PAGE 6, Monday, August 8, 2016
THE TRIBUNE
Sears bids for PLP leadership from page one
crime within our borders and establishing a system of transparent and accountable governance among many other progressive reforms,” he said in a statement yesterday. Mr Sears told The Tribune he notified Mr Christie and PLP chairman Bradley Roberts about his decision to contest the leadership of the party. He met with members of his constituency branch yesterday evening to discuss the matter with them. He said he will present comprehensive plans for the country in the upcoming months and enhancing government transparency and accountability is expected to be one major plank of his agenda. It is a potential sore spot for the Christie Administration, which has made no apparent progress towards creating campaign finance laws or addressing concerns about the transparency of the country’s contract procurement process, two matters that have long been a priority to stakeholders. Mr Sears is also expected to argue strongly for greater devolution of the Prime
Minister’s powers and for an expansion in the scope of local government. “This campaign will present a transformative vision for the Progressive Liberal Party and The Bahamas,” he said in his statement yesterday. “The campaign will not make any personal and negative attacks on anyone.” It is often said that the PLP’s election process is stacked in favour of the party’s leader. There are many stalwart councillors in the party who are of advanced age and have the ability to vote in the convention. They are more likely to have had relationships with Mr Christie, who has been a parliamentarian for more than 40 years, than they are with Mr Sears, who has served in government for ten years. Asked if he has concerns about the fairness of the PLP’s election process, Mr Sears said: “I, as well as every other candidate who will step forward, will be provided a level playing field and a fair process. Our great party should have the confidence to ensure that any contest for its leadership is fair and democratic. I’m confident that the delegates of the PLP are patriots of the Commonwealth
of the Bahamas and when they hear the manner that I want to take the country in they will support me.” Mr Sears is a respected figure in the PLP and within the legal community. He was encouraged by the PLP constituency branch of Fort Charlotte to return to frontline politics last year after members grew frustrated with their representative, Dr Andre Rollins, who has since left the PLP. If not for the prodding of the party, it is unclear if Mr Sears would have returned to frontline politics in 2017 and therefore challenge Mr Christie. Mr Sears was Attorney General from 2002 to 2006 and Minister of Education from 2002 to 2007. He also served as Chairman of the Council of the College of The Bahamas between 2012 and 2016. In his statement yesterday he said: “During my tenure as member of parliament, attorney general and minister of education, I learned the complexities of governance in our society, the challenges in addressing the concerns of working class Bahamians. Further, I gained a deep appreciation of the urgent need to reform our governance
process, better incentivise Bahamian entrepreneurship and extend private public partnerships.” Mr Sears is currently the managing partner of Sears & Co, the law firm he established in 1992. He told The Tribune yesterday that he anticipates receiving notable endorsements in the upcoming months. Nonetheless, the PLP has not held a convention since 2009, despite the party’s constitutional mandate to hold one every year. The last convention held in 2009 showed how deep support for Mr Christie runs in the party. He won 1,158 votes in a landslide victory over Dr Nottage, who received 204 votes. Mr Moss, an attorney viewed as an outsider, won 23 votes and later left the party. Mr Christie stirred controversy recently when he said he seeks to remain leader of the PLP to provide stability to the party and because young members in government have urged him to continue on. While it is unknown if others will step forward to challenge Mr Christie, Deputy Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis is often seen as another potential challenger.
ALFRED SEARS
SMITH TO COMPLAIN OVER MOSS CLAIMS OF ‘FORUM SHOPPING’ from page one
these accusations that I have somehow participated in some corrupt exercise to take my cases before the court. I think Mr Moss is a disgrace to the profession. He is an officer of the Supreme Court and should know better than to make wild, unsubstantiated accusations against myself who is a Queen’s Counsel of Her Majesty, who has been in the profession for 40 years and who no one has ever had the indecency to accuse of having bribed a judge before. “In his pursuit of demagoguery and bellicose pontification, he has sunk to one of the lowest levels I’ve seen a politician sink to in the Bahamas. If he has any courage, if he stands by what he says, let him come out of Parliament and say it to my face because I will
GREG Moss in the House of Assembly last week. Photo: Tim Clarke/ Tribune Staff sue him for criminal libel, for defamation and make a formal complaint to the Bar to have him disbarred.” “This is the most vicious thing I have heard anybody say about me.” Mr Smith also said he doesn’t have many cases before Justice Charles. “I have been appearing before Justice Bain in many STB cases, before Justice Weekes on Bruno Rufa’s judicial reviews, Justice Evans on Kelly’s and other customs judicial reviews,
Justice Longley on responsible development for the Abaco case, etc. He needs to get his facts straight before he starts maligning me and by implication suggesting that the judge was involved in corrupt practices. He is scandalising the court and I call on the attorney general to consider issuing proceedings for his contempt in scandalising the Supreme Court.” For his part, Mr Johnson said the matter shows that Parliamentarians must not
abuse parliamentary privilege. “If they have a concern I think the more responsible thing to do is bring it to the attention of the Chief Justice,” he said on Friday. “Absolutely no one in the Bahamas can question Justice Indra Charles’ commitment to the rule of law. No one can question her independence, fearlessness, impartiality. When making comments we should be very careful that it does not undermine public confidence in the administration of justice. Mr Johnson said: “People sometimes use Parliament to say and do as they like but we must be responsible in our commentary. If you feel there is forum shopping, which suggests you can get a certain result from this person, you make a complaint. Put a report together and have it brought to the attention of the Chief Justice.”
MAN IS STABBED TO DEATH IN THE STREET from page one
According to reports, police and EMS personnel were called to an area near
a business establishment on East Sunrise Highway shortly after 4am, where they discovered a man lying in the street with stab wounds in his upper body. EMS personnel took the victim to the Rand Memorial Hospital, where he later died of his injuries.
He is the 64th person to be murdered in the Bahamas in 2016, according to The Tribune’s records. Police are investigating and are appealing to anyone with information that can assist them to call 3503107 through 12, 911, 919 or the nearest police station.
POSITION AVAILABLE
Abaco Pine (www.Abacopine.com) is seeking a new
Sales Manager for the Bahamas
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Designing and implementing a strategic sales plan that expands company’s customer base and ensures its strong presence Build and promote strong, longlasting customer relationships by partnering with them and understanding their needs Present sales reports and realistic forecasts to the management team Identify emerging markets and market shifts while being fully aware of new products and competition status
Abaco Pine will provide the new Sales Manager on the job training in the manufacturing and properties of the product. Please forward applications to: info@abacopine.com