The Tribune

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

WHILE independent MP Greg Moss moves forward with plans to form a fourth party, representatives from the country’s three political parties have told The Tribune there are no concerns that the Marco City MP will siphon their supporters’ votes.

PLP Chairman Bradley Roberts laughed off the former PLP MP’s political aspirations, saying he “seriously doubted” that Mr Moss would affect the governing party’s votes or support base. Mr Roberts said as the Bahamas is a democracy, everyone has the right to do as they wish.

FNM Chairman Michael Pintard said the FNM does not foresee Mr Moss’ proposed party splintering support from the official opposition. He suggested that the bigger question was whether Mr Moss could win the Marco City seat again as the constituency has great FNM and PLP support.

“I don’t expect that the organisation, which will be led by Mr Moss will adversely affect our fortunes as long as we do the job that we ought to,” Mr Pintard said.

“I think that he will add a lot to the debate that is going on, but I don’t think that will translate adversely for the party.

“It is unlikely that what he is contending in Marco City, in terms of contesting the seat, will be successful. In our estimation that is a fight between the PLP and FNM both of which enjoy very strong support in Grand Bahama. So I don’t expect that he will be successful in that seat but I think he would make a valuable contribution to the national discussion.”

Branville McCartney, Democratic National Alliance leader, also expressed similar sentiments.

When contacted yesterday, Mr McCartney first congratulated Mr Moss, before going on to point out that his announcement mirrored many of the DNA’s positions.

He said: “Hats off to Mr Moss for taking the steps he felt he needed to. But from what I have heard, many of the things (he is proposing) are very similar to what the DNA has said for the past four and a half years.

“From term limits, to transparency of governance, to the economic stimulus of the economy. Everyone has a God-given right for freedom of assembly. That should be welcomed in the country.

“I have said before that I would have been open to him having discussions with the DNA.

“But I would like to know how and where he got his ideas about the DNA from and myself as a leader. Personally I spoke to him superficially on two occasions. But I don’t know him and he doesn’t know me, so what he says of the DNA is beyond me.”

The Marco City MP, on Wednesday night as a guest on Peace 107.5FM show Hardcopy, said he wants to be prime minister of this country. Mr Moss also said he was of the view that he would be able to offer an alternative to both the FNM and PLP which have not lived up to decades of promises.

He has not released the name of his proposed party or its candidates.

On Wednesday night, Mr Moss also criticised the DNA suggesting that the party had leadership issues.

He said: “That is what led to the problem that we are in right now, where we basically set up one individual and basically crowned him king. That mindset is the beginning of corruption.

“Anyone who wants to call himself leader in a democratic country, especially a young country like ours, must be a leader by the acclaim of his people.

“He must understand that he is subverted to the people as a whole.

“So this idea that you come out and say ‘This is what our name is going to be, and I will be leader and this is the team’ – no. That’s frankly where the DNA went wrong.”

Mr Moss has said his party will contain a cross-section of Bahamians, including those of Haitian descent and several women.

The outspoken MP quit the PLP in June, explaining that the party had veered away from its founding principles and had issues with leadership.