The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.

ONE of the founder fathers of the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP), William Cartwright passed away at the Princess Margaret Hospital on June 7 at the age of 89. In 1953, he, along with the late Cyril Stevenson and the late Sir Henry Taylor, founded the first credible political party in The Bahamas. The PLP would go on to win the historic 1967 general election that ushered in majority rule. According to The Nassau Guardian, Cartwright had served as a member of Parliament for the constituency of Cat Island for seven years. Interestingly, he was not a member of Sir Lynden Pindling's parliamentary caucus in 1967. Much to my embarrassment, I only found out in recent years that the PLP was founded by Cartwright, Taylor and Stevenson. Growing up in the 1980s, I was given the impression by my teachers in the public school educational system that the PLP was founded by Sir Lynden and Sir Milo B Butler. I never recalled hearing the name Cartwright being mentioned in any of my history classes. Cartwright lived the final two years of his life at the Good Samaritan Home, where he was cared for by the Rev Kendal Capron and his staff.

Before his stay at Good Samaritan, Cartwright, according to Rev Capron, lived on the streets because he was unable to pay his rent. To the credit of the first Christie administration, the founder of the PLP was hired as an consultant in a government ministry. But his services were terminated by the incoming Ingraham administration in 2007. Capron told the press that Cartwright came into this world with nothing, and he left with nothing. Several weeks ago, Governor General Sir Arthur Foulkes visited the ailing Cartwright at Good Samaritan. It was during that time that the Rev Capron renewed calls for Prime Minister Perry G Christie to pay a visit to Cartwright before he passed away. Unfortunately, the prime minister, for whatever reason, did not heed Capron's calls. However, after Cartwright's passing, the prime minister said that Cartwright will be remembered as an individual of great historical importance to the development of true democracy in The Bahamas.

I only wish that Christie had said these kind words to Cartwright in person. I am sure that he would have deeply appreciated them. It is a known fact that the founder of the PLP wanted very badly to meet with the leadership of the organisation that he had helped to form nearly 60 years ago. But like so many national heroes, he was simply taken for granted. We don't treat our national heroes right. The fact that Cartwright was homeless and walking the dangerous streets of Nassau is a stinging indictment on this nation. As a Bahamian, I am ashamed of the way we had treated this man. Bahamians must bear in mind that had it not been for the political organisation which Cartwright had helped to form in 1953, Christie might not have been prime minister today. In fact, Sir Lynden himself might have never become prime minister. To state it very bluntly, the PLP made them what they became. Whether anyone would want to admit it or not, the present leadership of the PLP owe it to persons like Cartwright for the success that they had achieved in their political careers. Had it not been for Cartwright's party, we probably would have never even heard of either Sir Lynden or Christie.

Nowadays, everybody wants to heap accolades upon Cartwright. But many of these people never saw fit to assist him while he roamed the streets of Nassau as a homeless man. Thank God for the caring people at Good Samaritan Home. Had it not been for them, Cartwright might have breathed his last on the streets. But God allowed him to have some measure of comfort and dignity in the remaining two years of his life.

As I read the prime minister's glowing tribute on the life of Cartwright, my mind immediately went on the lyrics of the song "The Living Years" by Mike Robertson and B A Robertson. One of the lines of the song is this: I wasn't there that morning, When my father passed away, I didn't get to tell him, All the things I had to say. The chorus of the song is this: Say it loud, say it clear, You can listen as well as you can hear, It's too late when we die, To admit we don't see eye to eye. In other words, we must seek to mend broken relationships with our love ones while they are still alive. We must never wait until a person dies in order to say how much we appreciate and love them. I am glad that the prime minister has honoured a true national hero. His words about Cartwright are very touching. I only wish that he had said them to Cartwright in his living years. May the soul of this true champion and national hero rest in peace.

KEVIN EVANS

Nassau,

June 11, 2012.