Worker's party leader 'shocked' by NDP members move to the PLP
By TANEKA THOMPSON
Tribune Staff Reporter
tthompson@tribunemedia.net
WORKERS' Party leader Rodney Moncur called an emergency party meeting last night after being "shocked" by news that ten executive members of the National Development Party left for the Progressive Liberal Party.
Mr Moncur said the memorandum of understanding, signed between the NDP and the Workers' Party late last year establishing an alliance for the next general election, had been broken.
For weeks the NDP had been in discussions with Bamboo Town MP Branville McCartney about possibly joining his newly formed Democratic National Alliance. The NDP was expected to soon make an announcement of their alliance with Mr McCartney's party but yesterday aligned with the official opposition in a surprising move.
Yesterday Mr Moncur said it appears as if the country's politicians were thrown into a tailspin by Mr McCartney's new party and view DNA as a real threat.
Development
"We've convened an emergency meeting of the central committee of the Workers' Party for tonight to discuss this new development. It is shocking because (Renward) Wells did not inform me of their decision however I received intelligence very early this morning that they were going to make the move," said Mr Moncur, telling The Tribune that Mr Wells confirmed this to him on Facebook before announcing it at a press conference yesterday.
He added that unlike former NDP leader Renward Wells, and the nine others who left with him, the Workers' Party will not give up the third party fight and "abandon" Bamboo Town MP Branville McCartney and newly formed Democratic National Alliance.
"We shall not be like our allies and abandon Branville McCartney and the DNA," added the social activist and former candidate in the Elizabeth by-election. "We have heard what Bran McCartney and the DNA are offering to the Bahamian people and we are excited by it.
"I'm extremely disappointed that Wells could not stand on philosophical grounds and that he has allowed himself to succumb to filthy (politics). . .it's a bad political decision and he's on the wrong track. We shall support Branville McCartney and DNA and the only way we don't support him is if he say he ain' want us.
"We were encouraging the NDP to go into the DNA, we were in the background pushing them and telling them whatever the political plums that the PLP and FNM is offering its not worth it."
Yesterday Mr Wells, former NDP hopeful for Clifton constituency Latore Mackey and eight other executive council members announced they had joined the PLP.
A few NDP members were against the move and will carry on the party's name.
Messrs Wells and Mackey said the philosophy of PLP leader Perry Christie and the party's interest in change and young blood spurred them to cross party lines.
The move comes a few weeks after the NDP said it had heard the nation's cry for a viable alternative to the PLP and the Free National Movement, parties that have been heavily criticised by the NDP.
"We believe that it is high time for another party, other than the PLP or the FNM.
"It is absolutely the right time to do it," Mr Wells told The Tribune in March.
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.
Showing posts with label Workers' Party Bahamas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Workers' Party Bahamas. Show all posts
Friday, May 6, 2011
Renward Wells - former National Development Party (NDP) leader says: Mr. Perry Christie is the gentlemen who is most able as a transitional leader to position The Bahamas and its economy to where we ought to go...
NDP chiefs flock to PLP
By TANEKA THOMPSON
Tribune Staff Reporter
tthompson@tribunemedia.net
TEN members of the executive council of the National Development Party, including party leader Renward Wells, have left the fledgling party and joined the Opposition Progressive Liberal Party.
Mr Wells claimed that the former NDP members were not promised any post or nomination in the next general election by the PLP's leadership in exchange for their membership.
The parting members of the NDP said it is Mr Christie's political philosophy and the change in the political landscape over the last month - presumably the emergence of newly formed Democratic National Alliance - that spurred them to cross party lines.
"I have not been given no nomination for nothing and nobody else did," said Mr Wells at a press conference at ALCO House on Balfour Avenue yesterday. "The political landscape over the past month has dramatically changed. There's the introduction of a new element into that equation.
"There are three men vying for the top job of this country and of the three men who are vying for that job, at least from the perspective of me and the others, Mr Christie is the gentlemen who is most able as a transitional leader to position this country and this economy to where we ought to go. I say that unashamedly," he added.
For weeks the fringe party was in discussions with Bamboo Town MP Branville McCartney and was expected to announce its alignment with DNA as a unified third party choice at the polls. The Tribune understands that certain members of the NDP felt that DNA leader Branville McCartney was cold and not receptive to their ideas. The NDP also had an alliance with the Workers' Party, led by Rodney Moncur.
Latore Mackey, former NDP hopeful for the Clifton constituency, explained why discussions with other fringe parties broke down.
