A Retrospective Commentary

by Larry Smith

From 1979 to 1983 I wrote a column for the Tribune in a different era (under the nom-de-plume ‘Monitor”). Those commentaries were focused on ZNS television news coverage, which at the time was strictly controlled by the Progressive Liberal Party government under Lynden Pindling.

But although some two decades have passed since these commentaries were written, the context is discernible, many of the personalities are still around, and the issues continue to resonate. Of course, since private broadcasting opened up the air waves in the early 1990s, younger readers may not appreciate the political censorship that existed when these pieces were written.

In fact, news management was so partisan back then, that the following comments may appear one-sided to some. But that is the fault of the politicians alone. These tongue-in-cheek excerpts offer some interesting parallels with current events.

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In October 1979 the PLP held its 24th annual convention. It was the first time that 36-year-old Perry Christie participated as a cabinet minister. Prime Minister Pindling unveiled a package of social initiatives which he described as the second phase of the PLP’s ‘quiet revolution’...

Last week we saw the greatest show on earth – about 10 hours worth of the PLP’s 24th annual convention.

The live coverage began with Brenville Hanna’s introduction of every delegate in the hall. And while Brenville was introducing everyone, Charles Carter would come on to tell us what Brenville was doing: “He’s introducing the delegates now,” Mr Carter would say.

But it was Chairman Dud Maynard’s introduction by Minky Isaacs that really got us going. “When we think of Dud, we think of Lola,” said Mr Isaacs mysteriously. “Loyalty, Organisation, Love and Admiration – that’s what Dud is.” Oh, now we understand.

“Dud gets things done, even though you mightn’t like how he does them.” Well, we can certainly agree with that sentiment.

The PM delivered a 40-page address on “The Quiet Revolution – Part Two”. We have no quarrel with his words – only the ways in which they are sometimes implemented or not implemented, as the case may be.

We were subjected to more of this all week – not only live coverage but repeat coverage on every newscast. We doubt whether any living Bahamian managed to escape.

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In the early 1980s the PLP was at the height of its power, and the “insolence of office” had a chilling effect on Bahamian journalism, particularly at ZNS. Arthur Foulkes, a journalist who was once one of the PLP’s fiercest proponents, now castigated the government for its “endemic flaws and failings”...

The arcane reluctance to hand out information – especially in the civil service – is partly based on our colonial decision-making process. The minister makes the decisions and everyone else is afraid to step on his toes.

Initiative, openness and common sense are weeded out of the system. And we are left with suspicion, hostility and fear.

Several factors are at play here: There are obvious political reasons – such as the refusal to publish unemployment figures. There are professional reasons – such as the incapacity of some to deal with information when they get it. And there is the natural tendency in a small society to preserve what little privacy is left us.

TV-13 amplifies these factors so that the end result is a concocted testimony to the government’s political health and greater glory. This authoritarian system must be checked before too much damage is done to our constitutional right of freedom of speech and information, upon which all our other freedoms rest.

Those responsible for the station could start by being a little more flexible in their views. It only needs a gradual movement. There’s no need to hire Arthur Foulkes as news director.

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In the early 1980s, South Africa was a major cause celebre in the Commonwealth and we were quite rightly aligned with the so-called “frontline African states”. At the time, Fred Mitchell was the political commissar at ZNS, in his propaganda prime. This comment was sparked by one small example of his influence...

Although we do not dispute the racist character of the South African government, we do not need the adjective “racist” to be inserted before every reference to that country. That is not acceptable journalism – that is opinion. Should we likewise refer to the US as “capitalist America” or to the Bahamas as “crook’s hang-out”?

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The 1950s-vintage Emerald Beach Hotel was demolished by a huge explosion in 1979 to make way for the government-owned Cable Beach Hotel (often dubbed “we” hotel). The demolition was a major event in our sleepy town that stopped traffic, made a lot of noise and drew hundreds of spectators...

One of the largest buildings in the Bahamas was blown up Wednesday but the event passed unnoticed on TV-13.

The 213-room main section of the five-storey Emerald Beach Hotel was brought down in a matter of seconds by explosive charges around 4pm Wednesday. The press were there, So were spectators, police, workers and officials. Traffic was halted, flares were fired and sirens wailed, but ZNS news was oblivious to all this going on right under their proverbial noses.

We have no idea why. Perhaps their camera crews were sick, or they were too busy covering some political non-event elsewhere, or someone forgot about it, or the news director felt it went against editorial policy.

And the next morning’s radio report also failed to acknowledge publicly that the Emerald Beach was no longer with us, despite the fact that the news had appeared in both daily newspapers. It wasn’t until Thursday night that viewers were finally informed of the hotel’s demise...

