The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.

The Progressive Liberal Party is led my an unbeatable Triumvirate in the form of the Most Hon. Philip ‘Brave’ Davis, KC, MP; the Honourable I Chester Cooper, MP, and the Honourable Frederick A Mitchell, MP. A triumvirate is an administration or a government led by three individuals who, while nominally wielding equal power, there is one amongst them who is primus inter pares, or first amongst equals. Clearly, this is what is needed in our wonderful nation at this critical juncture.

The undisputed leader of the PLP is the Prime Minister. Mr Davis was an economic and political apprentice most of his youthful career. Well do I remember him as a banker with the then predominant Barclay’s Bank on Bay Street. Later he articled in the law chambers of the late Charles A Barnwell and was eventually called to The Bahamas Bar.

A few years later at the behest of the late great and deeply lamented Rt Hon Lynden Oscar Pindling, as he then was, he entered front line politics and was elected MP for Cat Island where he remains to this very day. He served under brother Pindling and Mr Christie. Obviously, he was a good student. Now, by the grace of God and natural ability, he is Prime Minister. Whether or not one is a supporter of the iconic PLP, one must admit that Mr Davis is well on the way to becoming one of the best Prime Ministers this nation would have seen to date, save and except for Sir Lynden.

There were some entrenched ‘old’ guards within the PLP who were NOT too happy with the nomination and selection of Brother Cooper back in 2017. They regarded him as an interloper and even, perhaps, a political carpet bagger. Well do I recall being in the office of then Prime Minister Christie when he made a confidential call to the neophyte I. Chester Cooper over in Exuma. I pledged whatever political support that I could muster up during that fateful conference. The rest is history. Christie resigned following the blow out by the FNM and the Hon. Dr. Hubert A. Minnis (FNM-Killarney).

The PLP was extremely successful during the 2021 general elections. Brave was appointed Prime Minister and I. Chester Cooper (PLP-Exuma) became the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism; Aviation & Investments. By anyone’s yard stick, he and his within his assorted portfolios have performed well.

What about the third member of this Triumvirate, the Hon Frederick A Mitchell (PLP-Fox Hill)? The Minister of Foreign Affairs and exceptionally talented National Party Chairman of the PLP has discharged his duties and portfolio with distinction across the board. There are very few Bahamians who seem to possess the perseverance and tenacity of Brother Mitchell. He has been around the blocks, politically speaking and is well seasoned. Some deluded persons have sought, bogusly, to label him as a globe trotting cigar smoking Minister of Foreign Affairs. Well, apart from the cigars, that is what a Minister of Foreign Affairs is supposed to do. The Bahamas is now recognized and respected as a world player and participants. We have emerged as the leader of the Caribbean and CARICOM to boot.

Mr Mitchell as National Chairman for the New Day PLP was able, almost single handily, able to reorganise and whipped ALL local PLP branches into battle shape for the historic and game changer 2021 general elections. After almost four years of pure hell under the Minnis interregnum, The Bahamas is back BIG TIME under the benign and wise leadership of an unbeatable triumvirate. These three men are about the business of the people and not about grandstanding and posturing. If it is not broken, why attempt to fix it?

ORTLAND H BODIE, Jr

Nassau,

November 2, 2023.