By OSWALD T. BROWN
WASHINGTON, D.C., September 11, 2021 — I have tremendous respect for both Gladstone “Moon” McPhee and his wife Daisy McPhee, who are pictured in a photo posted on Facebook wearing T-shirts displaying their support for opposing political parties – one being PLP and the other FNM.
The person who posted the photo referred to it as POLITICAL MATURITY, but it did not come as a surprise to me because I know Gladstone and Daisy very well and they have historically been on opposite sides of the “political fence.”
Gladstone has been like a “Little Brother” to from he and his twin brother Sidney used to “hang out” with myself and other friends – although they are several years younger — when we were students at Southern Senior in Nassau in the 1950s.
Gladstone and Sidney excelled in a variety of spots, but they were both outstanding cricket players, and believe it or not — despite being on the short side — they both were excellent basketball players.
I got to know Daisy very well when I lived in Freeport for 12 years prior moving to Washington, D.C., in May of 2013 as Press, Cultural Affairs and Information Manager at the Embassy of The Bahamas in Washington, D.C.
Both Daisy and I are devout Roman Catholics and we exchanged “greetings of peace” every Sunday when we attend Mass at Mary, Star of The Sea Roman Catholic Church in Freeport.
No doubt, it is because Daisy is such a devout Catholic that Gladstone also became a Catholic, being the dedicated family man that he is, as reflected in the values exemplified by their daughter, Yolett McPhee-McCuin, who heads the University of Mississippi Women’s Basketball program.
Although I was not surprised when I saw the political statement being made in the photo posted o Facebook, I was somewhat perplexed as to why Daisy is still such a die-hard supporter of the FNM, especially leading up to the September 16 general election under the leadership of current Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis.
Indeed, Dr. Minnis has left little doubt that he is the worst Prime Minister in the history of The Bahamas, a fact supported by reams of evidence, based on his government’s performance over the past four-plus years in Grand Bahama, where FNM members represent all five constituencies in the House of Assembly.
It is worth noting, however, that the McPhees are a closely-knit family and it’s highly unlikely at this stage of their lives that political differences is a divisive issue in the family.
As I wrote in an article in BAHAMAS CHRONICLE back in August of 2019 after Yolette McPhee-McCuin was appointed head of the University of Mississippi Women’s Basketball program, the fact that she received a good education while excelling in sports as a basketball player and coach was not happenstance. Her mother Daisy is a career educator and a former Principal at highly respected Grand Bahama Catholic High School in Freeport.
Meanwhile, her father Gladstone had a legendary career as one of the greatest basketball coaches in The Bahamas’ sporting history, including many years as head men’s basketball coach at Grand Bahama Catholic High.
While Gladstone’s twin brother Sidney decided to pursue a career in the hotel industry, which was commonplace among young Bahamian males when they left school because of the money they were able to make catering to tourists in our hotels, Gladstone continued to be very active in sports, eventually deciding on a career “teaching” basketball as its popularity increased in The Bahamas.
Clearly, his success as a coach in Grand Bahama and nationally should have long ago qualified him to be recognized by the Government for one of the national honours that over the years successive governments have reserved for politicians and financial donors to their respective political parties.
I am absolutely convinced that A New Day is on the horizon in The Bahamas as PLP Leader Philip “Brave” Davis and the PLP prepare to restore good governance to The Bahamas after winning the September 16 general election.
Given strong speculation that the PLP will win all five seats in Grand Bahama, I would like to suggest that all of the newly elected Members of Parliament for Grand Bahama make it one of their top priorities to see to it that PLP ardent supporter Gladstone “Moon” McPhee is fittingly rewarded commensurate with his overall contributions to sports in The Bahamas.
Don’t you agree Daisy McPhee?
