The Tribune

By NICO SCAVELLA

Tribune Staff Reporter

nscavella@tribunemedia.net

FNM Deputy Leader Peter Turnquest yesterday weighed in on Bamboo Town MP Renward Wells’ future as a member of the Progressive Liberal Party, saying that Mr Wells is “having some difficulty aligning his values with that of the PLP”.

Mr Turnquest said when Mr Wells has “had enough” of the Christie administration he will make a decision on his future within the party.

Mr Turnquest was asked to comment on Mr Wells’ recent vow to the media that he would make an announcement “very soon” concerning his political future. Mr Wells made his comments at a murder scene on Sunday while criticising the government’s Swift Justice system for “failing to protect Bahamians”.

Mr Turnquest said yesterday: “Most Bahamians who are objective and have the Bahamian public’s interest at heart will have difficulty with this PLP government. Because you join an organisation doesn’t mean that you give up your principles. And it’s only so far you can take that before you have to act on your own integrity. And I think Mr Wells is having some difficulty aligning his values with that of the PLP. When the moment is right and when he has had enough he will make a decision.”

In June, after Marco City MP Greg Moss quit the PLP, Mr Wells, who many speculated would also leave the party, told members of the press he “contemplated resigning” but decided to stay in the party.

When asked at that time if he would quit the PLP before the 2017 general election, Mr Wells said: “All things are possible.”

Shortly after that, Fort Charlotte MP Dr Andre Rollins quit the PLP.

Mr Wells has said that he would run in the upcoming election whether or not he is nominated by the PLP.

He has also revealed that officials in the party had threatened to refuse him a nomination because of his outspoken nature. He declined comment last month when asked if he remained supportive of PLP leader and Prime Minister Perry Christie, only saying that it “is a discussion for another day”.

In the lead up to the last general election, Mr Christie highlighted several fresh faces as part of the party’s “new generation of leaders.”

Included in that group are Dr Rollins, who was the subject of a PLP disciplinary investigation for his scathing critiques of the prime minister, and Mr Wells who has also lashed out at his party since he was elected to office. Mr Wells’ relationship with the government became strained after he was fired last October from his post of parliamentary secretary in the Ministry of Works and Urban Development due to his unauthorised signing of a $650m letter of intent with a waste-to-energy company.

Mr Moss is also one of those new generation leaders.

Last month, the Marco City MP announced in the House of Assembly that he was resigning as a member of the PLP, branding the governing party as an “elitist” group not concerned with the plight of the average Bahamian.

A little more than a week later, Dr Rollins quit the party, explaining that it was obvious he was no longer wanted there after government members made several attempts to block him from contributing to the budget debate in the House of Assembly.

Dr Rollins said that while he had no prior intention of resigning from the party, he “would be a fool” to call himself a PLP after “the way I was treated in here” that night.