LYLE BETHELL IS A HYPOCRITE

Lord, forgive me for yielding to temptation, amen!

The recent unprovoked and unsolicited utterances from Pastor Lyle Bethel against successful and astute businessman Sebastian Bastian exposed what we have been whispering in polite company for decades. We left what sickens us as a people on the back burner because we wanted it to fade into the background.

The Bahamas is a very peculiar place. We live in a country where prejudices and subtle discriminatory nd biases have existed for weeks after Christopher Columbus left, and still reside here in the shadows today. We have succeeded in pitting the Free National Movement as an elite group who care less for the commoner and the PLP has will always be strongly associated with those cast aside; but they are happy if a few families own all of the businesses, control the masses and drop a few crombs for a selected token few from over the hill.

Some go to particular churches, attend elite schools, and are part of organisations that still have a colour barrier. In short, there is a community with a superiority complex that can’t seem to rid itself of the monkey on its back. They want it all and are upset when anyone from over the hill who did not go to the elite schools or is not tied to their ‘closed-door society’ breaks out and succeeds.

The audacity of Pastor Berhel to play God is preposterous. His attempt to cast judgment on Sebas Bastian because of the business he is in is unfair, cowardly, and ignorant, to put it mildly. Pastor Lyle lives in the Bahamas, where people of his ilk are embroiled in illegal sexual behaviour with minors and not a crack from him. Should we conclude that because he did not fly off the deep end, he agrees with the sexual behaviour? Bethel has kept quiet when his volunteers have been caught up in many questionable activities until now, yet not a dog says bow.

Bethel has wealthy personal friends and members of his church who own liquor businesses. These businesses are responsible for many deaths, either by consumption or destruction, while under the influence of rum purchased from Lyle’s friends, yet he never addresses this in public. Is it because he is receiving a ‘love offering’? His attack on Bastian left the Bahamas’ mouth open. His rapid-fire attempt to sully Bastian’s reputation was unfortunate. A tinge of jealousy looms in the background.

The most glaring thing is that Bethel only seems to come alive because he has some inside scoop on what party Bastian may be supporting. It may be possible that Bethel is getting advice from his brother Carl, the erstwhile genius of the Free National Movement.

Sadly, the hypocritical jab exposes how dense Bethel is, because if he were that interested, he would know that right or wrong, the referendum is history, the necessary legislation to tidy up the industry is done, and his same white friends have been knocking at the doors to get a piece of gaming. They are salivating about the possibility and cannot compose themselves to see these black Bahamians make a healthy living while contributing to the country, and they do not control it. The liquor business is on lock, but they missed out on the gaming business.

So it is in plain sight that Bethel is just a spokesperson for the jealous whites who can’t wait to get their hands on a piece of that pie, so they would grasp any opportunity to tarnish Bastian’s good name.

So, we could forgive Bethel for allowing his friends, sulking behind the scenes, to use him.

It is unfortunate that in the Bahamas in the 21st Century, we are still battling with the whites trying to control all of us, and even though they know that political power is escaping rapidly, at least if they control the wealth, they would be satisfied. That ship has sailed and is now out of sight.

Isn’t it strange that we still have to justify our existence and prove that we are worthy according to the Bethel and white friends?

Incidentally, God does not need Pastor Lyle Bethel to dictate who should have their unique relationship with him. Bethel is why the numbers in church are dwindling: everyone wants to play God or pretend that their relationship is superior. That right there is only in the figment of Bethel’s imagination. “JUDGE NOT THAT YE BE NOT JUDGED!”

If he were worth his salt, he would be out and about seeking souls for the kingdom, not being the nuisance that he has become. He has lost his credibility by messing with politics. If he wants to speak, then he could rebuke his brother in public for his transgressions as MP; otherwise, he could face the wall, stand on one leg, and suck his thumb until he falls asleep.

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