By ADRIAN GIBSON
ajbahama@hotmail.com:
FORMER Minister of State for Immigration Branville McCartney's resignation is being seen as a political rebellion in certain quarters of the FNM, as attack dogs and a number of disgruntled, diehard FNMs are having fits of hysteria and are already hurling scurrilous and cheap potshots from behind the curtain of anonymity. From this week on, Mr McCartney will be wading through a political minefield.
Throughout the Bahamas, Bran McCartney is heralded as a hard worker, a young man who understands the true purpose of parliamentary representation of his constituents. The former minister's genuine concern for the nation's youth was on display last November in a speech and subsequent question and answer session given during a class I lectured at the College of the Bahamas.
Admittedly, Mr McCartney's resignation from Cabinet, while serving as a first-term junior Cabinet Minister and parliamentarian has led to comparisons to bumbling former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin who herself resigned before serving a single, full-term. All-in-all, however, Bran McCartney is not the divisive figure and calamitous Jane that Sarah Palin has turned out to be.
Bran McCartney's resignation on his personal convictions, shows that he has the kahunas to stand up for his beliefs whatever they might be and this might, in the long run, catapult him to the top of the leadership totem pole as Prime Minister and FNM leader Hubert Ingraham's successor while--in time--potentially also earning the PM's admiration.
Mr Ingraham has not said anything disparaging about Mr McCartney and he appears to be such an astute politician that amidst all the political brouhaha, he is focused enough to direct his attention upon the PLP's election court challenge and other issues instead of being found to be in open combat with the very popular Mr McCartney.
Dr Dexter Johnson, lawyer and medical doctor, addressed Mr McCartney's resignation and potential leadership of the FNM stating:
"In a situation with two exhausted leaders, the focus must be upon a replacement. The recent by-election and debate served to heighten the profile of potentially new leaders. The pretenders in the PLP and FNM are obtaining zero mileage at this time. The system of the past is not bringing the best leaders forward.
"The change in the immigration ministry's policies had put Mr McCartney in park--indefinitely. If he crosses the floor, the Ingraham administration would fall," he asserted.
Dr Johnson went on:
"Mr McCartney would be a welcome addition to a third party. His arrival would immediately catapult a third party into the political stratosphere and could be a platform to show his uninhibited vision. His arrival would immediately make a third party a contender as it would have a credible Parliamentary voice."
It seems highly unlikely that, even after submitting his resignation, Mr McCartney would cross the floor.
The timing of the former junior minister's resignation may be of concern to some, particularly as it follows an extremely acrimonious Elizabeth by-election campaign and has led to overarching concerns about his political plans, especially how his resignation--with the FNM in a seemingly precarious state--could affect his aspirations for leadership.
Frankly, in the wake of a closely-contested, yet undeclared by-election, the FNM must be uncertain of exactly what the electorate thinks and whether public apathy is directed towards the party and its governance. While Mr McCartney's resignation has reverberated throughout the archipelago, his resignation would have been more resonant had it been submitted immediately after the Prime Minister decided to temporarily grant status to the Haitian migrants housed at the Detention Centre following the catastrophic earthquake in Port-au-Prince. At that time, the PM's decision to release the Haitians-- even with temporary status -- was met with a chorus of dissent and questions about its legality as local radio talk shows were bombarded by livid callers. Indeed, there is a paralyzing fog of disbelief and outright cynicism being expressed in some quarters about the Prime Minister's decision. It has been alleged that Mr McCartney was not consulted and felt that it was a usurping of his power and authority as Minister of State in-charge of the Department of Immigration.
It has also been alleged that Mr McCartney had a running feud with substantive minister and DPM Brent Symonette, who some contend may have sought to tie his hands on certain immigration matters.
Indeed, while questions run rife about whether the Bamboo Town MP's resignation will further cripple the FNM in terms of its support, I believe that he is a chap with the gravitas to stand against the grain. However, diehard FNM supporters, despite their belief that he possesses leadership qualities, may be more concerned about party over self--irrespective of how principled one might be. Although Mr McCartney has exhibited the attributes, abilities and intellect that are commendable traits to propel him to leadership as opposed to an aptitude to simply be a sycophant complying with political dictates, today, even the slightest misstep could lead to another man (McCartney) who would-be "king" being permanently ushered out of the throne room.
Are the voting delegates and council members willing to view an individual's abilities or, at the end of the day, will party supersede any principle that a person holds?
It is my belief that when Charles Maynard--who is not seen as the brightest spark in the Cabinet--was appointed the substantive Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture after a abysmal performance as a junior minister, Mr McCartney possibly felt snubbed.
Sources assert that the former state minister believed himself to have been overlooked and cast aside.
Furthermore, unlike certain members of the current and past Cabinets, Mr McCartney is not overly dependent upon a Cabinet job, as he has publicly admitted to being independent, financially secure and to have used his ministerial salary in the constituency.
After the dust settles in Elizabeth, it is said by certain FNM insiders that McCartney could be displaced. If Elizabeth serves as a catalyst for what 2012 holds, there will then be a strategic plan for counting seats within both of the major parties, with each party distinguishing the seats that are must-haves in its column in the instance that the election is close. These must-have seats must also be contested by diehard candidates. That said, I doubt that Mr McCartney will be punished and relocated to contest another constituency.
When former Bamboo Town MP Tennyson Wells initially broke ranks with the FNM/PM Ingraham, the constituency association continued to support him as an independent. Mr Wells was shown that they stood with him, only to later part ways upon being won over by Mr McCartney's arrival and the realization that an independent could do little for the constituency.
As it regards Mr McCartney's possible succession to PM Ingraham as FNM leader, the issue of his ability to galvanize the voters across the political spectrum to vote for the party must also be taken into account. Moreover, if history serves as precedent, future leadership challengers within the major parties may also need the blessings of previous leaders--as seems to be the norm in the Bahamas. Will Mr McCartney earn Mr Ingraham's support, particularly as Dr Duane Sands is slated to eventually become the next FNM leader?
Before the arrival of Mr Ingraham, the FNM was viewed as the elitist, Republican Party of the Bahamas. Since then, Mr Ingraham's leadership has increased support for the party across the electoral spectrum. As PM Ingraham seeks to close an illustrious political career, it remains obvious that the FNM has yet to find homegrown talent to become a true leader-Prime Minister material. Will Bran McCartney be that man?
March 11, 2010
tribune242
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