By EARYEL BOWLEG

Tribune Staff Reporter

ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

PROGRESSIVE Liberal Party chairman Fred Mitchell said the party’s leader has ordered a review of all campaign practices after Chief Medical Officer Dr Pearl McMillan said gatherings should not be taking place outside of Emergency Order protocols. 

When asked about the issue, Free National Movement (FNM) chairman Carl Culmer would only tell The Tribune he is “complying with the what the government is saying”.

During a Ministry of Health press conference on Wednesday, Dr McMillan said “there should not be gatherings that are above and beyond what is agreed upon in the Emergency Orders.”

“Those types of gatherings should not be occurring and certainly individuals have a responsibility to protect themselves and others by not availing themselves of such events, be they political, be they a party, be they a gathering of family,” she added. 

Yesterday, the PLP chairman issued a statement saying the party “takes note of the public comments” attributed to the Chief Medical Officer regarding “political gatherings in the current COVID environment and attendant health and safety regulations.”

“In light of these comments, the leader of the Progressive Liberal Party has ordered a review of all the campaign practices,” Mr Mitchell said. “In all campaign activities, the party seeks to adhere to all of the health and safety protocols already in place.

“Specifically, the leadership is directing all campaign teams to remind all canvassers and pollsters of the protocols, to reinforce them by ensuring consistent compliance. Principal among these health and safety practices are the wearing of a mask, proper and frequent hand sanitising and physical distancing.”

He added: “Further, canvassers are urged where possible to speak to electors or constituents on or from the outside of their homes. The party is also reviewing outside political gatherings to ensure that the exuberance of the campaign does not violate these rules. We have also caused for a manual to be printed which offers guidance to campaign teams as we reinforce these COVID-19 rules. Upon further review, we will amend as necessary.”

Meanwhile, the FNM’s chairman was asked if he was going to put out a statement on the political gatherings issue.

“The government has issued a statement on gatherings,” Mr Culmer told The Tribune. “No, I will not be sending out any statement on local gatherings because I’m complying with the what the government is saying.

“The government gave parameters on gatherings,” he also said. 

There has been major backlash over both political parties having large gatherings while there are still COVID-19 restrictions are in place.

After receiving 33,600 additional doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine last month, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis urged Bahamians to follow social distancing protocols, especially during the Easter holiday period.

When asked to respond to criticisms of the hypocrisy of his calls for small gatherings while large political gatherings are occurring, Dr Minnis said at the time: “You would’ve seen them still spacing out somewhat and each and every one, regardless of the political organisation, each and every one was wearing a mask.”