Fury has erupted in Fox – Hill, with locals claiming their most cherished annual festival has been "hijacked" for political purposes.
Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell, who is MP for the area, is under attack for allegedly planning to use foreign dignitaries on Fox Hill Day to "troop out show ponies for his own political advancement."
Leaders from several Caribbean nations – including ļ¾ Jamaica and Barbados — and the prime minister of Dominica, Roosevelt Skerrit, who is due in the Bahamas today are scheduled to take part in the festivities.
This, according to a source close to the campaign of Mr Mitchell's election opponent Dr Jacinta Higgs, is being interpreted as an attempt by the minister to court CARICOM leaders to secure a position for himself should he lose in the next election.
"He is politically smart and he sees the handwriting on the wall; so he is trying to position himself so that if he loses he would still be able to move around in heavy circles. He wants to be the Kofi Anan of CARICOM. Basically, he is shopping around for a position," the source claimed.
According to the source, many Fox Hill people have expressed irritation at the fact that dignitaries are being brought in in an attempt to "wow Fox Hillians" who are not that easily impressed.
"The event, we understand, is being sponsored by the Ministry of Tourism in an attempt to make it look like a government endorsed thing. We are very concerned that these people are going to be used as pawns to interfere in the politics of Fox Hill," he said.
There is also concern among Fox Hillians about renaming the Fox Hill Day Festival the "George Mackey Festival". Not because of the renaming itself, but the fact that it is occurring during an election year.
"Fox Hill Day is bigger than one person. They know that George Mackey himself would not have done that if he were alive," said the source.
"Since George Mackey is an icon in Fox Hill, liked by both FNMs and PLPs, Mr Mitchell is using his name to try and get people to come around to what he is doing," the source added. However, the move could backfire on the MP.
The political climate in Fox Hill is said to have changed-considerably in the last few months to such an extent that Mr Mitchell's constituency chairman has joined the team of his challenger, Dr Higgs. "That did not go well with Mr Mitchell and he was desperate get him back," the source said.
A lot of PLPs have also moved into the Higgs camp because she was a part of Mr Mitchell's team before she joined the FNM. "She has brought along with her some of the people who worked with her on Mr Mitchell's campaign, which has caused their family members to go over to her side," the source said.
There are many reasons for Mr Mitchell's "impending defeat" in Fox Hill, not the least being his "stand-offish" attitude, said the source.
"Mr Mitchell is a very cold individual. He is not personable, he is not easy to talk to, he is not sociable, he is very stand-offish. The contrasting thing is that Dr Higgs is a very approachable, very likable person who has made her mark in the community," he said.
In addition to that, Dr Higgs being a "native Fox Hill gal" has given Mr Mitchell cause to worry. "People knew her before now. People knew of her ability before now, they respect and love her. I've seen people jump on her with enthusiasm when they went to see her for the first time. I can almost guarantee she is going to win. "Fox Hill is very loyal to their own so a lot of them follow her because she is hard, hard Fox Hill. We're not voting for any party – we're voting for Fox Hill, for one of us."
The visit by Caribbean dignitaries has also upset Dominicans living in Nassau. They feel their prime minister is being used as a "political tool".
"Why should the Dominica PM come to this event? It is nothing to do with foreigners. This should not happen. It is basically a campaigning manoeuvre by Mitchell, but the people of Fox Hill don't appreciate it.
"I also understand that attempts are being made to block Jacinta Higgs from the events surrounding these dignitaries: Mitchell obviously sees himself losing this election, so he is readying himself for a CARICOM post.
"The Dominica PM needs to be warned about this because I'm sure he doesn't know that he's being used in this way."
Source: The Tribune
