Shortly following the success of the Free National Movement at the polls last May, Prime Minister Hubert Minnis declared the intent to deviate from his predecessors regarding national administration.
He decided to put in place several Offices of the Prime Minister, to be operated by ministers of state. For Grand Bahama, that meant a change from a government ministry out of the norm, to a more hands-on approach vehicle. The Office of the Prime Minister in GB, under the direction of Minister of State, Senator Kwasi Thompson has proven to be more connected to the people.
It’s been just eight months, but to be frank, thus far, Thompson as the point person, has proven to be more in touch than Dr. Michael Darville was on behalf of the Progressive Liberal Party Government. To be fair to Dr. Darville, he was placed in a tough situation. He was given a ministry that had absolutely no clout. When he sat around the table with other Cabinet Ministers, he had no meaningful leverage. In fact, he was subservient and dependent on the blessings of substantive ministers.
Unfortunately for Dr. Darville and the residents of Grand Bahama the establishment of a ministry on this island was a mere political move and not progressive at all, as it turned out. The Office of the Prime Minister in GB has Dr. Hubert Minnis sitting at the head of the Cabinet table. He can speak, and has done so to our issues, in full support of Senator Thompson.
Thus far, yes, we on this island are better off with the Office of the PM rather than the no-teeth Ministry of Grand Bahama. Senator Thompson sounds more believable. Dr. Darville often seemed to just be mouthing words for political benefit and could not always be counted on to deliver on a promise or a government pledge.
He was in fact, very much in the mold of the former governing party and its leader, inclined to promise a whole lot with few follow-ups and many stalled projects. In Grand Bahama alone, the PLP was kicked out of power with four major projects (Smith’s Point Sea wall, Fishing Hole Road Bridge, Junior High School project in Holmes Rock and the Administration Complex in upper Eight Mile Rock) far behind schedule.
The hurricanes were not fully the reason either. The previous government simply did not address its commitments for the People of Grand Bahama with zeal. Another major indictment for Dr. Darville and the PLP as far as Grand Bahama is concerned, was never being able to fully explain the statement made by former Minister in Charge of Hurricane Restoration, Shane Gibson, who said Darville (through the then government) had spent almost one million dollars on clean-up efforts following Hurricane Matthew. Grand Bahamians could not relate to that declaration because it was clear what had and was being done by other parties. So, the Ministry of Grand Bahama did not work out well for the island and its residents. That system just didn’t work.
Thompson, through the Office of the Prime Minister in GB is challenged to continue operating on a different and more positive course.
