EDITOR, The Tribune.
I have long believed that had the Hon Philip ‘Brave’ Davis, MP, QC (PLP-Cat Island) been leader of the Progressive Liberal Party a year or so before the last general elections that he would have become Prime Minister and the PLP would have held onto the government.
The clear understanding within the rank and file of the party in 2015 was that brother Christie would have stepped down from being leader of the party and allow Brave to be elected. Whether he would have relinquished the role of Prime Minister was never written in concrete.
In any event, Christie stayed too long and had yuck up the vexation of all and sundry. He demonstrated, years ago, that he had lost the vision to take The Bahamas to the next level.
That is all now water under the bridge and Brave and the New Deal PLP have their work cut out.
Dorian was a ‘killer’ storm and one which will long be remembered so long as there is a Bahamas.
How the current PM reacts to this disaster and manages recovery and rebuilding efforts will determine a second term for the FNM or the inevitable return of the PLP led by Brave.
Dr Minnis (FNM-Killarney) is a good and decent man who, I believe, means well. Good intentions, however, do not play out too well in Bahamian politics.
If Minnis fails in his efforts (and the public will be watching very closely) to wrestle with the aftermath of Dorian, Brave and the New Deal PLP will be right there to swoop the government whenever elections are called again.
The appointments of technocrats and a serving legislator to head up relief and recovery efforts in Abaco and Grand Bahama do not bode well for the success of the same. They are all good people but with limited expertise in these areas.
In the case of the Senate President a bad message is being sent, possibly: “PLPs need not apply”, especially in Grand Bahama.
I am not suggesting that any of these individuals may appear or even be partisan but in politics perception plays a bigger role than reality.
The leader of the New Deal PLP, Brave, rose to the occasion as a natural leader; coordinator and fundraiser for all affected Bahamians.
He’s to be seen all over the place bringing a message of comfort; hope; relief and recovery. Keep in mind that if he could do all of this, while in Opposition, how much more he’d be able to do for the resurrection of the entire nation.
He has the right stuff to become Prime Minister. Under his stellar leadership, so far, the New Deal PLP has a golden opportunity, even in opposition, to shine.
The FNM and it’s leadership cadre, unfortunately, have been written off by a large number of Bahamians who would have actually voted for them in 2017, myself included. There is, at this time, no credible alternative.
The political Lion that was once the Democratic National Alliance (DNA) is no more, apparently or it is sleeping. Sad.
The job of Brave and the party will not be an easy one but if they stay the course ‘it ain’t long now’ will be the refrain of the unwashed masses.
It took almost ten years for Christie-fatigue to galvanise. In less than two and a half years Minnis has evolved as the most hated and untrustworthy politician in living memory. Sad, but in my opinion, true.
The New Deal PLP is rising, even as you read this, like the fabled Phoenix of old, from the ashes of political oblivion, a fact which cannot be sensibly denied.
Will Brave lead a truly New Deal PLP (as I believe that he will) or will it be the same old Christie style of governance? I think not. The Phoenix, under Brave, is rising. To God then, in all things, be the glory.
ORTLAND H BODIE Jr
Nassau,
September 19, 2019.
Comments
joeblow 4 years, 6 months ago
Figured out the author after only reading two lines! Sad to see a grown man lick boots so hard!
proudloudandfnm 4 years, 6 months ago
Bodie aint exactly the sharpest knife in the drawer....
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