The political game in The Bahamas is sometimes played as if it were a blood sport. In instance after instance, politicians will – in their no holds barred quest to win or retain power – use both fair and foul means. One particularly insidious weapon in their arsenal is the florid allegation of corruption.
In those cases where the allegations become politically potent or where they capture the imagination of the populace at large, there may arise the necessity for the calling of a Commission of Inquiry. The record shows that in cases where the public is particularly incensed that such inquiries also serve as instruments for the ventilation of the political system.
When for example, riots broke out in The Bahamas in the 1940’s a Commission of Inquiry provided British colonial authorities an opportunity to examine and expose the economic and social roots of simmering labour unrest in The Bahamas. In other instances where it was feared that criminal elements had penetrated casino gambling in The Bahamas, another Commission of Inquiry was called to examine the matter.
In more recent memory, there have been two crucial inquiries into the drugs trade through The Bahamas and the operations of a number of Government owned corporations. Both were extremely instructive to the Bahamian public. Interestingly, in its long opposition to the Progressive Liberal Party, the Free National Movement based the bulk of their case on charges of corruption, again proving that in the absence of real political differences integrity – real or imagined – becomes the salient distinguishing criterion.
When they were ultimately successful in winning the government, the Free National Movement early on prided itself on being efficient, honest, transparent, accountable and responsible.
It was therefore, not without extreme irony, that the FNM was ousted from office in an atmosphere filled with rumour and allegation of ‘corruption’ reaching as high as the office of the deputy prime minister and two leaders – designate of that organization.
The point we make today is that Prime Minister the Hon. Perry Christie still has time enough to assure the public that he will not tolerate corruption or rumour and allegation suggesting such.
In a country where there is all party agreement on matters of political philosophy, economic ideology and policy prescription, politicians on the make seek to distinguish themselves on the basis of either efficiency or integrity.
Today having more or less successfully negotiated their passage through a history replete with corrupt practices, including the buying of votes, the use of kickbacks and other shady tactics, Bahamians are hyper-sensitive to crookedness and anything that reminds them of it.
In the last general elections, for example, when it was clear that an awakened Progressive Liberal Party had come into extensive financial resources, the word was raised around that they were being funded by ‘certain known drug lords’.
Indeed, Dwight Sawyer noted that his party was – in the weeks leading up to the last general elections – ‘disturbed by recurring rumours and allegations that drug money is finding its way into the PLP’s election campaign coffers To date, despite challenges that they ‘put up or shut up’, the Free National Movement has done neither.
Here of late, there have been any number of other rumours and allegations concerning ‘corruption’ in the ‘new’ Progressive Liberal Party. Some intrepid observers of the national scene are convinced that Prime Minister Christie runs the serious risk of having his best efforts derailed by some of his own corrupt supporters. Of note, in this regard, are allegations of corruption involving high-ranking politicians and civil servants.
We remember that A. Loftus Roker, former Minister of National Security and erstwhile political confidant of the first prime minister of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas was, in his time on the political stage, noted for both the style he brought to his work and for the substance of the contribution he made to his party and the government.
In one memorable instance, Mr. Roker warned his party colleagues and fellow Cabinet Ministers that corruption was rocking the Progressive Liberal Party to its foundations. As in other instances, the messenger was condemned for the manner in which he brought the message.
Today, many years later, Prime Minister Christie is facing what many close observers of the national political scene say is a crisis of confidence, borne on the wings of rumour and allegation of widespread corruption.
These critics say privately that while the cloud of rumour suggests little more than petty skulduggery and low-grade cronyism, they fear that if left unattended, they can become larger issues for an already embattled regime. For our part, we would be satisfied if Mr. Christie were to tighten up his government’s operations and work to see that no whiff of corruption attaches to his regime.
Our vivid recall is that the Free National Movement was undone – in part at least – by its startling lack of candour on a number of corruption related issues. While the broadcast of hypocrisy and corruption might be part of he way Bahamians do their politics, our insistence is that even where they are no more than rumour and allegation, they undermine public confidence and sap the national resolve.
In extreme cases, untold harm is done when character assassination becomes the order of the day, thus our insistence that when allegations of corruption are brought forward, those bringing them should also bring evidence supporting their claims.
Editorial, The Bahama Journal
