By KHRISNA RUSSELL
Deputy Chief Reporter
krussell@tribunemedia.net
WHILE insisting he is neither xenophobic nor racist, Pineridge MP Rev Fredrick McAlpine said he has no regrets about comments he made criticising his own party's plan to accommodate Dominicans following the destruction Hurricane Maria caused in Dominica.
Despite criticism sparked by his remarks, the backbench MP said he saw nothing wrong with asking critical questions, which he said should not be mistaken as him being at odds with the Free National Movement.
On Wednesday, in a blistering attack on the government's plan, Mr McAlpine said once Dominicans experience a "better standard of living" in The Bahamas, they may not be inclined to return to their country.
He further recommended wealthy Cabinet ministers take money from their own pockets to contribute to the island's restoration efforts rather than give Dominicans safe haven here.
Mr McAlpine also appeared to take a swipe at Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis, who cried as he spoke of the decimation in Dominica, saying he is crying for his own people.
Yesterday, he continued on the same track as he did on Wednesday and suggested the government give a financial gift to the county in addition to sending some Bahamians there to rebuild Dominica and paying them to do it.
This he indicated should be done instead of allowing Dominican students and others into the country.
"What was so wrong or asinine about the comment? Me saying that I think the Commonwealth of The Bahamas should assist those people in Dominica but we should take a view as to how we will assist them?" he told reporters yesterday in the foyer of the House of Assembly.
"You are asking me to let people into the country. I want to know how many people are going to be let into the country? Are these people healthy? Who's coming with these people? How much money is it going to cost the Bahamian people? Will Bahamian jobs be at stake as a result of these people coming in?
"Those are commonsensical questions that should demand straight forward answers.
"I am not xenophobic neither am I a racist. I am a nationalist. The Bahamas is for Bahamians and at the end of the day while we appreciate that in order to build this country we are going to need people outside the country coming to assist us, but The Bahamas was built for Bahamians. That's not being xenophobic. I am just a person who loves The Bahamas and believes that Bahamians should be first priority in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas," Mr McAlpine also said.
Asked whether he was concerned his comments would be seen by some as him standing opposed to his party, Mr McAlpine rejected this perception.
"My party boasts about being liberal to the point that they're able to allow its members of Parliament to be free. The Free National Movement was built upon democracy and being able to speak one's mind and convictions.
"I support the Free National Movement.
"Listen, let's just get practical. People live in one house and have different opinions. But does it mean that they hate each other or they're against each other?
"We live in a time where people have the right to critical thinking. I am just being critical of my thoughts and trying to be protective of the country God has placed me in. I wasn't born in Trinidad (or) in Dominica. I wasn't born in Haiti or Turks and Caicos. God allowed me to be born here on November 20, 1965. The Bahamas is all I know. This is where I was born. Am I wrong because I am saying, hey we can help folks, but how are we going to help these folks?
"I'd also add. My suggestion has always been monetarily, why not give them financially and allow some of our Bahamian people to go down there and work and if you going to pay anybody pay our Bahamian people to go down there and work and they still have the money and it's still in the Bahamian economy?"
He also said: "I hate to bring this up but let's look at it. We are talking about perhaps bringing students from Dominica here.
"What about the people who've been here and can't get their children in school and we are making it so rigid even for them to get in school and they are here. So, I think we have to be fair we have to be balanced, all I am trying to do is strike a balance," Mr McAlpine said.
Comments
sheeprunner12 7 years, 1 month ago
McAlpine is a first generation Bahamian from "down South" ........ How can he be prejudiced towards fellow "southerners"???????? .......... But self-hate is a serious thing in this country.
ThisIsOurs 7 years, 1 month ago
Sounds just like Donald Trump, maybe he'll understand that reference.
