Compiled, edited and constructed by Russell Dames... Updated every Sunday at 2 p.m.
Volume 8 © BahamasUncensored.com 2010
COMMENT OF THE WEEK
THE EMERGENCY SERVICES FAIL
Last
year, as it turns out, the Freeport Container Port and the Grand Bahama
Airport Company made a fateful decision. They claimed that the technology
had developed to such an extent that there was no longer a need for the
physical presence of a meteorological office in Freeport, Grand Bahama,
the nation’s second city.
Their version of the facts is that they made the decision six months before the scheduled closure on 31st December. They told the government. This is important because the met office that they paid for not only supplied Freeport airport and container port with critical weather information, it also provided the community with information. The government said that when the private sector closed the facility, they would immediately open an office. If they had followed through on that, the office would have opened on 1st January 2010 and it would have been open on 29th March 2010. On 29th March 2010, the office was still closed. A tornado struck without apparent warning and now three men are dead.
PLP
Obie Wilchcombe, who is the Member of Parliament for West End, Grand Bahama,
raised the alarm at the time. He was ignored. On Monday 29th
March, there were bulletins issued from the Miami weather service that
bad weather was coming to The Bahamas. Freeport was in the cone of
likely contact. Specific warnings were issued in the mid morning
but general warnings came from as early as 6 a.m. that morning.
In Nassau, where the government’s Met Office is located, they too
had noticed that bad weather was coming to Freeport. An order was
given to send out a bulletin to Freeport, but the order was not executed.
When the error was discovered, it was too late; destruction and death had
struck. Their bulletin went out just after 12 noon. A tornado
struck at 11:30 a.m., downing equipment at the Container Port, ripping
the roofs off buildings in east Freeport and killing three people, injuring
2 others critically and hurting the livelihood and the psyches of countless
others.
Basil Dean, Deputy Director of the Met Office in Nassau, admitted
the failure of the system. He said that a warning should have been
issued earlier. Fat lot of good that does to those dead men.
The Container Port said that if they had had the warning, they would have evacuated the area and locked down the equipment. Only problem is, the employees who survived don’t believe them. They say other companies had a warning. They say a company as sophisticated as the Freeport Container Port should not be relying on a single warning from the Met Office in Nassau. The employees say that it was pure negligence on the company’s part. There is a disconnect between the two.
Both the PLP and the FNM led delegations to Freeport to inspect the damage and to talk with the people on the scene. Hubert Ingraham, the Prime Minister, pronounced the worksite safe. Perry Christie, after talking to the workers, did not commit himself. The PLP wants an investigation into the facts of what happened.
Glenys Hanna Martin, who went on the tour and is a former Minister
responsible for the Met Office, said that the Minister of Environment,
now responsible for the Met Office, ought to consider stepping down.
Earl Deveaux, the Minister for the Environment and for the Met Office,
said that he was shocked to know that there was no met office in Grand
Bahama. It appears that Zhivargo Laing, another FNM Minister, was
equally as clueless. Mr. Deveaux should resign. It is the only
honourable thing to do.
Bradley Roberts, the PLP’s Chairman, called for an investigation
into the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) that was shut down
in Grand Bahama by the FNM government and which was unable to function
during the emergency because there was no presence Grand Bahama.
He called for an investigation.
Three people are dead and this government must account for how this could happen. Freeport has had enough bad luck and this should not have happened. Who will account for the failure of the emergency services? Someone must fall on their sword and we believe that it is Earl Deveaux who must do so. He must go and must go quickly before his political career is ended. It may be at an end anyway.
Number of hits for the week ending Saturday 3rd April 2010 up to midnight: 202,785.
Number of hits for the month of March up to Wednesday 31st March at midnight: 878,630.
Number of hits for the year 2010 up to Saturday 3rd April at midnight:
2,457,068.
FOX
HILL STARTS THE BATON RUNNING
The official high-tech Queen’s Baton of the Commonwealth
Games began its run throughout The Bahamas with the children of the Sandilands
Primary School. The Bahamas Olympic Association headed by Wellington
Miller, with Secretary General Romell Knowles and Chef de Mission Roy Colebrook
and Indian High Commissioner Mohinder Grover were there to witness the
event. Speaking at the ceremony on Saturday 3rd April, Fred Mitchell
Fox Hill MP welcomed the group to Fox Hill, including Tommy Robinson the
nation’s first international medal winner in elite athletics. Mr.
Mitchell urged the children who were taking part in the relay to look to
the career of Thomas Robinson as an example of how discipline could take
you around the world. He thanked the Association and the High Commissioner
for the high honour it was bestowing upon Fox Hill. From left:
Rev'd. Dr. J. Carl Rahming; Ambassador Tommy Robinson, High Commissioner
Mahinder Grover of India; Fred Mitchell MP and Wellington Miller, President
Bahamas Olympic Association. At front Brion cox and Danielle Young of Sandilands
Primary School bear the Queen's Baton.
.
NO
POTABLE WATER AT BIG GRAND CAY
Big Grand Cay is the most northern of the Bahamian
villages. It sits on the largest of a set of small islands on a protected
bay. This traditional fishing village relies on fishing for its livelihood.
This Cay is a part of the North Abaco Constituency.
Today, PLP Chair Bradley Roberts reports that “The
lack of portable water has put a serious damper on the community’s Annual
Home Coming Festival. Water is supplied by a Reverse Osmosis Plant
located on adjacent Rat Cay, which is owned by the operators of the now
defunct Walker’s Cay. The Community has not been able to receive
any definitive word as to when water will be restored. Descendents
of Grand Cay and friends from Grand Bahama and Mainland Abaco are having
to return home because of the lack of water to drink and bathe.”
Said Mr. Roberts, “The good folks on Walker
Cay have received no word from the Company or from their MP & Prime
Minister Hubert Ingraham whose has not attended this year’s Grand Cay Home
Coming Festival or any in the recent past. Hubert Ingraham is once
again asleep at the wheel.”
SAMMI
STAR SPEAKS AGAINST A SCAM
There is an interesting phenomenon in The Bahamas
right now that is developing with a new class of artists. Sammi Starr
is one of them. He is the son of one of Darrell Rolle, the former
PLP Minister and Member of Parliament’s sisters. He hails from North
Andros. He is a good entertainer who has created the Sammi Star name
and is popular with the young women. Recently, Lincoln Bain who is
another artist/producer and works now with GEMS as a talk show host, introduced
Sammi Star to recording executives in Nassau and hopefully this will lead
to an international recording career. But much of what happens for
Bahamian artists will turn on the public policy of The Bahamas and the
ability of the artists to be able to articulate their position.
Recently, there was an ad in the press for Bahamian
artists to show up to a concert that was supposed to introduce them to
international recording executives who were coming it was said to view
their talent. They were asked to pay a fee to participate.
According to Sammi Star, the whole thing was a scam and he seemed incensed
that his own name was used as a draw to the event. He denounced it
in a Facebook piece on Tuesday 30th March. We thought that it was
an interesting piece to read on the state of artistry in the country.
Click here
for the Facebook link, or here for the extract.
Sammi Star/Facebook
SASHA
DUNN SAYS SAMMI IS WRONG
There was a spirited debate (and ongoing) on Facebook
about the comments of Sammi Starr, the Bahamian artist, who was incensed
that a recent call for artists to perform required those artists to pay
to audition for talent scouts from the international recording industry.
We published Mr. Starr's view above. Now, the
contrary view from Sasha Dunn, a Bahamian rapper, also on Facebook…
Sasha Dunn/Facebook
COB
STUDENTS AGAINST LECTURERS STRIKE
The College of The Bahamas Union Of Students has
hardly a word to say about anything of national importance. When
you hark back to the days of Darron Cash, now Chairman of the Bahamas Development
Bank and Ian Strachan, now an Associate Lecturer at the College, those
were the glory days of COBUS, when it was recognized as a national institution
of importance. So it was a great surprise to hear that the students
actually have an opinion about the COB lecturers’ strike that is set for
16th April.
Congratulations to their President Jamaal Knowles
for entering the public fray. The students said that they are against
the strike by the lecturers and they are also against the hard headed attitude
of the administration. Their argument is that a strike is coming
when exams are about to begin. Good point. This means that
the Minister of Labour must step in and get this right because there is
a catastrophe over work rules. Here
is the COBUS statement.
Jamaal Knowles/Facebook
FAREWELL
TO OUR GG
It is official. We have been reporting it
for weeks on this site that Arthur Hanna is to leave as Governor General.
Mr. Hanna told the press as he was leaving on Monday 29th March for London
for his farewell audience with the Queen that he believed that he had reached
the age when he needed to quit and this was accelerated by the fact that
his wife was no longer with him. He will demit office on 14th April.
Mr. Hanna served as Deputy Prime Minister from 1967
to 1984 and was in the first majority rule cabinet. He was the ideologue
in the government to the late Sir Lynden Pindling’s pragmatist. He
served in parliament for 32 years. Mr. Hanna will retire to his home
on Hanna Road in the Elizabeth constituency. We wish him well.
It appears that Hubert Ingraham may be doing something right this time
by allowing him the last opportunity to read the speech from the throne
on 14th April. We will see.
ITS EASTER!
The Easter holiday weekend is the best holiday of
the year. The weather is beginning to get warmer. The birds
are singing. It is springtime. Easter Sunday is today.
The timing: it is the first Sunday after the first full moon, after the
vernal equinox. Christianity turned this pagan festival into its
own after Rome became the centre of Christendom. When we were 'little'
in Nassau, a group called the Council of Women used to have a kite flying
contest... and then there are always the picnics of Easter Monday; ah,
those were the days of Easter! Happy Easter to you all.
UTAH
TAYLOR’S PREMIERE
Utah Taylor, the film producer, Controversy TV host,
music producer and writer, has a lot to be proud of these days. On
Tuesday 30th March with his beautiful wife at his side, he hosted the launch
of his new film ‘Mr. Prime Minister’. He brought young talent to
the screen and an audience that was filled with politicians from both sides
of the fence, including Loretta Butler Turner, Minister of State for Social
Development; Tommy Turnquest, the Minister of National Security; Charles
Maynard, the Minister for Culture (all FNM), Senator Jerome Fitzgerald
(PLP); Fred Mitchell PLP MP for Fox Hill and the newest MP Ryan Pinder,
PLP for Elizabeth. Lincoln Bain, his partner in Controversy TV and
the owner of VTV, was also there as was Dr. Keith Wisdom who as head of
Cable Bahamas airs the Controversy TV programme.
There was high praise all around. His newly
found father Deputy Superintendent Charles Rolle was part of the movie
as were other members of his family. The audience cheered as they
recognized various figures on the screen. Celli Moss, the director,
acted as the Prime Minister. The film was filled with humour and
pathos. The issue was crime and Mr. Taylor has a passion for carrying
out the law of the land on executions and bemoans the fact that the politicians
seem impotent to do anything about it. Notwithstanding all of that,
he has the support of the politicians to make a success of his work.
He got a pledge from Minister of Culture Charles Maynard in that regard.
Congratulations to Mr. Taylor.
We present photos from the premiere, which also
drew Members of the Royal Bahamas Police Force including Assistant Superintendent
Bernard Bonamy Jr. who heads the homicide division of the Central Detective
Unit of the Royal Bahamas Police Force.
TYLER
PERRY LAUNCHES HIS NEW MOVIE
The American film producer Tyler Perry loves the
movies, loves himself, loves The Bahamas. He and Bishop Neill Ellis
have struck up a friendship. That friendship has led to the movie
‘Why Did I Get Married Too’ being shot in Eleuthera in The Bahamas and
the premiere of the movie being held here at Atlantis at Paradise Island.
The mucks were all there for the performance. There appears also
to be a special bond with Debbie Bartlett and GEMS radio. The premiere,
which took place on the evening of Monday 29th March, was a glittering
event, with GEMS taking the lead. Please click
here for more photographs.
Photo from the GEMS facebook site and photo spread from Peter Ramsay
PLP
STATEMENTS ON THE FREEPORT DISASTER
We thought that it was important to present the
compendium of statements about the disaster in Freeport issued by the PLP
since the disaster unfolded. The Chairman of the Party Bradley Roberts
has issued three statements in connection with the disaster. Mr.
Roberts at first expressed condolences on
the matter and recalled that the government had allowed the Met Office
in Freeport to close. Then he issued
another statement calling for an examination of the conduct of the National
Emergency Management Agency and a follow
up on the fact that NEMA did not perform.
Glenys Hanna Martin, the PLP’s spokesman on the
Met Office, issued her own statement
calling upon the Minister Earl Deveaux to resign.
PLP
TOURS GRAND BAHAMA
We present this photo essay from the facebook page
of Party leader Perry Christie of the PLP of the tour of the disaster in
Grand Bahama. He spoke with the employers at the Container Port,
the injured at the Rand Memorial Hospital and the employees at a
Burger King in Freeport. The visit took place on Tuesday 30th March.
