By NICO SCAVELLA

Tribune Staff Reporter

nscavella@tribunemedia.net

FOX Hill MP Fred Mitchell yesterday criticised Long Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner for being “bellicose” and “warlike,” and suggested that the former Free National Movement deputy leader is not “skillful” enough to secure government assistance for her constituency.

He also dismissed Mrs Butler-Turner’s recent claims that the Progressive Liberal Party has victimised her for being vocal in critiquing the party. Conversely, Mr Mitchell said opposition MPs “by their skill are able to get things for their constituency even though their party is not in power”.

Mr Mitchell also defended his decision to criticize Mrs Butler-Turner while visiting her constituency last week. He also said Mrs Butler-Turner cannot stop him “from going into Long Island when I feel like going.”

Mr Mitchell’s statements are the latest in a recent war of words between the two parliamentarians. On Saturday, while visiting Long Island, Mr Mitchell suggested to residents there that the island has not flourished under Mrs Butler-Turner’s representation because of her attitude toward the government.

Mrs Butler-Turner shot back by saying that his comments were actually a “vile and disgraceful” declaration that the PLP has victimised Long Island residents for years. She said Prime Minister Perry Christie should fire the “undemocratic, vicious and petty” minister of foreign affairs and immigration for this blatant admission.

Speaking with reporters outside Cabinet yesterday, however, Mr Mitchell offered his response to Mrs Butler-Turner’s claims.

“I saw the member of Parliament for Long Island objecting to the fact of a member of Parliament from another area going into Long Island,” he said. “The point I wanted to make generally for her edification and the public, is a member of Parliament is a member of Parliament for the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. That means anywhere in the Bahamas is home, and you can go anywhere. So that’s number one.

“Number two is, she herself has been in the Fox Hill constituency, if not once, twice, to official meetings held by her political party. Presumably she was there to try and get their Cabinet elected and try and get me not elected. So God bless her if she can stop me from going into Long Island when I feel like going.”

Mr Mitchell also dismissed Mrs Butler-Turner’s claims that the Progressive Liberal Party has victimised her for being vocal in critiquing the party.

“The only point I make is I have been an opposition MP, and opposition MPs by their skill are able to get things for their constituency even though their party is not in power,” he said. “That’s the only point I make, is that if you are skillful you can do more for your constituency. I know and I commend that approach to her, as opposed to (Mrs Butler-Turner) being bellicose and warlike at all times.”