The Tribune

By NICO SCAVELLA

Tribune Staff Reporter

nscavella@tribunemedia.net

THE Deputy Leader of the Democaratic National Alliance (DNA) slammed the Free National Movement (FNM) on Friday for its recent "infighting," calling the party a group of "hapless, unsupervised toddlers who seem to have no care for what is happening in this country".

Chris Mortimer said the Hubert Minnis-lead FNM is "by far the most hapless, unimaginative opposition in possibly the history of our country". He said if the FNM is not up to the task of holding the government's "feet to the fire" as an official opposition ought to, it should "ship out".

Mr Mortimer also blasted Dr Minnis for "floating around the country" hosting FNM events rather than "talking about the issues" plaguing the country. 

Mr Mortimer's comments come at a time when disunity in the FNM has again exploded publicly following recent controversial remarks made by Senator Lanisha Rolle towards several members of her party. 

Last month, Senator Rolle called in to local radio talk show "The Conversation" to scold members of the FNM who she thought did not support Dr Minnis as leader, claiming some sitting MPs were "jealous" of the favour which Dr Minnis has with the voters.

She also said that the electorate would not support Long Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner, who unsuccessfully lost her bid to become FNM leader in 2014, as prime minister.

The members targeted by Senator Rolle's remarks - St Anne's MP Hubert Chipman, Montagu MP Richard Lightbourn, North Eleuthera MP Theo Neilly and Mrs Butler-Turner - subsequently said the "unprovoked and extreme" remarks made by Senator Rolle left many FNM supporters "dismayed".

Nonetheless, Senator Rolle's comments ignited a firestorm surrounding the FNM's internal state of affairs, similar to the controversy surrounding the party's internal stability when Mrs Butler-Turner challenged Dr Minnis for the party's leadership. 

"It is the responsibility of the opposition to hold the government's feet to the fire," Mr Mortimer said on Friday. "That is their job. And this by far the most hapless, unimaginative opposition in possibly the history of our country, and I'm talking from the 1700s. That's how bad the opposition is. 

"And if the government is doing things that are not in the interest of the Bahamian people, it is the responsibility of the opposition to speak to that. But look what's happening. The only thing they can speak to is whose back they're going to cover, who is supposed to be leader, leadership fighting, thieving members from other parties to secure your position, because I have to be the prime minister for the next election. 

He added: "And while they are squabbling like unsupervised toddlers, this country is going to hell quickly. And I lay that right at their feet, because they are not talking about the issues. Regardless of whether they're talking about reboot 242 and unity this and we're looking out for the smaller man, absolutely nothing that they have done proves that they are talking about the issues." 

Last Tuesday, in an effort to move public focus away from Senator Rolle's comments and any rift it may have exacerbated, Dr Minnis released a statement calling for unity and urged party members to keep issues internal. 

However, Dr Minnis did not specifically address Mrs Rolle or her statements, nor did he condemn her remarks. 

Instead, Dr Minnis used the opportunity to state that there "are no irreconcilable differences that the FNM family members face, and it is my hope and prayer that this will become very clear to those who wish to see this PLP-led government gone".

"(Dr Minnis) is being paid by the Bahamian people in his role as leader of the opposition," Mr Mortimer said. "We're paying him and he is spending more time floating around this country setting up constituencies but he isn't talking about the issues. 

"My thing is I don't care what is happening within the FNM. If they want to destroy themselves that's on them. What I'm saying is, 'you've been paid to do a job, and I expect you to do your job. Your job is to hold the government's feet to the fire'. The opposition is supposed to be the counterweight to the government. And they are woefully inadequate. And in their inadequacy the Bahamian people suffer, and I have a problem with that." 

He added: "I cry shame on the opposition. Hapless, unsupervised toddlers who seem to have no care for what is happening in this country. They need to get their act together, otherwise they need to ship out."