The Tribune

AS A general rule, we ignore Bradley Roberts as a remnant of the PLP’s dictatorial past and not worthy of our attention.

However, on Saturday PLP chairman Roberts issued a statement for publication to all segments of the media questioning our February 10th editorial which described Opposition leader Dr Hubert Minnis as a mystery “wrapped up in an enigma” and questioned his political ability to successfully lead the FNM in the 2017 general election. Mr Roberts took exception to our suggestion that the FNM should hold a convention within the month to settle the leadership question if the party hoped to win the government in 2017.

We had no problem with that. Mr Roberts has the right to have an opposing view after all that is what democracy is all about.

But then, in typical Roberts’ style, he questioned our right to even enter the discussion with a contrary opinion. It is this statement that calls for an answer. Said Mr Roberts:

“One has to ask what would possess The Tribune’s editor to take such a politically biased position and more pointedly, who in the FNM inspired the editor to lambaste Minnis? Whose political interests is she representing?”

Well, Mr Roberts, it is this last question that has ignited the spark in “the terrorist of Shirley Street” – your words, Mr Roberts, not ours.

Unlike the disgraceful horse trading that is now going on behind the scenes in true PLP fashion — never thought we would see the day when it would be adopted by the FNM — we are representing the interest of the Bahamian people. No one has to invite or urge The Tribune to take such a stand when the future of Bahamians and this country is at stake. And just to give Mr Roberts a short history lesson: This was the reason that The Tribune was founded in 1903. We have not forgotten our roots, and we need no one to suggest to us to take up our pen, especially when we see ruthless politicians playing on the ignorance of less informed Bahamians.

We have not criticised Dr Minnis as a qualified doctor or well-intentioned person. We give him credit for all of this. However, we do criticise his political skills, which, in our opinion, are non existent. Even this would not be important if we had a government with the ability to pull the Bahamas back from the economic precipice on which it now teeters. But, it is obvious even to once staunch PLP supporters that the country is in trouble and needs a strong hand at the helm. That hand we do not have in either party. And so it is the political ineptitude of Dr Minnis himself that inspired us to enter the fray.

Even the blind would understand that a leader who cannot keep his party together as a cohesive whole, certainly cannot unify and rebuild a nation. It is for this reason that The Tribune has entered the discussion — and for Mr Roberts’ information we intend to remain in. After all this is our country too. The Tribune has fought too long and sacrificed too much to let it fall into the hands of the remnants of the Pindling years.

“Some have argued that Mrs. Carron is shamelessly using The Tribune to openly campaign for the return of Hubert Ingraham who abandoned the FNM at their weakest point shortly after their loss at the polls in 2012,” said Mr Roberts in his statement, and continued: “If The Tribune is seen as a substantial mouthpiece or lap dog for Hubert Minnis, then it loses credibility in its ability to objectively report the news and to be the honest broker and gatekeeper of truth the fourth estate demands of it.”

In this sentence, we think Mr Roberts had a slip of the pen. We believe he meant to write Ingraham, instead of Minnis. However, be that as it may. We do not think that after so many years any member of the public – regardless of his or her political persuasion would think that The Tribune is anyone’s lap dog.

Although Dr Minnis has declared that the “Ingraham era is over” we hope that the principles are not. For example, Mr Ingraham had many problems in his own party from members who thought that once having won the government it was now their turn to have the choice political positions and special contracts.

This went against the grain with Mr Ingraham. If a person was qualified, conscientious in doing his job, he remained in his position regardless of his political persuasions. And once an election is over the elected government has to be composed of qualified persons who understand that they represent all of the people – regardless of party.

Mr Ingraham has given much to this country, and the Bahamian people should never forget it. What we find interesting is that when he is out among the people, they flock around him, some warmly embracing him and all joyously shouting: “Papa!” We have come to the conclusion that it is only the politicians who try to discount him — possibly because they realise that he is in fact well loved by the common man and a political threat should he bestir himself to return.

But to relieve Mr Roberts of his misconception, the last we spoke with Mr Ingraham — which was so long ago that we have forgotten — he was enjoying retirement with no thoughts of returning to the political arena.

Now Mr Roberts is trying to distract Dr Minnis by goading him into taking his mind off his present task to enter a war of words with us.

The more these so-called advisers appear to be advising Dr Minnis — with him so politically naive that he has gone so far as to thank one of them for his support— the further he is falling into a trap, not realising that the PLP’s only chance of being returned as the government of the Bahamas is to have him leading a factious FNM. The PLP on present course — with all its election promises in tatters — is heading for a 2017 defeat. They see Dr Minnis as their only salvation as FNM leader. No wonder their great concern for his political welfare.

We wonder which one of them at the end of the day will echo the words of Sir Lynden Pindling who, when defeated by Hubert Ingraham in 1992, had to admit that his party had lost touch with the people. Sir Lynden did not realise that the economic conditions were such that it would cost him an election.

Dr Minnis’ failure to accept reality — if not checked — will continue the reign of the Christie government.

Therefore, we strongly advocate an early convention for the FNM to get their political house in order.

And, yes, Mr Roberts, the “terrorist of Shirley Street” is in it for the long haul — we don’t frighten easily.