Dear Editor,
During the mid-1980s, Michael Jordan played professional basketball for the Chicago Bulls. His first six years were marred with many individual accolades, but no championship rings. Jordan was the subject of a whirlwind of criticism because he could not bring home the championship trophy, and rightly so.
Coaches were fired and new players were brought in until at last, in 1990, the Bulls defeated the Los Angeles Lakers to win their first ever NBA Championship. Deservedly so, the Bulls remained one of the hottest NBA tickets for a number of years. They played staggering defense, had a great offense and played team basketball. They were the epitome of a great basketball team and the city of Chicago and the NBA reaped the rewards.
From 2002-2007, the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) brought continuing growth to the Bahamian economy. Our tourism product was doing very well and I know personally of persons who had two jobs. The PLP commercialized their success through press conferences, press releases and print media, albeit their campaign was ineffective. The PLP also had a few major scandals which many Bahamians believed were not effectively dealt with by Perry Christie. Many Bahamians believe that his indecision vastly contributed to the PLP's lost in 2007. It has also come to light that Christie allowed the Bahamian assets in Atlantis to be used as collateral for Sir Sol Kerzner's ambitious investment campaign oversees. Christie should be given credit for the good progress that the economy made during this time and he should also be given credit for the bad decisions that he made during his tenure.
In 1992, Hubert Ingraham ushered in a new chapter in Bahamian history. He opened the airwaves - a move that I believe has deepened the democracy in The Bahamas. He completed the deal for Atlantis to begin business operation on Paradise Island - a single move that I believe has positively contributed to the stability of The Bahamas for the last 18 years.
Since 2007, The Bahamas has seen major infrastructural work. We have seen the completion of the straw market, the ongoing work at Lynden Pindling International Airport, the completion of the Milo Butler Highway, the completion of a new court complex on Nassau Street, the commencement of the Baha Mar project and the reconstruction of underground water mains and the paving of new roads in New Providence. Ingraham and his Cabinet are to be given credit for these capital works, but be reminded that all governments have the responsibility to build infrastructure.
Additionally, since 2007, The Bahamas has seen four murder records in five years. We have seen major spikes in unemployment and unemployment, rape, armed robbery and several scandals involving missing or unaccounted funds at several government ministries. We have also seen mismanagement on major projects and a soaring national debt. Who can forget the scandal at the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA)?
My point is that just as Ingraham, Christie and their Cabinets receive praises for the good that they have done, they must also share in the items gone wrong. This applies to all past and future governments. You can't have it both ways.
When Jordan was losing, he was blamed. When he started to win, he was known as the catalyst for their victories. There is no difference with our present government and it will be no different with future governments. A spade will always be a spade. Let's evaluate our government's performance as it unfolds and call it as we truly see it; put our love for party aside and try to see issues from a nationalistic perspective.
There is no need to 'pretty up' our commentary. There is no advantage to be gained for covering up known facts and telling untruths. Bahamians need to stop trying to defend the indefensible, especially when the facts exist to prove otherwise.
- Dehavilland Moss
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