Accompanying Mr. Christie was Bradley Roberts, Party Chairman, Glenys Hanna
Martin, MP for Englerston and shadow minister for the Met Office; Obie
Wilchcombe, MP for West End, Grand Bahama and Bimini; and Fred Mitchell
MP for Fox Hill.
PLP
TOUR OF THE NATIONAL STADIUM
PLP Leader Perry Christie and his colleagues toured the
construction site of the National Stadium being built and to be named
the Thomas A. Robinson Stadium on Friday 26th March. The stadium
is a gift negotiated by Mr. Christie when he was Prime Minister on an official
visit to China in 2004. The stadium will seat 30,000 people.
It is to be finished by June 2011. Mr. Christie was told that it
is now 20 percent complete by project manager Iram Lewis. Tommy Robinson,
after whom the stadium is to be named, was also there along with former
Sports Director Winston ‘Gus’ Cooper. Among the colleagues accompanying
the former Prime Minister were Philip Davis MP Cat Island and Deputy Leader;
Fred Mitchell MP Fox Hill; Obie Wilchcombe MP West End and Bimini; Shane
Gibson, MP Golden Gates; Dr. Bernard Nottage MP Bain and Grants Town, former
Ministers of Sports Neville Wisdom and Dr. Norman Gay; and Senator Michael
Halkitis.
WHAT
WAS THE PM THINKING?
As a trained lawyer, you would think that the Prime
Minister knows better than to come to a decision without hearing the other
side. But that is precisely what he did when he travelled to Grand
Bahama to inspect the damage done by the tornado on Monday 29th March.
Mr. Ingraham did not speak to the workers. He spoke only to the employers
and he took their line on the matter; hook, line and sinker. He pronounced
the work site safe. How does he know?
Did Mr. Ingraham hear the stories of the employees
that they are pushed to work in bad weather all the time? Their view
is that BORCO, the company right next door to the port, had a warning right
next door and were able to prepare for the bad weather; so why did the
Container Port not have a warning? They also believe that if the
systems that the Container Port says they have, which are to shut down
if the wind reaches 45 miles an hour, work, then there should not have
been any accidents. All of this bears an investigation, including
into why the Met Office was not open; why they did not issue a warning
earlier than they did; and why NEMA did not function as it ought to have
done. But Mr. Ingraham, who is of course judge and jury, has already
decided that everything is fine. We condemn him for it.
Prime Minister Ingraham inspecting the Container Port with its executives
- Nassau Guardian photo Jenneva Russell
LETTERS
TO THE EDITOR
Valentine Grimes, Former MP, Has Had Enough.. Attacks Lying Ivan
Johnson
Please click here
for Mr. Grimes' letter...
Kelly Burrows Writes
The Grand Bahama Power Company seems to now be
in the business of frustrating the home owners and now their latest subject
the business owners.
The frustration being experienced by (FGC) Fenestration Glass Company,
only shows how at the end of the day the only persons who should benefit
is The Grand Bahama Power Company.
I am also an aggrieved customer who has been
assessed with fluctuated billings going back to April of 2009, to the present.
My home was vacant during a four-month period
in 2009, from April to the end of July.
All electricity valves turned off. Other than
what was necessary at the time to preserve my perishables, yet my billing
for the period for each month exceeded $500.
After speaking with a representative, and producing
proof of my being off island, some adjustments were made.
I felt a bit relieved and thought for a moment
that the company seemed to care. From the month of November to the present
month my billings were fluctuating, only to hit the ceiling for February
with a bill for $506.
Again I was not on the island during a two-week
period of January and my residence was once again vacant.
It saddens me to see that The Grand Bahama Power
Company could care less about the number of families that are now without
a provider due to their escalating charges they apply to businesses that
are trying their best to stay afloat in this ailing economy.
FGC, I can very well empathise with your aggravation,
after experiencing similar treatment and no recourse!
It has been reported that FGC has pulled out
of Grand Bahama, they have come to realise that there is no victor when
the opponent is that of GBPC.
Last week Polymers Int. reported that they had
to cut ties with 26 contractors, which was due in part to monthly power
bills exceeding $500, which company will pull out next? How much longer
will innocent householders have to suffer due to the lack of compassion
from the GBPC?
It is time for the Bahamas Government to intervene
and come to the aid of the businesses, and residents of Grand Bahama.
KELLY D
BURROWS
Freeport, GB
March 22, 2010
(The word is in Freeport that the economic development of Freeport
is being stifled more than anything else by the cost of power in the city,
a fact which it is argued the power company is unsympathetic to, being
a monopoly. The feeling is if they switch to natural gas, they can
make cheaper power but the capital cost is at the moment prohibitive.
The government appears to be just as lost on the subject. - Editor)
Forrester Carroll - Ingraham A Sore Loser...
The man is delusional; a sore loser - the man is a despot. There
is absolutely no appeal, of an election court decision in The Bahamas,
period, full stop and Ingraham knows that fact.
After coercing Kenyatta Gibson into crossing
the floor to join his rag-tag team of parliamentary misfits, Ingraham began
working on Malcolm Adderley. He baited Malcolm with a board chairmanship
and then let him linger in that position until he (Ingraham) thought the
time was right for a switch of allegiance. From his perspective,
Ingraham planned it well, he thought, to catch the PLP off guard; but little
did he know that the PLP had given up on Malcolm’s allegiance a long time
before.
With their plans in place, the FNM moved quickly
to put the rumour on the street that Malcolm Adderley would resign his
seat in the parliament on a date yet to be announced, but imminent.
The rumour was that he would get a Judgeship in the Supreme Court.
The implied consequence of Malcolm's anticipated
decision would mean a bye-election, for sure, in his constituency of Elizabeth
and big, bad, almighty Hubert Ingraham didn't think his incumbent FNM government
could lose it. He boastfully declared later on during the campaign
that the FNM would win by some 300 votes.
I wonder, was Ingraham's confident and boastful
assertion about a 300-vote winning majority have anything to do with the
700 plus new registrants who appeared on the voters rolls for Elizabeth?
No one seems to be able to account for such a
large number being registered in such a short period. The Parliamentary
Registration Department couldn't account for them. They were the
ones who registered the persons in the first place, so how could they not
know who they were and where they lived? Yet they claimed they didn't
know who they were, neither where they were living. No one knew nor
could account for the new votes in the area.
At the time, the PLP expressed its discontent
with the final certification of the register, but strangely enough Ingraham
didn't; he said that he and the FNM were quite satisfied that the voters
whose names appeared on the register were all legitimate and that there
was no need for concern on the FNM‘s part.
What was more puzzling, though, was the fact
that while Ingraham was expressing his satisfaction with the register and
assuring the public that he had no difficulty with the names thereon, he
was simultaneously accusing a PLP campaign group of transferring voters
to Elizabeth, by the busload, he charged. This was, of course, denied
vehemently.
In the end, Malcolm Adderley resigned his seat,
as was rumoured, and the much talked about bye-election was set for February
16th. The PLP was fully prepared, motivated, geared up and ready
for action. The FNM didn’t seem organized. Their walkabouts
were scanty; their rallies were not very well attended and their start
up campaign lacked co-ordination. Their goon squads attempted to
disrupt a PLP rally one night and to their shock and amazement, PLPs were
ready for them. Our boys chased them and their noise making truck out of
the area and our meeting went on without any further interruption.
Notwithstanding the FNM's rhetoric in the aftermath,
and an election court case to confirm what we knew already, as it turned
out the PLP did win the contest on the ground, on Election Day, by three
votes.
The judges ruled, and rightfully so, that the
five protest votes (which would decide the final outcome) cast in PLP Ryan
Pinder’s favour and which FNM operatives claimed, on election day, were
not entitled to be included in the official tally, were indeed legitimate
votes and should be added to Pinder's score, giving him 1504 votes to FNM
Duane Sands’ 1501, clearing the way for Mr. Pinder to be declared the official
winner.
Ingraham claimed to be in shock over the decision
of the judges, but whether he in fact was or just pretending he was, he
didn't like the decision one bit. The man went ballistic, talking
all sorts of nonsense. He inferred that an appeal to a higher court
was an option open to the FNM.
I am disgusted with this continuing hypocrisy.
There is no appeal of rulings made by judges in election court matters
and Hubert Ingraham knows that. So why was he be so obnoxious and
disingenuous? Was he trying to give comfort to disappointed FNM supporters
who believed him, when he told them that he would win by 300 votes?
What exactly was his objective for stating something that he knew to be
misleading and untruthful? You lost, Ingraham; get over it.
With respect to the ruling, the judges did not
dispute that there was one of the five voters who the presiding officer
should not have allowed to vote but having done so; it invoked the jurisdiction
of the election court, as well, based on the court's terms of reference
in this particular case. It seems quite clear to me on reading the
Court's judgment that the presiding election officer, made an error and
fell down on his/her job, not the election court. Under Section 58
(1) (a) (b) & (c) & section 69 (4) the judges were obliged to examine
and judge the qualification of voter ‘F’ as well; it was not for them neither
was it within their purview to determine (as they said in their ruling)
what the presiding officer knew, at the time, or was thinking about when
he/she allowed the person to vote; consequently it was not for them to
qualify or disqualify the voter on that basis. Their yardstick was
limited to establishing whether the voter was a Bahamian citizen; older
than 18 years and ordinarily resident in the constituency, for more than
six months.
But even if the court had disallowed the vote
of voter ‘F’, Ryan Pinder would still have been declared the winner by
a majority of two; so what is Ingraham’s problem? A sore loser, you
are, indeed.
Forrester J Carroll J.P
Freeport, Grand Bahama
3rd April 2010
IN PASSING
Obama Wrong On Afghanistan
Last Sunday as we uploaded, the US President Barack Obama was in Afghanistan,
meeting with the President of that country and visiting the troops of the
United States that are fighting in that country. We think that this
war in Afghanistan is a mistake and the US President should get out of
it as soon as possible. Now rather than later. But what it
shows is that no matter who is president, Dwight Eisenhower, the late US
President spoke it correctly. There is a military industrial complex
in the US that seems to require war. Mr. Obama becomes another President
who is a supporter of that complex.
Leave The Pope Alone
There is a concerted attack on the Roman Catholic Pope to link him
with the inattention to the paedophilia that a minority of priests were
involved in over the three last decades of the 20th century. The
rule on priestly celibacy is being blamed for the fact that paedophiles
are attracted to the church as priests. The church has been guilty
and they admit it for lack of attention to this and dealing with the matter
in a way that protected the paedophiles and not the children who were abused.
But we think that from the evidence so far, it is a stretch to suggest
that the man at the top of the church was personally responsible in his
previous life for the acts of various priests. It is always easy
to rewrite history and say how something should have been dealt with.
The important question now is what does the church do. We think that
it is something that the Pope himself must address at some point but we
do not support the present witch-hunt on him that is going on.
Antigua’s PM Loses His Seat
Antigua's Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer of the governing United Progressive
Party (UPP) has lost his seat in Parliament together with two of his Ministers
Jacqui Quinn and John Maginley. A fourth challenge to the UPP’s ally
Trevor Walker of the Barbuda People’s Movement (BPM) was not successful.
On 31st March Justice Louise Blenman ruled that the election court challenges
of former Prime Minister Lester Bird’s Antigua Labour Party (ALP) were
successful on the grounds that there was a late start to the polls, which
caused voters not to be able to exercise their franchise. The cases
were immediately appealed to the Court of Appeal, which has the final say,
and a stay of the Judge's decision was granted until 16th April.
Mr. Spencer, who first won in 2004, repeated the victory with a reduced
majority on 9th March 2009. He won 9 seats to 6 for the Opposition
party. Losing the three seats reduces his majority to six, equal
to that of the Opposition. If the challenge is a success, what will
the Governor General do while the bye-elections take place or will Mr.
Spencer before losing call a general election? Interesting developments.
Symposium On Rex Nettleford
The University of the West Indies will hold a symposium on the life
of the late Professor Rex Nettleford in Jamaica at the Mona Campus from
7th April to 9th April. In Nassau, there will be a service of thanksgiving
for the life of Professor Nettleford on 22nd April.
Manning To Call General Elections In Trinidad and Tobago
Patrick Manning, the Trinidad Prime Minister, is facing a resurgent
Opposition in Trinidad, what with a new Opposition Leader and an agreement
from the Opposition forces that they will fight the next general election
as one force, and charges of corruption that led to the forced resignation
of the head of the Urban Development Corporation Calder Hart whom the PM
defended. Speaking at a special convention ahead of local government
elections in Trinidad, the Prime Minister said that he planned to call
a general election and that screening for candidates would begin with himself
as early as 7th April. This sent Trinidad into a tizzy. Elections
are not due until 2012.
PLP Stalwart Wellington ‘Doc’ Stewart Dies
The Stalwart Councillor and former Candidate for the PLP in the 1982
General Election died on Thursday evening 1st April. Mr. Stewart
had been ailing for some time. Tributes began to flow for a man who
was an unwavering PLP and who looked forward to the party’s return to power,
encouraging the younger PLPs to continue the fight. He will be missed.
Our condolences to his family. PLP Chairman Bradley Roberts issued
a statement offering condolences on the part of the party. You may
click
here for that statement.
