by Rick Lowe

One of today’s (Monday, October 9, 2006) lead articles in the Bahama Journal is intriguing. Reports are that Tennyson Wells, Algernon Allen, Pierre Dupuch, Lester Turnquest, Floyd Watkins, Anthony Miller, Elliot Lockhart, Ronald Bostfield and Sir Arlington Butler are all set to "to give both overt and covert support to the PLP in an effort to block the return of Mr. Ingraham".

It also states that former party officers Derek Simms and Roston Miller are also part of the effort.

After supporting and working for Pierre Dupuch in his campaigns for election for too many years to mention many of us continued to support him as an "Independent" candidate for election 2002. And, it is obvious that he won as a result of the support of the PLP who chose not to run against him, and because they asked their supporters to vote for him as well. In fact the polls were manned by "Dupuch" supporters and PLP supporters alike.

Click here for the full Bahama Journal story.

Speculation is rank that Mr. Dupuch feels obligated to the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP). Because of this it is proffered that he is willing to offer any influence he might have in opposition to Hubert Ingraham and the Free National Movement (FNM).

Mr. Ingraham and I had numerous verbal battles when he was Prime Minister and I agreed that he should leave the leadership as he promised. Particularly as he said this in an effort to bring 25 years of rule by Sir Lynden Pindling’s PLP to an end.

He left the leadership, some say under duress and the FNM lost the 2002 election. In 2005 they voted Mr. Ingraham in as their leader once again in Convention.

As an outsider these days, the FNM appears to have made the right decision for the near term.

Unfortunately, it is my view that the gentlemen named in the "Journal" article have such an intense dislike for Hubert Ingraham that they cannot let sleeping dogs lie.

However, it is their Constitutional Right to voice their opposition to Mr. Ingraham and by extension the FNM, but for the sake of their own credibility and legacy I would prefer to see them form their own party, and until the election, those that are MP’s should perform as Independent Members of Parliament as they promised their constituents they would do.

I believe that means showing fear nor favour to either political party or their leaders.

Here is what Mr. Dupuch says he stands for in his web site Pierre Dupuch.com.

As St. Margarets’ representative, Pierre Dupuch will:
Uphold our constitution.
Fight for tougher rape punishment to ensure that women can safely walk our streets.
Reduce prices by encouraging competition, rather than creating monopolies (price fixing).
Ensure that public money is spent honestly by exposing and eliminating Government corruption, fronting and waste of public funds.
Provide equal opportunities for all Bahamians, regardless of political persuasion, so all Bahamians can participate in the social and economic development of our country.
Build investor confidence through professional, honest & efficient Government.
Use his training in economics to create worthwhile projects to create jobs and bring lasting employment.
Work towards paying off our existing national debt thereby freeing Bahamians from billions of dollars in debt due to mismanagement and waste of public funds.
Build a strong economy so Bahamians will not face increasing taxes.
Pass laws to ensure a Prime Minister only serves two terms in office.
Establish an independent boundaries commission to ensure fairness in constituency boundaries.
Establish fixed dates for elections to ensure fairness in elections.
Create laws to make politicians more accountable.
Establish human rights for all.
Create a Ministry of Family Affairs.

What are the benefits of an Independent MP?
For the constituents:
He depends on his constituents, NOT party propaganda and the leader’s favours.
The Independent MP puts the NEEDS & CONCERNS of his constituents first.
He has NO OTHER agenda to follow.
The Independent MP knows that he has been elected to SERVE his constituents.
The Independent MP works for the benefit of his constituents, NOT a Party.

For the Nation’s government:
The Independent MP votes on issues that are in best interest the Nation.
He’s not forced to vote along Party lines.
The Independent MP will not allow bills to be rushed through the House. He will bring his constituents’ voices to every issue.
The Independent MP is not a "rubber stamp."
The Independent MP is accountable only to his constituents.
The Independent MP is not a "yes-man."

For the Nation’s future:
Independent MPs will force the major parties to attract and present BETTER QUALITY candidates in the future.
Electing an Independent MP shows that we will not accept mediocre candidates hiding under a Party banner!
Independent MPs will make government more responsive to the people.
The Independent MP knows that people’s concerns must be addressed!
The Independent MP will work to fill the country’s agenda, not that of parties or individual politicians.
The Independent MP knows that if your concerns are not addressed, he won’t be re-elected in five years!

These are noble objectives and if followed would keep the PLP and FNM on their toes. It would make the difficulties with the personality of Mr. Ingraham faced by the former FNM’s less of an issue and the country will benefit.

This is just my not-so-humble opinion of course!