Which political party is best for Jamaica... PNP or JLP?

Which party is best for Jamaica?

By Franklin JOHNSTON

The PNP is the natural party of the Jamaican people. The first and only party to adumbrate a mantra for the disadvantaged and social institutions to give it effect. This was attractive to the grandchildren of slaves who prized their freedoms. Norman Manley was driven. A soldier, athlete, Rhodes scholar, he knew political dogma - the strait-jacket of communism and capitalism. He chose the middle ground which social democratic parties in Germany, UK, Italy, Greece, Scandinavian nations used to build world-class industry and great welfare systems. Bustamante was not of this ilk. He went to primary school, was a rolling stone - Cuba, Panama, America - policeman, hospital orderly, investor; changed his name on a whim and returned home in his 50s with some money. He was an activist; joined a union, founded his own and used his talent to help workers with success. He founded the JLP on "sibling rivalry" - a contest with his "educated cousin". The JLP still reacts to the PNP. We say to kids, "See Mr Manley, his life, study, law career, service in politics... copy him!" You can't tell kids to copy Bustamante's life! The JLP's capitalist mantra lies between his "we are with the West" and Seaga's "haves and have-nots". The JLP is mainly a spiritual vacuum, but the ascendancy of Adventist ethic in leadership in the last four years may change this. The benign union of church and state and the clique of Adventist fundamentalist right-wingers in Cabinet is ominous. More anon!

The PNP is also the omni-directional creative, cultural and sporting home of the nation. The vision of Norman Manley - world-class sportsman, lawyer, art connoisseur and bon vivant - is breathtaking. An inspiration to Jamaicans here and abroad. Bustamante's life was rambling and we have anecdotes often which he supplied, not facts. But the drama of what we know is compelling. He loved his cousin, shared successes. Manley outfoxed the British. They trusted, respected him; he fought with them in war, studied with them at Oxford, held forth in their courts, they knew his commitment and performance and he knew them!

The PNP is the spiritual home of the nation. Drumblair was the hub of artistic expression; the energy of our creative class. Liberal jargon as freedom, economic independence, decolonisation, equality, class struggle, environment, self-reliance, Nkrumah, Lumumba, Africa are the legacy of PNP semanticists. The UWI was said to be PNP just by being a place of intellect. The spirit of craft, cottage industry, domestic work; gender equality, child equality, shade equality were nurtured by conscious people, many not PNP but classed as such. The JLP went the other way. Bustamante was educated, but he used a folksy illiteracy which attracted poor people yet they retreated as it devalued education. Some recidivism is still evident at meetings where there is a striving of educated JLP people to appear less so and diss education to curry favour with poor people - a paradox of politics! The PNP also got "street cred"; many "buttos" had free rein and principles suffered. Mr Seaga nurtured Kapo but the JLP never bought into his artistic genius. The JLP as a capitalist party has never been of artistic or spiritual trenchancy.

The PNP is the spiritual home of the media. Its leaders marched and demonstrated when media workers were disadvantaged and fired; meanwhile the JLP were banning speakers, books, writings and UWI lecturers. I smuggled books, was interminably searched by customs and had my books confiscated. Every journalist over 50 - not media owners - is a virtual PNP sleeper because of its track record on their behalf. Early PNP leaders sacrificed; politics was not their best job; their families suffered. After the PM's job they did public service - spoke globally and served the Commonwealth. They lived in their pre-politics houses and died with less than when they started politics. Their children's legacy was a good education, not money or a business. Ex-JLP top brass expressed their capitalism in finance; new houses, business to capitalise on their years in politics. No global speakers emerged. People rightly worry about JLP corruption as they expect it, but they wrongly ignore PNP corruption because they think them high-minded - both are wrong. If the PNP mantra also resonated with other ethnic groups, they came on contract, indenture, fleeing persecution and it was PNP social openness, not JLP restrictive capitalism, that attracted them. So where is this going?

The big question

Why is the PNP not more successful at the polls? Given this love affair, how come they won only eight elections to the JLP's seven since 1944? What are we missing? What is the PNP doing wrong or the JLP doing right?

The answer?

