Rick Lowe
Mrs. Nicki Kelly put it best in her column of June 17, 2010 for The Punch.
She says:
"Try as they might with its staged walkout from the House of Assembly, the Opposition cannot absolve itself of its share of responsibility for the country's present economic crisis, and the tough fiscal measures now called for."
Here's the kicker from Mrs. Kelly:
"PLP Deputy Leader Phillip Davis in one breath accused the Ingraham administration of being in denial for the past two years and misleading the nation about the true state of the economy, and in the next wanted to know why the need for such austere measures and "the most draconian and repressive Budget in Bahamian history"…"
Now isn't that wonderful "doublespeak"? I wonder what he really means?
Then Mr. Fred Mitchell is referenced in a story by Ms. Alesha Cadet in The Tribune as saying:
"Civil disobedience may be the only course of action left to the opposition, MP for Fox Hill Fred Mitchell warned at a PLP mini-rally last night (Tuesday, June 15, 2010)."
She goes on to tell us more about Mr. Mitchell's remarks:
"Discussing the opposition's decision to walk out of the House of Assembly last week, Mr. Mitchell said if such actions prove to be the only way to draw attention to important issues, the party "must do more of this kind of thing"…"
It is unfortunate that in these "perilous" economic times, some of the leadership within official opposition party PLP would choose this approach when the government is finally making an attempt to bring discipline to the out of control borrowing and spending.
They may wish to blame the governing FNM for the difficulties the country faces, but there is no doubt there is blood on their hands as well.
That being the case, why not close ranks and tell the truth to the Bahamian public about the economy for a change? Denial is what has the country on the brink of bankruptcy in the first place.
Surely they can muster a response outlining the fiscal and other public policies they would utilise to sort things out? I might disagree with the approach the government took with the Budget, but I certainly applaud them for having the gumption to tell the truth about the economy for a change.
If the PLP were to offer reasonable commentary on these important subjects people will pay attention, and they would garner headlines. If they honestly believe that what they are doing is the only way to influence the electorate, they've failed miserably at their 30 years of political rule. And, to attempt to regain their former positions of privilege off the backs of the Bahamian taxpayers with distortions like this is, well, downright irresponsible.
We would advise Mr. Davis that we can discern rhetoric from reality and caution Mr. Mitchell that he should be careful what he suggests the PLP will do, as some people might take him seriously, and before you know it, whatever semblance of law and order and respect for one another that remains will also disappear.
Past pronouncements from Mr. Mitchell suggest we should expect no more from him. Mr. Davis though, a relative new comer to front line politics, is another matter.
I don't recall the PLP objecting over the past couple years when the FNM were borrowing and spending as there was no tomorrow to "help get through the world wide economic downturn beginning in 2008".
To paraphrase H. L. Menken; If "Fearless Fred" and "Brave" found they had cannibals in their constituencies, they would promise them missionaries for dinner.
Dangerous retoric considering one case from history, I seem to remember some proclamation made from the podium of a political rally, which may well have lead to the death of a person from the other side.
As things get tougher and tougher, these words uttered so mischeiviously may well provoke serious civil unrest, by those who cannot fathom that the reason they are in such dire straights had now led them further down the road to perdition.
Both parties have failed us, will continue to fail us, and have effectively dissassembled the rule of law.
One hell of an epitaph awaits them all.
The political party out of power spends 90% of its energies trying to get back into power. The current high level of economic insecurity is golden for the PLP to attack the FNM – even though they also are responsible for the sorry state of the country’s finances.
There is a parallel here between the Republicans and the Democrats in the US. and the PLP and FNM in the Bahamas.
The Dems held control of the Congress for 40 years until 1994 when the Contract for America upset their apple cart and the Republicans took over.
The upset was a major shock to the Democrats. From that time forward they focused on getting back the power they lost.
The recount in 2002 that gave President Bush the majority over Democrat Gore compounded the lost power issue deepening their determination. A no holds barred policy was the rule. The Democratic propaganda machine knows how it is done.
Politics as usual changed to power at any price. The price was lost civility and the perfecting of a political machine that enabled the election of an unqualified nobody.
In the Bahamas the PLP held uninterrupted power for 25 years. They reckon they “own” parliament and the defeat in ’92 was hard to take. Like the democrats they will do whatever it takes to take back control. This is the explanation for the ridiculous accusations and drummed up nonsense now taking up most of the political news.
A two party system lends itself to self-destruction when both parties show the lack of a moral compass to guide their actions.
A new era is dawning, and a third party has been formed. They might be the spoiler causing the FNM to lose the next election which would be a major set back for the country.
It appears to me by the PM’s actions, or lack there of, that is exactly what he wants, the FNM to loose.What else could it possibly be ? Nothing on crime, nothing on the courts, we still have ZNS, we still have BTC, we still have Bahamasair, etc.etc.etc.We can’t even have police where they are needed at rush hour.Then we have this destructive duty system being put into place, where has all the common sense gone ? As for Fred Mitchel & Brave Davis, they would be even worse that what we have now in my opinion.The pickings are very slim.
I always liked reading Nicki’s colmn in the Punch until I stopped buying the Punch. But as I can see, she, like many other FNMs are growing desperate by the day and is trying to defend the indefensible!!
I thought better of nicki! The TRUTH will set you free!! Instead of beating the FNM for denying the public the opportunity to hear the budget line by line, she prefers to beat up on the PLP.. That’s really sad… This only shows me that some people care more about their party than the country!!!
I was very upset when the debate was closed because I was recording it for future reference and I was denied the opportunity!! This WUTLESS government has to go!!! Nicki should be ashamed of herself!!!
Thanks OT:
Are there “Rules” covering the Budget procedure?
