FORMER PLP Cabinet Minister George Smith has criticised the number of overseas trips taken by Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell.
The respected political veteran was giving his assessment of the current Cabinet when he questioned Mr Mitchell’s travel habits and the lack of some key diplomatic appointments.
“On the face of it,” he said, “the Minister of Foreign Affairs is attempting to do his job. I think he travels a lot, perhaps a lot more than is necessary.”
Mr Mitchell is scheduled to speak on Thursday at the Institute of International Relations, University of the West Indies campus in Trinidad on Thursday. His topic will be “Saving Caricom.”
“I’m very disappointed,” said Mr Smith, “that no one has filled the ambassador to China position and the ambassador to Brazil position and I think we need to improve the quality of our foreign services.”
And, Mr Smith had some harsh words for some of Mr Mitchell’s colleagues as well.
He said: “Ryan (Pinder) is making the rounds, but I don’t know how much results you’ll see out of that. Kenred Dorsett hasn’t done anything in Housing yet.”
Regarding Deputy Prime Minister Philip Davis, he said: “I believe the Deputy Prime Minister met the Ministry of Works in shambles, in a terrible state, and I think he is trying to put some infrastructural developments in place to counteract that.”
As for National Security Minister Bernard Nottage, he said: “I think Bernard Nottage is riding the political support he has, but it is a very daunting task he faces, a major problem in the country. I believe we will see results in the future.”
“I believe,” he said, “the Minister of Education (Jerome Fitzgerald) is making a gallant effort to bring some order to his ministry and I think you will see a good result out of his efforts.
“I also think Glenys Hanna Martin (Minister of Transport and Aviation) is doing a commendable job and the Minister of Health (Perry Gomez) is trying to tackle the tremendous difficulties he inherited in that area.”
Mr Smith also praised Minister of State for Finance, Michael Halkitis, saying that a “prudent Prime Minister sometime in the future will see the advantage of making him the substantive Minister of Finance.”
He declined to comment on other members, but added that “two great people to consider” for party leader would be former Minister of Education Alfred Sears and former PLP chairman Raynard Rigby.
Comments
hj 10 years, 9 months ago
This sounds like a warning to Freddy. PC is here to stay,and there is nothing you can do about it. So don't try anything silly,otherwise no more free trips for you.
TalRussell 10 years, 9 months ago
Did PM Christie secretly appoint Georgie to a new government position cause until today I does never knows Georgie os the official travel log keeper for the PLP government. Comrade minister Freddy in 2012 tested his popularity with the good people of Fox Hill and he won. When was the last time Georgie could say the same about heself? What can we say about all Georgie's "if' love for Freddy? I could lie and say that Georgie's love is unconditional. Although the PLP's preamble is an integral part of the the party, it does not set out any conditions of publicly respecting a minister of the crown. Could it be Georgie is jealous of minister Freddy's track record. Does Georgie think he is the only real PLP left standing or does it have more do with his own need for constant media grabbing attention. Georgie you ain't been a politically current item for years. That is a truth.
Amen!
HolandObserver 10 years, 9 months ago
well, well, well ...what do we have here? Minister Fred Mitchell, I hope that you see that not only your political dissenters and the 'foolish' electorate think that you travel just a tad bit too much.
jackbnimble 10 years, 9 months ago
They don't call him Fly-Away Fred for nothing! LOL!
ThisIsOurs 10 years, 9 months ago
Is this commission of inquiry George Smith? What about the "why does it matter how you made your money" comment from January 28, 2013?
All of these grades for siting MP's and nothing about Shane Gibson being entrusted with a cash cow institution or the million dollar audit that had to be redone!! There's a blind spot there somewhere...
I've thought for a while that party members would start grumbling more openly, while PGC may not want his legacy attached to the leadership of the police force, quite a number of his members don't want their legacy tied to him.
hj 10 years, 9 months ago
Word on the street is that many PLPs are not happy with PC's "decision" to stay on. Especially the ones with prime ministerial's ambitions. So Bradley and George have been assigned to keep everyone in line. Maybe that's why George suddenly realized that Freddy is travelling too much. Again these are just rumors. No official statement is expected.
ThisIsOurs 10 years, 9 months ago
With initials D.P.M.
Honestman 10 years, 9 months ago
Sounds entirely plausible.
