Rick Lowe
Mrs. Nicki Kelly put it best in her column of June 17, 2010 for The Punch.
She says:
"Try as they might with its staged walkout from the House of Assembly, the Opposition cannot absolve itself of its share of responsibility for the country's present economic crisis, and the tough fiscal measures now called for."
Here's the kicker from Mrs. Kelly:
"PLP Deputy Leader Phillip Davis in one breath accused the Ingraham administration of being in denial for the past two years and misleading the nation about the true state of the economy, and in the next wanted to know why the need for such austere measures and "the most draconian and repressive Budget in Bahamian history"..."
Now isn't that wonderful "doublespeak"? I wonder what he really means?
Then Mr. Fred Mitchell is referenced in a story by Ms. Alesha Cadet in The Tribune as saying:
"Civil disobedience may be the only course of action left to the opposition, MP for Fox Hill Fred Mitchell warned at a PLP mini-rally last night (Tuesday, June 15, 2010)."
She goes on to tell us more about Mr. Mitchell's remarks:
"Discussing the opposition's decision to walk out of the House of Assembly last week, Mr. Mitchell said if such actions prove to be the only way to draw attention to important issues, the party "must do more of this kind of thing"..."
It is unfortunate that in these "perilous" economic times, some of the leadership within official opposition party PLP would choose this approach when the government is finally making an attempt to bring discipline to the out of control borrowing and spending.
They may wish to blame the governing FNM for the difficulties the country faces, but there is no doubt there is blood on their hands as well.
That being the case, why not close ranks and tell the truth to the Bahamian public about the economy for a change? Denial is what has the country on the brink of bankruptcy in the first place.
Surely they can muster a response outlining the fiscal and other public policies they would utilise to sort things out? I might disagree with the approach the government took with the Budget, but I certainly applaud them for having the gumption to tell the truth about the economy for a change.
If the PLP were to offer reasonable commentary on these important subjects people will pay attention, and they would garner headlines. If they honestly believe that what they are doing is the only way to influence the electorate, they've failed miserably at their 30 years of political rule. And, to attempt to regain their former positions of privilege off the backs of the Bahamian taxpayers with distortions like this is, well, downright irresponsible.
We would advise Mr. Davis that we can discern rhetoric from reality and caution Mr. Mitchell that he should be careful what he suggests the PLP will do, as some people might take him seriously, and before you know it, whatever semblance of law and order and respect for one another that remains will also disappear.
Past pronouncements from Mr. Mitchell suggest we should expect no more from him. Mr. Davis though, a relative new comer to front line politics, is another matter.
I don't recall the PLP objecting over the past couple years when the FNM were borrowing and spending as there was no tomorrow to "help get through the world wide economic downturn beginning in 2008".
To paraphrase H. L. Menken; If "Fearless Fred" and "Brave" found they had cannibals in their constituencies, they would promise them missionaries for dinner.
