When the Leader of the Opposition Michael Pintard identified several Women’s Groups claiming the Protection against Violence Bill was severely deficient it became very clear that what was perceived to be an independent nonpolitical grouping with no political agenda had finally come in out of the cold.
Along comes Davinia Bain; who posts on her social media link a total disgust with the incumbent Government’s legislation and calls for international intervention in The Bahamas under the guise or presumption that the Bahamian people were powerless.
Now imagine a nation just out of the cusp of a glorious international, regional and local celebration on our 50th year of Independence and there is this clarion call to the international community which deflates our sovereignty and exposes the direction which is afoot.
It is small wonder that Mr. Pintard is so fearful of being on the wrong side of history.
These groups occupied the gallery of the Senate for the final debate on the legislation and to flank their chosen spokesperson Senator Michaela Barnett Ellis who was billed as having the TKO contribution. Mrs. Barnett Ellis struggled to get past her trade mark metaphor on who fiddled whilst the country was going to hell on roller skates. It fell flat and when the Attorney General graciously corrected her assertions following her contribution, the final nail, as they say was in the coffin. Mrs. Barnett Ellis, an erudite and accomplished attorney could barely muster a retort.
Let’s look back at how these organizations who shared their space with the FNM dropped the ball:-
Their news conferences and their activism over a period of 2016 to 2023 lacked transparency, aggressive publicity and information sharing. After every meeting as stake holders they had the opportunity to come to the Bahamian public and share the discussions and invite consensus forming opinions. Their score card in this regard is one of dismal failure.
There is a clear absence of movement dynamics in these organizations. As the Attorney General said the laws of the country must not just apply to the modern systems of Nassau but must be workable in the far flung family Islands.
Is there any track record of work or data collected by these organizations in the far flung family Islands or even the closer destinations? We will await the tabling of their report, data and facts.
This lack of social movement speaks loudly to the miniscule community these groups were appealing to.
Was there any true Activism in the sense of the term and practice that Activists in Africa, elsewhere in the region, in the USA, Europe and Asia show and receive international recognition and their work and commentary drives and influences the agenda and those with lesser resources and fighting intrinsic cultural and political and economic challenges to over come ? We submit that the Activism in the Bahamas saw small groups assembled outside the Parliament. These groups seemed to be cheer leaders for the Official Opposition rather than Activists with a non-political cause.
It is no wonder they are unable to generate grass roots support. The political women of the FNM are not going to concede any territory to these opportunists and likewise the political women in the PLP recognize the insincerity of the Agenda.
There is a school of thought that the plateau of Women’s Rights and Gender Based Violence opens the door to profiling on the international stage whilst at home there is no evidence of any grass roots work.
The language submitted in the news statements of the disgruntled groups is FNM political talking points and the question of the Prime Minister will continue to loom large. Why is it that these groups did not open their mouth in protest, even after having sat through discussions and seminars on the new proposed legislation; until it arrived on the floor of the House of Assembly and the political showmanship could start?
Where are the full page advertisements or messaging on social media over the last eight years which contain full reports on discussions with the Government and the back and forth from the assumed stake holders to enable the Bahamian people to reach consensus?
How is it that a former FNM Government in office for four plus years did absolutely nothing to move any legislation forward for the Protection of women against any form of violence but the party can get a free pass and political accommodation when the PLP Government brings legislation to the Parliament?
Is there a political pay day for these dissenters? Time will tell.