Gibson tells the Carlton Francis story
tribune242 editorial:
DURING the Budget debate, Kennedy MP Kenyatta Gibson, in putting the case for legalising gambling, told the tragic story of the political churchman who sacrificed himself to support his church's anti-gambling beliefs.
The irony was that the church never assisted him or protested his fall. Instead it became a firm supporter of the very government that had condemned their brother. It was the government that had introduced the evil that Baptists claimed they abhorred. Baptist churchmen took the position that neither they, nor their members, would ever support a government that depended on gambling as a source of national income.
Mr Gibson was, of course, referring to the late Carlton Francis, once Minister of Finance in the Pindling government, who was also a lay preacher in the Baptist church. Although Mr Gibson did not name the denomination to which he referred, he was talking of the Baptists. Because of the large vote the church controls at election time, all governments have been loath to take them on over one of the strictest tenants of their faith. Gambling is a capital sin which the church claims it will not tolerate, nor permit the indulgence of its members.
We recall the election of '67 when the PLP came to power for the first time. Just days before Bahamians were to go to the polls, the PLP sent in a release for publication. If the UBP were returned to power, it said, it would mean the extension of casino gambling. This was not true. As a matter of fact it was an unfair lie, because Sir Roland Symonette, this country's first premier, who was a staunch Methodist, was personally opposed to gambling. No such plan was on his party's agenda.
However, it spooked the Baptist community and, of course, churchmen stepped up their political opposition. There was hardly time to deny the story because Bahamians were getting ready to go to the polls. It was only with a PLP government, said the release, that Bahamians could be assured that gambling would be kept out of this country.
The PLP, of course, won the day, but it was not long afterwards that casino gambling was introduced and flourished in the Bahamas. And it was only six years after the PLP came to power that Mr Francis was put in the awkward position of having to choose between his government and his conscience. The issue was gambling. Here the politician had to give way to the conscience of the Baptist preacher. He voted against his government on the gambling issue and in 1973 had to resign from the Pindling cabinet.
That was bad enough, but a vindictive prime minister never forgave him his mortal sin. Thrown on the political trash heap, Mr Francis was hounded from pillar to post. A respected teacher before he entered politics, he could not get a job at the College of the Bahamas. As a matter of fact, he found it difficult after that to make a living.
As he crossed the street at one of Sir Lynden's political meetings, the "Chief" looked down from his lofty dais, spotted his former finance minister and sneered that there went Carlton Francis, but all he could see was a three-piece suit. It was true, Mr Francis then dying of cancer, was a shell of his former self and all one could see was a baggy suit. The crowd jeered. It was cruel.
But where was his church, which had declared that it would never support a government that got its revenue from gambling? Mr Gibson said that in his research, he could not find that Mr Francis' church came to his support when, having been abandoned by his party, he decided to run for parliament from the South Beach constituency. Of course, with his party against him and no help from his church, he lost the contest.
Mr Gibson said that "the record will show that they abandoned him and quickly realigned themselves with the same political party which he had abandoned on their behalf."
And, said Mr Gibson, "to complicate this issue many leading Churchmen of the day then accepted positions of significance from the same political party which had expanded casino gambling. These princes and princesses now piously sat as secretary generals and parliamentarians in the political organization which had ushered in the very same expansion, which they previously had vociferously argued against...
"And so the question begs an answer," said Mr Gibson, "what did they do for the Prince of their Church, Carlton Elisha Francis who sided with his Church on the gambling issue and gave up his cabinet portfolio? Absolutely nothing. The man could not even get the pastorship of a recognizable Church in this denomination."
Mr Gibson revived this bit of history to advise Bahamians to hold their own counsel in what they believed was best for them and their families and not be guided by special interest groups.
In the debate on whether gambling -- the numbers game -- should be made legal, he said the "people have the inalienable right to choose for themselves."
Mr Gibson ended his presentation in the House with a quote from Mr Francis: "They who stand on the sand banks of history trying to hold back the tide will be swept up in the flood gates of insurrection."
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.
Showing posts with label Carlton Francis. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Carlton Francis. Show all posts
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Malcolm Adderley, Melissa Sears - and PLP smears
Melissa Sears and PLP smears
tribune242 editorial:
FIRST IT was Malcolm Adderley, now it is Melissa Sears, and today as the years roll by the PLP party seems to have forgotten its purpose for existence, reminding us rather of the Grand Inquisitor in Dostoyevsky's Brothers Karamzov.
