Mitchell disappointed by lack of PLPs at court for Dorsett appearance

As of Friday, July 14, 2017

PLP Chairman Fred Mitchell.

By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

WHEN Former Environment Minister Kenred Dorsett was arraigned on bribery and extortion charges Thursday, few supporters of the Progressive Liberal Party were there to rally behind him, a fact that Senator Fred Mitchell regretted in a meeting of the PLP's liberal caucus Thursday evening.

"Today's arraignment of Kenred Dorsett, no PLPs present," he said. "Guy walks in by himself into the court. Why didn't we mobilize his branch? All those people who were on the back of the truck just a few weeks ago and then of course where were we? I happened to just be away, but I thought to myself, nearly 40,000 people voted for the PLP in the last election and we can't get 20 people out there standing for this man who served us for the past five years and is a part of your generation? And that's what I mean by politics being a people's business. No one will pay any attention to the PLP unless it can produce bodies. Politics is a thankless task. It's a volunteer task and it's a hard task."

Earlier, Mr Mitchell had told the PLP group that politics "requires their time" and their physical presence on the frontlines.

"This is moreso for people who are under 30," he said.

Mr Mitchell described himself as being exasperated by the kind of conversations that take place in PLP WhatsApp groups.

"It seems we're picking on one another, but not going out and doing the physical work which a political party requires."

Mr Dorsett is accused of using his ministerial position to extort and solicit $120,000 in bribes from Jonathan Ash.

He was remanded to the Department of Correctional Services Thursday on nine criminal changes, including a single count of misconduct in public office and four counts each of extortion and bribery.

Mr Dorsett, on Friday, was granted $50,000 bail by the Supreme Court with two sureties.

More like this story

TalRussell 7 years, 4 months ago

Comrade Freddy, as a practicing lawyer - shouldn't you call to let this serious accusation play out before the courts? Our justice system favours those defendants who can best afford to mount their defense.

sheeprunner12 7 years, 4 months ago

Wasn't Rodney Moncur there?????? What more is needed??????? .......... BOL

OldFort2012 7 years, 4 months ago

Where are the PLP? Obvious: flying out to Florida to join the money and avoid arrest.

John 7 years, 4 months ago

Freddy still seems to be dazed or bedazzled by the cut hip he got in Fox Hill and the overall a$$ whooping the PLP got in the last election. Politics is a strange animal in this country and if someone with political ties is accused of wrongdoing one must weigh the consequences before publicly supporting that individual. Firstly there may be persons who support the individual but they clearly do not condone the actions he is accused of doing. So they will definitely not support that individual until the matter is cleared up. Then there are persons who support the individual, regardless of what he has done. But they know the possible consequences of supporting him publicly so they won't. Then there are persons who are not only in shock and awe, like Fred, from the results of the election, but they are equally disheartening and disoriented by what has beef exposed about their party and its governance over the past five years. They too will want the law to take its course and will not participate in lending support.

John 7 years, 4 months ago

*disheartened

John 7 years, 4 months ago

Some have secretly left the PLP to drown in its own self made sorrows

SP 7 years, 4 months ago

This comment was removed by the site staff for violation of the usage agreement.

ThisIsOurs 7 years, 4 months ago

Huh??? I'm surprised they expected people to show up after the strategy of getting support with tings is no more

Porcupine 7 years, 4 months ago

Fred Mitchell says, "Politics is a thankless task. It's a volunteer task and it's a hard task." Seems this court case doesn't support Mr. Mitchell's statement. And, from the looks of it, this hasn't been the case for quite some time. Egos, greed and hunger for power seems to be the motivating factor for most politicians.

SP 7 years, 4 months ago

Rodney Moncur arm in the air with fist clenched and chanting "PLP" as Kenred Dorsett was being led handcuffed into court say's it all!

Rodney is the LAST person Dorsett would need showing support him. As the saying goes “Misery acquaints a man with strange bedfellows.”

Baha10 7 years, 4 months ago

BLT must have been proud to see her "SuperStar" Senate pick go into one of his delirious rants on the Steps of the Court! Still got to ask: "What was she thinking?" In any event, this decision, perhaps more than any other, ended her politcal career forever.

OMG 7 years, 4 months ago

I think Fweddy found politics very rewarding with the first class flights, trips all over the world, top class hotels and the chance to exercise his power complex. As for PLP supporters they are keeping their heads down as I am sure there are many more to roll.

jackbnimble 7 years, 4 months ago

Politics was not a thankless task flyin'' Fred. We all know he used it to go to fly places some of us have never seen before and is still using it to stay relevant because he's the smartest one in the bunch and the only one who can save the party.

Have several seats sir - and not on a jet plane!

DDK 7 years, 4 months ago

Know what they say about rats and sinking ships!

jusscool 7 years, 4 months ago

List item

Fred Mitchell ,you need a real woman in your life!

Socrates 7 years, 3 months ago

every man for himself my friend.. bahamians are starting to get the message.. nobody is going to save you.. dont look for a lifeboat, learn to swim...

TalRussell 7 years, 3 months ago

Comrades! Some are mistakenly questioning why is it the core support base within the PLP have remained silent over the mounting accusations of higher-ups corruption and outright thievery. I contend the PLP as a party had done lost their core support base - long before the ballots were even cast on May 10. 2017. The PLP are in worse shape than the worst days the red shirts party found themselves in following their 2012 general election defeat - or their own previous general election defeat at the hands of Papa Hubert. If you were offered an opportunity to buy shares in the PLP, or the Bank Of Bahamaland - BOB's shares would start to look like the more favourable share buy. Former Minsters Freddy and "Brave" need wakeup and smell the scandal roses engulfing the PLP - and move on.

MassExodus 7 years, 3 months ago

Soft Fred, don't worry you will soon have your day in court...

TalRussell 7 years, 3 months ago

Comrades! Corruption on the political and petty level by those who hold their hands out expecting to get greased is not what the Bahamaland should be about. At minimum those in senior positions within the PLP should be cited for not speaking out to sound warning bells to the nation. This is not the time to be selecting a replacement leader for when the party is in total disarray under dark clouds suspicious activities involving the public treasury - a sentiment shared and ever so loudly voiced by many thousands voters this past May 10, 2017. I mean, like how many times can the PLP expect to get away with outright ignoring the ballot box voices of the people.....It sure as hell wasn't gotten away with this past May 10, 2017 but the few PLP's left standing seem think they as a party can once again ignore the will of da people.

Sign in to comment

OpenID

The Tribune