NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Chairman Fred Mitchell yesterday blamed the prime minister for the chaotic scenes that played out throughout New Providence as droves of shoppers queued in lines for essential services.
After announcing an immediate full lockdown for New Providence on Monday, Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis reversed the decision yesterday, allow grocery stores, water depots, and commercial banks to operate until further notice.
“I am appalled at the scenes of chaos on the streets of New Providence today,” he said.
“This is caused by the prime minister.”
Mitchell noted that the PLP has called for the resignation of the prime minister on multiple occasions and recalled the vote of no confidence the party’s parliamentary caucus lost in December last year.
“As late as this morning, we suggested given the loss of confidence by the people, the only solution our system allows is to force a general election,” he said.
He called on Guardian Radio Host Juan McCartney and others to ” lead the social charge for the general election to be called.”
The governor-general declared a state of emergency on March 17, just two days after the country experienced its first case.
Multiple local attorneys have joined together for a class-action lawsuit against the government over the state of emergency and emergency orders.
PLP COVID-19 mitigation
Earlier this week, PLP Leader Philio Brave Davis tested positive for COVID-19 and a day later PLP Senator Dr. Michael Darville confirmed that he had also contracted the virus.
Mitchell had advised all PLP officers and staff who have come into contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19 within the last seven days to test immediately, and everyone outside of that window to quarantine for 14 days from the last contact.
Yesterday, he saidthat the sanitization of the PLP’s office at Gambier House, the Lynden Pindling Centre was complete and that staff can resume normal working hours.
He thank PLP members for aiding with the process.
“Now the government needs to step up to the plate and sanitize the government-owned office of the leader of the opposition.”
Mitchell also sought to address social media rumors surrounding PLP officers, indicating that “all protocols have been and are being followed by all PLP officers, public officials, and personnel with regard to COVID- 19 matters since the diagnosis”.
He added, “The position of the party is that health matters are private and personal to those individuals.”
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