The Tribune

THE PLP’s effort to purge the public service of opposition supporters has already moved to Abaco, former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham claimed.

At an FNM rally on Saturday night, Mr Ingraham urged his former constituents in North Abaco to resist what he called the new government’s “reign of terror”.

He said: “The PLP government’s mouth pieces have been all over the national radio and television and in the papers claiming that they are not victimising Bahamians who do not support the PLP political agenda.

“And when their bad behaviour becomes too clear to deny, the Prime Minister has this way of saying that his minister did that; that if it had been him he would not have behaved in that fashion. Well whatever happened to standards of ministerial behaviour? What has become of collective responsibility? You cannot claim to be the government and then claim that the right hand does not know what the left hand is doing.”

Mr Ingraham claimed that among those victimised was Cephas Cooper, until recently the Family Island Administrator for Marsh Harbour.

“He was summarily transferred from Marsh Harbour to Rock Sound, Eleuthera. His wife, a teacher in the government operated school system was also transferred to Rock Sound. Just as they were settling into their new posting, Cephas was again summarily transferred; this time to Nassau where he is twiddling his fingers waiting to be assigned a post. At least he is still being paid a salary,” the former Prime Minister said.

“You might also inquire after Maxine Duncombe, who up to the day of the general election was the Family Island Administrator in Mangrove Cay, Andros.

“She too has been summarily transferred to Nassau where she sits without assignment. Again, at least she is being paid her salary. And, V Alfred Gray had the nerve to ask her father, Joy Duncombe, to vote for them.

“You may also wish to know about Ejnar Cornish, the Domestic Investment Manager of BAIC based in Abaco.

“They hired him after the 2002 general election in which he had supported them against me. He was one of their big time supporters then. But he changed his mind about them and he supported me in 2012.

“Guess what? They fired him unceremoniously. They didn’t even give a reason.”

Mr Ingraham said those victimised in Abaco also include Benjamin Pinder, Family Island Administrator in Sandy Point, who was also summarily dismissed without explanation.

He added that the FNM’s candidate Greg Gomez was forced out of a post he was being trained to assume.

Mr Ingraham said: “I approved Greg’s appointment, he reported to work and his training had commenced. V Alfred Gray and the PLP stopped that; advised him that they would not be completing his appointment – and anyone who tells you a different story to that is very simply telling you a bold-faced lie.

“I ask you tonight not to support the PLP in its reign of terror on innocent people as they fill their pockets with loot off the backs of the good Bahamian people.”

FNM leader Dr Hubert Minnis also warned North Abaco about the PLP and called into question the campaigning practices of the governing party.

He said: “We have heard of the avalanche of monies being spent, some of which we hear could be counterfeit.

“Yes, we’ve heard all about the temporary jobs being offered to some of you in overstaffed government offices; we’ve heard about the grill-and-chills.

“Yes, we’ve heard about the washers and dryers, the fridges and stoves; and even heard about the allegations of folded t-shirts being issued to you with monetary gifts and surprises in the sleeves.”