As rumours swirl – almost daily we are told that the prime minister will take to the airwaves to explain what action he has taken to make an example of the brawling MPs – nothing has happened, and the public is baffled. They don’t know who or what to believe. But they do know that they are not getting the full story. They also know that their prime minister, who promised them a government of accountability, has remained mute – almost invisible.
Government would like us to believe that the media has exaggerated the event – the bashing, the beating, the breaking of government furniture in the Cabinet room after a parliamentary meeting on September 25, all made up. Although many of the rumours now in circulation on the street might be exaggerated – which is always the danger when someone tries to cover his tracks – the bare bones of what The Tribune has published of the incident is just that – bare bones, with no flesh attached. For example we have not reported the matter that ignited the fight, nor – other than to say there was an exchange of insulting words – have we reported those words. There are many other details that have remained unreported.
Neither have we dwelled on what would have happened if poor, little Mr John Q Public had gone on government premises and damaged government property. The worry now is that the public is seeing a widening gap between them and us – in other words, what is good for the goose, ain’t necessarily good for the gander.
In today’s contentious world, where mountains are made out of mole hills and tempers flare at the most insignificant incident, examples have to made of leaders who cannot control their tempers, or set a better example.
Many people today point an accusing finger at the United States – this official is stealing, that one is cheating, yet another one is enticing young boys into sexual acts, and the list goes on. But the accusing finger does not seem to point beyond to find the difference between the Bahamas and the United States.
And that difference is – in the US the offenders are stripped of their high office in public. They are investigated and they are punished. If they don’t go to jail, they are cast into darkness – gone from public view, never to be seen again.
Not so in the Bahamas. Here they brazen it out. They cover it up, they act like the three
monkeys who see no evil, speak no evil, and hear no evil. Therefore, there is no evil. Those nasty newspapers have made it all up Cry shame on them!
Today, only government and its supporters are crying shame on the press. The public is not buying into the cover-up.
According to rumours – and we stress that this is rumour – Kennedy MP Kenyatta Gibson, chairman of the Gaming Board, after having drafted his resignation from the board, because of what he himself called an incident that “declined to an unacceptable and undignified level,” was advised not to deliver it. After all, according to the advice, others have done far worse, and have not resigned, nor have they been punished, then why should he? A reasonable question, with an unsatisfactory answer.
On October 3, The Tribune published a report under the heading: “Reports: Kenyatta resigns.” The Tribune was condemned for lying. However, that report was the result of Mr Gibson himself having allegedly called a member of the Gaming Board to inform him that the board meeting for the next day had been cancelled. The reason? Mr Gibson had tendered his resignation. If that telephone conversation were true, then obviously Mr Gibson later changed his mind. Was it on the advice of another who didn’t see why he should be made a scapegoat while some of his offending colleagues had got off scott free? We don’t know.
There is a rumour – again we stress it is a rumour – that some cabinet ministers have been searching for the two offending MPs with resignation letters in their pockets for them to sign. Another rumour – again rumour we stress – is that cabinet ministers called a meeting to which Ambassador to the Environment Keod Smith was invited to discuss the matter and seek a resolution. He sent to ask if the prime minister were present. When told he was not, the ambassador is alleged to have sent the message back that he too would remain absent.
The last report is that both MPs have resigned from their posts. The rumours are that there were strings attached to their resignations, but again, as this is only a rumour, no one knows the truth.
It is incredible that the Prime Minister keeps shadow boxing with the public. For 15 days he has allowed two of his parliamentarians to dance around him, a sort of catch-me-if-you-can charade. If he were a decisive prime minister he would have fired them long ago. And like the seven wonders of the world, this matter would also have been laid to rest and forgotten, long ago.
Editorial from The Tribune
Nassau, Bahamas