Sir Jack And The
St. Georges Have Settled
The latest word is that the two warring owner families of the Grand
Bahama Port Authority have settled their differences and that their dispute
over the ownership of the Port will formally come to an end. The
family feud has been going on since the death of Edward St. George in December
2004. Sir Jack is said to be equally as adamant, though, that he
will not sell his shares in the company to Hutchison Whampoa, the owners
of the Container Port in Freeport. He blames Hutchison for not helping
to develop the city.
South Beach Nominations
The South Beach Branch of the PLP continues its beauty contest for
the potential candidates for the area. On Thursday 1st April, the
would be candidates had to speak to the branch. They were Myles Laroda,
Fayne Thompson, Viraj Perpall, Ramould Ferreira, and Dr. Lynwood Brown.
The surprise of the night was that Wallace Rolle, the former candidate
for 2007 was still interested in the nomination and he and his whole family
were out in full force. Party Leader Perry Christie spoke at the
event and witnessed the speeches. At the moment, it appears that
the branch executive is in favour of Mr. Laroda, but sources say that an
election is to be held in the South Beach branch soon and it is not certain
what the outcome of that will be, mainly whether the present Chairman will
survive.
Meanwhile In Other Seats
The race for Eight Mile Rock is hotting up with activist Troy Garvey
putting his name formally into the ring. He has started a facebook page
to support his candidacy. Others interested are former candidate
Caleb Outten, Dr. Delton Rolle, son of Bishop John N. T. Rolle; and
Lewis Astwood, a community activist.
Eryka Badu Charges For Disorderly Behaviour
The American singer Eryka Badu who did a reprise of Funky Nassau in
the film Blues Brothers II has been charged by the Dallas police for disorderly
behaviour. The charge was brought on Good Friday by the police because
she stripped naked while doing a music video in Dealy Plaza site of the
John F. Kennedy assassination. At the end of the video she drops
dead from an imaginary bullet sending paroxysms of criticism because many
people believe it offends the sanctity of the spot where the late American
President was murdered. The charge carries with it a fine of 500
dollars.
Dame Marguerite Denied An Appointment With PM?
Friends of the widow of Dame Marguerite Pindling complain that the
Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham appears to be deliberately refusing to give
her an appointment to present her book to him. Sources say the PM
is ducking the lovely lady because he does not like the criticism of him
in the book and the glorification of her late husband whom he tried to
vilify.
Bahamar Signs
It was all smiles in Miami as the Chinese Export Import Bank signed
with the Bahamar Executives to ink the multi billion dollar project that
promises to create 8000 new jobs when it is completed and 3000 construction
jobs for Bahamians. Glossed over are the reportedly 8000 Chinese
workers that will be required by the Chinese general contractor to do the
work. The Government is seeking the support of the PLP in this.
Top Bahamian Bahamar Executive Sandy Sands claims that a date for construction
is not yet set, which despite the fanfare makes us recall how you can march
up the aisle for years with the Chinese before you see the first brick
and mortar.
Elon ‘Sonny’ Martin In Nassau
Elon ‘Sonny’ Martin, the well-known political activist from Grand Bahama,
was airlifted to Nassau last week and is convalescing in the Princess Margaret
Hospital.
Congratulations To The New Archdeacon
Congratulations to Archdeacon Harry Bain, formerly a Canon, on his
appointment as Archdeacon of the Northern Bahamas for the Anglican Church.
He replaces the former Archdeacon Cornell Moss now Bishop Moss, Bishop
of Guyana.
The New GG
The political community is full of the gossip that Sir Arthur Foulkes,
the retired politician and now DG of the Bahamas Information Services is
to serve as Governor General succeeding Arthur Hanna who demits office
on 14th April. If it must be an FNM, we support Sir Arthur.
We wonder whether the Prime Minister can do the decent thing by making
the appointment.
Carifta Games
The Carifta Games athletics competition began on Saturday 3rd April
in the Cayman Islands. The Bahamian team is so far 6th in the standings.
Jamaica is leading. You may see the full medal results by this link: http://www.carifta2010.ky/medals.html.
No overall medal standings yet from the Carifta Games Swimming Championships
being held concurrently in Jamaica, but you may click
here for the latest individual results.
COMMENT OF THE WEEK
JAMAICA IS ON THE EDGE
Last week, the University of the West Indies Trade Union Education
Institute hosted a symposium on the works of Rex Nettleford from 7th to
9th April. Fred Mitchell, the Opposition's spokesman on Foreign Affairs
attended the seminar. It was a fascinating window into the state
of Jamaica. The intellectuals of the university faced with a one
billion dollar Jamaican cut in funding to UWI in the next fiscal year are
fearful that their country is teetering on the edge.
Rex Nettleford’s life is a counterpoint to all talk of despair. He was such a positive individual, that things would work out. In the worst of the excesses of the Michael Manley regime in the 1970s of Jamaica, he kept the spirits of the country up and thought that Jamaica would come out better for it.
Jamaica and where it stands is important for The Bahamas. First, it has always been the intellectual leader of the Caribbean region. It did after all provide this country with its first Prime Minister. Wherever in the world one goes outside the region, you can safely tuck your reputation away behind Jamaica because that is the country of reggae that almost everyone knows.
Jamaica is also a portent of what is to come in The Bahamas. There are many people who remember going to Jamaica in the 1960s when the Jamaican dollar was 1.12 to the US dollar. Today it is 89 dollars Jamaican to one US dollar. Bahamians who went to Jamaica used to laugh and pour scorn on Jamaica because of the amount criminality and robbery in the society. Every house was surrounded by bars. The Jamaican middle class used to laugh back and warn that it was only a matter of time for The Bahamas. And who would argue if we are told today: look where we have come to.
The headline in the major paper in Kingston on Friday 9th April said: 428 murders in 98 days. The Bahamas has its own murder rating, scaled down of course to meet our numbers, but just as alarming. The intellectuals, the political class have run out of options, some say even hope in Kingston. They do not know what to do and what they see coming down the road frightens them.
In the 1970s they had the idea, the youth and the passion and the abiding belief that they could solve the problems. But today, those same intellectuals have lost their youth, and through their eyeglasses and with gray hair abounding, they wonder aloud what is to become of them. They describe a society that cannot solve its water problems, where even legitimate businessmen are funded by drug money, where there is a section of the police force that is reportedly involved in ongoing criminal enterprises and where the Jamaican government is now mired in a useless and unnecessary fight with the US government by refusing to put before the court for extradition a Jamaican drug lord who they argue controls the Prime Minister’s constituency.
One political activist said that quite simply if the Prime Minister Bruce Golding gives up ‘Dudus’ the drug lord, he is finished politically. Taking on the US then is seen as the lesser of two evils.
Kingston is a city of half a million people. It should have twice the nightlife and social vibrancy that Nassau has at least, being a city half its size. But once dark falls, the whole city shuts down. You can hardly find a place to eat after 9 pm unless it is safely behind the walls of a hotel and there is little pedestrian traffic once night falls.
Jamaica, though, is a beautiful place, beautiful country, full of smart bright people. But the problems are beginning to overwhelm them. You get that sense, that there is despair creeping into the intellectual class, which will again lead to flight to the metropole. The US and the Europeans are getting tougher by shutting the doors with the use of their visa policies to Jamaican emigration. Recently a major Jamaican businessman lost his visa to the US without notice or explanation. Then there is a report that several prominent Jamaican musicians have lost their visas to the US without notice. Buju Banton, the Jamaican singer, who sanctioned in song killing homosexuals, is languishing in a Florida jail on drug charges. Emigration to the US from Jamaica is getting harder every day.
All of us have a stake in seeking solutions to Jamaica’s problems because in a real sense; there, but for the grace of God, goes The Bahamas.
Number of hits for the week ending Saturday 10th April 2010 up to midnight: 204,214.
Number of hits for the month of April up to Saturday 10th April 2010 up to midnight: 257,844.
Number of hits for the year 2010 up to Saturday 10th April 2010 up to midnight: 2,661,282.
PLP
DEMANDS A COMMISSION
The Progressive Liberal Party’s Chairman issued
a statement last week on 6 April calling for a Commission of Inquiry into
the deaths of the three men in Freeport who died in the tornado there on
26th March. There appears to be clear negligence on the part of the
Government, on the part of the National Emergency Management Agency and
on the part of the Met Office.
The PLP said in its statement that the only way
to get to an objective picture of what happened was to hold a Commission
with experts who would probe the situation and report to the country.
Mr. Roberts said that during the PLP’s administration
they held a Wreck Commission to investigate the facts of the deaths at
sea in the accident with the Sea Hauler and the United Star. This
becomes important because the FNM has been saying that no minister resigned
when that accident occurred. They seemed to forget that no minister
was found wanting in that matter. It is different from the situation
one finds today where the minister of environment admitted that he did
not follow up on making sure that there was a met office in Freeport.
Mr. Deveaux is angry that there have been calls
for his resignation. But the calls must persist. Earl Deveaux
must go. He has been the Minister responsible for environmental degradation
at Saunders Beach. And now he has been shockingly negligent in the
discharge of his duties at the Met Office. You may click
here for the PLP’s full statement from Mr. Roberts.
Late Sunday, PLP Chair Roberts issued a further
statement, this one blasting the Minister of Environment Earl Deveaux.
"The PLP is appalled at the behavior of Minister
Earl Deveaux who seeks to use tactics of diversion and distraction in a
feeble attempt to avoid accepting full responsibility for the actions or
inactions of the government that contributed to the loss of life, injury,
and needless suffering in the wake of the tornados that pounded Grand Bahama
on 26th March 2010.
"It is unconscionable that a Government that brags
about trust, accountability, transparency, and about being in charge of
this country for three non-consecutive terms is so pre disposed to abdication
of duty and responsibility and blaming everybody but themselves for the
failings of their doing."
You may click here
for Sunday's statement from Mr. Roberts.
THE
PRIME MINISTER KNEW ABOUT THE WEATHER
PLP Chairman Bradley B. Roberts has released a confidential
document that shows that the Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham was aware as
early as last year that the weather situation in Freeport was a disaster
waiting to happen. The letter to
the Prime Minister, written by a former Met officer in Grand Bahama,
outlines all of the issues that seem now to ultimately lead to the deaths
of three young Bahamians.
Obie Wilchcombe, the MP for West End and Bimini
has said that the Freeport Container Port must answer questions about what
happened at the Port. He says that the Container Port has not been
co-operative with the press and with the politicians. He said that
Eight Mile Rock MP Vernae Grant has not been helpful in the matter.
He made his statements in The Tribune, which published them on Saturday
10th April. According to Mr. Wilchcombe, if a Commission of Inquiry
is not called, he will seek the appointment of a Select Committee of Parliament
to investigate the matter. We support his efforts in that regard.
Tornado approaching Freeport, Grand Bahama Monday 29 March, 2010
- file photo
ALL
IS FORGIVEN IN FREEPORT
There is a virtual love fest going on. At
the start of the week, it was officially confirmed that Sir Jack Hayward
and the Estate of Edward St George have settled their disputes with each
other over the disposition of the shares in the Grand Bahama Port Authority
Group of Companies. The public breathed a sigh of relief. The
statement issued by both sides said that on 31st March they had informed
the Prime Minister that they had settled the disputes and the 11 pieces
of litigation are to come to an end.
The report said that it became clear when they went
to the Court of Appeal that the 11 different lawsuits would have to be
reheard by the Supreme Court due to certain procedural errors made in the
courts below. The result would have meant millions of dollars spent
on lawyers without any prospect of an early resolution to the matters.
This has apparently been short-circuited and the matters are to be withdrawn.
No word on if they have actually been withdrawn.
We reported
on the settlement last week in this column. But we understand
that Sir Jack Hayward is still adamant that he will not sell to Hutchison.
Their statement said only that they would work together to find a buyer
that will look out for the best interests of the Port Authority.
With that, Sir Jack’s son Rick praised his father as a hero. He and
his mum are no longer suing Sir Jack for squandering their inheritance.
Presumably, they will stop locking Rick out of his business in Port Lucaya
now.
Sir Jack was in the press on Friday 9th April praising
the St. Georges as great people. Boy, what a difference a week makes.
We hope that this means that the city of Freeport can now get on with the
business of development and that the economy there can once again be priority
number one. It appears that a casualty of the settlement is Hannes
Babak who will not apparently return as Chairman of the Grand Bahama Port
Authority.
Sir Jack Hayward - file photo
DAME
MARGUERITE’S BOOK SIGNING
Sales for the new book by Dame Marguerite Pindling, wife
of the founding Prime Minister of The Bahamas the late Sir Lynden O. Pindling
are going like hot cakes. Dame Marguerite is a member of the St.
Agnes Anglican congregation in Grants Town, New Providence and took time
out from her schedule after church on Easter Sunday to sign books for the
parishioners.
