By RASHAD ROLLE
Tribune Staff Reporter
rrolle@tribunemedia.net
THE “ill-spoken” comparison by opposition leader Hubert Minnis of the lost Malaysian airline to the PLP government was criticised by Prime Minister Perry Christie yesterday.
Last week, while criticising the Christie administration for “organisation problems”, Dr Minnis had said that it explained why the government had postponed promised events.
“The lost Malaysian airline is a joke compared to how lost this government is,” he remarked.
Mr Christie yesterday said the lost Malaysian airline is “no joking matter”.
He was speaking in Mayaguana about the unique challenges archipelagic countries like the Bahamas face when it comes to travel.
“The leader of the opposition should really be condemned for his ill-spoken words about the flight that was lost,” Mr Christie said. “You could joke about politics, you could even seriously argue about your side of politics, but when you use as an analogy or illustration in public about the loss of human life that has gripped the attention of the world, you are not speaking properly, you are not speaking wisely, you are not speaking humanely. And I have to tell you that this is a matter that will cause concern because people are absolutely shocked and surprised that that is what you will do. It’s not a joking matter.
“Remember what happened here on this strip in Mayaguana,” Mr Christie continued, referring to last year’s runway accident on the island that killed three people.
Recalling the moment he first learned of that accident, Mr Christie said: “I was shocked. Absolutely shocked at the horrific nature of what had taken place. You don’t joke about things like that. Anything to do with that kind of thing, because it can happen to us, we must exercise the greatest care with our words when we are in public life. This is not just a matter for the Bahamas, this is a matter for the world. The attention of the world has been gripped and people all over the world have been searching for the aircraft, people have lost their lives and it’s a very silly thing to do.”
PLP Chairman Bradley Roberts has also called for Dr Minnis to publicly apologise for his “unfortunate analogy.”
In a statement, Mr Roberts said: “If Minnis believes the hype and rhetoric of his own party, then he should take his party’s advice and publicly apologize for his ill-conceived analogy just as his party called for an apology from MP Leslie O Miller when Mr Miller used an analogy to make a larger political point that some found offensive. To use the tragedy of 239 innocent souls on Malaysian flight MH370 to grandstand and posture was disgraceful, in poor taste and I call on Dr Minnis to publicly apologise for that unfortunate analogy.”
Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 was a scheduled flight from Kuala Lumpur, Malaya, to Beijing, China, which lost contact with air traffic control on March 8th and has not been heard from since. The Malaysian government has confirmed that the aircraft went down in the Indian Ocean with no survivors.
Comments
ThisIsOurs 10 years ago
Great, he should not have made the comparison. If only the voices had been as quick and as strong when the subject was abuse against women.
Cobalt 10 years ago
Right!!!! Good point!
TalRussell 10 years ago
I now know the answer to my often asked question; "who is the PR people charged with the responsibility for giving PM Christie so much bad advice? It appears they is the same ones now advising the red shirts leader. I read all about the PM assigning a taxpayers chauffeur to the leader of Her Majesty's Comrade Minnis, despite him having no government government car to ride in back of, but for the PM to be time-sharing he PM public relations people with Minnis, has to be the political play of 2014.
proudloudandfnm 10 years ago
May have been insensitive but it is most definitely true. The PLP are lost and have been for their last 22 years in office.....
shortpants 10 years ago
This Prime Minister is as LOST as Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 that they might recover that plane before he figure out where they hell he is taking our country, clueless,almost dead man.What kind of Prime Minister is this?, Bradley Roberts needs to go check his almost dead ass in SRC ,ASAP .Everybody and they Ma know Perry and his bunch idiots men in tights don't have a clue what to do for this country.Please apologize for telling the truth JOKERS........Dr Minnis keep their old heart ticking and put fire to them old corn foot.
URD 10 years ago
But......the PLP are lost like the Malaysian airliner
TalRussell 10 years ago
Having served as a minister of the crown under Hubert, you'd think Comrade Minnis would have closely observed how "stubbornness was indeed costly" to his former boss and red shirts party? He done got's the political ghosts of Hubert and Loretta peeping over he shoulders, so why in the hell would he invite hundreds more?
SP 10 years ago
After 5 years of absolute stupidity of the FNM, it's no wonder why the P.M. is totally lost!
No one could possibly understand the many jackass "unthinkable" decisions made by the FNM Cabinet.
Lucky for the FNM Hubert and Perry are two peas in a pod.
If Perry wasn't obligated to coverup for Hubert due to his own misgivings, both would end up in jail charged with treason, harboring a criminal and gross stupidity!
CANDACESCOTT 10 years ago
wow now it is HAI and the FNM that lost Perry. it must be hard work making excuses for this WUTLESS government and PM... welll continue...........................
bismark 10 years ago
lost isn't the word to explain this incompetent administration,we have yet to see what progress is being made to ,improving our economy,getting crime under control,creating jobs,lowering the high cost of living;the list goes on,PM Christie came in office on a wave,he will be swept out in tsunami.
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