Dear Editor,

Like Britain, The Bahamas follows the Westminster system of democratic government. Unlike Britain,however, we tend not to take the traditions and protocols seriously, assuming them only when it suits our agenda. Let's look at perhaps what may be worthwhile lessons to at least consider.

The winning party
The re-elected British prime minister said in his victory speech that he would govern Britain "in the interest of all of its people". He did not say, "It's our time now" or "We're looking after our people first".

The role of the press
The British press researched well and had the facts at their fingertips. The press interviews of politicians on election night were brutal, direct, unrelenting, aggressive and irreverent. There were no apologies for challenging and grilling politicians and whatever the politician said there was a come back comment or question.

Note to Bahamian journalists: Do your research and know the facts about your subject.The facts will empower you and you will not be put in the position where the politician is telling you any old nonsense and you stand there looking awestruck.

The youngest MP Mhairi Black, the new MP for Paisley for the Scottish National Party is 20 years old and a university student. She was very impressive in her victory speech.

Very young people deserve a place and a voice at the top of the political table, provided they demonstrate their leadership ability. After all, despite the supposed wisdom of elders, when we look around they have managed to make quite a mess of the governance of our country.

The changing of the guard - losers
All three leaders of the prominent losing parties immediately resigned and took full responsibility in their farewell speeches for the losses their respective parties suffered.

The important lesson here is that you lose, you resign and you get out of the way so that the party can purge itself and begin the honest and painful internal review process without your being in the way trying to influence the outcome.

The exit of the leader also allows new leadership to emerge that is invigorated and revitalized with new ideas to take the defeated party forward.This produces a new order of succession in the party which in turn reduces internal discontent and frustration as there is built in upward mobility.

The Scottish National Party vote
So many Scots cried when they lost the independence referendum last year but look at them now! A new wave of nationalism saw them win 56 out of the 59 seats for Scotland.

Our Family Islanders should demand that their members of Parliament not only have roots in the island which they presume to represent but that they should also reside on that island. This criteria is beginning to take hold in some island constituencies but not fast enough. Family Island MPs can then come together as a block (and they have more seats than New Providence) and stop the islanders from being treated like second class citizens in the House. Come on Family Islanders - you can make this happen and control your destiny.

Technology and the media
Watching the results come in we were presented with a virtual House of Commons showing all of the members in their seats before and after the results, which was a very effective use of technology.

Maybe it is time to get beyond the persons with their pieces of paper and the biased fumbling and fudging of outcomes in the delivery of our election night results, which has often resulted in confusion and delay. Technology will set us free and provide objective, factual data on the results. Or is it that we really prefer the confusion?

Coalition governments
The Liberal Democrats paid a crushingly high price for playing kingmaker in 2010 and joining with the Conservatives to form a government. Their supporters did not forgive them for betraying their values and breaking their promises and repaid them at the polls.

McCartney and the DNA may want to carefully consider their future moves as a third party in the light of this result!

A lot to consider and to learn, but will we?

- Felicity L. Johnson

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