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Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM |
 Nassau, Bahamas - On Monday February 8th I read with dismay and shock the remarks made by Former FNM Cabinet Member- Tennyson Wells in which he labeled “an opinion” of Member of Parliament for Montagu Richard Lightbourn as racist. This flippant and ill-considered comment is false and unhelpful. As a former Cabinet Minister Mr. Wells must understand the strong emotions such a statement could potentially stir up in people of all ethnicities.
Given his renewed support for the FNM, Mr. Wells’s would be much more helpful concentrating exclusively on critiquing the PLP’s mismanagement of our Bahamas and recommending ways to help elevate our nation, which is the primary focus of the Free National Movement. While we welcome him and thousands of Bahamians who share the view that a Christie-Davis led government is bad for the Bahamas we do not welcome or take lightly baseless and unjustified attacks on members of our team. The use of the word racist to describe an alleged opinion of Lightboun is wrong on so many levels.
Firstly, we in the FNM are satisfied that Richard Lightbourn is not a racist. Period. We do not tolerate and would not tolerate racists. There is nothing in the day-to-day behaviour or utterances that support that Richard has a racist bone in his body. Secondly, to the best of my knowledge, Mr. Lightbourn supports the Leaders’ vision for the revitalization of urban centers not withstanding any differences in the details of how this is achieved. Thirdly, early differences of opinion on policy matters (which exist in all organizations and among the closest of allies) may be due to many different reasons. Therefore, it is sad that Tennyson Wells would resort to race baiting by speculating that the reason for Richard’s initial difference of opinion on a policy matter is race-based.
Richard, a Bahamian of European descent much like a few of our colleagues of African decent have caused this writer some sleepless nights for statements made that should never have been uttered publicly. However, neither those remarks nor his behavior fall anywhere close to what Tennyson Wells suggests is racism, and I am hopeful that he would rethink and withdraw the unfortunate insinuation. After all, both of them are likely to be in the trenches together helping to unseat the PLP.
It is worth stressing that the FNM has lead the national efforts to construct a multicultural society after years of race-based arguments dominating the political arena, first under the UBP and then under the PLP. Our leadership has historically fought for the empowerment of disenfranchised Bahamians of African decent while not seeking to disenfranchise Bahamians of European decent. We have long recognized that a more prosperous and wholesome Bahamas requires all of our citizens working together regardless of their race, creed, gender or other differences.
Unlike the PLP we do not believe that it is acceptable to misuse “race” as a basis for drumming up support for a cause or as a means of alienating anyone. We are not like the PLP.
While we are not where we ought to be The Bahamas has come a long way in race relations and can’t afford to lose ground now. We are proud of all our members and supporters, those of all hues, and we ask them and all right thinking Bahamians to join us in a magnificent effort to lift up our nation to new heights of prosperity, equity and unity.
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