The JLP is filler when people want to punish the PNP and sometimes it delivers the goods! First, despite his work, Norman did not lead us to Independence. Was the referendum principle or naivety? No matter; he did not get the nod. Second, Michael's self-reliance which makes Cuba the region's innovator in health industries, education and housing, even with two hands tied by a USA blockade, did not get the nod. Third, Finsac is a metaphor for woes. The USA used debt resolution with dozens of failed banks and building societies. Here, true to its mantra, the PNP rescued hundreds of thousands of small savers. The few thousand investors and bankers had to face the nightmare of all entrepreneurs who use poor people's savings to build themselves - grief! Finally, the PNP has not explained how in 18 years of unbroken power when the world was prospering we could not even catch up with Barbados. So has the PNP squandered our generosity? Is the JLP stability just the usual calm after an IMF loan boosts our cash flows? More to come. Stay conscious, my friend!

Coat of arms or jacket?

Last week arriving passengers were told by NMIA Immigration their completed forms were illegal. The reason? The coat of arms was wrong? The crab louse was upside down or such? Who printed them? It did seem more jacket than coat! The explanations were confusing. Tired tourists and locals were not amused.

Dr Franklin Johnston is an international project manager with Teape-Johnston Consultants currently on assignment in the UK.

franklinjohnstontoo@gmail.com

jamaicaobserver

Bahamas Blog International

Is The Bahamas Political System A Constitutional Dictatorship?

The Bahamas: A constitutional dictatorship?

By Rishard P. O. Cooper

Nassau, The Bahamas

We have an anachronistic, colonial governance system that is no longer suitable for the needs of our developing nation in this 21st century.  We inherited this Westminster system of governance from the British.  So far, our political leadership has not thought it good to change the system.  One of the weaknesses of the Westminster parliamentary system of government is the lack of strong separation of powers between the legislature and executive.  In The Bahamas most of the governing party’s members of Parliament are in the cabinet (the executive).  Most of these MPs, including the backbenchers, are not, it seems, independent thinkers or operatives.  This creates an environment in which the executive (the cabinet and more specifically the prime minister) is often left unchecked in any substantial manner.  While checks and balances are important for honest governance, a government must be able to effectively and swiftly take action on behalf of the people, for better or worse.  The current political gridlock in America between the congress and President Barack Obama underscores a drawback to presidential governance systems that traditionally have stronger institutional separation between the legislature and the executive.

Today, due to our proximity to the U.S. and our own political evolution, Bahamian elections are treated as essentially choosing between two or more party leaders.  Hence, many Bahamian voters perceive and treat general elections as presidential races between the leaders of political parties and not so much as votes for particular members of Parliament.  However, our system is not a presidential system.  If an individual wants to be prime minister, realistically, that person will have to be the leader of a major political party.  Historically this has been the only way to ensure the loyalty of a majority of the members in the House of Assembly.  However, it is often difficult for newcomers and outsiders to become the leader of a major party.  This is so because delegates that may be staunch supporters of the established party leadership often choose party leadership.

Here are a few suggestions to reform our antiquated governing system and make it more efficient, transparent and to reduce the concentration of power in the prime minister.  Firstly, our parliamentary system must be reformed in favor of a presidential one.  This should make it easier for newcomers and outsiders to have a better chance to successfully run for prime minister/president without having to build up a substantial amount of support within a political party or command the loyalty of a certain number of MPs.  At the same time, this would allow Bahamians to directly choose the political leader of the country.  Our elections often boil down to a de facto race between the leaders of our political parties.  Changing to some form of presidential system would eliminate the indirect method we use to “choose” our prime minister.  Secondly, we should implement term limits as prime minister to two terms consecutively or cumulatively.  Some critics also recommend that there should be similar term limits for members of Parliament to reduce the number of career politicians – not a bad idea at all.

Reforming our campaign finance laws to make the financing process more transparent, fair, and reduce the influence of corporations and rich people should also make our system more democratic and less beholden to special interests, including, for example, limits on the amount of money persons and entities can donate to a campaign.  Ideally, our general elections should be funded completely from the public treasury.  In addition, a properly functioning ombudsperson’s office must be formulated to receive and investigate complaints against the government.

The ombudsperson’s office in conjunction with a well equipped and fearless public defender’s office should be empowered to take legal action to protect the interests and rights of citizens, residents and others.  Probably the most important factor in reducing the concentrated power in the prime minister under our current governance model involves the election of strong, independent minded cabinet ministers and backbenchers.  The prime minister is not the supreme leader as some may suggest or insinuate.  Instead, he or she is the first among equals and should conduct him or herself accordingly.  If we are able to implement some or all of these non-exhaustive suggestions, we can go a long way in reducing the extraordinary power wielded by the prime minister.