Photos/Peter Ramsay
MICHAEL
PINTARD SHOULD BE OPPOSED
While the PLP sleeps, the FNM is busy putting their
men in place. Michael Pintard was presented with his letter of appointment
by the Governor General Arthur Hanna on Wednesday, 7th April. This
makes him a Senator and what is left is the swearing in on Wednesday 14th
April. Why the PLP has not yet gone to court to stop this travesty
is a mystery. You may click here for
the full judgment of Sir Burton Hall in the case brought by the PLP
against the Prime Minister on the Senate seats in 2008. Read paragraph
58. The paragraph says clearly that if you are an FNM activist and
you have been recently seeking an FNM nomination then this disqualifies
you from being Senator under the relevant provisions of the constitution
which require the Prime Minister to seek to reflect the balance of the
House of Assembly. That means that Michael Pintard until recently
an FNM activist seeking a nomination for the FNM is not a fit and proper
person to take the Senate seat. Hubert Ingraham knows that and the
appointment should not have been made. That is the law of the land.
What is taking so long to stop the appointment going ahead? The PLP
must act.
Michael Pintard/file photo
IS
BAHAMAR A REAL DEAL?
In a follow up story in the past week, the press
has been pressing for when the actual mortar will start going into the
ground on the Bahamar project. The project is supposedly resurrected
for the development of Cable Beach after the Prime Minister did a hatchet
job on it in his first year in office. The developers now have partners
in the China Export Import Bank. Part of the deal is that the Chinese
will provide the general contractor and some 7,000 some say as high as
10, 0000 Chinese workers are to be hired to build the new hotels on Cable
Beach in New Providence. This is the real bugaboo of the project.
Will this pass muster with the Bahamas government?
The company Bahamar’s spokesman Sandy Sands has
been doing his best to say that some 3000 Bahamians will be hired during
construction and also that in the aggregate; the project when built will
provide some 8000 new jobs for Bahamians, so it is better for us to support
it. The Government is looking to the PLP to support it and intends
to bring the matter to the House of Assembly for discussion. But
there is still skepticism in the market on this matter. When you
sign agreements with the Chinese you are marching up the aisle for years.
You are always signing something but the money never seems to come.
The word from the press is that the government has
not been officially informed of the latest Bahamar proposals and so the
project is no nearer to approval than it was two weeks ago. We await
word because we do think that this is an important project for The Bahamas.
Robert Sands - file photo
CARL
IS TALKING ROT AS USUAL
The FNM, apparently without considering the matter,
has taken the line that there will be no Commission of Inquiry into what
happened in Freeport on the day that the tornado struck. Three people
are dead and this is no time for some internal investigation dominated
as such a report would be by the most political Minister of any Bahamian
government ever. You can hardly expect to get a fair result from
them. Carl Bethel, the Chairman of the FNM, proves the point by saying
that he did not believe that the PLP was genuinely serious about seeking
answers to the question and that the request was a political exercise.
This man is too young to be cynical. The fact is that a Commission
of Inquiry is the only objective way to get to the truth of the matter.
It is the way it was done in the past and this is what needs to be done
now. The Leader of the Opposition must make a formal request of the
government on this matter.
LETTERS
TO THE EDITOR
An Easter Greeting From San Salvador
It is with gladness of heart that I salute you
in this holy season of light, hope, peace and renewal of life in the Risen
Christ, who redeemed us with such immeasurable love and at a cost beyond
our intellectual capacity.
I pray that our gracious Lord will lavishly bless
you and your loved ones in this Easter season, and grant you joy, peace
and grace as you celebrate the glory of the Risen Christ.
Alleluia! Christ is Risen! He is risen indeed!
Alleluia
Fr. Jude Edomwonyi
President: San Salvador Christian Council
Father Jude and the San Salvador Christian Council - File photo
Forrester Carroll - Who Is To Blame?
Letter writer Forrester Carroll Alleges The Container
Port Knew about the bad weather and did nothing when the tornado came.
He also says that the employees at the Container Port have no medical insurance.
...Three young souls are dead tonight and their families
are grieving (for God’s sake) and all we could hear from Vernae Grant is
that she is fully satisfied that the container port did nothing wrong and
followed by her leader, Hubert Ingraham, singing the same tune? It
appears to me - and I could be wrong because I’ve been wrong before - that
both Ingraham and Grant and the entire FNM Grand Bahama bunch, for that
matter, are in bed with Hutchison; that in their book, Hutchison Whampoa
can’t ever do anything wrong. Let us not forget, now, that Hubert
Ingraham is hell bent on, and has been for sometime, convincing Sir Jack
to sell his shareholdings, in the Port Authority, to Hutchison Whampoa.
Remember? So what’s up with that? Doesn’t this all look very
suspicious? Why are the FNM prime minister and the FNM MP for the
Eight Mile Rock constituency so keen on protecting Hutchison Whampoa at
all cost in this matter? Why?...
Forrester J Carroll J.P
Freeport, Grand Bahama
You may click here for Mr. Carroll's full letter - Editor
Kelly Burrows Writes On The Quality of Political Candidates
I am very concerned with some of the names being
bandied about vying as candidates for political office. The candidates
committee of both political parties need to take a serious look before
making a decision on presenting to the public those who are seeking to
become wards of the state, we have been burdened in the past, and
the trend seems to continue, presently with too many of them who are not
making any valuable contribution to the people they seek to represent.
The majority of want to be candidates are in
need of help themselves, and do not have a clue as to what is going on.
The House of Assembly used to be an honorable
place, It has become a market place where they need to be beaten out like
our Lord did in days of old.
Candidates should be persons of wherewithal,
credible, and respected in their community.
Furthermore, the old faces should disappear and
make way for young fresh faces, I am certain such persons can be found
who are able to bring something to the table, and not only sit at the table
and be told what to do.
Also, candidates once selected, the public should
be able to see what is in their heads, by having them debate the issues,
and not thrown into the constituency because that is who the leader wants.
Bring Honor back to the Honorable House of Assembly.
Kelly D. Burrows
Freeport, Grand Bahama
Long Island Needs Help
Long Islander Gordon Major has circulated an open
‘M E M O R A N D U M’ entitled ‘Investing
in Tourism – A case for the Public/Private Sector Partnership in the Construction,
Development and Operation of Cruise Ports/Terminals throughout The Bahamas’,
making the case for a cruise port at Clarence Town, together with documentation
presented as “a
clear case of support for the International Airport in Long Island.”
“I have been unofficially advised that discretionary
funds are now available from these and other related resources,” said Major:
“Unfortunately, the question in The Bahamas remains whether it is politically
expedient to address the concerns of the residents of Long Island or should
other uncommitted constituencies be the focus?”
You may click on the links above for the letter and the supporting
documents. - Editor
IN PASSING
House Dissolved In Trinidad and Tobago
Patrick Manning, the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago has been
true to his word. He announced the dissolution of the Parliament
of Trinidad and Tobago on Thursday 8th April. Up to the time of our
upload, there was no report on the actual date of the election. The
press in Trinidad is speculating it will be 17th May. Mr. Manning
was facing a newly resurgent Opposition under a new female leader and an
agreement to fight as one political force. He was also facing a No
Confidence motion in the House with calls for the government to go over
corruption allegations at the Urban Development Corporation in Trinidad.
Mr. Manning is now going to the country instead and is probably using this
as an opportunity to rid himself of his a rival in the party Keith Rowley
whom he fired from his cabinet two years ago and who has been a constant
thorn in his side from the backbench.
Hubert Warns Perry?
The two political leaders of the country met with out going Governor
General Arthur Hanna for drinks during the last week. At that time,
they settled that Sir Arthur Foulkes is to be the new Governor General.
Mr. Hanna’s last day on the job will be 13th April. He will not read
the speech from the throne before handing off to the new Governor General.
There will be a ceremony handing over from one Governor General to the
next in the presence of MPs and Senators early on 14th April, with a public
farewell to Arthur Hanna on the evening of 13th April. At the meeting,
Mr. Ingraham reportedly warned Mr. Christie to take note of what Patrick
Manning has done in Trinidad (see story above) and take note, be advised.
This must have been an interesting gathering. Those who were around
will remember that in October 1984, it was these same three people who
had lunch every day together as they plotted the demise of the Pindling
government, then under fire from the Commission of Inquiry. Mr. Hanna
ultimately resigned from the Cabinet on 10th October that year and Messrs
Christie and Ingraham were fired.
Is Bahamasair Being Fair?
In March, Bahamasair, the national flag carrier, advertised a 99-dollar
round trip special to anywhere they flew. Now in April, they are
advertising a 59 dollar one way fare to anywhere in their system.
The private carriers are screaming bloody murder. Randy Butler, who
runs Sky Bahamas, says that Bahamasair is engaging in predatory pricing
and dumping seats on the market under cost. He said that this is
unfair to the private carriers who don’t have the public treasury to fall
back on. Bahamasair will be phasing out their jets within two years.
They plan to replace them with 70 seater Dash 8s, updated and stretch versions
of the existing fleet that they have. They also plan to buy some
of the new Saab aircraft now used by the private airlines. The issue
is an important one. A previous attempt at a private airline called
Trinity was knocked out of the market when in their first months; Bahamasair
hired an Airbus and sold seats under cost to Miami, killing the private
airline’s business.
Thelma Beneby Retires
After 34 years in the public service, Permanent Secretary Thelma Beneby,
whose last posting was that of PS at the Office of the Attorney General,
has retired. A banquet was held in her honour on
Wednesday 31st March to mark the occasion. Best wishes to Mrs. Beneby.
Former Minister of Justice and Immigration Janet Bostwick (left) and Thelma
Beneby embrace at a retirement luncheon held for Mrs Beneby.
BIS photo/Raymond Bethel
The Newest Musgrove. Ahhh!
A baby’s life is a great one and it shows in their faces as they sleep,
oblivious of the world’s problems; and so they should be. This is the latest
Musgrove, son number three of Senator and Mrs. Anthony Musgrove. Asleep
as the world turns.
Forcing Ken Russell and Neko Grant Out
Hubert Ingraham is working overtime trying to get Zhivargo Laing a
safer seat in Grand Bahama. He has reportedly served notice on Ken
Russell, the MP for High Rock, that he needs to move on and retire to some
other business. He has indicated the same to Neko Grant. Both
men are reportedly resisting on the grounds that if they have to go then
Hubert Ingraham himself needs to go. The idea is to give Zhivargo
Laing, who would be in a dogfight with whomever the next PLP Marco City
candidate will be, the safe seat in Lucaya that Neko Grant now occupies.
Gambling Coming For Bahamians
The word is that the Government intends in the speech from the throne
scheduled for the state opening of Parliament on Wednesday 14th April to
announce the introduction of the legalization of the numbers business in
The Bahamas. We support this. We do not believe that it should
be nationalized, but rather a simple tax system for taxing what already
exists. The PLP should support the proposals.
Charles Maynard On Facebook
Charles Maynard, the Minister of Culture has started a line of argument
and discussion on his Facebook page by asking what people think will be
the most important issues in the 2012 General Election. So far, jobs
have emerged as the number one issue.
Emerick Knowles Dies
Queen Counsel Emerick Knowles died in hospital in Nassau on
April. He was 65. Mr. Knowles was buried following a funeral
service at St. Anne’s Anglican Church, Fox Hill on Thursday 8th April.
Mr. Knowles died after a heart attack in Eleuthera during the cancer society’s
‘Ride for Hope’. He was reportedly flat lined for 30 minutes with
no resuscitation and was in coma since the attack took place on Emerick
Knowles died Saturday 3rd April March.
Crawfish Season Closes
The close of the crawfish season was 31st March. No crawfish
can be lawfully taken while the season is closed. It reopens on 1st
August. Fisherman in The Bahamas were again sounding the alarm that
foreign fishermen do not recognize this ban and that the Government is
doing little to defend the country from the poaching which takes place
during the closed season. There was also a lot of talk about the
fact that crawfish prices were depressed during the last year. Prices
fell to 7 dollars per pound, causing fishermen to flee to other species.
The Minister of Marine Resources Larry Cartwright says that the prices
may rebound this year, but that perhaps the 7-dollar prices may be seen
as the new normal in the industry. The industry has been used to
getting 13 dollars per pound in the good years.
Former Chief Justice Joaquin Gonsalves Sabola Dies
The Guyanese born Sir Joaquim Gonsalves Sabola, who was given citizenship
of The Bahamas in the middle of a case by Hubert Ingraham’s government
in which the government was a litigant and then refused to step down when
asked to do so, has died. He was praised by the Prime Minister upon
his death and by the Chief Justice Sir Michael Barnett. What a society
we have!
Exporting Dogs From Grand Bahama
The PLP Chairman, through his Facebook page has been talking about
reports out of Florida that 88 dogs were exported from Grand Bahama by
the Grand Bahama Humane society. On Facebook, writers questioned
whether this was done within the law. The operative political issue
is however that the assertion is made by the Florida do gooders that donations
are falling off in Grand Bahama, which is in the middle of economic hard
times, and so homes can’t be found for the dogs. The Ministry of
Agriculture needs to comment.
