Bahamian Politics
FNM Responds to PLP Statement on Branville McCartney
Mar 1, 2010 - 1:54:07 PM

FNM Communications Unit

PRESS RELEASE

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.