By TANEKA THOMPSON
Tribune Staff Reporter
tthompson@tribunemedia.net:
THE Progressive Liberal Party should nominate a by-election candidate in the Elizabeth constituency to fulfil the Opposition's mandate as a viable alternative to the FNM, urged PLP Deputy Leader Philip "Brave" Davis.
His comments came amid reports that the party is split on the by-election argument with several top PLPs said to be against entering the race.
It is reported that some senior members want to conserve the party's resources for the next general election, however Mr Davis feels that unless Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham intends to call a national election this year the PLP should vie for the Elizabeth seat.
"(The PLP) as a major political party, its existence is premised on the fact that it is existing for the purpose of contesting elections. Unless there are some exceptional circumstances existing, you start off on the premise that you will contest and you may be persuaded to not contest but only in exceptional circumstances," he said ahead of last night's public PLP meeting in the Elizabeth constituency to rally its supporters.
"If we are aware that Mr Ingraham will call a general election in the next two to three months, that will be a factor that we will take into account, that will be a compelling factor not to participate," Mr Davis said on the sidelines of yesterday's House Select Committee on Crown Land hearing.
Meanwhile the party has yet to officially select a potential by-election candidate but its National General Council is expected to meet over the next few days to weigh out its options.
Attorneys Ryan Pinder, Craig Butler and Ken Dorsett have expressed interest in the seat but it is unclear if any of these men will be chosen to represent the party. PLP Chairman Bradley Roberts has also been rumoured to join the fray, but Mr Roberts denied these reports.
Said to be the FNM's pick for the by-election is noted surgeon Dr Duane Sands.
The stage for a by-election was set when former MP Malcolm Adderley resigned from the House on Wednesday, days after delivering a one-line resignation letter to the PLP last weekend. The election is scheduled for February.
In an emotional speech, Mr Adderley told the House that the last seven and a half years as MP for Elizabeth were "the worst personal experience" for him. He claimed that party leader Perry Christie "undermined" him as an MP.
Disappointed by Mr Adderley's actions, Mr Davis said he expected more from his former colleague.
He added that Mr Adderley did not handle his departure from the Progressive Liberal Party with the respect and dignity his former party colleagues gave him.
"I do not share Mr Adderley's views on the leadership of the party. I'm disappointed that he was driven to that view and perhaps if he had time to examine, not just Mr Christie's conduct but his own, he may have had a different point of view going forward.
"I would have expected him to have conducted himself differently. I would have expected that because there is no doubt that the Progressive Liberal Party, as a party, quite apart from the individuals that make it up treated Mr Adderley with the respect and dignity that was deserving of a member of Parliament that was elected on a PLP ticket and he ought to have returned the same favour to us."
Despite the loss of Mr Adderley - compounded with the departure of Kennedy MP Kenyatta Gibson a year earlier - Mr Davis said the party remains as strong as ever.
It is rumoured that Mr Adderley will be appointed as a Supreme Court judge by Prime Minister Ingraham in the near future. He has previously worked as a public prosecutor, acting magistrate and a supreme court judge for one year.
He is the second MP in almost 13 years to resign as an MP -- the last being Sir Lynden Pindling when he retired from front-line politics in 1997.
January 08, 2010
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