Nixing Preemptive PLP Purge
The Bahama Journal Editorial
There is a sense we are getting that tells us that there may be forces and elements currently at work in the precincts of the Progressive Liberal Party that would [if given their chance] help their organization to a defeat.
There are occasions in life when the sure thing can become the very thing that is lost – having been sacrificed to greed, jealousy and a species of one-upmanship run amok.
One such occasion now seems to be upon the Rt. Hon. Perry Gladstone Christie as some of his party’s more senior members seek to persuade him [and the Party hierarchy] to deny nominations to a number of his closest allies; inclusive of Leslie Miller, Obie Wilchcombe, Vincent Peet – and Shane Gibson.
If Mr. Christie was ever dumb enough to agree with these men, he would in that same gesture prove that he is unfit to lead this nation.
In addition, we seriously wonder if the men who are trying to advise the former prime minister that he should so purge his party really understand the true import of what they are suggesting.
We cut – as it were – to the chase: Mr. Christie would prove himself a hypocrite of the highest order were he to be perceived as being party to this kind of proposed back-stabbing.
Like others who are all for probity in public life, we are also realistic enough to know and appreciate – as fact – that the Bahamian people are smart enough and savvy enough to appreciate – again as fact – that they are voting for men and not angels.
It therefore follows that, if the people in a constituency; members in a party – and others concerned – are prepared to support a candidate, that should be their choice.
Furthermore, Mr. Christie would be well-advised to watch carefully as this or that self-serving crew tries to get him to second-guess his earlier notions that there should always be some second chance for this or that person.
In addition, the PLP’s party leader would also be well-advised to tune in to what the people are saying at the constituency level – this because this is going to be decisive whenever general elections are called.
Clearly, those men who would have the PLP’s leader divest him and his team of some of their most precious assets are jesting.
If they are not jesting, they must be on some mission or the other designed to help the PLP to a resounding defeat.
No political organization can ever hope to succeed if it allows itself to become little more than a mechanism designed to service the needs of the few.
Indeed, all who have succeeded have done so because they have kept close to the people whose voices matter most; namely the masses.
Put simply, winning a seat in parliament has all to do with being – as the saying goes – popular.
It therefore follows that the people can and should be allowed their choices of candidate, warts and all.
These people know better than anyone else that election to parliament is not about selection to sing in a heaven-bound choir.
Evidently, there will arise occasions when the people decide that they want this or that man or woman to represent them, regardless.
We remember some of Whitney Bastian’s travails when he sought [and did not get] a PLP nomination. As the record shows, he begged, he cajoled and he was denied.
He went on to win the seat in South Andros because he was the people’s choice.
Clearly, then, the same principle applies to all others who find favor with the Bahamian people. This list could well include the likes of Leslie Miller, Vincent Peet, Obie Wilchcombe and [yes!] Shane Gibson.
We are today bemused by those men who have decided that, among all others, they are uniquely qualified to stand in judgment of some other men and women.
Like others who make it their business to take stock of matters political, we are sometimes left bemused by some of the stuff that comes to our attention.
We are today bemused not only because we know a thing or two about the men who are said to advising PLP leader to deep-six a number of his parliamentary colleagues.
In addition, they would have "their leader" renounce giving his nod to the candidacy of a man who was once a Cabinet Minister under the leadership of none other than the Rt. Hon. Perry Gladstone Christie.
These men – again as we understand the matter at hand – would have the former prime minister sever connection with some of his parliamentary colleagues – men who have been with him through thick and thin.
May 17th, 2011
The Bahama Journal 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 Shane Gibson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Shane Gibson. Show all posts
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
George Smith - former Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) MP says that he hopes his party's supporters will see the wisdom in his words about the withdrawal of certain PLP candidates from the upcoming general election
Ex-PLP MP defends controversial letter
By PAUL G TURNQUEST
Tribune Staff Reporter
pturnquest@tribunemedia.net
DEFENDING the letter he co-penned calling for the withdrawal of certain PLP candidates from the upcoming general election, former PLP MP George Smith said that in the passage of time he hopes his party's supporters will see the wisdom in his words.
