Bahamian politicians must be able to take criticism

Adrain Gibson

First published in The Tribune on Tuesday, November 10, 2009 under the byline, Young Man's View.

SOME time ago, former Chief Justice Sir Burton Hall judiciously advised public office holders that criticism "is an inevitable incident of holding public office in the information age."

Today, there are still many thin-skinned politicians who appear to conveniently forget that politics is a service, not a bootlicking affair.

As I have said previously, we live in an age of political knuckleheads who use theatrics and yak about problems and issues from which they are completely detached and can propose no solutions. The political culture is darkened and polluted by political tribalists in both of the major political organizations, many of whom, in my opinion, are no more than political pickpockets, outright jokers who are seen as political busybodies prepared to say anything to be elected.

Bahamians are tired of political braggarts who they see as intellectually paralysed and who expect credit for nothing.

One of the hallmarks of our democracy is the right to free speech as guaranteed by Article 15 (b) of the Bahamas Constitution. As a columnist, I see the merits and downfalls of both sides of the political divide. Therefore, any politician reading an unfavourable article should heed constructive criticism and improve in areas where they are found wanting by the public. There is no place in local politics for power freaks and I, and many other intelligent Bahamians, are not members of the frightened society of the era of the old PLP.

Since starting to write this column in 2005, I have been approached by many Bahamians who have been attacked by individuals who do not appear to accept or respect divergent points of view. I have heard stories about persons even having pom-poms shaken in their faces at political events, being referred to in derogatory terms and of having their evaluations and observations trampled merely because they weren't marching in lock-step with one party or another. It seems that there are some political hacks who fail to understand that being FNM or PLP does not mean that they are always right. It always amazes me how some politicians perceive themselves to be sitting atop thrones and smiling down upon the rest of us.

The FNM--the party of Sir Cecil Wallace-Whitfield, Sir Arthur Foulkes, Sir Kendal Isaacs, Hubert Ingraham, and so many other political luminaries--has, over time, become known as the party that opened up the airwaves, that promotes discourse and dialogue and freedom of thought and expression.

After attending a family event last Friday, my father and a neighbour friend convinced me to attend the FNM convention's after party at the Wyndham Crystal Palace hotel. There, I met a few friends, who invited me up to the PM's suite where I briefly mingled with and spoke to members of the current government, including the PM.

Shortly afterwards, I accompanied my friend to a suite reportedly rented by former DPM Frank Watson and met quite a crowd, which featured recognizable faces such as Ministers of State Charles Maynard and Phenton Neymour.

At this juncture, Charles Maynard's wife, who I had met several months earlier at the Ministry of Housing, introduced me to her husband. Mr Maynard proceeded -- loudly and in the presence of a sea of red-wearing spectators who soon surrounded me -- to grill me as to why I had given him a D-minus grade for his ministerial performance and an F for his performance as an MP during my annual ministerial report card in this column last May. Of course, I referred him to the column but, as he persisted on an answer, I began to outline why he had received such a grade--subject to much disruption from the crowd of onlookers -- and told him that I stood by my grades. Mr Maynard suggested that my grade on his performance in culture was "informed from elsewhere as he had done more for culture than anyone serving in that capacity before him." The junior minister was also annoyed that I had said in that column that substantive Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Desmond Bannister had not done well with his mentorship of him as he (Maynard) had performed dismally. The Culture minister then suggested that he was an outright minister of equal footing as Mr Bannister and could not be mentored as they were ministerial equals.

While I do intend to reproduce parts of that three-part column here today, let me note that Mr Maynard was not the only minister to receive low marks.

This occasion can be likened to being in the twilight zone as certain hecklers and members of the rent-a-mob enclosing me were clearly "wet" and asserted that I was either a PLP (which I suppose can be taken as a compliment as it means that members of the FNM, when deserving, are getting their fair share of criticism) or absolutely crazy to give any FNM a D! One even called me an "a***ole."

In fact, the experience only became more surreal as one of Mr Maynard's associates bombarded me with foolish barbs, engaged in puerile behaviour and proceeded at a point to assault me by infringing upon my personal space and gesturing with a finger (before being sternly cautioned), and outrightly sought to mislead persons nearby. This became a distasteful public spectacle, all transpiring in the presence of the State Minister. There was even a lie floated that Michael Halkitis, the former MP, had once received an A for his performance in Golden Isles. What's more, although I voted in Golden Isles and lived there from 2006 to July 2009, my views as a former constituent went unheard. The experience illustrates the adoption of certain patrician aims by certain FNMs and their mercenaries, many of whom the FNM leadership is known to reject.

In such an environment it is this kind of myopic thinking and belligerent behaviour by political cronies--with the apparent approval of their political masters--that has hindered the progress of this country. The FNM is purported to be the party of the intelligentsia and those who can express their thoughts freely. However, such displays as I encountered is illustrative of how tetchy local politicians, and their followers, are about criticism.

Frankly, such persons could not survive in UK politics where press criticism comes with the office. Every Bahamian should be able to attend any function without being harassed or belittled for their views. The atmosphere of a convention after party is one where power brokers appear, where people of varying political opinions (even those within the same party) must always be treated with a manner of respect--it is a place where politicians must realise that they are under the spotlight at all times.

In Britain, there are numerous ministers of state and parliamentary secretaries. None of them sits in the Cabinet. Today, only the British Prime Minister and 22 ministers/secretaries of state sit in the British Cabinet.

