ear Editor,

So Hubert Ingraham continues with his games even at these closing hours of his political career. He promised that he would resign on the July 19 to coincide with the anniversary of his first election to the House of Assembly in 1977. Well on Thursday, July 19, 2012 he staged the biggest charade ever. With scores of adoring party supporters and some of his most ardent admirers in the news media pushing to get close to him, Hubert Ingraham passed his resignation later to the speaker saying what? That it was to become effective the end of August. What a charade. What a farce.
The records will show that Hubert Ingraham resigned his seat on August 31, 2012 and not on July 19. He had some fetish about leaving on the anniversary of his first election. Somehow it would make his years of service to the Parliament and people of North Abaco complete. Yet he failed to accomplish this simple task. Just like he failed to leave after 25 years as he promised, and just like he failed to leave politics without ever loosing an election like he bragged.
Then you have the spectacle of the chairman of the Free National Movement (FNM) crying shame on the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) for failing to call a special meeting of the House to allow Ingraham to say goodbye. It was Ingraham himself the night of the inglorious defeat of the FNM who said that he will not take his seat. It was Ingraham himself who picked up his georgie bundle and marched out of the House after being sworn in. It was Ingraham himself who decided not to attend any of the nine meetings of the House since May 23 when he would have had ample opportunity to say farewell or whatever.
The House was never stopped abruptly like he caused it to be just before the dissolution thus depriving a number of members from saying bye. And by the way Mr. Chairman, no special meeting of the House was called to allow Sir Lynden to make his final speech. It was after the death of Sir Lynden that a special meeting was held and members brought tributes as I recall.
Why didn't Ingraham make his resignation effective on July 19 like he so wanted? I understand it was to allow a Greg Gomez to qualify to run in the by-election; a man who lived outside of The Bahamas for years; a man who did not struggle for the party like so many others more deserving of the nomination; a man who must be only now trying to become Bahamianized in Abaco; a person who must be out of touch. Did you FNMs not read the memo on Howard Johnson? Don't be bamboozled again.

- Eric Gardner

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