FNM MP calls on PM to show him respect

Fort Charlotte MP Mark Humes yesterday called on Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis to show him respect in the House of Assembly after Minnis referred to Free National Movement (FNM) candidate Drumeco Archer as the next member of Parliament for Fort Charlotte.

Humes, an FNM MP, said he was unceremoniously dumped by the party when Archer was nominated as the FNM’s candidate in April.

“I think it’s quite disrespectful that as I, the current member of Parliament …the duly elected and unceremoniously deselected MP sits here, I think it’s quite disrespectful that my party would refer to him as the next member of Parliament,” he said.

“There is no guarantee; the people still have a say in that matter.

“I wouldn’t ask for it to be stricken from the record. I would just ask for more respect for the current sitting member of Parliament until such time as I graciously decide to move aside, if that’s what I’m going to do.

“But until such time, I would just ask the prime minister to … just give me a little more respect.”  

As he opened the budget debate yesterday, Minnis mentioned Archer as he touted plans to design and build a “Junkanoo village” on New Providence meant to serve as a tourist attraction.

“I call the next member of Parliament Drumeco Archer,” Minnis said.

His comment prompted Humes to stand on a point of order. While acknowledging that he has been silent over the last four years, Humes said it is time to defend himself.

“Typically, I’m very quiet here in the House. I listen quite intently to what’s taking place. And for most of the last few months, I have sort of graciously kept silent on most matters, well, actually, the last four years, most matters that have taken place in Fort Charlotte.”

Minnis said he meant no disrespect toward Humes.

“Mr. Speaker, I meant no disrespect nor ill intent to the sitting member for Fort Charlotte,” he said.

Humes’ statement in Parliament yesterday raised eyebrows among some and was the latest manifestation of the tensions that exist in some elements of the party as the FNM continues to ready itself for the next general election.

Minnis has previously said that some current FNM MPs will not receive nominations to run in the next election.

Former Deputy Prime Minister Peter Turnquest; former Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Lanisha Rolle; Public Service Minister Brensil Rolle and Fox Hill MP Shonel Ferguson are among them.

Back in February, Turnquest said in a note to colleagues that he had been advised by Minnis that he will not receive the nomination for East Grand Bahama.

Yesterday, the prime minister suggested as he spoke in the House that outspoken Pineridge MP Frederick McAlpine’s days as an FNM MP are also numbered, saying that McAlpine will soon be “Pine-past”.

Speaker of the House of Assembly Halson Moultrie, who resigned from the FNM in February, recently told reporters that he intends to run as an independent in Nassau Village, the seat he currently holds.

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source https://thenassauguardian.com/fnm-mp-calls-on-pm-to-show-him-respect/