BlytheFORMER WATER and Housing Minister, Dr. Karl Blythe, is on the warpath, fighting for his political life.
At a constituency meeting at the Caledonia All-Age School on Thursday night, the embattled politician strongly condemned the Angus Commission report which led to his resignation from the Cabinet, while giving notice that he was prepared to defend his seat.
Dr. Blythe while calling for his constituents to rally behind him, said no one, apart from the people of Central Westmoreland could remove him as Member of Parliament, and that he was prepared for anyone to challenge him on that.
He referred to the Angus report as being based on uninformed opinion, and said he would be exposing it for what it was.
"This report is reflecting the opinion of the members of the commission. The same detractors who influenced the first report are the same ones they sat and listen to again and they put down their opinions and call it their findings," said Dr. Blythe.
"But I say persons who put this report together have done so from an uninformed position and apparently did not take the time to inform themselves; the material with the information was right before them, they could have asked for it."
Speaking like an inspired evangelist and frequently invoking the words of God, the fallen Minister, as if calling his troops to battle, told those at the Face to Face meeting that he opted to resign from his Ministerial job so that investigations can proceed.
"It is my preference, my, Karl Blythe, preference a man of integrity, an honest man, investigations must be carried out in my absence from ministerial duties.
The defiant Dr. Blythe asserted that when he assumed the housing portfolio in 2000, there were some 120 Operation Pride projects and not 111 as the report said. He said contrary to what the report said, it was not he who selected the sites, contractors or the beneficiaries.
"When I went there in 2000 the sites were presented to me; it is a vicious and wicked lie to say I chose them, and how could I award the contracts when the sites and contractors were in place when I went there," he said.
