Today is a sad day in the history of our democracy and of our country. I and the nation watched in disbelief yesterday morning as the speaker of the House of Assembly denied Hubert A. Ingraham, former prime minister, the opportunity to give his farewell address in the House of Assembly, a body in which he served for 35 years, 15 of those as prime minister.
No doubt the speaker, a political novice, acted on the instruction of the vindictive leadership of his party. It is a pity that he has permitted them so early to blot his own political career and legacy. His actions in the House of Assembly this morning put him on the wrong side of history.
Also finally yesterday, the facade of niceness which Prime Minister Perry Christie has so assiduously cultivated throughout his political career is smashed and he is revealed as a man who can act in a bitter, mean-spirited, vindictive and spiteful manner.
I firmly believe that there has never been a Bahamian member of Parliament who loved democracy more and who cherished the parliamentary traditions of our country more than does Hubert Alexander Ingraham. For 35 years nothing was of greater consequence to him than was pursuing the people’s business, the people’s best interest, in the House of Assembly. He was single-minded in working to make life better for Bahamians, but most especially for the poor and most disadvantaged. I truly hope that his commitment and dedication is recognized and appreciated by those in whose interest he labored tirelessly.
He achieved much good. Policies put in place and implemented by the governments which he led deepened and strengthened our democracy, broadened and strengthened our social welfare safety-net, broadened ownership in our economy by reinventing tourism and financial services, reinvigorating the real estate sector bringing about tangible diversification in our economy. Because of Ingraham’s policies a free broadcast media sector was created and cargo transshipment and ship care and repair became real economic sectors in Grand Bahama. His policies restored the good name of our country internationally and earned him the well-deserved respect and admiration of his international colleagues in the Caribbean, in the Commonwealth and further afield.
He entered politics as a young man of 25 and was elected to Parliament at the age of 29. He retires from Parliament days before his 65th birthday. He left as he came, honorable, honest, trustworthy and true – with clean hands.
For all that he has done for us, I say thank you and Godspeed to the most successful prime minister The Bahamas has ever had.
Kirkland Turner
