Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis at the FNM rally. Photos: Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff
By RASHAD ROLLE
Tribune Senior Reporter
rrolle@tribunemedia.net
PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis said a Progressive Liberal Party official who made derogatory comments about dark-skinned people is “a disgrace.”
He was speaking during a Free National Movement rally last night at the park opposite Garvin Tynes School.
Earlier this month PLP national vice chair Patricia Deveaux introduced former Grand Bahama Minister Dr Michael Darville to the stage and said the PLP is comprised of “nice looking people” and not a “bunch of drakes all over the place, heating up the place.”
She later apologised.
Dr Minnis said yesterday: “I believe that every child has human dignity because we are all made in the image and likeness of the God who created us. No matter the color of someone’s skin or what type of hair they have, we are all God’s children. I don’t have as much hair as I used to and my hair is now grey with life experience. But, I don’t see nowhere in the Constitution where it says you have to have curly hair to be in public life or to make something of yourself. We should be judged by the content of our character and hard work, not the colour of our skin or the texture of our hair. When I entered politics and public life I did so to help regular people and the poor. I don’t have the prejudices that some in the PLP seem to have about our people.”
PLP officials have accused the Free National Movement of hypocrisy over the matter, noting there was no public outrage or reaction from the party when Bennet Minnis, a Water & Sewerage Corporation board director and prominent FNM supporter, used slurs to refer to the PLP. Bennet Minnis never apologised for his comments but instead doubled down on them in an interview. In a series of voice notes last year, he said the PLP is “one corrupt, stealing, no good, bastard, homosexual, African monkeys.”
During last night’s rally Dr Minnis also discussed his administration’s agenda. He said the sale of the Grand Lucayan will happen “next week Monday in Freeport,” adding the project will include “extensive renovations to the existing hotel and hotel property.”
“The re-design of the property will include: a boutique hotel, timeshare villas, a commercial village, adventure parks, water parks, a convention centre, event hosting facilities, retail spaces, dining and entertainment,” he said.
Comments
birdiestrachan 4 years, 1 month ago
doc ways and his look are the same. doc is a hypocrite of the highest order. he had nothing to say when Bennet Minnis called Black people monkeys. which is worse doc?
TalRussell 4 years, 1 month ago
The prime minister and his Pom Pom waving ladies, all decked out in their loudest of red party's colours - are cheerfully doing their pre general election campaign's war dance, whilst rest colony's out islands health officials and PopoulacesOrdinary - be's left struggle with how best prepare to tackle the coronavirus. Even with the wit of a Joe Monks - Pom Pom craziness would've be's out creative writer's reach. You, just, couldn't.
ThisIsOurs 4 years, 1 month ago
I don't understand this. Before these farce events, there's this PR push that everyone needs to come to the "community" meeting. Then afterwards like clockwork the Tribune prints a big story about an FNM "rally". If the PM already declared that election season has started, and it's a rally, why can't they just make a call for all FNMs to come out to the rally?
It looks like only the council members show up.
TalRussell 4 years, 1 month ago
Mainstream media is burred deep in a 'disgrace conspiracy ' - the way they are covering up when they damn well known the true purpose and intent the red party's campaign rally's - disguised as Town Hall and Community meetings.
joeblow 4 years, 1 month ago
The FNM cannot get my vote with him as leader. The PLP will not get my vote mo matter who is leader. I hope something happens before election to change my mind!
Well_mudda_take_sic 4 years, 1 month ago
Minnis has become an incredible embarrassment for most of the voters he duped in the last general election. I must laugh heartily listening to him play that very tired 'ole' lame race card in a most pathetic and feeble effort to try fire up support for himself. Anyone who knows Minnis very well, knows full well that he has very racist inclinations that he can't hide even if he tries. In fact I'm LMAO.
Bahamianbychoice 4 years, 1 month ago
Please this man eats his own young....he had disenfranchised and intentionally ruined many FNM's; anyone who could not be used for his own personal gain. He has proven untrustworthy and just unprofessional. The professional community has lost respect for this administration.
I do not think the FNM have a chance with Minnis as leader and/or some of the present Ministers in place. I hope the machinery of the FNM step up and make the hard call!
licks2 4 years, 1 month ago
People, people, peoples. . .yinna can't beat this man by acting like "sour grapes". . .yinna know he has a strong following out there. . .he will win again. . .period if he keeps up like he is doing and the PLP keeps BD as leader. . .that's for dang sure!!
Business class, upper middle class, middle class and professional class like him for focusing on upper blue and white collar issues!! I will not talk about the lower classes. . .he gat dat covered. . .took them right from under HAI nose and some of perry own too!!! The PLP dem disgruntle about BD as leader and not somebody like AS. I would not talk about them international folks. . .he getting things done. . .significant national things done . . . USA them like him like crazy!!
BUT. . .I don't like about him is that he tend "to drag he feet" with hard decisions. . .somethings he knows that he must do. . .maybe he scared to do them. . .so he just drag his feet until legally he can't do a thing any more. . .then try to push them still. . .causing us a lot of legal "gaffs" like the gaming board dumb crap!! This government seem to "do like feel like" even after they done drag they "foots dem" too long and have to pay a lot of money!!
Also, will tell ya: "I will get that done". . .all the while dragging "dem foots dem" as he "yukkin up" peoples dem vexations! One other thing I don't like about him. . .he still allows "dem dutty PLPs and HAI FNMs who are still in high places in the services" dem to treat public servants bad. . .he seemed deaf there. . .COMPLAINING TO HIM DON'T SEEMS TO DO A DAMN THING. . .HE GOES DEAF THERE!! That will cost him MPs come next election. . .if he refuses to deal with them rogues. . .the people will deal with them come 2022!!
However, the "nasty PLPs" will continue until a FNM PM with good management sense remove they trifling tails and put them some place where they done little damage!! That's if doc ever gets around to shuffling some of them dang rogues he "misplaced" is some of those ministries!!
But don't fool yinna self dem. . .DAT MAN GAT SOME SERIOUS SUPPORT DEM OUT HERE. . .EVEN HUBERT INGRAHAM CAN'T CONTEND WITH HIM OUT HERE!!
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