Learn how to follow before attempting to lead tribune242 editorialAT A TIME when this country needs all of its citizens to focus on pulling together to ride out a turbulent economic storm many have not ceased to be distracted by election fever.
Since the 2007 election hardly a day has passed without a reminder that the focus is -- not on the economy - but on the 2012 election. From what we hear -- other than a political clique, mainly PLPs who are yet to concede their 2007 defeat, and a group of young, inexperienced Turks in both parties who want to push their leaders out and take over -- the majority of Bahamians are sick of the political sabre rattling. They are worried about losing their jobs, their homes, paying school fees and utility bills -- at times like these the politicians are an unnecessary distraction.
The latest concern this week is that the FNM might not hold its promised national convention this year -- not because of tight party funds -- but because lawyer Branville McCartney might challenge Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham for the leadership.
According to a letter writer to The Tribune, signed by one who says he is an "FNM supporter to change", Mr Ingraham is a man who says what he means and means what he says. The letter writer knows that being a man of his word is Mr Ingraham's sensitive button and in his letter he is pushing it hard with much flattery.
Says the "supporter for change": "We all came to know Mr Ingraham to be a man to his word, in fact FNM came to respect him since he was a man who spoke truth and lived up to his word. We know him to be a man who 'said what he means and mean what he says'. So since he promised, live on TV, that we will meet in convention on November 4, we expect him to continue to be the man who spoke truth. The question of funding for the convention is a mute point because Mr Ingraham could have anything he wants done, when he wants it. The Eastern Road will comply."
It is true, Mr Ingraham is a man of his word. However, he is not a fool, and even a man of his word has enough sense to lower his sails and change tack when a situation changes and he realises it would be folly to stick to a promise made in better times. The letter writer is obviously depending on the Eastern Road to finance a few days of shaking colourful pom-poms, spouting a lot of hot air from a platform, stuffing themselves with free food and enjoying fun nights in hotel rooms. Eastern Road residents are mainly business people whose first consideration will be on the economic constraints necessary for the times in which we now find ourselves. If they are the ones expected to fund this useless bash, we hope they will lock down their coffers, go home and direct their spare cash to where it can be of more use -- helping the jobless among us. These are serious days, and a convention at such a time would be out of order. It is now time that some of these young Turks got some sense and settled down to getting some experience in nation building before continuing their useless chatter about what they are going to lead.
Mr Branville McCartney, a lawyer, is the man being pushed to the fore in the FNM ranks. There is a group who are playing to his ego and trying to make him believe that he is the future saviour of this country. He might well be. We know nothing about him except the usual curriculum vitae issued to the press, and the fact that for a short time he served, but later resigned from the Ingraham cabinet. However, we now invite him to think back on the days of Julius Caesar riding in triumph through Rome's ancient city. While the crowds shouted "Hail Caesar!" the little dwarf at his side constantly tugged at his tunic, and reminded him: "Remember Caesar, thou art only a man!"
Today Mr McCartney's flatterers are tempting him into believing that he has better insight into the needs of this country, after limited experience in politics, than a man who has had broad experience for more than thirty years, both nationally and internationally. Many interpretations can be put on why Mr McCartney resigned from the Ingraham Cabinet, but it indicates to us that when the going gets rough, or things do not go his way, his inclination is to abandon ship. His day for leadership might come, but in our opinion he is still lightweight in the political arena, and his time is not now.
It might do Mr McCartney well to shut out the noise in the market place and consider the advice given by Hamilcar Barca, a Carthaginian general and statesman, to his famous son Hannibal, who later crossed the Alps on elephants in a useless attempt to defeat Rome: "Son you must first learn how to follow before you can lead."
Another version is: "You must learn how to obey before you can give orders."
August 12, 2010
tribune242 editorial