 

•Rishard Cooper is a Bahamian international corporate attorney.  Email feedback to: rishard.Cooper@gmail.com

Dec 09, 2011

thenassauguardian

Bahamas Blog International

Many Caribbean countries are calling early elections and Belize might do the same

By Wellington C. Ramos



Under the constitutions of most countries that got independence from Great Britain, there is no fixed date to call general elections for members of the House of Representatives to serve their five year terms. Also, the prime minister or the president of the country is not elected by the people through a direct vote. The party that gains the majority of votes in the House of Representatives forms the new government and the leader of the party automatically becomes the prime minister or president.

With this type of arrangement, anybody who want to become the prime minister or president of the country, must seek a seat in the House of Representatives, win the seat and plus try to become a leader of his or her party at the party’s leadership convention. If this person wins the leadership of his party and loses his or her seat in the general election, that person cannot be the prime minister or president of the country but shall retain his or her position as party leader until the party holds its next convention. The elected members of the party from among themselves shall then decide who will be their party’s prime minister or president and then give his or her name to the governor general of the country.

In 1979 in Belize, Dean Lindo was the party leader but lost his seat to Said Musa so the party appointed Dr Theodore Aranda the leader of the party in the House of Representatives. He retained his title as party leader and, when the party convention was held, Manuel Esquivel was elected party leader because Dr Aranda had resigned from the party to head the Christian Democratic Party (CDP).

Elections were held in 1984 and the United Democratic Party (UDP) defeated the People’s United Party (PUP) by a margin of 21 to 7. In that election, a young politician by the name of Derick Aikeman defeated the leader of the People’s United Party George Price and Florencio Marin was appointed the leader of the opposition in the House of Representatives while George Price retained his position as leader of the party. George Price stayed in that position from 1956 until he stepped down in 1996 a total of forty years. Florencio Marin competed for the position of leader of the party but was defeated by Said Musa and he was isolated from the party for many years until the last year of the PUP reign in 2007-2008.

In 1989, the PUP came back and won the election, so George Price became the prime minister again but they lost the elections in 1993 and Manuel Esquivel returned and became prime minister again. He resigned the post of leader in 1996 and was replaced by Said Musa who became the prime minister in 1998 when the PUP won the elections. Musa was elected for two consecutive terms until his party was defeated by the UDP in February 2008, when Dean Barrow became the prime minister.

Since taking over the leadership of the United Democratic Party, Dean Barrow has brought the party to the point where they have been winning elections and it is now a force to reckon with. The People’s United Party is currently fragmented and is being controlled by a few families, business people, interest groups and people of Arab descent and Belizeans are angry with this picture. More native Belizean ethnic groups such as the Creoles, Garifunas, Latinos, East Indians and Mayas are supporting the United Democratic Party today. The attempt by the PUP to portray the UDP as a party that is only for African Belizeans has failed miserably. When the UDP have their conventions you see all different type of Belizeans that makeup Belize.

This was clear based on the resounding victories the UDP have been enjoying since March 2006, when they won the municipal elections, village council elections and then climaxing with the general elections of 2008. The PUP has been saying that they are ready for general elections because they have all their thirty-one candidates in place. Having candidates and winning elections are two different things. The UDP can now call the elections whenever they feel like and I am of the opinion that they will do it shortly after the municipal elections are held in March of 2012.

Recently, elections were held in Guyana and the party in power lost the House of Parliament but retained the presidency. In Saint Lucia the UWP party that was in control lost the House of Representatives and the Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP) headed by Dr Kenny Anthony returned to power by winning nine out of fifteen seats in the House of Parliament after about nine years as the opposition. Jamaican has elections scheduled for December 29 this year and Jamaicans are ready to go to the polls with their JLP government and their new Prime Minister Andrew Holness.

The Belize government has gotten the gangs under control and is working on a few economic initiatives to obtain funds to provide jobs for their citizens. Roads and bridges are under construction, a new airport is under construction, they have taken over the public utilities to increase government revenues, utility rates for the consumers are going to be reduced soon, new schools are being built and electricity will be provided to an additional 29 villages soon.

