This past Tuesday gave Bahamians one of those uniquely Bahamian political moments where reality appeared to take a coffee break.

Former Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) MP Leslie Miller was among supporters gathered outside Parliament defending Finance Minister Michael Halkitis while Free National Movement (FNM) supporters protested over questions surrounding Halkitis’ past involvement with Top Notch Builders.

Now, Mr. Miller reportedly took issue with the FNM crowd standing outside in the blazing sun protesting.

Which would have been a devastating criticism had he not been standing outside in the exact same blazing sun.

It is difficult to know what lesson we were supposed to take from this.

Apparently, standing in the heat is foolish when the other side does it, but patriotic when your side does it.

Political science may need a new textbook chapter to explain that one.

The protest itself centered on concerns raised by the opposition regarding Halkitis’ previous role with Top Notch Builders, a company that has become the subject of intense public scrutiny because of reported links to convicted drug smuggler Jonathan Gardiner. Halkitis has acknowledged that he previously served as a director of the company after initially denying involvement when first questioned by the press.

As the PLP likes to remind us, “No Lie Lasts Forever.”

Unfortunately for them, that slogan tends to travel in both directions.

Then came Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis, who finally broke his silence.

According to reports, the Prime Minister informed Parliament that he was satisfied there was nothing “illegal, immoral or unethical” about Halkitis’ conduct.

Now ordinarily, that might be considered a powerful endorsement.

Ordinarily.

The difficulty arises when one remembers that Davis has historically been generous with endorsements.

In fact, years ago, while discussing the Christie administration, Davis declared that he was not aware of any of his Cabinet colleagues committing corrupt acts.

That statement has aged about as gracefully as milk left on a Nassau sidewalk in August.

Which creates a fascinating political problem.

If Davis tells you that everything is fine, does that reassure you?

Or does it simply encourage you to ask more questions?

The Prime Minister’s defence also took an interesting detour.

Rather than focusing exclusively on the concerns surrounding Halkitis, attention shifted toward East Grand Bahama MP Kwasi Thompson, whose comments in Parliament were ultimately removed from the record.

Davis argued that Thompson breached parliamentary privilege and suggested the matter be referred to the Privileges Committee.

And there it was.

The great political magic trick.

A controversy emerges.

Questions are asked.

The questions become the problem.

The questioner becomes the bigger problem.

And before you know it, everyone is debating parliamentary procedure instead of the original issue.

It is the political equivalent of a restaurant serving burnt food and then spending twenty minutes explaining why the customer should not have complained so loudly.

Meanwhile, in the background, Golden Isles MP Darron Pickstock found himself attracting attention for remarks that critics viewed as aggressive and unbecoming of parliamentary discourse.

Curiously, calls for outrage seem to depend heavily on which side of the chamber happens to be speaking.

A remarkable phenomenon.

Scientists should study it.

What remains most striking is the Davis administration’s apparent belief that public concern can be neutralized through declarations of confidence.

But confidence is not evidence.

Popularity is not transparency.

And an endorsement, particularly from a politician, is not a substitute for answers.

The Prime Minister appears determined to wrap Halkitis in the warm blanket of his own political credibility.

The challenge is that credibility is not something that can simply be loaned out like a government vehicle.

It must be earned.

And in politics, every unanswered question eventually develops a habit of returning.

Usually at the worst possible time.

For now, this government seems content to insist that nothing is wrong, nothing is improper, and nothing requires further explanation.

Perhaps they are right.

But if that is truly the case, then providing clear answers should be the easiest task in the world.

After all, sunlight remains the best disinfectant.

Even when everyone is standing in the hot sun.

The Commonwealth of The Bahamas deserves better.

END