The Tribune

PLP Chairman Bradley Roberts has advised the leaders of the FNM and the DNA to agree to immediately discontinue and condemn all forms of political activism or demonstrations “that will have the consequence of negatively portraying The Bahamas internationally”.

In a statement released yesterday, Mr Roberts said both Dr Hubert Minnis and Branville McCartney, leaders of the FNM and DNA respectively, were “unhelpful” in the wake of the “Panama Papers” controversy.

The data leak from a Panama law firm lists The Bahamas as the third most popular tax haven for persons looking to hide their wealth and possibly evade taxes in their home countries.

“Both men are very well aware that the (financial) sector’s regulatory regime meets the gold standard as both men have served as Cabinet ministers, but not one of them saw their way to defend this country reputation or the memory and honour of our late Bishop Solomon Humes who was singled out in the leaked documents,” Mr Roberts said. “This is unpatriotic.”

He also took issue with a demonstration outside the Baha Mar Convention Centre on Sunday, organised by environmental activists about recurrent dump fires. The protest occurred on the final day of a conference held for the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

Along with hundreds of concerned citizens, Mr McCartney was at the protest, as well as FNM Long Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner.

“While all Bahamians are fully aware of the many fires over the years and are in unanimous agreement on the urgent need for remediation at the public landfill, I question the intent and utility of staging the demonstration at or near the precincts of the Baha Mar Resort, Cable Beach, the venue for the IDB Board of Governors meeting. The public landfill is not located on Baha Mar’s property on Cable Beach.

“Were the organisers and the leadership of the FNM and DNA seeking to use this international event of the IDB meetings, a positive event for The Bahamas, to cast a negative international spot light on The Bahamas, its government and its people?

“Assuming that the organisers and participants all love the Bahamas – how was that demonstration in the manner it was executed helpful to the reputation of The Bahamas? I submit to the political leaders involved that their actions were unpatriotic and a demonstration of poor judgment.”

“The entire country is still in shock over the threat of a major negative international press blitz reportedly being instigated by Bahamians connected to Save The Bays and leading personalities in the Official Opposition under the theme, ‘A nation for Sale.’ That fabricated controversy is harmful to the reputation of the Bahamas and was not instigated by the Bahamas government or the governing party.

“Dr Minnis and Mr McCartney would be aware that such international political pandering and posturing harm all of our people and provide undue and unnecessary setbacks nationally.

“While I salute Mr McCartney’s noble gesture in rebuking the misguided conduct of Dr Minnis in The Save the Bays controversy, I remain totally convinced that the country’s entire political leadership can find common ground in the agreement that we put The Bahamas first - above self-interests, personal political ambitions and the agenda of outside big-money interests.”