The Tribune

By SANCHESKA BROWN

Tribune Staff Reporter

sbrown@tribunemedia.net

A VIDEO reportedly proving Bernadette Christie, wife of PLP leader Perry Christie, was "spat on" by an FNM supporter went viral yesterday receiving mixed reactions from the Bahamian public.

Posted by a PLP supporter, the video called "The Spit Incident" was posted on Facebook around 10am and received 226 shares and more than 200 comments.

On Monday, Mr Christie said he and his wife were bombarded with vulgar and provocative insults as they pulled up to the advance polls at the College of the Bahamas.

Mrs Christie was also allegedly spat at by a man in a Free National Movement shirt who approached the car.

However, FNM spokesman Tommy Turnquest denied Mrs Christie was spat at and said her claims are completely false and overblown. In fact Mr Turnquest said Mrs Christie told the investigating officer that "while the man talking to her had spit coming from his mouth she was never spat at or spat on."

In the video, a man in a red hat and red shirt was seen walking to the jeep the Christies were in. He leaned into an open window, reportedly where Mrs Christie sitting, for a split second then was seen walking away from the jeep.

While some viewers claim to have "clearly seen" the spit come from the man's mouth, others were not as convinced.

One viewer said: "Without a doubt something was projected from the man's mouth, you can clearly see it land on the glass." Another said "The man's body language gives credence to spitting. His head went in the jeep and you saw him move it back and forth."

Other viewers were not so easily swayed. One man said: "I see no spit. This is still speculation. Bernadette Christie says she was not spit on let's focus on that. Please let's stop beating a dead horse." Another said: "Good graphics, that white thing is above his head. It looks like a worm, not spit."

The FNM is calling for Mr Christie to apologise for intentionally misleading the public and the press.

When contacted Mrs Christie said she is "done with the matter" and is leaving it up to the investigators.