Minister of Labour and National Insurance Shane Gibson said Fort Charlotte MP Dr. Andre Rollins' recent attacks on Prime Minister Perry Christie
were "insulting and offensive", and suggested that other political organizations may not want such
a "disrespectful" individual.
Though he did not name Rollins during his contribution to the Bahamas Public Parks and Public Beaches Authority Bill on Thursday night, he made clear references to Rollins' attacks on Christie.
The former Gaming Board chairman has said the country needs new leadership and he is tired of hearing Christie quote scripture.
He further charged on Wednesday night that, while Christie "waxes eloquently with his words", those words must live up to actions.
But Gibson said "you have to respect leaders".
"It is always fascinating to me when you see individuals who want to be a part of the organization, but they don't want to submit to the rules and the regulations and the policies and the protocols of the organization," he said.
"It is one thing if I am on the opposite side and make some snide remark about the leader on the opposite side.
"I think, if you check the history books in this honorable
place, I don't believe you would find one instance, besides now, when you would see a sitting member of the Parliament speak about a leader the way this one did.
"I think it is wrong. I think it is disrespectful."
The Progressive Liberal Party's (PLP) National General Council (NGC) has demanded that Rollins apologize in Parliament.
But on Wednesday, Rollins said in the House of Assembly that he will not apologize to Christie for anything he said based on his convictions.
Gibson said there are thousands of young people who look to the government for guidance.
"When you decide to attack your leader in the public like this and go after them personally, then that is sending a totally different message," he said.
"As for me, I can tell you that this leader exercises a lot of patience.
"At times in life you have persons who are very selfish who decide to advance their own personal agenda above the agenda of the organization of which they are a part.
"I think that we have to be careful, Mr. Speaker, because at the end of the day there is a saying that says what goes around comes around."
Gibson said Christie is a leader who deserves respect.
Rollins has also asserted that Bamboo Town MP Renward Wells is caught in the midst of a leadership struggle within the government over the signing of a letter of intent (LOI).
Wells signed the LOI for a $600 million-plus waste-to-energy plant with Stellar Waste to Energy Bahamas Limited (SWTEB) on July 4, 2014, without Cabinet approval.
Deputy Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis has said the claim is "baseless".
He said the last time he checked, both he and Rollins were on the same team. Davis said the team will not be distracted by disturbances from within or without.
Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian
