The ‘not so secret anymore’ Wikileaks cables do little more than confirm what most Bahamians already know. The latest release, published in today’s Nassau Guardian recalls an interview that Free National Movement (FNM) leader Hubert Ingraham had with former U.S. Ambassador John Rood just prior to the 2007 general election. Ingraham was the leader of the opposition at that time.
The not so shocking revelations include:
“Ingraham acknowledged that the Bahamian courts were dysfunctional, and needed changes in leadership,” according to the cable.
According to excerpts of the cable released by the Guardian, Ingraham said he did not have a problem with extraditing major drug dealers, but believed that small time drug dealers should be prosecuted locally. Mr Ingraham also reportedly told the ambassador that cases move too slowly and many criminals are out on bail committing new offenses.
The cable revealed that Ingraham and the ambassador sparred over the case of five baggage handlers arrested in December 2006 in Florida on suspicion of drug trafficking.
“Ingraham made it clear he believes the Nassau Flight Services baggage handlers were set up,” the cable said.
Discussing aviation, Ingraham reportedly stated that, “Minister of Transport and Aviation (Glenys) Hanna-Martin was ‘out of her depth’ and that there is no direction being given to civil aviation.”
The cable said Ingraham also stated that he supports FAA running the Flight Information Region, observing that he had learned through hard experience that it would be too risky to defy the U.S. on such a sensitive safety issue.
The Christie administration had pledged to gain full control of The Bahamas’ airspace and had promised that such an effort would result in tens of millions of dollars in additional revenue for the government. However, this was never achieved.
Regarding Bahamian politcis, the cable said that Mr Ingraham told the ambassadfor that he would support Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) leader Perry Christie (then prime minister) for many jobs, but prime minister was not one of them.
As he did when he sat down with a U.S. diplomat in 2003, Ingraham in 2007 described Christie as “fatally disorganized and incapable of running a government.”
Despite prodding, neither Ingraham nor Desmond Bannister, then chairman of the FNM, would reveal the FNM’s budget for the upcoming election, the cable said.
It noted that parties are free to take money from any source, and Ingraham said that most of the money comes from businesses.
Ingraham also acknowledged that persons outside the country could also contribute to political parties, and he said that normally only outsiders with interests in The Bahamas do so, according to the cable.
Mr Ingraham also made some comments and predictions for the upcoming 2007 election, which he felt the FNM would win. They did.
In the comment section of the cable, the American diplomat noted that Mr Ingraham is “always engaging and never at a loss for words.”
“While he pledged cooperation on aviation issues and promised to make the judicial system work better, he [Mr Ingraham] also made clear he would not hesitate to disagree with the U.S. if he felt Bahamian interests were not being well served,” the cable stated.
The diplomat added: “Ingraham conveyed the self-assurance of a leader who has been in charge before and believes he soon will be again.
“His ten years as prime minister have given him a good understanding of the United States and how to work with us, and he certainly looks forward to maintaining our traditionally close relations.”
