Non issues

Dear Editor,

The iconic Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) will celebrate it’s halfway mark back in elective office within a few short months. While a lot of groundwork and reconstruction have been done, there is much more that has to be done if the Davis administration is to continue its stellar and very productive efforts to resurrect and to literally salvage our society.

I make no secret that I am a genuine and long-time supporter of the economic, political and societal efforts of the PLP. In fact, only the late Sir Lynden Oscar Pindling could have been a greater PLP than me.

The ravages of back to back hurricanes and then the dreaded and very misunderstood COVID-19 threw the nation off track in a very bad way.

The handling of these events by the Minnis administration was disjointed and badly executed. Mind you, I do believe that former Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis and his team did their level best but that was far short of what one could have done, in my view. In any event, they paid a heavy price at the electoral polls in 2021. The average Bahamian, however, was basically left to fend for themselves. In short, you all were between a big rock and a very hard place.

The Lord, however, as always, heard the anguish and cries of the people of this wonderful nation. He stopped by and engineered the return of the PLP to power after Minnis called an early election, which I am sure that he regrets to this very day. Now that Philip Brave Davis has achieved his life-long dream of becoming prime minister, he and his crew have their work cut out for them. We are not out of the woods yet.

Scarce and very precious parliamentary time has been expended on debating issues which, in my considered view, are non-issues such as the Anti-Gang Bill.

We saw the passage of the Anti Gang Bill in the House of Assembly recently. While I generally support any pertinent legislative initiatives, we have to be realistic and not succumb to hysteria and what might appear to be legal and workable “solutions”. The title of that bill sounds great from a public relations point but lingering questions may not have been properly addressed during the recent parliamentary debate. What is the legal and constitutional definition of a gang?

How is a Bahamian assumed or presumed to be a gang member and what are the dubious qualifications? Is there a real possibility that someone could or may be described as gang member? Is such a label potentially discriminatory constitutionally? Some of the punishments proscribed, in a possibly draconian manner, may well be struck down, if and when challenged in a competent court of law, here in The Bahamas or straight up to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council.

Like Sir Lynden had, I have long advocated a form of National Youth Service under one umbrella as opposed to all of the little bits and pieces. I realize that there are still some misguided individuals who are afraid that such a service may be referred to as Brave’s army, just like how certainly it was referred to as Sir Lynden’s army when initially proposed.

Had we done it then, I dare say that all of the so-called gang related criminal activities would not be a major issue today. Indeed, we sowed the wind and are now reaping the whirlwind. I suggest that the prime minister bite the bullet and do what has to be done in short order. There is no more time to waste. The Anti-Gang Bill, as much as I would wish it to succeed, is doomed to failure and debilitating constitutional challenges.

On the issue of a Marital Rape Bill, (which has not yet been brought to Parliament), rape has been described, for eons, in all civilized countries as the forcible sexual relations by a perpetrator against, ordinarily a female but males have been known to be raped and continue to be raped by another male and/or a female depending on the circumstances The current relevant laws are clear cut and easily understood, or should be, by all and sundry.

Lastly, some individuals are advocating for the decriminalization of possession of marijuana and legislative approval for medical marijuana.

If decriminalized and agreed to for medical purposes, who or what will be the authorized outlet or supplier of the raw weed? It is not likely that the alleged illegal drug dealer will just close up his lucrative shop roll over and play dead. More gang warfare will break out so as to protect territory.

Brave knows or he should know that there are more pressing national issues that he will have to address by the first quarter of next year. The overall agenda of the PLP is bigger than any one man or woman. The interest of the majority of Bahamians, while dealing with the minority views, is critical if Brave expects another term in office, which I fully look forward to and support unconditionally.

– Ortland H. Bodie, Jr.