...Mr Deputy Prime Minister Brent Symonette, and the political red herring of conflict of interest

Symonette steps down as airport chairman in 2001

tribune242 editorial


ON MONDAY we discussed the claim by two PLP former ministers in the Pindling cabinet that the country now faced a "constitutional crisis" because Deputy Prime Minister Brent Symonette had "admitted" that his family had shares in a company awarded a government contract. They called for his resignation from politics.

We said that we would return to the discussion on Tuesday, but got sidetracked by Police Commissioner Greenslade's call for tougher sentences to deter crime.

As 100 murders were recorded over the weekend with shootings continuing, the Commissioner was asked if police were doing enough to get crime under control. Commissioner Greenslade replied that the police were doing their best. They were arresting the suspects and taking them to court, but after the courts charged and released them, it was no longer a police matter. Today Senator Dr Duane Sands said that the record-breaking murder count would be three times higher if it weren't for the country's skilled doctors who were saving many lives.

All this is true, and if one follows the plot all steps lead to the courts. The doctors would not have so many critically wounded on their operating tables, if when the police took their assailants to court, the courts returned them to prison to await trial, rather than releasing them on bail into the community.

It is now up to legislators to set penalties that will not only frighten would-be law breakers, but like it or not, limit the courts discretion in granting bail.

And now back to Mr Symonette and the political red herring of conflict of interest.

In 2001 Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham, through the Minister of Transport, asked Mr Symonette to resign as chairman of the Airport Authority for apparent conflict of interest in awarding a contract to a paving company in which he had an interest. Six days after the matter was drawn to his attention, Mr Symonette resigned. Today he admits that in his efforts to get the job done quickly to prevent the threatened downgrade of Nassau International Airport by the FAA, he acted without consulting the Airport Authority's Board of Directors - most of whom were out of the country, preventing him from getting a quorum to call a meeting. However, on their return, they met and ratified his decision.

Mr Symonette's action was typical of a successful businessman, accustomed to making decisions and getting the job done efficiently and on time.

However, he will admit today that he was in the wrong, because in his position, he was no longer a private businessman, free to make immediate decisions, but a servant of the people who had to go through a slowed down process. This is the very reason that private enterprise is far more successful than any government undertaking, and the very reason why governments should never waste taxpayers' money by dabbling in private enterprise.

Three companies tendered for the airport paving job at that time. Bahamas Hot Mix, in which Mr Symonette had an interest, offered the lowest bid. "Bids came in on the 21st," Mr Symonette explained at the time, "they started work on the 29th, August."

To save money for the taxpayer, keep the FAA happy and save the downgrade of the airport that would affect tourism, Mr Symonette in August, 2000 awarded the contract to Bahamas Hot Mix to pave the airport's perimeter.

He said that at the time -- unable to get a quorum for a board meeting -- he declared his interest to the Chief Engineer before the contract was issued. The Prime Minister was also aware that he held shares in the Hot Mix company. And the information had been a matter of public record from August 22, 1992.

Although by his decision he saved the taxpayer money and achieved greater returns as a result of the contract, sacrificing many hours away from his own business for the airport, and, unlike past chairmen, never receiving pay for his services, Mr Symonette will today admit an error of judgment. Today he says many "mea culpas." He has since divested himself of his Bahamas Hot Mix shares. The shares have been transferred into a trust for his children. These are the same shares that are the centre of the current argument.

It was PLP Bradley Roberts, MP for Grants Town, who initially brought the matter to parliament in 2001 levelling charges of corruption and conflict of interest against the Ingraham government.

Behind the scenes Mr Roberts was himself in personal conflict with the Airport Authority chairman. Mr Roberts was a shareholder in a company that had a monopoly on all food and beverage handled at the airport, both in the airport building and for all incoming aircraft. This monopoly embraced the whole airport area as far as Coral Harbour, some claimed it took in about a five-mile radius. At the time that this monopoly was being challenged, Mr Symonette happened to be the chairman in the background asking unpleasant questions.

And so Mr Roberts' exposé in parliament was no surprise.

More on this subject tomorrow, unless our attention gets diverted to another subject.

September 21, 2011

tribune242 editorial

Caribbean Blog International

...has the Free National Movement (FNM) done enough to earn another five years in office?