Sidney Cambridge A No Show In US Court
Former PLP treasurer Sidney Cambridge has according to press reports
been declared a fugitive from US Justice when he did not show up in court
to answer these spurious charges about money laundering. His co accused,
a Broward County official and a friend of that official, have already been
sentenced after pleading guilty to the charges. The press here had
been reporting up to now that he was negotiating a surrender but none of
them seemed to bother to get in touch with him to find out what is going
on.
FNM Banquet
The FNM’s Party leader Hubert Ingraham and Officers of the Free National
Movement celebrated the life and work of Meritorious Council Members, the
equivalent of the PLP’s Stalwart Councillors at a Banquet for them at Sheraton
at Cable Beach at 8 pm on Saturday 10th April.
Western Air To Jamaica
Air Jamaica's last flight to Nassau is today, Sunday 11th April.
It will bring to an end a generation of service between the countries.
Air Jamaica is folding as an airline. This is a tremendous blow to
the Jamaica prestige and psyche. A huge failure. The Bahamas
carrier Western Air is to take up the service using its 33-seater turbo
prop aircraft. They begin the service on Monday 12th April, every
day except Saturday. The fare will be 529 round trip. We are
told that the first week of service is completely booked up.
Happy Birthday Harvey
Happy belated birthday to Harvey Tynes Q.C. His family held a
wonderful party in Freeport on the evening of 10th April. Friend
and family abounded including Fred Mitchell MP for Fox Hill and former
Justice Cheryl Albury and her husband Basil, Attorneys Terry Gape and Robert
Adams.
Three Score and Ten for Altamese
Congratulations to Altamese Isaacs. Having reached the age of
70, the retired BaTelCo manager, now Administrator of the Fox Hill Constituency
office was honoured by her church, St. Agnes in Grants Town as a living
legend on Sunday 11th April.
Lenten Tea Photos
Next week, please look forward to a full photo spread on the annual
Fox Hill Lenten Tea...
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| CAPTAINS OF THE NATION: The Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham pointed out the interesting confluence of events, which led to the fact that the three people who were bounced out of the Pindling Cabinet in 1984, were now at the top of the heap in The Bahamas. His comments came as he was saying farewell to his comrade at arms Arthur D. Hanna as Governor General. With him was Perry Christie, one third of the troika that joined each other for lunch every day in those heady days in 1984 when the Pindling coalition was coming apart at the seams as a result of the Commission of Inquiry. Mr. Hanna resigned from the Cabinet and Mr. Ingraham and Mr. Christie were dismissed as co-conspirators. All of that is in the past, but the past is prologue. Perhaps that is why Mr. Ingraham, for once, had the good sense to not be so political as to force Mr. Hanna to leave office when Mr. Ingraham returned to the Prime Minister's office in 2007. A farewell ceremony was held for Mr. Hanna to mark the end of his term as Governor General on Tuesday 13th April at the ballroom of Government House. Mr. Hanna said as he rose in response to the comments of the Leader of the Opposition Perry Christie and those of the Prime Minister that he felt so good after the comments, it made him want to change his mind and stay. The audience laughed. Mr. Hanna ends his political career at the top of the heap. He said that he came to the job reluctantly and indicated that at first he did not think he could do the job, hinting that he was a republican and not a monarchist, but he was persuaded by the then Prime Minister Perry Christie to do the job. He did a great job. Afterward, the troika and the prime ministers’ former law partner Philip ‘Brave’ Davis, now himself the Deputy Leader of the PLP, gathered on the terrace of Government House for a reception. That is our photo of the week, the captains of the nation. BIS photo/Peter Ramsay |
COMMENT OF THE WEEK
THE GAMES OF DR. NO
Who can tell what is in the mind of Hubert Ingraham? We have
described him, charitably so, as a man who likes to pull wings off butterflies.
And that has to be the comment again as we review what happened last week
with the Speech from The Throne. It was a monumental waste of time
and energy. It was a big show that raised more questions than it
answered. You wanted at the end of the day to say: what the hell
was that about?
First the technical bits. The Bahamas should have an annual opening of Parliament. There should be an occasion to end the sessions of Parliament, clean the agenda and start afresh. But no Prime Minister has ever done it on a regular basis. If Mr. Ingraham wants to start an annual tradition, then the PLP should agree to do so as a matter of practice and law. The Speech from the Throne was the first kind of proper speech from the Throne as these things are supposed to be. They are to be a short recitation of the legislative agenda of the government. And so for the first time, it appears that Mr. Ingraham got that right. What he got wrong, though, was dragging the Parliament into the road again, instead of using the Senate Chamber where the ceremony is supposed to be held. The speech was by one account nine minutes long. That was fine.
Those who remember when the House was prorogued back in 1976, when Sir Arlington Butler raised the revolt against the passage of the Public Disclosure Act, will remember that Sir Lynden prorogued the House and brought it back in ten days for Sir Gerald Cash to read a thirty-three word speech from the throne.
Secondly, the content. Not much by way of the economy. Too much talk about the changes that will be made and we all know that this system that we have does not have the capacity to keep up with the pace of the legislative changes that the government envisages. It is idle talk.
In fact, the government now promises to bring in a system of land registration. One only has to look back to the Pindling government's speech from the throne in 1968 to discover that land registration was promised in that session and here we are in 2010, with a new government promising again to get it done.
But what our central theme is about is this particular drama that played out last week, that what we have in this Prime Minister is a puppet master extraordinaire. The quintessential puller of butterfly wings. A real Dr. No, at once sinister and brilliant, but the brilliance is all a sham, because he is so sinister in his every motive.
Instead of concentrating on governance, he was busy trying to persuade Picewell Forbes, the PLP MP, to leave the PLP and join the FNM. His inducement was an offer the press said to join the Utilities Regulatory Competition Authority (URCA) one of these Ingraham inventions to replace another Ingraham invention the PUC, which now regulates communications in the country. When Picewell Forbes slapped that down a few days later, the FNM was on to something else; floating the rumour that Mr. Ingraham was going to sack his Minister of Labour Dion Foulkes to make him the Chairman of URCA.
This turned out to be rubbish by week's end, with Dion Foulkes officially scotching the rumour in a Tribune story on Saturday 17th April, but there is no doubt where the lie was hatched and no doubt designed to destabilise the Foulkes family having gotten the top prize of Governor General. It was a signal that the FNM was sending, that the Foulkeses have gotten enough and now need to be brought down to size.
In giving Sir Arthur the job of Governor General, Mr. Ingraham had to take on the “vimen” of his party. Reports say that Theresa Moxey Ingraham, his former Minister, herself denied the job as Ambassador of Caricom that he promised her, wrote a letter with other FNM women to urge him to appoint Janet Bostwick, the first female Member of Parliament to the job of Governor General. His answer was a cobble up: take the job of Deputy to the Governor General for two years and when Sir Arthur demits office just before the general election, you will get the job. Mrs. Bostwick reportedly rejected that out of hand and then took to her bed. Mr. Ingraham does not go for her husband Henry and will deny him to the end a place at Government House.
When questioned about it by Leader of the Opposition Perry Christie and how was he going to deal with the “vimen” in his party, he began to quote the hymn: ‘It is finished, the battle is over. It is finished; there’ll be no more war.’ It is my decision, he said. Well, that will hold them.
What you have here then is no ordinary mind, but one whose motives are as crooked as a corkscrew. He cannot ask for water even if he is thirsty. You always have to question what is behind what he is doing. It is like dealing forever with a Trojan horse.
Our final example for this purpose is his response to the request by Obie Wilchcombe for a Parliamentary Select Committee to look into the deaths of the three people in Freeport as a result of the tornado on 29th March. He stood up in the House and immediately raised a spurious technical objection, frightening a compliant Speaker of the House. So the government of transparency lies about that transparency again. They do not want an investigation. Their incompetent Minister of the Environment is to be protected to the bitter end.
Number of hits for the week ending Saturday 17th April 2010 up to midnight: 157,634.
Number of hits for the month of April up to Saturday 17th April 2010 up to midnight: 415,478.
Number of hits for the year 2010 up to Saturday 17th April 2010 up to midnight: 2,818,916.
PICEWELL
FORBES THE FOCUS OF ATTENTION
The last week began with the press both the mainstream
and the web press in a frenzy over the supposed conversion of PLP MP Picewell
Forbes from a PLP MP to an employee of the Utilities Regulatory Competition
Authority (URCA). The story that was circulating was that he had
been given an offer by the Free National Movement to abandon his seat and
to cross the floor or leave politics and become the Chairman of URCA.
The story had so much currency that on Facebook and other sites, one person
or other had an opinion on the subject. At the end of the day, it
all turned out to be a false alarm. Most people put it down to mischief
making by Hubert Ingraham and his cohorts (see
Comment of the Week). Picewell Forbes issued a statement saying
that he was still a PLP and that no bye-election would be created by any
act of his. You may click here for
the full statement issued by Mr. Forbes on Monday 12th April.
The cartoonist Stan Burnside captured the essence of the frenzy over
whether Picewell Forbes was going to join the Free National Movement.
STAN BURNSIDE ON PICEWELL FORBES
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The FNM Senator who calls herself by the unwieldy
name Senator the Honourable Dr. Jacinta Higgs was the centre of attention
at the state opening of Parliament, which drew the comment of cartoonist
Stan Burnside on Saturday 17th April for the outfit which she wore to the
fair... we mean to the Opening of the House.
STAN
BURNSIDE ON JACINTA HIGGS
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GAMBLING
ARGUMENTS FRONT AND CENTRE
To gamble to not to gamble that is the question.
As the week, began last week, the press including
this site, was predicting that the government would announce in its speech
from the throne that it was legalizing the numbers business in The Bahamas.
For the uninitiated, the numbers business is what we in The Bahamas call
our local, unregulated, unlicensed lotto. It is so pervasive that
on every shop corner, there is a so-called web shop. This is the
modern version of the old business of selling slips of papers with numbers
on them and local men putting the balls with the numbers in a bag and then
drawing them out on a daily basis. Now you go into sophisticated
operations that depend on the lotto draws in the US for the numbers.
You pay into the facility like a bank. You can check on line and
you can pay on line. You can also draw off money from an ATM at the
various web shops. The police continue to raid the places but the
selling goes unchecked, with millions of dollars, untaxed, passing hands
without any government regulation.
Long ago, James Smith, the PLP’s Minister of State
for Finance believed that without going into the issue of legalizing gambling,
that one thing that might happen is that a simple across the board tax
could be placed on transactions in all web shops. It seems that Hubert
Ingraham had the same idea and announced to the country that there is great
support in this party for legalizing the business and taxing it.
The trial balloon went out that they would so announce in the speech from
the throne. The speech from the throne did not make any such announcement.
The Prime Minister may have gotten cold feet when
he met beforehand with the church leaders and they equivocated. The
Opposition Leader Perry Christie also equivocated, saying that there was
a split within the PLP on the subject and that there was a need for further
deliberation on the subject. The PLP is also privately worried that
wholesale legalization will lead to what is now an over the hill, black
controlled business, being taken over by the white Bay Street merchant
class. Delroy Meadows, who runs the Bahamas Issues site, sent round
a
missive in which he voiced the social concerns, which many have about extending
legal gambling in The Bahamas. We have such concerns as well,
but we do not think that this is enough to stop the move to remove the
silly prohibition against gambling by Bahamians in their own country.
It cannot be for moral reasons since the point is already conceded by allowing
tourists to gamble. We support the legalization of the numbers business
in The Bahamas. The whole matter is impatient of debate.
A.D.
HANNA DEMITS OFFICE
Arthur Dion Hanna has left office as the seventh
Governor General of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas. He served from
1st February 2006 to 14th April 2010. It was a brief and final contribution
to the public life of the country. He began it as a simple youth
in Pompey Bay, a small settlement in the still remote Acklins Island and
rose to become the leading Bahamian citizen. On the way, he served
as a Member of Parliament for 32 years. He was Deputy Premier and
then Deputy Prime Minister from 1967 to 1984. He was considered the
ideological underpinning of the PLP during its 25 years in office, the
architect of the policy of Bahamianization, which saw the transfer of previously
foreign held jobs in the Bahamian economy to Bahamians.
There was a simple ceremony held for him at Government
House on the evening of Tuesday 13th April attended by the Members of the
Cabinet and by his family and friends. Both Prime Minister Hubert
Ingraham and Leader of the Opposition Perry Christie spoke on the occasion.
You may click here for the Leader of
the Opposition’s statement. The next day on the morning of Saturday
14th April, the Cabinet, Members of Parliament, Senators, family and friends
gathered to watch his last act as Governor General; inspecting the Guard
drawn up of police and defence force officers and the firing of the ceremonial
Belgian cannon 21 times. Mr. Hanna then bid the nation farewell and
left for his private residence.
BIS photos/Peter Ramsay
NEW
GG SWORN AND READS SPEECH FROM THRONE
Arthur Foulkes, now Sir Arthur, the son of a Haitian
immigrant is now the Governor General of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.
He was born 81 years ago in the remote, salt settlement of Matthew Town,
Inagua, the country’s southernmost settlement. From there he moved
to Nassau. His father was a doctor. He worked as a writer for
The Tribune, all the while supporting and fighting for the fledgling PLP.
