NORTH Abaco MP Kirk Cornish. (File photo)
By LEANDRA ROLLE
Tribune Staff Reporter
lrolle@tribunemedia.net
NORTH Abaco MP Kirk Cornish apologised yesterday for declaring himself prime minister of Abaco.
His comment during an independence banquet at a church in Abaco on Saturday drew backlash.
Central and South Abaco MP John Pinder told
The Tribune: “To be clear, he is not in charge of Abaco. The prime minister is the leader of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas. We serve under him, and to say such things is erroneous.”
Mr Cornish’s statement, released by the Office of the Prime Minister yesterday, said: “During an independence event over the weekend, I sought to make the point that it is my privilege and my responsibility to implement Cabinet policy in Abaco.”
“I sincerely regret the way I expressed the point. I have the honour of representing Abaconians in Parliament and the honour of carrying out the policies of the prime minister and Cabinet in Abaco. I am the representative of the prime minister on the island, but of course, I do not possess his authority.
“There is only one prime minister in The Bahamas, and I serve at his pleasure.”
“I unreservedly apologise to the prime minister, my parliamentary colleagues, and the people of North Abaco. I am deeply committed to serving to the best of my ability and will continue to work hard to promote rebuilding our beautiful home.”
During Saturday’s church service, Mr Cornish, who was in police custody in April amid an investigation, said people shouldn’t destroy one another.
“You see, I have a God-given right to defend Kirk Daniel Cornish, Sr, but you know what Kirk does, he places that defence in the hands of God,” he said. “Many people don’t know me, don’t understand that, but I guarantee you that God gon’ show it to them.”
Comments
mandela 1 year, 5 months ago
How embarrassing. This man is another Lanisha Rolle, Mr. Cornish is becoming a loose cannon, sit small buddy boy, two years in and you are already giddy with power. Ha, ha, sit small and stop being an "Archloc". Now no one respects you anymore other than being a servant, first to your constituency and then to the Prime Minister of the Bahamas. The way it is supposed to be.
TalRussell 1 year, 5 months ago
Slowly but surely, — The proud Abacos' post Hurricane Dorian — So firmly repositioning its islands, cays, towns and settlements at the forefront of the colony's economic engines of out islands, — Including Freeport — Was/Is, — Not in any way — Because of the representation by its — Current PLP, nor former RedShirts House-elected MPs'. – 'Aye.' 'Nay?
LastManStanding 1 year, 5 months ago
I think that John Pinder has been a good MP for Abaco; he makes sure that his constituents concerns are heard and conducts himself in a dignified manner. Quite frankly he is too dignified for the ghetto mentality that runs rampant in the PLP.
That being said, I agree that Abaco's resurgence and pre Dorian economic success is in spite of the government and not because of it.
TalRussell 1 year, 5 months ago
@ComradeLastMan, nothing in your post, does shake away --- Sticking to my observation when it comes to The Abacos' --- Current and former House-elected MPs'.
LastManStanding 1 year, 5 months ago
Tal,
If I understand your prose correctly, I agree with you that Abaco's success is certainly not because of it's representation. That being said, there is only so much that an MP can do when it comes to development, so I would not judge the representation too harshly on that basis. The representation since the Ingraham era has been subpar, but I think that Pinder is trying to be a good representative and I give Henfield a pass because he had a senior level Cabinet role as MoFA that required him to be off island most of the time.
TalRussell 1 year, 5 months ago
Abacoians' back in 2021, --- Expressed the last words. --- Rejecting their RedShirts lies and excuses ---- Voting the two out of the HOA.
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