FNM Version 3.0

By Ian G. Strachan

The Free National Movement will be pursuing its fourth non-consecutive term in office in 2012.  They have ruled during truly turbulent times.  The world has been rocked by financial crises, triggered in no small measure by the reckless actions of Wall Street financiers, the cavalier war of an incompetent Cowboy-President and the greed of oil magnates.

We are a small island state, a vulnerable jurisdiction more often changed by events too large for us to control than changed by our own will.  Ingraham has had the unenviable task of steering the ship of state during a global storm that has brought disaster to bigger, older, wealthier nations.  Is he getting the credit due him or will his achievements be considered inconsequential due to the times?  Has he blown golden opportunities or made the most of a bad situation?

Our job as voters is to determine whether the FNM did their best to keep the nation on a good footing and whether their best was good enough. Record murder rates, record unemployment and an unchanging record of academic underachievement seem to be the highlights of the FNM Version 3.0.

But before we write the FNM off, let us acknowledge that Ingraham and Co. have not just been twiddling their thumbs while the nation goes to hell in a hand basket.  They have actually gotten quite a lot done.  Let’s take an inventory of the last 4 years.

 

Unemployment Benefit
Facing a dire job market the FNM offered short term relief to thousands who contributed to National Insurance but found themselves out of work.  In order to receive the support you had to register with the Ministry of Labour who could then determine if there was indeed work you were qualified to do.  Although this move seems to have resulted in an increase in everybody’s National Insurance contribution, I think it was the right thing to do. (And it happened early, not late in their term of office).  Over 20,000 Bahamians received support and this benefit is now a permanent facet of NIB’s services.

Straw Market
One of the embarrassing facts about the PLP’s term in office is that they failed to erect a new Straw Market in their 5 years in office. The FNM built it with time to spare.  There seems to be a court battle looming regarding the project so the ultimate cost is still undetermined.  Nonetheless, the FNM got it done.

National Stadium
This is another PLP project that they couldn’t get done.  It has been done under the FNM.  We can certainly question the merit of such a project and the ultimate cost to the Bahamian taxpayer given that costly infrastructural work is necessary to provide power, telecommunications and water to the facility, but the fact remains, the FNM got it done.

New Airport Terminal
Another feather in the cap of the FNM.  Yes, NAD was started under the PLP’s but that’s the way of politics.  Besides, I hear this airport expansion has been on the drawing board since Ingraham’s first term. (No doubt while the PLP complain about foreigners running things they will hope we forget they handed the management of the airport over to Canadians.)

Saunders Beach
Despite all the spittle and hot breath expelled as a result of this project, it went ahead and is now complete.  The beach hasn’t disappeared and the new parking lot, playground, benches and sea grape trees are being enjoyed by citizens.   I miss the Casuarinas, but they don’t produce sweet purple fruit.

Traffic
I will give credit where it is due.  The decision to make Baillou Hill Road one way north of Robinson Road has improved the flow of traffic during the morning peak hours.  The purchase of a new fleet of police motorcycles was timely and has also enabled the police to have a much better and badly needed presence on the streets.  The enforcement of the seat belt law (which the PLP failed to do although they passed the law) has improved public safety.  The new highway leading from Saunders Beach to Tonique Williams Darling, has also provided a useful alternative to north-south travelers.  The new intersection at East Street South and Cowpen Road was a necessary adjustment to the population growth in that district.  And it was sensibly designed to allow a constant left turn, heading east from East Street. Small adjustments like the one made at the intersection of Prospect Ridge and JFK have also improved traffic flow and at minimal cost to taxpayers.  And those of us who take the time to stop screaming, can see where the road work is going: the five lanes at the Marathon-Robinson Road intersection, the double lanes on East Street north of Soldier Road, the widened, more attractive Robinson Road corridor, all suggest that the main avenues of the city will be enhanced and as far as possible are being refashioned to accommodate growth.  (Those are the positives).

Saving Mayaguana
The PLP cut a deal with the I-Group that gave 9,999 acres of land to a hotel/real estate development on an island with less than 500 people.  The developers were promising to build the largest airstrip in the world.  The Bahamian government was apparently an equal owner—whatever that means. I don’t care.  The deal was sheer madness in my opinion—we don’t need anchor projects that drop anchors on our heads.  The FNM re-negotiated the deal, cutting the project’s allotment in half.

