The Tribune

If the Opposition leader was trying to defend the common man at and after the Cabbage Beach protests, he got it wrong again, Stanley Cartwright says.

This week we write about Dr Hubert Minnis. Not because we want to: we have to.

The current leader of the Free National Movement (FNM) is doing his usual bang-up job in Bahamian politics, and is leaving many observers scratching their heads as to what it is he is actually trying to accomplish.

His latest salvo in public relations cacophony was his little jaunt over the Sir Sidney Poitier Bridge. The good doctor, as we’re sure he wanted to be viewed, was there to defend the “small man”. As he proclaimed for the cameras who were in tow, it’s “the people’s time”.

Within hours that was the new motto splattered across his poorly designed and often grammatically error ridden Facebook pages.

“It’s the people’s time!” What a joke.

But as one of the people, we sat there waiting and waiting for the point behind what Dr Minnis was doing. Sure, you can excuse the Democratic National Alliance for taking part in a demonstration. They have to remain relevant. But why was the Official Opposition and its leader getting involved?

Let us look at the results of the actions of Minnis and his supporters. Private property was destroyed, and 10 protestors arrested. Beach access (which had already been secured hours before by the Prime Minister) was, and remains, in place.

So, again what can they claim victory for? Getting arrested? Standing up for the people? Maybe. But couldn’t that have been more effectively represented? Maybe by doing their jobs in the House of Assembly in the first place, they would not have had the need to be out on Cabbage Beach demonstrating in the first place.

But that’s just my opinion. And plus, doing one’s job is overly difficult when you don’t know what you’re doing in the first place.

So let’s move on to the second bombshell.

When the arrested 10 were led down to the Magistrate’s Court, Dr Minnis was there again with his flatterers in tow who walked in unison towards the court. If you don’t believe us, you can view the pictures on his Facebook page. (As a side note, it is particularly vexing when politicians hijack such events to gain political mileage, but we digress.)

The 10 persons, one of which just happened to be the father of the bumbling Senator Lanisha Rolle, were eventually granted bail in the amount of $1,800 each.

With this development we waited, wide-eyed, for Dr Minnis’ passionate address. We expected a victory chant, or a “we shall overcome” speech. But instead, we were assaulted by something far more frightening - stupidity.

Dr Minnis declared that if the FNM were elected in 2017, he would have the charges expunged.

Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) chairman Bradley Roberts summed up the general shock of many right-thinking Bahamians in a press statement released that same day.

“By his uncontrollable and runaway rage and words,” said Mr Roberts, “Dr Minnis has done incalculable damage to the administration of justice, and the rule of law. He has defamed the Police, threw due process on the garbage dump of his crass ignorance and insane stupidity, and promised to do what only a totalitarian government would do, interfering with decisions of the courts willy nilly, and without appropriate process of law. How dangerous, how undemocratic, how demagogic, how pathetically stupid.

“This whole unfortunate affair could have been averted if Dr Minnis had informed all and sundry that the Prime Minister had solved the problem hours before the protest and fury. If this is the FNM’s position, then God help the rule of law under an FNM government.”

For once Mr Roberts, we agree with your sentiments.

Clearly Dr Minnis engaged his mouth before his brain once again. Is the good doctor suggesting that if he got into power he would instruct the judiciary to carry out his orders and expunge the records? What happens if they don’t?

Wasn’t this the same Opposition party who staged walkouts and demonstrations against PLP Minister V Alfred Gray for “advising” Mayaguana Administrator Zephaniah Newbold? Wasn’t this the same Opposition party who demanded Gray’s resignation for interfering with the judiciary? It can’t be. Such rank hypocrisy would be too obvious. Wouldn’t it?

So let’s move on to another interesting development that came across our desk this week.

After another round of polling and studies, the Opposition machinery is finally coming to the realisation that Dr Minnis can not go toe-to-toe with Prime Minister Perry Christie during the political rallies. The man has trouble on a regular day to string along a cohesive sentence - so you can hardly imagine what the results will be in a mass rally scenario. But fear not diehard supporters, the FNM has a solution ... a man whose sole identity is wrapped up in a catch phrase from a Spike Lee film - Howard ‘Mr Bamboozle’ Johnson.

Yip - that guy, you remember him. Back in 2012, he was up on stage doing a little quote that for some strange reason lived beyond its 15 minutes of fame. Every address he made during that season either led up to, or included the one trick pony.

And guess what folks, it will be back for another round. Reports are that Johnson will either be the main speaker at the rallies, or the lead-up-to Dr Minnis.

Wonders never cease, do they?

But Johnson is a strange fellow. He barely lost the South Eleuthera seat and, instead of giving the constituency another go, he jumped ship and now sets his sights on South Beach.

When he asked for the seat and was denied, he put Dr Minnis to the test, and the leader blinked. Now he’s been ratified and Monique Gomez was forced to pack up her things and move on.

But one has to question why the young man would not try his hand again in a seat where he clearly has some roots. Perhaps there is some story there that is yet to be told. We’ve heard rumours, but we’ll wait for Mr Johnson to explain. We are sure it will all be handled before the Bahamian people go to the polls. The good people of Eleuthera will see to that, we’re sure.

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