This powerful soliloquy in the Russian novel is a deep, philosophical argument about God, free will and morality.
The Grand Inquisitor berates Christ for giving man the impossible burden of freewill, rather than security. He says that the so-call gift is no gift at all, rather this freedom to choose is a devastating, impossible burden.
People, said the Grand Inquisitor, should have been given no choice, instead, like automatons, they should just shuffle forward according to the will of their Creator.
"Nothing has ever been more insufferable for man than freedom!" concludes the Grand Inquisitor, a belief that seems to be gathering ascendancy within the Opposition party. Rather, like the Grand Inquisitor, the PLP offer their members security -- not freedom of thought. As long as they toe the party line, they will remain secure in the party fold. But get out of line and the Grand Inquisitor turns vicious -- out to destroy any idea of free will.
This tendency did not start recently, under what the electorate was duped into believing was to be a "new" PLP. It started way back in the days when Lynden Pindling returned from England, joined a party that he did not start, and quickly took over.
Malcolm Adderley, who, in the first week of this new year not only walked out of the PLP, but resigned as MP for Elizabeth, reminded his former colleagues that once upon a time in the distant past their party had the "distinction of being built by the blood, sweat and tears of hardworking men and women of humble beginnings, proud of their commitment to uplift the well being and standard of the people."
However, under the Pindling leadership, the party had lost its way. One man's dream replaced the dreams of the many, and for those who did not follow slavishly, political oblivion was the price they had to pay for having a mind of their own. Some of them, like Carlton Francis, a competent teacher, had difficulty finding a job to support their families. Mr Francis certainly was not acceptable in the government's educational system from which he had come and for which he was eminently qualified. Then there were the Dissident Eight, followed by Ed Moxey, and many others who didn't make the headlines, but certainly felt the pain of rejection and vicious scorn.
For seven long years Malcolm Adderley suffered stoically as MP for Elizabeth, until exasperated, he shook the dust from his sandals and walked out. In his farewell speech to the House, he talked of the souls of those who had sacrificed so much to build their party, but would ache as a "result of the venom and ill will that is displayed almost on a daily basis on any member who tries to correct its ills." He talked of the back-biting whispers and disrespect shown him.
And now it is the turn of a young woman, Melissa Sears, who like Mr Adderley was spotted by the party as a rising political star, and invited to join. Recently, for personal reasons -- not political -- she decided to step down as vice-chairman of the PLP. She made no fuss, she gave no interviews, she tried to keep a low profile so as not to embarrass her party. Persons close to her speculated that she had resigned because of disparaging remarks made by Opposition Leader Perry Christie. Mr Christie vehemently denied that he had made any such remarks. She remained silent.
And now the vicious party hacks, using the sophistication of the electronic age, are spreading unfair and untrue rumours to destroy this young woman. It is understood that this vehicle is being financially underwritten by two party hefties, one allegedly a sitting MP. We are not surprised by one of the names mentioned, but, if true, we are certainly surprised by the second. We gave him credit for being smarter than that.
The latest smear was imbedded on the cell phone of an FNM MP, allegedly from Ms Sears. It was an obvious trap. The MP knew that it was not from Ms Sears, because they did not have the type of relationship that was being suggested by the caller. All the sender wanted was for the MP to incriminate himself by falling for the bait, and answering the call. Instead, instinctively knowing that there was a plot afoot and guessing the source, he submitted it to the authorities for investigation. It is now being said that there is no room in the PLP for a strong woman. We say that as long as the Grand Inquisitor controls the party machine, there is no room for a strong man. The others will remain, tip-toeing around in craven fear.
Mr Adderley blamed Mr Christie for allowing PLP hacks to torture him right out of the party. It would probably be nearer the truth to speculate that Mr Christie is as afraid as his colleagues to have the smear-mongers on his case. After all the website has also given him a good flaying when it has suited those behind it.
If someone does not become more responsible in that party and respect the thoughts and opinions of others, that same irresponsible website is going to be the funeral site of the PLP.
April 30, 2010
tribune242
tribune242 editorial:
FIRST IT was Malcolm Adderley, now it is Melissa Sears, and today as the years roll by the PLP party seems to have forgotten its purpose for existence, reminding us rather of the Grand Inquisitor in Dostoyevsky's Brothers Karamzov.
