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Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM |
A pro-Peter Nygard demonstration in Rawson Square in July, at which Save The Bays members and supporters were branded liars, frauds and subjected to racist and intimidating jibes. Respected church leader Rev. CB Moss claimed that many of those who took part were paid to be there.
(Photo courtesy of Save The Bays)
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Save The Bays supports DNA leader’s assault on culture of political inducements; says it has been the victim of personal and racist attacks by ‘rent-a-crowds’
Nassau, Bahamas – Branville McCartney is to be praised for his attack on crowd buying and the many other forms of underhanded inducement that have contaminated our political system from time immemorial.
In hitting out at cronyism, vote buying and mutual back-scratching arrangements, the Democratic National Alliance (DNA) leader identified the festering infection at the root of many of our woes as a nation.
Political inducements – whether monetary or otherwise – have encouraged a culture of dishonesty, favoritism and entitlement that over the years opened an enormous divide between the political elites and their friends on the one hand, and the rest of Bahamian society on the other.
McCartney was also correct is calling seasoned politicians hypocrites for accusing others of giving political inducements, but failing to also criticize the behavior of their own party in this regard. Corruption has featured in all political contests and all previous administrations, whether they be UBP, FNM or PLP.
The practice known as crowd buying and renting, in which individuals are paid to take part in gatherings or demonstrations in an effort to create a false impression of genuine support, is a particularly insidious form of political inducement for a number of reasons.
It cheapens our democracy and instills a demoralizing cynicism in the hearts of those who decide to – or feel they have no choice but to – accept the inducements. These are overwhelmingly members of the most disadvantaged class of Bahamians in the two-tiered society created by the political class. As such, the practice represents a case of those at the very top taking shameless advantage of those at the very bottom.
In addition, Save The Bays can warn from personal experience that rented crowds are often vehicles for the most incendiary and even dangerous forms of propaganda, as they allow the puppet masters to avoid personal responsibility for what is said, again leaving their unfortunate pawns to shoulder the blame.
In July of this year, a demonstration was held in Nassau, purportedly in support of Canadian developer Peter Nygard. Instead, it turned out to be a vicious and hate-filled attack on certain STB supporters and members, including myself.
Rev CB Moss, executive director of the Coalition to Save Clifton Bay and close partner of Save The Bays, is on the record insisting that those who took part were paid for their presence. He said some of the participants themselves told him so.
In this way, the true organizers of the demonstration were able to avoid having to answer for the menacing spectacle, which left many of us in fear for our safety.
Save The Bays calls on all political entities to follow Mr. McCartney’s lead and declare for the record that crowd buying and all other forms of political inducement will no longer be tolerated in The Bahamas.
We also take this opportunity to once again strongly urge the government of The Bahamas to honor it promise and enact a Freedom of Information Act as soon as possible, to cast some long-overdue sunshine on the political goings-on in The Bahamas. Sunlight, as they say, is the best disinfectant.
– Fred Smith, QC, director of legal affairs for Save The Bays
DNA responds to Fred Mitchell on Rawson Square Demonstration
Fred Mitchell statement on DNA Demonstration in Rawson Square
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