Roberts Slams Former PM on Referendum Claims

Wed, Jan 23rd 2013, 10:36 AM

Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Chairman Bradley Roberts said yesterday that former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham's dismissal of the upcoming referendum is a "dismissal of democracy". "This fantasy notion that the referendum is 'a PLP thing' is an attempt to rewrite history and to preempt and minimize the broader political implications of a 'yes' vote victory on referendum day," Roberts said in a statement. "The fact is that Theresa Moxey-Ingraham and Philip Galanis, both former political figures from across the political divide, are leading the 'Yes Vote' campaign.

"This referendum is not a 'PLP thing' as Ingraham is conspiring to deceive the Bahamian people into believing." Moxey-Ingraham is a Free National Movement supporter and a former minister in the Ingraham cabinet. Galanis is a former PLP parliamentarian. Ingraham said on Monday night that he believes the PLP is pushing a yes vote in the referendum and said the same members of the PLP's general election campaign team are not working for the 'Vote Yes' campaign.

"The same people who were down in my constituency in the last election, who came up to my house this time asking whether or not we were voting and who we were voting for, yes or no, were the identical people; so it is a PLP thing, cloaked and clouded however they wish in this referendum," he said. On Sunday, Roberts retracted a statement that the party is asking Bahamians to vote yes. The retraction came shortly after Prime Minister Perry Christie told The Nassau Guardian he knew nothing of a PLP yes position.

Asked about the retraction, Ingraham said: "The public is able to draw their own conclusions. I'm on sabbatical." Ingraham also maintained that he would not be voting in Monday's referendum because the question of whether Bahamians should gamble in casinos is not included. Christie has said that if the Constitutional Commission recommends the casino question he would bring it to the people. "Mr. Ingraham is reminded that the official policy of The Bahamas government has not changed," Roberts said.

"The central issue of gambling in The Bahamas is settled as land based casino gambling is a regulated industry. "The government now seeks the opinion of the Bahamian people as promised on whether or not Bahamians, who have the desire, should engage in web shop gaming and a national lottery in a fully regulated environment. "This is an issue of freedom of choice, a fundamental tenant and the hallmark of democracy. "He comes across as envious, bitter, politically immature and selfish because he is no longer the prime minister and therefore is not leading this defining initiative."

FNM Leader Dr. Hubert Minnis has urged Bahamians to vote no on the referendum because the government has not presented enough information and education about the issue. He also accused the government of having an "incestuous relationship" with web shop owners. However, CEO of FML Group of Companies Craig Flowers told The Nassau Guardian that his company never donated to the PLP's campaign although he made personal contributions which he said were insignificant.

Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian

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