Speaking with The Tribune yesterday, Mr Smith said he, with former PLP chairman Raynard Rigby and former campaign coordinator Philip Galanis, were not being critical of these particular candidates because they believed what was being said about them - but rather there is a "perception" that surrounds some of them.
"If the public perceives you to be something, that is what you are. I don't believe that anybody, principally the leader, can put affection for any individual above the good of the Bahamas, the good of the party, and I believe - since I believe the PLP is the best party in the Bahamas - we should remove as many stumbling blocks as possible. And it is not always easy to do that. Sometimes you have to ask your best friend to move aside," he said.
Mr Smith was referring to a letter that he, Mr Rigby and Mr Galanis wrote to PLP leader Perry Christie urging him to block the nominations of Shane Gibson, Vincent Peet, Obie Wilchcombe, V Alfred Gray, Leslie Miller, Anthony Moss and Picewell Forbes for fear that their nominations could hurt the party on a national scale if the varied pasts of some of them were once again highlighted during a general election campaign.
The PLP's leader went on record to express his disappointment that this "internal" letter had been leaked to the press.
However, Mr Christie said, he was not going to be distracted by this latest incident and that his party remains focused on supporting the "excellent candidates" and hardworking activists who comprise his party.
Vetting
"Each and every candidate is required to undergo a vigorous vetting process - a process that is open, fair and transparent. All voices are welcome, and the process is both balanced and inclusive," Mr Christie said.
While accepting this, Mr Smith said that a requirement not to run "tainted" candidates does not come from a fear that the FNM will gain some political mileage, but rather a belief that the people of the country ought to have faith that the people who represent them in Parliament will always put the welfare of the country above their own personal interests.
"That has to be obvious. If the public believes you are in there to enrich yourself, even if you don't, if the public believes it, they will question your activities.
"And, it's like if a fella' has a weakness in a particular area, if he is for instance a gambler, you have to be very careful how you expose him to the great temptation of money. That got one politician in trouble.
"Or if a fella' is a heavy womanizer, you have to be careful that you protect him from his own weakness.
"And some of us became victims and paid prices because of perception and that is how it is."
Mr Smith said that this advice is, of course, applicable to the FNM as well.
"They have people there who the people have had cause to question, Tommy Turnquest, and Dion Foulkes, and you have to recognise that my actions in this instance will do damage to my party," he said.
Mr Smith also highlighted, however, that he does believe in rehabilitation.
"If any wrong that I may have committed, if I was sentenced to a prison term, I would have been out long time. But I also believe that our society should be a forgiving society. So if some of these fella's would just step aside and acknowledge that my action in this particular thing was wrong, and not because it was legally wrong, it was perceived to be wrong. Step aside, and come back," he said.
Mr Smith gave the famous example of Jamaica's former Prime Minister, PJ Patterson, who was forced to resign as the Minister of Finance to later return as chairman of his party and then eventually become Prime Minister.
"I also believe that the problem we are facing in this country is, I am not sure if (Prime Minister) Ingraham and other people who call themselves leaders look at themselves and look and say am I a liability?" he laughed.
Having been roundly criticised on the talkshows for the now infamous letter, Mr Smith said people have a right to "cuss him."
But, at the end of the day he asked, "is my message right?"
May 18, 2011
tribune242
By PAUL G TURNQUEST
Tribune Staff Reporter
pturnquest@tribunemedia.net
DEFENDING the letter he co-penned calling for the withdrawal of certain PLP candidates from the upcoming general election, former PLP MP George Smith said that in the passage of time he hopes his party's supporters will see the wisdom in his words.
Speaking with The Tribune yesterday, Mr Smith said he, with former PLP chairman Raynard Rigby and former campaign coordinator Philip Galanis, were not being critical of these particular candidates because they believed what was being said about them - but rather there is a "perception" that surrounds some of them.
"If the public perceives you to be something, that is what you are. I don't believe that anybody, principally the leader, can put affection for any individual above the good of the Bahamas, the good of the party, and I believe - since I believe the PLP is the best party in the Bahamas - we should remove as many stumbling blocks as possible. And it is not always easy to do that. Sometimes you have to ask your best friend to move aside," he said.
