While the Attorney General advocates "swift justice" in the courts, someone – described as a "high profile political source" – says that "sometimes it is not in the best interest of a leader to rush to the finality of a decision."
In talking to a Nassau Guardian reporter in an article published in that newspaper on October 10, the "high profile political source" was not referring to the attorney-general's "swift justice" for the little man, but a negotiated justice for two big men – Kennedy MP Kenyatta Gibson, chairman of the Gaming Board, and Mt Moriah MP Keod Smith, Ambassador to the Environment.
At this point we don't know whether the two politicians are to be referred to as former chairman and former ambassador, but as far as the Guardian's impeccable source is aware "they have resigned from their governmental positions." The source presumes that in his own good time the prime minister's announcement of this fact will shortly follow.
As the source says: "You can't assume that nothing is happening behind the scenes." And we won't. Not for one minute do we think that anyone – even the prime minister – is asleep at the switch. We are satisfied that much is happening behind the scenes. And it is just because of this activity that, like the source, we too are going to take a shot at some assumptions.
If the Prime Minister is unsuccessful in negotiating an agreement, particularly with one of the combatants, we predict that the House will close early with the announcement of an election. whether a by-election or a general election is open to more speculation.
However, if he is successful in sealing lips then life will bump on as usual until the time is ripe for the general election – sometime before May next year.
We understand that Keod Smith was anxious to make a statement at last week's sitting of the House. We don't know what that statement might have been about, but, it is claimed that Mr Smith, considered a loose cannon even by his parliamentary colleagues, might have made a few off the cuff comments. And sometimes his off-the-cuffers can be dynamite. The tragedy of it is that his dynamite can be lethal because there is no legal come back. His words would be protected by parliamentary privilege. It is possible – if in fact our speculation is correct – that no one wanted to take that chance.
This holiday weekend will give all parties a cooling off period, time to bury the hatchet.
When that is fully buried, then possibly we shall hear from the prime minister next week. It will be interesting whether strings will be attached to the expected peace settlement.
According to the Guardian article: "Sometimes it is not in the best interest of a leader to rush to the finality of a decision," said a high-profile political source with close ties to Mr Christie. "I am satisfied that Mr Christie knew his decision (on how to reprimand Messrs Smith and Gibson) a long time ago, but he won't rush the finality of this decision because if he doesn't deal with this matter in a decent and respectable manner, to a point where the guys are at least satisfied with the process, could you imagine what would happen?"
What an absolutely incredible statement. Had Messrs John Q Public exchanged blows in a public place and in the course of bashing each other had broken government property, can any of our readers imagine a magistrate taking time to consider how to deal with them in a manner that would not hurt their dignity?
The source felt that the two MPs didn't understand politics. If they had they would have apologised for their unseemly behaviour and resigned their political appointments. It was felt that if they had done so, they would have been forgiven and their political futures would have been assured.
(Mr Gibson in fact did apologise, but he did not resign as one would have expected). However, having not considered their own political futures, why should the prime minister consider them, and, by doing so, jeopardise his own political future?
According to the Guardian's source, "because the PLP does not want to create any 'unnecessary enemies', the Prime Minister reportedly asked the junior MPs to resign, rather than fire them outright."
This is where the Prime Minister made his mistake. What he should know is that when everybody likes you, there is something wrong. Whenever a strong leader makes a decision that he believes right, he will not get applause from all of the public, but, right or wrong, he will be praised by most of them, if only because they admire his strength of character.
Everyday that this matter is allowed to slide it is the face of the Prime Minister that is being smeared, not those of Messrs Gibson and Smith who threw away their own political futures when they resorted to their fists to resolve their differences.
What is needed is swift justice, both in and out of court – lest we forget, all men are created equal.
Editorial from The Tribune
