The Tribune

By RICARDO WELLS

Tribune Staff Reporter

rwells@tribunemedia.net

REVEREND C B Moss, executive director of Bahamas Against Crime, criticised the PLP this week and questioned if recent controversial comments from party members Wayne Munroe and Leslie Miller are becoming the “modus operandi” of the organisation.

He was reacting to a call from Mr Munroe, QC, to flog illegal immigrants as a way to curb unlawful migrants. On Facebook, the prominent attorney, who recently joined the PLP, also recently said the “price is too low” for immigration offences in The Bahamas, suggesting that if illegal immigrants – particularly Haitians – believed “we tortured and killed them, they might not come.” Mr Munroe later told The Tribune he stood by those comments.

This week, Mr Miller was also embroiled in controversy when he criticised the Bahamas Crisis Centre, saying the victim’s advocacy group was filled with “phonies, fakes and frauds” and were silent on the recent murder of a woman schoolteacher.

Rev Moss, an anti-crime activist, said he was not surprised by their comments. He said while their remarks are alarming, they showed a wider issue, which is becoming too familiar.

“Politicians, these men associated with politics, have built up the idea that because they are on the front lines or close to those that are, they can say what it is they want and have no remorse,” Rev Moss said.

He added that the practice of doubling-down on offensive comments in the face of “outright criticism” has made the issue worse.

“Persons in Cabinet, they have attacked each other, attacked their party, attacked persons in society. If they are doing that and being allowed to go on as if their words don’t affect their day-to-day jobs, what do you expect the other parliamentarians and those trying to get in the House (of Assembly) to do?”

Speaking to The Tribune on Wednesday, Rev Moss also questioned where the “guiding voice of the PLP” was in the wake of these comments. “Their party has to speak up and either endorse or repudiate these comments. If political parties can’t control their outlandish members, maybe it’s time the voters do,” added Rev Moss.