The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.

The PLP is playing politics with people’s lives.

I commend the Prime Minister for always stressing the importance of getting vaccinated, as he did yet again in his broadcast this week. The FNM are on the right side of history when it comes to the jab and we will all thank them in the long-run. My question is, what on earth is the PLP playing at?

We are facing the biggest health and economic crisis in living memory. More than 300 Bahamians are dead because of this deadly virus with many more to come. Meanwhile most of us are drowning in economic misery, broke, unemployed and struggling to pay the bills. There is only one way out of this nightmare: vaccines.

You know who isn’t struggling though? You know who isn’t facing a death sentence from this virus? The ‘Top One Percent’ of society. The big shots. The elite. People like PLP leader Brave Davis and PLP Freetown Candidate Wayne Munroe, QC. When he did get sick, Munroe could afford the very best in local treatment and very expensive medications. Meanwhile the people of Freetown continue to live totally exposed, in the shadow of the grim reaper. We will never be able to afford the kind of care he can.

While PLP supporters across the country mourned the loss of their loved ones, Brave could afford to be rushed to top hospitals in the States to be seen by some of the best doctors. Young men and women are out there dying today, while former PLP Minister Cynthia Pratt was being treated by six specialists in a top overseas facility for weeks.

Of course, I do not wish any harm to come to anyone. I am very happy that they all recovered and returned to their families, but that isn’t really the point. Knowing that the masses are poor, suffering and totally defenceless against this terrible disease (unlike them) why are these top PLPs not actively encouraging everyone to get vaccinated? Why are they not putting politics aside and echoing the Prime Minister, calling for all persons to get as much protection as they can against this modern-day Biblical plague, so we can save lives and reopen our economy?

Surely that is the right thing to do in this crisis. But as far as the PLP is concerned it seems that “Mum’s the word!” as Hubert Ingraham liked to say.

Could it be that the PLP actually likes the chaos? That the PLP believes a sick, suffering fed-up population gives them a better chance at the polls? Are they hoping to ride a ‘Brave wave’ of misery into office? That is what some people are saying, I honestly don’t know. But I am told that some campaigners for the PLP are even out in the constituencies, actively encouraging the public NOT to get vaccinated. Meanwhile, the party leader, the chairman and many PLP candidates had their jabs long time ago.

These PLP politicians occupy a position of privilege, both in terms of their economic resources and because they have a powerful podium from which to sway and convince people. They should not misuse these privileges at this dangerous time for The Bahamas. The PLP must stop playing politics with people’s lives and come out in support of the Government’s efforts to get the population vaccinated. If they can’t be part of the solution instead of part of the problem, then they must carry some of the responsibility for all the death and misery that is to come. Be it on their conscience.

EB from Freetown

August 10, 2021