The Tribune

By RICARDO WELLS

Tribune Staff Reporter

rwells@tribunemedia.net

FREE National Movement Chairman Michael Pintard yesterday vowed that the paradigm shift needed to advance national politics was already evident in his party, proclaiming that the political norm has failed to advance The Bahamas.

Mr Pintard said that while in opposition, the FNM is seeking to practice what it hopes to advance once elected to office: a government not interested in a political blood sport, but the sustained improvement of society.

While applauding the advancements piloted by his party, Mr Pintard insisted that the need for a political paradigm shift was obvious, claiming that the separation between good and poor politics has been blurred due to flawed approaches to governance.

“Young politicians have been beaten with the ‘all of you all are alike’ switch and haven’t done anything to prove that term incorrect. We allow that to stand.”

Mr Pintard added that the lack of clarity in that regard has confused the public on what should be accepted from politicians.

“I am saying that the perception that the public has, is that a lot of the older politicians are holding brief for each other. I suspect that one of the reasons that is firm in the public’s mind is because leading up to an election when in opposition, a number of accusations have been hurled at those who sit in government and nothing is truly supported or disproven.”

“When those in opposition come to power, the perception by the public is that now that one has been elected, one would either confirm what one suspected, or one would admit that their suspicion was incorrect and publicly acknowledge what they have now discovered.”

“If your suspicions were true, then the public suspects a certain course of action to be taken against those who are accused of malfeasance while in government. Meanwhile, if those accusations are not true, the public expects that you would remove the cloud of suspicion you have raised over that person, away from them.”

According to Mr Pintard, while in opposition the FNM has proven that they aren’t “simply interested in playing the political games, providing sport for the public to debate to no end”.

“We aren’t here to bash or ridicule persons in hope of getting political praise,” he said.

“There is now this perception that we are gladiators and people expect us to compete as if politics is a blood sport. No, this FNM is not into that. I am, as the party is, only interested in addressing issues that affect the greatest change in the lives of our people.”

“Our politics cannot be about one-upping each other. We can’t work to sully someone’s name just on the hope that the people would be endeared to us and praise us for a short period. We have to advance beyond that style of politics.”

Additionally, Mr Pintard explained that while many of the party’s current members have worked in the background of former administrations, many haven’t had a real chance to effect the change and improvements they wish to see in the nation.

“While we are proud of the legacy of the Free National Movement and applaud the men and women who have ushered in a new Bahamas, those that came before us, we want a chance to bring our visions and goals of modern to the public,” he said.

“Unfortunately the politics of today and yesterday are that politicians prefer to be surrounded by loyalists and persons who would keep their secrets, who would do their bidding and help their interest. Unfortunately, that approach to be surrounded not by the best and brightest, but by loyalists and facilitators, does not create situations where the best answers for the country are produced. We need the best policies. We need quality legislation.”

Mr Pintard was elected FNM chairman during the party’s last convention in November 2014.