Free National Movement (FNM) Leader Dr. Hubert Minnis yesterday again refused to take any questions from the media.
We raised the matter last week of Minnis choosing to remain scripted heading into the general election.
Bahamians should take note.
There is much to be said about a man who wants to be prime minister -- and who could very well end up being prime minister in a month -- refusing to take questions from the media.
He is clearly unable or afraid to explain his position on anything, or expound on the vague policies he has sprinkled in his rally speeches in recent months.
He appears out of his depth.
Last Thursday, we were advised that Minnis will hold a press conference to discuss the many discrepancies on the voter register we reported on a day before.
But when our reporters arrived at FNM headquarters, they were informed after a period of waiting that the notification that Minnis would speak to the media was a mistake and party chairman, Sidney Collie, would instead do so.
Yesterday, after Parliament was dissolved, we were again advised by the FNM that Minnis will hold a press conference.
He showed up this time and read a prepared statement, declaring that the "PLP misrule of the past five years has finally come to an end", and that this election will be a referendum on "corruption versus transparency".
Collie told reporters that Minnis had somewhere to go and would not take questions.
In a statement yesterday evening, Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Chairman Bradley Roberts accurately observed: "It's shocking and unbelievable that the man who wants to be prime minister turns his back on the press.
"Minnis has also refused to debate the man he seeks to replace, Prime Minister Perry G. Christie. Clearly, the Bahamian people will draw the correct conclusion, that Minnis is unprepared and not ready for the high office of prime minister."
The many excuses being given to the media provide for us a clear indication that Minnis is not interested in taking questions.
After numerous blunders this term, perhaps he has been advised by senior people in the FNM to just read his press releases and speeches.
No one should expect him to debate Christie or Democratic National Alliance (DNA) Leader Branville McCartney.
No doubt, Minnis expects that the national anti-PLP mood means he will cruise to an election victory come May 10.
We believe voters should take this as a clear sign that Minnis would have substantial challenges as prime minister.
If we could get Minnis to take questions, we would be interested in asking him about his tax exemption plan for Over-the-Hill communities.
How exactly would it be structured?
Given Freeport is a free trade zone having suffered economic troubles for 15 years now, why does he believe an Over-the-Hill would benefit from an economic zone?
What are his specific plans for Grand Bahama?
Given his concern about the PLP's handling of the country's finances, what would be his detailed approach to ensuring that the country's finances don't deteriorate further?
Given his criticisms about the PLP administration's failure to make any appreciable dent in the unemployment situation, what would be his plans to generate the level of jobs needed to get the unemployment rate down?
Minnis has also pledged to eliminate value-added tax (VAT) off breadbasket items, healthcare, electricity and water bills.
Given that VAT has now been incorporated into the revenue stream of the country, any cut in VAT would result in a decrease in revenue. Where does he see the government making the revenue to avoid worsening the deficit and thereby increasing the national debt?
What would be different about his crime strategy compared to what is the crime strategy now and the strategy under the Ingraham administration?
While it is important to know what Minnis intends to do differently from the current administration, it may also be instructive to hear what he intends to do differently vis-a-vis Hubert Ingraham, whose administration also saw alarmingly high crime levels.
Minnis was a minister in Ingraham's Cabinet. Sometimes, he tries to distance himself from Ingraham administration decisions, and from career politicians like Ingraham. He says career politicians have run our country into the ground.
At other times, however, he owns the accomplishments of the Ingraham government.
Minnis has called for the "popping of necks" in response to high crime.
How exactly does he intend to resume capital punishment? What would be the path toward this?
Has he even considered it, or was he pandering, as he often did this term?
Given tourism's import to the country, how would he get us over this seemingly five million tourism cap so that more of those tourists represent overnight visitors as opposed to cruise visitors?
What are Minnis' specific plans for National Health Insurance and his road map to get us there?
Is this plan in the mind of Dr. Duane Sands only?
The FNM wants to focus on catastrophic health insurance. How would that be funded?
We could go on listing the things reporters intend to ask Minnis, if they ever get a chance.
As the election draws closer, many are anxious to see the back of Perry Christie.
But the prospects of Minnis as prime minister of The Bahamas scares us to no end.

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