Mr Smith was referring to a letter that he, Mr Rigby and Mr Galanis wrote to PLP leader Perry Christie urging him to block the nominations of Shane Gibson, Vincent Peet, Obie Wilchcombe, V Alfred Gray, Leslie Miller, Anthony Moss and Picewell Forbes for fear that their nominations could hurt the party on a national scale if the varied pasts of some of them were once again highlighted during a general election campaign.
The PLP's leader went on record to express his disappointment that this "internal" letter had been leaked to the press.
However, Mr Christie said, he was not going to be distracted by this latest incident and that his party remains focused on supporting the "excellent candidates" and hardworking activists who comprise his party.
Vetting
"Each and every candidate is required to undergo a vigorous vetting process - a process that is open, fair and transparent. All voices are welcome, and the process is both balanced and inclusive," Mr Christie said.
While accepting this, Mr Smith said that a requirement not to run "tainted" candidates does not come from a fear that the FNM will gain some political mileage, but rather a belief that the people of the country ought to have faith that the people who represent them in Parliament will always put the welfare of the country above their own personal interests.
"That has to be obvious. If the public believes you are in there to enrich yourself, even if you don't, if the public believes it, they will question your activities.
"And, it's like if a fella' has a weakness in a particular area, if he is for instance a gambler, you have to be very careful how you expose him to the great temptation of money. That got one politician in trouble.
"Or if a fella' is a heavy womanizer, you have to be careful that you protect him from his own weakness.
"And some of us became victims and paid prices because of perception and that is how it is."
Mr Smith said that this advice is, of course, applicable to the FNM as well.
"They have people there who the people have had cause to question, Tommy Turnquest, and Dion Foulkes, and you have to recognise that my actions in this instance will do damage to my party," he said.
Mr Smith also highlighted, however, that he does believe in rehabilitation.
"If any wrong that I may have committed, if I was sentenced to a prison term, I would have been out long time. But I also believe that our society should be a forgiving society. So if some of these fella's would just step aside and acknowledge that my action in this particular thing was wrong, and not because it was legally wrong, it was perceived to be wrong. Step aside, and come back," he said.
Mr Smith gave the famous example of Jamaica's former Prime Minister, PJ Patterson, who was forced to resign as the Minister of Finance to later return as chairman of his party and then eventually become Prime Minister.
"I also believe that the problem we are facing in this country is, I am not sure if (Prime Minister) Ingraham and other people who call themselves leaders look at themselves and look and say am I a liability?" he laughed.
Having been roundly criticised on the talkshows for the now infamous letter, Mr Smith said people have a right to "cuss him."
But, at the end of the day he asked, "is my message right?"
May 18, 2011
tribune242
Raynard Rigby - former Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) chairman resigned from a crucial party election committee
Rigby resigns from PLP committee
By CANDIA DAMES
Guardian News Editor
candia@nasguard.com
Many PLPs angered by letter to Christie
A day after The Nassau Guardian revealed that three influential members of the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) were seeking to block the re-nomination of several PLP members of Parliament, former party chairman Raynard Rigby resigned from a crucial party election committee.
The Nassau Guardian confirmed that Rigby resigned yesterday as the coordinator of the southwest constituencies for the party in the upcoming general election.
It was considered a key position as the PLP oils its machinery for what some pundits think will shape up to be a bitterly fought battle at the polls.
Rigby told The Guardian he had no comment on the matter.
As the party has already gone into campaign mode, Rigby was selected to organize the party’s efforts in southwest New Providence.
As was reported exclusively by The Guardian Monday, Rigby was one of the authors of a letter written to PLP leader Perry Christie, urging him to make “bold decisions” with respect to party nominations.
The other authors of the letter were Philip Galanis, a former parliamentarian who organized the party’s re-election effort in 2007, and George Smith, a former parliamentarian and Cabinet minister.
The three men are against the nominations of Shane Gibson (Golden Gates); Vincent Peet (North Andros and the Berry Islands); Obie Wilchcombe (West End and Bimini); V. Alfred Gray (MICAL); Picewell Forbes (South Andros); Leslie Miller (Blue Hills) and Anthony Moss (Exuma).
