Phillips’ Senate appointee says blocking Bunting had nothing to do with PNP’s $10-million debt

As the Senate appointment debacle continues to unfold within the People’s National Party (PNP), Norman Horne has responded to yesterday’s revelation that his actions have prevented Peter Bunting from taking a seat in the Upper House of Parliament.

In a statement this morning, Horne took PNP President Mark Golding to task, accusing him of taking a “dismissive and dictatorial approach” to leadrship.

In his statement, Horne claimed the Opposition Leader’s style is responsible for a widening divide within the party, and that Golding should consider taking a more conciliatory approach.

He also stressed that, while he did raise the issue of $10 million owed to him by the party with its president, it had nothing to do with his decision to hold off on his earlier made promise to decline appointment to the Senate.

READ: More PNP woes: Norman Horne blocks Peter Bunting’s Senate appointment

Ahead of the November 7 presidential election, Horne, who had been named to the Senate by outgoing party president Dr Peter Phillips, said he would not take up the appointment as he believed whoever became the new president should have a free hand to appoint their own team.

See full statement:

It is incorrect and irresponsible to link an October 7, 2020 letter to the former General Secretary of the People’s National Party to whether or not I will take the Senate oath. That October letter was an administrative accounting of the Party’s revolving debt beginning in 2015 and not a request for immediate repayment of the sum.  It was written before the 2020 presidential race and before the October 10, 2020 media release stating my intention to decline the senate appointment. Let me categorically state that:

1. It is unfortunate and manipulative that anyone would seek to create a nexus between letters written in October 2020 and the issue of my impending resignation from the Senate;

2. At no time have I requested from the Party leader, Mark Golding, or any Officer of the Party the repayment of the outstanding sum; 

3. In responding to a WhatsApp message from the Party Leader, I sought an acknowledgement and payment plan for the existing debt which is completely different from what is being erroneously purported; and 

4.  Following his election, at no time has the Party Leader, the General Secretary or any Officer of the Party requested a meeting with me to discuss my resignation from the senate. My only communication with the Party Leader has been by WhatsApp, the contents of which he is at liberty to share. 

For full disclosure, I have had reason to pause. I am particularly disheartened by the conduct of the Party Leader and his inner circle which is not at all aligned with his pledge of unity. Many of us assumed that the unity pledge was made in good faith and that a genuine effort would be made by both the Leader and his team.  There is no place for arrogance if it is that the leadership intends to unite.

It must be more than talk and not a public smokescreen. It must go to the core of the movement. 

During this time, I would humbly advise that the Leader take a conciliatory, as opposed to a dismissive and dictatorial, approach. He should communicate with party members with respect and sincerity. WhatsApp is not an appropriate means of communication for matters deemed to be of the highest importance by either the Party Leader or by any comrade. Respect begets respect.

It is for these reasons that there is a widening divide within the PNP, and also why 3 of the 14 Members of Parliament did not endorse the Party Leader’s letter to the Governor General to affirm him as the Leader of the Opposition. 

Additionally, there is extreme concern that at this point the Party is still unable to adhere to the principle of managing internal issues without taking these issues to the media. Subterfuge and “unnamed sources” remain the order of the day. Senator Damion Crawford is the latest victim of what seems to be a one-sided effort to leak private communications to undermine the credibility of senior comrades and the Party at large. 

The party President is right in his edict that to be a good political leader one must not simply be “a nice guy” since any such charade would be counterproductive. Team Leadership is an art that entails effective communication skills, soberness, emotional intelligence, impartiality self-assessment, sincere reconciliation and utmost authenticity.

It is early days under Mr. Golding’s leadership and at this stage, I still trust that he will take every opportunity to learn the parameters on how to relate to the membership in the most appropriate way. Disrespect will never give birth to unity. Any matter that is unresolved must be resolved in keeping with the principles and true spirit of Team Leadership.