Christie's Leadership of the PLP Called into Question by MP's Defection

by Craig Butler

I don’t know how many of you read Nicki Kelly’s column in the Punch, but if you don’t you should. There is not much of redeeming value in that newspaper - maybe two or three pieces - and this is one of them.

Recently Ms. Kelly did what few have done since this mess with former PLP Member of Parliament Kenyatta Gibson erupted - she dealt him a quick blow with her guillotine pen, dismissing him into the political jungle from where there is seemingly no return. What was written bears repeating so I take the liberty to do so:

"Want to know a person’s character? Let them become involved in politics. As recent events have shown, their true nature will quickly bubble to the surface. Regardless of the spin being put on his behaviour by certain members of the PLP, Kennedy MP Kenyatta Gibson’s resignation from the party revealed a mean-spirited and self-absorbed individual with no class.

"Whatever his perceived grievances with Leader Perry Christie, his gutter characterization of the former prime minister, who saved his hide when others wanted to skin him, was unconscionable. Not only did Mr. Gibson not advise Mr. Christie of his decision, leaving him to learn of it second-hand, he did not have sufficient respect for his constituents to tell them at least before informing the media."

Ms. Kelly points out the difference between Dr. Bernard J Nottage and Mr. Gibson. She even goes as far as to point out the other liability that the PLP has is in the person of Keod Smith. This has caused me to think about what has been said by Mr. Gibson, and because his attempt to smear Mr. Christie to finish him off was so cruel and complete, one must ask where are the men and women who so recently sat around the Cabinet table with the leader?

The silence emanating from them is deafening. I have already noted that Mr. Gibson's attack raised questions and caused issues to surface that would have been better dealt with in private. I had hoped that one or more of the PLP faithful would have come to Mr. Christie’s defence by now.

But none have. Is it that they are in full agreement with Mr. Gibson and so refuse to try to save the leader? Or is it that they are hoping this will open the door for them to contest the leadership, even though what was said was off the mark.

Mr Nottage’s silence is based on the fact that he himself deserted the PLP and the people of Kennedy a few years ago to become an independent when he did not realise his dream of becoming Leader of the PLP. In the circumstances, he and his handlers must have thought that any statements would only further confuse the situation. But seeing as he only recently returned to the fold and considering all the rumors surrounding his leadership bid, a show of support for Mr. Christie would have been fitting.

Obie Wilchombe has been in the press quite a bit trying to heal the rift and or broker some sort of deal with Mr. Gibson. But his comment that the party was hemorrhaging has put him in the unfortunate position of having to defend himself, and many feel he orchestrated the whole thing.

V. Alfred Gray is embroiled in his own situation and thus should remain quiet, and Glenys Hanna-Martin is set to run for party chairman so the lack of a statement from her is understandable.

The others, of which there are many, must now address the issue - or are they the ones making the noises privately behind the back of the leader, to which Mr. Gibson referred.

The one indisputable fact is that Mr. Christie was prone to arriving at decisions after much consultation. That made it easy to pick on him, as this was in many instances a slow aand laborious process. Does this, however, make him a cowardly bully? Does the fact that he was defeated after only five years in office mean that he has sat too long for any good that he has done?

These are the questions that now need to be answered, not only because of the comments emanating from Mr. Gibson and to a lesser extent Mr. Rigby, but because there has been no counter by any of his colleagues young or old. In essence, Mr. Chrisite’s leadership has been called into question not so much by what has been said but rather by what hasn’t.

So who benefits from all this? Not the PLP, as the loss of one seat makes regaining the government impossible should the election court cases prove successful. Further there is still the question of Elizabeth MP Malcolm Adderley who, although he has not left the PLP, does not seem to support it either.

Should the PLP win the three election court cases, and assuming Mr. Adderley does not jump ship, then Mr. Gibson becomes the new power broker and can demand his pound of flesh. Although the FNM are laughing and by and large have not interfered, they are the ones who stand to gain the most. It appears that they will now be able to hold onto power for a full term.

Prime Minister Ingraham has always been credited as being a master politician and if this is his handiwork then he in fact is a genius.

Comments

[Howard W. Thompson Jr*]

Mr. Butler,

A good read as always! Very incisive to say the least and to this extent, I do hope that you get the ‘nod’ this go around :--).

[nicob]

The sad thing is, though, is that the last thing the country needs is more politics. What we need is governance, and good government is hard to come by. While the masters squabble, the nation devours itself.

[Cinque]

Mr. B, if this sorry situation doesn't make the case for some tweaking in our parliamentary and electoral system, I don't know what will. Imagine if other, better qualified, if not less connected members of the public were allowed to contest in a primary or at least a closed caucus of just PLP or FNM voters before gaining a party nomination? Imagine if there were no candidates committee made up of friends and allies with their own agenda, but either an up or down straw vote taken at the branch level of both parties or a full primary complete with debates and the voting party supporters in the area as the only deciders?

As the previous post implied, you would have probably been one of two Butlers in the House and we would be done with this mess. Keep keeping it real Craig.

[Rick]

Surely it's time to call a truce among political adversaries in The Bahamas?

After losing her bid to have the recent election in Pinewood overturned by the Election Court Mrs. Allyson Maynard-Gibson took the high road and said something to the effect that she only went to court to protect our democratic system.

A friend asked, rhetorically I'm sure, if she would have done the same thing had she won the seat?

It is doubtful she would have, but it begs the question that if the PLP knew the Election process was flawed, why didn't they correct it after they won in a landslide in 2002?

Are they prepared to win with a flawed process, but not lose the same way?

I tend to agree with the position that had the PLP called the election when Constitutionally mandated, the errors on the Register of Voters might not have been so egregious as they were in the Constituency of Pinewood. The Parliamentary Commissioner and his staff might have had time to resolve most of the errors.

Yes, most of the errors. There will always be people that try to out smart the system and these should be challenged on polling day when the poll workers are armed with the results of the door to door canvassing by the political proponents as usual.

All that aside, I agree with the pundits that it is time for the rhetoric to stop on both sides of the political divide so the country can move forward. The PLP need to drop the pending cases and the FNM need to ease up on the needling.

It seems pointless to continue to rile citizens up over the election results. The election is over. The FNM won and the PLP lost.

If there are legitimate cases of fraud, those individuals should be prosecuted, including the bearer of of alleged fake ballots on election day.

Maybe, just maybe, if we start prosecuting people for illegal activity, we will start moving citizens toward obeying the law, rather than recklessly ignoring it as so many of us do.

It's now time to 'move forward, upward, onward together' as our motto implores us.

The race is over for a while and the checkered flag has been waved.