Government can last its full term

tribune242 editorial

Nassau, The Bahamas

THE young turks can sheath their swords because, with the Constitution on his side, only the Bahamian people can end Prime Minister Ingraham's term of office. Election day will determine his fate.

Behind the scenes this week, many conspiracies were being hatched to provoke a constitutional crisis. It was speculated that two FNM MPs, whose constituencies were eliminated by the Boundaries Commission, had plans to resign on the floor of the House yesterday. This did not happen, nor is it expected to happen. But if it does, no matter how the numbers are crunched it will not shake the Ingraham government before election day -- just five months away.

The Tribune was reliably informed over the weekend that in an attempt to create problems for Mr Ingraham, Mrs Verna Grant, Eight Mile Rock MP, and Mr Kendal Wright, Clifton MP, planned to resign their soon-to-be non-existent House seats and cross the floor. It was unclear whether they would go as Independents, or join one of the two Opposition parties.

As soon as she saw her name in print on Monday morning, we understand that Mrs Grant made it clear to her party leader that she had no intention of resigning. Mr Wright on the other hand has said nothing. However, as he moves in and out of the House, his body language betrays discontent.

In speaking to the Press yesterday, Mr Ingraham said he has not been contacted by Mr Wright, nor does he expect to be.

In this column on Monday, we speculated what could happen if the two members resigned, from both the party and the government. Many numbers were crunched leaving a 20-20 tie on the floor of the House, which would be unworkable and could hasten an election.

However, with an election so near, government could run its full term under section 67(1) of the Constitution. Whenever the House is dissolved, government will have 90 days' grace before an election has to be called.

However, under the Constitution and with an election so near, no matter which way the politicians manoeuvre in the House, the Ingraham government can easily ride out its full term.

As someone commented yesterday, Britain has given us a good constitution. No Bahamian will ever wake up one morning to find that he has no government. Within an extended time period, the government continues until an election is called and a new government returned.

It's based on the same principle as the announcement made on the death of a monarch: "The King is dead; long live the King."

There was also talk this week of holding a vote of "no confidence" in the Prime Minister at yesterday's House sitting. That did not happen. As was pointed out, if the whole House voted against him, Mr Ingraham did not have to resign until an election was called.

The Prime Minister can dissolve the House at any time, but he does not have to call an election for another 90 days after dissolution. Should a member resign, a by-election has to be called within 60 days, unless the House is dissolved sooner, which puts it back into the 90-day bracket.

So whichever way it goes, and no matter the machinations, the election will probably be called on the date that Mr Ingraham has already planned.

PLP MPs have criticised the Ingraham government for not allowing enough time for election candidates to get to know their constituencies. Either these politicians have no memory or they have no shame. Five years is a short time to have a total memory loss.

At this time five years ago - the 2007 election-- then prime minister Christie had not yet closed the Register of Voters, as a consequence the Boundaries Commission could make no decision about the boundaries. The voters register did not close until March 12, 2007 - two months before the elections were held.

In preparation for the 2012 election not only was the Voters Register closed on time this year, but the Boundaries Commission has already reported. Candidates will soon be able to introduce themselves to their constituents, not as five years ago when by the time candidates received the names of persons in their areas, it was so close to the election wire that they hardly had time to go over the voters list before getting into the districts. That was one of the most ill-planned, ill-executed elections that has probably ever been held.

And today politicians complain. Really they make themselves look silly because they have nothing to complain about, certainly if they can crank up their memories and recall 2007.

December 08, 2011

tribune242 editorial

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