by Jerome Pinder
Not that we have a unique group of politicians in the Bahamas, but certainly we have a strong dose of those that believe the electorate can't live without them.
In a recent Tribune article entitled "Carl Bethel hits out at tabloid's 'campaign of character assassination'," the MP confirms his commitment to SeaBreeze and denies any interest in the St. Thomas More constituency. Should Seabreeze be relieved?
His comments reminded me of a recent survey that I came across by Rasmussen Reports stating "45% Say Random Group From Phone Book Better Than Current Congress." The survey was conducted in 2010 and the results were up by 12% over the same survey conducted in 2008. 45% of those surveyed felt that they would receive just as good representation if they picked their representatives from the phone book, as opposed to the current election process.
What has Carl Bethel done for Seabreeze? His comments in the above-noted Tribune article give you the impression that he feels the Carl Bethel / Seabreeze relationship is a match made in heaven. Each Seabreeze resident will have to answer the question for themselves.
Carl Bethel's representation has been indifferent to me. During the period of 1992 to 2002 he did not do anything in my particular area. It was actually after 2002 during the PLP administration that I received speed bumps on my street, a life saver, given the cars that used the residential street as a race track. And since the most recent election, I have not heard from or seen Mr Bethel in my area. I know he wasted constituency money on putting a curbing around the median of Golf Course Blvd, which narrowed the road and made dual traffic more difficult. Has the MP taken a look at the condition of the asphalt at the intersection of Prince Charles and Golf Course? What about the tree roots that are affecting the paving on the eastern side of Golf Course Blvd? These are things I would have dealt with to make driving a littler easier. But who I am, certainly not a lofty representative!
Let's not talk about the utility polls being installed on the roadways, I guess we will end up with polls in the front and back of our properties. None of the workers that I have spoken to seem to know what's going on with this one.
On a national level is the record any better? The rate of borrowing and spending by the Government is out of control. I don't hear my representative speaking out against this? I am opposed to the Government borrowing money at this time for the new airport gateway project. Will this become the gateway to nowhere? I suggest we wait until the Country can borrow at better rates on the international market without having to hire Chinese workers. Who built the Tonique Williams-Darling highway? My MP is not speaking out against this? Perhaps nobody in Seabreeze builds or works on roads.
However, it is not only Carl Bethel. Its the majority of MPs that have the attitude that we could not do without them. I can tell you this, they are not our Saviors, and I think too highly of St. Thomas More to wish my MP on them. Look at Fred Mitchell and Obie Wilchombe. They are going to fly up to New York as Saviors to the Straw Vendors, rather than teaching their Countrymen and women to produce authentic products and not sell knock off goods.
Carl Bethel states and I quote from the Tribune's article, "Let me say from the outset that I made a personal commitment to the residents of the Sea Breeze constituency in 1990, at the age of 29 years, which I have never abandoned." I wish to ensure the MP and others like him, no hard feelings from me if you wish to relieve yourself of that personal commitment.
Perhaps we would be just as well off in closing our eyes and picking our representatives from the phone book.
