The Tribune

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Deputy Chief Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

MAURICE Moore, regarded as one of the Free National Movement’s founding fathers, last night chastised the opposition MPs who oppose Free National Movement chief Dr Hubert Minnis, saying if they cannot support their leader they should “get the hell out of the seats” they occupy in the House of Assembly.

His strong rebuke of the six MPs who threatened to have Dr Minnis constitutionally removed as opposition leader if he did not agree to an early convention, came as he took the stage to support the Killarney MP in his final bid to shore up the support of delegates as the party kicks off its national convention today.

“The reason why I am here tonight is to tell you that on Friday night you have the chance to send a resounding message to all FNMs throughout this country. Give your leader a chance,” Mr Moore told the large crowd gathered at Heritage Park, Arawak Cay last night.

“This group, I am not going to get into all of it. But I have watched their actions carefully. There is no justification for what they are doing. They need to take that energy and put it behind our leader. I say to you tonight as one of the few remaining founders of this party. Our party is in good hands so much so that no matter how I felt physically, mentally I had to be here to say to you give your leader a chance.”

He went on: “No reason whatsoever those persons who sat in FNM seats. I know the leader might not want me to say this, but I am going to say this anyway. They are sitting in your seats. If they cannot support your chosen leader get the hell out of the seat. They are good people, but they are headed in the wrong direction.”

He was referring to leadership challenger Long Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner, St Anne’s MP Hubert Chipman, Montagu MP Richard Lightbourn, North Eleuthera MP Theo Neilly, Central Grand Bahama MP Neko Grant, Mrs Butler-Turner and Dr Andre Rollins. In May, they threatened to petition Governor General Dame Marguerite Pindling to remove Dr Minnis as leader of the Official Opposition unless an earlier convention date was set.

During a fiery address to the crowd, Dr Minnis called for oneness and insisted that now was the FNM’s chance to bring change to the country.

His call for unity comes amid friction within the organisation and after former Prime Minister and party Leader Hubert Ingraham made a strong plea on Sunday for the party to cease infighting.

Dr Minnis went on to underscore his plans to eradicate widespread corruption in the country and repeated his vision for value added tax exemptions.

“Tonight, we gather for the last time before our national FNM convention. Bahamians everywhere are depending on the FNM to unite,” Dr Minnis told the crowd who were adorned in “Roc Wit Doc” t-shirts and hoisted posters celebrating the leader.

“In the next three days we must emerge stronger and better than ever before. We must be one!”

He continued: “FNMs we must seize this moment. FNMs we must put aside our differences and emerge from our convention united and together. This is our chance for change.

“We can put an end to our differences, tomorrow. It is our time to come together, tomorrow. We will be that much closer to a new and better Bahamas, tomorrow.

“Divided we fall but we can stand strong.”

Regarding his plans for the country should he be re-elected the FNM’s leader and win the next election, Dr Minnis said he will bring relief to the poor among other things.

“Tonight, I have a new vision of hope for the inner city, for my city. Empowerment of our people requires the establishment of equal opportunity for the many in our Over-the-Hill communities.

“Lifting them out of poverty demands a holistic approach, beginning with the creation of inner-city tax free zones to stimulate enterprise, attract investments and create jobs. That is why we will create a tax free zone in Bain and Grants Town, Farm Road, and Englerston, involving both residential and commercial components. This is where an FNM government would invest our resources.”