MICAL MP Miriam Emmanuel in the House of Assembly. File Photo: Terrel W Carey/Tribune staff
By RICARDO WELLS
Tribune Staff Reporter
rwells@tribunemedia.net
HEALTH Minister Dr Duane Sands yesterday defended MICAL MP Miriam Emmanuel amid criticism following a recent verbal blunder she had in the House of Assembly, calling the public commentary surrounding the ordeal “unacceptable bullying.”
Dr Sands was one of several public figures to speak out in support of Mrs Emmanuel, taking to social media to call for understanding from the general public.
In Facebook post he wrote: “So you may call me partisan... go ahead, I really won't mind. But Miriam Emmanuel suffered (Thursday) with stage fright...nerves. What she is suffering from now... is nothing short of crass, mean-spirited, unacceptable bullying.”
He added: “Carry on MICAL... I have watched you gain more confidence over time. This too...shall pass.”
During her budget presentation Thursday, Mrs Emmanuel struggled for quite sometime to enunciate a number written into her presentation.
The blunder, which saw the MICAL MP attempt to state the number as many as six times, was broadcast across the country over the Parliamentary Channel and on various social media streams.
A clip of her discomfort was quickly isolated and circulated as a means to highlight the snafu.
This led to many questions and suggestions over what caused the mishap, with the prevailing suggestion taking aim at Mrs Emmanuel’s literacy.
One comment read: “She's a good example of the many who don’t deserve to be in Parliament, and only won because of the ‘wave.’”
A second stated: “She knows how to put herself together. But she needs to study her speeches before making them in Parliament. I feel bad for her. When you dress so nice you should be able to articulate your words and figures. So you don't be the laughing stock of the nation.”
Another read: “D average in full swing,” referring to the country’s troubling exam results. While a fourth said: “No wonder why all the other countries coming here taking full advantage of us just look of the type ppl we have representing us man.”
In a show of support, however, persons like Dr Sands and Senator Renard Henfield defended Mrs Emmanuel.
In a post of his own, Senator Henfield wrote: “It’s so unfortunate to see the posts about MP Emmanuel. It’s as if for someone to serve their constituents or the country they are expected to be great speakers void of ever getting nervous or stumbling on a word. What’s even worse is to see professional women attack and demean her.”
Mrs Emmanuel could not be reached for comment yesterday.
Comments
TalRussell 5 years, 5 months ago
Haven't substantive comrade Hood members Imperialists red shirts not stood on floor House conduct bullying sessions against former PLP MP's, yes, no.............. even members Populaces have felt their Hoodie bullying rafts...... Maybe minster might want refer House's Hansard cause I seem remember a certain red MP with no words issue at the time standing on floor House deliver verbal attack against one whom they disagreed with, yes, no.............
geostorm 5 years, 5 months ago
Totally agree with Dr. Sands, there was no reason for such hurtful comments. We need to be better as a people.
BONEFISH 5 years, 5 months ago
What goes around,comes around. FNM operatives have been using social media for some time to attack and smear people reputations.Now PLP operatives are doing the same thing.He did not speak on these things then.Politics in this country is getting nastier. Dr.Sands himself said politics in the Bahamas is a blood sport.
Hoda 5 years, 5 months ago
This went beyond politics, everyday people went out of their way to demean this woman. I mean the effort put forth to comment and carry on from adults was alarming. People don't even put this much effort into trying to improve themselves, their health etc.
It's just reflective of our society. People are mean, people have no home training, no social graces, and disparaging others makes us feel good about ourselves. People have no courage to improve themselves but first in line to spread negativity.
Could you imagine how children who may be a little different deal with school life. The MP has room to improve, no doubt. Nonetheless, these political parties continue to put certain candidates forth - I only can imagine that these men in these parties only want people around that don't pose a threat to them or make them look better.
Then we wonder why ppl with money build their walls up and send their children to the school behind the wall.
ThisIsOurs 5 years, 5 months ago
It's unfortunate that the FNM put this person in a position to fail. They know her better than us. They should have a profile on all these candidates they're putting forward. Strengths and weaknesses.
