In The BAHAMAS, November is the month for political conventions. Over the years the convention has become an important mechanism for the major political parties.
It is not only time to gather the party faithfuls but an occasion for recharging the party’s political machinery and reaffirming the party’s philosophy. It is at these conventions when a party’s vision is revealed, principally to the electorate. Conventions now adays seem to be more business orientated rather than a three to five day bash.
In previous years, particularly during the Pindling era, there were some colourful and memorable moments. One moment which comes to mind was the occasion when Lynden Pindling made his famous fish or cut bait speech". It was this speech, which drove Cecil Wallace-Whitfield along with seven others from the ranks of the Progressive Liberal Party.
The "fish or cut bait " expression was borrowed by Pindling from Clarence Bain.The remark was made in the Governor’s Hall of the British Colonial Hotel at the 1970 PLP CONVENTION. It was in response to demands by the late CECIL WALLACE –WHITFIELD who emerged as the leader of the "Dissident Eight".
The Dissident Eight were all members of the PLP’s Parliamentary group. The Eight comprised Wallace-Whitfield, Warren Levariy, Arthur Foulkes, Curtis McMillan, George Thompson, James Shepard, Maurice Moore and Elwood Donaldson.
It is this convention, which eventually led to Whitfield departure, the formation of the FREE PLP out of the Dissident Eight evolving into the Free NATIONAL Movement (FNM). It is this convention, which ushered in the era of the annual political party convention.
The Free National Movement had a convention leading up to the 1982 general election. This convention centered on the leadership issue.
After 1977 split of the FNM, Henry Bostwick emerged as the Leader of The Bahamas Democratic Party(BDP) and the late Cyril Tynes became Leader of the FNM.
Tynes was able to capture the FNM leadership because Wallace-Whitfield had lost his St. Agnes seat to Bruce Braynen and was no longer a sitting member of the House of Assembly. This is the background that formed the backdrop to the convention.
The FNM had to choose a new leader at its convention from Wallace-Whitfield, Kendal Isaacs and Orville Turnquest. The convention chose Isaacs to lead the FNM in the general election of 1982.
Unlike the Progressive Liberal Party, leadership conventions are not new to the FNM. This particular convention ushered in the Isaacs Era in the FNM. Even though Isaacs was not able to win the government in 1982, it turned out to be the best electoral performance. It would take another decade before the FNM become the government.
Conventions on both sides of the political divide have played pivotal roles in shaping the political landscape of The Bahamas.
This year’s conventions will go down in the annals of Bahamian conventions as the "Return Conventions".
Both Parties are awaiting the return of two present day political giants. The FNM is poised for the return of Former Prime Minister, Hubert Ingraham, to take the helm of that party as the next general election can be called anytime within the next 18 months.
The upcoming PLP convention will be ignited by the expected return of Dr. B.J. Nottage to the fold.
Bahamians are in for an interesting political season after the conventions because all parties gain political momentum after conventions. No doubt, Mr. Ingraham has already given FNMs a high. After the PLP CONVENTION next week, particularly if Dr. Nottage comes on board, the PLP will have a new focus as it heads into the upcoming general election.
Conventions fuel political activism inside Parliament and on the streets. Within the framework of our political journey, conventions have played significant roles in determining the course our political parties take in presenting their message to the Bahamian electorate.
