by Dr. Donald M McCartney, DM
Corruption in The Bahamas did not commence with the PLP or the FNM. However, there was corruption during the "Bay Street Boys" era and when they later became the UBP. Both the PLP or the FNM became the crafters of the art of corruption. The PLP and the FNM refined the practice of corruption and made it seem legitimate.
The UBP, despite the fact that they governed the colony of The Bahamas, introduced corruption at many levels. However, the most notorious of their participation on corruption was the conduct of business with the government for which they were responsible.
Another form of corruption during the UBP era of governance was the gerrymandering of constituencies to ensure that power remained safely in its "hands."
Another egregious act of corruption was having the elections conducted over a number of days so that owners of property and business could vote in many constituencies where they owned property and business.
The practice rank corruption was the humiliating practice of having voters cast their vote in the open, thus forcing many to vote for the UBP even though they may have wanted to vote otherwise.
The practice was outlawed circa 1944 with the passage of the Secret Ballot Act. However, stories were told about how the practice continued because the majority of voters were afraid to insist on casting their ballots in secret.
Corruption, under the UBP continued under the UBP with the wholesale buying of votes in exchange for grits, flour, rice, last, cheap liquor, and money, particularly the famous £5.00 note.
Many more instances of corruption in the colony of The Bahamas under the UBP could be mentioned. However, corruption under the UBP, does not excuse its wanton practices that were, refined into an art form and in re-introduced in modern Bahamian politics post the achievement of Majority Rule by both the PLP and the FNM.
Sadly, much of the good that was accomplished by Black leadership, when the genuine political history of The Bahamas is told and written, will be forgotten...obliterated.
The political history will and must, unfortunately, include a tragic footnote: The White UBP (Bay Street Boys) inflicted racism, economic, political, and social degradation on the masses, which was egregiously and painfully wrong. However, the greatest shame and tragedy is that the Black "liberators" and the Black "freedom fighters" inflicted a form of victimization, and introduced a form of corruption, upon those who placed them at the helm of leadership and unprecedented power, that was never given to any government prior to the achievement of Majority Rule.
The leadership and power bestowed upon Black leadership was heretofore unknown. This will be their legacy and like the legacy of the UBP, it will never be forgotten.
In modern times, corruption has been refined. It subtly takes the form of providing hams and turkeys at Christmas time, children's constituency parties, giving the impression that the government gives constituents low-cost homes, when in fact a mortgage has to be paid.
The only difference between what happened during the UBP era was that what they tended to give was given at election time. These acts are corrupt in that they are indirectly buying votes, which is an illegal practice.
In 1989, Wilbert Moss a sitting MP, sentenced to prison for attempting to bribe a magistrate on behalf of a constituent. Mr Moss was accused of offering a $10,000 “advantage” to the magistrate. In recent times, a sitting Minister was exposed for attempting to use his influence to obtain a contract, from the then owner of Bahamar, for his father.
A semi-judicial Royal Commission of Inquiry, in 1984, reported that out-island policemen, Cabinet Ministers, and a Senior Public Servant were linked to extensive drug-related corruption and influence peddling. Sadly, no one was prosecuted.
Fronting for politicians was and perhaps still is a form of corruption. Another form of corruption occurs when politicians obtain taxi plates by virtue their influence and rent those plates to taxi drivers at exorbitant rates.
What has been mentioned here only scratches the surface of the ways in which political leaders in The Bahamas were involved in corruption.
Two Examples Of Men Who Refused To Be Corrupted
There were two notable example where politicians did the right thing and resigned their positions as a matter of conscience. These two instances are worthy of mention even though they did not involved corruption.
Deputy Prime Minister the Honourable Arthur D. Hanna stated that as a result of the findings of the Commission of Inquiry he and the Prime Minister should step down as the leaders of the government. The Prime Minister did not step down, but Deputy Prime Minister Hanna resigned from his position in government.
A second example of resigning as a matter of conscience occurred when the Honourable Carlton Francis resigned as a minister because he could not a matter of conscience support the government's position regarding gambling.
Suggested Ways To Stop Corruption In The Bahamas
There is no magic wand for ending corruption. There are many countries have made significant progress in curbing corruption
In the fight to prevent corruption, genuine efforts by practitioners are being made to end this most egregious practice.
Transparency International presents five ways that citizens and governments can make progress in the fight against corruption. The five ways are (1) end impunity, (2) reform public administration and finance management, (3) promote transparency and access to information, (4) empower citizens, and (5) close international loopholes.
It would appear to me that The Bahamas may have made some attempts with regard to stopping corruption, but those efforts have not been maintained or sustained. Therefore, it is my view that sustained and genuine attention must be given to ALL of the aforementioned five ways to stop corruption. However, I strongly suggest the attention be given to (1) ending impunity, (2) promoting transparency and access to information, and (3) empowering citizens. This does not suggest that the remaining two areas are not important, but it follows that the aforementioned three areas can be successfully implemented, then putting the other two area into practice would easily accomplished.
Let us take a look at the three recommended areas.
(1) Ending Impunity. This calls for and requires a strong, committed, honest, and an appropriately led law enforcement unit to ensure that all corrupt persons, inclusive of the individuals who hold the highest to the lowest positions in The Bahamas, are held accountable for any and all corrupt activities of which they may be found guilty or culpable.
Law enforcement, particularly those with "boots on the ground" must be supported by an equally strong, committed, and honest legal framework, that is made up of an independent and effective judiciary. Both of these groupings must have the support of the Government and Civil society.
(2) The Promotion of Transparency and Access to Information. The success of stopping corruption is foundationed in the tradition of openness of the Executive and Legislative Branches ofgovernment. Inclusive of this openness is the government's encouragement of (a) the press, (b) openness in the function and work of government, and (c) laws that gives the citizens easy access to information except that which would render national security vulnerable, and (d) the responsiveness of all government agencies that allows for citizens to actively participate in the governance of the country.
(3) The Empowerment of Citizens. At the very outset, let me state the promoting transparency and providing access to information are the real ingredients for the empowering of Citizens. The empowering of citizens strengthens their genuine and sustained participation in governance. The citizens participation in governance gives them the right and the tools to be able to hold government accountable for its handling the affairs of state. When citizens are empowered, mutual trust between the government and the governed is established. Informed citizens are the "watchdogs" for evidence (real or imagined) of corruption in all areas of governance.
When one examines the three recommended areas and the other two areas that will fall into place once the recommended areas are implemented, The Bahamas can accomplish the eradication of corruption, but it has a long way to go.
The views expressed are those of the author, and not necessarily those of the WeblogBahamas (which has no corporate view).
