The Tribune

PRIME Minister Christie now has the longed for icing on his cake, but it will be a very bitter icing and a hard cake to bite into if he doesn’t formulate and enforce a strict code of ethics on his parliamentarians and instruct them in the age-old precedents of a parliamentary system within which they are expected to function.

Mr Christie himself needs a deeper understanding of the duties of a prime minister going back to the days of ancient Rome and the belief even then that the law of Nature is the supreme law, from which over the centuries evolved the principle that “all men are created equal.” This means that each person has the same basic human rights, among them freedom of expression without fear of victimisation.

From reports reaching Nassau, many of these natural rights were abused during the North Abaco bye-election — and, if reports are to be believed, they will continue to be abused if certain Bahamians are thought not to have toed the party line at the ballot box. We are all aware of the threats that have been made to certain civil servants.

During the campaign Prime Minister Christie reminded voters that he is the prime minister to whom all requests must go — therefore if North Abaconians want anything they should take the short-cut by giving their vote to the PLP candidate. Many have interpreted this — including PLPs— as another way of saying “to the victor go the spoils.” And as the PLP are the victors, it follows that they have more rights than other citizens.

This should not be so. However, we recommend that Mr Christie think more seriously about what he has said and make it clear that he intends to treat all Bahamians equally, regardless of party. This is important if he wants a successful five-year administration with any hope of his party being re-elected after 2017.

The case of Cleola Hamilton, president of the Nurses Union and Vice-President of the Trade Union Congress, who still holds those posts after being appointed a Junior Cabinet Minister, shows how little the PLP hierarchy understands the spirit of the Westminster system of government.

It is incredible that Ms Hamilton did not resign her union posts before accepting a position in Cabinet. It is even more surprising that Mr Christie would have her at his cabinet table as an active union leader.

Ms Hamilton cannot have it both ways. Either she is loyal to her union, or she is loyal to the government.

As South Beach MP Ms Hamilton could have served her constituents and her unions without any conflict of interest. However, the moment she was made a junior minister, she left the backbench and assumed all the responsibilities of a Minister on the front bench. For this she had to take two oaths of office. The first, to swear allegiance to Her Majesty the Queen. The second, to swear allegiance to her cabinet colleagues. This means that cabinet secrets have to remain secret; cabinet decisions are decisions of the government, and whether or not they are in the interest of her union members, the government position — by her oath of office — has to be followed. To oppose the position taken by the government would force her resignation. The oaths that she would have taken as a Junior Cabinet Minister — Parliamentary Secretary for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration – would be the same as that take by the Prime Minister and all the other Cabinet Ministers.

Under the Westminster system the tradition is that she should have off-loaded her union baggage before accepting the post. And if Mr Christie were true to precedent, he should have demanded this before confirming her as a junior minister.

It’s now up to the nurses – if they want unencumbered representation, they should demand her resignation.

However, what is even more incredible is the silence over the matter, despite legitimate criticism. This indicates a complete contempt by government for the opinion of others. Is it because now that Bahamian voters have given the PLP such a majority in the House, government can dismiss the existence of the Opposition and govern on its own?

“It is impossible to serve the PLP and be a loyal Junior Cabinet Minister, for which Ms Hamilton took an oath, and also be faithful and loyal to the interest of nurses and the TUC,” said former Labour Minister Dion Foulkes.

“There will be many occasions when the interest of the PLP and the Government will conflict with that of the TUC,” he said, recalling the recent episode when Minister Shane Gibson, himself a former union leader, “threatened and berated Immigration and Customs officers and their union leadership.”

John Pinder, Bahamas Public Services Union President, has also called for her resignation, pointing out the serious conflict of interest.

“I believe,” said Mr Pinder, “she should have stepped down before she was even elected to office. It is very difficult for a politician to not carry out the mandate of the party and its leader and act on the best interest of union members.

“Some members will have different affiliations. Some will be FNM, PLP, DNA, or independent,” said Mr Pinder. “I am led to believe that Ms Hamilton will not work in the best interest of members. She is working for the PLP and will see to it that the government has its way.”

The only comment that has been heard from Ms Hamilton was a call to a radio talk show to confirm her cabinet position. According to Ms Hamilton there is no conflict, instead she sees it as an advantage to members in having a union head in close connection with the government.

It is sad when leaders do not seem to appreciate the basics of their responsibilities.