The further disintegration of the Free National Movement, on spectacular display last week at the party's shambolic convention, is the latest chapter in the splintering of opposition forces in the country.
Bahamians watched in shock and dismay as one of the two major parties made a mockery of itself as it imploded in prime time. The idiotic dancing on stage of FNM Leader Dr. Hubert Minnis captured the moment, with a video of his performance quickly going viral.
Young people around the country laughed their heads off at his performance and the sorry state of the FNM. The video ended with the response of most Bahamians: "Really?"
Many of these young people are politically up for grabs and represent a pivotal voting bloc.
For the FNM base the affair was no laughing matter. Minnis' lacklustre speech on opening night and his accompanying dance further depressed thousands of FNMs, who feel hopeless, dispirited and disinclined to vote at the next general election.
The fracturing of the opposition, which began with the departure of Branville McCartney and the creation of the Democratic National Alliance, has worsened.
The primary beneficiary of the splintering is the Progressive Liberal Party, which remains united despite its internal divisions and rivalries.

Feckless
Perry Christie is a feckless failure as prime minister. On Christie's and the PLP's watch Baha Mar collapsed. The tourism sector is in decline, the economy in shambles.
The country's growth is stagnant and its credit worthiness has been downgraded and will likely be further downgraded. Thousands are unemployed and suffering.
Malaise has set in. This is one of the worst periods since independence. The exit from The Bahamas has begun because many no longer see any hope or reasons to remain.
If there is a significant loss of professionals and the departure of significant numbers from the middle class, this may represent a negative inflection point in the downward spiral of the country, the kind of spiral from which Jamaica and other countries never recovered.
A new murder record was set under the current administration. Criminals continue to terrorize residents of New Providence. There is a sense of mass lawlessness and disorder.
Christie is loathed by many in his own party. Many are disgusted by his disorganization, inability to make timely decisions and general abysmal performance.
Deputy Prime Minister Philip Davis is chomping at the bit to dethrone Christie, though the former has to be careful how he proceeds. Contrary to Christie's self-serving remarks, many, if not most, of the next generation of PLP leaders would like him to retire as soon as possible.
A significant number of Christie's colleagues find him delusional, erratic and imperious. A narcissistic Emperor Christie believes that no one should challenge him for his party's leadership.
Depressingly, despite the state of the country and the state of the PLP, there is no credible opposition to confront the governing party and to offer the Bahamian people a viable alternative.

Opportunity
Because of the PLP's unpopularity, the country's myriad challenges, and a desperate search for hope, the present moment represents an extraordinary political opportunity for opposition forces.
The opportunity includes the possibility of politically decimating the PLP and forcing some level of internal reform within the party, and the possible emergence of new leaders, though given the PLP's history and culture one should not expect significant reform.
Alas, a viable and cohesive opposition is not on the horizon or even in sight. To paraphrase a young South African man when asked recently if he sees hope for his country: Yes, I see light at the end of the tunnel but the tunnel is very long and the light is very dim.
There is light at the end of the tunnel in which we find ourselves. But the light is far off and we are not even at the beginning of the beginning of changing the direction of the country.
A cohesive and viable alternative to the PLP will require a major party which can offer a vision and specific, workable policies and initiatives which would address the economic, political and social crises with which we are confronted, more of which in subsequent columns.
The great tragedy of The Bahamas today is that we are squandering, or ignorant of, the country's many possibilities given its history, talents of Bahamians at home and in the diaspora, strategic location and the resources and opportunities offered by our geography as an archipelago.
But ideas and vision require political leadership and not just by one person, though we do need credible individuals who the country views as a potential prime minister.

Desperate
Bahamians, especially young people, are desperate for authentic political leaders.
There is general disgust with the political class and a growing movement of Bahamians who want significant change and a new direction. The form this will take is not clear.
We will have to make our way through a long tunnel until things become clearer. But sadly, we may be in this tunnel for a long time and things can get even worse.
And if we don't find the leadership, will and vision required to arrest our decline, the tunnel we are in may become our permanent home. We will come to believe that the darkness is normal and that a light at the end of the tunnel is but a delusion.

o frontporchguardian@gmail.com, www.bahamapundit.com.

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