Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham said last night the recent visit members of the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) made to the new downtown straw market was shameful.
"You see [Wednesday] they went to the new straw market in Nassau as a publicity stunt," said Ingraham.
He continued, "Well the visit, it backfired on them. First, they caused a major disruption in the market.
"Then they [got embarrassed] because plenty of the vendors, including some PLP vendors, were singing the praises of your FNM government and Papa.
"They even [got cursed] out by PLPs for abandoning their own people."
Ingraham was speaking at the official opening of the Free National Movement's (FNM) constituency office in Central and South Abaco.
Edison Cay is the party's candidate for the constituency and he will face the PLP's Gary Sawyer and the Democratic National Alliance's (DNA) Roscoe Thompson III.
The event in the new downtown straw market started out as a press conference by vendors to point out flaws in the new market on Wednesday.
Members of the PLP were invited to speak, however, the event almost erupted into a fistfight among vendors who support the country's two major political parties.
"The same PLP who didn't and couldn't build a straw market in five years and left a hole in the ground at the market site -- went there to take advantage of the vendors and stir up problems," Ingraham said.
"Some of the vendors patch hell on them, including 'lil' Brave Davis (PLP deputy leader) and Fred Mitchell (Fox Hill MP). Rather than trying to stir up problems they better run back to their constituencies, which are fast turning color red.
"Anyway, they who have no shame, get shame at the straw market."
Ingraham promised that if re-elected, the FNM would build a new craft market in downtown Nassau for Bahamian-made goods such as shell craft and other souvenirs being made throughout the Family Islands.
Ingraham also told supporters that the government is preparing to open a new administrative building in Central Abaco.
"Finally, Abaco will be able to access all government services at one centralized location," he said.
"This new administrative building will become the heart of the new Central Abaco township which includes the Central Pines housing subdivision, a new library and of course the new community hospital and health center."
Ingraham said the government expects to sign the contract for a new hospital for Central Abaco by the end of the month.
"We will sign the contract for a similar hospital for Exuma at the same time," he said.
Ingraham told supporters that if they want Abaco to keep moving forward, vote FNM.
"I keep telling people, if you put them in charge of the chicken coop, you [don't have to] worry about whether the chicken or the egg comes first, because with them the chicken, the eggs, the wire around the coop and the coop itself [is going to] all be gone.," the prime minister said.
"And some of them waiting and longing to get back in to take what belong to you."

Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian