Although he refused to provide evidence of his claims, Free National Movement Leader Tommy Turnquest today accused the Progressive Liberal Party Government of using drug money to fund its recent election campaign.
But a high-ranking government official denied those charges as “utter nonsense.”
In his first public statement for the new year, Mr. Turnquest said, “Throughout the latter part of last year, and now into 2003, there have been persistent reports and allegations that the Progressive Liberal Party during the 2002 election campaign received substantial election financing from drug-related quarters.”
He was addressing a press conference held at his party’s Mackey Street headquarters in which he addressed a number of issues he said were of national interest.
He said the FNM has observed some disturbing actions and appearances recently by high-ranking PLPs at events attended by persons with known-drug related associations, “which lend credibility to the reports received.”
Mr. Turnquest was making a clear reference to Glen Rolle, a well-known PLP supporter who died recently. Mr. Rolle had reportedly been linked to drug activity.
Former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham also pointed to the attendance of Prime Minister Christie at Mr. Rolle’s funeral in November, when he advised Mr. Christie late last year not to attend funerals that he does not have to attend.
Deputy Prime Minister Cynthia Pratt immediately dismissed Mr. Turnquest’s allegations, accusing him of playing dirty politics.
Speaking to the Bahama Journal from her downtown office, Minister Pratt said, “I don’t know where the leader of the opposition is coming from. I don’t know what his allegations are all about or where he is headed with this, but as far as I know, no drug money has been used to fund the PLP.
She said it was “so wrong” that the FNM would persist in such charges.
“If there is wrongdoing, certainly, you will find out sooner or later. We don’t need to go into this kind of foolishness. We are trying to use other people’s brush to paint everybody and that is wrong.”
Mr. Turnquest said this morning that, “Particularly, reports reaching the Free National Movement indicate that the PLP received substantial campaign funding from known drug related sources and personalities in Eleuthera, Grand Bahama, Bimini, and in New Providence.
“We are advised that vast amounts of “narco-dollars” fuelled the PLP’s election campaign, and in fact, many of those persons have been bragging about the amount of money that they gave to the PLP’s campaign.”
Mr. Turnquest said these allegations and reports are “highly disturbing.”
He called on Prime Minister Perry Christie to “firmly and truthfully confirm, or deny, that his party received campaign funding from such drug-related sources.”
In his first public statement of the new year, Mr. Turnquest said the FNM is particularly concerned that the Bahamas does not once again become tarnished with a drug-tainted reputation.
This is not the first time that the FNM has accused the Progressive Liberal Party of using drug money to fund its election campaign. In one of the final rallies of the campaign season last year, former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham implied that drug money was being used in the campaign.
A high-ranking police official told the Bahama Journal recently that law enforcement officials have “credible” information that drug money was used in the election campaign, although he did not specify any one party.
These allegations come as the government attempts to guard against the Bahamas once again gaining a reputation as a haven for drug lords.
Mr. Turnquest said, “We call upon the Government to act swiftly and decisively in dispelling this notion. We cannot afford to have the decent reputation of our country, which was restored through diligence under the FNM Government, destroyed once more.”
The Bahama Journal
