By SANCHESKA BROWN
Tribune Staff Reporter
sbrown@tribunemedia.net
BAMBOO Town MP Renward Wells yesterday suggested that the Progressive Liberal Party and the country will see the “power of one MP” when the Constitutional Amendment Bills come to a vote in the House of Assembly.
Mr Wells was responding specifically to former PLP Cabinet minister George Smith who last week said the Bamboo Town MP did not have the political clout to “stand on a bully pulpit and talk tough.”
Mr Smith said Mr Wells only managed to capture 39 per cent of the popular vote during the 2012 general election, which did not signify strong support in his constituency. He criticised Mr Wells after the Bamboo Town MP told The Nassau Guardian that if the PLP expelled embattled Fort Charlotte MP Dr Andre Rollins then he would “go too.”
“I want Mr Smith to know I have a bully pulpit and because I am an elected member of Parliament I have the right to get on any Bill in the House of Assembly,” Mr Wells told The Tribune. “I have the right to say ‘yes’ or to say ‘no’ to every piece of legislation and to that effect it means that I can decide what becomes law and what does not become law.
“You mean to tell me that is not a man with some clout? Mr Smith will see the capacity of one MP to disrupt or not disrupt,” Mr Wells said. “For example this same gender equality bill. In order for it to pass, the government needs 75 per cent of the MPs to vote yes. That means every PLP will have to vote yes if all eight of the FNMs vote no. I have already gone on the record to say if the language is not changed, I will not be supporting the bill,” he said, referring to the fourth Constitutional Amendment Bill.
“He is saying I only won by 39 per cent, but I was in a four-way race for the most hotly contested seat in the election against three millionaires and I won.
“Obviously he (Mr Smith) had not thought through really the substance and cohesiveness (of his statements),” Mr Wells said. “His argument was lacking in consistency and substance if he really thought what he said, he wouldn’t have said it.”
Mr Wells also said he stands by his decision to resign if the PLP expels Dr Rollins. However, he refused to comment on the controversy that has dogged him for months and explain why he signed a letter of intent (LOI) with Stellar Waste to Energy Management in July. He said he will address this in “due time”.
On Sunday PLP Chairman Bradley Roberts told The Tribune that Mr Wells told the party’s National General Council last Thursday why he signed the LOI.
However, he declined to give his views on Mr Wells’ testimony or to divulge his statements on the matter.
The prime minister fired Mr Wells from his post as parliamentary secretary in the Ministry of Works nearly two weeks ago over the controversy.
Comments
TalRussell 10 years ago
Both PLP brother Comrades Renward and Georgie Boy have become much too "sigsbee deep" in their own importance. Both Comrades are excellent at mouthing off, except when questions are being asked directly about their own questionable actions while serving the people? Georgie Boy needs work on his own list of the still unanswered actions as a previous PLP member government, before taking up coaching Comrade Renward and Dr. Andre. Anytime either of the two Comrade PLP brothers Renward and Georgie Boy wants sit down for some serious question answering I can arrange wide media coverage for both them and we all knows both seem thrive on media attention - but not the kiind attention, if it requires they answer what needs answering.
dehavmoss 10 years ago
Finally Mr. Wells has a voice, only after his seat was made vacant by the Prime Minister.
Publius 10 years ago
His seat was not made vacant, and cannot be made vacant by the Prime Minister. He was fired from his government appointed job, not from being a Member of Parliament.
asiseeit 10 years ago
If you are an M.P. in The Bahamas, YOU ARE A FAILURE. Take a good look at this cesspool of a country, what about it screams success? The Government of The Bahamas is a FAILURE!
Emac 10 years ago
AMEN!!!
GrassRoot 10 years ago
Well Mr. Wells got slurped up and spit out by PGC and the DPM, similar to Jonas and maybe he is reformed, a new man, freed from the shackles of the past, maybe he is the man to lead the Bahamas out of corruption, criminality and moral decay. The future is bright.
Well_mudda_take_sic 10 years ago
You folks commenting on this article should know that the The Tribune website gets less than 100 hits on an average news day, many of which are from the same commentator. This means there are relatively few of you posting and reading each others comments on this website each day. I've therefore stopped commenting for that reason aside from posting the occasional comment to let you "less than 100" folks know why you are wasting your time posting comments to this website!
realfreethinker 10 years ago
dont you have anything better to wll-mudda-take-sick ?
Greentea 10 years ago
Please ban "Well mudda take sic" from the commentary section if this is all he has to say- the 100 trying to have a conversation!
SP 10 years ago
Mr. Wells really should not respond to a has been. What is to be gained?
Politics is a dirty game especially in the Bahamas. Hold your cards close to your chest and never reveal your holding an ace or full hand.
Stapedius 10 years ago
I so agree with you SP. why respond to a has been? Just do your thing. I can't take him or Rollins anymore. They talk a lot but nothing major has been done in either man's constituency.
Greentea 10 years ago
this is getting interesting. the FNM and PLP are both dealing with succession issues. While i think Rollins and Wells might drop the ball here, these recent rumblings in both parties- suggest a sign of life in the political process. I live in hope that something good might emerge from these battles. Young people- these old heads aren't going to give up power- you have to take it. Either you will play the old game like Fitzgerald and lose the respect, regard and attention of the people (maybe its just me on that one) or stumble out the gates and frankly- land flat on your face - but you have to learn how to pull it together and get up and move on. Rollins, Pintard, Wells, Moss and Cash seem to have the attention of the press- who happily are closer in age - and hopefully concerns to them. Lets see how they use the attention. None of you are lawyers- I think. That has to be a good sign.
Emac 10 years ago
If Mr. Wells wants to impress someone, he needs to step up to the plate and come clean on this matter. As it stands, there is too much secrecy surrounding this entire situation. He has the power to stand up like a man and explain to the Bahamian people exactly what transpired. Who cares about the council and George Smith. The people elected him as a member of the not so honourable HOA. Until then, all I see is a man who trying to wiggle out of a sticky situation by bringing air talks. Everyone knows, talks bring talks!
happyfly 10 years ago
Seriously !! The only place i have been where the government feels like it don't have to tell the people what's going on, is Cuba. All these voted representatives standing in front of the people saying they ain't going to tell them what is going on ? How on earth did us voters let them get so entitled ?
Emac 10 years ago
" How on earth did us voters let them get so entitled ?" You must understand that Bahamian politicians keep the voting population dumb by playing with their emotions. Other causes are family party traditions, religion and of course buying votes have a large part to do with this. So the thinking public, the ones that cast votes based on the merits of candidates, are outnumbered!
John 10 years ago
It would be good if John Q Bahamian could know why Renward Wells signed the LOI and who pen he used.
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