Another former senior FNM favours legalised gambling

By ALISON LOWE
Tribune Staff Reporter
alowe@tribunemedia.net:


ANOTHER former senior FNM has come out in favour of the legalisation of gambling, amid speculation that the Government may be preparing to liberalise gaming laws in the Bahamas in the coming legislative session.

Former Deputy Prime Minister Frank Watson, who was recently honoured by the government when the new road bordering the Albany resort was named after him, said police are "wasting their time and resources running after" those who conduct and participate in lotteries in the Bahamas and it is "time for us to face the music."

"We waste the police's precious time trying to lock up and seemingly never to get a conviction so why not legalise it? We need to get it behind us. If I don't want to gamble I don't have to gamble no one is forcing you (if it is legalised)."

"The reality is there is a block of churches that oppose gaming being legalised, but the police can do nothing about it as it goes on illegally.

"Police continue to waste time running behind numbers people and all they're doing is taking the focus off crime in my view," said the former parliamentarian and current chairman of the Nassau Airport Development Company.

His comments come as speculation remains high that the Government, which has been urged by numerous stakeholders to reform gaming laws in the Bahamas, may announce in the Speech from the Throne, which will outline the Government's next legislative agenda upon the opening of the new session of Parliament on April 14, that it intends to liberalise gambling laws in The Bahamas.

Such speculation has been bolstered by reports that the question of whether gambling laws should be reformed was recently put to the FNM Council for a vote by party leader and Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham.

Speaking with The Tribune, Mr Watson said he was not sure if this did indeed happen but "understands that this may have been so."

Meanwhile, when asked yesterday if the council did vote on the issue of liberalisation, FNM party chairman Carl Bethel admitted that gambling law reform is indeed "a question that's being discussed internally in the Free National Movement."

However, Bahamas Hotel Association President Robert Sands, who was part of the group that presented a proposal to the Government last year calling for a reform of the Bahamas' gaming laws -- in his group's case, the proposal specifically related to who can gamble in casinos in The Bahamas and what kinds of games are permitted in those tourist establishments, rather than the legalisation of numbers houses -- told Tribune Business last week that he had not heard anything officially on the matter. FML CEO Craig Flowers said the same.

Mr Watson told The Tribune he feels that other than those churches who oppose gambling on religious grounds, most Bahamians are either "ambivalent about or participate in" illegal gambling.

He added that if it were legalised, expanded gambling could be a major revenue-raising measure for the Government.

"The money raised could be used to implement programmes dealing with anti-social behaviour or to put on after school classes or day care. Parents are having difficulty managing their jobs and their children," he suggested.

Nonetheless, the ex-parliamentarian admitted the move would be one that a government would have to "think through carefully and be prepared to take the consequences" of.

Former FNM Cabinet Minister Theresa Moxey came under fire several weeks ago after she described police raids on numbers houses as equivalent to officers "terrorising peaceful citizens." She suggested the law that allows non-Bahamians and non-Bahamian residents to gamble while denying those categories of people the same right is "discriminatory."

A Group of Evangelical Pastors -- Cedric Moss, Allan Lee, Lyall Bethel and Alfred Stuart -- called Mrs Moxey-Ingraham's comments "irresponsible" and urged the Government to strengthen anti-gambling laws and their enforcement to "rid our land of these illegal numbers houses."

April 06, 2010

Supporters of Free National Movement (FNM) Leader Senator Tommy Turnquest along with some FNM Action Group members Attack Hubert Ingraham

FNMs Attack Ingraham

By Candia Dames

candiadames@hotmail.com

Nassau, The Bahamas

October 10, 2005

Supporters of Free National Movement Leader Senator Tommy Turnquest, including some members of the FNM Action Group, have launched what has amounted to a campaign to block the return of former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham as leader of the party.

"Hubert Ingraham ‐ you are still the most hated man in this country and the people will remind you of it if you go back on your word and challenge Tommy Turnquest as leader," said a letter forwarded to the press by supporters of Senator Turnquest over the weekend.

