The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.

It is noteworthy that only Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis, National Security Minister Marvin Dames, St Anne’s MP Brent Symonette, Free National Movement (FNM) Chairman Carl Culmer and former FNM Leader Tommy Turnquest are the only prominent FNMs, to the best of my knowledge, to issue public statements to the media regarding the resignation and legal issues of former Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Peter Turnquest.

The silence of the overwhelming majority of the members of Minnis’ Cabinet is indeed deafening. I am left with the impression that the East Grand Bahama MP has been hung out to dry by his party.

Unfortunately for Turnquest, he’s already being unfairly litigated in the court of public opinion, due to the barrage of serious and unproven allegations being levied against him by a biweekly tabloid that has been for decades considered an FNM propaganda mouthpiece.

This disturbing fact alone, coupled with the revelation that a prominent FNM’s law firm filed the writ of summons against Turnquest’s former business partner, is evidence that the relentless attacks against him are coming from within his own political party. The Turnquest camp cannot blame the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) for what appears to be concerted attempts to derail his political career.

Moreover, with the shifting population in East Grand Bahama proper, owing to Hurricane Dorian, in addition to the excessively high unemployment rate on Grand Bahama, it could be argued persuasively that Turnquest’s constituency, long considered an FNM stronghold, is now in play for the PLP.

What’s more, one has to factor into consideration the FNM Central Council’s current perception of Turnquest as a standard bearer in the upcoming general election. It’s fair to ask, is Turnquest even a viable and attractive candidate at this stage in his career, considering how Bahamians have a penchant for swallowing hook, line and sinker salacious allegations about public figures on Facebook and tabloid publications?

Politicians are hardly given the benefit of the doubt in this country. There seems to be no solidarity within the FNM, unlike the PLP that typically circles the wagon around its beleaguered members. I have been following frontline politics since 1987. What is happening to Turnquest, I’ve never seen happen before. This entire ordeal reinforces the perception among Bahamians that politics is a dirty game.

Peter Turnquest, in my opinion, has fallen prey to political cannibalism.

KEVIN EVANS

Freeport, Grand Bahama.

December 2, 2020.