Ive said before anyone who wants to run in the general election should be mandated to pass international project management and public administration certifications. If you dont win the seat you still have acquired skills that can be used elsewhere.
Will that eliminate some people? Probably, but you must be able to read, write and understand budgets, at minimum, to be an MP in 2019. Nothing else makes sense. If she'd put as much time into reviewing that speech as she did on her hair, makeup, nails and outfit it would have been impossible to mess up like that. That's not a shady statement I mean that literally.
I wonder what Jeff Lloyd thought of that....he's a man who always preaches excellence
DEDDIE 5 years, 5 months ago
ThisIsOurs 5 years, 5 months ago
Her number had commas in it. Everybody stumbles. This was more than a stumble. This was a lack of preparation. I'd be surprised if she read that speech back to front one time.
BONEFISH 5 years, 5 months ago
What the Bahamas needs is a real system of local government.It will allow people to learn how governance works at the local level before they venture on to the national stage.The late Vince Ferguson who taught me at a seminar was a big advocate of that.He told me many of the better american presidents stated out at the local level.Example Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt.A former PLP candidate said a Trinidadian cabinet minister told him,he was a local government councillor for about twenty years before he got a nomination to run in the national elections.Politics take time,effort and hard work.Bahamians should ask people like Tony Blair,Gordon Brown ans David Cameron in the UK.They did not wake up one morning ,simply got a nomination and was made a chairman,parliamentary secretary or cabinet minister.
TalRussell 5 years, 5 months ago
Nor do red party's membership wants remember what really became of Comrade "Sister" Loretta's run red party's leadership after her 'chosen' be red party's deputy leader ducked out on joining the "Sister" on convention's stage after Loretta was left stand on stage alone after she was railroaded by Minnis and KP, the two main left standing red characters, yes, no........... fair say one's strong support MICAL MP Miriam is not so dependable a thing after battle gets hot.................Also, kinds 'strong' support Minnis might want pay closer attention to once his own battle red party's leadership begins resurfaces , yes, no..........
Well_mudda_take_sic 5 years, 5 months ago
Just another shining example of our failed public education system that is responsible for so many of the buffoons our dumbed down voters elected in May 2017. And were it not for all the dummies in his constituency, Sands too would likely have never been elected. One thing is for sure, our buffoon politicians love dumbed down voters who are all too easily manipulated. It's the key reason why they have no intention of ever doing anything about our failed pubic education system. Their very political survival depends on a society of easily manipulated dummies, and they would rather the Bahamas become a failed state before they do anything to jeopardise their own political survival. If we were a society largely comprised of well educated and discerning voters, most of the political buffoons we have seen over the years would never have been elected....in fact, most of them would never have been nominated by a political party as a candidate for office. And that's the sad reality of the situation we find ourselves in today.
Sands knows full well Miriam Emmanuel does not suffer from stage fright associated with speaking to a public audience. After all, she was engaged in public speaking time and time again while on the election campaign trail. No, Miriam's fundamental problem is that she's a product of our failed public education system and she more likely than not cannot even balance her own personal cheque book register. She obviously has a great fear of numbers and therefore speaking about the national budget is probably an extremely difficult thing for her to do. The same can be said about Minnis's great fear of debits, credits and financial reports of any kind.....but he's just much better at hiding his lack of understanding.
sheeprunner12 5 years, 5 months ago
The speeches are written for them ........ that is the speechwriter's fault ....... should have written it in words (first), then put numbers in brackets for the MP.
TalRussell 5 years, 5 months ago
Ma Comrade Sheepie, shouldn't a minister before taking social media be acquainted details meat and gravy of what they're talking about,.yes, no........... rather than cast confusion blame stone in lap of PMO's "Sister" Erica....... remember, long before appointment of a "sister" Erica, the first Speech from the Throne read by GG Marguerite and the first budget of Minnis and KP administration read by KP on floor House were written calculated by the former PLP administration, yes, no.................. How damn lazy first days on job was that...........and, not making this up.............. it's provable fact because KP he self admitted to not seeing the budget's arithmetic until after he had read them on floor House......not that lazy situation has improved since the Throne Speech and first Budget.............
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