There has been much complaining of late about the new administration's decision to not renew the contracts of urban renewal workers. The Free National Movement (FNM) says the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) is victimizing Bahamians and the PLP says the contracts came to an end and it is moving in another direction.
Truth is that both parties use the scheme to employ supporters. The PLP did in 2002 and the FNM did it in 2007. When a new party comes in it clears out a certain number in urban renewal in order to make way for its own.
Such a system could work if the parties would be honest and define the political appointments in the scheme and those that are permanent. The individuals who are political appointees would receive five-year contracts with the explicit understanding that they work to carry out the policies of their administration while in office. When another wins, the honorable thing to do would be to resign.
There is nothing wrong with having political appointees serve in the government system. Ambassadors are similar creatures who serve at the pleasure of the administration of the day. When the administration changes, the leadership at foreign missions changes too.
Those who seek political jobs must understand that those positions are not like regular public service positions. When a political organization gives you a job just because you are a party supporter or just to look out for its interests, you are a political appointee. If Bahamians understand this, we will have fewer people crying to the media when change occurs and they are unemployed.
The DPM and the BEC chairman
Deputy Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis told The Nassau Guardian in a recent interview that Tall Pines Member of Parliament Leslie Miller failed to follow the proper process of the governing party's parliamentary caucus when he announced on a talk show on Thursday he would not support any additional borrowing to complete the controversial New Providence Road Improvement Project.
"I don't expect those of us who have firm and strong views about anything to be sharing it in public without first sharing it with his colleagues. It's the first time I'm hearing about it," said Davis.
The government has said it plans to borrow an additional $65 million from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to finish the road work. This was revealed in the final months of the Ingraham administration.
In the Westminster political system, it is a serious offense for a member of Parliament to vote against his party when the whip is on. If this is done, the MP can be thrown out of caucus.
Miller has always been a maverick. It was inevitable that he and the party hierarchy would clash. Prime Minister Perry Christie has announced Miller as the chairman of the Bahamas Electricity Corporation. We wonder if Christie, Miller and the PLP will make it the full five years based on Miller's free spirit and the inability of the party's hierarchy to control him.
If Miller does vote against his party in Parliament Christie may be faced with his first political test this term. Can you leave a man in your caucus who dares to defy the party openly?

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