The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune

The Democratic National Alliance just concluded a hugely successful and well attended convention. Most of the featured speakers, especially the newly re-elected Leader, Branville McCartney; the newly re-elected Deputy Leader and, of course, my ‘favourite’ DNA candidate, Stephen Greenslade (DNA nominee-Golden Isles), were focused, well-informed and acquitted themselves with aplomb.

It has been accepted for too long a time that only the established Free National Movement (FNM) and Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) are capable of attracting sufficient registered voters to capture a majority of parliamentary seats. That, of course, has been the state of affairs for generations. Those two parties while espousing ‘a difference’ are not ‘too different’ when you take a fair and balanced look at both of them.

The PLP say that they are for the small Bahamians and the unwashed masses. The FNM says that they are for ‘all Bahamians and wish to grow the middle class ‘more’. In their respective executions of what they ‘say’ both parties seem to have the same modus operandi. The PLP has proven, over the years, to be more pruned to alleged corruption and so called scandals.

This, I suggest, is directly because of the non-confrontational leadership style of our erstwhile Prime Minister, Perry Gladstone Christie. The FNM claim to be ‘holier than thou’ and tend not to have as many allegations or perceived scandals or, might it be that those therein are more capable of ‘hiding’ things from the political spotlight. We have not yet experienced a DNA government but the leadership has plainly declared that anyone caught with his/her hand in the ‘cookie jar’ will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

Bahamians now have three clearly viable political alternatives. The DNA has arrived and is here to stay. I submit that it will be a formidable political party to be reckoned with in 2017. That party has hit the ground and is now off and running while the other two parties, keeping in mind that I am the ‘chief’ of the PLPs, are still posturing and talking some stuff which is not connecting.

I predict that the PLP will be returned to office and that the DNA will become the Official Opposition. The FNM is now perceived as being the political extension of Sarkis, et al. The average Bahamian will soon see the true ‘nature’ of the newly-minted candidates, many of whom were tied by the navel strings to Sarkis, professionally.

To God then, who has once again held us in His arms, in all things, even Mathew, be the glory.

ORTLAND H BODIE JR

Nassau

October 10, 2016