The scathing letter blames Mr. Ingraham for certain "failures", but does not acknowledge that Senator Turnquest was also a part of the Cabinet when those alleged failures occurred.

The letter came more than a week after FNM MP's secured the support of the party's Central Council to have Mr. Ingraham replace Alvin Smith as the FNM's parliamentary leader.

The vote has resulted in a fierce internal battle in the party as observers wait to see if Mr. Smith will resign as leader of the Official Opposition.

Oswald Marshall, chairman of the Action Group, who commented on the matter on Saturday, said he doubts Mr. Ingraham will become the parliamentary leader.

"I don't expect Ingraham [to return]," Mr. Marshall added. "They had some kind of idea that they would push Ingraham to the front of the party by getting him to take over leadership (in the House).  I think they polluted that process and I understand that he is not doing that anymore.  The council members [who voted against the move] felt that this was a prelude to Ingraham taking over the party."

The letter from Senator Turnquest's supporters reminds council members who supported Mr. Ingraham's return that it was the former prime minister "who botched the referendum" in 2002.

The letter continues: "It was Hubert Ingraham that promoted and left PLP's in office while you the FNM controlled the government.

"It was Hubert Ingraham that destroyed the financial services sector through the enactment of ill-advised legislation;

"It was Hubert Ingraham that bludgeoned Batelco by giving packages to existing management and staff who were performing and performing well; "It was Hubert Ingraham that had all of the major unions up in arms through his policies and action;

"It was Hubert Ingraham who expelled senior men in the FNM who had been with the party way before he was on the scene."

The letter says, "Men such as Tennyson Wells and Pierre Dupuch, loyal supporters of ideals of the party, were discarded by Hubert Ingraham."

Although it was a claim former Deputy Prime Minister Frank Watson denied when he appeared on the Love 97 programme, "Jones and Company" just over a week ago.

Supporters of Senator Turnquest also accused Mr. Ingraham of operating "on his own terms without regard to his ministers."

The letter also accused the former prime minister of doing as he wished without reference to the concerns of the Bahamian electorate.

"He did not listen and the people just as they fell in love with him in 1992 and 1997 - hated him in 2002 and consequently voted the FNM out.  That is why we lost by the margins we did, it said."

The letter added, "Now Mr. Ingraham seeks to use the FNM once more for his own selfish gain by sending his hatchet men such as Frank Watson, Hubert Minnis, Brent Symonette and those less than men parliamentarians to say the party needs him.

"No way, do we need Hubert Ingraham to lead this party.  We have a leader of our own; one bred in the party - who paid his dues and has risen to the leadership position."

The letter continues, "We have reached an important milestone in the FNM when history will judge our actions as we prepare for the election in 2006 or 2007.  Do we [want to] embrace a new leader who will take care of FNM's in a fair way or do we bring back a rejected man?

"Tommy Turnquest may not be perfect in everyone's eye, but he is 100 percent FNM."

When he spoke with The Bahama Journal on Thursday, Senator Turnquest said he had "no idea" whether Mr. Ingraham will become the new parliamentary leader as the other FNM MP's wish.

But he reiterated that the former prime minister has assured him that he has no plans to again seek the leadership post of the FNM. 

Free National Movement (FNM) Leader Tommy Turnquest says that He is Not Troubled by Opposition within or outside His Party

Tommy On Defensive

By Candia Dames

candiadames@hotmail.com

Nassau, The Bahamas

27 April 2005

Amid reports that he is facing fierce opposition from within his own party, Free National Movement Leader Tommy Turnquest called a press conference on Tuesday to reassure FNM's that all is well in the party.

Mr. Turnquest told reporters that he is confident that he has the full support of former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham and that as far as he is aware Mr. Ingraham, despite reports, is not interested in returning as leader of the party.

"We in the FNM will not allow our political opponents to capitalize on make-believe issues in our party," said Mr. Turnquest, who added that he is not troubled by opposition within or outside his party.

