Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Chairman Bradley Roberts said yesterday the PLP is "amazed at the choice of hapless, perennial losers and visionless personalities comprising the initial group of eight" candidates ratified by the Free National Movement (FNM) last week.
"It was [FNM Leader Dr. Hubert Minnis] who keeps saying how he wants to build this 'new Bahamas' which he says requires a new vision and that he will recruit the best and the brightest (his words) to achieve this," said Roberts in a statement.
"Well, I invite the Bahamian people to critically review Minnis' initial handiwork of eight and make their own judgment. Dr. Minnis' decision-making skills are in a fish bowl and under a microscope because the future of The Bahamas is at stake."
On Thursday, the FNM ratified Dr. Duane Sands for the Elizabeth constituency, where he lost in two previous races for that seat.
Bahamas Contractors Association President Leonard Sands was ratified for the Bains Town and Grants Town constituency.
Attorney Don Saunders was ratified for the Tall Pines constituency.
Attorney Halston Moultrie was ratified for Nassau Village.
Frankie Campbell was been ratified for Southern Shores.
Zendal Forbes was ratified for Central and South Andros.
Shonell Ferguson was once again confirmed to run in Fox Hill.
Howard Johnson, who previously ran in Central and South Eleuthera, will now run in South Beach.
Minnis told reporters on Thursday night, "Our candidates will undergo an education process so that when they speak, they will speak with the FNM's voice and the voice of the FNM."
In his statement, Roberts acknowledged that the FNM has a right to select candidates of its choosing. But he said, "We in the PLP expected, and reasonably so, that Dr. Minnis' candidate choices would reflect the skill sets and competencies required to connect with voters and inspire their confidence in addressing the challenges facing The Bahamas.
"Instead he seemed to have quickly thrown together a disparate group of individuals whose singular qualification must have been their blind allegiance to Dr. Minnis' leadership ambition and maintenance in the face of continuous challenges to his leadership and the constant public torment, taunting, affront and ridicule he faces from his detractors, led by Mrs. Loretta Butler Turner, the FNM MP for Long Island.
"In his desperate attempt at political survival, Minnis apparently rummaged through (former FNM Leader) Hubert Ingraham's political junkyard (or graveyard) and salvaged what could only be described as a political scrap gang."
Roberts said the 2017 election will not be about Minnis and his political survival, but about the future of the Bahamian people.
"I offer Dr. Minnis some unsolicited political advice: The Bahamian people, a discerning, informed and responsible electorate, will not be insulted with slim political pickings that fail to inspire their confidence in the areas of competence, community linkages and electability," he said.
"This initial group of eight might very well be nice guys, but there is a huge difference between having a social drink at one's favorite spot or 'Fish Fry' with a group of nice guys and assembling a competent team of proven and committed leaders ready and able to effectively address the myriad of daunting challenges facing our country while negotiating our strategic positions in the region and in the world."
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