The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune

From the time that nation/states emerged the chiefs and leaders have experimented and tinkered with the economic order, often to the detriment of the lower and middle classes. Those at the top of the fabled totem, how apt a reference.....’tote them’ are oftentimes, like right here in The Bahamas, are often allied with the politicians and their suitcase people.......some call them bag men/women; lobbyists and facilitators.

Nothing necessarily sinister or suspect but case in point is the imposition of economic cut backs and the drastic curtailing of the Bahamian economy, almost without purpose and certainly badly designed and ill thought out. While the stated objective is to save lives at what costs to the formal and informal economies? The PM said that he feels the pain and suffering of the average Bahamian. In his private mind he may very well delude himself into believing that bogus litany but he, in my opinion, is playing to his base, such as it is.

Both the PM and the Minister of Health (has he, the latter, been sidelined as lead spokesperson for the Ministry of Health and the coordinator of the regime’s efforts to combat Covid-19) ? Why is there a Health Consultant operating from within the Office of the Prime Minister on this Corona Virus pandemic and what is she being paid and what are her terms of reference? Where is the vaunted accountability and transparency?

I made three serious political mistakes back in 2017 and I apologize to the good people of this wonderful nation. One, I supported and voted for Marvin Hanlon Dames in Mount Moriah. I thought that he would have made a difference compared to the now mercifully retired Arnold Forbes. He has proven, to me at least, to be worse than Messrs Tommy O.A.T Turnquest; Keod Smith and Forbes combined. I wasted my support and vote.

Second, Dr. Duane Sands once commanded my allegiance and political support up in Elizabeth. I used to believe that he really wanted to serve as opposed to simply getting elected and apparently lording it over the vital Ministry of Health. I should have known better. He was one of the biggest rebels against hapless Minnis a few years ago when he and Loretta sought to do Minnis right in, politically.

Thirdly, my most serious regret is endorsing and supporting Elsworth Johnson up in Yamacraw. I had high hopes for him in public life. His stance when he was President of The Bahamas Bar Council on matters of public policies was refreshing. I fear, however, that he was merely mouthing good sounding cliches and bogus platitudes. I strongly advocated for his appointment to cabinet. I would have preferred that he would have been appointed Attorney General in place of the current Attorney General.

Alas the PM in his wisdom kept the AG in position and sent Johnson up to Immigration and down to Financial Services. Mind you, he is/was, by his own admission, a grade school drop out while in Cat Island. Now he holds sway over immigration and a large swath of our economy! Shades of tin gods and iron men!

The FNM has shut down the economy of The Bahamas by the frequent curfews and extended lock downs. Small and medium sized businesses have been decimated and may have been wiped out forever. Tens of thousands of unwashed Bahamians, through absolutely no fault of their own have now been left behind. We all understand the necessity to limit interpersonal contact during this pandemic and most of us are able to appreciate that our golden goose, tourism, is now a leaden albatross..

The informal economy; liquor stores; auto parts stores, in the main; mom and pop stores; public transportation and access to health facilities have all been shuttered and forcibly closed down or interrupted by edicts of the regime under the guise of The Emergency Powers Act and the attendant regulations.

There has been no court challenge to these pieces of legislation which were rammed down the throats of legislators after the FNM appointed Governor General invoked the same, no doubt after being consulted/instructed by the PM and his legal advisers, vis-a-vis the Attorney General, et al. The PLP is in a bind in that it cannot appear to be too critical of the FNM during a so-called national crisis.....By the way, was the PLP consulted by the PM before the promulgation of this draconian and possibly unconstitutional set of laws?

The Bahamian people, generally, have been subjected to economic and political abuse in my opinion. Over the past month, people have been laid off or furloughed often without pay. NIB is challenged to pay the regular monthly recipients now it has to deal with tens of thousands of other Bahamians. The food banks are operating at maximum levels. There is talk that the civil service will be reduced and that salaries and benefits may also be negatively impacted. The regime says that this is not the case, at this time.

Those older employees who would have been laid off or furloughed may as well kiss regular and certain employment goodbye. Small and medium sized business which do reopen are likely to do so with severely reduced staff levels and it would be natural for those businesses to take on much younger people who are prepared to work for lower wages and salaries. The older, former workers, the bulk of the small and middle classes, will find themselves unable to service their mortgages and bank loans if they have no income. Who cares?

The Ministry of Social Services & Urban Renewal is a disgrace in its treatment, spear-headed by Minister Frankie Alfred Campbell (FNM-Southern Shores) of the unwashed masses during this crisis period. Bahamians have been reduced to hustling and begging food! The main governmental offices and outlets are challenged to remain open and service the public. They say they have hot lines, inclusive of the Office of the Prime Minister but it would appear that either they did not pay their telephone bills or the lines have bee swamped with calls. By the way, how and why is it that most ministries and agencies do not have email addresses in this day and age?

The success or failure of the FNM to navigate this pandemic will determine the re-election of that party and at least 85% of its current parliamentary complement. Bahamians, by and large, are not too hard to deal with, but failed policies and politicians have always paid a heavy price at the polls. Christie’s perceived arrogance and out of touch characteristics were the nails in his bronze or solid wooden political coffin. COVID-19 will be that in the FNM’s cloth casket. To God then, in all things, be the glory......

ORTLAND H. BODIE, Jr.

Nassau

April 18, 2020