This powerful soliloquy in the Russian novel is a deep, philosophical argument about God, free will and morality.
The Grand Inquisitor berates Christ for giving man the impossible burden of freewill, rather than security. He says that the so-call gift is no gift at all, rather this freedom to choose is a devastating, impossible burden.
People, said the Grand Inquisitor, should have been given no choice, instead, like automatons, they should just shuffle forward according to the will of their Creator.
"Nothing has ever been more insufferable for man than freedom!" concludes the Grand Inquisitor, a belief that seems to be gathering ascendancy within the Opposition party. Rather, like the Grand Inquisitor, the PLP offer their members security -- not freedom of thought. As long as they toe the party line, they will remain secure in the party fold. But get out of line and the Grand Inquisitor turns vicious -- out to destroy any idea of free will.
This tendency did not start recently, under what the electorate was duped into believing was to be a "new" PLP. It started way back in the days when Lynden Pindling returned from England, joined a party that he did not start, and quickly took over.
Malcolm Adderley, who, in the first week of this new year not only walked out of the PLP, but resigned as MP for Elizabeth, reminded his former colleagues that once upon a time in the distant past their party had the "distinction of being built by the blood, sweat and tears of hardworking men and women of humble beginnings, proud of their commitment to uplift the well being and standard of the people."
However, under the Pindling leadership, the party had lost its way. One man's dream replaced the dreams of the many, and for those who did not follow slavishly, political oblivion was the price they had to pay for having a mind of their own. Some of them, like Carlton Francis, a competent teacher, had difficulty finding a job to support their families. Mr Francis certainly was not acceptable in the government's educational system from which he had come and for which he was eminently qualified. Then there were the Dissident Eight, followed by Ed Moxey, and many others who didn't make the headlines, but certainly felt the pain of rejection and vicious scorn.
For seven long years Malcolm Adderley suffered stoically as MP for Elizabeth, until exasperated, he shook the dust from his sandals and walked out. In his farewell speech to the House, he talked of the souls of those who had sacrificed so much to build their party, but would ache as a "result of the venom and ill will that is displayed almost on a daily basis on any member who tries to correct its ills." He talked of the back-biting whispers and disrespect shown him.
And now it is the turn of a young woman, Melissa Sears, who like Mr Adderley was spotted by the party as a rising political star, and invited to join. Recently, for personal reasons -- not political -- she decided to step down as vice-chairman of the PLP. She made no fuss, she gave no interviews, she tried to keep a low profile so as not to embarrass her party. Persons close to her speculated that she had resigned because of disparaging remarks made by Opposition Leader Perry Christie. Mr Christie vehemently denied that he had made any such remarks. She remained silent.
And now the vicious party hacks, using the sophistication of the electronic age, are spreading unfair and untrue rumours to destroy this young woman. It is understood that this vehicle is being financially underwritten by two party hefties, one allegedly a sitting MP. We are not surprised by one of the names mentioned, but, if true, we are certainly surprised by the second. We gave him credit for being smarter than that.
The latest smear was imbedded on the cell phone of an FNM MP, allegedly from Ms Sears. It was an obvious trap. The MP knew that it was not from Ms Sears, because they did not have the type of relationship that was being suggested by the caller. All the sender wanted was for the MP to incriminate himself by falling for the bait, and answering the call. Instead, instinctively knowing that there was a plot afoot and guessing the source, he submitted it to the authorities for investigation. It is now being said that there is no room in the PLP for a strong woman. We say that as long as the Grand Inquisitor controls the party machine, there is no room for a strong man. The others will remain, tip-toeing around in craven fear.
Mr Adderley blamed Mr Christie for allowing PLP hacks to torture him right out of the party. It would probably be nearer the truth to speculate that Mr Christie is as afraid as his colleagues to have the smear-mongers on his case. After all the website has also given him a good flaying when it has suited those behind it.
If someone does not become more responsible in that party and respect the thoughts and opinions of others, that same irresponsible website is going to be the funeral site of the PLP.
April 30, 2010
tribune242
Friday, January 8, 2010
Malcolm Adderley bows out – free at last
Tribune242 Editorial:
YESTERDAY, after seven and a half long years of being buffeted by a cruel political storm, the leaking little dingy, mv SS Elizabeth dropped anchor, and her disillusioned captain stepped ashore -- a beaten, but a free man at last.