They also said the party must be in a position to defend Arnold Forbes (Mount Moriah) in the event he faces any attacks over a reported challenge in his professional life.
Wilchcombe, Gray, Miller and Arnold Forbes have been ratified by the party’s National General Council.
Still, Rigby, Smith and Galanis suggested that these nominations ought to be reviewed if the party is to have a chance of winning the election.
They believe that the various controversies would hurt the party’s chances at the polls.
Christie has already expressed disappointment that someone leaked the letter to The Guardian and many within the party are calling for the heads of the three authors.
They have come under fire from PLPs angry that they would even suggest the men are not suited to run on the PLP’s ticket.
Rigby, Galanis and Smith are themselves no strangers to controversy. They are among the most outspoken men in the PLP. Rigby has made several candid comments since the 2007 election that have angered some PLPs.
In 2008, Rigby blasted the opposition for “failing to properly address national issues”.
At the time, he said: "I think the opposition has demonstrated a degree of strength, however, there appears to be a lack of coordination between what is being done in Parliament and what is required to be done outside of Parliament by the party and its broad-based membership."
Earlier, he said a number of things went wrong for the PLP in the last election.
"People were not connected to our message. People did not understand what the government was trying to achieve by these anchor development projects," he said.
"People didn’t get a sense that the government was close enough to them."
Rigby — who made the remarks after the last general election while he was still PLP chairman — said the party probably made some errors in judgment as it related to selecting candidates.
"And I think by and large people bought into this question of Mr. Christie that he was weak and indecisive and we allowed the FNM, to a very great extent, to determine the issues in the election, and they focused purely on issues of leadership," he said at the time.
In 2009, Rigby said publicly that it was inappropriate for Wilchcombe to serve as chairman of the approaching PLP convention and run for the deputy leadership post.
And on numerous occasions, Rigby has publicly criticized Christie’s leadership.
But the various controversies were set aside several months ago when the party’s leadership appointed Rigby coordinator for the southwest constituencies for the approaching election.
Some observers viewed it as a “kiss and make-up” between Rigby and Christie.
Christie has repeatedly talked about the importance of the party getting an early start as the campaign season approaches.
It announced candidates for the 2007 election just several weeks before voters went to the polls.
In addition to Wilchcombe, Gray, Miller and Arnold Forbes, the PLP has already made key selections for the upcoming election.
They are: Renardo Curry (North Abaco); Dr. Andre Rollins (Fort Charlotte); Alex Storr (Long Island and Ragged Island) Tanisha Tynes (Lucaya); Clay Sweeting (North Eleuthera); Dr. Bernard J. Nottage (Bain and Grants Town); Fred Mitchell (Fox Hill); Frank E. Smith (St. Thomas More); Melanie Griffin (Yamacraw); Glenys Hanna-Martin (Englerston); Cleola Hamilton (South Beach); Dion Smith (Kennedy); Gregory Moss (Marco City); Dr. Michael Darville (Pineridge); Jerome Gomez (Killarney); Dr. Daniel Johnson (Carmichael); Senator Jerome K. Fitzgerald (Marathon); Senator Michael Halkitis (Golden Isles); Senator C.V. Hope Strachan (Sea Breeze) and Dr. Kendal V.O. Major (Garden Hills).
5/18/2011
thenassauguardian
By CANDIA DAMES
Guardian News Editor
candia@nasguard.com
Many PLPs angered by letter to Christie
A day after The Nassau Guardian revealed that three influential members of the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) were seeking to block the re-nomination of several PLP members of Parliament, former party chairman Raynard Rigby resigned from a crucial party election committee.
The Nassau Guardian confirmed that Rigby resigned yesterday as the coordinator of the southwest constituencies for the party in the upcoming general election.
It was considered a key position as the PLP oils its machinery for what some pundits think will shape up to be a bitterly fought battle at the polls.
Rigby told The Guardian he had no comment on the matter.
As the party has already gone into campaign mode, Rigby was selected to organize the party’s efforts in southwest New Providence.
As was reported exclusively by The Guardian Monday, Rigby was one of the authors of a letter written to PLP leader Perry Christie, urging him to make “bold decisions” with respect to party nominations.
