The Tribune

WE COMMEND National Security Minister Dr Bernard Nottage for reintroducing “tough love” into the schools to discipline unruly students.

After the rod of discipline was taken from the hands of school principals, many students felt they had the upper hand and could do almost as they pleased. If the teacher dared reprimand them, they could count on one or the other of their loud-mouthed parents to arrive with sleeves rolled up, ready to do battle with the teacher for daring to reprimand their “good child”. Many of these “good sons”, whose parents covered up their misdemeanours, were graduated from school only to start their downward journey to the prison gates.

We have often recalled in this column the case of the student, who, suspended by the late Vince Ferguson, a well-known disciplinarian and headmaster, returned to school the next day, chauffeur-driven in the late prime minister Lynden Pindling’s car, high-fived the headmaster as he walked briskly past him and re-entered the classroom from which he had just been suspended.

Mr Ferguson had ordered him out for constant misbehaviour, but because of his parents’ political connections, Prime Minister Pindling overruled the headmaster and ordered him back in. So much for discipline and obeying the rules. This young man probably never learned that there were serious consequences for bad behaviour. But he did learn very quickly that if you had a friend in political circles, you could get away with anything.

Discussing this shocking incident with us later, Mr Ferguson, commented that behaviour like this went to the root cause of society’s problems. He predicted that the young man would end up in the hands of the law. We were later told that this was his eventual fate.

Policemen have been taken from their duties of protecting society from criminals to baby-sit the schools — probably to protect the teachers from unruly parents, and the students from potential criminals in their midst.

Despite this, many students, as Dr Nottage said yesterday on the PLP’s second anniversary of government, are still “warring” with each other. And so, he said, his Ministry had decided to take the ones with the greatest disciplinary problems in the school system and introduce them to a “shock treatment package”.

The first to go will be the “warring” groups from T A Thompson Junior High and CC Sweeting Junior High.

They will be given a dose of what it is like to spend the night in the lock up at Central Police Station. Followed by a few days in prison. They should not be taken in groups, because, through the buddy system, what is meant to be a shock experience could be turned into a frolic. Either they should be taken alone, or in twos, one from each warring camp. In other words, one enemy forced to make common cause with his adversary. Make it as tough as possible for them.

They will then be shown what awaits them if they choose to become a part of society as decent, God-fearing, hard working citizens. They will need guidance as they go along, but it certainly will be a worthwhile effort that if done properly — no favours being offered by persons willing to “give them a break” – worthwhile citizens should result if they make the right choice.

Anyway, it is worth the experiment.

A MOVE TO EASE MR CHRISTIE OUT

Indications by a letter writer in yesterday’s Tribune suggests that the political “night of the long knives” is fast approaching.

Godfrey Collie, recounts the misdeeds of the FNM and the moment when “the baton was handily passed onto the PLP with great expectations by Bahamians.

“In a single moment in time,” he wrote, “we were transformed into a people with hope and the promise of deliverance. In the two short years the PLP has done wonders …”

From there, he launches into the wonders wrought by his PLP government. In our opinion, he must be living on another planet if this is what he sees. But, he is entitled to look through his rose-tinted glasses and interpret his own visions. We have no argument with him — after all this is the Bahamas as he sees it.

Eventually after many words, he gets to the crux of his argument:

“The PLP will go from strength to strength once NEW LEADERSHIP is in place and bold initiatives are launched,” he writes.

“Mr Christie did a wonderful job in leading the party back into office and is to be congratulated. The Prime Minister’s Pension Act needs to be revisited so as to allow Mr Christie to access his well deserved pension. If he goes he should not be pushed out of office…” And then he predicts that the PLP under the “Dauphin Prince” will soar again…”

Only God knows who this “Dauphin Prince” might be. We have searched the list and found none among them who could either fit this description or even keep the party together, let alone soar anywhere. The Prime Minister might be indecisive and too forgiving of ministers who should be disciplined. He might even have all the political weaknesses that they say he has, but from what we see, he is still the only man who can keep the party together. With no line of succession, the fight for the spoils once he is removed will throw the country into further turmoil.

There are at least two among them with dictatorial tendencies, who, if in power would forget the country and concentrate on settling old scores. So far, it would seem, Mr Christie, has been able to hold them in check.

The political situation is bad enough without abandoning the country to a fight for succession.