In July, 2007 Elizabeth MP Malcolm Adderley -- through a story about a leaking little dingy -- shared with Bahamians how his party had shunned him, even threw up road blocks to engineer his defeat as the PLP candidate for Elizabeth in the May election of that year.
"This dingy," Mr Adderley told the House of Assembly two months after his election victory, "had holes from front to back. It had no sail; it had no motor; it did not even have a rudder, but, far away from Elizabeth I was lost at sea. At the time the sea was raging, the waves were blowing and there were those on the shore who were anxiously awaiting with baited breath to see the motor vessel SS Elizabeth sink. Despite the tremendous courage of the crew on the mv Elizabeth, there were times when they became discouraged because of the cries of those from Elizabeth. But those who stood on the shore looking from without ... Yes, sir, it was not an easy voyage."
At the time when reporters were trying to interview Mr Adderley to find out his political future, we predicted that this was his farewell speech and that it would only be a matter of time before he, like the late Cecil Wallace Whitfield and the Dissident Eight many years before, would be breathing a sigh of relief. "Free at last, my soul is free at last!" were the departing words of Sir Cecil as he walked out of the House and the Cabinet of former Prime Minister Sir Lynden Pindling.
Mr Adderley recalled the early days of the PLP, a party, he said, that had the "distinction of being built by the blood, sweat and tears of hardworking men and women of humble beginnings, but proud of their commitment to uplift the well being and standard of the people."
It was a party that had a dream. It was a dream that, despite what our detractors will say today, even The Tribune believed in and supported. But the party lost its way. It wasn't long before it espoused the dream of one man -- and it was more than one dared to suggest that there might be another way, another dream.
As Mr Adderley told the House yesterday the souls of those who had sacrificed so much to build their party would ache as a "result of the venom and ill will that is displayed almost on a daily basis on any member who tries to correct its ills."
Gutter politics had entered the arena. Victimisation was the party's battle cry during the Pindling era; vicious character assassination was the way to eliminate an adversary. Party members were even expected to compromise their consciences for "the Chief." The late Carlton Francis, who had contributed so much to his party and his leader, discovered in his dying days how it felt to be mocked and thrown on the political pyre because there came a day when he decided to follow his conscience and not his leader. Who will ever forget the night that Sir Lynden, speaking from a public platform, spotted the dying man, pointed him out to the crowd and scoffed that there went a three-piece suit, but all he could see was suit. It was true that on Mr Francis' shrunken frame all one could see was a baggy suit, but what cruelty, especially from a nation's leader. That was the depth to which the party had fallen -- under Pindling there were many "nights of the long swords" and scrapping in the gutter.
In 2002 Mr Perry Christie won a one term election on the promise that he was leading the "New PLP." It wasn't long before it was realised that the style of execution might have been different, but the same bitter, viciousness was being conducted in the open. While Mr Adderley maintained a dignified silence, the party's hatchetmen were about their dirty work -- in the words of Mr Adderley -- constantly and perpetually "undermining the duly elected Member of Parliament in total disregard and blatant disrespect of the will of the people of Elizabeth."
His greatest anger was levelled at the party's leader who apparently did nothing to discourage those who were actively campaigning to unseat him in his Elizabeth constituency -- "brazenly knocking on doors, even dispensing T-shirts, groceries, even handing out Mother's Day gifts and cards, indicating to constituents that they were the party's choice for 2012."
If Mr Christie expected Mr Adderley to remain a loyal party supporter -- as he claimed he did-- then he should have taken note when Mr Adderley in 2007 ran up the red flag on the SS Elizabeth informing him that there were dangerous shoals ahead threatening to wreck both of them. Mr Christie, true to form, chose to ignore the warning, obviously waiting for time to heal all and relieve him of the bother. It is always amazing when the inevitable happens, Mr Christie innocently rolls his eyes and appears to be taken by surprise.
Mr Adderley has stepped aside for the sake of his people in Elizabeth, who he acknowledged needed a representative who had the full support of the party he represented. Mr Adderley did not have that support.
This weekend Mr Christie and his party will have to look at the collective damage they have wrought and decide what road they will take into the future.