With all these efforts being made by the government, it is clear that the UDP government is getting ready to call elections soon. Before a prime minister of any country calls early elections, he or she must weigh the pros and cons on what are their chances of getting re-elected first. With the current financial state of the PUP, their fragmentation and their lack of a clear vision and direction, the UDP should so go ahead and take advantage of their situation because PUP did the same thing when they were in power. After years of being an opposition party it is now time for the UDP to remain the governing party.

December 8, 2011

caribbeannewsnow

Bahamas Blog International

While prejudice, ignorance and hatred are still directed against homosexuals, we have made moral progress in The Bahamas in terms of loving and seeking to protect from abuse and discrimination our gay brothers and sisters

Prejudice, ignorance and hatred must be challenged

thenassauguardian

Nassau, The Bahamas

Dr. Perry Gomez, Director of the National HIV/AIDS Programme, is the leading Bahamian expert on HIV/AIDS with a stellar regional and international reputation for combating the disease.

He has been on the forefront of the fight since the onset of the epidemic in the early 1980s.  Dr. Gomez has helped to save lives by advocating for prevention, testing and treatment.  The first Caribbean HIV Conference, recently held in The Bahamas, was an occasion for both the country and the good doctor to be recognized for the many successes in combating HIV/AIDS.

These successes are many in terms of intensive prevention awareness and education efforts; aggressive medical treatment, including in mother-to-child transmission for pregnant women, and measures to address stigma and discrimination in various areas related to the disease.

Former U.S. President Bill Clinton, through his foundation has honored Dr. Gomez and recognized The Bahamas as an international leader in the fight against AIDS.  Dr. Gomez has earned his medical and moral credibility in fighting the disease through dogged advocacy and by journeying as a doctor and as a friend to many who have succumbed to the disease and others who continue to live with HIV.

 

SUPPORT

It was noted at the HIV/AIDS conference:

“The Bahamas has been a leader in developing legislation to protect the rights of minorities and others living with HIV.  In 1991 The Bahamas was the first, and is still the only country in the region, to decriminalize homosexuality.  The Bahamas was the only Caribbean country to sign the Paris Declaration in 1994, which set global standards for HIV and human rights.  We also strengthened protection from discrimination for HIV positive individuals in the workplace by amendment to the existing labor laws in 2001.”

Experts recognize the role that the reduction in stigma plays in preventing the disease, treating those affected, and reducing the incidence of the disease.  Nearly three decades after the onslaught of the epidemic there is still much to be done, especially on the prevention side.  There is also work to be done in the prevention of stigma and discrimination as evidenced by the unfortunate comments by Bishop Simeon Hall a few weeks ago.

Bishop Hall enjoys speaking out on all manner of issues.  In the past few years he has developed a reputation for being glib, and for being something of a publicity seeker.  Often he opines on matters of which he is exceedingly ill-informed.

At a labor conference in the past, a labor leader was stunned when Bishop Hall spoke to the gathering and pressed for additional protections for workers and changes to labor laws, unaware of the fact that most of the matters on which he opined had already been changed through new legislation.

Such behavior may be considered somewhat comical and harmless, but his comments relating to gays and HIV/AIDS were neither.  Indeed, they were extremely harmful even though Bishop Hall tried to backtrack in the face of criticism.  In yesterday’s Insight column in The Tribune, Joey Gaskins analyzes Bishop Hall’s doublespeak.

 

DEMONIZED

Prejudice has always used ignorance and fear as its natural allies.  This is the means through which groups of people such as gays and lesbians are demonized and dehumanized.  Early in the AIDS crisis gays were ruthlessly demonized, with some using the disease as a warped metaphor for the supposed innate depravity of homosexuals.

We have come a long way in fighting the epidemic and the prejudice.  Yet we still need to be vigilant on both fronts.  What is refreshing is the response to Bishop Hall’s comments by medical experts, activists, journalists and others.

Bishop Hall is not the only religious figure who has used specious thinking to demonize homosexuals.  Pastor Lyall Bethel systematically demonizes homosexuals, using fear as one of his weapons while saying that he actually loves gays and lesbians.

A few months ago when The Bahamas supported a UN resolution which sought to protect various vulnerable groups from torture and violence, Front Porch criticized a group of ministers for their response to comments made by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Brent Symonette in support of the resolution. (See “When Hatred Triumphs Over Love”, July 5, 2011).