Bahamar
This project has finally been properly financed and work has begun in earnest, on the FNM’s watch. It doesn’t matter that it was a project that was birthed during the PLP’s term in office. So was Ginn, right?  The FNM are in charge now and they are taking the credit for oversight of a deal that’s actually executable.  Bahamar is the only true hope either Christie or Ingraham can foresee in terms of placing 6-8,000 Bahamians in good paying, permanent jobs.  The problem is those jobs are years away from materializing, so whoever wins this election will be credited with the huge bite out of  unemployment that Bahamar will deliver.  I give Ingraham credit for insisting that PLPs endorse the China Eximbank deal.  I also give him credit for not allowing the thousands of Chinese laborers into the country until after the election.  He has out strategized Christie again in these cases.

BTC Privatisation
Here again, is a thorn in the PLP’s side.  They were late again.  And here again, the FNM got a deal done with time to spare.  Time for Bahamian tempers to cool.  Time for handsome packages to be handed out.  Remember when the fight was to save 300 jobs?  Well last I heard 450 had asked for packages.  So now the fight is to get one of these golden parachutes off Air BTC.  What a farce.  The issue is still whether private BTC is better than public BTC and I think that before Irene many were feeling that the former was shaping up to be the case.  However you slice it, the sale of BTC gave our strapped government a much needed cash injection—and hey, wouldn’t you know, civil servants will get some lump sums and increments.

Port Move and Bay Street
Another promised PLP project executed instead by the FNM (you notice the pattern here?).  History will judge whether the port was actually moved far enough away to truly affect down town traffic positively, but what was achieved was an opportunity for Bahamians to invest in something that was previously the exclusive right of a few families.  Will it ultimately be cheaper than the Clifton alternative?  The job’s not done yet, so again, the jury is still out.  Bay Street still has a long, long way to go to achieve the vision conveyed in the EDAW Report.  (Where’s the promised esplanade, for instance and the new green spaces and residential units?)  But at least the House of Assembly has gotten a face lift. It’s a start.  A slow start.

Prescription Drug Plan
Very late in Christie’s term a national health insurance plan was unveiled. It met with stiff opposition from the medical profession.  The FNM implemented a National Prescription Drug Plan in 2010 through NIB.  According to the NPDP website, 1 in 3 Bahamians suffers from a chronic non-communicable disease.  Although it’s not perfect and although I’m not sure how sustainable it is, I believe it has done much good.

Space doesn’t allow me to expand on other initiatives by the FNM, such as the completion of new courts, new pieces of legislation, the hiring of new judges, the training programmes they have funded and are funding, the infrastructural investment in new water mains in a place where up to 50 percent of the water was escaping through old pipes, the Self Starter Programme, reforms made to Customs and other efforts.  None of these initiatives are problem-free but they speak to the government’s attempts to address weaknesses in our systems and institutions and to empower Bahamians on some level.

Perhaps the most crucial feature of Ingraham’s term was what he didn’t decide to do to reduce our debt.  I’m referring to a non-decision which may have saved us from even greater unrest and even more suffering: he did not cut civil service salaries, or worse yet, initiate a large scale redundancy exercise (most reasonable people feel our civil service is bloated and ineffective).  This decision saved a good chunk of the Bahamian middle class and prevented a more serious economic collapse.  BTC and ZNS were the target of the FNMs downsizing efforts, not janitresses, teachers, policemen, clerks, secretaries and bureaucrats all across the civil service.

The FNM did put a freeze on salary increases but it could have been much much worse.  And FNM MPs and Ministers took a pay cut to send the message that sacrifices had to be made by all.  (A fraction of what they might be making in kick backs, some might cynically assert).  But the fact remains, austerity under the FNM was barely austerity.  No one will thank them for it but they will know that whatever they got wrong, they didn’t drive the population into the streets screaming because they couldn’t buy bread.

Ingraham’s government has been busy indeed.  The question remains, has the FNM done enough to earn another five years in office?  Have any of these initiatives positively affected average Bahamians in ways they can appreciate or are even aware of?

Next week we’ll look at the flip side of the FNM version 3.0: their miscues, outright blunders and missed opportunities.