"They want desperately to take the focus off their incompetence, ineffectiveness and inefficiency.  We must continue to reveal their total ineptitude as a government.  The old, pompous, all-for-me nature of the PLP is back and we must resolve to rid our country of this rudderless, incompetent and unfocused government.  This is the focus of the FNM ‐ nothing more, nothing less."

The FNM leader called the press conference to respond to a Bahama Journal article published on Monday under the headline "FNM's Want Tommy Out."

That story revealed that an advisory council of the party headed by former Deputy Prime Minister Frank Watson has advised Mr. Turnquest that there are many FNM's who want him out and Mr. Ingraham back in as leader.

On Tuesday, Mr. Turnquest refused to discuss the findings of the advisory council with reporters, saying that, "It is unfortunate that some people seem to have taken [the appointment of the council] as a sign of crisis in leadership in our party."

He said, "As the duly elected leader of the FNM, I am working to ready our party to compete fiercely in the next general election.  On a daily basis, I am meeting with persons who have expressed a desire to be an FNM candidate in the next election, a process I hope to complete very soon so that we might begin to put them in place."

Mr. Turnquest also urged party supporters to "be strong so we may finish strong."

"The work that we must do is crucial," he said.  "Our nation is in the hands of incompetent drifters.  They have failed to live up to many of their promises.  Our people are hurting.  Our country is directionless.  We are being misled by those who govern us.  They are working to enrich themselves, their families and their cronies."

Mr. Turnquest was flanked by his deputy, Sidney Collie; FNM Chairman Carl Bethel; Montagu MP Brent Symonette; Senator Tanya McCartney; and Loretta Butler Turner, who was a candidate in the last general election.

Leader of the Official Opposition Alvin Smith and a handful of FNM supporters also showed up to support the FNM leader.

There was, however, no member of the advisory council present at the press conference.

On Monday, former FNM Cabinet Minister Tennyson Wells, now an independent MP, told The Bahama Journal that the fact that Mr. Turnquest had to appoint that council indicates that the party is in "disarray."

But Mr. Turnquest said the FNM has never been more united.

When asked whether he had an image problem, he said that he had no idea what it means to have an image problem.

Mr. Wells has said that the key problem with Mr. Turnquest is his image and that the very people who supported his bid for leadership in 2000 are the ones trying to overthrow him as leader.

Former Cabinet Minister Algernon Allen, meanwhile, said that there was treachery afoot.

Mr. Turnquest dismissed those statements.

"In May 2002, I sat at this very table and offered my resignation to the highest authority in his party," Mr. Turnquest said at the press conference at FNM headquarters.  "I was asked to remain until the next national convention which I did.  I then offered myself for leadership and I was elected as leader.

"I really can do no more than that, but if I continue to look over my shoulder or behind my back, I'd be constantly focused on that rather the real prize which is ahead and that is defeating the PLP and making sure that we return this country back to where it ought to be." 

They Backstabbed Tommy Turnquest!

Tommy 'Backstabbed'

By Candia Dames

candiadames@hotmail.com

Nassau, The Bahamas

26th April 2005

A move afoot to get rid of Senator Tommy Turnquest as the leader of the Free National Movement to pave the way for former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham's return amounts to an act of treachery, two former FNM Cabinet Ministers indicated yesterday.

Algernon Allen and Tennyson Wells both made a bid to lead the party in 2000, but lost to Mr. Turnquest who had the endorsement of Mr. Ingraham.

Mr. Wells said that Mr. Turnquest is now being "backstabbed" by the same group of people who supported him as leader, while Mr. Allen said, "As one who knows this party intimately, I see all the hallmarks of treachery afoot."

Their comments came following an exclusive report in The Bahama Journal that revealed that an advisory committee headed by former Deputy Prime Minister Frank Watson has indicated to Mr. Turnquest that many FNM's are concerned that the party would have no chance of winning the next general election with him as leader.

The committee, which was appointed by the FNM leader, reported to him last week.

Mr. Allen, who called into the Love 97 talk show "Issues of The Day," said the pursuit of power at all cost manifested itself in the 2000 FNM convention.

