The Free National Movement (FNM) is defending its decision to recommend Bahamians vote ‘No’ on both referendum questions.

In a press statement yesterday, FNM Chairman Darren Cash said his party disagrees with those who claim the Opposition’s position is “bringing politics” into this important national debate.

“The FNM’s position is that the recommendation of a ‘no’ vote is not about party politics; it is about the national interest,” the release said.

“This process has been such an embarrassing disaster; a failure that the only reasonable course left is for the government to go back to the drawing board and start over. That is where we are today. People are lost, confused and in need of answers from their government. No straight or credible answers have been forthcoming.”

The FNM initially sought to steer clear of making the January 28 gambling referendum political and instead allow Bahamians to use their conscience to decide.

But last Wednesday during a press conference at the party’s Mackey Street headquarters, FNM Leader. Dr. Hubert Minnis said based on everything that has transpired, the referendum seems fixed, flawed and is a “royal mess.”

“Given the tremendous lack of meaningful information, the government’s incompetence and legitimate questions about a corrupted process, the Free National Movement has concluded that it will recommend that the Bahamian people vote ‘No’ on question number,” Dr. Minnis said at the time.

“We believe the question appears to be fixed to enable the Christie government to do whatever it wants if the answer is ‘Yes’.”

Dr. Minnis added that there is too much wrong with what the government has proposed in the referendum, which he claims stems from the “incestuous relationship between the top numbers men and the government.”