The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.

I should like to assist your readers in interpreting some of the Orwellian language being used by the PLP politicians who are daily running this country into the ground while at the same time telling people that everything will work out just fine.

Quote: “Don’t play politics with Baha Mar.”

Interpretation: “We have really made a terrible mess of things but give us a break! Don’t be so hard on us!”

Quote: “I will solve the Baha Mar crisis.”

Interpretation: “I am mainly responsible for creating this disaster in the first place. I got this inexperienced young investor to put his money in this. We didn’t listen to Hubert Ingraham’s advice to do it in stages. Then I decided to get rid of the developer and turn the project over to some other people I know. Whenever the mess is finally cleaned up I will say ‘See what a good job I have done cleaning up my own mess.’ Like that I win all around!”

Now permit me, Editor, to give some historical background to put in perspective this false notion that when there is a national crisis there should be no debate and that the opposition should refrain from criticising the conduct of the government of the day.

During World War II, Great Britain was in grave peril as Nazi tanks rolled over the rest of Europe. The war started in September 1939 when Neville Chamberlain was Prime Minister.

After an historic debate in the House of Commons in May of 1940 in which members questioned the conduct of the war, Chamberlain had to step down and make way for a new Prime Minister, Winston Churchill.

Churchill also had to account to parliament throughout the war and did not escape criticism. In fact, he had to face several confidence votes which he handily won.

The lesson is that in times of national crisis everybody should do their best, as the British did. But doing one’s best also means questioning whether the right people are in place and whether the crisis is being properly managed. The more important the crisis, the more closely should the opposition scrutinise the government’s conduct. They owe that to the people.

CORRECTOR

Nassau,

October 27, 2015.