Differing Perspectives on Cuba

19th May
Differing Perspectives on Cuba

The struggle is on for the hearts, minds and votes of the Bahamian
people. The biggest part of that struggle involves the Free National
Movement and the Progressive Liberal Party. That these two parties are
very similar compounds the choice for the people.

This explains, in part at least, why each party makes so much of issues
that might seem trivial to the casual observer.

Take for example, the over-heated exchange between the Minister of
Foreign Affairs, the Hon. Fred Mitchell and certain hierarchy members of
the Opposition Free National Movement on a matter concerning
Bahamas-Cuba relations.

The Opposition is apparently convinced that there is some advantage to
be gained from differing with the governing matter on certain details of
that relationship.

As one telling report notes, "FNM Leader Hubert Ingraham Wednesday
slammed Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell's attempt to shirk
Cabinet responsibility for the government's recent UN Human Rights
Council vote for Cuba, noting that the vote is part of the PLP's
ill-conceived strategy regarding The Bahamas and Cuba.

The FNM leader said, "I was surprised to see and hear the Minister of
Foreign Affairs who in my opinion has made it his habit during the past
four years to neither seek nor heed the advice of the professional
officers in his Ministry, hide behind advice tendered from The Bahamas
Permanent Mission to the United Nations to the Permanent Secretary in
the Ministry as the determining factor in the decision by the Government
of The Bahamas to support the election of Cuba to the United Nations
Human Rights Council."

Mr. Ingraham was referring to Minister Mitchell's statements made in the
House of Assembly Wednesday regarding the Bahamas UN Human Rights
Council vote for Cuba.

We are not fully persuaded that these differences are substantive enough
to warrant the kind of vitriolic diatribe that has ensued inside and
outside the House of Assembly.

Indeed, the history of the Cuba-Bahamas relationship suggest that the
two countries have studiously sought to have relations that are cordial
and respectful as befits two neighbours who are at peace with each other.

Quite evidently, the Bahamas has thrown its lot in with most of its
Caribbean neighbors who see Cuba as a sister nation. Of necessity, this
has meant that they have begged to respectfully disagree with the stance
taken by the United States vis-à-vis Cuba.

The public now knows that there is a difference of opinion between the
Progressive Liberal Party and the Free National Movement as regards
relations with Cuba. In this regard, it is interesting to note that Her
Majesty’s Loyal Opposition is of the view that such relations do not
merit the exchange of full-fledged ambassadors.

We can conclude –therefore- that this would be one of the changes that
would be in the offing in the event of an FNM victory in the next
general elections.

We note also the current brouhaha concerning how The Bahamas voted on
the matter involving the new United Nations Human Rights Council. As the
world now knows, Cuba now has a seat on that Council.

Today –for better or worse- there is every indication that The Bahamas
did vote for Cuba. In a sense, this is quite literally neither here nor
there since the vote was supposed to be secret. It follows, we believe,
that it should remain so.

Quite evidently, the Opposition is of another opinion. That is their right.

This is a part of what makes our kind of system so very wonderful. When
people can voice and put forward their views, they do this fledgling
democracy a world of good.

So regardless of its merits or demerits, the point of view put forward
by the Opposition is to be given a fair airing so that the public could
make up its own mind on the matter at hand.

But even as we make this point concerning the rights of the Opposition,
we are constrained to say that there does seem to be a whiff of
grandstanding on the part of certain elements on the Opposition side.

http://www.jonesbahamas.com/?c=128&a=8867