He was in direct opposition to his employer Etienne Dupuch, the owner of
The Tribune, who supported the Bay Street boys, the main antagonists of
the PLP and who, as the United Bahamian Party, held the reigns of power.
He left The Tribune to start the Bahamian Times. He was said to be
the main architect of the propaganda of the PLP.
Sir Arthur had a large family and a first wife who
was unable to help with the many children they had as the marriage fell
apart. He was perennially on hard times, with a large family to feed.
When the PLP won office in 1967, his time had come, but it was all too
brief a shining moment. He served in the Cabinet for one year before
being sacked by Prime Minister Pindling for what was rumoured to be leaking
Cabinet information to the media. It was never publicly explained
and has not yet been to this day, but the prediction was that he was finished
politically. But some say that he considers himself a man of destiny
after having survived a bad car crash in 1969. His political death
was pronounced, though, all the more so when he joined the dissident eight,
who voted with the late Sir Cecil Wallace Whitfield to support a vote of
no confidence in the Pindling Government. This led to the formation
of the Free National Movement.
Sir Arthur served in the Senate when he lost his
seat in 1972 until 1982 when he was re-elected again for a brief time as
the Member of Parliament for Blue Hills. His is a remarkable story
of perseverance. Hard times came a calling again until 1992 when
the FNM won office. He served as High Commissioner to London and
as the Ambassador to Germany, Italy, France and the European Union.
He later served as the country’s first Ambassador to China (non-resident)
and also as non-resident Ambassador to Cuba. He was out again when
the PLP came to office in 2002. Now he is back again in 2010.
First, he served as Director General of the Bahamas Information Services
and Deputy to the Governor General and now he is the Governor General.
The Prime Minister at the official ceremony to swear
in the new Governor General said that the choice was an easy one to make.
We have said that for our money, if the choice had to be an FNM, Arthur
Foulkes was certainly preferable to Janet Bostwick or Lynn Holowesko.
The PLP has not said what their position is on the matter but the PLP MPs
showed up at the swearing in ceremony and the Leader of the PLP can be
seen in a photo with the new Governor General. Sir Arthur’s first
job was to inspect the honour guard and read the nine-minute speech from
the throne. The boy from Matthew Town, whom they said, so many times
in his life, was finished, is now at the top of the heap. It is a
remarkable story and this story of social mobility is the one that we hope
is being repeated even today in The Bahamas. He has beside him a
lovely lady in the former Joan Bullard, now Lady Foulkes.
BIS photos/Peter Ramsay
OFFICIAL
SERVICE FOR FORMER CJ & COURT OF APPEAL PRESIDENT
The former Chief Justice Sir Joaquim Gonsalves Sabola
was buried following a Catholic ceremony at St. Francis Xavier’s Cathedral
in Nassau on Friday 16th April. There was also a special sitting
of the Court, led by Chief Justice Sir Michael Barnett. There was
effusive praise from all political quarters about his contribution to The
Bahamas. As pointed out last week, there is no such support here.
We find this country quite incredible when it comes to myth making at the
time of someone’s demise.
While no one should denigrate someone in death,
it should be possible to speak the truth. It is an immutable fact
that during his time as Chief Justice, he while sitting on two cases involving
the Government, accepted in the middle of those cases citizenship from
the Government of The Bahamas and then refused to step down from hearing
the matters. That is not the standard of jurisprudence which we condone
or support.
Tribune photo/Felipe Major
SPEECH
FROM THE THRONE
We believe that Parliament ought to be divided into regular and identifiable
sessions. The sessions ought to last for a specific number of days,
known in advance and at the end there should be a closing of the legislative
business and then an opening each year of the legislative business.
We believe that Parliament ought to sit on known, fixed days and the business
of the House of Assembly and Senate is so fixed that those who serve in
those bodies know from day to day, within certain limits, and barring emergencies,
when they are going to meet. It seems that no one gets it, that in
this modern world, that is how it ought to be. Hubert Ingraham has
come the closest to the point, but he uses the whole thing of a state opening
of Parliament for showing off and for political distraction and partying.
Every FNM MP showed up in their scissors tails,
and none of them had the reason that Ryan Pinder alone had. He dressed
in the same tails that his father used when he was sworn in as a Member
of Parliament. In our view, these things need to be consigned to
the scrap heap along with the wigs and gowns of lawyers and judges and
the wigs and gowns of the presiding officers of both Houses. The
speech itself should be a simple recitation of the laws that the government
intends to pass in the session. But you do not go overboard as the
FNM did in this most recent speech. They intend to pass every law
on the book, including one to regulate kitchen sinks (LOL). You may
click
here for the full speech from the government's website.
The words were hardly out of the mouth of the Governor
General before one Government minister was backing away from legislation
that they put on the table of the House. Earl Deveaux, who is becoming
more hapless and hopeless as the Environment Minister said that while it
was true that the Protected Area Funds Bill laid out certain new levies
and taxes to fund protection of the environment, the government was not
supporting those taxes and levies. Say what? You heard us right.
He said the government was simply tabling the bill for public discussion.
Incredible!
BIS photo/Kristaan Ingraham
RYAN
PINDER BECOMES AN MP
In a remarkable turn of events, Ryan Pinder is now
the duly seated and elected Member of Parliament for the Elizabeth Constituency,
succeeding Malcolm Adderley in the seat. The Prime Minister Hubert
Ingraham joined in the table thumping to welcome the new Member of the
House. Mr. Pinder succeeds to a seat that his father represented
in the House of Assembly. He was dressed in the same tails that his
father wore when he was sworn in. Congratulations to Mr. Pinder.
Ryan Pinder acknowledges the crowd on his way into the House of
Assembly; Mr. Pinder's parents at the opening of Parliament - BIS photos/Peter
Ramsay; Ryan Pinder takes his seat in the House of Assembly - Nassau Guardian
photo/Edward Russell III
ANNUAL
LENTEN TEA IN FOX HILL
Palm Sunday was the time of the annual Lenten Tea
of the Fox Hill Branch of the Progressive Liberal Party. This time
it was held on Canterbury Park off Prince Charles Drive on the southern
end of the constituency. The special guests were Fox Hill MP Fred
Mitchell and Ryan Pinder, the newly elected PLP MP for the adjoining constituency
of Elizabeth.
Other Branch Executives who participated were Altamese
Isaacs, Yvonne Stubbs Rolle, Deidre Rolle, Lashanda McPhee, Lillian McPhee,
Haizon Pinder, Sidney Logan, Marjorie Rahming, Laura Rolle, Dellareese
Cockburn, Shantel Fowler and Ellamae Collie. The function was organized
by Branch Chair Charlene Marshall and her executive team including Sherine
Glinton Armbrister, the First Vice Chair who lives in the Canterbury area.
There was a fashion show put on by the women of
the branch and a skit which was written by the branch treasurer Mrs. Altamese
Isaccs and performed by her, Mrs. Lillian McPhee and Mr. Haizon Pinder.
The finale was the singing of the theme from Ryan
Pinder's campaign: ‘We Are Family’. Mr. Mitchell and Mr. Pinder joined
in the singing and dancing. Executives from the Marathon Branch also
attended including Sharon Martin, Chairman; and Khalil Elliott, members
of the Elizabeth Branch and Clifton Branch. Enjoy
the photos.
DANIELLE
DORSETT WINS TALENTED TEEN SCHOLARSHIP
Danielle Dorsett won the 35th annual Hal Jackson’s
Miss Talented Teen scholarship competition last Sunday evening at the Rainforest
Theatre on Cable Beach. She is the daughter of Dwayne and Janet Dorsett,
an 11th grade student at St. John’s College, a member of the St. Agnes
Anglican Church and a member of the choir. She is also Peter Ramsay’s
God-child. The event is done in conjunction with Sojourner-Douglass College
and the winner gets a $39,000 scholarship as first prize.
Photo/Peter Ramsay
THIS
WEEK ON CITIZENS REVIEW
This week on TV and Internet pundit Erin Ferguson's
Citizens Review TV is a Progress Report on politics; including the Opening
of House of Assembly, the Governor General and the Haitian Situation, Michael
Barnett as Chief Justice, ‘Dreds versus Wigs’ and government diversions.
Click the banner above to visit Citizens
Review TV.
Is It A bird? Is It A Plane?
No, It’s…
Dear Editor,
Without a doubt, the talk of the town was the
dress of the ladies at the opening of Parliament. Wives turned out
in their finery and I thought Mrs. Bernadette Christie and the other wives
were really resplendent.
(See Nassau Guardian photo above of parliamentary wives by Edward
Russell III, with Mrs. Christie at right. - Editor)
Mrs. Christie and Mrs. Ingraham were elegant
and tastefully turned out in the kind of formal, demure look that is required
on such an occasion. I guess it is an occupational hazard for the
wives of politicians.
Of course, women politicians have husbands and
if the rules were equally applied then it should be the husbands who turn
out in their finery not the woman politician. Of course, the rules
don't apply equally, the social rules that is. Also, what tends to
happen is that the woman politician brings, and rightly so, their sense
of fashion to the table of public life. But even then, let's be sensible
here, there are rules. All the women politicians were tastefully
turned out in the formal attire, which for most women, meant a business
suit or a dress of a quiet design with a modest hat and gloves. But
I guess we can throw that rule away for one Senator the Honourable Dr.
Jacinta Higgs. I am told that we cannot forget even one title.
Senator the Honourable Dr. Jacinta Higgs turned
out in what looked to me like a ballroom gown, in black and then a ginormous
hat piece. I read in the Nassau Guardian’s that it was specially
designed for her. She was the centre of attention all right.
In the Guardian she said “It’s not fashion; it’s really a spiritual covering
for high profile historic events.” That sounded like a cover up to
me after she finally got the point that this was, let's say unconventional,
because when the designer showed her the hat, she said he was trying to
get her fired. That is what she told the Guardian. She said
that some people liked it, some were in awe of it, some people hated it.
Obviously none of that mattered to her. She just loved the attention.
You know what. women don't get a fair break in
politics. The most successful have go between being strong like a
man, but feminine enough to identify with women and femininity; at the
same time we cannot appear weak and hysterical but everyone knows that
the worst thing for a woman politician in The Bahamas is appearing to be
just even a little eccentric or erratic. Again, this is a double
standard too easily applied to women and not to men. But Senator
the Honourable Dr. Jacinta Higgs is not the wife of a politician but the
politician herself, so that is the tightrope that she has to walk and that
hat seemed to tip the balance. In spite of the double standard for
women that's the facts as they are, for better or worse. The best
thing you can say is that this was a ballroom outfit, not for the opening
of Parliament. Even the cartoon in the Guardian thought she was dressed
for Junkanoo.
Julie Newbold
Photos: Nassau Guardian/Edward Russell III; BIS/Peter Ramsay
Exuma Chamber of Commerce Raises Concerns about Exuma’s future
The Hon. Zhivargo Laing
Minister of State for Finance and Public Service
April 12, 2010
Dear Minister,
The global economy is emerging from recession,
but its recovery appears to be gradual, with only modest growth in coming
years.
The Family Islands economies are unique and they
should be treated that way. I feel that governments of The Bahamas to date
have employed a one blanket economic and or tax policy for the country
and this conjures unpleasant image of our colonial past. A more in depth
understanding of the various Islands economy I, suggest must taken inconsideration
when policies are being developed. I am convinced more and more that the
non renewal of duty exemptions for the Exuma in 2008 was a major contributor
to the economy of Exuma downhill slide for a few years now and only exacerbated
by the global recession. Minister, I wish to bring to your attention that
the still fragile economy of Exuma is tittering on the edge and I employ
your investigation of same and hope for your intervention, before it is
too late.
I recognize that policies will have to strike
difficult balances, according to the country circumstances. However, I
hope an appropriate stimulus package can be developed and executed for
The Exumas in the next and upcoming 2010-2011 national budget.
I have spoken with many of the non-Bahamian property
owners here in Exuma who are very concerned about what has been happening
recently with their property taxes. This issue is very important to the
Chamber of Commerce because what affects the property owners will ultimately
affect us. If they don’t have the free cash to spend in our businesses,
we all suffer. During the past two years, we have seen a definite downturn
in island’s economy and spending is a significant contributor. Retroactive
taxing of the winter residents and property owners will make it worse.
There is an air of caution now on the island as everyone seems to be holding
back waiting to see what happens with the tax situation. The Chamber of
Commerce wants Exuma to grow, not falter.
In speaking with the winter residents, they have
expressed to me their readiness to pay a reasonable tax on the properties.
However, many are concerned by the sudden and very large increases in the
amounts owed, increases which do not seem appropriate in view of the general
downturn of the overall economy and real estate market here in Exuma for
the past several years.
The winter residents have become more than visitors
to Exuma life. They have become friends who support our churches and businesses,
who volunteer faithfully, who contribute to life in Exuma and have for
many years. Many of our winter residents bought property well before the
financial boom triggered by the Emerald Bay Four Seasons managed resort.
