INGRAHAMISM: PART ONE

By Dr. Kevin J. Alcena

                          "Deo adjuvante, non timendum."

                           "With God as My Helper, I have

                                        nothing to fear."

            Former Prime Minister Hubert A. Ingraham is building an interesting powerful momentum in this country.  This has nothing to do with Prime Minister Perry Christie but because of the attitude and elitist position of some of his Cabinet Ministers.  The irony that the great economic success of foreign investments has brought to the Bahamas is that there are Bahamian politicians who are trying to stifle Bahamian entrepreneurs.  Many Bahamian businessmen are trying to succeed but through very frustrating processes.  The economics are not trickling down.  Many of the bureaucrats are vindictive and are hi-jacking the PLP Government as a result of corruption and unethical matters.  From a micro and macro point of view, the entire Bahamian system is being hi-jacked by individuals with personal agendas.  These individuals are causing the government millions of dollars in litigation, which could affect our national debt.  The Ingraham Administration would never have allowed this.  The Christie Administration needs to establish an ombudsman expeditiously. 

            The PLP must remember that they won by four percent of the popular votes and that means only four percent of the people shifted.  Statistically speaking, if you frustrate 1,000 Bahamians, it could mean political tragedy for the PLP Government, as they could lose the government.  Bahamian political tolerance is at a zero level.

Mr. Ingraham is building a momentum.  In 1992, he brought back Bahamian credibility, respectability and economic success that we are experiencing for which he should be commended.   However, as mentioned in my previous article last Friday the Prime Minister was given an A+ for his performance as his government has done remarkably well in the fiscal management of the country.  We must be mindful of the fact that the former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham and the current Prime Minister Perry Christie are very good friends.  Therefore, the political web of hate and deception is contradictory.

There is no doubt that Prime Minister Christie is one of the most dynamic and charismatic Prime Ministers the Bahamas and the region have inherited.  The question is: is the Prime Minister accessible to the common man on the street?  Remember that the late Prime Minister Sir Lynden Pindling was accessible to the common man and former Prime Minister Ingraham was and still is accessible to the common man, regardless of their political persuasion.  The PLP gives the perception that it is not a government of a level playing field to the common man who overwhelmingly put them in power.  The teachers should not be crying under the PLP government.  The Defence Force Officers should have had salary increases and promotion under the PLP government. The situation of next Commodore at the Defence Force should not have been.  Captain Anthony Allens should succeed Commodore Davey Rolle.  But this is not the case.  This wait-and-see and indecisiveness has people very frustrated.   No former cook or former political cabinet minister's son-in-law should become commodore.  What have we reduced our country to - political clientelism? Here is where the problem lies.  Clearly, Captain Anthony Allens and Godfrey Rolle are the men for the job.

The only level playing field in the Bahamas now is the court.  The two greatest things about Mr. Ingraham are honesty and hardwork.  That is what governments are about - helping their people to secure their future; not to frustrate them, particularly entrepreneurs and deserving government bureaucrats.

Some of the PLP politicians who used to be great defenders of human rights are the greatest deceivers and animal farm players.  They create political clientelism and nepotism.  It is obvious. I could recall trying to speak with a particular Cabinet Minister who would say "call me, call me" but is never available.  Other politicians are very approachable, namely: The Hon. Cynthia Pratt, The Hon. Allyson Maynard-Gibson, The Hon. Vincent Peet, The Hon. Glenys Hanna-Martin, The Hon Leslie Miller, The Hon. Bradley Roberts, and The Hon. Bernard Nottage.  These politicians would stop and talk with you. However, some Cabinet Ministers are very superficial and people are very concerned.  The Former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham drives himself around and walks in neighbourhoods meeting people and building social momentum and the people love it.  He has not removed himself from the people.

            The House of Ingraham is firmly built and anchored upon three perpetual gifts bestowed upon Mr. Hubert Ingraham by his grandmother.  The rock of grandmother's wit, which she endowed him with, the foundation of his grandmother's love, which sustained Mr. Ingraham through his early years and the cornerstone of her divinely spiritual blessing given to him in perpetuity.  By faith and discernment, not reason, we understand his miraculous, mystical rise from boyhood obscurity to the highest office in the land.  Like Joseph, he has risen from simple beginnings, and overcome adversity and betrayal of biblical proportions to lead his people.

