National

Tribune Fires Back After MP Claims His Comments Were Misrepresented

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Member of Parliament for Southern Shores, Leroy Major, is now appearing to walk back controversial remarks he made during an interview with The Tribune newspaper last week.

Published

6 months ago

June 11, 2025

Delvardo Emmanuel

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Member of Parliament for Southern Shores, Leroy Major, is now appearing to walk back controversial remarks he made during an interview with The Tribune newspaper last week.

Taking a point of order in the House of Assembly on Tuesday afternoon, Major claimed that his comments were misinterpreted and taken out of context.

Leroy Major – Member of Parliament, Southern Shores:
“It has nothing to do with Southern Shores being disenfranchised by any sitting Cabinet minister, it had everything to do with Leroy Major being nominated for the next general election.”

However, following Major’s statement in Parliament, The Tribune responded by releasing the unedited audio of the interview to support their original reporting. The recording was published on the Tribune News Network’s Facebook page and appears to show the MP expressing frustration with what he perceives as a lack of support for backbenchers like himself.

Leroy Major – Member of Parliament, Southern Shores (audio):
“Once we know what the priorities are, and even though we are not around the table, our priorities [should be] around the table. And they could be discussed, and they could be delivered, you know. But you cannot, we cannot, fight the Peter, the very particular minister who sits around the [table], trying to get his constituency up and running. But it got to be fair play to the backbenchers whose voices are not heard.”

Even when pressed by the reporter during the interview, Major doubled down on his critique of how resources are being distributed within the Progressive Liberal Party.

Leroy Major – Member of Parliament, Southern Shores:
“Backbenchers have not gotten the support they’ve needed from the government, the PLP government, and we have expressed those concerns to party officials. And I think it all boils down to priority. I think they use what is available to them for their advantage, when it should be used on a national level, for the national advantage.”

Opposition Leader Michael Pintard weighed in on the controversy Tuesday morning, telling reporters that the MP can’t undo what he said, no matter the clarification.

Michael Pintard – Leader, Free National Movement:
“At the end of the day, he spoke, so he’s unable to take that back. And I regret a man of his stature, who’s a minister in the church and a representative of an entire constituency, was bullied into reciting a line that no doubt the party wrote for him.”

But Pintard wasn’t done. He criticized what he called a pattern of political stunts within the PLP and offered advice to Major.

Michael Pintard – Leader, Free National Movement:
“We just encourage him to remain courageous. Politicians come and go, and what you will have when it all has passed is your reputation. And also, the children who will look at you and ask, ‘Did mommy or daddy stand up when things were not going right?’ Things are not going right.”

The situation has reignited conversations about internal party dynamics, transparency, and the role of backbenchers in influencing national priorities.