The Tribune

FNM deputy leader Loretta Butler-Turner hit out at the prime minister for his “disrespectful” comments in response to her criticism of the government’s seemingly close relationship with investor Phil Ruffin.

Mrs Butler-Turner said: “I am surprised and dismayed by the Prime Minister’s rude and disrespectful comments with respect to my criticism of Mr Phil Ruffin’s interference in Bahamian politics, and Mr Christie’s unseemly decision and poor judgment in allowing Mr Ruffin to be driven in the PM’s official car.

“Appearances matter and the Bahamian people expect good judgment from the head of government. On both these counts Mr Christie failed to uphold certain standards of conduct expected of a Prime Minister.”

Her comments come after Mr Christie was quoted as saying Mrs Butler-Turner is “stark raving mad” because of the views she expressed on the government’s relationship with Mr Ruffin.

She said: “In using such intemperate language, Mr Christie is trying to shift attention from his actions.

“It is the Bahamian people who are offended by what some may say was the stark raving mad decisions of Mr Christie: First, to drive about with Mr Ruffin, and secondly, not to publicly tell Mr Ruffin to stop interfering in domestic affairs.

“I note that a senior member of Mr Christie’s party expressed concerns about Mr Ruffin’s public statement about the latter being ‘a Perry man’.

“So, I repeat my previous statement that many Bahamians were angered by the arrogance of Mr Ruffin inserting himself into Bahamian politics, commenting to journalists about which party or prime minister he believes to be good for the Bahamas. Is this the type of behaviour Mr Christie condones by foreign investors?

“Bahamians are stunned that the Prime Minister of the Bahamas would have Mr Ruffin accompany him on a tour of a major tourism development. Prime Minister Christie should know better. We certainly expect better of the Prime Minister.

“As the Bahamian people are seeing more and more, day by day, ‘Bahamians First’ was always an empty slogan, with Mr Christie happy to give a lift in his official car to a foreigner equally as happy to interfere in our politics, while the prime minister goes along for the joy ride.”

In an earlier statement, Mrs Butler-Turner said the FNM demands to know if the taxes owed by Ruffin’s companies when they owned retorts on Cable Beach have been paid – and if not, when they will be.

Mrs Butler-Turner said if the company has yet to settle its debt with the Bahamian people, it should not be openly courted by our government.