The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.

I recently came across a Facebook post by a former Free National Movement (FNM) MP in which this individual was mocked by a slew of rude commenters.

I took keen notice of one of the commenters who suggested that the ousted MP should’ve used his voice to speak up for Bahamians while Dr Hubert Minnis was Prime Minister. I think the person was being disingenuous.

One only has to look at former FNM MP Frederick McAlpine in Pineridge. McAlpine and three other FNM MPs opposed the Minnis administration’s 60 percent increase in VAT in 2018.

For his role in the rebellion, the former Pineridge MP was stripped of his chairmanship post in the Hotel Corporation.

Between 2018-2021, McAlpine would prove to be a perennial thorn in the side of Minnis and certain elements within the FNM clique.

McAlpine’s opposition was enthusiastically encouraged by thousands of disgruntled voters, especially in his Pineridge constituency.

This was evident by the massive crowd of well wishers who showed up at the Grand Bahama International Airport after news broke of his dismissal from the Hotel Corporation.

Judging by the massive support he received then, I can see why the McAlpine camp assumed he would’ve been re-elected to Parliament.

At least this was what many in Pineridge insinuated.

Hindsight being 20/20, we can now confidently state, based on the September 16 general election results, that Pineridge voters hoodwinked McAlpine.

As an independent candidate, McAlpine faced an uphill battle in retaining Pineridge.

And to think that so many hundreds of voters cheered him on in his one-man crusade against Minnis. It was all for nought, other than getting his 15 minutes of fame.

McAlpine may have been motivated by this group of disgruntled voters who never had any intentions of supporting him at the polls, despite all the chatter about moving away from the FNM and Progressive Liberal Party (PLP).

Current MPs, on both sides of the political aisle, should take note of Pineridge.

The rift between McAlpine and the FNM hierarchy made for good, wholesome entertainment.

Disgruntled voters got a kick out of McAlpine harassing Minnis in Parliament during his contributions. He sacrificed his seat for this group; and they rewarded him by voting for the PLP.

Such is the nature of our political system, in which hardworking MPs are let down by fickle voters.

I cannot point to one substantial accomplishment that came out of the McAlpine rift, other than it paving the way for Ginger Moxey to cruise to an easy win in Pineridge.

The fall of McAlpine in Pineridge is further evidence that The Bahamas is a two-party state.

KEVIN EVANS

Freeport, Grand Bahama

December 15, 2021.