TalRussell 10 years, 9 months ago
Comrade Georgie don't means steal your thunder but both the PLP and da Reds needs be looking in ya own mirrors before looking into minister Freddy's official and publicly accessible travel log. Lets talk party conventions. Unlike minister Freddy who presented himself to the voters of Fox Hill and won their majority votes, how in the hell can you get to come to da two parties "non-held in years:" conventions, you so eloquently have stated, that party members can get to know the party and all the people who come to the convention to elect a leader, the young, the old, the experienced, the inexperienced, you can’t become a leader just because you look in the mirror and say, I’m a good fella, I’m smart, I got these degrees. Comrade Georgie how in da hell can Bahamalander's get to know how the party system operates when it's real business is conducted in secret behind closed doors. Sound like y'all two parties is operating more like some numbers racket house. Not minister Freddy cause he travel expenses is not only on public record but total no more than a few thousand dollars, pretty close Brent's official travel expenses. Did you ever go after Brent for traveling to conduct the foreign affairs business of Bahamaland? Of course not.
banker 10 years, 9 months ago
I think that this is something deeper and we are only seeing the surface ripple. Here is my theory. Fred and Ryan have been awfully chummy. Now that Brad is stepping away, perhaps the Mitchinder camp sees an opening for a palace revolt against the old guard -- especially since PGC says that he is staying on and rumours are floating around that HAI will sink Minnis the way that he gutted the so-called leadership of Tommy T. That means that Mitchinder and company would be out of a job next election, so they have to hold a night of long knives in the party. After all the if you are not sucking at the public teat, there een a lot of local business in lawyering trade these days for either of the Mitchinder parties.
The old guard, fearing the night of long knives are coming about, are trotting out all of the old stalwarts as a wagon-circling defense. I am sure that under the surface, there are rumblings. And you have guys like Raynard and dare I say his name, Kenyatta, have been circling like barracuda around baitfish. Things could be getting interesting.
Honestman 10 years, 9 months ago
You may well be right Banker but regardless of who the PLP uses to "front" the Party in three years' time, I predict that the voters will punish them for their deceitfulness at the last election. A lot of voters turned to the PLP because they said they had the solutions to the country's problems. They have been found wanting and clueless and The People are angry. The Party's handling of tax reform is nothing short of shambolic and will be the final nail in its coffin. So it's really academic whether PGC goes or stays.
jackbnimble 10 years, 9 months ago
Well said Honestman. Wish the darned election could be tomorrow!
Reality_Check 10 years, 9 months ago
This is the same George Smith that a Commission of Inquiry found was in cahoots with drug dealers in the 1980s.....let's not forget how he got that famous BMW back then.....WHAT A LAUGH.....this guy really should be hiding in the same closet as Freddie Boy!!!!
ThisIsOurs 10 years, 9 months ago
I was wondering why the reporter injected The respected political veteran ......that wasn't really necessary...,
TalRussell 10 years, 9 months ago
Is this the same Comrade Banker who so many times has suggested I be's I wearing some kinds of restraining chastity underwear ostensibly to restrain me from daring to remind Bahamander's that when Papa say he gone fishing up in Cooper's Town, for good, it aint necessarily mean for he political eternity.
banker 10 years, 9 months ago
There is a difference between a rumour, and what Papa is really doing -- and he really is fishing (and drinking). The same undercurrents that we are seeing in the PLP are also swirling in the FNM. Minnis is unpopular with some in the FNM. Christie is unpopular with some in the PLP. Politics is a blood sport. If the leader is standing in the way, you try to unseat him. Loretta is playing politics. Darron is playing politics. The Snake is playing politics in a particularly dirty fashion with his BTC lies trying to keep his negotiating committee going and his money coming in.
In the meantime, Scotiabank sending jobs to Jamaica. Royal Bank will soon be announcing a big layoff. Baha Mar won't make a dent in anything. VAT is coming for a double dip. We are going to hell in a hand cart, and George Smith says that PGC is doing a good job. However, except for a double stabbing, we haven't had a mass shooting in a couple of weeks, so I think that I will finish my boil fish and grits, grab a Starbucks coffee and head to the office for another day.
realfreethinker 10 years, 9 months ago
well said banker
Stapedius 10 years, 9 months ago
Just another day in Paradise hey Banker. LOL. In all seriousness though, PGC and HAI need to carry they a@#. I am really tired of seeing both of them on the public scene. I can't see why the political parties in this country continue to be so hung up on one leader. The party is bigger than one person and we need to come to that realization. PGC is a liability to the party at this time, just as LOP became a liability and HAI to the FNM. We must move beyond this cult like following of political leaders.
What is even more frustrating is this nonsense between PGC and HAI as if the country is one big game. If the former PM comes back then the current PM will stay on. What nonsense is that ? The running of this country is not a game and we need to put both of these men in check and send them into retirement once and for all.
realfreethinker 10 years, 9 months ago
i agree with you sentiments
leeza 10 years, 9 months ago
Please don't mind the noise in the Market HAI is not coming back that's a rumor started in the PLP camp with the intent to distract those of us from more important issues going on in this administration.
sheeprunner12 10 years, 9 months ago
Smoke and mirrors .............. Cloak and Daggers .......... thats the political game.
As for Perry and his Old Pingdomite Guard (George Smith, Snake Wilson, Baltron Bethel, Ed Bethel, Charles Carter, BigBadBrad etc) they are like a milstone around the neck of Bahamians. They need to GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The PLP party has a deep bench.
Hubert Ingraham's persona will continue to overshadow the FNM until he puts the rumour to rest and his FNM surrogates get over him leaving and give their support to the new FNM leader ................. FNM needs a Convention to settle their leadership issues this year.
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