Sep 19, 2011

thenassauguardian

Caribbean Blog International

Rev CB Moss - executive director Bahamas Against Crime (BAC) says: ...the new murder record "ensures that 2011 will be the bloodiest year in The Bahamas' history... setting the fourth new record in the last five years."

Bahamas 'near the tipping point' in crime

tribune242



THE Bahamas is now "near the tipping point" a local anti-crime activist group has warned.

Calling the new record for murders set last week a "shameful" milestone, Bahamas Against Crime (BAC) urged authorities to change tack before it is too late.

"Only a collective effort, with less talk and more focused action, will prevent a deepening of the crisis, with the attendant social collapse," said BAC executive director Rev CB Moss in a statement.

Rev Moss said the new murder record "ensures that 2011 will be the bloodiest year in our history, setting the fourth new record in the last five years."

As if this were not enough, he said, other serious crimes are also at or near record levels.

"Obviously this state of affairs is providing opportunistic and self-serving entities a great platform to assign blame, and to promote their selfish agendas," he said.

"The truth is that most, if not all of them failed to respond when they should have, thereby making a direct contribution to the present sad state."

BAC noted that since 2005, its members have tried "with very limited success" to alert the country to the impending crisis.

"Some of those doing the most talking today were among the least responsive. On April 19, 2010 Bahamas Against Crime organised a summit for private sector organisations, followed by another on June 16, 2010. It is very interesting to note how many of the nearly 100 invitees failed to attend. A visit to our website, bahamasagainstcrime.net/news.asp, will reveal their identities, which should make interesting reading.

"Bahamas Against Crime is once again calling upon the nation to act now before it is too late. If we are not prepared to act, then stop the rhetoric," Rev Moss said.

September 20, 2011

tribune242

Caribbean Blog International

So what developments have we witnessed in our national symbols since that first Independence government? ... Unfortunately and shamefully few!

Our national symbols

By Philip C. Galanis

“We are symbols, and inhabit symbols.”  Ralph Waldo Emerson

The Bahamas attained its independence from Great Britain 38 years ago, a very short time by any measure. During that period, much has been accomplished as a nation, but much more work remains if we are to advance as a mature democracy.  One of the obvious manifestations of nationhood can be observed in the national symbols that we erect around us. Therefore, this week we would like to Consider This… what about our national symbols?  Have we distinguished ourselves in developing our national symbols or in like so many other ways, have we failed to rise to the occasion?

Generally, national symbols are supposed to help to uniquely define who we are and what our values are. These symbols are considered to be a manifestation of a people, embodiments of a nation’s unique culture, history and values. They are intended to unite a people by creating visual, verbal, or iconic representations of national pride and goals that would make them stand out among other nations. For example, when we see the “stars and stripes” or the “hammer and the sickle” we immediately and automatically recognize which nations are being represented.

The most common national symbols are the flag of a nation, its coat of arms, its motto, national colors, and most importantly, its national anthem. These symbols are often rallied around as part of celebrations of patriotism or aspiring nationalism such as independence, autonomy or separation movements and are designed to be inclusive and representative of all the peoples of that community.  National symbols are essential to the development of patriotism and national pride.

The Bahamas has its own national symbols, most of which were adopted with the attainment of national Independence in 1973. Prior to our liberation from the British, our coat of arms bore the Latin insignia “Expulsis Piratis, Restituta Commercia" which every pre-Independence Bahamian student knew translated that once we expelled the pirates, trade was restored to The Bahamas.  We replaced both with the coat of arms and the motto for a new Bahamas with “Forward, Upward, Onward Together”.  Our Founding Fathers also liberated us from the pre-colonial national anthem of “God Save the Queen” to a far more indigenous “March on Bahamaland”.

So what developments have we witnessed in our national symbols since that first Independence government?  Unfortunately and shamefully few!  With the exception of recognizing a few of our national heroes on our Bahamian currency, all of whom, incidentally, were male political luminaries, woefully little progress has been made in this regard. And that is a real tragedy.

To make it a bit clearer, just think about the major countries around the world and how you can almost learn their history and their values by walking the streets of their cities where you are greeted by statues of their heroes and patriots, those individuals whose contributions are inextricably intertwined with the patrimony of that country.  Now cast your eyes on our Bahamas.

