Butler's candor is refreshing
thenassauguardian editorial
Craig Butler yesterday left the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP). He was the party’s treasurer. Butler is the grandson of the first Bahamian Governor General, Sir Milo Butler. He is also the brother of Free National Movement (FNM) Cabinet Minister and Montagu Member of Parliament Loretta Butler-Turner.
Butler, an attorney, was denied the PLP nomination to run as a candidate in the February 2010 Elizabeth by-election and he was again denied the PLP nomination to run as the party’s candidate in the Kennedy constituency at the next general election. Attorney Dion Smith received the nomination.
Butler knows the party will not give him a nomination as a candidate. It thinks he would be a liability as a candidate.
Butler has publicly acknowledged that he had a drug problem in the past. On the Star 106.5 FM talk show Jeffery yesterday with host Jeffery Lloyd, after his resignation, Butler said his drug use began in the 1990s when he went away to university.
His drug use ended late in 2001 or early 2002, Butler added. In 2008, he was charged with causing harm to his wife Terrel, who is also an attorney. The matter was later dropped.
Regarding the drug use, it was refreshing to hear a public figure come forward and disclose that he is not perfect.
None of us are.
Many Bahamians, doctors, lawyers, teachers, politicians and others have struggled with substance abuse. It is a triumph when an addict overcomes and resumes living a balanced life. If a person has truly overcome, such past indiscretions should not bar that person from serving the community.
In fact, such a story of failure and triumph could be inspirational to many, especially young people who have had similar struggles.
That being said, all should be aware that political parties worldwide shy away from candidates with public histories of drug abuse. The fear is that the past struggles could be perceived as signs of deficiency and inadequacy.
For young people going into politics, Butler’s struggle to attain a nomination should be a cautionary tale. The past can be held against you.
The PLP, though, must be careful that it does not come out of this looking hypocritical. In the 1984 Commission of Inquiry report, many senior PLPs were accused of drug related corruption. Many PLPs during the party’s last term in office, from 2002 to 2007, also had scandals. Many ran, nonetheless, in the 2007 general election. Some will run again in the next general election.
It’s strange to deny Butler and to allow some of the others in the PLP to run again and again, or to be appointed to senior government posts, when they too had mishaps in the past.
Jun 02, 2011
thenassauguardian editorial
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