The whole Bahamas must be brought up to date with the behaviour of parliamentarians. We pay them. They work for us. We are their bosses. They are answerable to us, the people. We can fire them. Insubordination is good grounds for termination. In my opinion Koed Smith must be brought in for a severe “tongue lashing”.
Editor’s Note: ﾠThe author repeatedly mis-spells Mr. Smith’s name, which is Keod Smith.
Koed Smith is the Ambassador-for the Environment and Member of Parliament for the Mount Mariah Constituency. Pardon my ignorance, but isn’t he the representative for all the constituents who live in Mount Mariah? Do I, as a constituent, have a right to question him about things related to his constituency? Should he be receptive to my concerns or only if I supported the PLP? The whole Bahamas is concerned about these kind of questions and then some.
It is my opinion that Koed Smith showed just how his level of maturity and lack of the necessary skills and temperament to be a member of parliament has been exposed in historic Rawson Square “in broad daylight”.
I cannot for the life of me, understand how anyone could come up with a reasonable explanation as to why a member of parliament should become so angry with a constituent, just because the constituent wanted to know why, in the constituent’s opinion, the MP was negligent in his responsibilities as a representative.
The majority of Bahamians do not expect for an MP to physically put money in their pockets. Sensible Bahamians only expect for the MP to make sure that his constituents have good infrastructure and that the parks are presentable for families to be able to congregate, among other things. This speaks to a healthy family-oriented community and most of all, a better country.
Please allow me to deviate. Entering Millennium Gardens you are greeted with a forest, a far cry from when former Minister of Housing, Algernon SPB Allen, was responsible for the upkeep of the area. The meridian has not been cut for months.
I live in Millennium Gardens. My son, who is six years old, has been haunting me to take him to the park for his entire summer break, but it was not safe to do so. Excuse my presumptuousness but after seeing the deplorable conditions of the park I decided to call the MP, Mr Koed Smith. The secretary refused me access to Mr Smith, so I proceeded to give her a message to be conveyed to him. I did not and do not want anything personally from Mr Smith, I only suggested that he address the disgusting conditions of the park, where the grass had grown chest high and the benches have been broken and the entrance to Millennium Gardens was now disgustingly unsightly. Dean William is now tossing in his grave, because no respect is given to him by the PLP.
The lack of speed bumps has caused Millennium Gardens to become a highway and our children are being exposed to “certain death” in a supposedly residential community. I am positive Blair Estate and other upscale neighbourhoods have speed bumps. Also I suggested that putting up the name of streets would make it easier for friends and family to find us, and deliveries to our homes would be without delay.
A 20-foot container has been placed on Bethel Avenue at the entrance to Millennium Gardens where a “water company” has set up shop. This could not happen in Cable Beach, Lyford Cay, Paradise Island, Eastern Road or any area where people who have serious money live. But no respect is given to us in Millennium Gardens, so without any repercussions the shop is “open for business”, selling water.
Fast forward, after not hearing from my MP Koed Smith and also after watching the grass grow even more, I decided to make another attempt to contact Mr Smith, again unsuccessful. But as fate would have it, while I was supporting the Bahamas Public Service Union during a protest on Bay Street, low and behold Mr Smith walked up. I thought this was a good opportunity to find out first if he got my message and second if and what he intended to do about it.
I could not prepare myself for what was to come. Mr Smith threatened to “slap me” if I did not get out of his face. At first I thought he was joking, but quickly realised that he was serious. I suggested that it was not a good idea. He then began to use the most obscene language in earshot of several police officers, some high ranking. Several ladies even asked how come he could use obscene language and the police said or did nothing. If it was anyone else, they pointed out, they would have been arrested. One lady even joked, “Look who is making the laws in the Bahamas!”
This kind of behaviour is not consistent with “real Bahamians”. This is foreign and should not be encouraged. (Editor’s Note: ﾠWe disagree with the preceeding statement. Bahamians are just as rotten as any people on the planet.) Bahamian politicians usually do not act with such anger, disregard and disrespect. The sad part is that our children emulate members of parliament. Imagine looking up to a person who, without provocation would spew out obscenities. As a constituent I have every right to express my concern for the neighbourhood in which I live and indeed the whole Bahamas.
I enjoy lifelong friendships with several Members of Parliament on the PLP side. They know I would not hesitate to approach them with any concern I have. I have criticised many politicians on both sides of the political divide in my letters to the editor on many occasions. We still treat each other with respect. We are all Bahamians.
It begs the question, who is Koed Smith? Is he really one of us? Why is his behaviour so boorish.? Why is there a need for anyone to lose their cool, especially in front of elderly ladies and men who are considerably older than Koed Smith? Where is the respect expected for each other? This is a poor example, and the sensible PLP Members of Parliament should address this or face repercussions from within the party and outside in the community. By the way, several PLP MP have – already distanced themselves from that kind of unnecessary childishness.
Finally, everyday I pray for good health, wisdom and understanding for myself, family and all Bahamians. Through all the roadblocks I meet in my life, I have been given the assurance ‘ that patience will help me to adjust to the setbacks or the deviations. My fear for Jesus Christ only, places all other human beings out of my range of fear. That includes everybody, regardless of their position or their disposition.
By IVOINE W INGRAHAM
Nassau, Bahamas