Conveniently and retroactively, Pastor Bethel and his cohorts said they agreed that gays and lesbians should be protected from such violence.  Then why didn’t they demonstrate their love by quickly supporting the resolution instead of conveniently so doing after being criticized?

Worse, in response to the July 5 Front Porch Pastor Bethel was exceedingly disingenuous, fabricating that the column espoused gay marriage, one of the red flags which the apostles of discrimination often wave with abandon.  Readers will find no such reference.  But such fabrications and the employment of disingenuous moral and intellectual thinking is par for the course for extremists.

 

UNCOVERED

In another Insight column some time ago Tankea Thompson uncovered the source for some of Pastor Bethel’s tortured thinking, namely a Dr. Fields he has quoted to support his views.  A letter to the editor referenced her column:

“According to Ms. Thompson, the Dr. Fields that Pastor Bethel quoted to support his demagoguery is a known white supremacist, neo-Nazi and member of the Klu Klux Klan.”  She also notes: “Conservatives, who in the past have unwittingly cited Fields’ material, have publicly apologized and distanced themselves from Fields.”

Not only did Pastor Bethel not apologize, he defended his use of material from Dr. Fields by saying that people today quote from slaveholders like some of the American Founding Fathers.  The illogic behind this will not elude most basic students of logic or moral reasoning, though it seems to have eluded the pastor.

While prejudice, ignorance and hatred are still directed against homosexuals, we have made moral progress in The Bahamas in terms of loving and seeking to protect from abuse and discrimination our gay brothers and sisters.

Ironically, it is good when those like Bishop Hall and Pastor Bethel issue their screeds.  It highlights the demonization and ignorance that must still be fought.  Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. taught us this during his struggle against prejudice and discrimination in America.

Sometimes the world’s moral heroes wear a clerical collar, sometimes they don’t.  Often, the moral heroes are people like Dr. Perry Gomez and the many others who have sought to uphold the moral dignity and protections of those living with HIV/AIDS.  This includes gay men who often in the face of stigma and the effects of the disease know that they are no less a valued citizen of this country and a child of God, made as much in His image and likeness as Pastor Bethel and Bishop Hall.

www.bahamapundit.com

frontporchguardian@gmail.com

Dec 06, 2011

thenassauguardian

Bahamas Blog International

Caribbean tourism players, governments and statutory planners need to understand that agriculture is a critical economic player before tourism

Can new tourism strategies bolster CARICOM economies?


By Ian Francis



The frank response is YES. CARICOM governments are urged to quickly change their dreams and beliefs by taking a second look at the agricultural industry. It was quite interesting to see Jamaica a few days ago announced a major injection of $50 million (US) to revive its banana industry that has been on the decline.

In my humble understanding, regional tourism players, governments and statutory planners need to understand that agriculture is a critical economic player before tourism. The plight, regional planning and belief that tourism in the OECS could be viable with the injection of euro funds and regional meetings should think twice.

Tourism products in the Caribbean region are now centred on Cuba, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic and Barbados. They have developed branded tourism products, which they market, affordable and within reach to would be tourists. White sand, long beaches, green lush and rare birds are not tourism products for external marketing.

At a recent tourism pow-wow in Grenada, several ideas were suggested about potential use of tourism ambassadors, which included Kirani James and Rondell Bartholomew as facilitators. Utilization of local sports achievers to market a nation’s tourism industry is very narrow thinking and that policy intent should be zapped and laid to rest.

Addressing tourism issues in the Caribbean region is a very broad challenge for which I am not equipped. Therefore, I have restricted my views and observation to Grenada. Tourism Minister Peter David recently hosted a national tourism conference and addressed several issues pertaining to the local industry. Minister David must be commended for his efforts as tourism decline is a regular issue of discussion in the State.

Many who are engaged in the conversations tend to shoulder blame on the government. While some of the blame on the Thomas administration is justified, the critics must be reminded that tourism has changed and it is a matter of being able to market a product(s) to diverse constituencies that reflect age, race, gender, economic status and income.

How is Grenada marketing its tourism products abroad? How are information technology tools applied in the marketing strategy? Do Grenada Tourism Board officials based in Grenada and abroad understand the foreign tourism markets? What professional and technical assistance do Grenada foreign tourism representatives receive from their local tourist board? It will be interesting to read the answers.

