Dear Editor,
Undoubtedly every Bahamian felt a great deal of pride during the recent Golden Trumpet Award as one of their own, The Honorable Prime Minister Perry Christie’s contribution as an outstanding leader was acknowledged. Most certainly this was reflected throughout all segments of the Bahamian society including political parties. With such good publicity about the Bahamas, mature Bahamians realize that politics must stop at the border.
However, it is with great interest to note as to why Prime Minister Christie had received such award. According to the committee persons selected for the award had performed outstandingly in their field and demonstrated true leadership in a time of crisis, for example, Major Marilyn Mills who on September 11th rescued persons in the disaster at the Pentagon.
Movie producer Spike Lee’s achievement in the industry was acknowledged, etc. But it is with great interest the reason given by rock star Lenny Kravitz as to why Prime Minister Christie had received such award. Mr. Kravitz who acknowledged being a cousin of Prime Minister Christie indicated that to the effect that Prime Minister Christie had demonstrated great leadership at a time when the Bahamas was lacking in leadership, environmental degradation, etc., with Prime Minister Christie now in the process of “rebuilding” the Bahamas to the extent that there will be justice, prosperity and education for all.
Certainly Mr. Kravitz is a frequent visitor to the Bahamas owning a house in Eleuthera, but his explanation as to why Prime Minister Christie should have received such an award is most amazing.
Prime Minister Christie’s political career began with a Senate appointment with the government in power. Since then little sacrifice had to be made on his part as he was then appointed to the level of Cabinet Minister by the governing PLP party. In the ministries represented by Mr. Christie, no mention of legacies can be acknowledged. Only crisis such as the starving cows at BARTAD in North Andros when he was the Minister of Agriculture and the poison conch at Potter’s Cay when he was the Minister of Health. But apparently being a man of principle after the 1984 Commission of Inquiry examining bribery and corruption, when a number of persons including high ranking government officials were condemned, Perry Christie along with Hubert Ingraham (in the name of common decency) resigned and walked out of a disgraced PLP government.
During the 20th Century Bahamas, one of the greatest Bahamian mysteries of all times along with who murdered Sir Harry Oakes was why on earth did Perry Christie later returned to the PLP. This sent the wrong message to the Bahamian people as it appeared that Mr. Christie is now prepared to stand up for decent principles. (Even more mysterious was why Prime Minister Perry Christie appointed persons named in the Commission to his government).
When the Free National Movement (FNM) took over the government in 1992, the country was in shambles. The country was bankrupt, morale in the civil service was low, and persons were terrified to speak out on issues (in case word got back to the chief). Unemployment was the highest in Bahamian history and nervous investors no longer had confidence in the government of the Bahamas. Indeed it must be Hubert Ingraham who must be given credit for demonstrating the leadership that turned the Bahamas around.
In the ten years that followed, Hubert Ingraham as Prime Minister was able to drastically reduce the unemployment, empower the Bahamian worker with minimum wage legislation by complying International Labor Organization (ILO) standards, provide proper infrastructure such as docks and electricity in areas previously ignored by the former government, introduced Local Government so that people can control their own affairs, opened an international law school, and restored the confidence of foreign investors to the Bahamas thus providing many opportunities for the many Bahamians.
However, his major contribution was lifting the yokes of oppression when opened the airways so that Bahamians could truly speak their minds without fear or favor on any given day in the Bahamas at any time one can turn in somewhere to the radio station talk show where anyone can call in with their opinion and demand that any person in government do their job. This was unheard of prior to Hubert Ingraham becoming Prime Minister.
Perry Christie inherited a government that was well on the road to recovery. He is now benefiting for much of the work done by Hubert Ingraham, his predecessor. It’s Hubert Ingraham’s contributions and leadership that must be acknowledged. Prime Minister Christie is simply riding the waves of Ingraham’s efforts. Having just become Prime Minister without the opportunity to implement “His Plan”, the decision for the Golden Trumpet Awards committee to award Prime Minister Christie seems to be a bit premature.
Yours Sincerely,
Dr. Leatendore Percentie
