The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.

It is no secret that former Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Hubert A Ingraham, a great Bahamian almost on par with our deeply lamented and missed Sir Lynden Oscar Pindling, publicly endorsed the Hon Doctor Duane Sands for re-election up at Elizabeth and, eventually, for becoming Prime Minister “some day”. That, of course, was a mere pipe dream.

In politics, especially the Bahamian version, everything is seeped in intrigue and slight of hand. Machiavelli, the great political philosopher and others once opined: People see you as they perceive you, few know who you really are. My brother Ingraham, in my view, is the power behind the throne in the FNM. The other Hubert, Dr Minnis was never “accepted” by the elites within that now rump opposition.

To be quite honest, despite what Dr Minnis crowed some years ago that ‘The Ingraham era is over, Ingraham has yet to fully disappear off the scene. His, I submit, is the very badly ‘hidden’ hand of Machiavelli as it relates to internal FNM politics. Here is why.

Way back in the day, Ingraham was, like myself, one of Sir Lynden’s ‘blue eyed’ apostles. He went on to be ‘anointed’ by the then leader par excellence, of the FNM, the late honourable son of the nation, Sir Cecil Wallace-Whitfield. The rest is history. He led the FNM into its first electoral victory. He governed well despite the blunt rhetoric and delivery boy style. After his defeat by Brother Perry Christie he resigned from the House of Assembly and retired into private life.

I do not buy that. Ingraham never appeared to have forgiven Dr Minnis for that gratuitous apparent slur. Ingraham promoted Sands, whom Minnis sent out of cabinet. Minnis, like Sands, does not have the qualities required to become Prime Ministers. Minnis’ election in 2017 was a fluke of the highest order. Bahamians just wanted to send Christie home.

Ingraham and Brent Symonette go way back. Symonette, has deep pockets and is clearly setting up Adrian White (FNM-St Ann’s) to become Deputy Leader of the rump FNM. He will be able to look over Pintards ‘delicate’ shoulders. In two years time there will be a next convention. At that time Pintard and Symonette will lead their political assault on the House of Cards that Pintard would have constructed. This is the Symonette scenario.

On the flanks you have a badly mauled Dr Sands and Ingraham. Sands becomes Chairman and is afforded a platform, at party’s expense, to reorganise All of the local branches in his own image. Come next convention Chairman Sands will go up against Pintard and White, the Symonette and Ingraham, apparently, alliance. Who will emerge? One thing is certain, Machiavelli will win again.

ORTLAND H BODIE, Jr

Nassau,

February 2, 2022.