Minnis hits back in early election row

The Nassau Guardian

Minnis hits back in early election row

Free National Movement (FNM) Leader Dr. Hubert Minnis yesterday hit back at Prime Minister Perry Christie over his comments that the FNM is not ready for an election.

Minnis was responding to questions from reporters when he renewed his call for the prime minister to call an early general election.

He said, “The prime minister said I, nor the FNM, is ready for an election.

“Well I tell the prime minister, and I state categorically, and I want him to listen attentively, that if he thinks we are not ready, call an election, and he will see if we are not ready.”

Minnis originally called on Christie and his entire Cabinet to resign and call an early general election before the administration “destroys the country”, claiming its record of “poor judgment” in government has placed The Bahamas on a “path to disaster”.

He said that a laundry list of bad decisions by the Christie administration has led to a loss of confidence among the public.

He also said the best solution would be to seek a new mandate from the electorate.

In response, Christie said everyone in The Bahamas knows that Minnis is not ready.

He called Minnis’ comments “silly” and said they should not be taken seriously as the FNM leader was merely looking for a way to stay relevant.

"The first thing you should tell the leader of the opposition is, ‘Never ask for in politics what you can't handle’. That's the first thing," Christie said.

“He does not have the capacity at this stage to even dream of something like that.”

However, Minnis said yesterday that the Bahamian people would make that determination.

“The Bahamian people will show him that they are ready,” he said.

“The Bahamian people will show him that they are tired of this rogue, uncaring, selfish and undisciplined government.

“We are totally tired of it, and this country cannot continue to be run by a rogue, selfish, uncaring and undisciplined type of government.”

Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Chairman Bradley Roberts said last week that Minnis and his “headline grabbing rhetoric” cannot be taken seriously.

He said the FNM leader should be more concerned about the “immediate problems and turmoil” within his party and the threat of leadership.

The FNM is expected to hold a convention in May 2015 with several senior-ranked FNMs vying for the leadership post.

Asked to respond to Roberts, Minnis dismissed his comments

He said he would leave that response to FNM Chairman Darron Cash.

 

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