"We have went through an exhausting exercise trying to find the vehicle that will not just take the name of a party into a general election but the vehicle that will best take the message of that party. We've tried with the alternative parties, we've tried forming a coalition but there always was some impasse. The NDP bent over backwards trying to accommodate all and sundry but that has proven fruitless, it has become a position whereas we've allowed personalities to take control as opposed to realising that it is the message of deepening the democracy and empowering the people of this country."
A few members decided not to side with the PLP and will carry on the NDP's name.
Still Mr Mackey feels it will have been difficult for the young party to be successful in the next election. He said while the party did not lack ideals, it was short on members, money and notoriety needed to challenge the two major parties.
Since the party's inception in late 2008 the NDP has been critical of the political establishment and the PLP.
When asked to explain the turnaround, Mr Wells said while he did not agree with all of Mr Christie's political choices he was confident the former prime minister was a man who will govern according to the wishes of the people.
"What we have gotten from the PLP is an assurance that in the upcoming campaign and in the government of Perry Christie over the next five years, that the Bahamian people will be first. That is the assurance that we got," said Mr Wells.
In a statement released last night, the PLP welcomed the former NDP members to the party, saying their actions "demonstrate a key difference between the FNM and the PLP."
"The FNM believes in the acquisition of entire political parties through promises for public relations gains," the statement said. "Alternatively, the PLP invites and welcomes the best individuals into our tent. We are prepared to be the next Government of the Bahamas and welcome those who want to contribute to the good governance of the Bahamas.
"The PLP is a good fit for the former NDP leadership because we put people first. The PLP is committed to a new generation, innovative new ideas."
Thursday, May 05, 2011
tribune242
By TANEKA THOMPSON
Tribune Staff Reporter
tthompson@tribunemedia.net
TEN members of the executive council of the National Development Party, including party leader Renward Wells, have left the fledgling party and joined the Opposition Progressive Liberal Party.
Mr Wells claimed that the former NDP members were not promised any post or nomination in the next general election by the PLP's leadership in exchange for their membership.
The parting members of the NDP said it is Mr Christie's political philosophy and the change in the political landscape over the last month - presumably the emergence of newly formed Democratic National Alliance - that spurred them to cross party lines.
"I have not been given no nomination for nothing and nobody else did," said Mr Wells at a press conference at ALCO House on Balfour Avenue yesterday. "The political landscape over the past month has dramatically changed. There's the introduction of a new element into that equation.
"There are three men vying for the top job of this country and of the three men who are vying for that job, at least from the perspective of me and the others, Mr Christie is the gentlemen who is most able as a transitional leader to position this country and this economy to where we ought to go. I say that unashamedly," he added.
For weeks the fringe party was in discussions with Bamboo Town MP Branville McCartney and was expected to announce its alignment with DNA as a unified third party choice at the polls. The Tribune understands that certain members of the NDP felt that DNA leader Branville McCartney was cold and not receptive to their ideas. The NDP also had an alliance with the Workers' Party, led by Rodney Moncur.
Latore Mackey, former NDP hopeful for the Clifton constituency, explained why discussions with other fringe parties broke down.
"We have went through an exhausting exercise trying to find the vehicle that will not just take the name of a party into a general election but the vehicle that will best take the message of that party. We've tried with the alternative parties, we've tried forming a coalition but there always was some impasse. The NDP bent over backwards trying to accommodate all and sundry but that has proven fruitless, it has become a position whereas we've allowed personalities to take control as opposed to realising that it is the message of deepening the democracy and empowering the people of this country."
A few members decided not to side with the PLP and will carry on the NDP's name.
Still Mr Mackey feels it will have been difficult for the young party to be successful in the next election. He said while the party did not lack ideals, it was short on members, money and notoriety needed to challenge the two major parties.
Since the party's inception in late 2008 the NDP has been critical of the political establishment and the PLP.
When asked to explain the turnaround, Mr Wells said while he did not agree with all of Mr Christie's political choices he was confident the former prime minister was a man who will govern according to the wishes of the people.
"What we have gotten from the PLP is an assurance that in the upcoming campaign and in the government of Perry Christie over the next five years, that the Bahamian people will be first. That is the assurance that we got," said Mr Wells.
In a statement released last night, the PLP welcomed the former NDP members to the party, saying their actions "demonstrate a key difference between the FNM and the PLP."
"The FNM believes in the acquisition of entire political parties through promises for public relations gains," the statement said. "Alternatively, the PLP invites and welcomes the best individuals into our tent. We are prepared to be the next Government of the Bahamas and welcome those who want to contribute to the good governance of the Bahamas.
"The PLP is a good fit for the former NDP leadership because we put people first. The PLP is committed to a new generation, innovative new ideas."
Thursday, May 05, 2011
tribune242
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