By the close of 1967, Premier Pindling was already well aware that there were those within his PLP administration who were not happy. It appeared that there was an all encompassing baton of power, which was being waved, solely, arbitrarily, as Premier.
To some, Premier Lynden Pindling, had too much power. He had no one to answer to. He owed favours to one too many shadowy unknowns.
Pindling had delivered political victory in January 1967, but the price of triumph was an expensive one. Pindling had to make deals with Randol Fawkes, the sole Labour MHA, as well as, independent Alvin R. Braynen MHA, who became Speaker of the House until 1972.
In spectacular fashion, that Fawkes and Pindling political love-in would soon fall away into bitter rivalry.
Eight days after the 10th April 1968
Bahamas general elections
Pindling had also surrounded himself with characters like Michael McLaney and David Probinsky, sketchy Americans, who had their own agendas, powerful foreign minders and mafia connections. They monitored and reported on Pindling’s every move. By 1973, their names and others would be mentioned in an alleged foreign sponsored plot to kill Pindling.
Allies and confidants like Cecil Wallace-Whitfield knew where the proverbial political bodies were buried, yet was overlooked when the juicier more high profile Cabinet posts were given out. Wallace-Whitfield would be one of the first to lead the rebellion against Pindling.
24th February 1968 – PLP lost two by-elections, facing a third, Pindling offers an olive branch to Cabinet and the Bahamian people to save Majority Rule
Demigod. Dictator. Cloaked in new power, this is what some whispered about the emperor’s new clothes.
February 1968 brought unexpected political turmoil to the first Majority Rule government. Two by-elections in 1967, showed that the opposition United Bahamian Party, while deeply wounded, still had powerful political support. UBP won both, which meant the ruling PLP lost both.
Then, on 17th February, Uriah McPhee MHA Shirlea constituency died while in hospital in the United States. A third by-election was in the offing.
Pindling had to add appeasement to whatever strategy he would choose to address this new dilemma.
A. D. Hanna named to newly created post as Deputy Prime Minister three days after death of Uriah McPhee
Despite A. D. Hanna being largely considered deputy leader of the PLP, this was not made an official government position until 20th February 1968, when it was confirmed in law.
Decentralisation of Pindling’s power also saw the creation of posts called Minister of State. Senator Clement Maynard was bestowed with a high promotion becoming Senator the Hon. Clement Maynard, Minister of State with responsibility for Establishment Matters working from the Premier office.
“It has been decided, in the light of experience gained in 1967, to re-allocate some of the subjects within Ministers’ portfolios, states a press release issued Tuesday evening by the Government Information Service. The release adds: Major changes in the rationalisation of Cabinet business are the creation of a Deputy Premiership and of a portfolio of Minister of State.”
The Bahamian Times, Saturday 24th February 1968
Arthur D. Hanna would remain Deputy Prime Minister until 1984.
In 1984, Hanna resigned his post as Deputy Prime Minister in protest at the retention by Prime Minister Sir Lynden of cabinet colleagues who were heavily criticised by a Royal Commission of Enquiry of that same year. The commission was established to investigate claims of high-level corruption allegedly linked to the flourishing drugs trade of the 1980s. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Dion_Hanna
