The Tribune

YES a flag was burned, but it was not the Bahamian flag, nor was it a real flag. The Constitution was also burned with the perpetrator vowing that the ashes would be sent to then Prime Minister Sir Lynden Pindling “as a reminder of how our country is being destroyed”.

The problem — and danger — of Facebook is that, unlike trained journalists, there is no obligation for these “sip-sip” gatherers to check their information. As a result, much misinformation is circulated with no concern as to whether it is true or false.

Last week, the PLP website was complaining that one CR Newry - although the correct name is CA Newry - was spreading the news on his Facebook that “Fred Mitchell may have burnt the Bahamian flag and the Constitution in protest several years ago; in fact he may have sent the ashes to Pindling…”

It is true that a replica of a flag was burned in 1970, but it was not a Bahamian flag, nor was it burned by Fred Mitchell.

It is also true that 19 years later Fred Mitchell, now Foreign Affairs Minister, then head of his newly formed political party —The People’s Democratic Force — burned a copy of the Bahamas Constitution. The bold protest was held at Mr Mitchell’s favourite watering hole for launching his protests — the fig tree in front of the Supreme Court building in Parliament Square. About 100 curiosity seekers gathered to watch the spectacle.

In 1970, a couple of young hot-heads — members of UNICOMM—anxious to grab political headlines, burned a paper replica of the Union Jack to protest “British colonialism.”

Wearing shades, and carrying a large placard, both front and back a youthful Sean McWeeney – later to become an attorney general in the Pindling government, a QC and now chairman of the Constitution Committee – declared: “Union Jack… Go Back!”

According to the Bahamas Government’s website: “Mr McWeeney’s political involvement dates back to 1969 when, at the age of 16, he was elected the President of UNICOMM, then the leading pro-Independence/radical left wing pressure group which famously burned the Union Jack on Clifford Park during the Queen’s Birthday celebrations in 1969 as a protest against colonialism. In 1970, Mr McWeeney again became embroiled in a major public controversy when he was expelled from Queen’s College following an inflammatory public address as Head Boy, criticizing the lack of Bahamianization of both the school faculty and curriculum.”

One would have thought that the government information report would have gone out of its way to state that the flag was a paper cut out — not a real flag, which would have been a criminal offence if it had been. The photograph in The Tribune of that date pictures a crudely drawn paper Union Jack in flames.

A young McWeeney and his group were soundly criticised for their Clifford Park prank by PLP chairman, the late George Mackey, and the late Paul Adderley, leader of the NDP, later an attorney general in the Pindling government.

Mr Mackey pointed out that independence was not something the British government was denying the Bahamas.

“UNICOMM’s demonstration on behalf of independence is premature and unwarranted,” said Mr Mackey.

“It is the responsibility of the Bahamas government to see that it comes at a time when the government and the people are best prepared to accept it. But to allow the emotional outburst of any section to force an action based on emotion instead of reason is not in the best interest of the country.”

Mr Adderley, as usual hedging his bets, agreed 100 per cent with the basic sentiments of UNICOMM towards the symbols of colonialism, “but in 1970,” he said, “it is a little misdirected to blame the Englishman for this.

“If the UBP wanted independence in 1964,” Mr Adderley said, “it could have gotten it. If the PLP wanted independence in 1968 it could have gotten it, but neither moved because they had no mandate from the people.”

Continued Mr Adderley: “I don’t think these young people are sure who their enemy is. Perhaps they could have blamed the Englishman in the 1950s, but now they must direct their attention to the government (PLP), because it is the parties in power who have not sought independence from Great Britain.”

Mr Adderley told the youth group that it was unfair for them to mislead people who knew no better, with Mr Mackey commenting: “I wonder if education, UNICOMM style, is an asset or a liability.”

As for Mr Mitchell, he too was smarting under the foreigner’s yoke.

“We of the People’s Democratic Force,” declared Mr Mitchell’s deputy as he clasped hands with Mr Mitchell over a burning Constitution, ”wish to bring to the attention of all Bahamians that we are here in protest, not only against the blatant discrimination, victimization and intimidation of our leader (Mr Mitchell), but also this blatant discrimination, victimisation and intimidation against the Bahamian public.”

The action came as a result of a statement made by Mr Mitchell critical of a Supreme Court judge during an August 29 press conference under the same fig tree.

“Someone has obviously made a terrible miscalculation about Frederick Audley Mitchell, Jr. They obviously did not know Frederick Audley Mitchell, Sr, and his wife, Lilla, because if they did they would know that those two people don’t take no mess,” Mr Mitchell had declared. “I intend to smite the hand of every enemy that dares to launch out against me.”

He said his party had been warning the “nation that freedom was on the wane in our country, now we are in a position to show you what we are talking about.”

Mr Mitchell, then heading his own fledgling party, was railing against Sir Lynden’s government.

Mr Mitchell, had crossed swords with Chief Justice Sir Joaquim Sabola of Guyana, and from henceforth wanted no foreigner to sit on the Bench of the Bahamas Supreme Court.

“So this afternoon,” declared Mr Mitchell, ”we send a message to the man most directly responsible for this state in our country, Sir Lynden Pindling, because as Prime Minister he is responsible for appointing the Chief Justice. We burn this constitution to light a fire for freedom. We will present to the Prime Minister the ashes of this constitution, as a reminder of how our country is being destroyed.”

Today, we might add — the country is still being destroyed. The only difference is that Mr Mitchell is now a part of that government and that destruction.