The Tribune

“The best laid schemes of mice and men often go awry…”

It was perfectly planned – or so the government thought. The visitor’s gallery was packed with the youth from the Freedom Farm Baseball League, under their coach PLP Senator Greg Burrows, Jr, and the team’s director, PLP Mount Moriah MP Arnold Forbes. The young players occupied over 75 per cent of the chairs in the visitor’s gallery. Downstairs at the entrance, the police were asking Bahamians for identification before admitting them to the chamber, while foreigners without so much as a question, but rather a welcoming smile, were allowed in.

With the gallery saturated with PLP supporters, there was hardly room for an FNM to squeeze in. Certainly, the father and brother of FNM leader Dr Hubert Minnis — around whom the drama revolved —could not find a seat in the full House. They were not allowed in.

As soon as the House chaplain had made his little speech, said a prayer and turned to leave, the House doors opened and in marched 10 to 12 hefty police officers. All that muscle to move one determined little man from the floor of the chamber.

Later, the House Speaker was to complain that such a scene should have never taken place in front of so many young Bahamians. We agree. But who invited the youth to view the scene? Who invited the police officers? Who set the scene?

The Speaker and his government make themselves look ridiculous by trying to deflect the blame to the Opposition.

Government members knew what was going to happen and so they obviously invited the youth to pack the gallery, possibly in the hope that the FNM would capitulate and go quietly at the sight of so many young people. They should have known better and so, if the youth saw bullies at work, their government was the bully. Its members only have themselves to blame as democracy was torn to shreds right before the eyes of a future generation. In one of our photographs, National Security Minister Dr Bernard Nottage is shown conferring with two khaki clad Inspectors, while FNM Montagu MP Richard Lighbourn is being manhandled by three uniformed officers. Was Dr Nottage orchestrating the performance that day?

By now, there was confusion as to exactly what the words were that referred to the Prime Minister that Dr Minnis had been asked to withdraw. There are those who say that Dr Minnis was just expressing an opinion, which was his right in a democracy, there were others who said that the Speaker had already expunged what Dr Nottage had insisted were offending words that should be withdrawn. And so by now there was nothing to withdraw.

However, back in their enclave, the FNM leader had decided that whatever was to be withdrawn, he would not be the one to do it. His members supported him. They prepared their two signs — the “Bahamas is for Bahamians” and “Democracy will not be muzzled”.

The first business of the House was an invitation for Dr Minnis to withdraw statements that had already been expunged. He was invited to withdraw or substantiate. All he had time to do was say that he refused to withdraw. He was not given time to produce his proof when the Speaker invited the House to “name” him. Already the Speaker had started down the slippery path, revealing that he did not — nor did his coaches — know House rules. Only the Speaker can name a member. Once named, it is for House members to vote for his suspension. None of this was done. Or rather, what was done was done backwards — therefore stripping the whole expulsion performance of its legitimacy.

The Speaker suspended Dr Minnis for two consecutive sessions and immediately asked for a 15-minute adjournment — obviously giving him time to go quietly, or failing to do so, the muscle boys were to move in to carry him out. As the Speaker left the chamber, all members stood as is the custom. ZNS cameras closed down, leaving eight of the nine FNM standing with their two signs propped on the table in front of them. The viewing public saw nothing more. Obviously they were not meant to see any more. Again behind the times, a government can shut down TV cameras, but they cannot shut off citizen’s cell phones. The bullying tactics and confusion taking place in the chamber that day was recorded by many untrained journalists, and the public saw from their newspapers what ZNS’s cameras – obviously instructed not to broadcast – had not recorded.

Opposition members resumed their seats, including Leader Minnis, for the 15-minute break. Mr Lightbourn said he looked up to see a policeman’s face staring into his. He was ordered to get up so that the policeman could get to

Dr Minnis. Mr Lightbourn refused, so the officers started to lift him up in his chair. Mr Lightbourn got out of the chair and pushed it to the table behind him, again blocking passage to Dr Minnis. He held onto the policeman‘s belt as he was being manhandled. Meanwhile, Deputy Leader Loretta Butler-Turner stood, pointed her finger and in her determined voice, order: “Don’t you touch one of us!” Mr Lightbourn said the officer’s face froze. “It was as though he had the order ‘nobody move, nobody get hurt!’” Again the lady with the famous slap ordered: “We are leaving, don’t you touch us!”

Meanwhile, North Eleuthera Theo Neilly, who with Central Grand Bahama Neko Grant, sat on Dr Minnis right, was being manhandled by two other officers, in their attempt to get to Dr Minnis.

While this was going on, Assistant Police Commissioner Stephen Seymour and three officers stood in front of Dr Minnis, the table between them. Dr Minnis told them that if they wanted him, they could take his necktie and pull him across the table. They backed off.

Eventually, the Opposition regrouped and left quietly with Deputy Leader Butler-Turner reminding the officers to mind their manners.

When they reached the Opposition committee room, Dr Minnis was not allowed to enter — not even to use the bathroom, a police officer instructed him. He was ordered from the building.

It will be interesting to try to script the next chapter. Dr Minnis has not been suspended under the rules of the House. There is nothing left for him to apologise for as his words have already been expunged. If they insist on an apology, then he should be given an opportunity to provide proof to support his so-called offending words.

The frightening tragedy is that just over a year into its five-year term, the government has bungled ever major issue that it has attempted.

Bahamians should be very concerned for their future.