EDITOR, The Tribune

BASED on Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis’ comments to Crooked Islanders about Pineridge MP Frederick McAlpine wanting Grand Bahamians to suffer, it is safe to assume that there’s a disconnect between the two. McAlpine is an MP for a constituency in Grand Bahama. I also believe he is an indigenous Grand Bahamian. If Minnis sincerely believes that the Pineridge MP is dead set against seeing his constituents prosper financially, McAlpine will face an uphill battle in securing another nomination from the FNM, seeing that his relationship with the FNM leader is frosty. Now that he’s publicly stated that McAlpine does not have Grand Bahamians’ best interest at heart, it would be awkward of Minnis to field him again as a candidate in 2022. Rival contestants in Pineridge would only have to remind voters of what Minnis said about the FNM standard bearer.

McAlpine has openly opposed several FNM policies. He opposed Minnis’ plan to accommodate students from the Caribbean island nation of Dominica, after their country was devastated by Hurricane Maria in 2017. The Pineridge MP also opposed the VAT increase and the purchase of the Grand Lucayan Resort.

All things considered, the beleaguered FNM MP seems to enjoy playing the role of a nonconformist. McAlpine, despite telling the press that his relationship with the other Grand Bahama FNM MPs is amicable, will probably find himself being increasingly isolated within the party he claims to support, but enjoys opposing at every given opportunity. It would be economic suicide for any of the FNM parliamentarians to fraternise with him or to lend moral support to his anti-FNM campaign. East Grand Bahama MP K Peter Turnquest is not only the substantive minister of finance, but also deputy prime minister. Central Grand Bahama MP Iram Lewis is parliamentary secretary in the Ministry of Public Works. Marco City MP Michael Pintard is minister of youth, sports and culture. West Grand Bahama and Bimini MP Parkesia Parker-Edgecombe is parliamentary secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister. Senator Jasmine Dareus is deputy director of Urban Renewal Grand Bahama and Bimini. And Senator Kwasi Thompson is the minister of state for Grand Bahama in the Office of the Prime Minister. 

McAlpine is the only sitting FNM parliamentarian on Grand Bahama without a Cabinet post. None of his FNM parliamentary colleagues will risk losing their good paying jobs by demonstrating solidarity with the outspoken MP, who recently lost his Hotel Corporation chairmanship position after voting against the increase of VAT.

Hence, the reason I believe McAlpine will experience isolation within the FNM over the next three and a half years. While his Grand Bahama FNM colleagues are collecting two monthly cheques from the government, McAlpine is only collecting one monthly MP cheque, which is about $2,150. Maybe this is one reason he has demonstrated hostility towards the Minnis administration.

KEVIN EVANS

Freeport, GB

October 10, 2018