On the morning of July 25, 2012, the immortal words of Lord Alfred Tennyson reverberated throughout the lower house of Parliament, around Parliament Square, across the nation and around the world.
“Authority forgets a dying king.”
Many of his loyal friends and supporters filled the gallery of the lower house to hear Hubert Ingraham give his final address to the Parliament and to the people of our nation. Alas, that was not to be. It would not be because in that moment Perry Gladstone Christie acted in a politically petty, small-minded and immature manner. Rather than afford the former prime minister his moment to say farewell and bow out of frontline politics, PGC could not resist the temptation to engage in the most childish of “tit for tat” games. He sought to embarrass and perhaps even humiliate Ingraham by upending the agreement Ingraham had with the speaker. Ingraham would be forced to wait and speak on Christie’s terms.
An appropriately annoyed Hubert Ingraham decided he would leave rather than subject himself to Christie’s peevish game. Christie failed in his feeble attempt at one-upmanship. In fact, juxtaposed next to the man we went to see and hear, the diminutive Christie lost six inches. No one will tell enthralling stories of his stroke of political genius on that day. Perry Christie is today a smaller man. Diminutive, you ask? Ask yourself this question: What are the odds that Perry Christie will go down in history as a great prime minister? Place your bets.
Lynden Pindling, imperfect as he was, has his place carved out in history: Father of the nation, chairman of the board, the ultimate talent scout, etc. Hubert Ingraham, holder of the soi-disant title “simply the best” will be remembered as a great ‘democrat’ who deepened our democracy by freeing the airwaves and giving the people government in the sunshine. Fear of victimization as a penalty for criticizing the king and members of his court all but disappeared under Ingraham. It is now back in full effect under Perry Christie. (How is that “believe in Bahamians” thing working out for you?)
Historians will also write that this force of nature, HAI, was a great modernizer. NASA was never more mission-focused than Hubert Alexander Ingraham. Yes, to a fault (if you insist). Whereas as father of the nation Sir Lynden urged us to aspire to greatness, Hubert Ingraham through his personal life story, example and commitment to the upliftment of the poor demonstrated that greatness lies within our individual and collective grasps.
Christie’s legacy
But what will be written of Christie?
From a policy perspective, Christie’s first term will be remembered for the Progressive Liberal Party’s nebulous commitment to urban renewal. There was an uptick in the economy and the job picture improved. For some reason, though, he has not been ascribed with the credit for that. Regrettably, Christie’s first term has been remembered more for the many entertaining and head-shaking scandals it gave. It was simply incredible for a party that branded itself as ‘new’. As to the Christie long-term legacy, the jury is still out. The prime minister of second, third, and fourth chances now has his second chance to achieve greatness and leave an indelible mark in the pages of history. He returns to office at a time of great challenge. All the conditions are right for him to rise to the occasion.
Crime, social decay, an under-performing educational system, illegal immigration, and legal immigration – also known as putting Bahamians first – are all enormous national challenges, and tackling any of them would require a great deal of national focus and commitment. How many times have we all heard the phrase “we need a national discussion” on this, that or the other? Which one will the new leader pick to define his legacy? Many history defining options.
But where does Christie go first to start this national discussion about the tough decisions we must make? Does he first try to address the need to radically overhaul our systems of education so fewer of his constituents are left behind? Does he try to lead a conversation about the need for all Bahamians to truly make this “one Bahamas” by reversing the emerging Haitian-Bahamian reality of “two societies, separate and unequal” (to borrow from the Kerner Commission report)?
Perhaps one would have expected the new PM to engage the Bahamian people on the need for us to eliminate the discrimination against women in the constitution? Perhaps his minister of youth would persuade him to make the adoption of radical policies and programs to save our “at-risk” generation of young men his primary focus… after jobs? If you had put your money on that bet, you would have lost it all. Christie instead goes for the small ball.
The decision by the prime minister to make the issue of gambling the first critical issue for national debate is a squandered opportunity. Even as he goes for the small ball, the PM gets no award for profiles in courage. As he did with Caribbean integration in his first term, Christie is pushing others out front to lead the charge. No leadership. As usual. Small ball is Christie’s way, and that brings me back to his small- minded behavior in Parliament on Wednesday.
At a time when Christie could have taken the high road and ceded the floor to Ingraham one last time, he instead diminished himself and his office. In the process, he made the speaker look small. His base loves him right now, but he has done his nation a huge disservice. In the international community, I expect that people will shake their heads and ask about Christie, “What manner of man is this?”
The resounding answer will be the same.
By Darron Cash
Darron Cash is a former Free National Movement senator and candidate.
