The matter between two MPs who had a “heated” exchange in the Cabinet Office last week has to be addressed because it is now a public issue, a Cabinet Minister said yesterday.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Fred Mitchell was commenting on the reported bust-up between Kennedy MP Kenyatta Gibson and Mt Moriah MP Keod Smith. Both MPs have apologised for the incident but have denied reports that the exchange escalated into a fist fight.
“Let me say firmly that however the Prime Minister deals with the matter, I am certain that he will act in accordance with the principles and values of our party. The public can rest assured of that,” said Mr Mitchell, who was a guest on Real Talk, the More 94.9 talk show hosted by Jeff Lloyd.
Reports that the two men had been asked to resign by Prime Minister Perry Christie at the weekend could not be confirmed. Neither Mr Smith nor Mr Gibson returned numerous calls to the Nassau Guardian for comment on the report.
Mr Mitchell said that the exchange between Messrs Smith and Gibson was a matter of concern because of the public discussion generated on talk shows and printed in newspapers.
He noted that comments were made by individuals who are reported to be constituents of both men, and because of this, the matter should be addressed and settled.
“I think the gentlemen went some way toward doing this by offering their apologies to the Bahamian public and I think the rest is actually for the party, the Prime Minister and themselves to settle,” Mr Mitchell said.
The Foreign Affairs Minister also warned his colleagues to be careful in public life, especially when it comes to their behaviour.
“As you get older and as you get higher up the ladder, it becomes more difficult to separate your personal conduct from your public conduct and so, therefore, you have to live in a very circumspect and very disciplined environment and I would simply urge all of my colleagues, as they have urged me and supported me, that we have to live a disciplined life in which we display the highest standards possible and that we conduct ourselves in a fashion which can gain the support of the Bahamian people from what they expect from their political and public leaders,” Mr Mitchell said.
Both Mr Gibson and Mr Smith appeared on Love 97’s Jones and Co, hosted by Wendall Jones, on Sunday, telling the the public that they often disagreed but were united and stood by each other as friends.
They described the exchange as a “heated, spirited conversation” but refused to provide details regarding exactly what happened in the Cabinet Office last Monday night.
Their explanation, however, still did not sit well with some radio listeners who called in to Love 97’s Issues of the Day yesterday.
Some of the callers also criticised Prime Minister Christie for not taking steps to reprimand the MPs.
When news of the bust-up first broke last week, Mr Christie described reports of the exchange as “exaggerated.”
According to a radio poll on how the MPs should be reprimanded, 21 callers said the public should bury the hatchet and allow the matter to settle, eight said the MPs should be suspended, five said they should be fired and 16 said they should resign.
A caller to the show who said she lives in the Kennedy constituency said the men have “buried the hatchet” and the public should therefore forgive them.
“Mr Gibson is a very good representative and I live in Kennedy and he is an excellent representative and I see no reason why they are trying to blow this out of proportion,” the caller said.
Another female caller said she could not forgive the MPs because they “dishonoured” the Bahamian people, they “disrespected” their constituents, they “disrespected” the Prime Minister by their actions and failed to admit their wrong doing.
“If you work for the government of The Bahamas and you are caught fighting, this is an automatic dismissal, so what makes them any different?” the caller asked. “They need to resign, that’s it, they need to resign.”
A third caller said she found it interesting that some individuals were attempting to justify the actions of the MPs because their conduct was “unforgivable.”
“I really think it is a very sad day when we as Bahamians allow people to go so out of control in such responsible positions,” the caller said. “I do not think this should be up for discussion, they should submit their resignations immediately and I can’t see any other country allowing something like this to happen.”
A number of other callers thought that the MPs should be suspended while an investigation into the matter was carried out.
By: TAMARA McKENZIE, The Nassau Guardian
