The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.

Please allow me space in your valued journal to ask some burning questions and express deep concern about the descent of our country into hitherto unknown and frightening depths, as manifested in recent statements by members of the governing party.

The first question: How does The Bahamas currently rate internationally as regards democracy and respect for human rights? Despite the fact that The Bahamas, as a member of the United Nations, is a signatory to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, our adherence to its most treasured tenets to UDHR appears nowadays to be little more than political manoeuvring, posturing and public relations.

In other words, democracy in this country is fast becoming a crude theatre of pretence, with members of government taking the starring roles in the many dramas that have gripped the nation, appearing to be either blind to or uncaring of the needs and opinions of the electorate.

Such was the case with a recent statement by the Deputy Prime Minister in which he said that the government was “listening” to those who question the wisdom of the imminent implementation of National Health Insurance (NHI) as an unknown pig in a poke, but government was going to launch the programme on January 1, 2016 anyway. Of even greater concern, the DPM claimed not to know what NHI would cost to initiate. How can this be when the sorely tried Public Treasury has had to disburse millions to various consultants in pursuit of the plan?

The sad irony is that the majority of Bahamians (including someone like me, who has experienced catastrophic medical bills) would welcome universal health care that is affordable by and accessible to all. How in the world can the Bahamian people be expected to sign our names to an open cheque and give it over to the management of an autocratic government, who seem not to know even the ABCs of fiscal management?

Even worse, we have not yet been told what our benefits will be under NHI and how the present, shaky public health care system will be able to sustain the weight of a more elaborate programme when it can’t maintain the lesser universal scheme we now have to any acceptable degree. Sounds like “Pike’s Peak or bust”, doesn’t it? Unfortunately, it seems likely that the Bahamian people will be the ones busted.

At worst, in this rapidly unfolding drama of missteps, we could be witnessing the leading edge of a dictatorship, which has at heart nothing but its own advancement. How could it be otherwise following the present government’s three-year avoidance of any advances in human rights? What are we to believe when government has sanctioned the march of gaming houses over islands in desperate need of real economic advancement?

Instead of nurturing in Bahamians the necessity of creativity, work, thrift and good saving habits, the powers that be seem to be making an unconscionable intent to push our people into harmful spending and reliance on two-faced Lady Luck.

The terrible fear that I’m now experiencing, however, comes from statements from members of the governing party over the last few months. They seem to be taking their text from the game plan of one of the hopefuls in the United States presidential race. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, who should be the model of international diplomacy, has offered barely veiled threats of expulsion to a permanent resident, who has fallen out of favour with the current government administration.

More recently, a member of the governing party has advised the chairman of the Bahamas Insurance Association in the most reprehensible manner to go back to his homeland and make a contribution there. The reason for this unfortunate comment? The BIA chairman, representing the views of the insurance industry, as he was elected to do, has persisted in asking for clarification of the NHI programme.

Does it not matter that the said chairman has contributed professionally to our country, has a Bahamian wife who contributes and has three Bahamian children, who have every right to family stability in their homeland? What possible motive could these intelligent gentlemen have in adding fuel to the already hot fire of Bahamian xenophobia, when fires once lit can run wild and wreak havoc?

And why, in the 21st century, doesn’t a good wife, a decent Bahamian citizen, have the ability to secure Bahamian citizenship for her spouse, as readily as a Bahamian man might, if the roles were reversed?

The worst and most terrifying statement has been attributed to a member of the Bahamas Bar, who has only recently thrown his lot in with the governing party. According to a newspaper report, he advocated, in Trumpian arrogance, caning for underage illegal immigrants and flogging for the adults. Someone please tell me that this is not so. At best, all of the foregoing statements demonstrate a flagrant dismissal of the spirit and letter of democracy and human rights and, and at worst, a taste for autocracy, violence and do-it-yourself justice.

The upholding of human rights is the only life raft that can help us to keep afloat on the troubled seas of the 21st century. Our flotation devices, poorly maintained, are fast deflating. Where is the captain of the ship of state in this rapidly moving Hurricane Joaquin of statecraft? On pre-retirement leave, having devolved leadership to the ravening alpha males of his crew?

Worse still, when truth, honesty and championship of the common good abdicate the seat of government, should we not expect the evil triumvirate of double dealing, suppression of rights and brutality to ascend the throne?

One brief word to those seeking to win the government in the next general election: There is no place in the nurturing and advancement of a nation for what New York Times columnist Frank Bruni calls “press-a-button punditry”. There are no training wheels in governance. You must develop the necessary knowledge and skills now to be able to take this country on a surer, more profitable ride than we are experiencing today.

God help us all!

PATRICIA GLINTON-MEICHOLAS

Nassau,

December 8, 2015.