There is no doubt that Grenadians remain very proud of the athletic success of Kirani James and Rondell Bartholomew. While these two young men have been fortunate in accessing athletic scholarships to higher learning institutions in the United States, is it fair and practical for Grenada tourism planners to even dream up a dumb thought of having these two individuals to be tourism ambassadors for Grenada.

I think there are many more creative thoughts that St George’s can advance on tourism marketing rather than hoping or dreaming that both successful athletes can influence tourism sustainability in Grenada.

Oops, this dumb suggestion of having Kirani and Rondell as tourism ambassadors reminds me very much of the recent ill-fated Diaspora conference in Grenada where our foreign minister had indicated that Grenadians in the Diaspora will mobilize droves of tourists to visit Grenada. This was also wishful thinking, as Diaspora initiatives seem to have fallen of the shelf.

Let me conclude by saying that Grenadians in the Canadian Diaspora support a vital tourism industry for Grenada. However, tourism officials in Grenada need to face certain hard realities and understand that there is something called “tourism marketing”. It calls for resources, talent, creativity and a strong agricultural economy. Look at Jamaica and Cuba.

December 7, 2011

caribbeannewsnow

Bahamas Blog International

Is a general election nearer than expected in The Bahamas? ...it is not clear whether Eight Mile Rock MP Verna Grant or Clifton MP Kendal Wright had only resigned from the governing Free National Movement (FNM) party or whether they had also resigned from the Bahamian parliament

Is an election nearer than expected?

tribune242 editorial

Nassau, The Bahamas



THIS MORNING dawns with an interesting political scene developing and depending on which way the wheel turns, we might be facing an election just after Christmas.

Miffed because their electoral seats were vaporised by the Boundaries Commission, two of the FNM's MPs have resigned from the party.

Although their resignations have been confirmed to The Tribune by reliable sources, the FNM have heard the rumours, but have no facts. FNM chairman Carl Bethel was still manning the post in the FNM's headquarters up to 5:30pm yesterday, but no letter of resignation had arrived from either Eight Mile Rock MP Verna Grant or Clifton MP Kendal Wright.

Neither was it clear whether they had only resigned from the party or whether they had also resigned from parliament. If the latter, as one person put it, we shall be faced with a "constitutional conundrum". However, up until late yesterday, Speaker Alvin Smith had seen no resignation letters.

We understand that, whatever the decision, they will keep it close to their chests until Wednesday when parliament again meets. It is not until then that the bugles will sound and candidates will know how soon they will have to move into their constituencies.

If the two cross the floor on Wednesday, do they go as Independents, or do they join the PLP -- or maybe even the DNA?

The FNM, which entered the House after the 2007 general election with 23 members to the PLP's 18, were left with 22 members on the floor when North Eleuthera MP Alvin Smith was elected from their number to become Speaker of the House.

During the course of the next four years, the PLP lost one member in Kenyatta Gibson, who crossed the floor to the FNM to bring their number back to the original 23. Recently, Branville McCartney left the FNM to form the DNA and become that party's only MP. If the reports about Ms Grant and Mr Wright are true, it means that the FNM will lose another two members, reducing their number on the floor to 20. It is not known whether the last two possible defections will cross the floor as Independents or whether they will join a party. Should they join the PLP, that party's numbers will be boosted to 19. Whether they join a party or remain Independent, the governing 20-member FNM will face a 20-member Opposition -- PLP (17), Independents (2) and DNA (1).

This means that should there be full attendance on both sides of the House at every meeting, all eyes will turn to their bewigged Speaker on his dais above them to break a tie or to get a measure through parliament.

However, should one or both defecting members resign from parliament a bye-election will have to be called within 60 days. This is most unlikely to happen. It is more likely that parliament will be dissolved. And so Bahamians will be facing either dissolution or a long recess of the House.

Of course bye-elections cannot be held in non-existent constituencies, which Clifton and Eight Mile Rock will soon be, if they are not already. It is probable that, if a bye-election were held, it would be held in the newly-named constituencies that would have absorbed the voters of Clifton and Eight Mile Rock. And should any FNM member attempt to run against any candidate already nominated by the party for these two new constituencies they are automatically expelled under the FNM party's rules.

This turn of events takes us back to January 10, 1967 when the PLP won its first election.

