The Tribune

PLP Chairman Bradley Roberts said it is evident there is “deep-seated division” within the Free National Movement after Montagu MP Richard Lightbourn revealed he had been called “racist” at a party meeting because of his criticism of proposed tax breaks for Over-the-Hill communities.

Speaking at the monthly meeting of the PLP’s Mount Moriah Branch last night, Mr Roberts labelled the Official Opposition as a “scrap crew”.

“Clearly there is very deep-seated serious division in the FNM when members of the FNM executive committee have labelled one of its members of Parliament as a racist,” Mr Roberts said. “A very serious charge.”

He was referring to an article published in The Tribune on Monday, where Mr Lightbourn said he was accused of being “racist” during an FNM policy meeting because of his views on key platforms put forth by party Leader Dr Hubert Minnis, namely his promise to transform inner city communities into tax-free zones.

Mr Roberts added: “Former Cabinet minister Tennyson Wells is now throwing his support behind Dr Hubert Minnis (and) has caused much upheaval in a powerful segment of the FNM.”

He said he was told some members of the FNM want to keep Mr Wells out of party business, “as he is likely to cause further division in the ranks of an already fractured opposition.”

Mr Roberts also bashed Dr Minnis’ fiscal ideas, saying the Killarney MP’s plans could hurt the economy.

“Dr Minnis was again in Grand Bahama and repeated his intent to derail and destroy the somewhat fragile economic recovery the PLP government has been leading for 45 months,” Mr Roberts said.

“Removing VAT from electricity, healthcare, education and additional food items would strip a sizable portion of the revenue base – critical revenue that made it possible for the government to eliminate 90 per cent of the huge budget deficits left behind by Minnis and the FNM and was critical to stabilising the country’s public finances.”

“This proposal threatens to plunge The Bahamas back into a double dip recession and return us to the dark days to record and unsustainable borrowings to meet the sharp revenue shortfalls that are sure to follow as night follows day. And it will be because Minnis has no plan to recover this massive revenue shortfall,” Mr Roberts said.