Dr. Hubert Minnis celebrated his 60th birthday on Wednesday at Gambier Primary with students. It made a nice photo op to see the leader of the opposition and Free National Movement (FNM) interacting with the children of his constituency.
Minnis is a leader under threat. His deputy, Loretta Butler-Turner, is already on her unofficial campaign against him to be leader. And his deputy chairman, Dr. Duane Sands, is doing the same.
Sometimes it's hard to figure out who is the FNM leader. One day Minnis says something, then Butler-Turner makes a statement, soon to be followed by Sands who doesn't ever want to miss making a headline. You have to speak aggressively and regularly in the FNM if you want to stand out from your competitors.
While speaking with the media on his birthday, however, Minnis went beyond aggressive. He was insensitive when he compared the governing Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) with the lost Malaysian airline that went missing more than a month ago.
"They are reminding me of the Malaysian airline that's lost and the entire world is looking for it," Minnis said.
"This government is lost. We want them out so that we can get a government like us that is more focused and put The Bahamas back on track because we don't know where The Bahamas is going."
That airline, Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, went missing on March 8 during a flight from Malaysia to Beijing. There were 227 passengers and 12 crew members onboard. It has still not been located. Those people are feared dead.
Minnis' comments came in response to a statement Minister of National Security Dr. Bernard Nottage made a week ago. The minister, who is responsible for referenda, said he was not aware if a date had been determined for the promised constitutional referendum on gender equality.
There is renewed focused on the referendum as Prime Minister Perry Christie had said it would take place before June. Last October, Christie said the constitutional bills would be brought to Parliament before the end of 2013 and passed by February 2014. However, no such bills have been introduced.
Chairman of the Constitutional Commission Sean McWeeney has said the government may have to delay the referendum for a third time.
The Christie government is lost on this issue. Minnis is correct on that. He showed poor judgment, though, by using a tragedy to make his point.
It is embarrassing enough for Minnis to make such an insensitive statement in The Bahamas. But imagine if he, as prime minister, made such a statement abroad. He would have drawn international rebuke and embarrassed his country.
We know Minnis is under pressure to prove himself to his party and the country. It has not been an easy ride for him since he took over from Hubert Ingraham, the only man to lead the FNM to victory. Some in Minnis' party have concluded he does not have the stuff to lead the party to success.
They have already started lining up behind candidates to oppose him at the next party convention. Minnis must not, however, allow this pressure to lead him to uttering nonsense or insensitivity.
He can do better than that. He must do better than that if he is to fight off Butler-Turner and Sands. He must do better than that if he hopes to one day lead us as prime minister.
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