I have been full of praise for the way the Progressives (PPM) government led by Hon. Alden McLaughlin has performed over the last 7-8 months and my fears from what happened when they were in power before have not materialised.

Then they refused to listen to the very people who supported them.

Alden McLaughlin has always been perceived as being lukewarm to the One Man, One Vote despite his denials.

The Electoral Boundary Commission’s recommendations for 18 single member constituencies (SMCs) were ‘adopted’ by the Progressives in their run up to the May 2013 elections and I heard their candidates actually mention these recommendations when they were campaigning on the district platforms.

It was a VERY popular topic. One Man, One Vote or Single Member Constituencies (SMC’s).

The 18 member SMCs was very simple and it was recommended by two different boundary commissions. The overwhelming large proportion of the public welcomed it.

UNFORTUNATELY and I place this in capital letters as I fear this is a HUGE political mistake the premier has told the Legislative Assembly that whilst his government still supports the idea of ‘equality of franchise’ for voters it will be modifying the SMCs.

This is UNFORTUNATELY not unexpected.

McLaughlin said there were concerns amongst the Progressive and independent members of government over alleged anomalies thrown up by constituencies with very small numbers of voters.

What McLaughlin said was, however, not minor modifications at all. If he pushes through what he is suggesting –increasing the seats to 19 or creating 14 or 15 constituencies and then having four or five ‘at large’ candidates – will mean a new boundary commission and delay the whole of its implementation.

And this is what McLaughlin’s ‘enemies’ have been saying all along. When he (McLauhlin) gets in they told me he will delay the One Man One Vote and it won’t be in place at the next election.

I said I hoped his team would set him straight as that would be political suicide.

The premier is putting the blame on the non PPM members and he has to accommodate their opinions.

You cannot please everybody Mr. Premier but you had better please your supporters. You didn’t last time around and you know what happened then.

The ‘retreat’ you have admitted is unfortunately not unexpected.