Senator Fred Mitchell.
By NICO SCAVELLA
Tribune Staff Reporter
nscavella@tribunemedia.net
FOX Hill MP Fred Mitchell yesterday criticised Long Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner for being “bellicose” and “warlike,” and suggested that the former Free National Movement deputy leader is not “skillful” enough to secure government assistance for her constituency.
He also dismissed Mrs Butler-Turner’s recent claims that the Progressive Liberal Party has victimised her for being vocal in critiquing the party. Conversely, Mr Mitchell said opposition MPs “by their skill are able to get things for their constituency even though their party is not in power”.
Mr Mitchell also defended his decision to criticize Mrs Butler-Turner while visiting her constituency last week. He also said Mrs Butler-Turner cannot stop him “from going into Long Island when I feel like going.”
Mr Mitchell’s statements are the latest in a recent war of words between the two parliamentarians. On Saturday, while visiting Long Island, Mr Mitchell suggested to residents there that the island has not flourished under Mrs Butler-Turner’s representation because of her attitude toward the government.
Mrs Butler-Turner shot back by saying that his comments were actually a “vile and disgraceful” declaration that the PLP has victimised Long Island residents for years. She said Prime Minister Perry Christie should fire the “undemocratic, vicious and petty” minister of foreign affairs and immigration for this blatant admission.
Speaking with reporters outside Cabinet yesterday, however, Mr Mitchell offered his response to Mrs Butler-Turner’s claims.
“I saw the member of Parliament for Long Island objecting to the fact of a member of Parliament from another area going into Long Island,” he said. “The point I wanted to make generally for her edification and the public, is a member of Parliament is a member of Parliament for the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. That means anywhere in the Bahamas is home, and you can go anywhere. So that’s number one.
“Number two is, she herself has been in the Fox Hill constituency, if not once, twice, to official meetings held by her political party. Presumably she was there to try and get their Cabinet elected and try and get me not elected. So God bless her if she can stop me from going into Long Island when I feel like going.”
Mr Mitchell also dismissed Mrs Butler-Turner’s claims that the Progressive Liberal Party has victimised her for being vocal in critiquing the party.
“The only point I make is I have been an opposition MP, and opposition MPs by their skill are able to get things for their constituency even though their party is not in power,” he said. “That’s the only point I make, is that if you are skillful you can do more for your constituency. I know and I commend that approach to her, as opposed to (Mrs Butler-Turner) being bellicose and warlike at all times.”
Comments
TruePeople 9 years, 3 months ago
Man aye, if all a dem in gov't look around and sey all of everyone dey see is 'this and that kind of unsatisfactory thing', then lord have mercy for us when we look in at all of them. Bey if i wan see ppl row and cuss i could watch jerry springer, When i look to the gov't i want to see them actually doing they job instead of dissing their one another. Lord God, is a shame we have for (leadership??!?) here.
Bey shut up an do something good for Fox Hill cus we still suffer under your leadership over here
ObserverOfChaos 9 years, 3 months ago
he means she's not as good as telling lies and cheating bahamians? If thats the case he's an expert....
asiseeit 9 years, 3 months ago
We are getting to close to the TRUTH and the PLP is scared, this is why all the PLP attack dogs have been let lose. They want to distract the people from the real issues. Smoke and mirrors, they think they slick. Do not back down, ask the questions and dig into the FACTS, the PLP is rotten, corrupt, immoral, unethical, and a blight on our country!
rosiepi 9 years, 3 months ago
So Lord Frederick has told the citizens of Long Island that their hardships are deliberatly brought about because they made the mistake of electing an MP who isn't afraid of him? My my that is dirty pool...one might even call this Minister's behaviour and the lengths to which his gov't (as he says caused the Island not to flourish) has indulged their petty sense of justice as, well not so much "warlike" as bitchy. I for one would take a strong Queen who defended and supported those under her watch than someone whose ability to speak out of both sides of his mouth is his only forte.
EasternGate 9 years, 3 months ago
Another sorry piece a shit!
Wideawake 9 years, 3 months ago
Fred "freeze your in mind in mental slavery" Mitchell must be the most spite-filled and biggety Member of the HOA. He better get ready for "war-like" and " bellicose", because I expect plenty more of that is headed in his direction.
BMW 9 years, 3 months ago
This thing we call our minister of foreign affairs is nothing but an embarrassment to our country. He is stuck back in the days of the 1950s' really don't understand why he just wont come out of the closet and set his mind and soul at ease, for gods sake Freddie its common knowledge!!!!!
Maynergy 9 years, 2 months ago
In the long run, nothing a government can do, does more good for the people that creating and adopting good policies for creative innovative economic growth. What this government or most government do is to either accelerate or decelerate long run economic growth - i.e the most important aspect of macro-economic policy. Nothing matters more in the long run for the quality of life in an economy that its long run rate of growth. Consider this, for a more sustainable prognosis, using the spending and credit powers of the national government to affect the economy is an awesome way to further open up the economic umbrella for further stimulus in the family islands could be a trigger which could loan more prosperous outcome for everyone who embraces new enterprising and emerging trends to succeed. Whats your view?
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