The Tribune

By DANA SMITH

Tribune Staff Reporter

dsmith@tribunemedia.net

FOLLOWING the removal of Dr Hubert Minnis from the House of Assembly yesterday, Prime Minister Perry Christie said the FNM leader’s actions made “no sense whatsoever” and that he has never witnessed such a display in his four decades in office.

“I am absolutely amazed, having spent near 40 years in parliament and next year will be my 40th year in public life, I don’t think I’ve ever witnessed a display that makes no sense what so ever,” Mr Christie said.

“I don’t think people could not see that I have been a successful politician – I’ve tried my best to understand what could have been the political motivation of the leader of the opposition.”

Later on, while again criticising the actions of Dr Minnis, the Prime Minister praised Central and South Abaco MP Edison Key, the only FNM MP who did not leave the House after Dr Minnis was named.

Mr Christie said the move took “a great deal of conviction” and called Mr Key’s stand “important”.

During his contribution, Mr Christie also referred to a Queen’s Council who recently “cried shame” on the Prime Minister for “causing him to be prosecuted.”

Although he did not name this attorney, Fred Smith, QC, has said he plans to sue the government for defamation after being charged with causing harm following an incident in the controversial Clifton area.

Mr Christie said: “I indicated to him (Dr Minnis) that just that day or the day before, another QC had cried shame on Perry Christie – the prime minister; cried shame on Perry – for me causing him to be prosecuted.

“I knew nothing about it. But I’m not going to ask him to apologise – I was libelled, I’m not going to ask him, I don’t want him to.

“I don’t want the leader of the opposition to apologise. I’m going to use it as political motivation to ensure that the people who represent the PLP on this side, always understand and never forget their over-arching responsibility to the people of this country who elected them in.”

The prime minister also responded to another statement by the FNM, claiming Dr Minnis has shown he is not a man of science as he previously suggested.

“The leader of the opposition has extended himself from, in addition to connecting me to Nygard, he connected me to Dr (Arthur) Porter,” Mr Christie said.

“And I don’t mind what the leader of the opposition does because he has proven to be – to me, someone who is not a doctor – someone who seems to not have the right kind of education in medicine.”