The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune. IT IS public knowledge by now that the leader of the opposition is being led by his deputy leader into a fray that is going to mark him with all of the negative frailties that some in the watching public have ascribed to him during his political career. He will not be alone. The recent press conference where his deputy leader made good use of the "truth", saw the second in charge in the company of two medical doctors who are also seen as possible future leaders of the party. These men and the reporters who were present seem to be dumfounded or at a lost for a reply to Mr Davis's "truth claim". The doctors were at a loss because it was convenient to be silent, and the reporters were at a loss, not informed on their history, or just fearful. They could have informed Mr Davis that he and his certain members of his party were giving support to "misinformed truth". They could have informed him that the nation has it on record that members of his party were found "wanting" during government sponsored Commissions into drug peddling and related activities, and that a minority report tabled by the brother of one of their candidates who just happened to be the Bishop of Barbados at the time elaborated further on what the Commission had found. What is the truth about the murders we have been having over the past two decades? Most of them have been drug related. Mr Davis himself should have had the wisdom to take another avenue on the campaign trail, because he, as a criminal lawyer is more aware than most about the "lay of the land." But, this misstep has revealed something to the voting public about the Progressive Liberal Party as it now stands; the need for change. Some are saying, it is in need of purging. People with sense do sensible things, they look before they leap and they "count the cost" of their actions. From what I know of most of the persons in the PLP, this was not done, and "consultations" were not done, because someone at the top or near the top was not "caring enough" of the persons they say they want to lead. The Progressive Liberal Party may be the best political organisation on paper, but many in the organisation may have forgotten how big the Bahamas is and how fast information gets from one end of the earth to the other, even misinformation about a people who are nothing like that billboard suggests. On a personal note, I would have fired the neophyte on the spot who orchestrated the most recent set of posters. Neophytes in the sense that they don't seem to know anything about the Bahamian people. And, if you are putting out that kind of message, you do not use the major colour of party as the background. Perceptively speaking, you are pointing the finger at yourself with the yellow and blue; you would be amazed at the unintended connections the human mind can make. I know that it won't be done now, but if you were really holding your opponents responsible, the big numbers would be red and the background would be white, and then you would have 2007-2012 in very small letters. There is enough information in the public domain to launch a political campaign in any season, because you will always find persons who feel that they have been disenfranchised by something or somebody, but legwork and study has to be done and your preparation for campaigning usually begins after your last election, win or lose. The lack of seriousness to these details is revealed by what we expect an informed electorate to swallow. The days of refrigerators, food and rum as incentives are over for a large percentage of the electorate, they will eat your food, drink your beers, take your money and still vote in their best interest. EDWARD HUTCHESON Nassau, April 27, 2012.