FORMER Transport and Aviation Minister Glenys Hanna Martin.
By KHRISNA VIRGIL
Tribune Staff Reporter
kvirgil@tribunemedia.net
TRANSPORT and Aviation Minister Glenys Hanna Martin criticised Long Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner yesterday, calling her a “nasty, vicious and vile political opportunist” after the MP accused her of lacking compassion toward the victims of alleged sexual assaults.
Mrs Butler-Turner was reacting to an earlier statement from Mrs Hanna Martin after the United States Embassy in Nassau banned its employees from using Jet Ski rentals in the capital following an alleged rape near Cabbage Beach on Saturday.
In a brief statement, Mrs Hanna Martin insisted that in both her ministerial portfolio and as a citizen of the Bahamas, she has maintained a track record that speaks for itself.
This includes defending the defenseless such as marginalised women and children, she said.
“Loretta Butler-Turner has proven in her recent personal and disgusting attack on me that she is the most nasty, vicious and vile political opportunist that I have encountered in all my many years,” the Englerston MP said.
“Mrs Butler-Turner should know my record speaks for itself both in my ministerial portfolio and as a citizen of the country that I love. My record is seen in my entire life’s involvement, which includes a life before politics in my genuine advocacy for fairness and justice and in my defence of the defenseless, including the marginalised and women and children.
“Unlike Mrs Butler-Turner, I am not a chronic talking head fuelled by ugly ambition. Frankly I find her political tactics to be despicable.”
The stinging verbal attack came after Mrs Butler-Turner told reporters on Wednesday that she was taken aback by Mrs Hanna Martin’s attempt to disassociate licensed Jet Ski operators from a man who was riding a Jet Ski last weekend on Cabbage Beach and allegedly raped an American woman.
This led the United States Embassy in Nassau to prohibit its employees from using Jet Ski rentals. In a security advisory issued this week, the embassy also advised American citizens not to patronise Jet Ski operators in Nassau as it also warned US citizens living in or travelling to the Bahamas to “be aware of their surroundings and remain on heightened alert to avoid being victims of crime.”
At the time Mrs Butler-Turner said: “I think we have reached a very low point where I have never seen such a strongly worded warning from any country regarding crime. It appears that we are in a war zone in this town,” Mrs Butler-Turner told The Tribune.
“I was really taken aback by the fact that there was no compassion toward the victims of this alleged crime in that statement sent out by the minister of transport and aviation. The fact of the matter is that we had a heinous crime committed here and there are repercussions that can be so damaging.
“We now have this warning not just to visitors but to those working at the embassy. No matter how we want to look at it, the Americans are taking it very seriously that many of their citizens are falling prey to crimes in the Bahamas.”
She added: “As the minister, I understand her need to clarify that this man was not a part of the Jet Ski operators industry and that operators might be more responsible, but the bigger picture is the crime and that there was no empathy in what she had to say.”
Comments
banker 8 years, 10 months ago
Cat fight! Cat fight! I would ask the minister to disclose her interests in the jetski operations.
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Emac 8 years, 10 months ago
What record is this woman referring to? Musby one a dem vinyl records ya does play ay? That is the biggest problems with these Politians, they are delusional to say the least!
lazybor 8 years, 10 months ago
what a mess!
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Well_mudda_take_sic 8 years, 10 months ago
The corrupt Christie-led PLP government has destroyed the social and economic conditions necessary for the creation of decent paying private-sector jobs thereby leaving many destitute who fall victim to the excessive consumption of alcohol to ease the pain and suffering they feel from their low self-esteem and lack of sense of worth to their children, other family members and society at large. True to form Hanna-Martin always looks to blame any and everyone but the PLP government for any and everything bad or wrong in our country today. What the incompetency of Hanna-Martin alone as a PLP Cabinet Minister has cost our country over the years is truly staggering. There must be an abundance of alcoholics in her constituency!
DillyTree 8 years, 10 months ago
That's funny -- those are the very words (plus a few more I can't type here) that I'd use to describe Glenys Hanna Martin.
And what record is she talking about? The woman has none that I can see -- and I've always wondered what her qualifications are for the Transportation and Aviation porfolio.