In that election, the United Bahamian Party, headed by Sir Roland Symonette -- the Bahamas' first premier -- won 18 seats. The PLP also won 18 seats. A tie -- no winner. Either the UBP or the PLP had to sacrifice one of their number from the floor to be House Speaker. Whichever side did it would be left with 17 members to the other's 18.

However, there were two floating members -- Alvin Braynen, representative of the Current, and labour leader Randol Fawkes. For several days, they were the most courted men in the Bahamas as each UBP and PLP sought them out to join their party to break the tie. Sir Alvin was a UBP, but before the election there had been a quarrel and he walked out. The UBP were most anxious to mend fences with Sir Alvin. But both Braynen and Fawkes wanted something. Randol Fawkes wanted to be the Labour czar and Alvin Braynen told us that his life-long dream was to become Speaker of the House. Here it was being handed to him on a silver platter, and no other consideration was going to stop him snatching the prize. The PLP got both Alvin Braynen as Speaker, and Randol Fawkes broke the tie by one on the floor of the House, which enabled Sir Lynden to form a government. The following year, the PLP held an election and won by a landslide.

The only difference between then and now is that although there might be a tie on the House floor, there is already a Speaker in the chair to break the tie. This was not so in 1967.

The next few months promise to be interesting.

December 06, 2011

tribune242 editorial

Bahamas Blog International

Last week's general election in Guyana, with its resultant hung Parliament, has put that country in unaccustomed territory which, we believe, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) must be prepared to help it chart

CARICOM Must Help Guyana

jamaica-gleaner editorial

Jamaica, W.I.


Last week's general election in Guyana, with its resultant hung Parliament, has put that country in unaccustomed territory which, we believe, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) must be prepared to help it chart.

In that regard, the Community's leaders, while mindful of the line between support and meddling, should, through their chairman, signal to all parties the availability of their good offices to work through difficulties. This kind of pre-emptive political action, we suggest, is in that spirit of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, on which rests the programme for widening and deepening regional integration.

In Guyana's proportional representation electoral system, the People's Progressive Party (PPP)/Civic alliance gained 48.6 per cent of the votes cast a week ago, a plurality that assured it of 32 of the 65 seats in the national assembly. Its candidate, the PPP's general secretary, Mr Donald Ramotar, was, on the basis of the return, elected president.

But while PPP/Civic gets to form the government, it will be a minority administration. Between them, the two other groups, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance for Change, gained 51.1 per cent of the votes and 33 of the legislative seats.

This means that unless the PPP can co-opt the Alliance for Change, which got seven seats, from its 10.3 per cent of the votes, it will have to govern by consensus, dependent on the opposition for the passage of legislation. The assumption is that the PPP/Civic has, in the Alliance for Change, its best shot at a coalition partner, given that the Alliance for Change's leader, Mr Khemraj Ramjattan, is a former, though excommunicated, member of the PPP.

Long-standing tensions

It is less likely that APNU, dominated by the largely Afro-Guyanese-supported People's National Congress (PNC), would be a coalition partner of choice for PPP/Civic and, in any event, would be less likely to willingly be part of a formal unity government.

Indeed, the history of Guyana's race-based politics and the long-standing tensions between the Indo-Guyanese-supported PPP and the PNC, which held power for 28 years until 1992, complicate issues. The current situation is likely to be further aggravated by claims from some elements of the PNC who believe that voting irregularities may have cost them the election.

In 1997, similar concerns by the PNC led to riots in the Guyanese capital of Georgetown which, gratefully, were contained. CARICOM, at that time, contributed to the efforts at calming tempers and in giving a stamp of legitimacy to the administration of the then president, Bharrat Jagdeo.

The Community should, this time, act early to head off any breakdown to prevent this important member of CARICOM descending into violent turmoil, the potential for which is exacerbated by the politics of ethnicity.

The better outcome for Guyana, of course, is where we started - administration by consensus. This assumes that the parties read the election result as a signal for them to retreat from a deep-rooted, race-based heritage. That is difficult, but not impossible.

We are encouraged by the initial talks between Messrs Ramotar, Ramjattan and APNU's David Granger. Should the PPP/Civic administration get going, a substantial test will come in a few months when it has to pass a budget, failure at which will precipitate a new election. In the meantime, CARICOM should help the Guyanese keep their country on even keel.

December 4, 2011

jamaica-gleaner editorial