Some are now retired and living on fixed incomes. It concerns me greatly
that these people feel that they are being forced to sell their homes and
leave Exuma because of this new tax burden. We don’t want people who just
drop in for a couple of weeks, use the beaches and leave. We want people
here who are committed to the island and its people.
It will harm all of us if the foreign investors’
experience in the Family Islands is a negative one. These people come from
all nations around the world. We don’t want them to take the impression
back with them that the Family Islands of the Bahamas is a bad place to
invest when compared to other places in the Caribbean and South and Central
America. Goodwill is a tenuous thing. In this age of instant messaging
and internet, one disgruntled person can have a large negative impact on
thousands. Let us remember that we are competing for their spending dollars.
The ones who stay will not have the cash flow
they once had to put into our economy at a time when all island businesses
are feeling the hardships of a global recession. During the past two years,
our businesses have struggled in the poor economy. When the winter residents
are off the island and not spending in our communities, we have large drops
in sales creating hardships for some of our locals. Unlike Nassau, we don’t
have the population here in the Family Islands to pick up the slack and
so we have to make enough during the winter season to carry us through.
The Family Islands have a very different rhythm
than New Providence. We are small communities where everyone knows each
other and supports each other. We work together, we shop together, we pray
together. When you hurt one of us, when you challenge one of us, when you
praise one of us, the entire community feels that pain, strains to that
challenge, embraces that praise.
This issue needs to be dealt with in a manner
of co-operation and dialogue between the government and the property owners.
A town hall meeting between four groups of concerned citizens may inhibit
the ability of any one group to get a fair and complete hearing. Having
to overlap four different issues may not provide the opportunity to do
this. We are asking for separate meetings to come to some mutually-agreeable
solutions for all.
Floyd Q. Armbrister
Forrester Carroll - The FNM's Answers To The Country's Financial
Woes
Letter writer Forrester Carroll expresses amazement
at government plans to import foreign garbage collecters - and more...
- Editor
Mr. Earl Deveaux could not have been serious when he
admitted, while appearing on Jones Communications’ ‘Issues of the day’
talk show on Monday 12th April, that his government had decided to engage,
under contract, a foreign company to collect garbage and manage the Nassau
city dump. This must be a cruel joke - you simply cannot be serious
about this one, Mr. Deveaux. It is garbage collection and management
of a garbage pile that we are talking about, for God’s sake. It is
not Buckingham Palace that we are asking to have managed. I must
have been terribly mistaken and only thought I heard him say, what I thought
he said.
What amazes me is the boldness of this government
to think that they can sell any silly, crappy idea to the Bahamian people.
And then, to add insult to injury, the man said that garbage collection
will no longer be provided as a free government service to Bahamian households,
as of July this year. He must have been mistaken about that, as well;
he simply cannot be serious. The foreign company, he said, would
be mandated to collect fees for their services from their customers who,
of course, comprise all residents and businesses in Nassau and the Family
Islands. In addition, if I am not further mistaken, I believe the
minister alluded to an increase in the rates for electricity, provided
by BEC, by some five percent (5%) and, lest we forget, national insurance
contributions will also be increased by one per cent (1%) come June 1st,
all this while the country is experiencing the worst economic drought in
its history; what a reckless, inept, clueless Administration....
Forrester J Carroll J.P
Freeport, Grand Bahama
You may click here for Mr. Carroll's full letter - Editor
IN PASSING
4-Year-Old Found Dead In Fox Hill
We are saddened to learn of the death of a 4-year-old girl who was
found in a car, dead. It appears she may have suffocated. There
are reports that the parents of the girl are assisting police with their
investigations.
I Group and Government To Part Ways
Tourism Minister Vincent Vanderpool Wallace has indicated that negotiations
are quite advanced in the government withdrawing from the Perry Christie
inspired agreement for the development of Mayaguana, a remote island community
of 300 souls. The PLP signed an agreement to develop 10,000 acres
of government owned land jointly with the I Group of Massachusetts.
The FNM and Hubert Ingraham said that this was a giveaway of Bahamian land
even though the government would have 50 per cent ownership in the project.
The project actually began but quickly became a victim of the stop, review
and cancel programme of the FNM. Mr. Vanderpool Wallace says the
developers are on board with the FNM’s new proposals. Perry Christie,
Leader of the PLP, said that withdrawing from the development would be
a serious mistake.
Sir Durward Knowles Resting Comfortably
Following a road traffic accident that resulted from a blown tire on
his way back from the airport early this week, Sir Durward Knowles is resting
comfortably in hospital. The Olympic gold medallist who is now 92
suffered lacerations and a bruised chest and is being watched in hospital.
The family has appealed for blood and Sir Durward has sought to find out
what has happened to the others involved in the 3-car pile up. Reports
are that there were no other serious injuries.
Still No Election Date In Trinidad
Up to the time of this upload, Patrick Manning, the Prime Minister
of Trinidad and Tobago, had not yet set a date for the general election
there which he called last week, two and a half years before the scheduled
end of his term. Mr. Manning has not finished screening his candidates
yet. In fact, he appears to have caught his own party unawares in
calling the election, not only the new Leader of the Opposition.
He appears to be getting into contentious fights with some of his own MPs
by asking them not to run again. He did not oppose the one man whom
most people thought would have a problem, Keith Rowley, fired from the
Cabinet one year into the term. As we go to upload comes the news
that the date for the election is set for 24th May.
Nygard In Scandal At Lyford Cay
Peter Nygard, the Canadian fashion designer is under fire from the
media in his home country. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
(BCB) carried a documentary on Thursday 15th April in which they accused
him of breaking immigration and labour laws in The Bahamas. He fired
back saying that they were out to get him and that he has no issues with
the labour laws of The Bahamas. He said that he had been commended
by former Immigration ministers of The Bahamas Shane Gibson and former
Deputy Prime Minister Frank Watson. Mr. Watson fired back and said
that Mr. Nygard was mistaken. Rumours abound about Mr. Nygard at
Lyford Cay; that he is running a secret sweat shop out there, that his
establishment violates the covenants at Lyford Cay and that various nefarious
sexual activities are being conducted out at his multi million-dollar home.
Mr. Nygard of course says that people are making these stories up.
National Anthem Mishap at GG Ceremony
You would think that for an official ceremony all would be in place.
After all, if you are swearing in the new Governor General of the country,
the top individual in the land, in the face of a live television audience
and all the top officials of the state, that all should go without a hitch.
Not so in The Bahamas. Someone forgot (yes forgot!) to tell the police
band that they were needed to play the national anthem at the swearing
in of the Governor General, so after it was announced that they would lead
the anthem, no band. The official at the gathering had to raise the
tune herself and the audience sang a capella. It must have reminded
Sir Arthur of those long ago days in Matthew Town, Inagua. But when
are we going to do better?
Fr. Reggie Has Stroke
We have learned that the Roman Catholic priest who serves the diocese
in Freeport, Grand Bahama and who is also the leader of one of the Junkanoo
groups in Grand Bahama suffered a stroke while at a Catholic priest retreat
in Nassau last week. He is said to be resting comfortably in Nassau
and is working with speech therapists at Doctors' Hospital. We wish
him very well on the road to recovery.
FNM Meritorious Banquet
On Saturday 10th April Lady Naomi Whitfield, the widow of former Leader
of the Opposition Sir Cecil Wallace Whitfield, was honoured as a Meritorious
Councillor of the Free National Movement. She was presented with
the award at a banquet held in Nassau by Party Leader Hubert Ingraham.
Strike Looms At COB
It appears that a strike will not be averted by the College of The
Bahamas. The Union’s President at COB Jennifer Dotson said that the
College was not negotiating in good faith. The College issued a statement
saying that the Union was being unreasonable. The Minister of Education
reportedly met with both sides on Friday 16th April. The Opposition
PLP was to meet with the Union Sunday. We believe that the government
ought to take stronger measures to avoid a strike. A statement by
the students calling on both sides to settle was derided privately by some
members of the Union as manipulated by the COB administration.
Softball Gets Olympic Grant
The Bahamas Softball Association has been presented with the first
half of a $60,000 grant from the Bahamas Olympic Association by way of
a subvention from the International Olympic Committee. Wellington
Miller, the President of the Olympic Association, said that the grant is
to assist in the development of softball in The Bahamas to bring the sport
back up to the level of international competition in fast pitch softball
for the region.
New Aircraft For Bahamasair Confirmed
The government and the board of Bahamasair have confirmed what we have
been saying on this site for weeks, that Bahamasair is seeking new aircraft
to replace its ageing jet fleet. The Board headed by J. Barrie Farrington
says that they have a plan to cut costs and to make Bahamasair profitable
within 10 years. To do so, they want to buy for Bahamasair a new
Bombardier 400 plane, made in Canada. It is a stretch version of
the Dash 8 aircraft, which they now use and has 70 seats. They say
this will save Bahamasair 8.6 million in annual operational costs.
Government Mixed Up In Its Own Policy On The Environment
The Minister of the Environment Earl Deveaux seems a little mixed up.
He tabled a bill to create a way of paying for environmental protection.
He went to the extent of actually having the first reading of the Bill
on Wednesday’s opening of Parliament Day 14th April, only to say the very
next day that neither he nor the government support its provisions.
What a weird group.
Congratulations To New Archdeacon
Kingsley Knowles is the newest Archdeacon for the Anglican Church.
He is the Rector of St. George's Church in the Valley in New Providence.
Gentleman’s Club
Congratulations to Lincoln Deal II for walking away with the Gentleman
of the Year award. Also to Torrence Cash for being the first public
school boy to win a full four year scholarship to Atlanta’s Morehouse College.
That's what we’re talking about. Great! Keep it up.
Grand Bahama Humane Society
We reported earlier the concern in the Grand Bahama community about
dogs in Freeport being exported to Florida from the local kennel by the
Grand Bahama Humane Society. Friends of the society think that all
the publicity may bring a great misunderstanding of what is being done.
They say that their funding is down by fifty percent when compared to last
year and their major fundraiser last year got fifty percent less than the
year before that. Yet the shelter is full of dogs that need homes.
The shelter now has some 400 dogs and they are reduced to taking only emergency
cases. They will however provide food for people who can no longer
feed their dogs, instead of taking the dogs in. The dogs that were
sent to the states are wanted by people in the states where the Bahamian
potcake is a dog that creates a lot of attention as a special animal.
Some people have joined to together in a club for owners of Bahamian potcakes
in the States. The local group thinks it is a good programme and
would avoid the local humane society having to put down dogs, a polite
way of saying that they have to be killed. They invite local officials
to come and see the work that the shelter actually does for the society.
They say the problem is a serious one that needs the attention of policymakers.
Our reporting the story was to make the point that the economy of Grand
Bahama is in a free fall and the export of dogs is yet another sign of
trouble for Grand Bahama.
Happy Birthday Mr. T
Grand Bahama’s Music Director for the Grand Bahama Youth Choir celebrated
his 34th birthday last week. Happy birthday!
Wellington ‘Doc’ Stuart Is Buried
A three-hour service of thanksgiving at the St. John's Jubilee Cathedral
was held on Saturday 16th April as Wellington Stuart was eulogized.
He ran for the PLP in 1982 and was considered a Stalwart Councillor of
the party. Party Leader Perry Christie, Chairman Bradley Roberts,
MPs Obie Wilchcombe, Fred Mitchell, Dr. Bernard Nottage and Senators Michael
Darville and Allyson Gibson all attended with scores of other Stalwart
Councillors. Mr. Stuart was praised by fellow golfer and long time
friend Ambrose Gouthro as a contributor to the development of the Freeport
community.
At A.D.'s Reception
Photographer Peter Ramsay captured this photo of Fred Mitchell Fox
Hill MP with the wife of PLP leader Perry Christie, Bernadette Christie
and the wife of PLP Bain and Grants Town MP Dr. Bernard Nottage, Portia
Nottage at Government House. There will be more photos of the events
surrounding the opening of Parliament in the next edition of BahamasUncensored.com.
 |
| THE STRIKE IS O’ER: We are not sure that the battle is won but what we do know is that for now the strike by College of The Bahamas lecturers which started on Monday 19th April is over. We agree with the PLP who issued a statement last week (click here for that statement) essentially saying that it was an absolute bloody disgrace that lecturers at the College of The Bahamas had to take to a picket line in order to get a contract. The College claimed that the strike was ineffective, but when the PLP issued its statement citing concerns about the integrity of the exams, some of which were being reportedly invigilated by janitorial staff, the College came back defending the integrity of the exams. The strike and the government’s policy toward the strike was evidence again of how centralized authority is in the FNM government. No decision could be made unless the Prime Minister signed off on it or instructed it. In the end, the Ministers of Education and Labour found their chutzpah, the sides came together and agreed to the limited objective of sitting down within a finite period to 14th May and getting the contract finished. The College had been delaying for two years on the issue. The photo of the week is on the College campus as the Bahamas Communications Managers Union (BTC and ZNS) visited with the striking lecturers to show solidarity with them on the day, Thursday 22nd April, it was announced that the strike was settled. We urge both sides to now negotiate in good faith, but especially do we make this plea to management to stop being dilatory in prosecuting a settlement. |
COMMENT OF THE WEEK
INGRAHAM’S STRANGE COMMENT
TO SHANE
Hubert Ingraham is not guileless. He is cunning. But
there are some things that he does which cause you read him like an open
book. One thing about him is that he likes to grumble under his breath
while in the House of Assembly. And while he is grumbling incessantly,
an example that has caused many a teacher to say the House of Assembly
is not a good example for children to watch, the grumbling allows one to
get at some facts, which you might not ordinarily find out about him.