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In 1982, Everette Bannister, the ‘consultant’ who received a $300,000 finder’s fee for selling the Paradise Island bridge to the government, was involved with an American named Abe Lieber in a world-class scandal said to involve widespread payoffs to government officials in return for extensive commercial “arrangements”.

ZNS was faced with an appalling problem of news management Wednesday. How to handle the politically damaging accusations levelled against Everette Bannister by Mike Lightbourn in the House.

They solved the problem by saying only that “a Bahamian businessman” had been charged with “political peddling” (whatever that is). Despite the fact that Mr Bannister had been identified in the newspapers and in parliament, ZNS referred to him only as the mysterious ‘EB’.

On Thursday, EB foiled this plan by calling a press conference and identifying himself. EB called Lightbourn a liar and then refused to answer questions at his own press conference.

While ZNS obligingly ran EB’s complete denial, it failed to mention the stupendous charges against him, except to say he was accused of being a front man. Neither did EB address the charges against himself. Could it perhaps be that EB doesn’t read, but just watches TV so he won’t know all the charges against him in the first place?

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There was much criticism of TV-13 in its early days for a lack of educational programming. One response was the 1979 quiz show ‘It’s Academic’, which pitted teams of high school students against each other, becoming quite a hit...

The students had to say what type of meat came from what animal – as in pork from pig. All went well until St Andrew’s was asked to trace the ancestry of veal: “Cow” ventured one student. “Wrong” declared the quizmaster...”veal comes from lamb”.

And on the strength of that incorrect answer the championship went to Government High. Representatives of the Ministry of Education (which produces the show) stepped out to award a set of encyclopaedias to the winning team.

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Kentucky Fried Chicken was a major advertiser on TV-13, which we suppose was one of the reasons for this lead item on a newscast in 1980...

The Tuesday newscast featured a long report on the unfortunate death of Col Harlan Saunders of fried chicken fame. ZNS awarded Col Saunders almost as much air time as some of our late national heroes.

“Colonel Harlan Saunders – dead at 90,” intoned Mike Smith with scarcely a smile.

We look forward to the televised obituaries of other international greats like Arthur Treacher, Wendy, Ronald McDonald and the Burger King.

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The 1981 teachers strike was a seminal political event. There were real free speech issues involved; and BUT leaders Leonard Archer, Cecil Curling and others endured much government abuse as a result...

Thursday’s newscast was a monument to outrageous self-deception. For the first time there was a report on the teachers’ activities.

They chanted abuse at Calsey Johnson and then proceeded to burn him in effifgy – an action which Charles carter likened to “a ku klux klan ceremony.”

Mr Carter was most incensed at these unseemly goings-on outside his station. He could not understand what all these “educated people” were making such a fuss about.

There was no mention of the fact that the teachers were prevented from placing a paid ad, that throughout almost two weeks of the strike not one word from any of their spokesmen had been broadcast, that crude attempts had been made by ZNS chiefs to discredit them, and that the broadcasting corporation had acted like a strike-breaker - scabbing for the government.

It did not seem to occur to Mr Carter that these matters were of any concern to the teachers or to the public.

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Also in 1981, BEC was responsible for a major blackout that lasted 14 days and caused untold economic damage and frustration. But not long afterwards ZNS staged a series of presentations glorifying the corporation and its management...

Charles Carter’s Focus show featured a boring conversation with BEC chiefs Bruce Braynan and Peter Bethel to mark the utility’s 25th anniversary.

Little time was lost on the two-week blackout this summer which did so much damage to tourism and frozen foods. Mr Braynan said it best when he disclosed that all he did was “stay away from the public as much as possible.”

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And finally, here is an entirely non-political piece about a wonderful new burial ground that opened with much fanfare on Solider Road in 1979...

Woodlawn Gardens has taken graveyard advertising to new depths.

In their new TV commercial the narrator (making a rather large presumption), tells us that Woodlawn is our “pathway to paradise”. And – you will be relieved to hear – loved ones receive perpetual care at Woodlawn.

“Terms are available for everyone” croons the announcer. Sure, you just have to be dead. “And automatic insurance is included.” Insurance against what? Dry rot?

Local cemetery consumers will be pleased to know that they can buy a double plot at Woodlawn now. “Just step into the sales office on site” – they even have a model home to show you. Why not make somebody happy this Christmas by getting them a grave?

So don’t wait until it’s too late, or you may end up in some nondescript churchyard lumped together with other unfortunates who didn’t rush down to Woodlawn with a cash down payment. Just think where they will be 50 years from now.

Whereas at Woodlawn, it’s not the end. It’s the beginning.

Comments

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Jasmind

Please forward this to Mr. Charles Carter