With a lengthy history that spans over 500 years on the world stage, the most prominent statues commemorate the contributions of foreigners to the Bahamian story.  First we have an Italian, by way of Spain, Admiral Christopher Columbus, a controversial figure but one whose name and that of The Bahamas are forever joined.  The statue itself, designed by world famous author Washington Irving, very out of place in its rather inappropriate location on the steps of Government House, was a gift in the 1830s from Governor James Carmichael Smith, a man whose dedication to the idea of abolition made him very popular with the enslaved people he championed and reviled by slave owners.

Then we have the statue of Woodes Rogers, former privateer and the first Royal Governor of the Bahamas Islands, which stands commandingly outside of the British Colonial Hilton, built on the site of Fort Nassau, reminding everyone of how he earned his fame as the scourge of the pirates by hanging nearly a dozen at one time at that Fort.  Finally, there is the statue of Queen Victoria, seated since the early 1900s in her marble glory in Parliament Square, in front of our Houses of Parliament.

Indisputably, these three individuals made contributions to The Bahamas.  But so did many others who, other than Sir Milo Butler, whose bust presides over Rawson Square, are uncommemorated and uncelebrated by tangible bronze or marble representations that would stand forever to remind Bahamians and visitors alike of who was responsible for the creation of the modern Bahamas.  The only other statue that graces our downtown hub was created by the same person who created the bust of Sir Milo, Randolph Johnston.  Ironically, it is a bronze statue that stands on Prince George Dock, nicknamed “Bahamian Madonna”, depicting a nameless Bahamian woman carrying a child.  She is a strong national symbol of how Bahamian mothers have stood strong over the centuries, often in the face of adversity, raising generations of children whose contributions are unknown and, like the “Madonna’s” name, long forgotten.

Our public spaces need to be filled with the figures of those Bahamian men and women who fought alongside Sir Milo to make The Bahamas a stable, prosperous and independent nation.  We need to see statues everywhere of not only our political leaders but also those who led us in other areas. On the grounds of our hospital, how about a statue of one of our leading doctors or nurses or midwives?  And then, if ever we have a proper arts center, why not a statue of one or more of the Bahamian giants in the field of the arts?  Outside of our Ministry of Education, why not have a statue of one of our great educators?  In fact, each of our Ministries should have its own statue of someone whose contributions helped to advance that field. Our children should be able to point with pride at these statues that symbolize national excellence and tell their stories instead of merely knowing their names in connection with schools or roads or airports.

Moreover, our Houses of Parliament should be adorned not just with paintings of British personalities who had little, if anything, to do with The Bahamas.  We should commission artists – Bahamian artists – to paint glorious portraits of those whose voices reverberated in vigorous debate through those chambers and whose ideas shaped and produced our modern age.  Those are the familiar Bahamian faces that our current and future parliamentarians should see as they go about conducting the business of the nation, not those of strangers to our islands.

There is one other national symbol that we are lacking – and its lack is becoming a national embarrassment.  Just before Independence, a committee was formed by the House to identify a location for an official residence for the Prime Minister of The Bahamas, a place where he could welcome those dignitaries who would be coming to help celebrate our new nationhood.  A place was identified and everything was in place until an inadvertent and ill-advised slip of the tongue in a Cabinet meeting derailed the entire project.  But that is long past and today we are still without an official place where our Prime Minister can have his offices, his residence and show the proper respect to distinguished visitors by having state dinners in a place established by the state.

There is no reason why we have to take our visiting dignitaries to a hotel – and one not even owned by a Bahamian – to dine with our leaders on state occasions.  We are world famous as hospitable people, a nation that welcomes visitors from all over into our homes and our hearts.  Why is it, then, that our leaders don’t have a national “home” that would symbolize all of our homes into which to welcome those most important visitors who really merit the very best in Bahamian hospitality, not the cold impersonal welcome of a hotel?

It is time, then, that we develop these national symbols and surround ourselves and our visitors with commemorations of Bahamian pride, displaying for all the world to see those men and women of whom we are most proud.  And it is past time that we have a house that symbolizes the Bahamian House and is the home of our leaders and the place where quintessential Bahamian hospitality can be displayed.  It is time to rise to this occasion and, as we near our fourth decade of independence, start to develop true national symbols that will endure and celebrate all we believe in and all that make us unique for centuries to come.