"They got rid of most of those who cared about country, who cared about the direction of the party," he said.

Mr. Allen said that the very people who several years ago "drove Mr. Turnquest's agenda" are now those seeking to cut his political legs and arms off "and they'd stop no short of drinking his blood."

"Here we have this scenario: Mr. Ingraham and others put Mr. Turnquest in position.  They heralded him as almost the second coming.  They went from island to island, from place to place and they told the public emphatically that he was the only one who could lead the party.

"Now here comes these same persons who surrounded Mr. Ingraham, who carried that message with a passion and who did so in ways which further ruptured and destroyed the organization.  But now they say 'Here we are at this point in time.  This man can no longer lead us.  He is not fitting.' Mind you, they failed to say that in 2002 really Mr. Turnquest was only leader in name because the public voted undoubtedly on the record of the FNM over the past five years."

In his usual impassioned tone, Mr. Allen added, "We have been rendered literally with an ineffective opposition because all are content now with cutting off the fledgling legs of Mr. Tommy Turnquest.  I sympathize with him because I know what is happening.  Unfortunately, he is in an incestuous group, a group that enjoys carnal knowledge with their own, so to speak.  [It's] an incestuous group that seeks now to destroy him because they seek now to forward another agenda."

Mr. Allen said he seriously doubts that Mr. Ingraham wants to return to the leadership of the FNM, saying the matter is not now even in question.

"I cannot see Mr. Ingraham leaving his pensions and emoluments which are a quarter of a million dollars a year ‐ [he's] given a salary, maid, chauffeur, gardener, medical insurance and all the rest ‐ to return to the fray of politics and I do believe that it would not be in his interest.  It would not be in accordance with his stated philosophy.  It would not be in accordance with the overall advancement of good governance in the country," Mr. Allen declared.

"I think now that the Free National Movement ought to sit and now focus and undoubtedly there is a very strong probability that they will not win 2007, but political parties do not focus on the immediate.  They structure toward the inevitability that in 2012 there is an election, God willing if Christ does not come."

Independent Member of Parliament Tennyson Wells, who also served in Mr. Ingraham's government, said the fact that Mr. Turnquest had to appoint a fact-finding committee tells that the party is in "disarray."

He said that while Mr. Ingraham may be able to win the leadership of the FNM, he would not be able to win a general election.

"He has been a divider," Mr. Wells said of the former prime minister.  "I would not support him if he comes back.  At least 30 percent of the base support that the FNM needs to win the election would not support Mr. Ingraham if he comes back."

He said that it is highly unlikely that the FNM could win the election under Mr. Turnquest, adding that he would need "grooming" and much greater support than he has now.

"I never thought that Tommy was a person to be leader of the FNM in the first place," Mr. Wells said.  "[He's a nice person] and has a role to play in the organization, but at that level, no.  He is not the person for that."

Mr. Wells said he always thought that the Member of Parliament for Lucaya Neko Grant, and FNM Chairman Carl Bethel "who has a problem with his personality" could lead the FNM to victory in a general election.

He also suggested that former MP Lester Turnquest has what it takes to lead the FNM.

Mr. Wells also told The Bahama Journal that he is still interested in leading the FNM.

"I never really left the FNM," he said.  "But most of them are so bitter against me that I've resigned myself to my position.  I will make my judgment within the next nine months to a year...but if you ask me whether or not I believe I could win the next election, I think if I was leader of the FNM, I could win the election.  But I'm not going to go out and fight over anything.  It has to be a consensus.  I'm not going to get involved in any friction...I'm finished with that."

Mr. Ingraham has declined to comment on the matter of his possible return as leader of the FNM.

But Mr. Wells believes that Mr. Ingraham should tell the Bahamian people definitively that he does not plan to return if that is in fact the case.

He said the former prime minister's refusal to comment has created confusion.

Meanwhile, former DPM Watson, who headed the advisory council, said on Monday that it would be inappropriate for him to comment on the group's work unless the party's leader allowed the release of the report.