The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.

THE Free National administration and it’s erstwhile leader, Dr Hubert A Minnis (FNM-Killarney) are about to be baptised by the waters of Irma. The Christie administration, as well as those of Hubert A Ingraham, both individuals who, mercifully, no longer hold sway over our wonderful nation, were incapable of handling the ravages of assorted hurricanes and storms. Under Ingraham’s watch, Freeport and the entire island of Grand Bahama have yet to recover from storms of the 1990s. Joaquin and Matthew, in no small measure sealed the death blow, politically, to Christie and crew.

The FNM campaigned on what now is fast looking like a bogus promise that it was “the people dem time”. That party and its leaders shouted that they had “the plans” to fix the mess which the PLP and Christie had inflicted and imposed upon the unwashed masses. Well, with the harrowing and rapid approach of Irma, Minnis and the FNM administration are about to be baptised by water.

It is now their time to rise to the challenges poised by this category 4 and soon to be increased to a category five hurricane. Irma is no joke but the response by Minnis and NEMA, headed by an incompetent director in the form of Capt Stephen Russell, et al, has been dismal and pathetic at best.

The FNM never had any real plans in place to start governing from day one. Minnis is still being scripted by his handlers and it is clear that he does not have a hands on approach to governance and preparing for natural disasters.

His administration, so far, has proven to be clueless on so many national issues that it is becoming alarming. The FNM government, clearly, has no economic stimulation plan; they have no plan for tackling crime; they have no plan for the infrastructure here in New Providence and the major populated Family Islands; they have no plan for education; they have no plan for national health care and for sure, they are not transparent and have shown absolutely no empathy, so far, for a single Bahamian, except the friends and cronies.

It is unfortunate that our nation is in the usual hurricane path and has been so from time immemorial. We all know when the season starts but successive administrations and lousy NEMA always respond at the very last minute. No regular releases were issued. No announced location of shelters throughout the nation.

More than 4,000 homes and businesses are still awaiting repairs that were promised by the Christie administration and lousy NEMA, headed, for too long I submit, by Captain Stephen Russell. It is profound that our major churches are ready to roll with Irma, if necessary. Pastor Melvin Lewis of Hillside Seventh-Day Adventist Church and his team up there are to be congratulated for their proactive measures.

The PM and his administration are about to be baptised by water and except a modern day John The Baptist emerges, they may not resurface. Nor will there be, I postulate, an opening of the clouds and a Dove is to be seen coming down to rest over their collective heads. There will also not be the utterance: “This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased” if they fail to carry us through Irma successfully. Hot coals and brimstones will also be heaped upon them if recovery efforts and immediate relief following Madam Irma.

When one thinks about it, however, hurricanes, despite their destructive powers, brings out the very best in most of us. Of course, a handful of greedy; thiefing and ungodly Bahamians, especially here in New Providence, are the natural sons and daughters of Perdition.

Gouging and corrupt practices also abound during this particular season. Housebreaking and stealing always seems to spike upwards during times when home owners and tenants are away from their properties due to severe flooding and/or the loss of electrical power.

The Police and Defence Forces do an excellent job but they too are challenged with real resources to manage natural disasters. Baptism by water is the unenviable fate of Dr Minnis and his crew. The ship will weather Irma if all hands are on deck; we all pray to God, by whatever name you choose; lighten up the ballast and tack to the right.

The Opposition, led by the next de facto and de jure leader, has an opportunity to demonstrate ‘leadership and empathy” on the ground in its constituencies and those that they hope to recapture. Brave is the man and he must rise to the occasion by taking the lead and seizing the initiative.

He and The New PLP must also provide necessities, of good quality, and solace to as many Bahamians as possible. It is good that baptism may be of one or it may be of many, especially where The Holy Spirit is invoked. Yes, we unwashed and God abandoning Bahamians, will emerge in one piece, again. To God then, The Great I Am That I Am, in all things, even Irma, be the glory.

ORTLAND H BODIE, Jr

Nassau,

September 6, 2017.