Mr. Roberts should know that it was the Shadow Minister of Finance who raised the red flag over leaked emails and financial data by the Minister of Education and urged the Minister of Financial Services to counsel her colleagues on the sensitivity of a matter that threatens to seriously undermine our country’s attractiveness as a secure and respected financial services jurisdiction.  Instead, the Chairman remained mum while Minister Jerome Fitzgerald scavenged in his garbage can to find other people’s private emails to reveal their confidential financial information. Yet Roberts and other misguided blind PLP loyalists defended Minister Fitzgerald in the face of public criticism, displaying absolutely no concern or regard for the potentially harmful impact of his actions on our country. It is, therefore, entirely hypocritical for the Chairman of the PLP, who remains mum on the damaging conduct of PLP ministers, to now chastise the FNM for pointing out similarities and inconsistencies in the words and actions of PLP ministers and this PLP led government.  We ask Mr. Roberts, where was his outrage and concern for this important Financial Services industry when concerns were raised by the Data Protection Commissioner and numerous local financial services professionals?

With regard to the participation of members of the Free National Movement in the silent protest last Sunday over the continuous and vexing Nassau city dump fires, since Mr. Roberts has either amnesia or selective memory, we remind him that while in opposition, the PLP constantly facilitated and actively participated in public demonstrations.  How could Mr. Roberts forget the billboards that the PLP prominently placed along major touristic routes to the city! These PLP billboards advertised Nassau to our visitors as a homicide haven, instead of a peaceful paradise.

In response to the criticism of those who said that the PLP was prepared to destroy the country’s economy and reputation just to win an election, Phillip Davis’ response was: “Are you saying that we should not tell the truth?” If the PLP believed that it was not unpatriotic to put up their murder billboards, it is incomprehensible that Roberts or the PLP could call Bahamians unpatriotic for protesting in front of Inter-American Development Bank guests for their right to breathe air free of toxic fumes being spewed by the chronically burning New Providence landfill. They do not mind telling the world about the confidential information that they find in their political garbage cans, but they want Bahamians to exercise confidentiality by keeping their concerns about the potentially deadly health implications of the burning dump a secret from our visitors and the rest of the world. Just like the toxic Rubis gas leak, once again the PLP that claimed it would put Bahamians first is demonstrating that the health of Bahamians is not a priority of theirs. They are self-serving hypocrites of the highest order and the truth is not in them!

In opposition, Bradley Roberts played a pivotal role in organizing public demonstrations. In fact, unlike those who participated in the peaceful demonstrations about the city dump, Roberts spearheaded the BTC demonstrations in Rawson Square, protests that the PLP claimed were a patriotic effort to protect the Bahamian patrimony for the benefit of future generations of Bahamians. Sadly, but not surprisingly, after the “patriotic protest”, hundreds of young protesters caused a near riot outside of PLP headquarters demanding the money they were promised in return for their participation in that “act” of civil disobedience. We need not be surprised when recalling that Mr. Christie alleged in the House during the Mid-Year debate that he could lend some of his supporters to Dr. Minnis for a mere $30. How sad it is that the PLP places so little value on its people. We wish to remind Mr. Roberts that those who participated in the peaceful protests last Sunday did not need to be paid to protest and that is the true demonstration of their patriotic love for this country.

Mr. Roberts is well aware that the recent demonstrations at Cable Beach and Paradise Island were not organized by the FNM. However, members of the FNM did participate with protesters in a show of solidarity.  Furthermore, let him be forewarned that we will do it again if it will help to bring pressure to bear on this incompetent and reckless government. The Bahamian people need relief not promises or empty expressions of patriotism or nationalism.   People are being adversely affected by the incompetence and selfishness being daily displayed by this disastrous administration. Bahamians are extremely agitated and becoming antsy. This will lead to greater expressions of civil disobedience, patriotism and nationalism as the public gathers to demonstrate that we have had enough and we want change. The Free National Movement will not apologize for standing with them.

It is the People’s Time Mr. Roberts!