The other authors of the letter were Philip Galanis, a former parliamentarian who organized the party’s re-election effort in 2007, and George Smith, a former parliamentarian and Cabinet minister.
The three men are against the nominations of Shane Gibson (Golden Gates); Vincent Peet (North Andros and the Berry Islands); Obie Wilchcombe (West End and Bimini); V. Alfred Gray (MICAL); Picewell Forbes (South Andros); Leslie Miller (Blue Hills) and Anthony Moss (Exuma).
They also said the party must be in a position to defend Arnold Forbes (Mount Moriah) in the event he faces any attacks over a reported challenge in his professional life.
Wilchcombe, Gray, Miller and Arnold Forbes have been ratified by the party’s National General Council.
Still, Rigby, Smith and Galanis suggested that these nominations ought to be reviewed if the party is to have a chance of winning the election.
They believe that the various controversies would hurt the party’s chances at the polls.
Christie has already expressed disappointment that someone leaked the letter to The Guardian and many within the party are calling for the heads of the three authors.
They have come under fire from PLPs angry that they would even suggest the men are not suited to run on the PLP’s ticket.
Rigby, Galanis and Smith are themselves no strangers to controversy. They are among the most outspoken men in the PLP. Rigby has made several candid comments since the 2007 election that have angered some PLPs.
In 2008, Rigby blasted the opposition for “failing to properly address national issues”.
At the time, he said: "I think the opposition has demonstrated a degree of strength, however, there appears to be a lack of coordination between what is being done in Parliament and what is required to be done outside of Parliament by the party and its broad-based membership."
Earlier, he said a number of things went wrong for the PLP in the last election.
"People were not connected to our message. People did not understand what the government was trying to achieve by these anchor development projects," he said.
"People didn’t get a sense that the government was close enough to them."
Rigby — who made the remarks after the last general election while he was still PLP chairman — said the party probably made some errors in judgment as it related to selecting candidates.
"And I think by and large people bought into this question of Mr. Christie that he was weak and indecisive and we allowed the FNM, to a very great extent, to determine the issues in the election, and they focused purely on issues of leadership," he said at the time.
In 2009, Rigby said publicly that it was inappropriate for Wilchcombe to serve as chairman of the approaching PLP convention and run for the deputy leadership post.
And on numerous occasions, Rigby has publicly criticized Christie’s leadership.
But the various controversies were set aside several months ago when the party’s leadership appointed Rigby coordinator for the southwest constituencies for the approaching election.
Some observers viewed it as a “kiss and make-up” between Rigby and Christie.
Christie has repeatedly talked about the importance of the party getting an early start as the campaign season approaches.
It announced candidates for the 2007 election just several weeks before voters went to the polls.
In addition to Wilchcombe, Gray, Miller and Arnold Forbes, the PLP has already made key selections for the upcoming election.
They are: Renardo Curry (North Abaco); Dr. Andre Rollins (Fort Charlotte); Alex Storr (Long Island and Ragged Island) Tanisha Tynes (Lucaya); Clay Sweeting (North Eleuthera); Dr. Bernard J. Nottage (Bain and Grants Town); Fred Mitchell (Fox Hill); Frank E. Smith (St. Thomas More); Melanie Griffin (Yamacraw); Glenys Hanna-Martin (Englerston); Cleola Hamilton (South Beach); Dion Smith (Kennedy); Gregory Moss (Marco City); Dr. Michael Darville (Pineridge); Jerome Gomez (Killarney); Dr. Daniel Johnson (Carmichael); Senator Jerome K. Fitzgerald (Marathon); Senator Michael Halkitis (Golden Isles); Senator C.V. Hope Strachan (Sea Breeze) and Dr. Kendal V.O. Major (Garden Hills).
5/18/2011
thenassauguardian
Monday, January 10, 2011
Will the BTC protests really turn into a mass public movement, a la 1958, and in turn - into a political jackpot for the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP)?
The BTC protest - a political circus
By PACO NUNEZ
Tribune News Editor
After today, it will be even harder than before to keep a straight face when someone tries to tell me there's no political agenda at work in the protest against the sale of BTC.
