George Smith wants to run in North Exuma seat

By SANCHESKA BROWN

Tribune Staff Reporter

sbrown@tribunemedia.net

FORMER member of Parliament for Exuma George Smith has officially requested to be the Progressive Liberal Party’s candidate for a proposed North Exuma seat in the upcoming general election, The Tribune has learned.

In a letter dated August 24, 2016 addressed to Prime Minister Perry Christie, Mr Smith said after being “encouraged” by Exuma residents he is prepared to offer himself for a “portion of a single term” in order to build a “cordial” relationship between the government and the people of Exuma.

Mr Christie is chairman of the Progressive Liberal Party’s Candidates Committee.

The former Cabinet minister has been hinting for some time that he would return to front line politics before the next general election.

In May, Mr Smith told this newspaper that his mind, body and heart were all in agreement that he “can again serve the will of the people.”

He added that successive politicians representing Exuma have failed in their attempts to end the social and financial “upheaval” that has crippled the once great community.

Anthony Moss is the current representative for Exuma. He has not yet been ratified by the PLP and has shied away from directly answering if he intends to offer himself for a fourth time.

“Mindful of the issues affecting the well being of the people of Exuma and the neglect which they have endured, I wish to contest the proposed North Exuma seat in a two constituency Exuma and the Jumento Cays as the party’s standard bearer in the next general election,” the Mr Smith said in the letter, which The Tribune has obtained.

On Monday, during an appearance on “Darold Miller Live,” Mr Christie suggested that Exuma and Andros are two islands for which the establishment of additional House of Assembly seats should be considered.

However he said this would be something for the Constituencies Commission to decide.

“I respectfully offer at this time, encouraged by suggestions from Exumians who wish to restore the high quality of pride in the representation of the people those beautiful isles so deserve,” Mr Smith’s letter continued. “The people of Exuma have earned the right to be treated with great respect. My candidacy will signal the party’s concurrence of this sentiment.

“I am committed to serving a portion of a single term, during which time I shall work to encourage and empower Exumians to realise their potential through innovative entrepreneurial endeavours. I would work to build a cordial relationship between the government, the people of Exuma and foreign investors for the benefit of the communities throughout Exuma.

“I believe that with a combined and focused campaign with defined objectives as well as a plan for further infrastructural improvements, we can secure both seats.”

In April, nearly 60 Exuma residents expressed “overwhelming support” for a new PLP candidate in the 2017 general election.

According to official minutes of a meeting of leaders of the PLP Exuma constituency obtained by The Tribune, 56 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 the three-time current MP.

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

In response, Mr Moss has said the outcry to replace him 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.

He admitted earlier this year that there are people in Exuma who “never wanted me” since the election in 2002 and others who simply want him to do things he did not think he should be doing as an MP.

Mr Smith, a native of Exuma, was first elected to Parliament in 1968 and served in the Pindling Cabinet.

The Tribune understands that BAF Financial Bahamas CEO Chester Cooper has also launched a campaign in Exuma.

Comments

Hogfish says...

moneys in the pocket must have run out.! time to fill them back up again.

Posted 1 September 2016, 2:34 p.m. Suggest removal

ohdrap4 says...

it is ok, he has been saved.

Posted 1 September 2016, 3:09 p.m. Suggest removal

SP says...

**.............. Just What We Need. Another Proven, Corrupt, Jurassic In Parliament ................**

Posted 1 September 2016, 3:26 p.m. Suggest removal

themessenger says...

Ease up SP, Georgie did give back the emerald necklace and da BMW long time.
After his latest bad decision to buck heads wid BREA he so broke if ten cents could take ya roun da world he couldn't get outta sight
He only singing fa he supper.

Posted 1 September 2016, 3:55 p.m. Suggest removal

Honestman says...

A North Exuma seat in Parliament. How ridiculous! The PLP are only proposing this because they believe they can buy this small group into voting PLP.

Posted 1 September 2016, 4 p.m. Suggest removal

Well_mudda_take_sic says...

Here's what one well-known Bahamian journalist had to say about George Smith's role in the history of the Bahamas as far back as 1982: ".....the Bahamas was in the throes of a criminal takeover by South American drug cartels. The Colombian flag was raised over Norman's Cay in George Smith's Exuma constituency by the notorious gangster Carlos Lehder, who drove ordinary visitors away at gunpoint and orchestrated hourly cocaine flights to the US. The 1984 Commission of Inquiry found that Smith had accepted gifts and hospitality from Lehder, who is now serving a long sentence in an American jail. In fact, one parliamentarian said at the time that 'Pindling and his crew make the Bay Street Boys look like schoolchildren.'" Smith will tell you he has since welcomed the Good Lord into his life and sought, found and received forgiveness and redemption for all of his earlier transgressions.....WHAT A BUNCH OF POPPY COCK FOR ANYONE WHO REALLY KNOWS THIS SCOUNDREL!

Posted 1 September 2016, 6:07 p.m. Suggest removal

truetruebahamian says...

Repent, George, and please - no more secret flights and Carlos Lehder - Norman's Cay episodes - we spoke of this before, leave history in the past, lets allow our future to be clean and without encumbrance of past political grotesque.

Posted 1 September 2016, 9:10 p.m. Suggest removal

Emac says...

Can someone say delirious???

Posted 1 September 2016, 10:21 p.m. Suggest removal

Victor says...

Hey, if they re-create the North Exuma seat (which was called Rolleville, btw), let's not run George, let's run Wydeon Pyfrom. Remember him? He ran for the FNM in 1977 (against the PLP and BDP) and notoriously got NO votes! Not even the five people who nominated him voted for him. He made the record books!

Posted 1 September 2016, 11:37 p.m. Suggest removal

realfreethinker says...

You think the plp is that out of touch to nominate this piece of work ?

Posted 2 September 2016, 8:21 a.m. Suggest removal

EasternGate says...

Boy, sit your wrinkled A,,, down!

Posted 2 September 2016, 12:43 p.m. Suggest removal

sheeprunner12 says...

The gerrymandering has begun .............. will they split Cat Island and MICAL as well????? ............ this is going to be a hilarious six or seven months before Perry submits the final boundary report

Posted 5 September 2016, 3:52 p.m. Suggest removal

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