The Bahamas Democratic Movement (BDM) has declared war on both the Progressive Liberal Party and the Free National Movement, at the same time dismissing the Coalition for Democratic Reform as “defunct” and its members as “political prostitutes-who seek to serve (only) themselves.”
In a scathing diatribe issued over the weekend, BDM leader Cassius Stuart continued to harangue the leadership of the political establishment, questioning the character of two men in particular � former prime minister Hubert Ingraham and Health Minister and former leader of the CDR Dr. Bernard Nottage.
In his release, Mr. Stuart accused Mr. Ingraham of perpetrating a “political hi-jacking” and “back-stabbing” his “prot�g�” � FNM Senate Leader and former party leader Tommy Turnquest – by returning to the leadership of the FNM.
However, FNM chairman Desmond Bannister told the Journal recently that despite perceptions of disunity in the party, the FNM is united behind Mr. Ingraham.
Mr. Bannister pointed out that in the elections for party leader, Mr. Ingraham received an overwhelming majority of the votes.
According to Mr. Stuart, Mr. Ingraham�s reemergence is “a clear indication that the FNM is bankrupt of ideas and leadership.” In his opinion, after Mr. Ingraham�s political demise, the FNM will wander for 20 years in the political wilderness “and die in the process.”
“Besides Mr. Ingraham leading the FNM, who is there?” he asks. “The FNM has no future because Hubert Ingraham�s leadership is a big failure.”
“The next political betrayal,” Mr. Staurt charged, “was the abandonment of his party members by Dr. Bernard Nottage who “jumped right back into the PLP like a dog going back to his own vomit.”
“To make matters worse, the remaining leaders of the CDR joined the FNM. What a disgrace,” Mr. Stuart said. “What is puzzling is (that) the leader of the CDR went into one party and the deputy leader went into another and both are claiming that their new parties are the best thing since sliced bread.”
Mr. Stuart vehemently denounced the recent decision by nearly 40 members of the CDR to join the FNM, some with the intention to seek to run in the general elections on the FNM ticket.
The flow of invective continued as Mr. Stuart continued to castigate those he saw as leading the political establishment.
After stating a firm resolution not to be “bought,” Mr. Stuart continued “the BDM declares war on the FNM and the PLP. We will not stop fighting until this lousy PLP government is gone forever.”
In a parting shot at Mr. Ingraham, Mr. Stuart urged him to “resign now or face the wrath of the BDM.”
Mr. Ingraham, Dr. Nottage and Mr. Maynard could not be reached for comment over the weekend.
By: Quincy Parker, The Bahama Journal