It might have been possible to overlook the PLP cronies sprinkled throughout the union-led Rawson Square protest before Christmas, or ignore the interesting coincidence of a Trade Union Congress vice president and vocal BTC-sale opponent being chosen as a PLP candidate.
But it would have taken a far larger dose of self-delusion than I am capable of administering to miss the implications of the National Congress of Trade Unions (NCTU) deciding that today, as it commemorates the 1958 general strike, it will also begin recruiting voters for the first time in its history.
I know this is a first, because when the press release was issued on Friday announcing that the NCTU - an umbrella organisation covering a number of unions including the two representing BTC staff - was calling for all its members to descend on the Parliamentary Registration Department at noon on Monday, it struck me as so strange that I sought an explanation.
"Why a voter registration drive?" - a seemingly simple question. It nevertheless met with such a bewildered reaction at NCTU HQ, you'd have thought I'd stumbled on a state secret.
The first person I spoke to declined to offer an answer. The second, very cagey and clearly suspicious, responded, "Because of the anniversary of general strike," as if the one followed logically on from the other.
She seemed very sure this was the reason, repeating her mantra regardless of how I tried to rephrase or qualify the question.
Eventually, she offered the slightly more helpful, "Because of Majority Rule" - which, granted, does seem a better reason to promote the spirit of representative democracy. Except that, as she admitted when asked, the NCTU had never once before, in the organisation's 16-year life, urged its members or affiliates to register as voters.
"Why now?" I asked, but she merely mumbled some blurb to the effect that since they were already planning to commemorate Majority Rule and the General Strike today, they figured, "Might as well add something else to the mix."
It has nothing to do with BTC or the PLP, she insisted.
Now, maybe I'm just a cynic, but it strikes me as highly unlikely that the choice of that specific "something else" while the labour movement is right in the middle of a busy schedule of angry town hall meetings and confrontational press statements - all directed at the government over the BTC sale and all supported by the opposition - was entirely without ulterior motives.
My opinion, I feel, is supported by the fact that the registration drive is being hitched to so emotive an issue as the celebrated General Strike, with all its connotations of taking a stand against injustice, the power of solidarity to overcome adversity and so on.
Then, there's the fact that so many unionists have already sought to tie the protests against BTC to the General Strike, some even threatening a reenactment of the event which paralysed Nassau for around three weeks.
Also, consider that the man who actually announced the voter registration drive on Friday, the NCTU's secretary general Robert Farquharson, is a big fan of the events of 1958, recently conducting a lecture series on their importance and raising the spectre of a repeat performance in 2008 when he threatened a national walkout of 45,000 union members over the BTC privatisation process.
This is the same Robert Farquharson who was lately president of the BCPOU, the union now protesting on behalf of the disgruntled BTC workers.
The same Robert Farquharson who, though vociferously opposed to the government's deal with Cable and Wireless, said nothing when the PLP revealed their earlier deal to sell the company to an unnamed group of foreigners - a decision his successor Bernard Evans distanced himself from, saying he doesn't think any foreign entity should own BTC and that he couldn't speak for Mr Farquharson's actions.
Just to be clear, I'm not suggesting Mr F is taking instructions from the PLP, or trying to drive voters into their waiting arms in the hopes of some political reward. He, like the other union leaders who've declared against the deal, understand the challenge it represents to their powerful and lucrative positions, and probably feel their potential to recruit for the opposition is nothing more than a threatening stick to wave in front of the government right now.
As an old BCPOU man, the NCTU secretary general will be well aware of this potential. After all, his predecessor as president of that union is now the PLP MP for Golden Gates, Shane Gibson, who led a series of high profile, politically-loaded union protests toward the end of the FNM's first stint in power.
Shane Gibson is also one of the point men on the PLP's BTC controversy-stirring team. He and his cohorts are well aware of the possible benefits of hitching their political cart to the anti-Cable and Wireless bandwagon, and I'd be willing to bet that the seed of this new enthusiasm for "voter registration" was subtly planted in the minds of NCTU members following one of the opposition's strategy sessions.
