The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.

I am grateful for this space in your valuable columns to engage national discussion.

Michael Pintard seems to be on an ignominious trek of political irrelevancy. Many in my generation wish to offer him a political life line because the deepening of our democracy is contingent on lively, provocative and sensibly, in-exhaustive exchange of ideas; even where we may differ.

On September 3, Mr Pintard issued a statement in which he says the Prime Minister has “finally acted” on advice of the Official Opposition to shuffle his Cabinet. Alas, Mr Pintard then goes into a tirade to undermine the shuffle, which he just admitted he advised. The chameleon politics of Mr Pintard will surely be his political epitaph. Never mind that Mr Pintard was shuffled out of his first Cabinet post in less than 13 months in the Minnis FNM administration in 2019.

Mr Pintard is risking becoming the super chameleon of Bahamian politics. Searching for relevancy he often makes himself more irrelevant to the process. His psychological frame suggests he is on three dimensional stage; in a one man show; playing many Joker roles, pontificating and fabricating wherever to hold a listless audience’s attention and fretfully unaware that his lighting, costuming sound track and AI generated script can only be a repeat of his original political skits. Count it Again, Mr Pintard.

Mr Pintard would do himself well to get acquainted with the short spectacular rise and fall of “Tommy T” and machinations of the FNM.

Dr Minnis is coming with a vengeance and Mr Pintard has not built any shelter from the Dorian 2. My sources say his missing in action financial donors have changed their WhatsApp contacts and from what I am learning, the party; sad as it sounds, is hallucinating on the “good ole days of Doc.”

Mr Pintard; unlike Mr Christie and Tommy; has not attracted the confidence and political support of his predecessor. This is where Mr Pintard should concentrate his efforts and resources. Survival.

The party opposite, if it presents no plan and vibrancy - cannot expect an electorate to award them a job for which they claim by their warped idea of default.

The nation requires sensible and recharged thinking, analysis and troubleshooting as we understand our peculiar sociology and economy and how the world impacts our sunrise and sunset. People need and want to hear thinking outside of the box and new ideas supercharged by practicality and common sense which can advance the nation and solve problems.

One would have imagined that the ever loquacious Mr Pintard would have responded to the Davis Cabinet shuffle with a Churchillian moment. We got PT Barnum.

There have been some very formidable and engaging leaders of the Opposition in our Parliament. Lynden Pindling tossing the Mace and giving the power to the people “on the outside”. Cecil Wallace Whitfield crossing the floor, “my soul is dancing” to form the Free PLP. Hubert Alexander Ingraham in his torching debate on the 1985 Commission of Enquiry debate. Perry G Christie fact checking the incumbent FNM government on the Clifton land saga. Philip Brave Davis excoriating the “Competent Authority” when meaningful leadership required thinking outside the box.

Will Michael Pintard, in my humble opinion ever arrive in this pantheon of Bahamian political leaders? From Tommy to Branville to Loretta; the Socratic irony is invincible.

As Prime Minister Davis moved to reset his government, so too was Mr Pintard given the green light to re start his frozen engines. The dashboard seems to have Mr Pintard confused. His Ford Pinto coupe remains in park and the only thing moving is Mr Pintard’s mouth.

Will Mr Pintard be the writer of his own political tragedy?

SENATOR DARREN PICKSTOCK

Nassau,

September 9, 2023