Honestman 8 years, 10 months ago
Like all PLP politicians Hanna Martin over reacts to valid criticism. She must be one of the most ineffectual ministers. Rarely speaks out on anything of substance and secretly wishes she had the courage of LBT.
sheeprunner12 8 years, 10 months ago
What a disgrace for a "senior" Cabinet minister .............. this is not becoming for her Office. But it proves that LBT has what is necessary to push the PLP buttons ......... compare her to HAM
jus2cents 8 years, 10 months ago
I think someone needs a big hug! An vitriolic knee jerk retort like this only means LBT clearly hit a nerve.
Seems a lot of our politicians are now using Donald Trump’s tactic of screaming, vicious, antagonistic insults in an attempt to ‘get a rise’ or deflect from the main issue (jet ski law enforcement) but they're really insulting our intelligence. That or her delicate ego is just a tad overstressed and sensitive? Which of course is also not a very diplomatic persona to convey. Can you imagine Obama responding like this to an opposition members criticism or observations? This kind of melodramatic grandstanding illustrates fear or weakness, it is sad to see coming from one woman to another but, more than anything LBT had said, it shows Ms. Maynard-Gibson has the capacity to overreact and may lack more diplomatic abilities.
Our MP's should be leading by example and perform their duties with dignity. Although, this acrimonious rhetoric perfectly shows how a simple statement could be misconstrued and escalate and eventually become violent, it happens every second in our society, surely, Ms. A. Maynard-Gibson this is not a good example of proper ambassadorial behavior? Please take a breath, fix the Jet Ski issue and lighten the hell up because, as a politician, you will be criticized so you need to have way thicker skin.
Islandgirl 8 years, 10 months ago
Mrs. Hanna-Martin, not the Maynard-Gibson woman
jus2cents 8 years, 10 months ago
Oh thanks yes! "?" I totally meant to say Glenys Hanna Martin not that other woman, swear I'm losing it, hopefully not as much as they are!? Must be something in the water making us all a bit cray, cray?!
Economist 8 years, 10 months ago
Just look at the number of broke taxis on the road. No regulation, no inspections, no enforcement. "Incompetent," is the word that comes to mind. "Do nothing," two other words that come to mind.
birdiestrachan 8 years, 10 months ago
Ms. Hanna should get Banker to describe what he or she thinks of Butler Turner. Ms: Hanna has been kind compared to Banker.
banker 8 years, 10 months ago
Birdie, I've said it before. Butler-Turner is a fat cow with no brains and a big mouth. It's harsh, not politically correct, but its true. I do not respect her, because she is one of the "all-fer-me baby". You either lead, follow or get out of the way. Butler-Turner has done none of those. And no I am not misogynistic. Broads hate that, so I never am.
DillyTree 8 years, 10 months ago
Wow, banker, I thought you were a stand-up intelligent guy from your earlier posts. But you're nearly as bad as Birdie. Say it ain't so!
EasternGate 8 years, 10 months ago
Agree
banker 8 years, 10 months ago
LBT is conducting a vicious, backroom campaign against Minnis for no good reason, using the excuse that Minnis is not a good leader. It is already noted that Minnis is not a good politician, but he is an intelligent leader with policy. LBT is devoid of altruism, patriotism, and any conceptual idea of what it means to serve. She is still ticked off because Minnis beat her, and she is taking it childishly and personally.
She hasn't a clue as to economic, policy, or intergovernmental affairs. She is just a brash loudmouth gussie mae from a rich family, with an all-for-me attitude. The country's future is at stake here, and for her the stake is steak, and not the ultimate good of the Bahamas.
She is not leadership material. She is not a nice human being. She is tearing the party apart for personal reasons. Therefore, everything that I say stands. This election is the FNM's to lose, and LBT is insuring that with her nefarious, unpatriotic BS. She is being a b*tch, and doesn't have the grace, commitment, honour and intellectual capacity to better her country.
EasternGate 8 years, 10 months ago
It appears to me that LBT is the only opposition member who can rattle any PLP palamentarian
banker 8 years, 10 months ago
Not exactly qualifications for leadership. She bitch-slapped Rollins. True statesmanship that is. (sarcasm off).
Economist 8 years, 10 months ago
Banker your out burst seem to be very personal. You always seem to be objective but, in this case, you have just lost it.
Sorry, but your rants are having no effect.
TruePeople 8 years, 10 months ago
Martin like she does care more about her own hurt personal feelings than the safety of tourist!!!!! BEY LONG TIME jet ski operators have been a danger to tourist, and not just because dem boys is try rape ya... some of dese boys like they can't even drive the damn jetski!
and dis woman gone cry bout her track record? Fa real Emac, is musse one a dem vinyl 45s
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