thebahamasweekly.com - Sidney Collie on "Minister Gray’s Continued Defence of Andros Deal"

From:TheBahamasWeekly.com

Bahamian Politics
Sidney Collie on "Minister Gray’s Continued Defence of Andros Deal"
By Free National Movement
Nov 17, 2016 - 9:11:34 AM

Nassau, Bahamas - Sidney Collie, Chairman of the Free National Movement (FNM), issued the following statement on Minister Gray’s continued defence of a secret proposal to give away Crown land and our fishing rights to the Chinese Government:

“The one thing we can all say about Minister Gray is that he is ‘consistent’. He has consistently ignored the will of the Bahamian people who have joined us in protest against his ill-advised and ill-conceived proposal to secretly give away 20,000 acres of our land and our fishing rights to the PLP’s Chinese allies. He’s consistent in his child-like efforts to put forward the PLP’s worn out playbook of sideshow distractions as he ignores the people’s outcry. He is consistent in his refusal to resign from his Ministry for the good of the people. He is consistent in his continuing ineptitude as he has previously embarrassed himself and our country –in the Mayaguana magistrate scandal that resulted in the Prime Minister stripping him of his Local Government portfolio. Sadly history repeats itself with this growing scandal about his secret land and fisheries give away.”

“Minister Gray and the PLP should know the people have grown tired of their typical tricks, the excessive excuses, empty promises and side-show distractions. They want none of it – no more. Bahamians simply want to be heard, not ignored. They want Minister Gray and the embattled Prime Minster to stop moving forward with their ill-advised, scandalous giveaway of our lands and fisheries to their Chinese allies. And no amount of childish finger pointing will change that. Thousands of Bahamians have, signed petitions, and voiced their extreme displeasure, but true to form – and very consistent on their part – the PLP and the Minister continues to dismiss their call.”

“No amount of mud-slinging by Minister Gray will make this go away -- try as he might to change the subject. The public is long past these antics and for years have suffered under the PLP’s oppressive practice of secrecy. `We stand with the people and again repeat our call for the embattled Prime Minister to lay on the table in Parliament, all secret proposals and deals with the Chinese or any foreign governments for the Bahamian people, and to rescind the Government’s support for this latest scandalous, ill-conceived proposal. Finally once again, we call for Minister Gray to submit his resignation so we can end this ordeal. The FNM will continue to stand with the Bahamian people in their fight for their Crown land and fishing rights no matter how consistent the PLP remains in ignoring them and their concerns.”