The Tribune

By ADRIAN GIBSON

ajbahama@hotmail.com

FIRSTLY, my follow-up column on oil is coming next week!

That said, this week became extra interesting when the nation’s youth and future leaders—students enrolled at the College of the Bahamas (COB)—were denied access to the people’s Parliament (House of Assembly) under the fabricated premise that they posed a security threat. It’s simply stunning when students representing the executive arm of COB’s union of students (COBUS) could be given a swift kick and rejected by government officials who campaigned and touted a purported belief in Bahamians—particularly young Bahamians. Frankly, just last year—during the general election campaign—members of the governing party, including Prime Minister Perry Christie, were very accessible as they spent a day campaigning on COB’s campus. As one student asked me on Thursday, were they merely “selling dreams?” Is our democracy still for the people, of the people and by the people or did something change overnight?

Weren’t young Bahamians featured on many of the governing party’s general election billboards?

Why were college students banned from entering the House of Assembly and barricaded out of its precincts, especially on a day when PM Christie and his government were set to debate the renaming of Labour Day after Randol Fawkes—a perennial campaigner for fair play, justice and one who believed in the power of demonstrating and marching on various entities if he felt an injustice or wrong was being done. Indeed, PM Christie should have quickly informed the clerk and the police officers to not only allow the students to enter the House but that he would immediately meet with them so that they could air their concerns. After all, Ernesto Williams and his executive members represent the student body of our country’s premier tertiary educational institution and are merely concerned about the recent announcement of budgetary cuts and tuition/fee hikes. Did Speaker Kendal Major direct the police to deny the students from entering the House?

It was reported that Assistant Commissioner of Police Leon Bethel claimed that the reason the students were “asked” not to attempt entry into the House was because of “security concerns” and maintained police could not “allow anyone to disrupt.”

“This morning we received some information and hence, security concerns,” Mr Bethel said. “And as a result of the concerns that we have – with respect to the security of Parliament and in terms of the unfettered proceedings of Parliament – we decided to ask the persons assembled, some students from COB, not to attempt to gain access to Parliament.

“This was communicated to them; we explained the reason why; and of course, Parliament is now in session, is going on smoothly and we intend to remain here to make sure law and order is maintained here at Parliament, in the down-town area, and in all areas of New Providence.”

He added: “We cannot allow anyone to disrupt what is going on.”

When asked if police suspected the group of students would cause a disruption, Mr Bethel said: “We received certain information and we took the information that we received, seriously – as we do with all intelligence that we process.”

However, members of COBUS have fervently asserted that they had no intent to protest. Moreover, less than 10 of them were present!

I’m told that not only did members of COBUS call ahead to alert the relevant authorities of their intent to sit in on the Parliamentary proceedings, but they also sought information about the expected dress code of persons sitting in the gallery. In fact, they even wore suits!

What’s more, although ACP Bethel spoke about “security concerns”, how is it that the environment suddenly became secure enough for PM Christie—our nation’s leader—to soon come in the students’ midst and talk up a storm, with the students remaining peaceful and respectful?

What’s worse is that the Prime Minister seems to be asleep at the wheel because he either has no idea of any of the pertinent, controversial issues facing our nation or is just intentionally seeking to wash his hands of it.

On Wednesday, Mr Christie told the press:

“I don’t know of any increase in fees,” he said. “Just recommendations to the College Council.” He claimed that those recommendations had not reached Education Minister Jerome Fitzgerald or the Office of the Prime Minister.

“They’ve come out here to demonstrate, we in the government have no idea what they are talking about because nothing has come to us of that order,” the prime minister claimed.

This is not the first time I have heard Mr Christie play the “I’m unaware” card. This leaves one to wonder if Mr Christie is or isn’t briefed on any of the happenings in this country on an everyday—every morning—basis (I recognize that he can’t be everywhere, all the time but at least a briefing aye)? Is the PM so out of touch and so disengaged that he—as FNM Chairman Darron Cash asserts—“is becoming like Pontius Pilate, washing his hands of all the messy details of governing and decision-making? And, even if the students had intended to protest—which they claim they didn’t—wouldn’t such a demonstration also have been a “wonderful display of democracy” as was proclaimed by the PM when the number house bosses orchestrated a march on Bay Street in January?

