The Tribune

By NICO SCAVELLA

Tribune Staff Reporter

nscavella@tribunemedia.net

MICAL MP V Alfred Gray yesterday hit back at Free National Movement candidate Walt Saunders, claiming that he “knows nothing” about the constituency “other than his connection to Inagua”.

Mr Gray, in an interview with The Tribune, branded Mr Saunders as a man that is “strange” to the MICAL constituency. He added that Mr Saunders’ confidence of a victory in that constituency is the newcomer “grappling for straws”.

Mr Gray said there is “no way” Mr Saunders would beat him in MICAL if he is also running, as he has “beaten people who were better known than (Mr Saunders) was”.

Mr Gray also denied Mr Saunders’ claims that he has been a poor representative for MICAL. Asserting that the MICAL constituency has “never been better represented than I have done”, Mr Gray cautioned Mr Saunders to “speak the truth” about his involvement in the constituency.

On Tuesday, Mr Saunders said he is “more than confident” he will win that constituency, claiming that Mr Gray’s poor visibility in the area and unfulfilled promises have hurt his chances at securing that seat in the next general election.

Mr Saunders said MICAL constituents are “simply disgusted” by Mr Gray’s performance as their MP. He said there are “basic things” Mr Gray could have assisted with, but hasn’t, such as repairing damaged roads and ensuring that schools are properly staffed. He said these factors have “really worked against” the Cabinet minister’s reputation in the constituency.

“Mr Saunders ought to at least tell the people that he might have been born in Inagua or from Inagua but has not been to Inagua in many years,” Mr Gray said in response. “Nobody knows him. They may know of him, but nobody knows him.

“…He doesn’t know neither does anybody know him in Mayaguana. Nobody knows him in Acklins, nobody really knows him in Crooked Island. He has been to each of those islands once, and if he thinks that is enough for people to know him he is very mistaken.

“He ought to tell you that he did not even know that there was a lighthouse in Crooked Island. That’s how strange he is to Crooked Island and the MICAL constituency. He knows nothing about the MICAL constituency other than his connection to Inagua.”

Mr Gray added: “So Walt Saunders, he is starting off on the wrong foot and he is coming up against the wrong man. He knows if he wants to be honest, that that constituency had never been better represented than I have done. And you could go from island to island and they could tell you.

“There’s no way if I am able to run, that Walt Saunders will ever be able to beat me. I’ve beaten people who were better known than he was. That ain’t going to happen.”

Mr Gray also denied Mr Saunders’ claims that he has not represented the area well, highlighting a number of projects and/or repairs that are underway in the area.

“Mayaguana now has access to potable water or running water, Aquapure kind,” Mr Gray said. “It has a newly built road, it has a newly built airport, all of this in the last four and a half years. It has one of the best, if not the best, runways in the country.

“(Mr Saunders) said that I had promised to build a runway or airport that was never built. That’s (not true) . The runway was completed almost two years ago, and that’s to say how much he knows about the constituency. We are about to build a new terminal building in the next couple of weeks, and if those things for Mayaguana mean nothing to him, they mean a lot to the people in Mayaguana.

“I can tell you the roads in Acklins are being done over the last four-five months, that’s to show you how much he knows. And Acklins, when that road is finished will have probably the best roads in the Caribbean.

“...In Crooked Island the roads have started being repaired from Landrail Point to Cove, the bridge that was washed out by the hurricane will be undergoing reconstruction, the schools are all opened, I haven’t heard any complaints from the teachers about not being staffed. And so Mr Saunders is speaking as a man who really does not know the island. He is grappling for straws. “

Mr Gray has represented MICAL since 2002. He is a native of Hard Hill, Acklins.