Being open to different views doesn't mean you don't call foolishness foolishness. I also think that in the week between the hurricane and the Prime Minister's visit, Dr Minnis could have come up with a more methodical approach to assisting Dominica . But it never crossed my mind to put on the "Bahamas, we're better than the rest of those savages" cape. "Us is go to the US". How did these people pass the getting process?
pablojay 7 years, 1 month ago
He thinks he is better than his parents as he was born here, i guess adopting the slogan" It Is Better In The Bahamas" as they are both "southerners", his mother from Turks Island and his father from Jamaica.
CatIslandBoy 7 years, 1 month ago
The more McAlpine talks, the worst he sounds. Maybe someone should counsel him on the old adage: "It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt" .
SP 7 years, 1 month ago
Too late for McAlpine. He has already cemented his position as a fool.
thephoenix562 7 years, 1 month ago
Agreed
BMW 7 years, 1 month ago
Wow and this msn is a rev? What is he afraid of?
EasternGate 7 years, 1 month ago
Not impressed with him in the least.
TalRussell 7 years, 1 month ago
To the Comrade Dominican students, I wouldn't rush be packing for your educational adventure to the Bahamaland. You need to be aware that this red government is not on record as having kept their promises made to their own citizens. You also need to know that our minister of immigration has permits from applicants that sit 'unprocessed for years' on the floor his office - so even there - your wait for a students residence permit could take years and years. We have thousands young people who are already living in the Bahamaland - some citizens and some prospective citizens - that have been refused permission to enter classrooms as students.
We also have many thousands young persons who although having graduated from our places of learning - remain unsuccessful in finding jobs.
sheeprunner12 7 years, 1 month ago
The Dominican diaspora who live in this country will take good care of their countrymen (if they come here) ........ and they all have the PM as a friend. They are in good hands with HAM.
TalRussell 7 years, 1 month ago
Comrade Sheeprunner12, watch what this red shirts government does for foreigners to tell what makes this red cabinet become excited?
I'm not exactly sure what the reaction will be, if and when the red cabinet pushes on with their plan to assist the Dominicans - whilst they grossly neglect 31,648 they own young people?
sheeprunner12 7 years, 1 month ago
Tal .......... keep a record of WHO the FNM Cabinet sheds tears for
sheeprunner12 7 years, 1 month ago
Dominicans will step up and take care of their own ....... the Diaspora will take care of them ........ There will be many Friends of Dominica available ..... No need to despair for Dominicans ............... But who is going to cry for Cat Island, South Andros, Long & Rum Cays, Crooked & Long Islands ........... and most of all, Acklins, Mayaguana and Ragged Island?????????? Where is the Diaspora of those dying islands?????? ......... Where are their tears for the places of their birth?????? .......... Who will save these islands from inevitable depopulation???????
ThisIsOurs 7 years, 1 month ago
You ignored your own point, their "families " are taking them in. Nothing stops a Nassau family from opening their door to a friend or family member from grand Bahana.
sheeprunner12 7 years, 1 month ago
The depopulation cannot be saved by Nassau families taking in distressed members after or before a storm ...... families must return to their birth islands
Economist 7 years, 1 month ago
The man is an idiot.
TalRussell 7 years, 1 month ago
I see?
TheMadHatter 7 years, 1 month ago
The good MP simply needs to understand that he is now in the same boat as native Europeans have been in Europe since 2014. The Muslim invasion of Europe cannot be spoken of in reasonable or practical terms. They are invading and anybody who speaks out against it is given the label of racist, xenophobe, or (in Germany) far-right or Nazi.
Basically, all "advanced" western countries need to order all of their citizens to commit suicide and thereby turn over their country's land and property to all of the poor, uneducated, over-breeding people in the world. Let them ALL come here, and somehow that will make their lives better. I guess when they come here they will just suddenly start living in a completely different way.
Good luck to them. They will discover that they will still be poor - just with different dirt under their foot. The same will occur in Europe. It is important to take note that the countries formerly known as Great Britain, Sweden, and France - no longer exist.
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