EDITOR, The Tribune.

I see that Opposition Leader Dr Hubert Minnis is once again talking about term limits for a prime minister. Dr. Minnis is clearly not capable of learning. After three years as FNM Leader, he keeps making the same mistakes and repeating the same old foolishness. He is also a big hypocrite when it comes to term-limits.

In a letter to your paper some time ago I noted that Andrew Allen took Dr Hubert Minnis to task for his support of a two-term limit for prime ministers, which shows a shallow understanding of our system of government.

As Mr Allen has also said before, such a term limit is a solution to a problem that does not exist. In support of the term-limit Dr Minnis previously said in the press:

“This has always been my position simply because everyone reaches a certain level when they would be maxed out, suffer from brain drain and become stagnant.”

Clearly this has not always been his position as he supported a third term for former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham. Thank God Mr Ingraham had a third term. He helped rescue the country during the Great Recession.

During his third term, Mr Ingraham and the FNM proved to be one of the most productive and accomplished governments in Bahamian history.

One of the daily newspaper’s story on Dr Minnis’ support for the term limit some months ago read:

“Dr Minnis praised Mr. Ingraham for his impact on the country, saying that generations to come will benefit from the decisions made under his leadership.

“‘What Ingraham has done for this country, I don’t think anyone could have done,’ Dr Minnis said. ‘His legacy will forever be remembered in history. He will go down in history as one of the best prime ministers. He changed the entire Bahamas. He freed Bahamians.’ ”

Dr Minnis clearly can’t see the obvious contradictions when he speaks? Mr Ingraham will have his legacy remembered precisely because he had a third term in which the prescription drug benefit came about, the New Providence road works were completed, the Baha Mar deal was renegotiated, LPIA was completed, the Critical Care Block at PMH was begun, and a host of other accomplishments too numerous to name here.

In praising Mr Ingraham, Dr Minnis contradicted his argument for a two-term limit, which shows the shallowness of his argument and that he hasn’t thought it through with any seriousness.

Dr Minnis has said that he would push legislation for the term limit. Does he realise that this would require a constitutional amendment? Probably not!

The best way for Dr Minnis not to look foolish is to keep his mouth closed because whenever he speaks he usually says something that makes him seem extremely ignorant.

W. C.

Nassau,

September 25, 2015.