Three young government MPs, part of the much-touted "new generation" of politicians who will purportedly lead us into the future, decided to use this year's budget debate to express some independent ideas.
Marco City MP Gregory Moss criticized the plan to introduce value-added tax as being against the principles of the governing Progressive Liberal Party (PLP). Fort Charlotte MP Dr. Andre Rollins stood up for Moss, while Nassau Village MP and Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly Dion Smith called into question the government's approach to dealing with issues like crime and poverty.
In the run-up to the May 2012 election, the PLP made much of the fresh talent it had recruited to the ranks of its candidates. Here were the Young Turks who would reinvigorate the political scene and bring bold, innovative ideas to the party.
Yet no sooner had the three opened their mouths than the PLP old guard reared its formidable head to restore party discipline and remind them of their place.
PLP Chairman Bradley Roberts said Moss spoke "out of turn" and Minister of Education, Science and Technology Jerome Fitzgerald called the young MP's perspective misguided; while former Cabinet Minister George Smith questioned how Smith could suggest the PLP had lost touch with the people.
Meanwhile, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries V. Alfred Gray warned the new generation not to be "fast on their tongues" and act independently, as a single mistake can end a political career.
The entrenched political culture of The Bahamas would have us believe that strong internal discipline, a united front among MPs and the ability of everyone to stay "on message" are fundamental conventions of our system of party politics.
However, this is actually quite far from the truth. The history of the Westminster system of parliamentary democracy, to which The Bahamas as a commonwealth country adheres, is littered with dozens of backbench revolts and hundreds of bills defeated through the combined votes of dissident governing MPs and opposition members.
To this day, a lively tradition of free and independent speech among MPs is so strong in most commonwealth countries that the party whip - an official whose job it is to ensure the government has sufficient support among its own MPs to pass laws - remains a crucial and very demanding post.
This is as it should be. The consequences of the closed ranks, lockstep approach to politics that is obviously alive and well in The Bahamas can have considerable negative consequences for the country as a whole.
Rollins hit the nail on the head when he said of the old guard's perspective: "Such thinking is dangerous, as it can be construed to imply that we must prioritize the interests of the party above the interests of our nation".
It is hoped these and other Young Turks will

have the courage to continue speaking their conscience, no matter what the establishment has to say about it.

Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian