March 21st, 2011, will remain a remarkable day in the life of the Free National Movement’s third term in office. Prime Minister Ingraham and a diligent group of FNM Members of Parliament moved forward with their commitment to sell 51% of the Bahamas Telecommunications Company Limited in the face of great and, in some cases, very manipulative opposition. This process was done with Bahamians all over The Bahamas looking on. Interestingly enough this would not be the first time that a large percentage of BTC had been sold but it would be the only time that the Bahamian people knew of it beforehand.
Of course, on this significant day in Bahamian history, the Free National Movement that had been vilified in all political circles of this country was, again, buffeted with the resignation of the Hon. Branville McCartney, the Member of Parliament for the Bamboo Town Constituency. Of course, this should have come as no surprise to the FNM as Mr. McCartney had begun to reveal his true colors some time ago. The good thing is that, at this juncture, as the FNM commenced the campaign for the 2012 general election they were and are able to see who is for them and who is against them.
Everyone knows that the sale of BTC was looming for some time now. This particular sale, however, was different from the previous because everything about it was presented to the general public for them to view and make their own judgment. Both political parties had made the sale of BTC apart of their political platform but the Bahamian electorate chose the FNM to handle this difficult and delicate task and, in the face of great adversity, the FNM did what they were mandated to do.
Political minds in this country were also aware that Branville McCartney would not last very long in the Free National Movement beginning with his resignation as Minister of State for Immigration and subsequently his radio and other public interviews thereafter. I like Mr. McCartney but, sadly, he demonstrated that he is politically immature and seemingly impatient when things do not go his way. While speaking from one side of his mouth that Prime Ingraham is not compassionate from the other side he insists that Prime Minister Ingraham is the best man to lead the country at this time. Mr. McCartney tried to shock Mr. Ingraham and party affiliates with his resignation on the opening day of the BTC debate but Mr. Ingraham continued onward unfazed by McCartney or the paid political charade that was going on outside the House of Assembly while he made his contribution to this important deliberation.
The FNM has always demonstrated sincerity in addressing the needs of the Bahamian people. Their decision to forge ahead with the sale of BTC is no different from any other decision they would have made. Their aim has always been to do everything in decency and in order with the interest of the Bahamian people at their heart of their determinations. They have had to stand strong through political adversity but this particular was much more challenging because they had the BTC union to contend with, emerging political entities and some within their very ranks. In the face of these odds, they continued to persevere in the best interest of the majority.
Branville McCartney is not much different from Dr. Andre Rollins who, at the peak of his limited political existence, left the entity that gave him life and, ultimately, used his transition to suck some life out of that organization while bringing media attention and focus to himself. Mr. McCartney cannot, however, compare himself to Hubert Ingraham, Perry Christie, Tennyson Wells or Pierre Dupuch, men who dug in the trenches of their political organization and were fired at the height of their exemplary careers. Mr. McCartney did an exceptional job at every level of his ministerial postings but, other than running against Tennyson Wells in the 2007 general election, he has faced no real opposition or oppression. In resigning his political office he demonstrated his lack of fortitude; in renouncing his affiliation with the FNM he showed his disloyalty. As a direct result his political doing or undoing is all his own.
The remaining FNM faithful must continue to be courageous and purposeful. The last general election was a clear cut demonstration of how desperate some will get in their pursuit of power and prestige. It brought out the actual identity of many and arduous party laborers had a pretty good idea of who was with them and who was not. This time it will be no different. The fragmentation has already started and it will continue. It is needed so that when this political battle becomes fierce the party is fully aware of who their genuine allies are. There will be disagreements about how and when things should be done but these pitfalls must not deflect the FNM’s focus on the people’s agenda.
Unlike other political entities in this country the FNM’s record speaks for itself. There are those who would seek to deny it but the reality is blatantly visible in every facet of our country. Now, more than ever, family islanders are aware of new developments in our country because they can watch it on their televisions anywhere in the country. The Bahamian people are thankful to the FNM for sparing no expense in ensuring that the general public, from Grand Bahama and Bimini in the north to Mayaguana and Inagua in the south, knows what is going on and have all of the information to judge the actions and decisions of Government for themselves. No Government is perfect but when we look around in The Bahamas today it is tangibly evident that some Governments are simply much better than others.
Marvin R.Z. Gibson
