There have been many attempts by the Perry Christie PLP to distance themselves from the old Pindling PLP, but people like Raynard Rigby won’t let him.
The handlers of the PLP in the last election knew full well that Bahamians had a bad taste in their collective mouths from the Pindling PLP era. There are many horror stories from people who would dare not tell those stories during that era. But shocking testimonies have been told of victimisation in its most inhumane and insensitive form. Many cannot forget the degrading remarks hurled at people like the late Rev Carlton Francis and others.
So in disassociating themselves, the handlers suggested that the PR should say that Perry Christie’s PLP was “new”. Well blow me down! It was not long after May 2, 2002 when all of the bogeymen of the past resurfaced. The old game was back and the victimisation began. Let’s just say for the sake of argument, that Mr Christie did not and has not done anything wrong, but he must still be held accountable, because it is happening all around him and the buck stops with him.
Again during the old PLP era, Mr Pindling made sure that only his message was getting out. So he stifled the press to same degree, but made sure that he controlled the airways. Even though he was unable to intimidate The Tribune, there were never any plans to open the airways for fear that other contrasting points of view might be heard. Of course history will show that that primitive mentality was broken by Hubert Alexander lngraham. Today the same radio stations that are now “kissing up” to the PLP was made possible by the FNM.
Recently, no less a person than the chairman of the PLP, Mr Raynard Rigby, launched a campaign, and threatened the internationally respected Tribune. Of course The Tribune is over qualified and quite capable of giving Mr Rigby the “two drive-by backhand cowboy slaps” that he is pleading for.
Every Bahamian already knows that Mr Rigby is not to be taken seriously because of his many missteps and what now appears to be a festering “foot-in-mouth” disease. Nonetheless, and without shame, is Mr Rigby allowing himself to be used to carry someone else’s message? Common sense would tell that if he was carrying a message for someone else, he should have read it over first before repeating something so asinine. Has Mr Rigby issued a veiled treat of censorship to be expected by the PLP in the upcoming election?
The senate is a complete laugh in the first degree. In my opinion these appointed people are only wasting time “rubber stamping” everything government sends with no real debate. In fact no real debate is encouraged, just “recitations” promoting the PLP. It is hilarious to watch the proceedings in the Senate. Many senators don’t seem properly prepared and most are simply unable to present what they have prepared. Debates in the senate are shown on ZNS as the PLP wishes. Is it true that valuable contributions are intentionally cut to accommodate the government? Is the Senate about the people’s business or what? Is this a part of censorship?
FNM Senator Carl Bethel made several attempts to table documemts about an alleged visa scandal and was “railroaded” using some mumbo-jumbo procedure to prevent the Bahamian people from knowing the truth. Is this censorship?
Is the PLP government intentionally suppressing information from getting to the public and sending a message to the media that they must not publish anything that is not complimentary of the PLP, even when it is true?
The PLP is paranoid and has already realised that the electorate will not play with them this time. So the PLP, whether they are old or new, makes absolutely no difference as to what the results will be.
Desperate people are doing desperate things.
By: IVOINE W INGRAHAM, Nassau
