Unlike the present administration, Free National Movement leader Senator Tommy Turnquest said morality is a key component in the Opposition party’s code of ethics, as published in its Manifestos.
Mr Turnquest made the announcement Sunday while on Island 102.9 FM’s Parliament Street, hosted by The Tribune’s editor Erica Wells and Island FM’s news director Jerome Sawyer.
He was responding to Prime Minister Perry Christie who, while on the same show last week, said his government’s code of ethics does not include the moral conduct of parliamentarians.
Many church leaders, who are usually quite vocal about moral issues in the country, have not commented publicly on the Prime Minister’s remarks.
However, Mr Turnquest indicated that a “code of ethics” cannot exist without morality, as “ethics” encompasses morality.
He said because a Member of Parliament is always on duty, he/she ought to espouse the highest standard of behaviour in public and private life, about which the Christie Cabinet cannot boast. “For this reason, the Progressive Liberal Party should be dismissed and rejected.”
Prime Minister Christie’s code of ethics came into question after one of his Cabinet ministers was accused of raping a 47-year-old woman. However, last week the woman withdrew the rape allegation.
Predicts FNM 2007 victory
Mr Turnquest also touched on other scandals involving parliamentarians in the Christie administration between 2003 and 2004. As a result of the scandals, he said he is confident his party will win in the next general election.
He also said he expects to be Prime Minister following the next general election and added that he would be a leader who would listen, take advice and most importantly, get the job done.
“I think that the future looks bright for myself and for the Free National Movement,” he said.
The FNM occupied 35 of the 40 seats in the House of Assembly prior to the May 2 general election. It finished with seven seats.
In an effort to “revitalise its troops,” the party held a National Convention in May of 2003. It is expected to hold another convention this year at a time to be announced.
“At which time, I will offer myself once again as leader of the party. I expect very confidently to be re-elected, to lead the Free National Movement into the next general election. At which time I expect to become prime minister of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas,” the party leader stressed.
Erica Wells asked him if he would gracefully step aside should the party reject him at the upcoming convention. He said he was not sure if he would be challenged and added that his immediate goal is to focus on building the party base.
“Because we have a very democratic organisation, and the basis of that democracy is that at the next convention, we will determine who will be our leader from that point onward,” he said.
He explained that he was elected by an overwhelming majority of the votes at the last convention and has since been getting the party ready for 2007.
Strong leaders
Mr Turnquest further noted that the nearly 34-year-old political organisation is one with a number of people possessing strong leadership qualities, “and so when Carl Bethel speaks he is merely fulfilling his role as party chairman.”
Commenting on the party’s Montagu’s Member of Parliament, Brent Symonette, who recently revealed on a radio show that he was reconsidering running for the party’s leadership, Mr Turnquest said he was surprised.
Mr Symonette, the FNM’s lone constituency representative in New Providence, had indicated months ago that he was considering running as leader of the party but soon backed away from that idea, saying he was going to focus on his private business.
Mr Turnquest described Mr Symonette as a strong, valuable asset to the FNM and added that the parliamentarian would make an excellent member of his team when he becomes prime minister.
By MINDELL SMALL, Guardian Staff Reporter mindell@nasguard.com
