PM's comments on Mayaguana tragedy shameful
Tragically three Bahamians recently lost their lives at the
airport in Mayaguana. Reports indicate that an emergency flight was landing at
the airport in an attempt to pick up a sick patient who needed urgent medical
attention.
The Nassau Guardian broadcast stated that the wing from the
plane hit a parked Ford vehicle that was too close to the run way. The truck
burst into flames immediately and the three persons inside the vehicle met
their untimely demise.
My spirits were lifted this afternoon when watching the news
and realizing that Prime Minister Perry Christie was making a statement about
the tragedy. I initially thought that the families would be comforted by the
fact that the nation’s chief was issuing his condolences. But then the
interview took a turn for the worse and I heard the prime minister talking
about the I Group and the Free National Movement (FNM).
You “got to be shitting me” was my reaction. In the midst of
this tragedy the PM is casting blame on the FNM and alluding to what the FNM
did in 2007 when they came to office.
Let me remind Christie that he is the duly elected Prime
Minister of the Bahamas and the only administration he should fault for this
tragedy is his own. He has been at the helm since May of last year. A big
portion of the fault lays at his feet that something as basic as lights were
not installed on this airport runway.
Our political leaders need to stop this nonsense in our
country by taking the easy road and blaming someone else when something goes
wrong. In the wake of the tragedy, I heard Aviation Minister Glennys Hanna
Martin say that lights will be installed in a few weeks.
This is indeed a tragic national event, but one that was 100%
avoidable. I offer my condolences to the family of the victims and the greater
Mayaguana community at large.
I find the prime minister’s interview to be shameful,
offensive and downright a national disgrace. To politicize this matter is utter
madness. Let’s get on with building our country not keeping it divided through
petty party politics.
Dehavilland Moss
