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| Distractions, mismanagement and the glasshouse effect |
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Published: Apr 30, 2012
Dear Editor,
Hubert Alexander Ingraham is described as a strong, incisive leader by his strong supporters. What exactly does that (“a strong leader”) mean? Being the prime minister of The Bahamas, we considered him a leader; he is also the leader of the Free National Movement (FNM). His supporters and many others are describing his leadership skills or abilities as strong, incisive, charismatic, energetic, and even personable. Nevertheless, there are three other words used to describe him: authoritarian, disciplinarian and vindictive. In addition, there appears to be intemperance in his oral attacks against any who dare to disagree with him. Yet he is favored over most who aspire to take his place. With this, there are two questions to ask: 1. Is Ingraham a true leader in every sense of the word? 2. Who can we identify as a strong leader when making a comparison to Ingraham? However, during this election season, the Ingraham administration is trying to force a belief that there are no alternatives to the FNM party. Which means that if he allows people to believe that there is any kind of viable opposition, it encourages people who do not like him or his administration to become vocal. This could be the main reason why Ingraham never acknowledges the Democratic National Alliance (DNA) or any other third political party, and it is evident at FNM rallies. For this reason, strong supporters of the FNM who no longer believe that Ingraham has a vision for their party and country may decide not to vote. On the other side of the scale, there is an opinion that the Bahamian electorate is a very timid group and it remains afraid of the victimization born out of, and still present in, today’s political culture. They feel like they are all alone (mostly independent voters) and are inclined to stay in the shadows. The purpose of this election is not to prove the legitimacy of a leader to any individual of the outside world; this is to build support among our own people. This current climate seems to reflect the election process for president of the United States – primaries held to decide on who runs for the top office. As it appears, this election is being thought of as the difference between the personalities of two men, Perry Christie and Ingraham. While interesting, it is disingenuous to the other candidates vying for public office. We should not ignore the other candidates. To make an informed decision, this election should be about the candidates and not the party. You decide.
– Kishon R. Turner
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