By NICO SCAVELLA

Tribune Staff Reporter

nscavella@tribunemedia.net

FREE National Movement Leader Dr Hubert Minnis yesterday accused Prime Minister Perry Christie of “endorsing” PLP Chairman Bradley Roberts’ recent “nasty characterisation” of the FNM’s newly ratified candidates for fear of being voted out of office.

Dr Minnis said Mr Christie, in “his desperation to hold on to power,” unleashed his “bullish chairman to distastefully attack reputable, contributing citizens” whom he said will “contribute significantly” to the prime minister’s “involuntary removal from office and his immediate retirement thereafter.”

Dr Minnis also criticised Mr Roberts for insulting the “talents, qualifications and contributions of eight patriotic Bahamians determined to change the chaotic and challenging state” of the country. Dr Minnis said given the Progressive Liberal Party’s “unimpressive and poor representation” of the Farm Road and Bain and Grants Town constituencies over the years, Mr Roberts should have “remained completely silent relative to the fitness or suitability of prospective members of Parliament.”

Mr Christie represents the Centreville constituency, previously known as Farm Road, and Mr Roberts once represented the Bain and Grants Town area.

On January 7, the FNM ratified eight hopefuls in preparation for the 2017 general election, including Shonell Ferguson - Fox Hill; Don Saunders - Tall Pines; Frankie Campbell - Southern Shores; Leonard Sands - Bain and Grants Town; Dr Duane Sands - Elizabeth; Halston Moultrie - Nassau Village; Howard Johnson - South Beach and Zendal Forbes - South and Central Andros.

In a statement on Monday, Mr Roberts said Dr Minnis’ selection of “hapless, perennial losers and visionless personalities” gave the impression that he rummaged through former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham’s “political junkyard or graveyard” to salvage what he termed a “political scrap gang.”

Mr Roberts further characterised the FNM’s selections as a disparate group of individuals whose singular qualification must have been their “blind allegiance” to Dr Minnis. Mr Roberts also said the selections were not made with the future of the Bahamas in mind, but rather for Dr Minnis’ “political survival.”

“It is without question, that in spewing such hateful and reprehensible attacks the PLP chairman speaks directly for (Mr Christie) and his failing government,” Dr Minnis said yesterday. “(Mr Christie) knows his days as prime minister are numbered. He has cowardly unleashed his bullish chairman to distastefully attack reputable, contributing citizens who will contribute significantly to his involuntary removal from office and his immediate retirement thereafter.”

Dr Minnis added: “The vicious attack on the character and reputation of these stellar individuals is also indicative of the gutter politics preferred by the (PLP). Therefore, Bahamians should be further insulted and outraged that Mr Roberts can find ample time to launch political attacks on the party opposite, but has consistently failed to adequately address national problems or outline any tangible success of this current Christie administration.”

Dr Minnis said the eight candidates - the first in a series to be announced - are a “21st century cadre of intelligent and industrious candidates capable of creating a new Bahamas geared toward improving the quality of life for all Bahamians.”