The issue of Prime Minister Perry Christie's intervention to help Ishmael Lightbourne, his value-added tax (VAT) consultant, not lose his home has been debated in the public sphere for several weeks now. This newspaper initially reported that Lightbourne had not paid real property tax for years. Then it was revealed that he was significantly behind on his mortgage payments on his home to CIBC FirstCaribbean bank to the extent that the bank went to court to take possession of it. Lightbourne is a former Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) candidate and senator.
Christie intervened with the bailiff who came some weeks ago to seize the house. He then intervened with the bank's managing director, Marie Rodland-Allen, to help Lightbourne. That last intervention worked for a time. However, yesterday police and a locksmith could be seen at Lightbourne's home in western New Providence. It appears as if it has finally been seized.
What has angered so many Bahamians about this matter is that Lightbourne seems to be on a list of people who get "special second chances" from really special people in high office; this at a time when there is 15 percent unemployment and thousands of Bahamians who have lost their homes since the Great Recession. Those people had no one to call. Those people had no one who would give them a six-figure job. Those people had no one who would make a call on their behalf to rescue them from eviction.
Yet, to this day, our prime minister still does not understand why some criticize him for "helping" a Bahamian in "need".
Christie gave an impassioned defense of his actions while in the House of Assembly several weeks ago and yesterday he indicated his move to prevent Lightbourne's home from being repossessed was an effort to help the bank recoup its losses.
"It is trite to believe that a prime minister separates himself and helps one person," Christie said at the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation's National Conclave of Chambers of Commerce at SuperClubs Breezes resort. "I have [helped] hundreds.
"And please, tell them if they have them lined up, people who need advice, send them all to me. Send them all.
"Let them see that I govern myself with both head and heart, but also that I have a day-to-day relationship with the financial community where there is mutual respect and understanding and any involvement on my part or my government's part is to help the bank... not to help the individual. The bank has it."
The prime minister, however, did not explain specifically what help he offered those other families, nor did he identify those he assisted.
Christie's comments on this issue, and his conduct, indicate that he is starting to lose touch with the mood of his people. Bahamians do not want to hear how difficult life is for a PLP six-figure earner who does not pay real property tax and his mortgage in a timely manner, if at all. Bahamians do not want to hear their prime minister passionately defending such a person as if he is the most needy welfare case in the country. Bahamians also do not want to hear nonsensical rationalizations such as, "I intervened to help the bank." Simply put, Lightbourne was "one of the boys".
To be fair to Christie, he is by no means the first prime minister to help a friend who was accustomed to the good life. This matter, however, leaked into the public sphere and demonstrated to regular Bahamians how good life is when you are close to the chief.
PLPs keep jumping up to defend Lightbourne and Christie in this matter. Those younger members of the party should be careful with this. After 40 years in public life, it is not surprising that the PM is out of touch with his people. But for the party's next generation, if they want to be perceived as different, they should think carefully before giving sycophantic commendations to a leader who helped a friend who was by no means among the least of us.

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