Bahamians, even in his own party are upset. Although there are some who think everyone should turn a blind eye and let the PLP work out their own squabbles, there are even more who believe that an example should be made of the country’s leaders who can’t control their tempers. They are particularly concerned because lack of anger management, especially among the young, is today at the root of most of society’s serious assaults and deaths. If the leaders have no self control, they argue, what can be expected of the youth? And, if the youth must suffer the consequences of their actions, so should their leaders. They should set the example.
Decisive action is needed by Prime Minister Christie to convey to the public that government will not tolerate such boorish behaviour from the people’s servants. If the two men refuse to resign – one as an ambassador, the other as chairman of the gaming board – then they should be fired. The buck stops at the Prime Minister’s desk.
Many Bahamians are also tired of the PLP’s “spin doctors” who are trying to pretend that it’s the media’s fault for “sensationalising” and overstating the event, and a Prime Minister whose initial reaction was that the whole issue should be laughed off as a non-event.
Whoever advised the pre-recorded radio show be broadcast Sunday night between the two parliamentarians – “we are united as we have ever been – even stronger” explained Environment Ambassador Keod Smith – did the PLP a great disservice.
In view of Gaming Board Chairman Kenyatta Gibson’s “unreserved” apology on Friday and admission that whatever took place in the Cabinet room that night had “declined to an unacceptable and undignified level”, the charade that was acted out on Sunday night’s radio programme between the two MPs made them, as well as their “handlers”, look clumsy.
There was raucous laughter by some listeners to the show when they heard both MPs declare that honesty was one of the most important virtues that a representative should have, and then, in the next breath, heard them both declare that they were unaware of anything being broken during their heated exchange of words in the cabinet room. As one wit remarked: “You mean they shouted so loud that the glass on the cabinet table cracked, just so!”
In 1625, Francis Bacon opened his essay on Truth with these words: “What is truth? said jesting Pilate; and would not stay for an answer.”
Well we are not Pilate, we are not jesting, and, unlike Pilate, we – and our readers – are staying around for an answer – a truthful answer this time.
When programme presenter Wendell Jones asked who started the fight, both MPs laughed the question off. “Ah, Wendell you are something else. Ah, goodness,” Mr Gibson chuckled. However, he denied the rumour that it was he who slapped Mr Smith first.
Mr Smith didn’t think it mattered who it was “who started, or whose comments led to any disagreement that we had.”
At least this establishes the fact that their disagreement was started by words.
It has been claimed that Mr Smith questioned Mr Gibson’s integrity in a case over the sale of a house in which both lawyers are involved.
It is further alleged that an angered Mr Gibson retorted with a racial and ethnic remark. According to a source, Mr Gibson was overheard telling friends that as he got up to leave the room, Mr Smith rushed him from behind. Mr Gibson, a big man, crashed into the windows that overlook the ocean from the cabinet room, breaking two panes of glass.
It is further claimed that as he was on the floor, Mr Smith moved in for the attack. Mr Smith’s good friend Sidney Stubbs, also moved in, ostensibly to separate the two. However, Mr Gibson allegedly misread his intentions, and felt it was a case of two against one, and fought back.
At the end of the day, Mr Gibson was nursing a sore right hand – believed to have been sprained in the exchange. Anyway, whatever the injury, the next day, Mr Gibson, a righthanded man, could only greet friends with his left paw.
This is the report now on the street. As all agree that honesty is one of the most important virtues, Bahamians would like to know if all, or any part of this report as related here, is true.
Bahamians would also like to know if the Prime Minister now considers it worthy of his attention. If so: What does he plan to do about it?
And, unlike Pilate, the Bahamian people are prepared to wait for an answer as to what in fact is the truth. What did happen on the night of September 25th in that cabinet room between Kennedy MP Kenyatta Gibson, chairman of the Gaming Board, and Mt Moriah MP Keod Smith, Ambassador to the Environment.
Editorial from The Tribune
