WITH THIS week’s announcement of the dissolution of Parliament on April 11 and a general election just around the corner, there is already a palpable growing sense of relief that political change is imminent.
The ruling Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) will finally be held to account for its failings and reprehensible practice in so many areas during the last five years.
From what we are hearing, many Bahamians are deeply concerned and believe that something has to be done to stop the nation spiralling out of control. While the main opposition Free National Movement (FNM) is far from perfect under its uninspiring leadership, change is essential if our nation is to survive and then begin to prosper again in the coming years.
The PLP’s disastrous handling of the nation’s affairs has been well documented recently in these columns and does not bear reiteration. People are well aware of the wrongdoing and corruption involving nepotism, cronyism, victimisation and disrespect for the law and our democratic practices against a background of ineptitude, poor governance and mismanagement at every level.
All this has produced predictable results - numerous scandals and disasters as well as increased crime and unemployment together with an unprecedented level of debt - and the people have simply lost confidence in the current government.
This newspaper has no quarrel with the PLP on ideological grounds. But we seek to expose wrongdoing and the corrupt practices of politicians who have shown themselves to be primarily concerned about their own interests rather than those of the public whom they were elected to serve. All too often, for their own selfish purposes, they also exercise their power by ruling over the people rather than representing their interests.
Since we go back a long time and can legitimately indulge in historical perspective, we are able to see how those who worked so assiduously to secure the end of racial discrimination and the establishment of majority rule in this country soon lapsed in to doubtful ways after achieving political power. None can deny the achievements of the PLP and the beneficial role it played at first, guided as it was by its original noble vision. But, sadly, this promising beginning did not last, and in more recent times the politicians slipped all too easily in to damaging habits and tendencies which are still in evidence today.
Following the FNM’s victory in the 1992 general election, Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham successfully stopped the rot by ending racial divisiveness, stopping corruption and restoring the nation’s reputation after the drug smuggling years.
For The Bahamas, that now looks like a golden age of good governance and decency and integrity in public life which led to increased prosperity. But under subsequent PLP governments - most recently, the current administration which won the 2012 election after the small Democratic National Alliance party split the FNM’s vote - there has been a reversion to the bad old ways by the same erstwhile representatives who had earlier transgressed in political life but were nonetheless reappointed by a Prime Minister who, throughout his tenure, has never been able to display the sort of leadership skills appropriate to his exalted position.
We believe that next month’s election is a watershed for our beloved Bahamaland. The country is at a low ebb. At the risk of hyperbole, it is surprising that it is functioning at all in the face of such poor management by a deeply flawed government.
Recently, we have been urging the opposition parties to unite in order to prevent another split vote. Today, we repeat that clarion call to all those concerned in an effort to persuade them to act for the good of the nation rather than their own narrow interests.
Despite the FNM’s demonstrable inadequacies, including a leader who appears to lack the qualities required of a Prime Minister, we are encouraged by signs that, if elected, it would restore true democratic values and honesty, integrity and purpose to the business of governance - in the reported words of the candidate for St Anne’s, former Cabinet minister Brent Symonette, a return to level-headedness and a sense of reason.
For the sake of the whole country, there must be change. Without it, we shall slip further in to that downward spiral which so many people now fear.
Comments
Well_mudda_take_sic 7 years, 7 months ago
But are we crying out for change for the sake of change when what we really need is change for the better? Minnis is counting on us wanting change for the sake of change only.
DDK 7 years, 7 months ago
Dr. Minnis KNOWS we want and need change for the better of us all.
birdiestrachan 7 years, 7 months ago
The Pen use to be mightier than the sword. but there are two many people who now have the pen. When the press is disigineous and always shows a bias for one party and how great the white Knight really is. Persons will make an informed choice. Because a person has a "D" grade it does not mean they do not have common sense and know truth.
birdiestrachan 7 years, 7 months ago
Please excuse the "D" grader I meant to and not two, "Despite the FNM inadequacies and a leader who appears to lack the qualities required of a Prime Minister" The words of the Editor. How can one hope to sell this.
Publius 7 years, 7 months ago
Of course....
Well_mudda_take_sic 7 years, 7 months ago
"Yes", Crooked Christie does indeed have way too many shortcomings and we all want things to change. But say what you may, Minnis nevertheless sorely lacks even the most basic and essential skills necessary to lead a small troop of cub scouts! And to think this greedy and power hungry doctor actually believes he could run an entire country!!
realfreethinker 7 years, 7 months ago
That is why we have a cabinet to assist
banker 7 years, 7 months ago
Begone thou foul DNA troll!
Well_mudda_take_sic 7 years, 7 months ago
I see you're still without originality. Just sit back, take a deep breath, and do as many registered voters have done - simply judge Minnis on his public record for who and what he truly is, who and what he truly represents and who and what he truly stands for. Minnis has never caused me or my family any harm or grief. But that would not continue to hold true if he ever became PM. It's all too obvious he's really nothing but a greedy power hungry megalomaniac without any of the core competencies required for being PM of our country, especially at this critical juncture. As for the DNA, you seem to be the only one who does not appreciate their irrelevance in Bahamian politics today.
banker 7 years, 7 months ago
Says you.
DDK 7 years, 7 months ago
........and you seem to be a one man army against the good Doc!
Well_mudda_take_sic 7 years, 7 months ago
The blind always step with greater peril, especially when stepping down rather than up a flight of steep stairs. Often it is safer for the blind to neither step down nor up, but rather remain firmly footed for a while on the existing (safer) step.
avidreader 7 years, 7 months ago
The mere mention of the DNA is enough to make anyone with even a short memory cringe in fear of a repeat of 2012. They split the opposition vote then with the result that we have legal gambling dens everywhere as well as a greatly increased national debt along with a VAT regime and another financial downgrade. While the concept of a third party is attractive to some voters the reality of our situation is that there is insufficient voter sophistication to allow for the eventual victory of such a party. The major parties have long experience and possibly deep pockets to carry forward intensive campaigns in preparation for a general election. Third parties historically have neither. Sadly, none of the parties is willing to provide potential supporters with the truth of the actual situation in The Bahamas, financial and otherwise.
Gotoutintime 7 years, 7 months ago
Birdie---You're still wrong---It should be "too".
sheeprunner12 7 years, 7 months ago
NO sensible patriotic Bahamian should even consider voting for the DNA this time around .......... the DNA was a sham party set up by the PLP to divide the FNM vote, so that the PLP could win ............ and it worked, to the detriment of our country for the past 5 years.
This time, the FNM will win this election in a landslide ........... at least 26 seats
John 7 years, 7 months ago
Let me tell y'all one thing and yinna could say if you agree or disagree: If it wasn't for the Bahamian people exercising their power to govern and voicing their opinions, supporting some things and strongly opposing others, this country would be in a far worser, yes worser position than it is today. The PLP came to power as a rudderless ship. And rather than listening to the Bahamian people at first, it went a whoring after strange gods. The bills they were trying to pass were foreign and the people they were listening to were also foreign. Not foreign in the sense of not being Bahamian, but foreign in the sense of not having Bahamian ideology. The spy bill and the gender bill are perfect examples. So the people got up and got into the wheel room (if thas wat dey is call it) and they told Perry Chrisite and his crew, "look y'all may be steering this ship, but we telling you where to go." And for the most part the bahamian people were able to give direction and change course. Else the devastation would be far much worse. And The PLp may not even have made it through 5 years. And so Bahamians must be proud for that. And they must realize you cannot just elect a government anymore and go to sleep and lead them to govern. The seas are too rough and the crew may be persuaded to go off course. So regardless of who is elected this will be another voyage where all hands MUST be on deck!
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