Free National Movement (FNM) Chairman Darron Cash yesterday alleged that prior to the May 7 General Election a Department of Local Government official advised Greg Gomez that his application to work as a Family Island administrator had been approved, but after the election told him he would not be appointed because he was an FNM.
Mr. Gomez is the FNM’s candidate in the October 15 bye-election.
Mr. Cash said yesterday that Mr. Gomez applied for a job as an assistant Family Island administrator in early 2012.
In April 2012, he said the Under Secretary in the Department of Local Government, Rena Glinton, advised the administrator at Marsh Harbour, Cephas Cooper, that Mr. Gomez’s application had been approved and that he should begin his training and that the paperwork would follow.
“After the general elections, with the paperwork having not been received and wanting to give Mr. Gomez some compensation, Administrator Cooper placed him on the 52-week programme,” Mr. Cash said.
“Having not received his appointment as a Family Island administrator, Mr. Gomez made an appointment to see Minister Alfred Gray at his office in Nassau. As he arrived at the minister’s office, Mr. Gray was leaving. He approached Mr. Gray, who denied he had given him an appointment. Mr. Gomez said that he would wait. After a while, Ms. Glinton saw him and suggested that he write a letter to Minister Gray asking him to give him his job back, which he did.”
Mr. Cash continued, “In that conversation with Ms. Glinton, she told him that the reason why he was not appointed was because ‘they said that you are red.’ These are the unvarnished facts.”
Red is the FNM party’s official colour.
The Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) has taken repeatedly taken Mr. Gomez to task for taking part in the government’s 52-week job programme even though he is over the age of 30.
Mr. Gomez is 39.
He is also currently unemployed.
FNM Leader Dr. Hubert Minnis has confirmed that Mr. Gomez is working full-time on his campaign.
Mr. Cash also weighed in yesterday.
“As disclosed, Mr. Gomez is an educator and minister. He is presently engaged in the campaign on a full-time basis. He joins the long list of Family Islanders who put personal ambition aside and make enormous personal sacrifices in order to serve their communities,” he told The Journal.
