By CANDIA DAMES ~ Guardian News Editor ~ candia@nasguard.com:
The Progressive Liberal Party yesterday let off a volley of stinging criticisms against the governing Free National Movement on the heels of the resignation of Malcolm Adderley from the PLP and the House of Assembly, accusing it of undermining the administration of justice in the country.
"Let Malcolm Adderley serve out his political term," the party said in a detailed statement.
"Do not strike deals behind closed doors, especially those that undermine confidence in the judiciary. Do not impose the cost of a by-election upon Bahamians who are struggling to pay school fees, mortgages, rent, utilities and to buy groceries. The PLP and Bahamians everywhere hope the FNM will stop this madness."
The PLP released the statement after it emerged that Adderley resigned from the Progressive Liberal Party and from the House of Assembly where he is a second-term member of Parliament for Elizabeth. The Guardian understands that Adderley tendered his resignation to House Speaker Alvin Smith on Saturday and also sent a one-line letter of resignation to PLP chairman Bradley Roberts.
His resignation as an MP comes after many months of speculation as Adderley continued to serve as chairman of the Gaming Board when the Free National Movement was elected in 2007, and has been inactive in the PLP's parliamentary caucus.
Adderley's resignation as an MP is effective the end of the day on Wednesday and he is expected to become a Supreme Court judge.
The PLP yesterday accused the Free National Movement of "continued abuses of power and destruction of our institutions", claiming that such "abuses" are "heaping unbearable and irreparable damage upon the backs of Bahamians."
The party went as far as to accuse the government of sparking a record-breaking murder count in 2009 "due to political interference in the appointment of the commissioner of police" Reginald Ferguson, who retires today.
"Commissioner (Ellison) Greenslade was to have been appointed in 2007. The FNM appointed Reginald Ferguson so that his pension could be 'fixed up'," the PLP alleged. "The brother of the then chairman of the FNM and Hubert Ingraham's 'boy' was fixed up while Bahamians paid the price of crime spiraling out of control, tourists were attacked, cruise ships told their passengers not to go on tours, investors left The Bahamas, financial services continued to face steep decline and Bahamians were held hostage in their homes."
Adderley's resignation from Parliament means that a by-election is imminent.
"This means that the people of The Bahamas who are faced with the worst economy and the highest misery index in living memory will now be further burdened with the cost of a by-election in Elizabeth, which will amount to more than $1 million," the PLP stated.
"It means that the FNM is giving as political gifts the position of Supreme Court justice, thereby attacking the institution of an independent judiciary. It also means that the FNM would have determined to ignore the findings of the Election Court pointing out the lack of integrity of the Register of Voters. By any yardstick, the FNM would be holding an election on a register that has a question as to proper scrutiny [and this] will be striking at the very root of democracy.
"The PLP will determine whether to participate in this madness would be supporting an immoral and constitutional travesty."
The party also charged that the government has committed an act of "blatant discrimination" against Justice Cheryl Albury by refusing to extend her service.
"If Justice Albury's tenure was extended, the Bahamian people will simply pay her salary and not a pension at this time. In refusing the extension of Justice Albury's tenure while negotiating a behind the scenes political deal, for the appointment of Malcolm Adderley as a judge and the extension of his tenure before he is even appointed, the FNM would be adding another salary, pension and other perks onto the backs of an already overburdened Bahamian public."
The PLP claimed the government intends to hold a by-election in Elizabeth to determine its level of popularity. The party charged that this "is an abuse of power, tramples upon our laws and is a naked attack upon the institution of a free and fair electoral process."
The by-election in Elizabeth will be the first to be held in the country since the September 1997 by-election in South Andros, which was held after the late former prime minister Sir Lynden Pindling resigned from front-line politics.
In the 2007 general election, Adderley won the Elizabeth seat by only 45 votes, defeating the FNM's Elma Campbell, 1,940 to 1,895.
January 04, 2010
thenassauguardian
A political blog about Bahamian politics in The Bahamas, Bahamian Politicans - and the entire Bahamas political lot. Bahamian Blogger Dennis Dames keeps you updated on the political news and views throughout the islands of The Bahamas without fear or favor. Bahamian Politicians and the Bahamian Political Arena: Updates one Post at a time on Bahamas Politics and Bahamas Politicans; and their local, regional and international policies and perspectives.