Philip C. Galanis is the managing partner of HLB Galanis & Co., Chartered Accountants, Forensic & Litigation Support Services.

He served 15 years in Parliament.  Please send your comments to:pgalanis@gmail.com

Sep 19, 2011

thenassauguardian

Caribbean Blog International

The PLPs believe that their Urban Renewal policy, which is still in existence in a new form, is the answer to all prayers... They are fooling themselves... The social deterioration in this society is so deep that it will take more than urban renewal to bring it back to health

Crime should not be used by politicians

tribune242 editorial



IT would be a tragedy if this country's escalating crime were to become an election football.

Crime in the Bahamas has been steadily building from the politically violent sixties into the drug violent seventies and eighties until it is now hitting a crescendo in our time.

The PLP believe that their Urban Renewal policy, which is still in existence in a new form, is the answer to all prayers. They are fooling themselves. The social deterioration in this society is so deep that it will take more than urban renewal to bring it back to health.

"The government must send a clear and strong message to criminals that they will be swiftly caught and swiftly punished and I am not satisfied that this is being done under this present government," Opposition Leader Perry Christie told a press conference, called yesterday to discuss the escalating crime.

Maybe justice under this government is not swift enough for Mr Christie, but nor was it swift enough during Mr Christie's administration when the backlog of court cases grew out of all manageable proportions.

Under both governments -- PLP and FNM-- we have been complaining about the justice system. In our opinion it needs a complete overhaul.

So on this score, no fingerpointing can be justified.

The problem on our streets is obvious - most crimes are being committed by criminals killing criminals, all out on bail when they should be behind prison walls. And as the Commissioner of Police has often commented, the police can't be blamed. They do their part by arresting and taking the offenders to the bar of the court, where the lawyers with their crocodile tears bleat for their release, and the courts send them on their merry way to terrorise society. Witnesses could not be killed, if those who threaten them were in jail.

We hope that when the House reconvenes after the summer recess legislation will be introduced to curb the courts in its release of persons who could be a danger to society. When that debate takes place there shouldn't be a squeak from the Opposition about interfering with a judge's discretion.

The only way to cut down on many of these murders is to keep these persons with long criminal records in prison until trial -- not only for society's sake, but, as has already been shown by the number of their bodies in the morgue, for their own sakes.

And if judges will not exercise their discretion with this objective in mind, then legislation is the only solution. Society cannot have it both ways.

The same analogy can be drawn by the rules that now have to be followed when one travels by air. No one likes to be searched -- it is demeaning and interferes with a person's rights and freedoms. However, for the sake of safety, travellers are willing to relinquish some of their freedoms.

It is the same with the judiciary when one has to make a choice between the exercise of a magistrate's discretion and the mayhem on the streets. We can't have criminals laughing at the courts.

They must understand that if they do wrong they will be punished -- swiftly and severely. And until their date in court, they will be incarcerated, not out on the streets pushing up the murder count.

In the meantime, this society has to be analysed as to what has gone wrong, what has caused us to move from a once courteous, decent people to what we see today.

To find a cure, we need parents, teachers, psychiatrists and a whole gamut of professionals to work together to try to save the next generation.

Persons complain that no one respects our institutions. That is true, and the reason is that many of the people who head them do not understand that in their positions they have to lead by example -- if they do not respect themselves, or their organisation, they cannot expect anyone else to have respect. Members of the House of Assembly should take note.

The breakdown of family life is our greatest tragedy - no father in the home, the mother out to work and the children left at home to join the village gang. In the old days when the mother was at work, the grandparents took care of the children.

Today children are having illegitimate children, so that when the young mother is at work, the grandmother is still young enough to hold down a job and so is the great grandmother.

As a result no one is at home to guide and correct little Suzy and Johnny. A great burden is put on the schools, not only to teach these little ones their ABC's, but also their manners, to point out what is right and wrong, and to make them understand that for every right there is a corresponding duty, and when they break the code, there are consequences, and those consequences can be serious.

Instead of pointing the finger of blame, these politicians should get back to basics. They should start with an examination of themselves, determined to lead by example, and then move on to helping society get back on course.

