The Tribune

By SANCHESKA DORSETT

Tribune Staff Reporter

sdorsett@tribunemedia.net

FORMER Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham said he was “disappointed” to learn that North Abaco MP Renardo Curry was absent from the House of Assembly 102 times this parliamentary term, with the nation’s former leader telling reporters he never missed 100 days in 40 years.

Mr Curry became the member of Parliament for North Abaco after a bye-election in 2012, shortly after Mr Ingraham resigned as leader of the Free National Movement and MP for North Abaco following FNM’s stunning defeat in the last general election.

In March, the Nassau Guardian revealed that Mr Curry was absent from parliamentary proceedings 102 times out of the 220 times the House of Assembly has met this term.

In response, Mr Curry told reporters it has been “somewhat of a challenge” moving “back and forth” between Abaco, where he and his family live, and New Providence to honour both obligations.

He also said it would be “more questionable” if MPs that live in New Providence and represent constituencies situated in the capital are notably absent from the House, as he said it is “much more convenient” for them to attend proceedings.

Mr Ingraham told a crowd on Thursday after the FNM’s candidate for North Abaco Darren Henfield officially nominated, that it is time that North Abaco and the entire Bahamas “returns red”.

“I was very disappointed the other day to discover that the PLP MP, whose father was my friend, was so negligent in his performance in his duties as an MP,” Mr Ingraham said.

“You know I got elected to the House by you nearly 40 years ago and I have not missed 100 meetings in 40 years. In fact, during the last five years while I was prime minister, I missed two meetings in the House of Assembly. Two. There is no question whatsoever that the PLP needs to be removed from office period but we need to reclaim our seat here in the north.

“And so we will have a rally here in this park sometime in early May in which I will speak and I will tell you all the reasons why, you ought to say ‘no’ to the PLP and ought to say ‘yes’ to the FNM. I want you to know that Nassau is going FNM and you will be in good company because you will be in the company of the governing party of the Bahamas. Stay strong, stand with Darren and let’s return our seat to the FNM.”

According to a report in The Nassau Guardian, which was based on information contained in records of the House of Assembly, Mr Curry led all parliamentarians with 102 House absences. Marco City MP Greg Moss followed close behind with 93 absences; Fox Hill MP Fred Mitchell with 69, and West End and Bimini MP Obie Wilchcombe with 48.

For the Official Opposition, Long Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner was absent 33 times, while Killarney MP Dr Hubert Minnis was absent 11 times.

Mr Curry said at the time he was “a bit surprised” at the numbers contained in the newspaper report and that he “didn’t recognise that it would be 102”. However, he said he disagrees “somewhat” with the figures given.