            But there is an element in our Bahamaland of rapacious wickedness and all consuming envy, a "generation of vipers" under the guise of so-called elite Bahamians who parade as society's 'ladies and gentlemen', who cannot accept that against all odds a poor, little, black nobody, who wasn't Mr. So and So's son or daughter, or a member of the 40's - 50's class of an elitist school, rose to become Prime Minister of this country and broke the back of their elitist, classist clique.

            Former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham has put these superficial, egotistical misfits into perpetual confusion because he doesn't entertain their incestuous, warped sense of snobbery and illusions of grandeur.  Mr. Ingraham does not rub shoulders or bend to their whip.  Mr. Ingraham has learned well that the greatest of all insults is to ignore them, and they are angry.  In their frustration, these social and intellectual snobs can only resort to their pretentious schoolboy tactics to sneer and jeer disdainfully at the social and educational pedigree of the man who was their master and chosen leader of this country, now the Opposition leader.  The abomination of classism is worse and more wicked than the sin of racism.  The supreme arrogance and ignorance of these misfits is the real 'black crab' tragedy of our community and it makes me ashamed, embarrassed and angry.  Ashamed of these vacuous, haughty, shallow men who are consumed with the

jealous bigotry of social status and class elitism, when they themselves would have no status or station in life except for what Mr. Hubert Ingraham and Prime Minister Perry Christie and politics have given them.  Embarrassed because my own background of humble origin, raised by my grandmother, rebellious, self-educated in one of the three learned professions of divinity, economics and law, was not unlike that of Mr. Hubert Ingraham in many ways, and has always been used disparagingly as some kind of meaningless measuring stick of my worth as a man.  Angry because these unctuous, sanctimonious sycophants perpetuate their pompous, pretentious veneer of ersatz aristocracy in our community by maligning the character and achievements of a men far more worthy than themselves.   They are the classic "outhouse" opportunists with a parasitic agenda who need the societal clique to survive.

            They are the hypocrites and complainers who contribute nothing to make life better, but think that Prime Minister Perry Christie and Opposition Leader Hubert Ingraham owe them a rite of audience.  They cling to their empty, pathetic Fantasy Island lives, barricaded in their "acceptable" neighbourhoods against their roots and responsibilities and the very people of Dog Flea Alley, Quackoo and Broom Streets and Masons Addition who indirectly and directly paved the way for them to be where they are today, landing like aliens in their midst only as ritual demands every so often.  Even so, when passing by, they put up their car windows in shame and change their cell phone numbers.  Now they want another chance to be elected to annoy you and frustrate the entire process and the public servants.  It is not right.  Prime Minister Christie would be headed toward a political disaster if he uses most of the same ministers in the upcoming general election.  Mr. Ingraham has shown a new dynamism called change, tolerance and forgiveness.  He will focus on domestic success and domestic empowerment.  Mr. Ingraham understands the importance of Bahamians succeeding.  He understands the importance of an Ombudsman organization not appointed by committee but appointed by legislation.  Mr. Ingraham is not a man of committees but an action man.  Those who tend to take him out of context and those who tend to spread negative propaganda about Mr. Ingraham underestimate his tenacity and will to return as Prime Minister.  The thought of Mr. Ingraham's return has made people rethink their political agenda.  While our country's friend, Prime Minister Christie, has great potential, the problem lies in his delivery and several of his Cabinet Ministers.  We are in society to succeed not to be maligned or subjected to unfair processes.  We have rights and put them in power to help us not to derail us.  They have the audacity to think they are doing us a favour when we stop them on the street.  People are frustrated and not because of the economic situation.  In fact, I must commend the government for a successful economic period.  People are frustrated because of some of the politicians' attitudes and because they have to find money to go to court to arbitrate matters.  That’s the order of the day under the current administration.

            I have been one of the greatest critics and supporters of the former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham and I may not agree with Mr. Ingraham on many issues such as foreign policy or his style of leadership but accident of birth, station in life and one's educational background should never be made issues.  Common sense, common decency, common respect is what counts and Mr. Ingraham, like any man, deserves to be judged on his own

merit and not against any Emily Post societal snob checklist.

                                                "A wise man builds on rock

                                                A foolish man builds on sand

                                                And how can one enter into a strong man's house

                                                Unless it is divided against itself?"

COLLECTIVE CITIZENSHIP

by

Dr. Kevin J. Alcena

The Bahamas, as a nation, has undergone different political, social and economic phases towards the attainment of high national expectations that our founding fathers had envisioned.  While many nations underwent protracted and often extensive bloodshed towards becoming a nation, and even further years of extreme economic and social malfunctions, we have had relatively peaceful, planned and conceited development over the years, before and after independence.

