On October 21, 1953 the newspaper of The Bahamas carried stories on the formation of the Progressive Liberal Party. Five days later The Nassau Daily Tribune ran a headline on page two, “A Challenge to be Met!” The story referred to a letter from The Secretary General of the PLP introducing the party to the public.
The letter stated in part, “The PLP is not a big man’s party. No party of the so-called big men can hope to succeed in this country. And no party composed entirely of small men, as the term goes can succeed. The Progressive Liberal Party hopes to show that your big man and your little man, your black, brown and white man of all classes, creed and religions in this country can combine and work together in supplying sound and successful political leadership which has been sadly lacking in the Bahamas.”
In its platform in ’53, the PLP pledged the introduction of good sound fiscal policies that will bring about a balanced budget. On domestic policies, the PLP said it will be : “ever solicitous in keeping prices to as low a level as possible so that the necessities of life will be available to every Bahamian. “We shall enact housing legislation, carry out slum clearance and promote low rent housing projects. We shall enact health laws that will eliminate the breeding ground for disease and crime.”
That was 1953. A reading of Our Plan launched in April 2002 in time for the last general elections shows a regurgitation of the same ideas. There is still a challenge to be met. The time has come in this country for another big idea. While there are great challenges confronting us, this can be a time of new opportunities if as a people we are able to respond to the call of history where events have converged in such a way as to make 2003 a watershed moment which is calling for the very best of the Bahamian people. If indeed the last big idea was in the 1950s, we have exploited that idea to the point where almost fifty years later, the times are calling for a higher vision and an initiative which will provide the foundation for the next 50 years.
In 2003 there is a need to search deeper for new ideas and to understand that we have to go beyond the hype, the music, the song and the dance for substance, competence, integrity and the ability to develop and execute innovative ideas which are new and different. They cannot be merely new ways of pursuing an old idea. It is argued that the last big economic idea which truly expanded the economy came from the late Sir Stafford Sands when as Minister of Finance and Tourism he initiated the development of tourism and banking. While others in the governments of the Progressive Liberal Party and the Free National Movement expanded on that twin economic engine, there is a need for another big idea.
To its credit, the PLP introduced the National Insurance Scheme which has accumulated over one billion dollars. However the fund has not permeated the market to the extent that it has promoted economic diversification or economic opportunities for the ordinary people. The members of the Cabinet of the Bahamas are paid to come up with big policy ideas and implement them to grow the economy. Ministers should not be reduced to the role of caretakers where they become primarily responsible for taking care of what already exists, as opposed to being pre-occupied with maintaining the present and developing new opportunities.
The Bahamas government has to be re-engineered. We need both systems and people who are not catering to the status quo, but who have the ability to develop creative ideas. This is why we have to be careful on who we elect – in the same way that a group of investors in a company have to be careful about who they appoint as the CEO to run the company on a day-to-day basis – so voters in a country have to be careful who they are entrusting our economy to, which has a direct correlation to the quality of life which we enjoy.
The principal criterion for the election of Members of Parliament must be a demonstrated ability to get things done, to manage and to execute. The sad fact of the matter is that in many instances the most capable people are not the most electable people in The Bahamas.
We have substantial dangers on the horizon that could undermine our civilization, weaken our country, and bring misery into our lives. On the other hand, we have enormous opportunities for entrepreneurship and in the sheer level of human talent to build The Bahamas. All this can happen if big ideas are developed with government clearing the way for entrepreneurs to thrive.
Insight, The Bahama Journal
