What Motivates Bahamian Politicians?

The Bahamas has passed through various kinds of representation since 1729 when it began parliamentary democracy, some 278 years ago. Party politics is a relatively recent phenomenon in The Bahamas as it commenced during the 50s. Prior to that period, the Bahamian electorate was represented in Parliament (House of Assembly) by the individual representative. This political organism had no allegiance to a party or grouping. During this era, the representative was responsible to the people who elected him, hence his commitment to his constituency.

My first recollection of a general election was around 1949. Many of representatives in that genre have, over the years, become political icons or national heroes. Generally, they were men of outstanding capability, were connected to the people and were cognizant of the aspirations of the voters whom they served. They had to be perspective politically to survive in the elective environment of the day. Their survival was possible because they espoused a type of personal representation which was expected in a fishing village –type community during the pre and the early post World War 11 years.

It is this political climate which created men like Sir Milo B. Butler. Sir Roland Symonette, Dr. Claudius R. Walker, Mr. Walton Young and Mr. Stephen Dillette, Sir Etienne Dupuch, Sir George Roberts, Mr. Bert Cambridge and Mr. S. C. Mc Pherson.

When party politics emerged , a new political animal was born. During the 50s and 60s,political aspirations were tied to bringing about change and it was this factor which motivated the likes of Sir Lynden Pindling, Sir Randol Fawkes. Mr. Arthur D. Hanna , Mr. Paul Adderley , Sir Cecil Wallace-Whitfield and Mr. Carlton Francis. Their objective was to change the status quo across the board-politically, socially and economically. This was their motivation.

Out of this motivation came the policy framework for the institutions which would become the nation building foundation for the New Bahamas.There is no doubt in my mind that Mr. Francis would have been one of the prime movers to make secondary education free. As a leading educator in the public education system ,he taught in the system and headed the Teachers Training College, the forerunner to the College of The Bahamas. He was a qualified educator and understood the educational needs of a people striving to advance in a post colonial world.

The late Mr. Livingston Coakley, a former Member of Parliament for GeorgeTown, Exuma, pushed for the establishment of a secondary school in Exuma because he said he did not want Exumians to go through the travails he had to undergo to obtain a secondary education.His travils included leaving Exuma to come to Nassau for a secondary education.

The individuals in this group had this kind of background so politics had a different meaning for these men.These are some of the distinguishing factors which seperated them from the crop of today’s politicans.Party loyalty was not as deep because the individual representative tradition was still alive and kicking in these hence the actions of men like Fawkes, Whitfield and others.

The politicans of today are of a different elk. The politican today is motivated by party loyalty.It is this scenario which has dictated the relationship between the constituent and the Member of Parliament.The political scene has now swung to the point where the party determines motivation.