The Tribune

By Inigo ‘Naughty’ Zenicazelaya

In life, something can be both the right thing to do and a bad idea at the same time.

For example, liking a friend’s post on Facebook of their newborn baby is the right thing to do.

However, if the kid has a face that could stop a clock, mentioning that in your comment is a bad, bad idea.

Going viral

A few months ago, I remember thinking to myself how undiplomatic our top diplomat is. Back then, Minister of Foreign Affairs Fred Mitchell, too upset to bother with an official press release, had called into a radio talk show to lambaste US Chargé d’Affaires Lisa Johnson.

At the time, Mitchell was upset at Johnson for advising her staff and American visitors not to patronise local Jet Ski operators after a string of alleged sexual assaults rocked the industry. Listening to his tone on the show that day I could tell he was incensed that the Americans had the gumption to “play round him” with what he called their “aggressive and intrusive foreign policy”.

Fast forward six months and Mitchell got a chance to go tit-for-tat with the US State Department. And boy did he take it.

The aftermath of police shooting “young, black males” in Louisiana and Minnesota followed by a sniper attack on cops in Dallas as well as widespread protests around the country prompted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) to issue a rare travel advisory to Bahamians travelling to the States.

So rare is such an advisory that, once the warning hit social media, it instantly went viral. From there, HuffPost and the mainstream media were not far behind. From there, American analysts and politicos lost their minds over the gumption of this little country to issue an advisory.

In all fairness to Mitchell, the advisory was not necessarily wrong. Despite the probability of a Bahamian in Miami (you know we love our Miami) experiencing the kind of problem the advisory spoke to being extremely low, there are thousands of Bahamians studying in the United States. Many of our young students are in schools in cities like Atlanta and Philadelphia. Many are in historically black colleges and universities (HBCU).

These are places where the deaths of the two young African American men will reverberate through the community. To that group, and in that context, advice to avoid protests and ‘use extreme caution’ around police officers makes sense.

What didn’t make sense was Mitchell and MOFA writing a follow-up letter to CNN because a guest on a talk show suggested the advisory was political.

Let’s face it: Mitchell’s move was political. I bet even he was surprised his attempt at a little comeuppance for the Americans made headlines around the world. And I bet the Chargé d’Affaires was surprised to have to field a few uncomfortable phone calls last Saturday morning.

A few random thoughts came to mind during this diplomatic duel.

The first is that the US truly should have confirmed an ambassador to this country by now (it’s taking longer to name the new US ambassador than getting the Carnival report. I’ll bet they’ll think twice about leaving us hanging in the next administration).

The second is that there are a few Middle Eastern countries like Bahrain and United Arab Emirates that have Fred’s back (I’m sure he likes that) it seems. Whatever that’s worth.

Four days after this country’s travel advisory embarrassed them, the State Department slapped us with another one which hurts us more than our advisory does them. The timing of which feels very political. Because it’s tit-for-tat, right?

Like I said, the right thing to do and bad ideas are not mutually exclusive. Next time, just smile at the baby and get on with life.

Thumbs up, thumbs down

Thumbs up to Tall Pines MP Leslie Miller for doing what the Potcake does.

First Miller is photographed at Free National Movement leader Dr Hubert Minnis’ campaign launch last week. Then he pushes for an early Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) convention. And then he breaks the 11th commandment and speaks ill of other PLPs in public. No wonder PLP chairman Bradley Roberts is in a tizzy this week. I don’t know how calling out the Prime Minister for Bahamas Power & Light and the recent blackouts will affect Miller’s political future in the party but everyone knows the Potcake that makes the most noise gets the biggest bone.

Thumbs down to the PLP for just now bringing a Construction Contractors Bill to the fore.

Seriously? After you let BAMSI burn and Baha Mar bomb without not a word, now you come with legislation? Now you want to do your job? In the words of Bahamians everywhere ‘y’all better stop jokin!’ By the way, for the sake of any chance of opening a certain billion dollar bust on Cable Beach your bill had better be retroactive.

Thumbs down to Indiana governor Mike Pence for hitching his wagon to Republican presidential hopeful and eighth wonder of the hair world Donald Trump.

I could be wrong but I’m guessing that Trump will name Pence as his Vice President pick today. If he does, and if Pence accepts, it will be non-stop clean-up duty for Pence for the next three months. And it will be another example of doing the right thing (serving one’s country) being a bad idea in some instances.

• Inigo ‘Naughty’ Zenicazelaya is the resident stand-up comic at Jokers Wild Comedy Club at the Atlantis, Paradise Island, resort and presents ‘Mischief and Mayhem in da AM’ from 6am to 10am, Monday to Friday, and ‘The Press Box’ sports talk show on Sunday from 10am to 1pm on KISS FM 96.1. He also writes a sports column in The Tribune on Tuesday. Comments and questions to naughty@tribunemedia.net