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Former House Speaker Hits Out at ‘Dictator’ Christie

Former Speaker in the House of Assembly Alvin Smith has labeled Prime Minister Perry Christie a “dictator.”

“In dictatorial governments they rule with a heavy hand. Mr Christie is the closest we have ever been to a dictatorial government, very repressive and I am really saddened by that,” Smith said.

The Freeport News spoke with the former Speaker of the House on North Abaco Monday where he noted that in the time leading up to the North Abaco by-election, intimidation and victimizations had increased.

“It tells me that the leadership of the PLP does not feel that they are popular. They feel that they’ve lost popularity, so they have to govern with a heavy hand,” he said.

Smith added that he was disappointed by the level of fear he had seen from civil servants in the North Abaco constituency who felt threatened over the possibility of losing their jobs, noting it was never the case under the FNM.

“We want to have a modern and a participatory democracy in this country where everybody would have this freedom of expression politically without any fear of intimidation and victimization. That’s not good for our country,” he said.

Smith, commenting on the importance of the Free National Movement (FNM) retaining the North Abaco seat which Progressive Liberal Party candidate Renardo Curry won on Monday, said it was essential because a strong opposition makes for a better Government.

“It’s also important because a government that has 29 (seats) acting the way they are, that’s frightening because really our democracy is being challenged by the PLP,” he said.

Dr. Duane Sands, deputy chairman of the (FNM), additionally had criticisms for the Government and made claims that the PLP traded money to secure votes in the North-Abaco by-election, which he noted was unfortunate.

Although allegations of voter buying from both parties have circulated, Sands said it is something he does not participate in.

“If we are going to move this country forward I think all right thinking Bahamians should stand firm against that behavior because it says that we do not care about this wonderful thing that our forefathers and the people before us have fought for, died for, put their blood into the ground for,” he said.

Prime Minister Christie dismissed the victimization claims as “absolute stupidity” stating that it made no sense at a time when he said his party would have to go to the same persons to ask for their votes.

By Cleopatra Murphy
Freeport News Reporter

Posted in Politics

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