One of three guests on Island FM’s talk show “Parliament Street’, Mr. Allen, a former Minister of Housing said it would be very interesting to hear what took place when the story begins to unfold.
Mr. Allen said he did not know whether the prime minister can remain silent after what was said by Senator Key.
“There is what we call the ‘black herald’ in this country which tells many a story, and I do believe that when the whole story is unfold then there will be a reassessment of the pureness of heart of Mr. Key in that situation as well. I am suspecting that from what I am gathering,” he said.
Although he has yet to submit a formal resignation to Senate President Sharon Wilson, Senator Edison Key said Tuesday that Prime Minister Perry Christie should not have been “surprised” as he wrote him to that effect over a month ago.
However, reports indicated that PLP leaders and others in the Senate only found out about his resignation on Monday following an interview with the Bahama Journal, in which Mr. Key said he would give the government “three out of ten” for its performance. Senator Key, citing disenchantment over the direction of the Progressive Liberal Party was taking, said he resigned on January 10, and explained his reasons in a seven-page, hand-delivered letter to Mr. Christie. The Prime Minister told the media that he has never seen the letter.
Mr. Key noted that he will remain a member of the Progressive Liberal Party.
In a statement released by Mr. Christie late Tuesday afternoon stated that he was surprised and disappointed in Mr. Key’s departure, which he learned from press reports.
“Mr. Key is a stalwart of the Progressive Liberal Party and a long-time warrior of our great organisation. The recent reports are all the more surprising since Mr. Key has always fought on the side of our party in our avowed interest to do the greatest good for the greatest number of the least fortunate amongst the Bahamian people,” Mr. Christie’s statement said, adding that “this is the tradition of public service in which Mr. Key stood with our party these many years.”
Also a guest speaker on the show, Criminologist Dr. Elliston Rahming said the prime minister is one of those persons who is very secure in his position and has been able to take public criticisms very well.
“Edison Key came out and he said what he said about the party, about the prime minister, and the next day he was in a meeting with the prime minister,” said Dr. Rahming, who is also the Special Assistant to the Prime Minister.
Information reaching the Guardian stated that even though Mr. Key met with three Cabinet ministers last week, he held fast to relinquishing his senatorial position.
Mr. Key admitted that he had not submitted a letter of resignation to Senate president Sharon Wilson, as mandated by law, saying he considered it appropriated to approach Mr. Christie first.
In an interview with The Guardian, Mrs. Wilson confirmed: “I have not received anything from him, I have not seen him… according to the law, he is still a senator.”
Keva Lightbourne, The Nassau Guardian
