bahamiangoddess
07-01-08, - 11:14 AM
July 1st, 2008
PLP Says Collie’s Resignation Not Enough
By Quincy Parker
The Progressive Liberal Party’s response to Blue Hills MP Sidney Collie’s resignation on Monday morning was that it proved the PLP had been right about the seriousness of the mistakes that had been made with regard to the recent local government elections.
The Progressive Liberal Party’s response to Blue Hills MP Sidney Collie’s resignation on Monday morning was that it proved the PLP had been right about the seriousness of the mistakes that had been made with regard to the recent local government elections.
The party also said his resignation from the Cabinet was not enough.
The PLP is also questioning the constitutionality of a proposed law that would retroactively rectify the problems associated with the recent local government elections.
Mr. Collie, who had Cabinet responsibility for lands and local government, resigned his post in the Ingraham Cabinet during the morning session of the House of Assembly, citing the requirement that ministers take responsibility for their actions and inaction.
Immediately following the morning session of the House, the PLP gathered in conclave in the minority room to hash out a statement on the resignation.
"We always understood the matter to be one of fundamental importance touching and concerning principles we cherish as a people. This resignation proves that we were right and [we are] proud to have stood up for democracy and the rule of law," the statement said.
Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham on Monday tabled a bill for an Act to Modify Provisions of the Local Government Act in its Application to Elections 2008.
The PLP took issue with that proposed legislation.
"It is therefore with great concern that [we] note that the government has laid in Parliament [on Monday a bill] which would have the effect of retroactively regularizing any irregularities and noncompliance with the Local Government Act relative to elections held on June 26, 2008," the statement said.
"The purported effect of this may be to deprive citizens of their right of action that might have accrued arising out of noncompliance with the law. Our lawyers are reviewing this matter to see if the proposed new legislation meets the test of constitutionality."
The PLP ended its press statement bluntly.
"The resignation by Sidney Collie alone is not good enough," the PLP said. "The government must accept responsibility for these serious errors."
The PLP issued only a brief written statement on Mr. Collie’s resignation, despite having called for that resignation only a day before. When questioned, PLP spokespersons explained that the party didn’t want to be seen to be gloating over Mr. Collie’s resignation, especially as his (Collie’s) integrity had never been in question.
PLP Chairman Glenys Hanna Martin on Sunday called for Mr. Collie’s resignation over what she said was the mishandling of the recent local government elections, which took place in some of the Family Islands last week.
Elections were not held in Acklins, Mangrove Cay, Hope Town, Crooked Island & Rum Cay, Central Andros, Bimini, Exuma, Mayaguana and West End after Supreme Court Justice Jon Isaacs ruled that the minister failed to act within the law as it regards the laying of local government ministerial notices on the tables of both houses of parliament, and the proper "Gazetting" of those orders.
PLP Says Collie’s Resignation Not Enough
By Quincy Parker
The Progressive Liberal Party’s response to Blue Hills MP Sidney Collie’s resignation on Monday morning was that it proved the PLP had been right about the seriousness of the mistakes that had been made with regard to the recent local government elections.
The Progressive Liberal Party’s response to Blue Hills MP Sidney Collie’s resignation on Monday morning was that it proved the PLP had been right about the seriousness of the mistakes that had been made with regard to the recent local government elections.
The party also said his resignation from the Cabinet was not enough.
The PLP is also questioning the constitutionality of a proposed law that would retroactively rectify the problems associated with the recent local government elections.
Mr. Collie, who had Cabinet responsibility for lands and local government, resigned his post in the Ingraham Cabinet during the morning session of the House of Assembly, citing the requirement that ministers take responsibility for their actions and inaction.
Immediately following the morning session of the House, the PLP gathered in conclave in the minority room to hash out a statement on the resignation.
"We always understood the matter to be one of fundamental importance touching and concerning principles we cherish as a people. This resignation proves that we were right and [we are] proud to have stood up for democracy and the rule of law," the statement said.
Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham on Monday tabled a bill for an Act to Modify Provisions of the Local Government Act in its Application to Elections 2008.
The PLP took issue with that proposed legislation.
"It is therefore with great concern that [we] note that the government has laid in Parliament [on Monday a bill] which would have the effect of retroactively regularizing any irregularities and noncompliance with the Local Government Act relative to elections held on June 26, 2008," the statement said.
"The purported effect of this may be to deprive citizens of their right of action that might have accrued arising out of noncompliance with the law. Our lawyers are reviewing this matter to see if the proposed new legislation meets the test of constitutionality."
The PLP ended its press statement bluntly.
"The resignation by Sidney Collie alone is not good enough," the PLP said. "The government must accept responsibility for these serious errors."
The PLP issued only a brief written statement on Mr. Collie’s resignation, despite having called for that resignation only a day before. When questioned, PLP spokespersons explained that the party didn’t want to be seen to be gloating over Mr. Collie’s resignation, especially as his (Collie’s) integrity had never been in question.
PLP Chairman Glenys Hanna Martin on Sunday called for Mr. Collie’s resignation over what she said was the mishandling of the recent local government elections, which took place in some of the Family Islands last week.
Elections were not held in Acklins, Mangrove Cay, Hope Town, Crooked Island & Rum Cay, Central Andros, Bimini, Exuma, Mayaguana and West End after Supreme Court Justice Jon Isaacs ruled that the minister failed to act within the law as it regards the laying of local government ministerial notices on the tables of both houses of parliament, and the proper "Gazetting" of those orders.