FNM Communications
Unit
PRESS RELEASE
1 March
2010
As is his custom,
Progressive Liberal Party Chairman Bradley Robert has once again demonstrated
his ignorance of the basic norms and procedures of our governmental
system. In this instance, the norms of collective responsibility
and cabinet government continue to elude Mr. Roberts.
Contrary to
his twisting of the facts, former Minister of State Mr. Branville McCartney
was not responsible “for driving the immigration policy of the government”.
As the PLP’s
Chairman should know, but has yet to fully appreciate, government policy
is made by the Cabinet of the Bahamas and not an individual minister.
Unfortunately,
it was often the case in the Christie administration that individual
ministers, such as Mr. Roberts, often did as they pleased, ignoring
the basic tenets of our system of government.
Rather than
utilizing the process of consultation and consensus inherent in cabinet
government, Mr. Roberts and a number of his colleagues often ran their
ministries as individual fiefdoms.
Clearly, Mr.
Roberts is happy to distort how our governmental system works because
he often failed to act in a collegial and collaborative manner when
in government. He and his colleagues would return to government
with that same mindset.
Further, it
is the portfolio Minister, not a Minister of State, who has overall
responsibility and oversight of a particular ministry. In this
instance, the Hon. Brent Symonette bears primary responsibility for
immigration matters as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration.
Unfortunately,
this will not be the last time that Mr. Roberts demonstrates his wilful
ignorance of our democratic system.
But there is
one area in which Mr. Roberts can claim considerable expertise.
He is expert at the bombast, harsh words and disrespect of which he
accuses others. Indeed, this was a hallmark of his period in government
and it is his hallmark as the primary spokesman for the PLP.
