By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

EXUMA MP Anthony Moss has said the outcry for a new Progressive Liberal Party candidate to replace him in the 2017 general election is a road he has travelled many times before, insisting that for the last 14 years he has worked to the best of his ability on behalf of all constituents.

Speaking to The Tribune yesterday, the three-time elected MP admitted that there are people in Exuma who “never wanted me” since the 2002 election and others who simply want him to do things he did not think he should be doing as an MP.

While Mr Moss did not go into detail of what those things were, he remained adamant that as Exuma’s MP the constituency has benefited from many projects that he ensured were completed.

The MP also suggested that he has been pressured to reveal if he intends to offer himself as a candidate for the upcoming election. However he said he would make a public announcement in June when he is ready and not upon the urging of a few people who do not like him. He accused those people of “creating a ruckus.”

The Tribune reported exclusively on Tuesday that almost 60 Exuma residents gathered last week to express “overwhelming support” for a new PLP candidate.

This was the result of a poll taken during a meeting of leaders of the PLP Exuma constituency obtained by The Tribune. Fifty-six PLPs expressed the desire to have a new candidate, one person did not vote and another failed to indicate clearly whether they would still support Mr Moss.

Questions were also raised during the meeting over whether the branch could soon begin the groundwork to gather support for I Chester Cooper, a banking executive, as a potential candidate.

“This is a road I have travelled three times before and some of those who were in the meeting never wanted me from 2002,” Mr Moss said when he was contacted by The Tribune.

“I’ll add that I have been contemplating whether I am offering again so there is a fifty-fifty chance that I would not offer.

“Obviously in the last few days a number of persons have sought to take it further by having this meeting where the majority of who were in attendance want a new candidate and have created this ruckus.

“But certainly that is their choice.”

Defending himself amid criticism that he has not performed well or in the best interest of constituents, Mr Moss said this was not true.

“I am sure I have been working to the best of my ability and to the best interest of persons, but there are persons who wanted me to do things that I don’t feel I should do.

“In Williams Town they asked for a road leading to Scotts Creek where the fishermen load their boats and I also did the dock where they can continue to put the boats. They have asked for potable water in Williams Town and now they have it.

“And a year ago there was some damage to the airport where we closed the runway and the latter part of last year it was reopened to international as well as domestic flights,” Mr Moss said.

The constituents’ concerns about a new candidate came to light during a meeting at the Exuma Taxi Union Building at the Moss Town International Airport on April 7. The meeting also focused on discussing the way forward for the constituency.

Stalwart councillors, Women’s Branch members and PLP Young Liberals attended the meeting, The Tribune understands.

“Discussions with the present member of Parliament, the honourable Anthony Moss, were held asking him to step aside for another candidate and that he should look for a building to house the Office of the Prime Minister here in Exuma,” the meeting’s minutes read.

“Subsequent to this (it was discussed) that he should introduce the new candidate who appears to be Mr Chester Cooper.

“Since these discussions were held months ago, Mr Moss seems to have made no effort in these regards but rather stating publicly his intention to offer himself for re-election in 2017, leading to much discussions and confusion.

“This being said, we are here tonight as leaders in the various communities and supporters of the Progressive Liberal Party of the Exuma constituency to state which direction we want to go.”

The minutes continued: “(It was) asked if anyone knew Mr Cooper’s political background as we don’t want a repeat in elected candidates walking across the floor. A few persons suggested he came from a family of strong PLPs and it was stated that Mr Cooper was one of the persons during the last election who assisted the party financially.”