Tempers flared in the House of Assembly yesterday when two Grand Bahama Opposition parliamentarians blasted Minister of Local Government and Consumer Affairs, Alfred Gray, over remarks he made concerning public works on that island.
Mr Gray said Local Government Council members told him that works on public facilities were either being carried out or had been completed in Eastern Grand Bahama. He said construction of a bus shed in Roberts Town was underway, a chain-link fence around the public parks in Pelican Point and McLeans Town had been completed, and that restroom facilities were being constructed at Sweeting’s Cay.
However, High Rock MP Kenneth Russell disputed those remarks and charged that Mr Gray was telling “boldface” untruths. Mr Russell said there was no fence being constructed around the parks in High Rock, McLeans Town or Pelican Point and added that there were no public restrooms in Sweeting’s Cay. “That is not the truth,” said Mr Russell. “And he should apologise to the Bahamian people for telling them a story that is not true and withdraw it.”
Mr Gray interjected: “But I said the following projects around the Family Islands have been done or are in the process of being done.”
The row between the two prompted Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell to interject. He told Mr Russell that a particular word used in the exchange was un-parliamentary and that a substitute word for “not telling the truth” should be used.
Neko Grant, the second Opposition MP, representing Lucaya, supported his colleague and said Mr Gray was misinformed.
South Andros MP, Whitney Bastian also jumped in saying that Mr Gray should not brag about projects being carried out by local government administrators who are given the authority to decide how monies are to be spent.
Mr Gray responded, “But I said these are the projects that have been done under my watch. I didn’t say I did them. But this ministry provides the funding.”
The Nassau Guardian
