The Tribune

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

GREG Moss, the MP for Marco City, yesterday suggested that he does “not fear” Prime Minister Perry Christie and told the House of Assembly that he would not be deterred by what he perceived to be threats of consequences from the nation’s chief over a differing position than that of the Progressive Liberal Party on the constitutional amendment bills.

The comments spurred Fox Hill MP Fred Mitchell and Cat Island, Rum Cay and San Salvador MP Philip Davis to defend the prime minister. Mr Christie, who was out of the lower chamber when Mr Moss launched his verbal attack, later returned to rebut the statements. This led to a back and forth between Mr Moss and Mr Christie over the matter.

Mr Christie questioned the defensive stance that Mr Moss was taking saying they met with each other moments before the House session and had an amicable discussion in the absence of any threats.

Mr Moss said the government had brought four Bills to the House of Assembly – three Constitutional Amendment Bills and the value added tax legislation – to be debated in rapid succession. He said the Bills were important because they had the power to change the country dramatically once brought into force. He suggested that this underscored the gravity of the right of MPs to express their views on the legislation.

“It troubles me, when in respect to one of the sets of bills (before the House), members of my party make statements that there are consequences for a member of Parliament getting up in this House and expressing his conscience on a Bill,” Mr Moss said.

“That happened in this House when the member for Centreville, who is my leader, said that happened when two other members who sit in the Cabinet said things that are very close to that. I would be gravely misunderstood if I did not respond to that.”

Mr Moss said his only objective as a member of Parliament is to deepen democracy without fear or favour.

“If there is a generational divide in this House, where the old ways of thinking have not been put away by certain people so far, aim that in a different direction,” he added. “It does not impact me. I am unmoved by that way of thinking. Freedom of speech is essential.

“. . .If I cannot speak in this House, and trust me I will speak in this House, but if anyone has a view that I cannot speak in this House, what they are basically saying is that no one can speak in this country.

“. . .I want to be clear that my absolute dedication to the idea of deepening this democracy - it will not waver, is undeterred, is unmoved by that kind of talk. I do not fear men. The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The strength of my life of whom shall I be afraid? How much bigger than me are you? Your ideas may be bigger, but what we do in here of sharpening each others skills in the debate and the standard of debate is important.”

However, Mr Christie appeared confused over the Mr Moss’ statements.

“Mr Speaker, the member is establishing a predicate that doesn’t exist and arguing against it,” Mr Christie said yesterday as he stood to rebut Mr Moss’ remarks. “Where are the threats? Where are the threats and who are they coming from? I mean you are not the person that I sat with 10 minutes before the House started... and there were threats? We were fellowshipping as friends. Where were the threats? There are no threats from me or my party.”

Mr Moss’ tirade was spurred by comments the prime minister had made as he announced on Monday that Fort Charlotte MP Dr Andre Rollins had resigned as party whip because he did not support constitutional amendment Bills two and four.

Mr Christie told the House on Monday that when PLP back benchers, including Mr Moss and Mr Rollins, made their respective decisions on the bills, they would appreciate the political consequences of their choices. 

Mr Christie also said on Monday that he had not coerced any member of his party to vote a certain way, but said he had met with Dr Rollins and Mr Moss earlier to discuss their concerns.

“That was an important intervention to me, so that I know that when they decide to do whatever they will do, they and me understand that they appreciate the consequences political of their decision,” Mr Christie said on Monday.

Debate in the House of Assembly continues today at 10am.