Dear Sir,
It seems that with every passing day that the FNM (Free National Mess) remains in power, we experience a continuing erosion of our democratic principles and processes. This erosion cannot be better personified than in the person of the Prime Minister, Hubert Alexander Ingraham, who continues to treat his colleagues and the country as if they are parts of his personal enterprise. Last week, he said (rightly) on ZNS that no job is forever and that no one is guaranteed an FNM nomination in the upcoming elections. But he was right to start with himself – what we need now is Leadership, not Dictatorship! There is a reason why his Cabinet Ministers and Backbenchers refer to him as ‘Froggy’ ….. his colleagues are fearful and reluctant to speak up even when they know something is wrong for fear of him jumping down their throats.
If reports are to be believed, the PM exercises the five (5) tactics of a ‘leader from hell’, i.e. a Dictator. First, he reportedly uses threats and punishment, which are simply a bad tactic because the punishment may stop undesired behavior but it does nothing to promote or encourage productive behavior. Next, he uses fear tactics as a motivational strategy to get Ministers to ‘toe the line’ or as is often said, ‘my way or the highway’! If you don’t believe me, ask Kenneth Russell.
Third, it seems as if Mr. Ingraham has become intoxicated with power and exercises power to serve his own interests. Why else would he act to protect his protégé (Zhivargo Laing) while hanging out others to dry? (again, ask Mr. Russell, if you find this too hard to believe).
Fourth, apparently, he is the consummate ‘micro-manager’; he thinks that leading means knowing what his Ministers are doing at all times in all places. Great leaders let their followers get on with the job, they don’t end up looking over your shoulder and doing the work for you and they certainly don’t need to review everything you do
Finally, he has become very good at ‘dividing and conquering’ within his party….. by creating ‘ingroups’ and ‘outgroups’. He ‘butters’ up his ingroups and keeps them close to his bosom by rewarding them, not because they have performed well but because they are loyal to him. Meanwhile, outgroups are treated as if they are a different species and he alienates them for no good reason.
As Russell Ewing once famously said: “A boss creates fear, a leader creates confidence. A boss fixes blame, a leader corrects mistakes. A boss knows all, a leader asks questions. A boss makes work drudgery, a leader makes it interesting.” If this quote was put to the FNM Cabinet, I suspect they would recognize only one of the two from above ….. a BOSS !!!
As we approach our next General Election, we are faced with a stark choice, as I have said before. We can continue with this debacle and miserable excuse for leadership or elect a real Leader! The choice is CLEAR !!
Signed,
Maxfield Outten
I agree the PM is ‘A BOSS and A DICTATOR, NOT A LEADER’. That’s why he loves to be called Papa Doc. I am disappointed that the intelligent men (and women) in his cabinet would keep silent to keep their jobs. How are they able to sleep at night? Anyway they will lose this upcoming election and have a lot of time to catch up on sleep. I predict that this PM (Ingraham) will go down in history as infamous. Mark my words!
NOW BP THIS DON’T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH ANY STORY U R CURRENTLY RUNNING. BUT I WANT U TO LOOK INTO THIS. RUMORS WERE CIRCULATING THE GOVT EMPLOYEES WERE GOING TO RECEIVE AT LEAST 600.00 IN DEC IN INCREMENTS..HOWEVER I JUST LEARNED THAT THE ONLY PEOPLE THAT WILL BE RECEIVING ANYTHING ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE ALREADY AT THE BAR. THIS THE SAME CRAP THAT HUBERT DID WHEN HE CUT OUT OVERTIME FOR IMM AND CUSTOMS. HE GAVE NOTHING TO THE JUNIOR MAN THAT WAS LOSING THE OVERTIME BUT HE GAVE FROM 7 HUNDRED AND UP TO EVERYONE IN THE RANK OF CHEIF AND ABOVE BUT THOSE PEOPLE DID NOT EVEN WORK OVERTIME SO THEY WERE NOT THE ONES SUFFERING LOSS OF INCOME. FURTHERMORE WHAT THE BAHAMIAN PUBLIC IS NOT AWARE OF IS THE GOVT DID NOT PAY OVERTIME THE AIRLINES AND CRUISE LINES PAID OVERTIME….WHICH THEY STILL DO ONLY NOW THE GOVT KEEPS IT AND THE PPL THAT DO THE WORK DONT RECEIVE ANY THING. HUBERT U GATTA GO. WE JUST CANT TAKE NO MORE
Writer you are so true with your words. Mr. Ingraham is not a leader but infact a BOSS. There is a new shoe on Starz or HBO that depicts the same leadership Mr. Ingraham protraits staring Kelsey Grammer. Shame on you Ingraham for what you are doing to the Bahamian people we certainly deserve better leadership, step up and man up.
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