Finally, with the Cable Beach Project having been signed off on by the Christie administration, the ‘new’ PLP may be finding its stride. Mind you, while Ortland H. Bodie Jr. is ‘happy’ for the average Bahamian who may be able to secure a construction or other job at the proposed resort, nothing short of an act of God will enable Christie and his rough and ready crew to be retumed to office, at the rate they are going.
Yes, employment is vitally important, but Bahamians also expected more in terms of empathy, ethics and the timely delivery of social and health services from this so-called ‘new’ PLP. Daily, I thank Jehovah Rafa that I am an ‘old’ PLP, in the crafted and unbreakable mold of the late great Sir Lynden O. Pindling and most of my other habits are good.
In addition, too many seemingly unnecessary ‘scandals’ and political gaffes are swirling around too many cabinet ministers; parliamentary secretaries; political hacks and senior civil servants. The ever- evolving legal and comical saga of Sidney Stubbs, like the energizer bunny, goes on and on, ad nauseam, while he and his counsel try to figure out how to get his cajoles out of the sand.
Leslie Miller is another glaring case in point. When he went through a difficult time, some years ago, my heart and my sympathy went out to him and his family. Such a gruesome experience should temper most individuals and I had high hopes for the performance of Miller as Trade and Industry Minister. Alas, my unfounded hopes have been violently dashed. They are all ‘peas’ in one shell.
By his own admissions, Miller had a bust-up with a foreign investor, one Manuel Diaz, President of Cat Cay Yacht Club. Whether or not Se�or Diaz spoke to Miller in the ‘appropriate’ manner is neither here nor there. What has to be determined is whether or not Miller’s outburst and ‘threats’ of physical confrontation with Diaz is what Bahamians expect from a Cabinet Minister in a public setting. My considered position is that Miller was ‘wrong’ and he should be removed from office immediately.
Constitutional conventions seem to be unknown, and certainly, unobserved, by this administration.
When the good people of the Blue Hills Constituency re-elected Miller, in the now infamous landslide of the ‘new’ PLP in 2002, they expected better than they are getting now. The people of Bozine Town must be ‘sorely’ disappointed that, for them, in particular, hope and help remain but illusions. Illegal Haitians and other nationals now swamp that constituency and many are known to be illegally occupying private and crown land, while living in highly unsanitary conditions in unapproved structures.
Gasoline prices go through the ceiling each time Miller opens his mouth and talks about that elusive ‘reduction’. Of course, he ‘blames’ the oil companies and not the draconian taxes and stamp duties being exacted by his government. Who cares? Certainly not Miller whose temper is fast becoming legendary in our nation. He is just like his nominal ‘boss’; in my view they talk loud, but they really ain’t saying nothing.
Miller and his nominal ‘boss’ both remain large and in charge, or so they appear to think.
Miller was never elevated by Sir Lynden, nor was Bradley ‘Dread’ Roberts. These are two Ministers, in my view, who should be required to ‘fish, cut bait or get the hell out of the boat.’
When the Hon. Dion Foulkes represented Blue Hills, after stellar representation by his illustrious father, Sir Arthur Foulkes, that constituency was in good shape. The ordinary residents could approach Dion at anytime, with any problem. Concrete steps were being taken by Foulkes and the Ingraham administration to codify land registration and legal acquisitions in Blue Hills and throughout The Bahamas. Street lights worked and the verges on the roadsides were kept spick and span. What obtains today?
An apparent ‘out of control’ Minister who has publicly stated his belligerent attitude and has bluntly told the nation that he is not resigning from Cabinet, even though he had ‘spoken’ to Christie about the now infamous Cat Cay bust-up. Should that statement not have been made by his nominal ‘boss’ or is Miller the major drumo in this ‘new’ dispensation? Miller, et al, especially Messrs. Bradley Roberts, Sidney Stubbs, Trevor Whylly and Frederick Audley Mitchell, seem to have ‘something’ on someone within the Christie government. Who do you think it is?
They may as well ‘enjoy’ their time on the national stage because, I, for one, am convinced that no matter how many construction and hotel jobs are ‘created’ over the next 18 months, that it will be ‘too little’, ‘too late’ for this political monstrosity which was once known as the ‘new’ PLP. It is not just about the economy, at this stage.
The opposition must rouse itself quickly and do what they know must be done: re-elect a dynamic; no- nonsense and scandal-free leader, in the personage of the Rt. Hon. Hubert A. Ingraham, MP, PC to take us across the Jordan and into the promised land.
Joshua’s job is not completed. The Caleb we have, has proven to be a political disaster of gigantic proportions, in more ways than one.
By: Ortland Bodie