In the midst of all this, what has happened to the youth arms of both the PLP and the FNM? Where are the Progressive Young Liberals, where are the Torchbearers?

Now, lemme say that I do believe that COB’s tuition would naturally increase as the college moves to university status—I believe the tuition is the same as it was when I first enrolled at COB in the early 2000s. The reality is that for COB to effectively operate and generate revenue—with consideration for inflation—tuition may have to be slightly increased. That said, the crazy fees that are being magically invented need to be re-evaluated. Why should students be paying a parking fee to park their vehicles on the college’s compound to attend classes? I think that’s pushing it a bit far!

The Opposition needs to visit COB’s campus, sit and listen to the students and assist in addressing their concerns whilst pledging their support. No doubt, these disaffected students will form the core of the next generation of discerning voters and the new class of leaders.

CHRISTIE AND THE PORT AT ARAWAK CAY

Don’t get me wrong, I think that PM Christie is a likable chap who means well and ultimately has the best interest of the country at heart. However, why is Mr Christie and crew not getting on with the business of governing and confronting some of the major social and economic issues our country faces, as opposed to seeking to undo the Arawak Cay port deal?

Let me further declare that I have a small interest in the port as I am one of those Bahamians who purchased shares during the public offering. That said, according to the PM, the port is situated too close to Fish Fry eateries and could pose a health hazard. One doesn’t know if Mr Christie’s assertion “holds water”, however I would suggest that an environmental impact assessment be done and that the government deploys food inspectors to determine if Mr Christie’s suspicion that the port’s close proximity is potentially “unhealthy” and “intrusive” is meritorious or mere rabble rousing.

Although the PM’s inclination might be to attempt to relocate the port—as he promised in 2010—that would be unwise and fiscally imprudent. However, Mr Christie is right to note that the heavy trucks should be operating at night and in the wee hours of the morning, when the general public and tourists aren’t frequenting the area as much.

ANOTHER LOOK AT CARIFTA

Is it true that the Bahamian CARIFTA athletes who were promised to meet with the Governor General and treated to lunch at Government House, but weren’t? Is it true that the athletes were shuffled between Government House, the Hilton hotel and finally to the stadium where they were given a meal of greasy chicken and fries (in the bag)?

Is it true that the family of the late former Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture—Charles Maynard—were invited to the Opening Ceremonies of the CARIFTA Games only to discover that the promised tribute was axed from the programme? Is it true that they weren’t given good seating?

Who is managing the stadium and who will manage all future events? What is the amount of monies that was expended and what revenue was earned from the games? What does the BAAA get and what does the government get? What is the relationship between the minister/ministry, the BAAA and the managing agencies relative to the stadium and any future games?

Could the stadium and any events held at the stadium reach its maximum potential as long as government—as opposed to a private entity—is involved?

As my friend Dr Carlton Watson said:

“As long as it is going through the ministry, it won’t reach max potential. Imagine turning the stadium over to Atlantis and them having their folks run it. Look at what they have been able to do with the NCAA games. My thing is that these entities can be publicly owned and can still be effective and profitable and still work in general for the greater public good. We just have to find a way as a people to insulate them from the petty politics. We don’t do a good job at establishing boundaries between the government and (any) public/quasi-public entity.”

“I think in general we have to study, explore and create models that allow our public and essential institutions to thrive in our context. I think we need to focus the conversation on that, while trying not to make it too political because it then becomes tribal and people retreat into their corners and recite whatever the party’s position is. I think it would be interesting to quantify the degree to which the nature of our political arrangements, vis-a-vis our national institutions, constrict our national potential (economic and other).”

Carlton, I couldn’t agree more.