MONTAGU MP Richard Lightbourn said he was accused of being “racist” during a Free National Movement policy meeting, admitting to The Tribune yesterday that he is concerned efforts are underway in the party to define him as such because of his criticism of FNM Leader Dr. Hubert Minnis. He was contacted about the matter after The Tribune received a tip from a reliable source about rumoured efforts to discredit the MP.
Mr. Lightbourn said he is aware of the criticism, adding that he had been informed that Tennyson Wells, a former parliamentarian and Cabinet minister, recently called him “racist.” Mr. Wells confirmed that he believes Mr. Lightbourn is “racist” when contacted yesterday. Though many have suggested that friction in the FNM stems from Dr. Minnis’ leadership issues, Mr. Wells offered a critique of a party he said is divided along racial lines and is reckoning with its history of being dominated by “white interests.”
Asked what the connection is between “racist motivations” and other black Bahamians in the party who are opposed to Dr. Minnis, Mr. Wells said: “There are a lot of Uncle Toms in the party.”
The controversy springs from Mr. Lightbourn’s views on key platforms put forth by Dr. Minnis, namely his promise to transform inner city communities into tax-free zones. The plan aims to revitalise the communities by spurring business development in them through tax incentives.
Mr. Lightbourn said when he argued in a policy meeting that the plan will not spur growth to the families that need it most, he was accused in the meeting of being a “racist” person who would prefer to give tax breaks to the “Bay Street Boys.”
“I intimated to them, that I have no problem with that policy, but the issue is what you portray as being the result of that policy,” Mr. Lightbourn told The Tribune. “I don’t see how you can suggest you’ll give some big tax break Over-the-Hill and it will give a benefit. People can’t afford electricity and water for their house in the area. Yet you think their homes are just going to explode in profitability? When I said how I felt, it was thrown back at me that I was being racist and that I was happy giving that to the Bay Street Boys.”
The experience, he said, made him realise what he’s “dealing with.”
“You have to be careful of what you say in these settings,” the Montagu MP added.
However, Mr. Wells indeed questioned Mr. Lightbourn’s motive yesterday and said a growing number of people in the party are taking the view that racism is contributing to divisions within the FNM.
“When the platform committee was putting together an economic position to expand the city Over-the-Hill to get more benefits from tourism, Mr. Lightbourn was opposed to that and said they weren’t capable and entitled to the same benefits people who owned property on Bay Street had,” Mr. Wells said. “That sounds to me like a racist view. He opposed the position they were putting forward.”
Mr. Wells, who resigned from the FNM to become an independent in 1999, said Dr. Minnis is facing resistance from some in his party because he is “standing up for the poor and middle-class.”
“The white oligarchy has controlled the FNM since its inception for the last 40 years,” he added. “This is the first time where the FNM has the possibility to represent the middle-class white people and middle-class black people. I support Minnis because he is putting forward a platform to extend the city over Over-the-Hill and make it more business friendly. But he is running into problems from the white oligarchy who has controlled the party forever.”
For his part, Mr. Lightbourn suggested that he is often frustrated during meetings where Dr. Minnis’ operatives – whom he described as “jokers” – try to intimidate various members through offensive behaviour. Dr. Minnis, however, could not be reached for comment yesterday.
On the accusations of racism, Mr. Lightbourn said: “If this is involved as a message to discredit me and others not married to the leader, it’s a dangerous game to play.”
He added that Dr. Minnis hasn’t demonstrated the ability to unite the party.
“Even if you suggest a convention people jump over you,” Mr. Lightbourn said. “You’re dividing the party by telling us we ought to shut up and sit in a corner and do exactly what we are told. They have insecurity that they need to deal with and if Minnis is of the view that he is such a good potential leader then he should have no concern going to convention and getting people to support him.”
Mr. Lightbourn’s statements come at a painful time for the FNM, a party that has struggled to maintain unity even as the Christie administration has grappled with several scandals this term.
Just yesterday former Deputy Prime Minister Frank Watson said he thought tensions were cooling down and that the members would meet in the next few weeks to work out their differences. But when contacted and informed of Mr. Lightbourn’s comments, another high-ranking party member lamented what he said would be another week of negative coverage for a party that has seen its dirty laundry aired in public recently.
By RASHAD ROLLE
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