NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Outspoken Free National Movement (FNM) member of parliament, Frederick McAlpine, on Monday blasted Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis on a number of issues which he suggested has left many to question government’s credibility and transparency.
McAlpine hosted an audience with media at his Pineridge constituency office in Grand Bahama on Monday morning and addressing perceived “corruption” topped his list of concerns.
“We who are a government that always preaches ‘anti-corruption,’ should not have the appearance of corruption,” McAlpine chastised.
McAlpine also took a jab at the prime minister’s failure to publicly comment on the Dr. Duane Sands and Marvin Dames issue where a magistrate gave a scathing review of their questionable involvement in the Frank Smith bribery and extortion trial.
“The prime minister said that he would address the issue as it pertains to his ministers Dames and Sands; he did not do that,” McAlpine said.
“These are the things that cause leadership, and the governing party, to seem to lack integrity.
“That should have been priority. If you tell people that you are going to do something then people expect to hear from you.”
He continued, “The reality is, in any other Commonwealth country where the Westminster system is practiced, if a judge gave a scathing report on a cabinet minister, then it is the responsibility of the leader to tell the public his views based on what was said.”
McAlpine also lambasted the prime minister for government’s failure to settle the sale of the Grand Lucayan Resort.
He suggested that Grand Bahamians have reached the end of their rope with government’s failure to settle the deal.
“Sixty organizations want to buy the hotel and still nothing yet,” he said. “You think Grand Bahamians are impressed by being told that 60 people have an interest?
“We are not impressed with that, we will be impressed when it’s sold.”
The prime minister recently slammed the Progressive Liberal Party by calling them “the definition of corrupt.”
But McAlpine used his platform with media on Monday to address Dr. Minnis’ comments.
“It [corruption in the PLP] has yet to be proven in a court of law. But, you cannot say that because just how we can throw stones at the PLP, stones can be thrown at the FNM with similar allegations,” McAlpine said.
And while critics have suggested that the FNM member of parliament appears to be straddling both sides of the fence; McAlpine asserted that he is not picking a side in the political ring and has called on the prime minister to address his concerns.