January 07, 2010
tribune242
YESTERDAY, after seven and a half long years of being buffeted by a cruel political storm, the leaking little dingy, mv SS Elizabeth dropped anchor, and her disillusioned captain stepped ashore -- a beaten, but a free man at last.
In July, 2007 Elizabeth MP Malcolm Adderley -- through a story about a leaking little dingy -- shared with Bahamians how his party had shunned him, even threw up road blocks to engineer his defeat as the PLP candidate for Elizabeth in the May election of that year.
"This dingy," Mr Adderley told the House of Assembly two months after his election victory, "had holes from front to back. It had no sail; it had no motor; it did not even have a rudder, but, far away from Elizabeth I was lost at sea. At the time the sea was raging, the waves were blowing and there were those on the shore who were anxiously awaiting with baited breath to see the motor vessel SS Elizabeth sink. Despite the tremendous courage of the crew on the mv Elizabeth, there were times when they became discouraged because of the cries of those from Elizabeth. But those who stood on the shore looking from without ... Yes, sir, it was not an easy voyage."
At the time when reporters were trying to interview Mr Adderley to find out his political future, we predicted that this was his farewell speech and that it would only be a matter of time before he, like the late Cecil Wallace Whitfield and the Dissident Eight many years before, would be breathing a sigh of relief. "Free at last, my soul is free at last!" were the departing words of Sir Cecil as he walked out of the House and the Cabinet of former Prime Minister Sir Lynden Pindling.
Mr Adderley recalled the early days of the PLP, a party, he said, that had the "distinction of being built by the blood, sweat and tears of hardworking men and women of humble beginnings, but proud of their commitment to uplift the well being and standard of the people."
It was a party that had a dream. It was a dream that, despite what our detractors will say today, even The Tribune believed in and supported. But the party lost its way. It wasn't long before it espoused the dream of one man -- and it was more than one dared to suggest that there might be another way, another dream.
As Mr Adderley told the House yesterday the souls of those who had sacrificed so much to build their party would ache as a "result of the venom and ill will that is displayed almost on a daily basis on any member who tries to correct its ills."
Gutter politics had entered the arena. Victimisation was the party's battle cry during the Pindling era; vicious character assassination was the way to eliminate an adversary. Party members were even expected to compromise their consciences for "the Chief." The late Carlton Francis, who had contributed so much to his party and his leader, discovered in his dying days how it felt to be mocked and thrown on the political pyre because there came a day when he decided to follow his conscience and not his leader. Who will ever forget the night that Sir Lynden, speaking from a public platform, spotted the dying man, pointed him out to the crowd and scoffed that there went a three-piece suit, but all he could see was suit. It was true that on Mr Francis' shrunken frame all one could see was a baggy suit, but what cruelty, especially from a nation's leader. That was the depth to which the party had fallen -- under Pindling there were many "nights of the long swords" and scrapping in the gutter.
In 2002 Mr Perry Christie won a one term election on the promise that he was leading the "New PLP." It wasn't long before it was realised that the style of execution might have been different, but the same bitter, viciousness was being conducted in the open. While Mr Adderley maintained a dignified silence, the party's hatchetmen were about their dirty work -- in the words of Mr Adderley -- constantly and perpetually "undermining the duly elected Member of Parliament in total disregard and blatant disrespect of the will of the people of Elizabeth."
His greatest anger was levelled at the party's leader who apparently did nothing to discourage those who were actively campaigning to unseat him in his Elizabeth constituency -- "brazenly knocking on doors, even dispensing T-shirts, groceries, even handing out Mother's Day gifts and cards, indicating to constituents that they were the party's choice for 2012."
If Mr Christie expected Mr Adderley to remain a loyal party supporter -- as he claimed he did-- then he should have taken note when Mr Adderley in 2007 ran up the red flag on the SS Elizabeth informing him that there were dangerous shoals ahead threatening to wreck both of them. Mr Christie, true to form, chose to ignore the warning, obviously waiting for time to heal all and relieve him of the bother. It is always amazing when the inevitable happens, Mr Christie innocently rolls his eyes and appears to be taken by surprise.
Mr Adderley has stepped aside for the sake of his people in Elizabeth, who he acknowledged needed a representative who had the full support of the party he represented. Mr Adderley did not have that support.
This weekend Mr Christie and his party will have to look at the collective damage they have wrought and decide what road they will take into the future.
January 07, 2010
tribune242
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