First published in The Tribune on Friday, January 11, 2008, under the byline, Young Man’s View.
KENYATTA Gibson’s resignation from the PLP on Wednesday has further weakened the party’s position and makes the Opposition’s election court cases virtually irrelevant.
The onslaught of dissenting voices in the PLP’s upper echelons indicates that more than a handful of members may be disaffected with the party’s leadership.
It appears that both Raynard Rigby and Kenyatta Gibson have discovered that the PLP is a disaster area, and the former government was everything The Tribune always said it was—a hapless cabal of baby-kissers motivated by self-interest.
In announcing his resignation, Mr Gibson (MP for Kennedy) declared that the PLP no longer held the principles of Sir Lynden Pindling, Sir Milo Butler and Governor General Arthur Hanna. He said that he would no longer be “trapped in the quagmire of character assassination, self-aggrandizement and catering to special interests.”
Mr Gibson’s withering statement implies that he entered public life as a “young idealist, devoid of cynicism” noting that he was no longer interested in belonging to an organization that has devolved into a squalid set-up, intent on always opposing and using it’s members to filibuster recurring parliamentary sessions.
The decision of the MP for Kennedy to become an Independent representative in the House of Assembly means that he is no longer subject to the party’s (PLP) whip and, as it stands, may well become a “hell-raiser” and a thorn in the sides of both parties.
With Gibson’s exit merely nine months following the PLP’s defeat at the polls, the party’s parliamentary representation drops to 17 rather than 18, thereby causing there to be a six seat margin between the opposition and governing parties with one seat floating in the middle that could potentially vote either way.
Reportedly, Mr Gibson’s stunning exit may only be a sign of future happenings, as it is speculated that Malcolm Adderley is firmly planted in the FNM camp, though not officially. If Mr Adderley switches to the FNM, whatever the outcome of the election court cases, it is goodbye to PLP for the next four-and-a-half years.
Mr Adderley, who was just buttered up and reappointed as Gaming Board chairman, could very likely switch political allegiance and walk across the floor!
In 2006, Kenyatta Gibson, along with former MP Keod Smith, were combatants in the infamous Cabinet Room brawl. In following his conscience, as he also claimed he did when resigning, Mr Gibson “unreservedly” apologized and sought forgiveness for conduct that even he referred to as regrettable and unacceptable. At that time, I commended Mr Gibson for being the first to come out with an apology and face the music, while, by his comments after the event, former PM Perry Christie seemed to attempt to mislead the Bahamian public. He claimed that the fight was “more apparent than real.”
The PLP should focus on consolidating and rebuilding for the next general election, being under new leadership, formulating and being able to articulate the direction they would wish to take the country and having an organization in fighting fettle. The party must rid itself of the uncontrollable liabilities, who are irrational and impetuous, and instead infuse the party with young, bright newcomers. It is high time that certain catastrophic politicians now at the fore of the party be tossed overboard, or the PLP will find itself hopelessly in the political wilderness for another decade or so.
The outlook for the Opposition seems to be even gloomier when a party heavyweight like Philip Galanis can declare that the PLP convention may fail to yield the necessary “regrouping” of the party. Frankly, if there are no changes within the party’s hierarchy, the PLP could find itself up a creek without a paddle!
I applaud Mr Galanis for recognizing that it would be more beneficial to the PLP’s future development if the party members would hold some in-depth and introspective discussion on why the party lost the government even though the economy was buoyant.
Kenyatta Gibson’s resignation from the PLP is an indictment on Mr Christie’s leadership and should be a vote of no confidence. The PLP is a sinking ship, but even as it’s going down, there appears to be a mutiny against the captain.
The inter-party cannibalism reportedly being manifested within the PLP’s ranks seemed to be a concerted thrust against its dejected leadership.
The whole point of the election court was to buttress Mr Christie’s position with the hope for fluke victories to fulfill the absurd illusion of recapturing a few seats and forcing PM Ingraham’s hand.
However, Kenyatta Gibson’s departure and questions surrounding Malcolm Adderley puts the PLP at a gross disadvantage.
As the debate continues about the former prime minister’s future as party leader, it is without question that the time has come for Mr Christie to step down.
During the five years that he led the country, Mr Christie was accused of indecision and seemed incapable of making decisions without a multitude of opinions. He was at the vanguard of an unruly Cabinet and a government that was entangled in allegations of corruption. Although the former PM promised accountability, transparency and a strict adherence to his much-hyped Code of Ethics, he seemingly turned a blind eye to the scandals and the accusations of nasty goings-on that plagued his administration.
The stool has been kicked out from underneath Mr Christie and he is left swinging in the wind with no one to help him but a handful of political outcasts and feather-weights, which is a sad commentary to be made about any politician in the twilight of his career.
THE SAD SLAYING OF AN INNOCENT STUDENT!
The slaying on Bay Street of young CR Walker student (12 grade) Deangelo Cargill, as he waited for a jitney on the first day of school, is a new low for our country.
It is frightening that young hoodlums would unload a gun in the heart of our tourist district, in the midst of throngs of tourists and locals, and during the peak period for activity.
The criminal element in this country is no longer confined to the Over-the-Hill ghettoes, as they observe no boundaries and there’s nowhere that can be considered a safe haven.
Reportedly, the brazen gunman who ended Deangelo’s life was a scorned lover in hot pursuit of his love rival, but he missed his target and killed an innocent bystander instead. If these reports are true, our nation is only producing hordes of youngsters who cannot accept rejection and lack the ability to peacefully resolve conflicts.
It appears that the Bahamas is becoming a nation of antisocial, piggish youngsters. PMH is a baby factory that is turning out future criminals, as at least one of every 15 babies is a potential criminal and 95 per cent of children are born out of wedlock.
The bold, day-time shooting on Bay Street shows an absolute disregard for our tourism industry that generates 90 cents of each dollar earned locally. The idea of tourists scrambling for cover or running into stores, when they came to this country for a tranquil vacation is troubling.
In reminiscing about the murder of his young classmate, my bother (Lanado Gibson), who was in a biology class with Deangelo said:
“He was the class clown—he was real cool! He knew many people and was very popular, and he loved name brand clothes.
“He got his nickname ‘Patches’ because he always had a patch at the back of his head,” he lamented.
Deangelo appeared to be a young man who had thought about his future, becoming a certified dive instructor at his tender age, unlike many youngsters who loiter and smoke weed on the blocks while plotting their next heist.
The killing of an innocent student in the heart of our tourist hub should be a wake up call to Bahamians, as our country is speedily becoming a lawless, anarchic place.
