Alfred Gray worries about PM's reputation
tribune242 editorial
ACCORDING TO MICAL MP V Alfred Gray, Prime Minister Ingraham has "corrupted" himself by accepting the Aga Khan's helicopter to tour the Bahamas' hurricane damaged islands. According to Mr Gray, the Prime Minister, to protect his reputation, should instead have taken a plane, which Mr Gray claimed was available.
Obviously, Mr Gray is completely unaware of the conditions in the islands, and is oblivious -- either by design or ignorance -- that an aircraft cannot effectively cover the same territory in such conditions.
For example on Monday when four US Army Black Hawks landed at Odyssey Aviation because of bad weather, Prime Minister Ingraham was getting into the Aga Khan's 12-passenger helicopter to fly to Abaco.
According to Met Office reports that day, severe thunder and lightning storms were expected between 3 and 6pm, and persons were advised to stay indoors. The Black Hawks were in, the helicopter was out. By 9.45pm the Prime Minister and the press were back at Odyssey as lightening flashed and thunder rolled. The weather was not good, our son, who was on the trip, informed us.
No aircraft could have covered the territory that the Prime Minister did that day. What aircraft could have hovered near roof tops, landed in settlements and islands to avoid flooded airstrips and fly below the thunderstorms that kept planes out of the air?
On that day, the Prime Minister's party landed at Sandy Point, Moores Island, Coopers Town, Blackwood, Murphy Town, Treasure Cay, Green Turtle Cay and Marsh Harbour. How could he have covered this distance in an aircraft? Where would the plane have landed and how many lost hours would it have taken to travel by car and ferry to these settlements? Not only did the terrain make such a trip impossible, but he could have never made so many stops, seen so many people and got back to Nassau on the same night. In three days travelling by helicopter -- two days courtesy of the Aga Khan -- the Prime Minister has practically covered all of the stricken islands.
Yesterday -- leaving at 8am and returning at 9:30pm - again in the Aga Khan's helicopter, the Prime Minister flew to Crooked Island and Acklins, and touched down in Exuma to refuel. Because of the difficulty of getting fuel, the helicopter could not continue on to Mayaguana and so a Defence Force aircraft picked him up at Acklins, flew him to Mayaguana, then to San Salvador and back to Nassau.
Mr Gray talks of an available aircraft that Mr Ingraham could have taken. We would like to know what aircraft he was talking about, because no one else seems to know about it.
"The PLP are sitting on the sidelines taking pot shots at a man who is getting the job done," a Bahamian sarcastically commented. "They are just jealous because they can't get the Aga Khan's helicopter or any other helicopter to get there. If they say a plane was available why didn't they take it themselves and make a contribution to help the people?"
Is the Aga Khan -- a man noted for his generosity and his philanthropic work -- to be treated like a pariah in this country, because he is digging a canal at his Bell island property - for which he already has a permit, and does not have to depend upon Mr Ingraham to give him anything. The Aga Khan, whose Aga Khan Development Network has the environment in its portfolio, is unlikely to do anything that will damage the environs at Bell Island. The prince is probably more aware and concerned about protecting the environment than any PLP will ever be.
Is this generous man's offer to help the people of the Bahamas in their hour of need to be turned down, because one Alfred Grey, who believes that the Prime Minister should take more time to "walk and talk and touch and look in people's eyes and see their hurt and pain," is now feigning concern for the Prime Minister's reputation? Mr Grey is sitting on the sidelines, playing the cheapest kind of politics and making himself and his party look ridiculous.
In this hour of need we believe Mr Ingraham is more interested in helping his fellow Bahamians than worrying about his reputation -- he'll leave that to Mr Gray.
Mr Ingraham decided to take the most effective way to cover as many settlements as he could in the shortest possible time, so that supplies could be dispatched as quickly as possible.
We are certain that the injured man in Cat Island, wasn't concerned about what helicopter flew him to Nassau for medical attention. Incidentally, it was not the Aga Khan's helicopter, but that of an equally generous friend of the Bahamas -- all of this at no cost to the Bahamian taxpayer.
Instead of saying thanks, Mr Grey wants to talk of corruption.
While Mr Gray has announced that he intends to start an appeal for donations from lumber yards for assistance to rebuild homes, Mr Ingraham -- who is moving too fast for the snail-paced PLP -- has already arranged for supplies to be sent in for the rebuilding to start.
If the PLP cannot do anything, they should at least have the decency to keep their mouths shut. Now is not the time to add politics to a people's suffering.
September 01, 2011
tribune242 editorial
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.