The Tribune

By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

rolle@tribunemedia.net

FORMER Cabinet minister George Smith insisted that the Progressive Liberal Party would not nominate Exuma MP Anthony Moss in that constituency for the next general election, saying the parliamentarian is not viewed as being good enough for the job.

However, PLP Chairman Bradley Roberts dismissed the notion when contacted yesterday, saying: “The people of the PLP branch in Exuma will determine if he will be the nominee next time around, not George Smith. That’s George Smith’s opinion.”

Still, Mr Smith said talks are taking place in the PLP about replacing Mr Moss, though he acknowledged that no definite determination could be made until next year when the party establishes its candidates committee.

Mr Smith, who once represented Exuma in the House of Assembly, has been consistent in his criticism of Mr Moss’ performance as a parliamentarian over the years, saying yesterday that the PLP would lose the Exuma seat if it renominated him.

“I think Anthony Moss is probably a very nice individual,” Mr Smith said. “To his friends he is pleasant. He is active in his church and one of the regular people around George Town. It’s just that the Bahamas is operating in the big league. The problems facing the Bahamas are immense. Solutions will be complex. Everyone who seeks a nomination must be able to address the complex issues facing the country. This is the bottom of the ninth inning and we need the best batters to come up. We can’t afford someone who can’t knock a home run.”

Although he has won his seat in Exuma for the past three consecutive elections, Mr Moss, who is parliamentary secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, has kept a low profile on the national stage.

His successive victories, however, have not impressed Mr Smith, who has pointed to the narrow margins of those wins as proof the PLP can’t view Exuma as a PLP stronghold.

In 2012, Mr Moss won Exuma by a little more than 100 votes over the Free National Movement’s candidate Phenton Neymour. A third candidate from the Democratic National Alliance (DNA), Floyd Armbrister, received less than 100 votes.

“When you win a seat by just over 50 per cent, you can’t consider that a stronghold,” Mr Smith said. “Based on what one gathers from Exuma, the party has lost support in some areas where we were almost impregnable in the past.”

Mr Moss could not be reached for comment yesterday.

Responding to speculation about which candidates are being considered for Exuma, Mr Smith said the PLP is considering creating an additional seat for that island.

He said: “Exuma is larger than all the other southern islands. Obviously when the Boundaries Committee meets, they will consider making Exuma have two seats.

“The economy of Exuma will grow, will become probably the third largest economic area in the country rivalling Abaco, and Abaco has two seats.

“The population there will soon rival the population of Eleuthera, and Eleuthera has two seats.”

The next election must take place by May 2017.