The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.

  The popular Internet news source Bahamas Press published on October 1 a very provocative article on the Free National Movement (FNM) standard bearer for the North Abaco constituency Greg Gomez. The writer of the highly offensive piece insinuated that Gomez had conned the Bahamian people into believing that he is an educator, when he really isn't one. While the anonymous writer was very careful not to state with dogmatic certainty that the FNM candidate was being untruthful about being an educator, albeit an unemployed one; after reading the article, however, you get the sense that that is indeed the conclusion of the writer, whoever he or she is.

The writer wanted to say that Gomez is not an educator, but couldn't bring him/herself to say it, notwithstanding the obvious urge to do so. The article questioned why was Gomez on the 52-week job programme, if he is an educator. That is a question that Gomez will have to answer for himself. Suffice to say the job programme was put in place by the Ingraham administration to assist thousands of unemployed Bahamians. While it wasn't much, at least you carried home to your family a weekly salary of $210. As the old adage goes, half a loaf is better than none.

The article also chided Gomez, who is in his late 30s, or thereabouts, for working on the job programme, which is a relief programme for jobless Bahamians under the age of 30. In other words, because he is over the age of 30, he wasn't legally qualified to work in the programme. Again, the FNM candidate is made to look like a crook by the writer. Now, in all honesty, I am not that familiar with the ins-and-outs of the programme. But I never recalled hearing or reading that the only persons eligible to work in the programme are jobless Bahamians under 30. I stand to be corrected, though. Suffice to say, I only started hearing about this requirement after the Progressive Liberal Party came to office in May. There seems to be some mix-up concerning this programme. Why would any administration put in place a badly needed relief programme that struggling Bahamians over 30 cannot gain access to? Undoubtedly, it is this age demographic (by that I mean Bahamians over 30) who needed it the most, seeing that they probably make up over half the workforce population. Gomez being on the programme is simply a mute testament of how bad the economy has become. The great recession has even brought college educated Bahamians down to their knees. That said, I believe that the FNM from here on out will have to do a much better job at vetting its candidates. This whole issue surrounding Gomez's candidacy has become needlessly controversial. It seems as if everyday there is some fresh allegation on the FNM candidate. Whether they are true or not, Gomez has probably already caused the FNM to lose that seat, which has been with the party for the past 22 years. When you present yourself for public office, you must make certain to be forthcoming and straightforward with your party and the Bahamian people. When you write your nomination declaration, you must be certain to cross every t and to dot every i. I still am giving Gomez the benefit of the doubt. But I believe he has left himself wide open for criticism by the media, especially the anti-FNM Internet website Bahamas Press. While questions remain concerning the enigmatic FNM candidate, at least it has been proven by The Nassau Guardian that he was indeed telling the truth when he said that he had worked as an educator at three schools in the United States. This information was published by the newspaper on October 5, some four days after the Bahamas Press article, that seemed to insinuate that Gomez is not an educator. Well, now we know that he is one. Now that this has been cleared up, the decent thing for Bahamas Press to do is to issue a retraction and an apology to Gomez and his family. That is what is expected of  responsible news organisations when they write erroneous statements in their publications. Whatever Bahamas Press' views are concerning Gomez, it at least owes him and its readership the courtesy of admitting that it had erred by insinuating that the FNM candidate isn't an educator. If the webmasters refuses to do so, then it would only confirm my belief that journalism in this country is in the gutter.

 KEVIN EVANS

Freeport,

Grand Bahama,

October 11, 2012.