What are they?
What does rules have to do with my statements??
You talk as if the FNM or HI cares about rules or laws… If HI did care about rules or laws, he would not have appointed Pintard to the Senate!!
HI and the FNM would not have spread lies about those police officers who were in the schools..
You know OT, I see this as a great opportunity for the PLP to lead by example.
If Hubert Ingraham is the bastard he’s being portrayed as by you, it’s not hard to show you are better or more capable at running the country no?
I’m often reminded of a dear friend of mine that tells me how he regrets demonising Sir Lynden Pindling when he was in Opposition politics.
At some point our political leaders have to show us a better way than acting thuggish.
Rick, I think that may be impossible in Bahamian politics, without that, they would all be lost,never mind the issues.
But Rick what I don’t get with you who want the PLP to prove that they can lead this country or do a better job than the FNM can is why the PLP under PC’s leadership have to do that.. PC has already been in that position before and has already proven that he can do a better job!
If the PLP had a new leader, I would understand that point but as it stands, that point does not make any sense to me.. PC has apoligized to the country for the mistakes that he made and said that he has learned from them. What else do you FNMs want???
You all should be trying to get your party’s leader to do a better job and trying to stay in power and stop focusing on the PLP… HI can do better if you all tell him that he can because you all know that he has made it clear that he does not take any orders from the PLP…
You see OT, if there is a public policy I disagree with I say so. That’s if the PLP or the FNM are the government.
You only see yellow and blue and that is not what’s best for the country as a whole.
I see red getting upset about public policies that both the FNM and PLP have pursued that have put the country on the edge of bankruptcy and destroyed the educational system and on and on.
Okay, let’s continue demonising each other instead of failed policies and let’s see where the country ends up.
Rick, it’s not about red and gold (yellow), or FNM or PLP. I am just like you, if I see my party, yes my party heading in the wrong direction, I point it out just like I did just a few days ago urging them (the leaders and other PLP parliamentarians) to support the BahaMar project and put the politics aside..
When it comes to my country’s future, I have to play politics!! Life is politics!! I really don’t care how much you talk about just seeing red or yellow, it does not move me.. We must all stand for something or we will fall for anything!!
I chose the PLP because I believe in what the party stands for and that is building INSTITUTIONS and PEOPLE more than it focuses on building buildings!!
But that does not stop me from critizing the PLP or the FNM but at least I try to critize things that can be changed or done. I don’t ask for silly things like an alternative budget knowing the cost of producing one especially when there is NO freedom of information act to gain access to the information needed to do such a thing! One cannot put a budget together without certain information, information which NO opposition party is privy to.
I have not been visiting this site for too long so I’ll ask you this question; Did you ask the FNM to produce an alternative budget at any time during the PLP’s term in office??
Did you ask HI and the FNM to prove that they can do a better job than the PLP was doing??
You know that it doesn’t matter how much evidence the PLP or PC brings forward, you will NEVER vote PLP so let’s not play with each other!
Will you ever vote FNM OT?
I have suggested in the past that the FNM needed to offer alternative policies instead of political rhetoric.
Of course political doublespeak will always be used, but all political rhetoric makes the PLP look like sore losers. Not leaders.
The PLP have “run” the country for 30 years, with five consecutive terms, surely they can offer alternative polices to the FNM and spell them out?
You don’t think they can do that? I believe they can, but in doing so they might have to publicly admit that the FNM was right in trying to bring some fiscal prudence to bear and that’s why they won’t.
By the way, I supported Pierre Dupuch in his 2002 run against the FNM, with support from the PLP.
Not that it should matter if we are really concerned about a better country.
I cannot vote for the PLP if they wish to continue some of the same bad policies the FNM use or what they did previously.
The PLP ruined education and the FNM continued to make it worse.
The PLP put the country in severe debt and the FNM have made it worse.
I do believe the FNM tries to control corruption without much success.
Can you outline what you mean when you say the PLP have built institutions and people please?
Rick I knew that you didn’t really want the PLP to look good by producing an alternative budget and I was right! Your words,”I believe they can, but in doing so they might have to publicly admit that the FNM was right in trying to bring some fiscal prudence to bear and that’s why they won’t.”
By the way, you do know that the PLP in its 30 years have borrowed the same amount of money as the FNM has done in its 13 years, right?? The PLP borrowed $1.2 billion in its firs 25 years and about $800 million in its last five years in office while the FNM borrowed $1 billion in its first 9 and a half years and in the first 3 years of this term, they have borrowed another BILLION dollars! You do the math… That’s WUTLESS management skills!!!
What is even worse is that the PLP has built far more institutions than the FNM has with all of that money they borrowed.. In fact the FNM hasn’t built any institutions.
As far as institutions and people goes, I’ll show you what I mean..
-The NIB
-The Bahamas Mortgage Corporation
-The College of the Bahamas
-The Archives Department
-The Bahamas Development Bank
-The Bahamas Tourism College
-The Industrial Training College (BTVI)
-The RBDF
-Bahamasair
-The Bank of the Bahamas
-ZNS etc.
Now when it comes to building people, there are many people who came from families that had NOTHING when the PLP first came to office now are MILLIONAIRES, own their own businesses and employ thousands of Bahamians..That’s putting people first…
Under the FNM only foreigners get richer or the persons who are already rich here in the Bahamas!!
I supported Tommy when he was the leader of the FNM and was about to support him but HI didn’t give me a chance because he took his job!! Actually I still attend Tommy’s meetings up to today!!
Thanks Objective Thought:
See my idea is not have the FNM or the PLP look good.
I want them both to make The Bahamas the best little country in the world with sensible public policy.
You’ve inspired another blog.
Thanks.