Over the last four decades The Bahamas has experienced the birth of many political parties, all subscribing to democratic principles, but none that has held power has done very much to educate the citizenry in the essence of those principles in a formal way. It would be fairly safe to say that they were more imitative of institutions that are grounded in the underlying philosophy and ideology of democracy than true proponents of such; otherwise they would not operate like closed-door, secret organizations.
Through the years we’ve seen come into existence the Progressive Liberal Party, United Bahamian Party, Free P. L. P., Free National Movement, Workers Party, Free National Democratic Movement, Bahamas Democratic Party, Social Democratic Party, Bahamas Democratic Party, and the Coalition for Democratic Reform. All have said that they subscribe to principles of democracy, yet when there was dissent or if party members didn’t tow the party line in some cases, the heavy price of suspension, expulsion or ostracization of some form would follow. The party dogs of political war would be let loose, and would attack dissenters with a most destructive mean-spiritedness that would send tremors of fear not only through the party concerned but through the nation as a whole. Many living journalists of today could very well attest to this most despicable trait in our “democratic institutions.”
Even though a national constitution was designed by individuals who said that they wanted to liberate the people, and protect their rights with which they have been endowed by God, we still see the divisive politics of pain being exercised quite frequently. Instead of loudly condemning such and effectively doing what’s necessary to protect the civil rights of the victimized, the political directorate has oftentimes looked the other way in order to “safeguard the integrity of the party.”
We have now been “independent” for more than twenty-nine years, and our country is yet to internalise the vision and spirit of our democracy. The average citizen has become more knowledgeable about voting, but has yet to be educated in the kind of citizenship that would ensure the survival and deepening of our democracy. We continue to talk the talk to gain power and exercise a vengeful form of “democracy”, and so the true spirit for which our country should stand continues to elude us. Party seems always to come before country.
We are yet to make our Constitution the real guiding light for the development of our people because, it appears, that our law-makers and enforcers have yet to live out the spirit contained therein. Power therefore is not seen as restricted and judicious; and since those in power have not done all they should to educate the citizenry in the Constitution to the level they should, partyism tends to become a cult, in which the leaders tend to exercise absolute power. The result is frequent agitation, confrontation, revolt and subversive activity in order to restrict abuse of political excesses and arbitrariness.
If our government truly desires to move our country forward as a democracy, it will do what is necessary to have all normal citizens become well educated in the letter and spirit of the Constitution. No citizen should be allowed to go through twelve or thirteen years of formal primary and secondary education without having formally studied the Constitution to a reasonable level. Failing to ensure this should be considered
Viewpoints, The Bahama Journal
