Effective leaders govern with respect for all. Part of growing up as a forward-thinking nation intent on building a true democracy rests in our political leaders' ability to exhibit political maturity: Maturity in how they conduct themselves in the administration of the public affairs; maturity in the manner in which they deal with their colleagues and their political opponents.
The time has long passed for legislators to realize that in the New Bahamas they must show each other mutual respect. Only then will the electorate they are supposed to represent respect them and, most importantly, respect their fellow citizens.
The Bahamas at 40 is on the trek to being a mature democracy. This new generation of political leaders, particularly those in the governing majority, need to put country first. The electorate must demand that leaders be altruistic in their dealings and heed the call to put national issues before personal and political issues. Altruism - unselfish concern for the welfare of others - results in less partisanship in governance. It is patently obvious that partisan politics has left us a deeply divided nation. Additionally, if we want our citizens to improve their social interaction and communication - particularly in conflict resolution - then our political leaders have to set the example for the citizenry to follow. An immediate improvement in inter-personal skills is needed. With less partisanship in governance comes the eradication of victimization in our society; as we are too small to have this anchor weighing us down and keeping us from obtaining our collective goals.
There can be no doubt that political victimization has again raised its ugly head in our Bahamas as can be attested to by the hundreds of persons who were terminated since May 2012, and the cancellation by the present government of the 52-week temporary jobs program, which had also assisted hundreds of people more.
Representing this new Bahamian leader, I commit to govern in a tangible, fair and transparent manner. Action must accompany talk. Sadly, in recent months the governing party seems to have lost focus.
Our people must be less impressed with how something is said and how it sounds and more concerned with what is done based on what has been said. Pronouncements must make sense. The electorate ought not be impressed with the eloquence of the speaker's verbosity or extensive vocabulary - rather, all Bahamians should be more interested in whether or not he or she makes sense; whether their argument is persuasive and well thought-out.
In public life, promises made must be promises kept. Wild and eloquent promises of 10,000 new jobs in the first year should have been honored by those who made such extravagant promises. Promises to implement policies which would break the back of crime ought to have manifested themselves by now in an appreciable reduction in crime and the fear of crime which now pervades our communities. Promises to produce economic growth and development of the economy, to increase the economic empowerment, particularly of young Bahamians, ought to have borne some tangible fruit by now.
Promises to implement an effective program of mortgage relief for economically distressed homeowners ought to have been effectively honored by now.
Yet all these promises remain largely unfulfilled. In its core promises the government has achieved nothing but signal failures.
In the New Bahamas the electorate is watching and will judge harshly those who were the purveyors of false and meaningless promises.
For our democracy to thrive and grow stronger we must have political leaders, particularly those in the majority political party, live up to their promises and also who understand and respect the need to treat those leaders in opposition with respect. It is the wise politician who accepts that all good ideas to move our nation forward are not resident solely on their side of the political divide. Past petty behavior is no longer deemed acceptable in the New Bahamas.
To truly achieve the goal of building a great nation and dealing with the many challenges facing our country, all leaders must work together. Political maturity means that mutual cooperation is the order of the day, where the national agenda supersedes politically polarizing and personal agendas.
It is crucial to note that in our model of a parliamentary democracy, Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition is a part of the Government of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas. The FNM in government eradicated the practice of excluding members opposite from a meaningful role in matters of national importance; but this "Pindling-era" abuse of power seems to have crept back into a national monologue on the part of the government. This endless PLP monologue has happened far too many times since May 2012.
In a mature democracy, the same courtesies extended to Members of Parliament in the governing party should be extended to opposition Members of Parliament. Political maturity means that the standard of governance never changes despite political differences. In the New Bahamas, we must learn that it is acceptable to attack each other's ideas, but it is not acceptable to verbally or physically attack the individual putting forth the idea.
In a mature democracy systems are in place pertaining to the position or office one holds, regardless of the person in the office. Those systems work no matter which political party is in power. An example would be the acting prime minister's position. When anyone holds that position they should have the full security detail of the prime minister as they are acting in that capacity.
Political maturity means that there must be accountability at all levels of government. If we are going to inculcate in our youth that all citizens must be accountable for their actions, then it should only follow that there must be accountability by our leaders. More and more headlines reveal the lack of transparency, accountability and proper dissemination of information in many government agencies.
Bahamians woke up one morning to hear that BEC was about to be cut up and sold to the private sector, who all now appear to be foreigners. When was this new grand policy discussed with the electorate prior to being decided on and announced by the government? How is it so easy for those who so bitterly opposed the sale of BTC now - in the dead of night - to decide among themselves to sell BEC to the highest foreign bidder?
The recent dilemma, as it relates to the system of garbage collection, has many asking if the Department of Environmental Health Services ought to have published pertinent information regarding outsourcing of routes, and to which companies. Again, it is clear that political maturity means keeping the electorate in the loop, as we build the forward-thinking nation. Minister Kenred Dorsett mentioned in the newspaper on December 23 his intention to place garbage collection on a time schedule. I would advise the minister that once collection is contracted properly, or out-sourced, the government should have the regulatory and monitoring mechanisms in place for regulation (before contracts are awarded). These regulations should speak to the staffing of such garbage collection services in terms of training, methodologies employed in collection, work ethic and hygiene; as well as regulating the type of equipment and vehicles which can be used in the process.
Political maturity means recognizing that in a thriving Bahamian democracy, the Freedom of Information Act 2012 would have by now been brought into force. As the leader in this New Bahamas, I know that an informed citizenry is our best tool in the arsenal of effective governance. Citizens are entitled to have access to information about how their government is functioning.
Leaders must educate the electorate before entering into agreements, particularly involving foreign investors, where the utilization of the nation's vital resources are a part of the agreement. All previous governments have engaged in the practice of entering into agreements with huge national implications, with minimal public consultation.
A mature political democracy is a place where government must be transparent, acting in the best interest of all citizens. There is no room for secret, clandestine governance. Let's change the status quo. Political maturity means, in simplest terms, open, honest leadership where we hold our legislators accountable.
I too believe in putting the national interests over the special interests. I also believe in putting principle above politics. The bottom line is, I believe we can do better. I believe we must do better.
Be assured of my firm commitment to lead the charge for this forward-thinking nation, highlighting the way to political maturity - the way of a New Bahamas.
o Dr. Hubert Minnis is the leader of the Free National Movement and the official opposition.

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