September 16, 2011

tribune242 editorial

Caribbean Blog International

There is even a way that Perry Christie can confront the claims of his weakness when compared to Hubert Ingraham... and that is by challenging Ingraham to a debate and beating him

Christie’s keys to success, Part 2

Dr Ian G. Strachan

Last week we looked at the challenge facing Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Leader Perry Christie in 2012, a challenge he can certainly meet, if he plays his cards right.  Let’s go a bit deeper.

First, let’s look at the people who will join him on the PLP ticket. Christie knows he will do well to enlist as many young, new faces as possible. His challenge is to keep the old guard happy while he does it. This has proven to be a challenge.

The infamous May 5, 2011 letter, penned by George Smith, Philip Galanis and Raynard Rigby, attests to this.  I suppose some would say that before Christie can ask others to step aside he should volunteer to do so himself.  Well, we all know that's not happening.

Given that some of the sitting MPs in the PLP are a liability in terms of swing voters, it may seem ironic but I think Christie should try to move the discussion away from the head to head comparisons with Ingraham and focus on the PLP’s team instead.

If he can’t dump the undesirables, his best bet is to hide them, the way Ingraham hid Symonette during the 2007 campaign.  The FNM knows he can win his seat but they also know he hurts you on the national campaign trail.

The PLP should also not be afraid to let new team members do a lot of the talking during this campaign, to avoid the Christie-fatigue voters are feeling.

The PLP still has BJ Nottage, Glenys Hanna-Martin, Alfred Sears, Fred Mitchell, Ryan Pinder, Michael Halkitis, James Smith, Philip Galanis, Raynard Rigby, Danny Johnson, Jerome Fitzgerald, Damian Gomez, Andre Rollins, Renward Wells, Romauld Ferreira, and many other young professionals who are articulate and smart.

The PLP attracts skilled communicators, who can appeal to the working and middle class and who have the potential to become inspirational leaders.  There are many whose names are not known to the general public whom Christie should quickly call off the bench.

The party practically owns the working class constituencies, so it can flood the campaign with empathetic tales of woe.  The sympathetic approach, so familiar to the PLP, which always promises “help and hope,” should go over well in a country low on confidence and uncertain (scared even) about its future.

Christie should also use his reputation as someone who consults to his advantage.  He may listen, where Ingraham may not.  He may draw on the talents of others and collaborate, not dictate. This kind of message will make sense to those swing voters who, for the life of them, can’t understand Ingraham’s approaches to our problems. It worked in 2002; maybe it can work in 2012.

There is even a way that Christie can confront the claims of his weakness when compared to Ingraham and that is by challenging Ingraham to a debate and beating him.

If Ingraham refuses, Christie still wins. The nation wants to see these men debate crime, the economy, education, health care, foreign direct investment, local investment, BTC, Bahamasair, immigration and land reform. These two men, who have been the giants of our politics for the last 25 years, owe us no less.  Some people close to Christie say he is scared of taking Ingraham on in a debate.  Perhaps he can win without taking the risk.

The PLPs must paint a picture of what might have been if they had the reins during this recession and what will be when they take over again.  Their message will have to make more sense and be more concrete than perhaps it ever has been.  Swing voters don’t want pie in the sky promises (like you will double the education budget).  What are you going to do about teacher quality?  About parental neglect?  About the weak Math scores?

Ingraham has many blind spots.  I have said many times that the FNM seemed out of touch with what the people felt were the real priorities in the country.  Christie must rip apart the FNM’s action plan of the last four years, showing all the missed opportunities.  (But they must be careful since many of the FNM’s blind spots have been theirs as well).

Ingraham’s government has ignored many progressive alternatives to our national development challenges.  The PLP needs to prove it knows how to be progressive again.

The real X factor in all this, is of course the DNA. This group will steal votes from both parties (eroding their bases) and make many races almost impossible to predict, particularly in southern New Providence. One school of thought is that the DNA will steal FNM votes since DNA Leader Branville McCartney is a disgruntled FNM.  Another is that swing voters, unhappy with Ingraham, but who can’t stomach Christie, will go green.

In the end, the PLP has to guarantee its base support and work hard to lure some of the swing vote its way.

Christie and his team can do this most effectively by leaning heavily on the NDP’s “Bahamians first” messaging, which struck a chord with the nation. They must also give their new faces heavy play at the rallies.

