The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.

There is not a single racist bone in my body. As a black Bahamian man many of my ‘best’ friends, personally and professionally have been and are white Bahamians. From my early days as an Articled Clerk in the chambers of the late Lawrence LPJ Trenchard, an expatriate transplanted Englishman, I came to know a ton of white/conchy joe Bahamians.

People like the late legal scholar, the Hon Eugene Dupuch, QC; the Hon Keith Duncombe, the Hon Reginald Lobosky; the late Geoffrey Johnstone; the Hon Peter Graham, et al, were my biggest benefactors and friends. White Bahamians like the Hon Godfrey Kelly have been pivotal in my career. I was educated at university level in the UK and spent extensive time in Belgium, France and Germany. I have fond memories of living up in New York and Montreal.

In the USA today a debate is raging as to whether or not whites have extraordinary privileges which other races may not have. As a student of history and a realist, I concur that racism existed from time immemorial and won’t be going away any time soon. It is also a given fact that racism is alive and well even among people of the same race. For instance light skinned Bahamians are regarded as superior and better than the jet black ones with pronounced negroid facial features, such as a big nose!

The United Bahamian Party (UBP) held political and economic sway in our wonderful country for decades. That ‘party’ was comprised mostly of white Bahamians and as many blacks who were regarded as uncle toms, which they were not. Our first Premier was the late great Sir Roland Theodore Symonette, father of the Hon. Brent Theodore Symonette and former member of parliament, cabinet minister and Deputy Prime Minister. He had ambitions of becoming PM but, alas, that was not ordained to happen. He tried mightily, but a combination of factors dashed any such hopes which he might have had.

Allegedly in leaked “reports” highly placed Bahamian politicians opined that Brent could “never” become PM of The Bahamas. So opined, so did it turn out. Brent has now relinquished his long held St Ann’s / Montagu constituency to a man, the Hon. Adrian White, whom some say is Brent’s political disciple and favored successor. Now White has announced that he will be seeking to become Deputy Leader of the FNM (the hybrid successor of the very much alive UBP). He brings little political gravity, so far, in national politics. In my view, he is the “great white hope’’, hand picked by the real leaders of the FNM, inclusive of the money managers.

I am of the opinion that the current “leader” of the FNM is merely holding that position warm for the eventual and inevitable return of Dr. Minnis, who, if returned, will again be badly defeated and mauled by the Most Honorable Philip “Brave” Davis, QC, MP. In an apparent effort, which is doomed to fail, the handlers and financiers in the defunct FNM are going to project Adrian White as the great white hope for the restoration of that party to high office.

In two years or less, Pintard will be unceremoniously deposed. Minnis lurches back, but Adrian White, Brent et al will be the real power block within the defunct FNM. It does not take a rocket scientist to read the playbook, for that is what it is in my opinion. Race baiting and nostalgia for political ascendency are very much alive in our wonderful nation. I predict that Brave will be PM for an additional term. White is still a mere youth so he, the Lord willing, has time on his side. This, however, is the era of Brave, like it or lump it.

ORTLAND H. BODIE, Jr

Nassau,

February 1, 2022.