The Tribune

DURING yesterday’s meeting of the House of Assembly, The Tribune editor was criticised for comments made in this column on Tuesday about the administration of the Urban Renewal programme in Grand Bahama under programme coordinator, Michelle Reckley.

Our critics missed the point completely if they believed that Mrs Reckley was the only one criticised. They claimed that we criticised Mrs Reckley because not only was she black, but she was a PLP, whose only experience for the job was living urban, and the fact that she is a good cook. She would be well qualified if she were given a job within her own sphere of expertise. However, regardless of how her political handlers twist the facts, she is not qualified to manage a programme as important and complex as urban renewal. Unless, of course, the perception –as reported by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner – is correct that one of the reasons for the PLP’s loss of the 2007 election was because they were “more focused on doing things that benefit” themselves rather than things that benefit the people — and by that we presume they mean all of the people, not just PLPs.

They must also remember that Urban Renewal is supported by the taxes of the average Bahamian. This is not PLP money to do with as they will. The mandate of the PLP government is to handle these funds — that come from the pockets of PLP, FNM and independents — with a great deal of prudence.

Our critics maintain that we do not believe that Bahamians have the ability to get to the top; that we demean segments of the society, particularly if they are of the “African diaspora”, and especially if they support the PLP. And, of course, Fox Hill MP Fred Mitchell recalls us using phrases to describe them as monkeys, skunks and crabs. We have never described anyone as a monkey, skunk or crab. However, if in the context that these words might have been used — and we do not recall using them — and Mr Mitchell felt they referred to him, then that’s his problem, not ours. Of course, now that he has brought up the word “crab” we have told the story of the black crab syndrome, which is played out almost daily in our society — particularly among politicians. It would have been in this context that we would have mentioned the word “crab”. Now that we think about it, the sign of the crab, chosen by the PLP as their party’s symbol, is probably a most appropriate choice.

Of course, we believe in the Bahamian’s ability to succeed. We have the example of former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham. No one could have fought his way to the top from more humble beginnings than Mr Ingraham. We marked him for success even when he was a misguided PLP. He stood out head and shoulders above the rest. He was a man marked for the top.

And then, also on the PLP side, there is “Mother” Pratt, who struggled up from the bottom and has given her life to helping those still on the level from which she has come.

What these two people have in common is that they recognised that they needed proper qualifications to succeed. They earned what they achieved — it was no political handout in exchange for their support.

Our article was critical not of Mrs Reckley, but of those politicians who put her in a position for which she is not qualified. Through no fault of her own, she is doomed to failure.

These politicians who held forth from the floor of the House yesterday know — or if they don’t know there is a major problem — that Urban Renewal is in trouble in Freeport.

“Mother” Pratt went to Freeport to sort out the problem. Mrs Reckley, paid from the Urban Renewal coffers, was away from her post. In fact, she was in Abaco reportedly campaigning for the “Yes Vote” for gambling.

“Mother” Pratt, who is Mrs Reckley’s boss, whether she recognises it or not, regretted that Mrs Reckley was not at her post for a face-to-face chat. So, she instructed her permanent secretary to write Mrs Reckley with solutions for some of the main problems. The way Mrs Reckley is alleged to be lording it over the police was ended by a clear statement that the police are in charge of Grand Bahama Urban Renewal and nothing moves without their approval. Also the wearing of the party shirts — yellow in colour — were to be removed as Urban Renewal is for the benefit of all needy Bahamians, not just PLPs.

We have been told that her orders were greeted by Mrs Reckley with defiance, prompting Mrs Pratt to request an urgent meeting with the Prime Minister — Urban Renewal is his brainchild — Deputy Prime Minister “Brave” Davis, the Minister of National Security and Mrs Reckley.

According to our report, since Mrs Pratt left Freeport and her letter was delivered to Mrs Reckley, Mrs Reckley called a meeting of her civilian staff — not the police force — and told them that she is the Deputy Director of Urban Renewal and not its co-

ordinator. She is answerable only to the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister — not Mother Pratt or anyone else from Nassau. The civilians are to take their directions from her and from no one else. Here she seems to be thumbing her nose at the law men who are officially in charge. As Mother Pratt took no white shirts to Grand Bahama, staff are to continue to wear their yellow shirts until they hear further from Mrs Reckley.

She certainly is a feisty one. It is claimed that she has had the temerity to instruct her civilian staff — the former station managers — to go back to their centres and take the keys to these centres from the police officers.

It is reported that she has directed that “Mother” Pratt’s instructions be ignored. It is also claimed that she is accusing staff of disloyalty and threatening to fire them.

Instead of wasting their time on the writer of this column — who appears to know more about the problems in Freeport than they do— these politicians would be well advised to take control of an ugly situation of their own creation. It is hoped that in their future deliberations they will put the welfare of the nation before their petty politics and their attempts to create jobs for their supporters, especially those without qualifications.