smith case,” he said.

Mr Mitchell added: “We do not need to hear the idle chatter that the prime minister spun this night. Come again prime minister. Take another tack. You should count your reign in days. No second term for you.”

Last Friday, Dr Minnis declared Grand Bahama was “at the beginning of wonderful new things”.

Pointing to the PLP’s past failures on the island, Dr Minnis said: “The PLP promised you plenty things, but they let you down, over and over and over again. They would have failed you again.”

Alluding to an ongoing court case involving a former Grand Bahama official, he said: “Those who used to be in charge and thought they were in charge, are in charge no more.

“Of course, the PLPs still believe they are above the law. The only rule they like is to rule you and your family.”

Dr Minnis also said the PLP was the very definition of corruption.

birdiestrachan 5 years, 1 month ago

Doc knows the cruise port was in the making before the FNM party became The Government. he also knew that the Drama King. did not want the port in East End. he wanted the Port in Freeport. so that the GBPA could benefit.

Doc did exactly as he was told. Doc boast and lies about Nothing..

The Princess Hotel is sold and a new Medical school time will tell.

Economist 5 years, 1 month ago

How is it possible that you could know so little? It is clear that you have no idea of the history behind both the Carnival port or the Princess Hotel.

rawbahamian 5 years, 1 month ago

It must be horrible for the PLP losers to know that the peoples money is no longer acessible to them to waste and use as they see fit and it has got to killing the Former Minister of Flying/Jetsetting that he now has to pay for his own plane tickets and that he no longer travels the world with 30 of his closest friends to stay in 9 star hotels at the people's expense all without being transparent and justifible with his wanton waste. Everyday he wakes up he must be foaming at the mouth.

TigerB 5 years, 1 month ago

Every time I hear the opposition mention about Frankl Smith case I see O.J Simpson case... he won it, well the criminal part. He was successful in killing 2 people and was found innocent...Frank Smith was found innocent... But we all know that O.J was guilty as hell... winning a case only shows bad representation of evidence. Fred them did nothing for Freeport, that is why they on the outside looking in. I don't care about no plans. Those plans were just that, plans. As for the FNM wrecking GB economy, I think he forgot it was under them the hotel close. I agree they started the sea wall, but that was a disaster and Mr. Smith got fired. Waugh Construction had to complete that. I visit Taino beach almost weekly...its finish now. As for the boycott from parliament not sure what point they were trying to prove, as I said on here before, the numbers suggest 34 to 4. Their constituents are the ones they boycotting, they are not missed in the H.O.A. I strongly feel that the PLP is more afraid when they see things happening for this island, its a simple case of jealousy, I feel like they will not get a seat here in the next one again... well maybe McAlpine seat. Bahamians ain fool like back in the 70's and 80's.

Sign in to comment

Or login with:

OpenID

The Tribune