By Dennis Dames:
The resignation of Branville McCartney as junior minister of immigration in the Ingraham cabinet has created a lot of intense political talk around the town. It was a master political stroke that the public welcomes and appreciates – in my view.
The move has shown up the political weaknesses and complacency of the likes of Zhavargo Laing, Tommy Turnquest, Carl Bethel, and other young but politically sluggish FNMs – who appear strictly comfortable with a good and prestigious job, and clearly lack the political ambition and vision necessary to keep the torch of a young generation burning with robust confidence and anticipation.
They have long forgotten one of the chief planks in the FNM propaganda campaign prior to the 1992 general election. It was term limits for a prime minister and party leader. We did not want Pindling to reign for life; nor do we want Ingraham to do the same. We demand a system that promotes political competition, and dynamic and progressive leadership. We do not believe that two Bahamian women have born one leader each that are exclusively capable of leading the affairs of our nation.
Mr. McCartney is in tuned with the status quo – that is ready for a new and prosperous brand of politics in The Bahamas. Hubert Ingraham and his PLP counterpart – Perry Christie - are expired products lingering unattractively on the Bahamian political shelf. They have become trite in the eyes of the people who long for a new era of political leadership and direction.
Brad McCartney has essentially said: Here I am, send me! He has signaled his interest in becoming leader of the FNM in short order. He has put his dull colleagues on the spot, and has told the masses that he is not interested in being a friendly neighborhood yes-man who is prepared to go with the unpopular flow of political window dressing and shameless underhandedness from the top.
Branville McCartney represents a new breed of politicians in The Bahamas - who are eager to serve the people with a progressively ambitious and productive agenda. He appears ready to tackle the vexing illegal immigration issue that has plagued The Bahamas for decades and even to this day – for example.
He looks ready to change the bureaucratically uncreative business as usual mentality in government, and replace it with an administration for and by the people. Brad McCartney is a budding leader who has challenged an old order in Bahamian politics that seems determined to enforce its detested will on an electorate longing for change that they really can believe in.
The resignation of Branville McCartney has a lasting impact on modern Bahamian politics. It signals a revolution in the making in the national political landscape.
It is hoped that Mr. McCartney would not relent in his drive for higher political office and social, economic, and political deliverance for a deserving people; as doing so will only result in a serious political backlash – like that of Algernon Allen when he turned thousands on to his one man game on the R.M Bailey Park some years back – then he bucked under heavy political pressure and returned shamelessly to his vomit. The rest is hard-to-swallow history.
Only time will reveal the genuineness of Mr. McCartney’s recent decision. The masses are watching with buoyant enthusiasm, and optimism. It is worth taking this matter sincerely Mr. McCartney, or the political exit heartlessly awaits you.
Bahamas Blog International
A political blog about Bahamian politics in The Bahamas, Bahamian Politicans - and the entire Bahamas political lot. Bahamian Blogger Dennis Dames keeps you updated on the political news and views throughout the islands of The Bahamas without fear or favor. Bahamian Politicians and the Bahamian Political Arena: Updates one Post at a time on Bahamas Politics and Bahamas Politicans; and their local, regional and international policies and perspectives.