But will it pay off? Will the BTC protests really turn into a mass public movement, a la 1958, and in turn into a political jackpot for the PLP?
My money is on 'No'.
The reason is, while both the General Strike and today's BTC squabble began as protests by a small group of workers trying to protect their own interests - in the earlier case, taxi drivers - the reaction of the public has not been the same.
Today, the people don't seem to view most BTC workers the helpless victims of ruthless economic and political overlords, but rather highly over-paid, chronically underachieving wasters who have held the rest of us hostage with their incompetence and poor service for far too long.
Consider the fact that only about 300 people showed up at the recent NCTU-TUC Rawson Square demonstration, despite the presence of a large number of labour leaders from a wide array of unions, and that the BCPOU's public town hall meeting last week was attended by only a few hundred people.
As there are 1,200 BTC employees in total, it would seem the union leaders can't even get their own members, let alone the general public, involved in the crusade.
It seems this theory will be tested tonight, as the unions plan to hold a mass anti-BTC sale rally at RM Bailey Park and have invited all members of the public to attend.
We shall see what level of support these union leaders really enjoy - that is, once the crowd estimates have been down-sized to factor in the PLP supporters likely to be bused in to make up the numbers, political rally style.
What do you think?
Email: pnunez@tribunemedia.net
January 10, 2011
Tribune242 Insight
By PACO NUNEZ
Tribune News Editor
After today, it will be even harder than before to keep a straight face when someone tries to tell me there's no political agenda at work in the protest against the sale of BTC.
It might have been possible to overlook the PLP cronies sprinkled throughout the union-led Rawson Square protest before Christmas, or ignore the interesting coincidence of a Trade Union Congress vice president and vocal BTC-sale opponent being chosen as a PLP candidate.
But it would have taken a far larger dose of self-delusion than I am capable of administering to miss the implications of the National Congress of Trade Unions (NCTU) deciding that today, as it commemorates the 1958 general strike, it will also begin recruiting voters for the first time in its history.
I know this is a first, because when the press release was issued on Friday announcing that the NCTU - an umbrella organisation covering a number of unions including the two representing BTC staff - was calling for all its members to descend on the Parliamentary Registration Department at noon on Monday, it struck me as so strange that I sought an explanation.
"Why a voter registration drive?" - a seemingly simple question. It nevertheless met with such a bewildered reaction at NCTU HQ, you'd have thought I'd stumbled on a state secret.
The first person I spoke to declined to offer an answer. The second, very cagey and clearly suspicious, responded, "Because of the anniversary of general strike," as if the one followed logically on from the other.
She seemed very sure this was the reason, repeating her mantra regardless of how I tried to rephrase or qualify the question.
Eventually, she offered the slightly more helpful, "Because of Majority Rule" - which, granted, does seem a better reason to promote the spirit of representative democracy. Except that, as she admitted when asked, the NCTU had never once before, in the organisation's 16-year life, urged its members or affiliates to register as voters.
"Why now?" I asked, but she merely mumbled some blurb to the effect that since they were already planning to commemorate Majority Rule and the General Strike today, they figured, "Might as well add something else to the mix."
It has nothing to do with BTC or the PLP, she insisted.
Now, maybe I'm just a cynic, but it strikes me as highly unlikely that the choice of that specific "something else" while the labour movement is right in the middle of a busy schedule of angry town hall meetings and confrontational press statements - all directed at the government over the BTC sale and all supported by the opposition - was entirely without ulterior motives.
My opinion, I feel, is supported by the fact that the registration drive is being hitched to so emotive an issue as the celebrated General Strike, with all its connotations of taking a stand against injustice, the power of solidarity to overcome adversity and so on.
Then, there's the fact that so many unionists have already sought to tie the protests against BTC to the General Strike, some even threatening a reenactment of the event which paralysed Nassau for around three weeks.
Also, consider that the man who actually announced the voter registration drive on Friday, the NCTU's secretary general Robert Farquharson, is a big fan of the events of 1958, recently conducting a lecture series on their importance and raising the spectre of a repeat performance in 2008 when he threatened a national walkout of 45,000 union members over the BTC privatisation process.
