What is good representation? We could look high and low in The Bahamas and it would be hard to identify it; and that goes for both sides of the political spectrum.
One ingredient that must be present is that the representative must be a servant of the people and not just out to promote his or her self interest.
Our politicians have by and large associated the giving of the Christmas ham, turkey, and fruit cake or the throwing of the constituency party as good representation. This is amazing in light of the fact that each member is provided with money from the public purse to operate a constituency office. This of course then assumes that each would make him or herself available to meet with those whom they represent. This in many cases is not done and it’s a shame that members are not held to a higher standard with respect to these funds.
I remember when my uncle Milo B Butler Jr. was first elected to Parliament in 1977, he was so concerned with the level of contact that he had with his constituents that many Sundays I, along with his children, followed in tow in what we affectionately called the Pinedale Express, which was in fact a pink station wagon with Pinedale on the dash board, and spent many hours driving through the area listening to the people.
This was a trend that he continuously adhered to for his first two terms in office but unfortunately he fell down in the third term and accordingly suffered the consequences that so many Progressive Liberal Party members suffered in 1992.
He had chosen to follow the example of his father and remain in touch with the people. The downfall of the first PLP administration owes a lot to their abandoning their supporters, but it is a lesson that politicians still don’t seem to comprehend.
Therefore people from many areas expect monetary help from their representative or prospective representatives, which is sad. How many times have you heard people say that they only see their Member of Parliament around election time; is it any wonder that they try to stick it to them when they get a chance? Where are the community leaders who spend all of their time pursuing the betterment of the residents?
C.B.Moss comes to mind. An editorial in this very same paper some weeks ago stated that he was politically dead because he had dared question how is it that Bradley Roberts could break the promise that he had made to step down after 2 years. Mr. Roberts has said that the Prime Minister has asked him to stay on because he requires his services and that he felt compelled to do so.
Well as most know, C.B. Moss is the pastor of a church in the Bain Town community, Mount Olive which sits on the corner of Augusta and Meadow streets. I have stopped on many afternoons when he is sitting out front or across the street greeting the people as they go about their merry way. Many invariably stop and spend a little time with him and in that way he has a pulse on exactly what’s going on.
From time to time he gives me a call and has me represent them on a variety of matters, but irrespective of their need they find him and from what I can see he always attempts to help.
Now I don’t hold any brief for C.B. Moss, but he is a friend of mine. I don’t think that he was treated fairly but that is how it goes in politics. Unfortunately he sacrificed himself for the good of a party which has abandoned him.
The Prime Minister could have kept Bradley Roberts in his Cabinet by appointing him to the vacant senate seat that C.B. would have left and then let the good Reverend Dr. fulfil his dream of becoming the representative. This action would have bought about greater party unity.
Who knows what is to become of C.B. Moss, but I’m sure that if you pass the church in the afternoons he will be in his familiar place. With his type of dedication he would have probably made a great member. It is highly unlikely that he will now be able to do so as a PLP.
The Free National Movement
This party has done a poor job as the Opposition. For all the cock-ups the government has presided over they are still not the clear-cut favourite to win the next general election.
Now it seems that they are heading for a leadership battle. Tommy Turnquest the incumbent, it is said, will not go gently into the night, Brent Symonette has already made his intentions clear and Hubert Ingraham has yet to announce but that I’m told is coming soon.
As far as the Opposition is concerned they should provide me with some good fodder this summer.
Source: The Nassau Guardian
