Hubert Ingraham is no dictator

Thu, Apr 19th 2012, 08:35 AM

Dear Editor,

I write in response to a column written by Phillip Galanis on April 16, 2012, entitled "Are we headed for dictatorship?".
As a former member of Parliament of the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP), Galanis appears to have amnesia when it comes to remembering the dictatorship style of governance under the PLP for 25 years. Anyone old enough to remember the Pindling era would recall the PLPs' belief that they and only they were entitled to run this country. Anyone who dared disagree or speak up against Lynden Pindling would feel his wrath in one way or the other.
Prior to every election ZNS was ordered to play the movie "Roots". Bahamians were threatened that if they did not vote right they could be at risk of losing their jobs. Anything to be aired on ZNS TV or radio had to be pre-approved by the PLP manager.
Hubert Ingraham, Sir Cecil Wallace Whitfield and others disagreed with the corruption within the PLP and the way the country was headed. Immediately after, these men were fired by Lynden Pindling.
It was the FNM government led by Hubert Ingraham that restored democracy to The Bahamas. I shall bring several facts to Galanis' attention to refute any claims he may have of the honorable prime minister being a dictator.
1. Since 1992, Hubert Ingraham and the FNM have issued over 20 radio and TV licenses to deepen the democracy in this country. Every Bahamian can now voice his or her own opinion whether or not they agree with or support the present government - unheard of under the PLP.
2. It was Hubert Ingraham and the FNM who in 1992 provided the Family Islands with the basic necessities such as electricity, proper running water, paved roads and proper telephone service. Under the PLP these same people remained oppressed.
3. It was Hubert Ingraham and the FNM who introduced unemployment benefits, free medical clinics, an increase in National Insurance Board pension payments, the fresh start program, food stamps, minimum wage, increased the scholarship program and implemented the national prescription drug program for the benefit of all Bahamians.
4. It was Hubert Ingraham and the FNM who produced the first manifesto in 1992 - a book by which the Bahamian people could hold the government accountable for its promises. Unheard of under the PLP until 2002, when it copied this idea and came out with Our Plan.
5. It was Hubert Ingraham who ensured that as the leader of a party, he would not tolerate corrupt and scandalous behavior from MPs - unheard of under the PLP.
6. It was Hubert Ingraham who implemented the property tax exemption for any Bahamian who owned a house valued $100,000 or under.
The above facts are in no way indicative of the behavior of a dictator and Galanis' observation is both delusional and disingenuous. I admire Ingraham for being a strong decisive leader with a vision for The Bahamas. As one looks at the behavior of the MPs under Perry Christie's leadership, there is no doubt that Ingraham is a better leader by far.
Galanis' quote, "How fortunate for leaders that men do not think", is correct when one wonders why after the PLP's failure to run this country has been proven over and over again it would still have the amount of supporters it does. Any right thinking Bahamian would recall the PLP in its last five years of governance and realize that a promise is a comfort to a fool and the PLP is incapable of making anything other than promises it cannot and will not deliver.

- Marsha Knowles

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