The Project to Get Foreign Investors to Vote for the PLP in the Last Election

by Larry Smith

"It is a common delusion that you make things better by talking about them." -- Rose Macauley

After watching the recent exchange in parliament over the PLP's so-called "hail to the chief" promotional book, I decided to take a closer look.

Of course, the book's real title is The Bahamas 2007 Special Report. It was produced at exorbitant cost by Caribbean Investment Profiles, a British PR firm, and is perhaps best described as a "souvenir to folly". The book was delivered just before the May 2 general election and was therefore instantly out of date.

To be fair, a similar glossy publication produced by the same firm was commissioned by the previous Ingraham administration in February 2001 - a few months before the world-changing September 11 terror attacks on the United States.

That one numbered 162 pages. But the Christie version has a whopping 290 pages. And it cost the country 400,000 pounds for 10,000 copies - well over $800,000 at current exchange rates.

And that was in addition to steep fees paid by several government agencies for advertising. Those agencies with money to burn included the Ministries of Tourism and Financial Services, BTC (three pages), Bahamasair, Bank of the Bahamas, the College of The Bahamas, the National Insurance Board, BEC, the Water & Sewerage Corp, the Bahamas Maritime Authority, and the Central Bank.

In parliament FNM minister Zhivargo Laing wondered why such a book was produced so close to the election. He said if the former administration’s claims that it did an excellent job managing the economy are correct, and if the stated purpose of the report – to attract foreign investment – is accurate, the book should have been published much sooner.

"But this was what the people’s money was spent on," he said. "And really, if you read it, this is in many respects a hail to the then chief book. That’s what it is."

Well, having thumbed through this lavishly illustrated 'vanity fair' we have to agree. The book features lengthy self-serving "interviews" with cabinet ministers, a few public officials, one or two financial sector leaders, an array of well-known clergymen and a bunch of big-name investors. Each article is, of course, accompanied by full-page colour portraits of the leaders in their Sunday best.

The then leader of the opposition, however, was not among them for some reason, although the 2001 holder of the office was featured in the FNMs book.

The Bahamas 2007 Special Report opens with a trenchant message from former prime minister Perry Christie who states up front his "unwavering conviction that the good sense of the Bahamian people, in which I have the greatest faith, will ensure the PLP is re-elected."

Are you asking what this has to do with foreign investment? Well read on.

The PM's message is closely followed by an interview, in which he speaks endlessly of the need for another five-year term to firm up his legacy, and notes that he is willing to work 18/7 with no holidays to make that happen. He has this desire despite the fact that already "the accomplishments of my government are without precedent in our history."

But just how did Mr Christie get the opportunity to achieve so much in the first place? Well, the answer to that investor-friendly question was provided by Pastor Neil Ellis: "The Lord spoke to me and told me to bless Christie as the next prime minister...he came and knelt down in front of me and I rested my hands upon him...I believe he has been an awesome prime minister."

The Rev John Rolle of Andros agreed with that assessment: "God has raised (Christie) up...Without a shadow of a doubt I believe he will be elected for a second term...I believe the PLP will govern for a very long time."

And so did Bishop Elganart Rahming of the Church of God of Prophecy: "It is pretty evident that the hand of the Lord is upon (Christie)," he confirmed.

But the text was not confined to divine endorsements. There were plenty of cogent political analyses too.

Retired politico Paul Adderley (who described himself as a special advisor behind the scenes) believes that "elections are lost rather than won and Mr Christie, hardly having put a foot wrong as prime minister, is firm favourite to be re-elected for another five years...No-one can complain about the government's performance in the key economic areas of tourism and financial services."

Well, except for the complaint that the Ministry of Tourism fabricated arrival numbers to mask their decline. And the complaint that the Christie government ignored the recommendations of its own Financial Service Consultative Forum.

Putting that aside, former financial services minister Allyson Gibson assured us of Prime Minister Christie's "compelling vision for transforming the Bahamas," while ex-foreign minister Fred Mitchell insisted that the PLP needed "five more years to complete what we want to achieve."

But attorney and close Christie colleague Philip 'Brave' Davis appeared to disagree, finding that "as a country we have certainly over-achieved in a number of areas."

Ex-minister Vincent Peet told us why that was the case: "The prime minister continues to be a visionary leader. He is a very deep thinker...As a party we are united under Perry Christie's visionary leadership." (But not any more it seems).

One particular ex-minister was rather less effusive about the prime minister's achievements. In his interview he urged "all of my loyal and faithful party supporters over these past 25 years to vote for Bernard J Nottage, who will serve with great distinction."

And lawyer Sharon Wilson (wife of PLP financier Franklyn Wilson) had this to say: "The prime minister has already left us a legacy. We are one people...If you are capable, maintain humility and are managing the economy...these are the factors that will help you get re-elected."

No doubt speaking of his own selection as a cabinet minister, Shane Gibson (who was forced to resign over the Anna Nicole Smith scandal) placed the former prime minister next to the pope in terms of infallibility, arguing that Mr Christie had "an ability to detect competence and talent like nobody else. I have never ever seen him make a major decision that was wrong."

But shrewd PLP lawyer Sean Mcweeney (another behind-the-scenes special advisor) spoke to the former PM's humility as well as his greatness: "Prime Minister Christie's public modesty belies a formidable intellect...He is very conscious of his legacy."

Sir Baltron Bethel was pictured beaming in his best Sunday-go-to-palace suit. And according to the Bahamas 2007 Special Report, the old PLP fixer had played a "pivotal role" in making everything happen over the last five years. Still, he did not deny that the mastermind behind it all was Perry Christie: "It has to do with leadership," Sir Baltron confided. "(Christie) has brought discipline and careful planning to government."

Being more mature than the rest of us, wealthy preacher Myles Munroe was a touch more thoughtful on this subject: "By the time I was 14 I was grappling with questions that maybe 40-year-olds were grappling with...I always say to the (prime minister) 'what you are trying to do in the Bahamas is truly revolutionary' - which he accepts."

And rounding out the book's political plaudits was an article on the late Sir Lynden Pindling (father of the nation) depicting Mr Christie as his protege. This was accompanied by an interview with the mother of the nation, Dame Marguerite Pindling, who professed her absolute confidence that Christie would win the election:

"Prime Minister Christie is a great leader of our country. My husband would have been very proud of his achievements."

Surprisingly, Garret 'Tiger' Finlayson, another PLP financier, disagreed with this matronly commendation: "Within the next five years Prime Minister Christie will surpass Sir Lynden Pindling in terms of his achievements," he declared confidently.

And finally, you may be wondering what powerful message Mr Christie's celebrated wife, Bernadette, contributed to promote foreign investment in the Bahamas? Well, here it is:

"If you look at the facts and the results, you will vote for the PLP in the next election."