Former Deputy Prime Minister Brent Symonette
By KHRISNA VIRGIL
Tribune Staff Reporter
kvirgil@tribunemedia.net
PRIME Minister Perry Christie’s suggestion that he could soon be drafting legislation to block MPs from switching sides without resigning from their seats is a bid to prevent further defections from his party because it has obvious problems, former Cabinet Minister Brent Symonette told The Tribune on Friday.
Mr Symonette said the Progressive Liberal Party is falling apart due to Mr Christie’s inability to govern causing displeasure among Bahamians and many of the party’s supporters.
He added that he saw no issue with Bamboo Town MP Renward Wells or Fort Charlotte MP Dr Andre Rollins leaving the PLP to join the Free National Movement as the opposition bids to be elected to government in the 2017 general election.
The former Deputy Prime Minister predicted that in the lead up to those elections, the country will see many more “interesting” changes.
“I wish them well. The FNM is a big tent and it’s obvious that there are problems within the PLP,” Mr Symonette said.
“Christie’s party is falling apart because he is unable to govern and people are unhappy. It’s only a short time before the FNM is the next government of The Bahamas.
“Perry Christie said he wants to change the Constitution to avoid these people changing parties. He left the PLP himself way back when and then went back. They forgot that. He is obviously scared and he wants to make sure that there aren’t anymore defections.
“There is obviously dissension in the PLP and I think that, yes, some of them might move to different political parties but so have a lot of people. The PLP now has lost track of where it is. They have lost their sense of direction so why shouldn’t people be allowed to jump ship?”
Asked if there should be concerns about Dr Rolllins’ reputation as a “rogue” MP, Mr Symonette said he saw no issues.
“Well then, what do you call Leslie Miller? What do you label V Alfred Gray? Who’s perfect in this world? They’ve got plenty of rogue people in the party.These are interesting times. Predicted lots of changes coming down to 2017,” Mr Symonette said.
On Wednesday, Mr Wells and Dr Rollins joined the opposition FNM after a long run of frosty relations and contention with the PLP.
In response to the move, Mr Christie said he was not surprised by the move as he described the PLP as a big tent with a revolving door.
It was at this time that Mr Christie suggested that he was considering drafting legislation to block MPs from switching sides without resigning from their seats, which would cause a by-election, as they are elected by voters to represent a particular political party.
While congratulating the MPs, Mr Christie also suggested that his party’s success in the upcoming 2017 general election would not depend on Wednesday’s events, but with the Bahamian electorate.
Comments
Publius 9 years ago
Never count on these politicians to discuss the deeper, more fundamental aspects of statements like those made by the Prime Minister. Symonette has never been a deep character in Bahamian politics anyway though.
And incidentally, Christie did not say he may soon be drafting such legislation, especially since such a change would require what we all know he will not have, a referendum, because such a change would necessitate other changes to the Constitution in order to make such a change Constitutionally and conventionally sound. Christie said that last term when Kenyatta crossed the floor, he thought about it. And then in his typical wax-ineloquently style, he said that maybe we could think about talking about it again.
Franklyn 9 years ago
Many Bahamians including myself are sensing a dangerous and frightening insight into the minds of some of our politicians; whom many are now identifying as persons intoxicated with power. Seeking to create a legacy, majesties and greatness where none truly exist. More chilling is the thought of some who have more loyalty to men above loyalty country and how power, greed and the thought of a lifelong failures as a politician can becomes a threat to our democracy.
TruePeople 9 years ago
Y'all Jusssssssss seeing dis now doe...........
Publius 9 years ago
We see so much evidence of the dictatorial leanings of many of these politicians, but we play dead to it and will continue to do so until one day we will wake up and realize that we are so far into the quicksand there is no salvation at the ready.
Cobalt 9 years ago
This is nothing new, guys. Hubert Ingraham defected to the FNM too, after having "fallen out of favor" with Pindling back in the 80's. Perry Christie also left the PLP at one time and ran as an independent candidate in Centerville after contending with then Prime Minister Lynden Pindling.
The only thing that makes this headline so intriguing, is that it envolves two individuals rather than one, both leaving at the same time, for the same party. The fact that it was conducted so expeditiously and willingly by the FNM party, may have an negative effect on their attempt to win-over the Bahamian electorate. Just saying.
Well_mudda_take_sic 9 years ago
You would think someone like Brent Symonette would have enough common sense and decency to stay out of active politics for the rest of his life by recognizing the huge role that his family and his extended family have played in laying the faulty foundation upon which the dire problems today of most honest hardworking Bahamians was built. The Symonette family are not too dissimilar from the Christie-led PLP government, or the FNM leadership for that matter, when it comes to the greed and corruption that has brought honest hardworking Bahamians to their knees. He reminds me very much of Franky Wilson aka Snake. Snake would be only too quick to say the Symonettes are ripping off Bahamians with the excessively high interest rates on consumer loans charged by Commonwealth Bank and Brent would say that Snake is ripping off Bahamians by his outrageously priced fuel sold by FOCOL to the Government (more specifically to BEC and for all Government vehicles at the gas station pumps) not to mention his land deals involving Arawak Homes that deprive Public Treasury of the tax dollars any other honest hardworking Bahamian would have to pay.
TruePeople 9 years ago
Tribune love dis dude doe....
sansoucireader 9 years ago
Excuse me, but isn't that how the PLP first came into power? Tribune research the story.
TalRussell 9 years ago
Comrade Sansoucireader I take it you do not believe there is merit to rumours that a group of Red House MP's had sought an appointment with the Governor-general to have her remove Minnis as leader of the official opposition in House of Assembly - nor that Dr. Andre and Renward are being used by Minnis for his own leadership selflessness?
sealice 9 years ago
HHHMMMMM.... da PLP KOOLAID mustabeen Xtra strong the past 2 days
Alltoomuch 9 years ago
History Question - who were the Dissident 8 & what became of them??
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