By KHRISNA VIRGIL
Tribune Staff Reporter
kvirgil@tribunemedia.net
WITH the Prime Minister assuming the National Security portfolio while Dr Bernard Nottage is away for medical treatment, the opposition is asking why junior minister Keith Bell was left out of the picture.
Speaking to The Tribune yesterday, FNM chairman Darron Cash while extending well wishes to Dr Nottage said it was clear that some administrative and operational problems existed that he hoped Mr Christie would soon handle.
“We in the FNM,” Mr Cash said, “are just hoping that Dr Nottage gets well and pulls through whatever it is.
“But the fact that Mr Bell is not acting as the Minister of National Security does raise some issues on the one hand, but on the other had it shows that the Prime Minister understands the significance of that portfolio.
“We believe that in short order the Prime Minister will fix it.”
Dr Bernard Nottage, earlier this week, took a leave of absence to visit physicians at the Cleveland Clinic in Florida. While several politicians remained tightlipped yesterday on his condition, The Tribune understands the Minister had for some time had trouble walking caused by a difficulty with his right leg. He was also said to have back problems.
This newspaper was told that the issues are not life threatening. Dr Nottage is expected to return to the country this weekend.
Comments
John 11 years, 5 months ago
I dont think no one trusts Bell, with controvesy hanging over hish ead it is better that he be left out of the pcture.
nationbuilder 11 years, 5 months ago
suk teet. the fnm really is lost. if they weren't, this isn't the question they would even be askin bout Bell....
ThisIsOurs 11 years, 5 months ago
@nationbuilder, so true. They appear to only respond to headlines (thats our job), rather than getting in front and comprehensively identifying areas at greatest risk and the realistic, well thought out plan for change.
It is easy for me to criticize Bell because I don't know how tough his job is. I don't know the King Solomon options he has to consider everyday.... But he should have known. Before he accepted the job, he should have seriously considered both hard and soft skills required and whether he personally considered himself ready. Moreover, the PM should have assessed whether he was assigning the right person to the job.
I use Bell as the example but it could just as well apply to all, either side. Before they enter this arena, they should prepare themselves for the fight. Clearly they do not. So we end up with the situation today, people in posts who are ill-prepared or simply do not know how to govern or handle the monetary and social responsibility that goes along with the job.
This is not a cocktail party...it's more than walking down Bay St dressed up in coat tails with a tall hat, more than smiling brightly while meeting country diplomats, more than glowing in the thunderous cheers of a rally crowd. This is hard work, arguably the hardest in the country and we are ending up with the dullest doing it.
No financial institution in the Bahamas would hand over their affairs to 99% of them, yet every 5 yrs, we hand over the entire country...something has to change
Stapedius 11 years, 5 months ago
@Thisours. I couldn't agree more with your sentiments. Many of the people appointed to these very demanding positions are simply not up to the task. Governance and public policy is arguably one of the most challenging careers one can choose. It requires a sharp mind and discretion. Personally I think Bell should use this time as a learning period and really focus on behind the scenes policy initiatives.
Avoid the day to day politics. Leave that for the minister BJ to handle. Just dig your heels in and work work work. No need to talk. Let the results speak for themselves. Although I admit, that it is always hard to quantify success in crime fighting. Its not all black and white so to speak. There are a lot of grey areas and the decisions are not always easy. But I think people get annoyed when public officials make these broad and general comments about crime strategy. A big fanfare and media hype when day after day families must endure the horrors of crime in the country. Its best to use discretion and caution when announcing these strategies. In the end it will all descend into a political tool anyway. Lest we forget that we are a tribal people. We are either PLP or FNM, Valley or Saxons. No room for those of us with different views it seems.
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