In the end, if the 68-year-old Christie loses this election he has no one to blame but himself.  Almost all the cards are in his hands. If he fails, it would prove two things: He was indeed ineffectual and out of touch and the PLP has learned absolutely nothing since 1997, when another old man who should have been forced to step down, drove them right into the ground.

Sep 12, 2011

thenassauguardian

Caribbean Blog International

What does the Bahamian electorate really think of Perry Christie? ... Is he more popular and more respected than Hubert Ingraham? ... Than Bran McCartney?

Christie’s keys to success (Pt. 1)

By Dr. Ian Strachan

Logic would seem to dictate that in this long season of discontent, in this season of record unemployment, in this season of record bloodshed, in this interminable season of frustrating, confusing, infuriating “road works”, in this season of collapse for many homegrown businesses, in this time of rising fuel and food prices, logic would seem to dictate that the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP), under Perry Gladstone Christie, will be swept into office and the Free National Movement (FNM) will be ingloriously swept out.

Logic would seem to dictate that the FNM will be hard pressed to secure seats in New Providence other than those held by Brent Symonette, Dr. Hubert Minnis and Loretta Butler-Turner.

But there are some problems with this assessment.  There are some very big questions looming like storm clouds over the PLP.  The first is whether enough people feel comfortable returning Perry Christie to power.  The second is whether the PLP has changed sufficiently or has a strong enough message to persuade crucial swing voters that the PLP is still the best alternative, despite how they feel about Leslie Miller, Bradley Roberts, Picewell Forbes, V. Alfred Gray, Shane Gibson, Allyson Maynard-Gibson and company.

It might seem reasonable to assume that the PLP hasn’t really lost much of its base since 2007.  In fact, that base should have grown over the last four years given all the suffering and fear in the country.  But the fact is, most Bahamians want to see a change in leadership in both established political parties, and they’re not going to get it.  So interest in this election might be lower than normal.  Even some traditional PLPs may register but stay away on election day.

It’s also reasonable to assume that some of the swing vote that was attracted to the National Democratic Party’s “Bahamians-first” message might gravitate toward the PLP, now that Dr. Andre Rollins and Renward Wells have joined and the NDP has fizzled.  Their inclusion bodes well for Christie, particularly if they both get nominations.  They will appeal to young change-minded voters.

But what do people really think of Perry Christie?  Is he more popular and more respected than Hubert Ingraham?  Than Bran McCartney?  Without the national affection and regard felt for former PLP deputy leader Cynthia ‘Mother’ Pratt to buoy him, can Christie gain the confidence and trust of the majority of voters?  The Christian community (which is mostly Baptist and Pentecostal) and the working poor identified strongly with ‘Mother’ Pratt. Where will the PLP get that kind of credibility from now?  Is Deputy Leader Brave Davis a help or a hindrance?  What about Chairman Bradley Roberts?  Should Christie have persuaded Dr. Bernard Nottage, a man highly regarded by swing voters and Bahamians generally, to go for deputyship?  Will the ghost of Lynden Pindling or the dignity and grace of Dame Marguerite be enough this time around?

Christie’s Achilles’ heel is the perception that he is a less decisive and results oriented, and a less effective manager than Ingraham.  This is a big sticking point for the swing vote and the professional class.  But Christie is not without advantages in this fight.  For one, he is the warmer of the two men in interviews and more of an inspirational leader than Ingraham.  The people may be tired of Ingraham’s short, dry-eyed approach and may want someone they perceive as more sympathetic and approachable at the helm.

Christie also has the luxury of sitting back and poking holes in all the FNM’s efforts to address the troubled justice and educational systems and the sputtering economy.  Christie knows most voters have short memories and don’t care about what the PLP did or didn’t do five to 10 years ago.  This is why he can say he supports hanging and not get laughed out of town.

Christie also has at his disposal the collective disenchantment, anger and fear that permeates the society.  He is likely to milk this for all it’s worth and it’s worth a lot.  Many of the angry and disenchanted will abstain from voting or vote DNA, but at least they won’t vote FNM.   If the PLP can get its base out to the polls and woo even half or a third of the angry voters out there, it stands a good chance of coming out on top--even if “on top” means heading a minority or coalition government.

Sep 05, 2011

thenassauguardian

Caribbean Blog International