Free National Movement (FNM) Chairman Darren Cash “loves the sound of his voice,” and should not criticise the prime minister on his stance on ethics, according to Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Chairman Bradley Roberts.

Mr. Roberts was referring to comments Mr. Cash made last week where he criticised a speech Prime Minister Perry Christie made at a workshop at the University College of the Cayman Islands (UCCI) on ethics and corruption in government.

The aim of the conference is to raise awareness of the potential for corruption and the decline in ethical standards across various sectors of society and the consequent damaging effects on economies and social harmony.

However, the FNM chairman said Prime Minister Christie lacks the credibility to have given such an important presentation.

But now, Mr. Roberts said this is a simple case of the pot calling the kettle black.

“Was he not listening when it was revealed that a significant amount of the residents of North Abaco were enrolled in the FNM inspired 52-weeks jobs training program,” Mr. Roberts asked.

“Where was he when it was revealed in the House that the FNM government issued a long term contract to the friends of former Prime Minister (Hubert) Ingraham on May 7, 2012, the day of the general election? The FNM candidate for Cat Island in the last general election was one of the signatories on a contract for public works within the constituency he was contesting. Where was Cash when this was revealed in the House of Assembly? So egregious and abusive were the displays of state power by the FNM government in the run up to the last general election that Prime Minister Christie foreshadowed legislation aimed at restricting executive powers in the area of contract administration in order to preserve the integrity of the democratic and electoral processes.”

The PLP chairman said Mr. Cash and many FNM parliamentarians continue to have much to say about the gender abuse analogy the Member for Tall Pines made in the House, but failed then and fail today to find their collective voices of outrage and condemnation of the physical assault of a parliamentarian in the precincts of the House by one of their own no less.

“I can only conclude that in the warped mind and world of Mr. Cash, his leader Dr. Minnis and their colleagues, the big, bad FNM is above the law and can do no wrong; even when the evidence is clear that the FNM is wrong, they are still right because in their minds and in their world, they can do no wrong,” Mr. Roberts said.

“That is tragic and pathetic. As for the prime minister, his record and legacy of integrity are well documented and intact after almost 40 years of continuous public service. It was none other than the prime minister who introduced the culture of participatory democracy through expansive consultation – one of the purest forms of transparency and a pillar of democracy. The PLP supports the prime minister and his government’s policy of not evicting mortgagees of the Bahamas Mortgage Corporation who have fallen on hard times.”

He also applauded the government for its work in ensuring that Bahamians have the bare necessities.

“Bahamas Electricity Corporation (BEC) Chairman Leslie Miller is to be commended for the policies and interventions of BEC to keep the power on at thousands of Bahamian homes through customer friendly payment plans,” he said.

“It is advisable to all and sundry that our government is useless to our people if it cannot and fails to reach out its arms of compassion to assist the Bahamian people at their weakest and most vulnerable. The PLP understands this and will continue to reach out to assist those in need.”