Promises And Price Tags:
Bahama Journal Editorial -
Nassau, Bahamas:

Both major political parties have put forward –albeit belatedly- their manifestos and covenants. These documents are politically important; containing as they do implied contracts with the Bahamian people.

These documents can make or rue the day for any or all who renege on promises that have been put forward in black and white.

For the moment, our only advice to all who would read, all who would lead and all who would vote is that they should remember that promises always come freighted with price tags.

The public wants to know whether those who would lead from the helm have what it takes to speak to the issues that would distinguish one leader from the other.

The debates we talk about should be pitched to this type of thinking Bahamian voter. We make this call in a context where it is conceded that both major parties have a tremendous amount of crowd support as witnessed by what has been happening at the mass rallies.

For some weeks now, both the Progressive Liberal Party and the Opposition Free National Movement have made it their business to rally their troops.

Based on crowd size, both have been spectacularly successful. Each has been successful in attracting its share of that ‘Look at the people- sized crowd.’

We suspect that some of their political operatives and strategists have finally figured out that such large displays may not give them the full information they need about what will actually happen come Wednesday, April 2nd 2007.

The whispered word that we are hearing is that both parties are both gravitating to a view that the Election Day decision could be heavily influenced by two minorities of Bahamians. On the one hand, there is that group of Bahamians who have decided not to register. On the other is that sliver of independent minded Bahamians who could vote for either side.

We are convinced that the general elections will be won or lost by one party or the other depending on how their written statements or manifestos are received by that minority of Bahamians who do read and who do actually weigh issues.

And here we revert to a suggestion previously made concerning debates; which is that there should be a wide ranging debate on the issues between Bahamas Democratic Movement leader Cassius Stuart, Progressive Liberal Party leader the Rt. Hon. Perry Gladstone Christie and Free National Movement leader the Rt. Hon. Hubert Alexander Ingraham.

We go further and suggest that this would be a tonic for all those Bahamians who relish a bit more than cheers, jeers and rake and scrape served up on any night of the week to a wildly receptive mass audience.

These Bahamians want to see their leaders defend their positions. These same Bahamians –albeit a minority- want to hear their leaders debate the issues.

We make the additional point that it is this minority that will actually make it its business to read manifestos and covenants sent its way.

And as we have previously indicated, in the search for votes the ruling Progressive Liberal Party and its nemesis the Free National Movement have both sought – as they should – the support of the masses of Bahamian people.

They have done so using any number of wildly popular appeals; inclusive of cheers, jeers and other such repartee.

Such seems to be par for the course in getting the message to the masses in a Bahamas where so much hangs on how the people - in the mass - vote. From one point of view, this is not at all surprising.

Indeed, there is evidence galore to support the proposition that Election Time is somehow considered ‘party time’ for so very many people. And quite evidently, there will be hype, shenanigans and any other amount of fun stuff.

In time, this kind of public display begins to play out.

We suspect that this is precisely what is happening now that Election Time is upon us.

We are also convinced that it has finally dawned on both major political parties that they must now reach out to that discerning minority that, come Election Day, may well make the difference that counts.

As we have already indicated, all roads now lead to Election Day, May 2, 2007.

On that date, the voice of the people will roar.

Once that cry comes forth, some will hear the mournful cry that they have been weighed in the people’s balances and have been found wanting.

This crew will then be expected to slink away and tend to the business at hand, namely licking their wounds and wondering to themselves how they could ever be so wrong.

24 April 2007