The efforts of our leaders, both living and dead, speak eloquently of the tenacity and determination that have seen The Bahamas becoming a small, high income and successful nation, within a region prone to mediocrity, acrimonious pursuit of political power, racial tension, abandonment of homeland in pursuit of greener pastures, and very repressive and dictatorial governments.

The determination and perseverance that have led us so far to great success as a nation must not be taken for granted. We must realize that success is a virtue, which must be vigorously embraced and pursued. Success is not an attribute to any nation that must be attained, if the right attitude, planning, determination and vision are lacking. The uniqueness of our national success exemplifies our conscious self-restraint not to imbibe the unnecessary infiltration of alien cultures that self-destruct our national way of life and scuttle the dreams and struggle for national success.

Our collective determination has been our strength and providence. We must continue to be our own personal guards to ensure that we do not drift from the virtues that have led us to where we are today. In our daily lives as citizens of this great nation, we must meticulously strive to advance the cause of the nation’s success: politically, socially, economically and religiously. We must uphold the various components of the society that strongly reminds us of the sanctity of our beloved country: the independence of our nation; advancing the creed of our nationhood; and above all, our collective citizenship.

The foundation of our country: the family, the government; our economy; our environment; and our sovereignty must not and should not be compromised for anything else than the life we live. Our Leaders pre and post-colonial era; our service men and women; and most of our illustrious sons and daughters have demonstrated this stand.  We, in this generation, must continue to uphold the bedrock of our country against any external beliefs, culture, and values contrary to those that have kept and preserved the nation’s peace, friendliness, and the intrinsic essence that abound in our land.

The sanctity of the home and the family must be respected and upheld. The family structure must at all times be maintained and respected. This is the rudimentary and enduring aspect of meaningful socialization and internalization through which our teenagers and adolescent members of the community are inculcated with – the cultures and virtues that have made The Bahamas a unique, progressive nation we are today.  We must, in spite of the need to fulfil our diverse and multiple roles in the wider society, ensure that each Bahamian child is given the proper cultural upbringing, education and love for each other and the nation. This is the stage (pre-teen, teenagers, early adolescence) in life to imbibe in the child an understanding of the sacredness and singleness of life.

Failing to adhere to the family’s essence and structure has led to the current heightened crime level as fellow citizens are routinely maimed or killed for the sake of unscrupulous economic gain; sinful carnal relationships; adventure; egotist maladies; drugs and drug addiction; and simple exasperation. Our failing has caused the great many unwanted pregnancies, which in combination with other factors, deprived unfortunate teen fathers and mothers of the beautiful future that awaits them. We have failed our children for not providing them with the proper developmental task that would have led many to very stable and meaningful callings, thus depriving many of them, the same family they need for their stability and the nation’s stability.

 It is our collective responsibility for the upbringing of the youths of this nation. This would help us build a consciousness that is deep bonding as the youths become leaders of their time, thus creating a new political dispensation that further guarantee our nation’s progress. We are blessed to have a political atmosphere devoid of acrimony and physical hostilities. How long could we have this peaceful, political atmosphere if youths, filled with violence in mind and are recidivists to crime, mature to become leaders of tomorrow?

We must collectively prepare the nation’s growing political leaders-to-be to continue the path the country has charted since its creation - political leaders that do not condone mediocrity, rancor, incivility and greed.

The collectivity and continuity of our ordered and stable “lifestyle” should be embraced alongside the preservation of our environment. We, as a nation, are currently basking in the embrace of nature that attracts tourists in great numbers. The use of our land must strictly be for national development and preservation purposes only, and should be paramount to the political rhetoric of attracting foreign investors with vested personal interests.  Any controversy regarding areas of national importance should constructively be considered in our national interest first, before dangling the economic benefits to the people.

In addition, it is our collective interest for the upliftment of the nation’s future growth and geo-landscape development that all pieces of land located 30 feet from the sea exclusive of currently developed sites should be preserved as national frontiers to serve multidimensional purposes, beautification and sustainable development.

We have to come together from all aspects of life to bridge the gap and lay the foundation of tomorrow’s greatness. No nation is worth recognition, if there is no collectiveness amongst the citizenry. Collectively we can withstand the threat of globalization through World Trade Organization (WTO) and Free Trade Areas of the Americas (FTAA) through our resourcefulness and dedication to the nations.

August 18, 2006