Only in the Bahamas would junior ministers, such as Mr Maynard, sit in the Cabinet--presumably because the PM is hoping to furnish them with genuine Cabinet experience. In many other jurisdictions following the Westminster model this does not happen and junior ministers, who in the Bahamas believe themselves to be substantive ministers, would not even be allowed to drive around with special "CM" license plates. While local ministers of state are designated to have oversight of a particular department--much like Parliamentary Secretaries--several of them fancy themselves as substantive ministers.

In May, I said the following:

"Charles Maynard, the chubby Minister of State for Culture, earns a D-minus. It is a disgrace to hear informed cultural icons suggest that the Bahamas may once again not host Carifesta, particularly when the country appears to be in a slump in terms of the arts.

"In 2005, the late Winston Saunders was dispatched to receive the instruments signifying that the Bahamas was prepared to host Carifesta. However, as was felt when the Bahamas withdrew from its hosting duties in 2008, the cultural community seems set for another devastating blow and if it is entirely true that the Bahamas will not host the upcoming event, it will leave the country with a black eye and the impression that it is a culturally impotent state unfit to host international events. At present, there are various sites such as gymnasiums, large church halls/Loyola Hall, hotel ballrooms, performing arts centres, such as the National Centre for the Performing Arts, Fort Charlotte and open spaces and facilities throughout the Family Islands that could make the hosting of this event possible. Surely Mr Maynard and the Cabinet must know that with the Bahamas being a tourism-based economy, in addition to the exposure this event could bring to the Family Islands, there would not be any problems with accommodation because of the availability of adequate hotel rooms and our proximity to the US would also possibly attract visitors interested in seeing the event who would not have otherwise travelled to South America or to an eastern Caribbean country. Hosting this cultural event would be a needed economic boost for the islands!"

"It appears that Mr Maynard is stuck on the idea that culture begins and ends with junkanoo. It is great that the minister likes junkanoo, but why hasn't there been any moves to develop it into a year-round, cultural industry that could be a cultural export taken worldwide with persons who could legitimately describe their occupation as being a junkanooer."

"The culture minister inherited a lot of good projects for which credit should go to Dr Keith Tinker and the Antiquities, Monuments and Museums Corporation. While Mr Maynard is enjoying his travels to various events and creating the illusion of hard work, it appears that local playwrights, folklorists/storytellers, artists, writers, poets and painters are receiving little by way of support. There is a need to focus on developing the stories of the Bahamas that form our identity and have yet to be properly appreciated or recorded. Why isn't locally created art placed in all Bahamian embassies and government offices?"

Truthfully, there has been no cultural renaissance under Charles Maynard. The infantile adulation of those boorish liabilities around him, who appear to be utterly bereft of the qualities required to draw rational conclusions and are seemingly ready to sing hosannas at the mention of Mr Maynard's name, cannot assist the junior minister in making rational decisions about the state of culture.

In my column in May, I also said that:

"Minister Maynard has not demonstrated his ability to bring new ideas or be responsible for the contribution of new policies to the overall cultural development of the Bahamas. I do credit Mr Maynard with the opening of Clifton--for which I was proud to see that he engaged former Prime Minister Perry Christie who was once at the forefront of the movement to save the site--and for the movement to develop Collins House into a national museum. As a resident of Mr Maynard's constituency, he earns an F for his performance as an MP."

I stand by those comments, and as I survey residents of the Golden Isles constituency, I must note that Mr Maynard must seek greater oversight of the constituency--particularly on Cowpen Road.

Charles Maynard and all other politicians are not beyond reproach and should not become caught up in the wild-eyed adoration of those around them who sometimes appear to live in bubbles themselves. All politicians should have a support system that is critical so that they can avoid political ditches. However, most Bahamian politicians have fostered an environment of yes-men and developed a support system of some of the dumbest and most inward-looking supporters.

Culture is much more than attending an event and giving a drawn-out speech, promoting and shuffling at junkanoo events and/or appearing at every regatta. Young Bahamians are increasingly becoming susceptible to foreign cultures and know little about their own, yet Mr Maynard appears to be riding high on the belief that he has accomplished much in the ministry/department of culture.

As stated so eloquently by Patricia Glinton-Miercholas in an article, there is a fear that the Bahamas will not be recognized for its people but rather for sun and sand. She asserted that using junkanoo as the foremost expression of Bahamian cultural identity is as confining and confusing as it is an incomprehensible medium to relay Bahamian culture. Mrs Glinton-Miercholas also highlighted the erroneous notion by Bahamians that culture is merely festivals and the performing arts. She notes that culture is rather an accumulation of the historical and physical experiences of a people as well as their attitudes and behaviour, whether it's good or bad, and states that culture is always evolving.

I have long urged certain politicians to heed the advice of movie star Robin Williams, who espouses the most credible view that many of today's politicians are "a lot like diapers and should be changed frequently and for the same reason." As noted by a media personality for whom I have great respect--those in politics should be held accountable, and if they wish not to be, then they should adhere to the maxim that "if you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen."

THE BDM AND BNP JOIN FORCES!

I have been reliably informed that the Bahamas Democratic Movement and the Bahamas National Party will merge on Tuesday. A high-level source with the parties told me that the purpose of the move is to field 41 candidates in the next election and to provide a viable third-party force for the electorate. I am also told that until a planned convention in 2010, where the leadership of the party will be contested, BDM leader Cassius Stuart will remain at the helm of the new party.