Sidney sweeting, DDS
It has always been a puzzle to me why our Government, FNM or PLP, appear to resent any advice from anyone who is not in the inner circle. It makes one wonder if each Minister, when presented with his articles of office, is then declared to be omniscient.
I will point to three glaring examples.
For many years education has been in a free fall and is now a national disaster yet each successive Government pontificates on their plans for education and they end up tweeking this and tweeking that and their "grand" plans end up being tantamount to rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. The country is now blessed with having Mr. Ralph Massey living in the Bahamas and he has done an exhaustive study on the country's educational system and, as a result, has made some brilliant suggestions for improvement in the education plans. Anyone who really cares about the future of our children would like to believe that our Government would be anxious to at least listen to what he has to say. Is it arrogance that prevents them from doing so?
In the latter days of the last administration a bill was passed in the House of Assembly to allow the introduction of a National Health Plan. After the FNM become the Government there has been indications that they will implement the Plan. The Nassau Institute hosted a symposium shortly after the election and one of the featured speakers was Dr. Michael Walker of Canada's Fraser Institute whose topic was Lessons From Global Experience For Canadian Health Care Reform. Arrangements were made for Dr. Walker to meet with the new Minister of Health, Dr. Hubert MInnis. I had the privilege to escort Dr. Walker to the meeting and he kindly asked that I go in with him. Before we arrived there I was thinking of what a great opportunity it was for the Minister to be able to meet someone who had studied health plans all over the world. At some point during the meeting Dr. Walker offered to come to the Bahamas, at his own expense, to help in any way he can with the proposed National Health Plan. The Minister said nothing in reply. The silence was deafening. I have been reliably informed that at a subequent open meeting the Minister was asked why he did not accept the offer of Dr. Walker. He replied that the Bahamas does not need the help of anyone outside our country.
It was recently reported on this website that our Government was offered the help of a young lawyer who has a wealth of knowledge in US tax laws and he had offered his help virtually free of charge and it was refused. It is well known that his family is of a different political persuasion.
So, I ask again. Why the arrogance and to what purpose?
The simple answer to the first puzzle is this-
Occupants of the inner circle are no threat, and have given up some measure of independent thought in order to enjoy a measure of security of existence provided by the lord and leige of the day.
The minister, to those who fawn, IS omniscient.
But it is more complicated than that.
It is indicative of their insecurity of office or responsibility and the intrinsic mistrust and self doubt they all fall prey to, when they discover that the attainment of high office is not the objective and be all end all they thought, but is attached to tremendous responsibility they are incapable of shouldering.
THeir arrogance is a direct display of runnning away from the case in hand, the point being pressed and their “lack” being felt.
I have found that an abstract or hypothetical discussion cannot be held with either civil servant or elected official without quickly raising their ire.
Their insecurity quickly degenerates into nervous laughter, threats implied, or, for the smart ones, outright evasion.
There are countless reports, studies and suggestions given by friend and foe alike that languish for decades in some cases, never to be so much as whispered about, for fear that they may come to life, and create potential beyond their control.
Start with the Checci report of 1968.
Enough to give the whole ruling class since 1967 the horrors.
One last note:
You say the Minister of health replied “we do not need the help of anyone outside our country”
That would seem to go counter to what they generally do:
Ignore the interal expertise in favour of the foreign consultant.
At least if he displeases them, they can deport.
I think they do not want outside help because they have a bunch of scams running & don’t want anything to get in the way of them, simple as that.
That too, DP, that too.
I do believe that is a part of the reason for the big crime problem,the police don’t seem to think they need any help either.
Dr. Minnis told me to my face, in front of witnesses, that we do not need foreign advice on governemnt health care programmes.
However, when I asked him publicly about it at The Chamber of Commerce, Meet the Minister event, he said otherwise.
Our doctors are educated at foreign universities and many of them have foreign partners yet we do not need advice from someone that has reviewed every government health care programme in the world.
Go figure!
There is no rhyme or reason that any sensible person could possibly understand.
Ministries that ask for input, then ignore it when given, ministers that ask questions and then get offended when answers are given, Civil servants that attack and persecute, then run away just when it gets interesting.
Legislation that appears out of nowhere, supposedly consulted on by industry or private stakeholders, who no one knows.
Local expertise ignored, foreign consultants on hefty saleries all but worshipped.
They have spun so much nonsense for so long that they believe it themselves.
I don’t think I like the idea of having to support my family, all my employees and my fair share of the population at a ratio of something like 200 to one.
That sounds about right Rick, everything is a big “poppy show”. Is there anyone in Parliament that really gives a crap about the well being of our country ? Its sad to say, but I think not.It all seems to be a game with them. For God & heavens sake people, get a hold of this thing & stand up for the good of our country.