Nassau, Bahamas -
A statement by Bradley B. Roberts
National Chairman,
Progressive Liberal
Party:
If Minnis believes the
hype and rhetoric of his own party, then he should take his party’s advice and
publicly apologize for his ill-conceived analogy just as his party called for
an apology from MP Leslie O Miller when Mr. Miller used an analogy to make a
larger political point that some found offensive. To use the tragedy of 239
innocent souls on Malaysian flight MH370 to grandstand and posture was
disgraceful, in poor taste and I call on Dr. Minis to publicly apologize for
that unfortunate analogy.
I submit that what is
good for the goose must be good for the gander; there cannot be double
standards and Dr. Minnis cannot have it both ways by just explaining away this
incredible error in judgment from a person who holds a constitutional position
as leader of Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition.
The Bahamas has had its
share of aviation tragedies ranging from the airplane crash in Abaco that took
the life of R&B singer Aliah; the Chalk’s crash just off government’s cut
in Florida and the Le Air crash in Mayaguana, which is still fresh in the minds
of many Bahamian families. It would have been highly inappropriate and in poor
taste for any foreign leader or personality to use those tragedies involving
The Bahamas and the loss, pain and suffering of so many Bahamian families to
score cheap political points.
There is a time and
place for everything and Dr. Minnis should know better. Having had sufficient
time to reflect on his comments, he should have recognized his folly and do the
right thing and offer a public apology to Bahamians and the foreign governments
and people affected by the Malaysian airline tragedy.
There
can be no skirting, deflecting or dancing around this issue. Just man up!