This is the same Robert Farquharson who was lately president of the BCPOU, the union now protesting on behalf of the disgruntled BTC workers.
The same Robert Farquharson who, though vociferously opposed to the government's deal with Cable and Wireless, said nothing when the PLP revealed their earlier deal to sell the company to an unnamed group of foreigners - a decision his successor Bernard Evans distanced himself from, saying he doesn't think any foreign entity should own BTC and that he couldn't speak for Mr Farquharson's actions.
Just to be clear, I'm not suggesting Mr F is taking instructions from the PLP, or trying to drive voters into their waiting arms in the hopes of some political reward. He, like the other union leaders who've declared against the deal, understand the challenge it represents to their powerful and lucrative positions, and probably feel their potential to recruit for the opposition is nothing more than a threatening stick to wave in front of the government right now.
As an old BCPOU man, the NCTU secretary general will be well aware of this potential. After all, his predecessor as president of that union is now the PLP MP for Golden Gates, Shane Gibson, who led a series of high profile, politically-loaded union protests toward the end of the FNM's first stint in power.
Shane Gibson is also one of the point men on the PLP's BTC controversy-stirring team. He and his cohorts are well aware of the possible benefits of hitching their political cart to the anti-Cable and Wireless bandwagon, and I'd be willing to bet that the seed of this new enthusiasm for "voter registration" was subtly planted in the minds of NCTU members following one of the opposition's strategy sessions.
But will it pay off? Will the BTC protests really turn into a mass public movement, a la 1958, and in turn into a political jackpot for the PLP?
My money is on 'No'.
The reason is, while both the General Strike and today's BTC squabble began as protests by a small group of workers trying to protect their own interests - in the earlier case, taxi drivers - the reaction of the public has not been the same.
Today, the people don't seem to view most BTC workers the helpless victims of ruthless economic and political overlords, but rather highly over-paid, chronically underachieving wasters who have held the rest of us hostage with their incompetence and poor service for far too long.
Consider the fact that only about 300 people showed up at the recent NCTU-TUC Rawson Square demonstration, despite the presence of a large number of labour leaders from a wide array of unions, and that the BCPOU's public town hall meeting last week was attended by only a few hundred people.
As there are 1,200 BTC employees in total, it would seem the union leaders can't even get their own members, let alone the general public, involved in the crusade.
It seems this theory will be tested tonight, as the unions plan to hold a mass anti-BTC sale rally at RM Bailey Park and have invited all members of the public to attend.
We shall see what level of support these union leaders really enjoy - that is, once the crowd estimates have been down-sized to factor in the PLP supporters likely to be bused in to make up the numbers, political rally style.
What do you think?
Email: pnunez@tribunemedia.net
January 10, 2011
Tribune242 Insight
Friday, December 4, 2009
Shane Gibson claims 'vicious attack' on him is imminent
GOLDEN Gates MP Shane Gibson yesterday issued a cryptic warning to his supporters to "brace" themselves for "the most vicious attack" that he claimed is to be imminently carried out against him.
Mr Gibson, who stood to speak during the debate on a resolution to transfer land to the National Insurance Board from the Treasury, said the attack would be the most "vicious ever launched against an MP in this Bahamas."
"I expect next year to be the most challenging year in the history of my representation," said the MP.
Mr Gibson did not explain what he expected to take place as a result of this "attack" or for what reasons.
Speaking with The Tribune after the close of the parliamentary sitting yesterday morning, Mr Gibson said he was not prepared to say more at this time.
"I've said all I want to say right now on that issue. In due time I will reveal more about that."
December 03, 2009
tribune242
Mr Gibson, who stood to speak during the debate on a resolution to transfer land to the National Insurance Board from the Treasury, said the attack would be the most "vicious ever launched against an MP in this Bahamas."
"I expect next year to be the most challenging year in the history of my representation," said the MP.
Mr Gibson did not explain what he expected to take place as a result of this "attack" or for what reasons.
Speaking with The Tribune after the close of the parliamentary sitting yesterday morning, Mr Gibson said he was not prepared to say more at this time.
"I've said all I want to say right now on that issue. In due time I will reveal more about that."
December 03, 2009
tribune242
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