Free National Movement Leader Tommy Turnquest today advised the government against sending mixed signals to the international community by expressing anti-foreign sentiments, associating with suspected criminals and shifting its relations with communist Cuba.
Senator Turnquest said when the Attorney General refuses to prosecute a major drug case, the international community takes note.
“When Cabinet Minister and government MP’s promote anti-foreign sentiments the international community constantly takes notes,” he said.
“When our Prime Minister and Cabinet Minister appear at public events connected with suspected criminals or drug lords, the international community again takes note.
“And when the Bahamas subtly alters its relations with Cuba without public policy statement, the international community, particularly in the United States, takes note.”
Mr. Turnquest prefaced his remarks by saying that on matters of national security and international relations the Free National Movement does not take a partisan position.
His party, he said, only wants what is in the nation’s best interest. Mr. Turnquest’s remarks were interrupted by PLP senators Philip Galanis and Damien Gomez, who asked Senate President Sharon Wilson to prevent him from delivering a communication rather than speaking to bill to Amend the Real Property Tax Act.
His statements came days after former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham advised Prime Minister Perry Christie to be careful which funerals he chooses to speak at.
Mr. Ingraham’s remarks pointed clearly to Mr. Christie’s recent attendance at a funeral for Glen Rolle, who was reportedly connected to drug activity.
Senator Turnquest’s statement today also pointed to the same issue. Since attendeding Rolle’s funeral last month, Mr. Christie has been roundly criticized by his detractors.
Some have even suggested that the prime minister’s presence at that funeral in Bimini helped trigger stinging remarks made recently by U.S. Ambassador to the Bahamas J. Richard Blankenship, who criticized Bahamian authorities during a meeting for not doing enough to fight drug trafficking.
Senator Turnquest said obviously, the United States used that joint drug task force setting to “send a strong message to the Bahamas.”
By Tosheena Blair, The Bahama Journal
