The Tribune

By DANA SMITH

Tribune Staff Reporter

dsmith@tribunemedia.net

DNA leader Branville McCartney is warning Bahamians not to be “sidetracked” by any controversy surrounding FNM North Abaco candidate Greg Gomez – as the problems facing the constituency and the country are far more important.

He said problems such as crime and unemployment should be at the forefront of discussions leading up to the by-election and hit out at the PLP and the FNM for overlooking what he called the big picture.

“The concern I see, we are looking at what Mr Gomez declared (as assets) or whether or not he’s working. I see where persons say he may not have lived here, all of this stuff. We’re still missing the big picture. The big picture is the issues that Abaco is facing and the Bahamas as a whole,” he said.

“We fall into the trap of these side issues. If (Renardo) Curry or Gomez is elected, no matter what happens these issues are still here. The question is, what happens after the by-elections; what happens after we talk about Gomez and his employment or non-employment and his status and vice-versa?”

The former Bamboo Town MP said the two parties should “focus more on the issues” because at the end of the day, that is what Bahamians will be left with once the by-election is through.

“This election ends in about two weeks and the issues still remain. The leaders of these other parties are talking, getting a little personal, and I don’t know Gomez and I don’t know Curry, but I do know the Bahamas and I do know we have a concern in the Bahamas on certain issues that they’re not addressing,” Mr McCartney said.

“At the end of the day, our economy is suffering; we have almost 5,000 people unemployed - and that’s affecting every island, including Abaco; there’s no economic stability; crime is still out of control; and our education system still is in desperate need of consultation; and immigration – illegal immigration, especially in Abaco – these are the issues. These are the problems we’re facing. Not Mr Gomez’ status or Curry being the best man.”