Interview with Branville McCartney of the Bahamas’ Democratic National Alliance
Above: Branville McCartney (centre)
By Alexander Britell
In early 2011, Branville McCartney, a Bahamian Member of Parliament for the Bamboo Town constituency representing the ruling Free National Movement, broke off from the party to found a new one: the Democratic National Alliance. The Bahamas, like most of the Caribbean, has had a staunch two party system, something McCartney hopes to change. With Bahamians heading to the polls May 7, CJ Politics talked to McCartney about the economy, crime and whether Bahamians are ready for an alternative party.
How has your campaign gone so far?
So far, so good. We’re almost there, with a few more days to go, and intending to make history on election day.
What is the biggest issue in this election?
Crime is most definitely the biggest issue. If you don’t get crime under control, everything else will fall apart. And that is certainly the biggest issue.
How would you fix the crime problem?
Well, that’s multifaceted. It goes back to family, family life, education, but knowing and showing the criminals that there will be consequences to their actions. We must start sweating the small stuff, and showing, from the smallest crimes, that they come to some resolution, and to make sure that the administration of justice, and the court system, is working, so that justice can be swift. We need to make sure that there is no political interference with the police, and I’m very much for the police commissioner having the security of tenure, something that was taken away from him under this administration. We must also ensure that the death penalty is enforced, and that must apply to all persons who commit murder against anyone, not just [those who] commit murder against a select few. Of course, one of the main problems we have now is the bail issue, where persons are out on bail, many who have been charged with murder. You’ve seen that there are quite a number of persons who are almost repeat offenders. That doesn’t make sense at all, and we need to make sure that is rectified immediately.
The economy is another issue. What is your plan in that regard?
Quite a number of things. The economy is not working now. Successive governments have relied on tourism and the financial sector. Quite frankly, the other governments are not too keen on diversifying the economy. We need to have the political will to diversify our economy. We need to look at a lot of other areas, such as agriculture, manufacturing, resources, information technology. We also need to look at changing our tax structure. The way the government makes money now is not working. And we must consider, as a country, looking at a value-added tax. We need to reduce wastage in government. There’s a lot of waste, so we’ve proposed establishing a national procurement agency that will be responsible for purchasing on behalf of the government.
Offshore oil drilling has become a significant issue of late. What is your position on that?
The position that we and I think members of my party have is that we, the Bahamian people, ought to have answers as to what is the status on the exploration of oil in the Bahamas. We’ve been agitating this for months now, and the government has said absolutely nothing with the exception of the Prime Minister saying that, if he is re-elected, there will be no oil drilling in the Bahamas. While, in fact, there is an agreement with the Bahamas Petroleum Company already in place for the exploration of oil that expired on April 21. They’re moving toward renewing it. I find it amazing that the Prime Minister would say such a thing — the fact that there are contracts already in place. From my party’s point of view, is that for resources that involve the Bahamian people, the Bahamian people ought to have a say as to what happens in connection with oil and oil drilling. If we are going to drill for oil, it is something where there must be a number of environmental concerns regarding that, and that ought to be addressed. Once that is addressed, I think oil is something that would certainly change our economic environment tremendously, once the government ensures that the Bahamian people would be the beneficiaries of it, as opposed to special interests. That is vitally important. I think it just came to light that the leader of the opposition party, [former Prime Minister] Perry Christie was a consultant to the company that is involved in the exploration of oil. [Note: Christie has maintained that has severed his involvement with the firm]. And the question is, he sat there when it came up in the House as well, and [Environment Minister] Earl DeVeaux posed questions about it, and he didn’t say a word about what was going on, about what was his position regarding the exploration of oil. He was very, very quiet, and clarified that he is now the consultant for the company. And I think the Bahamian people ought to know what is going on — it seems to be a big secret. The government surely knows about it, because they are the other ones who are aware, and know about the contract that’s in place. I find it extraordinary, almost to the extent of being very secretive, on both sides, on both sides of the political divide, that they would not come to the Bahamian people and explain what’s going on. The Bahamian people have a right to know. Those resources do not belong to the PLP, and do not belong to the FNM.
You launched just about a year ago. What has been the response you’ve received, and what is your biggest challenge as a new party?
The response has been tremendous. I think we have been able to become a major party in this election, within 11 months. That is historic. And of course, that is a testament not the party itself, but to the Bahamian people. And that is because they’re crying out for change. Of course, change is never easy. And change is something that a lot of people are reluctant to do — but I think that could be our biggest challenge — changing the mindset of the electorate, to consider change. We’ve been in one direction for basically the last 40 years. Initially, our main issue in this election, as I said, is crime. Crime did not just develop over the last five years, it is something that has developed over many years, the problem of crime in this country. And both governments have been in power during that period of time. The same thing with illegal immigration, which is at its worst right now, in the history of the Bahamas. That is the result of successive governments not doing what they’re supposed to do. It’s the same thing with our educational system. Our educational system needs revamping. It’s not a system for the 21st century, and there are a lot of our students out there with D averages, unable to read and write, fill out resumes and application forms. But that’s the result of successive governments. Our economy is failing. It’s not working. We have no money — the country is broke. Successive governments have failed to diversify the economy, and have failed to provide opportunities for young Bahamians, and failed to empower young Bahamians. Where we are now, the middle class is about to be extinct. Getting the Bahamian electorate to recognize that, that may be the challenge. There’s no doubt that this country needs a new direction, and must be changed, but getting them to see that and change is always difficult.
If you are to be successful, what will be the main reason voters choose your party?
Well, it will be that they recognize that where we are now is not good. And where we are is a result of the poor management and lack of vision of successive governments, and that they are ready for change. If you look around the world, change has to come from a political standpoint — that will be the deciding factor — change. Whether they want change, or more of the same. And if we are successful, that means they want change.
