Dear Editor,
One may refer to the current prime minister as many things, positive and negative, but no one is able to deny that he is a 'master' at smoke and mirrors.  The Free National Movement (FNM) has been in power for almost five long years.  Their propaganda machinery has sought, successfully, in a number of cases, to portray the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) as bumbling, inept and out of touch with the electorate.
The blame game, however, must stop at some point and the FNM must face the reality of the fact that it is 'in charge' and has been for the last five years or so.  What the PLP 'failed' to do or did not do is food for thought, but the buck stops at the feet of the prime minister and his crew.
For the most part, the FNM has heaped taxes on the backs of the small man and woman in this country in an attempt, albeit a vain one, to address the fiscal imbalances brought on by its own cockeyed and tired economic policies.  To start a business in The Bahamas today is exorbitant, challenging and dysfunctional in the extreme.  The 'new' business license application form is beyond a rocket scientist's pay scale.  If a potential business entrepreneur wishes to access Crown land or a simple bank loan, the hurdles are almost insurmountable.
Last year, electricity was turned off at the behest, allegedly, of management at the Bahamas Electricity Corporation (BEC) here in New Providence.  Scores of Bahamian homeowners were foreclosed on by The Bahamas Mortgage Corporation, headed by the compassionate and caring Senator Dr. Duane Sands.  Bahamians were told, allegedly, that they needed not to apply for the acquisition of shares or a beneficial ownership in certain Bahamian enterprises.
Now that we are in the general electoral mode, bogus political and other promises are being made and proffered to all and sundry by all and sundry.  BEC has been 'ordered' to reconnect consumers whose accounts are grossly in arrears.  Short-term jobs and employment opportunities are being offered to even the most unqualified, seemingly on a political basis.  Soft 'loans' are being made available to every Tom, Dick and Harry, regardless allegedly, of the lack of a business plan.
Haitians and others who never had the 'ghost' of a chance of acquiring citizenship or naturalization are being processed almost at the drop of a hat.  The FNM's minister of immigration has announced, rightly so, that he will not be seeking reelection.
The minister of labour is deathly silent on the spate of unprecedented lay-offs and terminations within the private sector.  Foulkes is a long-term friend and benefactor, but he has 'fallen' down as a proactive minister.  Indeed, his stance and pronouncements would appear to be reactionary, at best.
The prime minister is to be seen all over the place opening every school, government building and 'chicken' shack ad nauseum.  He is also, as minister of finance, approving the awarding of all manner of contracts for this and that.  He and his administration in these so-called economic hard times have, allegedly, found hundreds of thousands of dollars to clean up and open the sports stadium. Those Chinese left the stadium in a mess, or did they?
Ministers and others in the FNM administration appear to be abandoning their once 'safe' seats in droves.  Desmond Bannister has left Carmichael.  Zhivargo Laing (the preacher man) has left Marco City to fend for himself; Phenton "Black Out" Neymour has 'gone back home' and Michael Pintard, the Fox Hill 'homeboy', has hightailed it down to Cat Island and San Salvador.  All what is left now is for the political dinosaurs to be elected in traditionally 'white' constituencies.
Our politicians, across the board, would appear to have 'sold' us out to partisan interests and to 'hell' with the average Bahamian.  They all give a 'good' speech, but are they realistic and genuine?  The bamboozle is now in full swing and the shaving cream is being dished out big time.
Bahamians, or those of us who are indigenous, must come to the stark realization that "there are, in fact, more of them than us".  This is the last lap for Perry Christie and Hubert Ingraham.  This may well be the only lap for Branville McCartney, seeing that history and political precedents have not been too kind to those who 'also ran'.
I make no bones about it, the upcoming general election will be crucial to the way forward for this nation.  Ingraham is a tired man and Christie is not too far behind.  Branville is full of himself, in my view, and full of utopian promises.  What will it be and what will not be the final outcome?
To God then, in all things, be the glory, for there are yet great things He will do.
- Ortland H. Bodie Jr.
 

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