I got the impression that the current Prime Minister was getting himself to the place where he was no longer “sitting on the edge of his legacy” and was becoming fully involved in the work of being the Prime Minister. One step forward, two steps back. His attack on the leader of the Opposition informs us that there are times when he gets thin-skinned and reacts to statements that have nothing to do with personal perceptivity. His explanation of the UK consultants job description may fit the external groups that are seeking to operate gaming businesses in the Bahamas, but they would have nothing to do with consulting the government on who would want to do business within the local environment that is outside of the Casinos. But, if this is what they have been doing then, past and present governments it would appear have been using tax payers’ money to do something that is illegal.
Perhaps the Prime Minister is avoiding the fundamental question that Mr Minnis has put on the table. If the public’s money has been spent on a “consultation” then the report of that consultation has to be placed in the view of the people who paid for it; it is not a private matter. It would help if Mr Christie would see himself as being the legal representative of all of the Bahamian people, that way there would not be any confusion regarding who is really paying the bill. I want to personally remind the Prime Minister, that his deciding to go against the advice of the UK consultants does not make that report null and void, even if it is written on a napkin.
Back to the leadership question. This would cause the public to compare Mr Christie and Mr Minnis, but since Mr Minnis has not yet held the post of Prime Minister we would have to step back and look at similar posts that they did hold, and history would take us back to the Ministry of Health where both men spent some time. If an opinion poll were taken there would be a general agreement that Mr Christie did not do as well as Mr Minnis in that regard. The work we see going on at the nation’s major health care facility may be the reason that Mr Minnis is the leader of the Opposition. As to leading their respective parties it is somewhat of a toss-up, Mr Minnis is into restructuring his organisation and Mr Christie is still battling with his twin demons of indecisiveness and his non-elected party members having too much to say. They are both busy, but going in different directions.
Maybe it is time for Mr Christie to pay his former business partner and close friend a visit and get a couple of pointers out of the Ingraham playbook. Maybe he can begin at the page where it explains how everything you hear does not require a response; giving a response is like writing a cheque that someone else cashes for you, but you are not too sure what the proceeds will look like or if you are going to benefit. Come to think of it, the last Prime Minister had a struggle with this also.
Edward Hutcheson
Nassau, The Bahamas
November, 2012