So knowing that, the PLP needs in the House of Assembly to push him some more, to make it possible for them to know more.
The case about which we now speak is that of Shane Gibson, the former Minister of Housing under the PLP, who was forced to resign because of certain photos purloined from the collection of the late Anna Nicole Smith. Ever since Mr. Ingraham took power, there has been in our view the use of state apparatus targeted at Mr. Gibson. The feeling was in the political community and; it was being said by sources in the police force, that someone was targeting Mr. Gibson in a relentless way while Commissioner Reginald Ferguson, now retired, was at the wheel, to find something that would lead to some action in the courts against Mr. Gibson. It was never revealed publicly who was being questioned, but some suspected and it was reported that it even went so far as to have a PLP MP questioned by the police about their work as a Minister. No name was ever called.
Mr. Gibson was speaking in the House of Assembly on Wednesday 21st April on the bill to establish autonomy for the Bahamas Vocational and Technical Institute (BTVI). In the course of his debate, he said that the FNM government was spiteful and vindictive. He gave examples. But the point is that as he spoke those words, the Prime Minister was grumbling incessantly and said out loud: “Boy if we were spiteful and vindictive, you wouldn’t be where you are today. Believe me!”
Interesting remark. Now put two and two together and make it five. Remember we said that there was a feeling that someone was pushing this investigation into a former PLP Minister of Housing. We said that the former Minister was reportedly questioned by the police. The sources kept saying that there is someone at a high level who is behind this. The sources kept saying the police investigation revealed that there is no criminal issue with regard to housing under the PLP and some political figure kept telling them to go back and find something.
The sources even said that the Attorney General at the time, Michael
Barnett, had advised the politician on high that there was nothing to prosecute.
But he was reportedly told, ‘go back and find something’.
So the words of the Prime Minister were ominous. “If we were
really spiteful and vindictive,” Mr. Ingraham told Shane Gibson, “You would
not be where you are today. Believe me!”
Now isn’t that interesting. The word to the wise here is always to be careful what you say because you don’t know what comes out in what appears to be the most innocent remark. The words of the Prime Minister, grumbled out aloud, had a certain viciousness to them. And again, for a man who is successful in this Bahamian life, rich beyond measure or certainly beyond the imagination he had as an Abaco child; powerful, and the master of all he surveys, yet he leads a government that is spiteful and vindictive.
Aside from the fact of the impropriety of using the organs of the state for political purposes, all we say to Shane Gibson is be careful. We know now that you are targeted by someone in high authority.
Number of hits for the week ending Saturday 24th April 2010 up to midnight: 172,975.
Number of hits for the month of April up to Saturday 24th April at midnight: 588,453.
Number of hits for the year 2010 up to Saturday 24th April at midnight: 2,991,891.
LADY
ISAACS DIES
Patsy, the Lady Isaacs has died. Late word
is that the widow of the former Deputy to the Governor General, former
Leader of the Opposition and former Leader of the Free National Movement,
Sir Kendal Isaacs died Monday at the home of her daughter in Chicago.
Our condolences to the family.
FNM
WOMEN ARE MAD AS HELL
The Nassau Guardian on the front page carried pictures
of Theresa Moxey Ingraham, former FNM Minister, Italia Johnson, former
FNM Speaker of the House and Juanianne Dorsett, former FNM Fox Hill MP.
The newspaper printed the contents of a letter written by the three in
which they decried the disappearance of FNM women from the frontline.
This confirms the report that we carried here that these FNM women were
unhappy about the fact that Sir Arthur Foulkes was chosen as Governor General
of the country over Janet Bostwick, one of their number.
The womens' letter also went on to criticize the
Prime Minister for callously disregarding (their words not ours) their
request to see him to discuss the matter. They said that they had
been told that there was no need to lobby him on the matter. This
also confirms our report (see last
week’s Comment of The Week) last week that the Prime Minster’s view
is encapsulated in the words of the hymn “It is finished, the battle is
over. It is finished there will be no more war.”
The ‘vimen’ were not happy campers. Mrs. Moxey
Ingraham herself has been dissed by the Prime Minister. He promised
to make her Ambassador to Caricom, but has not fulfilled that promise.
The Prime Minister wrote them back to say that his record for women stands,
but that women should not have special claim. This is clearly not
a man who understands at all. He does not admit that there is a need
for some form of affirmative action given the historic discrimination against
women in the society.
The next day the FNM Women’s Association dissociated
themselves from Mrs. Moxey Ingraham's letter, and stoutly defended Sir
Arthur Foulkes. Of course, the issue was not Sir Arthur at all; the
issue was Hubert Ingraham and his biggetyness. Mrs. Moxey Ingraham
defended her letter saying that she had no problem about the contribution
of Sir Arthur; her issue was simply standing for women. Women are
saying that this problem with the women is a death blow to Mr. Ingraham's
political fortunes. We rather think that it is not the death blow
but it is part of an accumulation of issues that he faces and which he
has been dealing with in his usual pre-emptory manner that led him into
grave errors in 2002 costing him the government.
FNM
WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION DOESN’T AGREE
Caron Shepherd (pictured) is the head of the official Free National Movement
Women’s Association. She took issue with the position espoused by
the three former MPs of the FNM that FNM women are disappearing from the
front line (see story above). The FNM women Theresa Moxey Ingraham,
Italia Johnson and Juanianne Dorsett all took issue with the appointment
of Sir Arthur Foulkes as Governor General over Janet Bostwick, the former
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Attorney General. Ms. Shepherd, in
a statement issued on Monday 19th April, defended the choice of the Prime
Minister. Here is what Ms. Shepherd said in her own words:
The Free National Movement’s Women’s Association
wishes to note, that a letter sent to the Prime Minister, by a few of our
members, in connection with the appointment of the Governor General, was
done so solely on behalf of the signatories to that letter.
The FNM Women’s Association respects the sole
right and privilege of the Prime Minister to appoint the Governor General.
We congratulate Sir Arthur Foulkes, a Founding Father of our great party,
on his appointment as the country’s eighth Governor General.
During his many years of distinguished public
service, Sir Arthur helped to pave the way for the greater equality of
all Bahamians, including that of women.
We also wish to acknowledge the tremendous record
of Prime Minister Ingraham on behalf of all Bahamian women, including when
his efforts were at times unpopular. This includes his appointment of women
to many significant posts, as well as landmark legislation on a variety
of issues related to the ending of discrimination against women.
The FNM Women’s Association is proud of our own
record and that of the broader FNM with regards to the empowerment of our
Bahamian sisters. We will continue to advance the cause of women and families.
In this regard, we will also continue to promote
excellent female candidates for national office. We will do so as a united
group, committed to the great ideals of our party and the values of our
Founders.
We wish His Excellency, Sir Arthur, every success.
We also offer him our support, and pray for God’s blessings on him and
Lady Foulkes.
Mrs. Moxey Ingraham, when asked about Ms. Shepherd’s
statement, was dismissive, similar to saying ‘I don’t play with chirrun’.
PLP
WOMEN ISSUE THEIR OWN STATEMENT
While the FNM ‘vimen’ were rowing over who should
get what, the PLP women issued their own statement about the PLP’s record
of empowering women. They reminded the country of Cynthia ‘Mother’
Pratt’s contribution as Deputy Prime Minister and other women who continue
to serve in the PLP today.
Here is the statement of the PLP Women's Association
‘Empowering Women’, in their own words:
“The PLP notes with surprise and sadness the
articles appearing in one of the local dailies on the 19th and 20th of
April 2010 about the apparent discontent within the ranks of the Free National
Movement (FNM) about the reported ‘disappearance of FNM women in prominent
levels of national life’.
“The PLP wishes to reiterate that its record
in pursuit of gender equality and the empowerment of women are legendary
and second to none in the annals of Bahamian history. We applaud the significant
roles women have played and continue to play in shaping the modern Bahamas
and in facilitating its sustained growth and development.
“It is worthy of note that in its recent history,
nine women contested seats on the PLP ticket in the 2002 general elections
and of that number, all nine served in both chambers of the House during
both legislative sessions between 2002 and 2007. During this time these
talented women were assigned significant portfolios and positions of responsibilities
in the Christie government. The Hon. Cynthia "Mother" Pratt became the
first woman to hold the post of Deputy Leader of a political party in the
Bahamas and the first to hold the post of Deputy Prime Minister; she performed
admirably as acting Prime Minister.
“Further, four of the eight women who were elected
to the House of Assembly in 2002 served as substantive ministers in the
Christie Government. Cynthia "Mother" Pratt served as Minister of National
Security; Allyson Maynard-Gibson served as Minister of Financial Services
and Attorney General; Melanie Griffin served as Minister of Social Development;
and Glenys Hanna-Martin served as Minister of Transport and Aviation.
“Veronica Owens served as Parliamentary Secretary
in the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and Agatha Marcelle
served as Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Works.
“As the PLP continued its evolution and maturity
as a political organization, this dynamic organization embraced change
and blazed new trails by electing the Hon. Glenys Hanna-Martin as the first
female National Chairman of a major political party in the Bahamas.
“We in the New Providence women’s branch of the
PLP are proud of our party’s record of opportunity and empowerment of women.
We express confidence in our organization that the future of women in the
PLP is secure as we work united with our male counterparts in one goal
and one purpose which is to realize our party’s vision of building the
Bahamas into the best little country in the world.”
BAIL
OR NO BAIL
The government announced in its Speech From The
Throne on 14th April that it plans to amend the bail laws in The Bahamas
to restrict the grant of bail to people who are already out on bail and
are charged with other crimes. Civil rights attorneys have been warning
the government to make haste slowly in this matter.
In the rush to placate the public on the question
and to assist the police, the government has to be careful that it does
not infringe on the rights of Bahamians. These rights are entrenched
in the fundamental rights provisions of the constitution and in Article
1: “The Commonwealth of The Bahamas shall be a sovereign democratic state.”
This is an important point we make because the government
of Mauritius tried to abolish the grant of bail for certain offences and
in a case that went all the way to the Privy Council it is clear that you
cannot totally abridge the right of the courts to grant bail unless you
go through the specific, required procedure to amend the constitution.
The case seems to be authority for the fact that in a democratic state,
there is separation of powers and the granting of bail is for the courts
not for the executive. You may click
here for the case from Mauritius before the Privy Council.
CONTAINER
PORT WORKERS COMPLAIN
The employees of the Freeport Container Port, where
death and destruction reigned on 29th March when a tornado struck without
warning, have written a detailed letter of complaint to the management.
Management last week announced that it will be laying off staff.
Bradley Roberts, PLP Chairman, released the
letter to the public.
NEW
ZAMBIAN HIGH COMMISSIONER
Zambia has a new High Commissioner appointed to
The Bahamas, non-resident. He will serve the country from Zambia.
The new High Commissioner, Dr. Nevers S. Mumba, presented his letters of
Commission from the President of Zambia on Thursday 22nd April at Government
House to the new Governor General Sir Arthur Foulkes. Lunch followed
the ceremony. Brent Symonette, the Foreign Minister, and Fred Mitchell
Opposition spokesman on Foreign Affairs were present at the ceremony.
BIS photos/Peter Ramsay
TOMMY
EXPLAINS AWAY THE MURDERS
In an interview in the press this past week, Minister
of National Security Tommy Turnquest said there are no random murders in
The Bahamas… Things that make you go - hmmmm.
POLICE
REVEAL THEIR ACTION PLAN
Under the new Police Act, the Commissioner of Police is required to provide
a policing plan annually for the public to know what the plans are for
addressing policing issues. Commissioner of Police Ellison Greenslade
is not one to slunk and issued his plans for policing this year on Monday
19th April. He says that there will be more police, better trained
police and equipment will be forthcoming. He plans to introduce tasers
to the police force, a non lethal form of protection for police officers
used effectively in other forces to subdue suspects. The Commissioner
said that while he was just releasing the report this week, he has been
in fact following the policing plan since the start of the year.
One of the other more notable initiatives is an
office of Crime Prevention, headed by Superintendent Stephen Dean.
Mr. Dean has been leading efforts also to get certain cold cases revived,
with family members appearing before the public to ask for information
to help solve the deaths of their loved ones.
We support this Commissioner's efforts to reform
our force and to fight crime. Late news comes however that the Commissioner
was to speak at a symposium on crime, sponsored by Rev. C. B. Moss of Bahamas
Against Crime, but he was a no show because he was ordered by the Prime
Minister to deliver this policing plan. If this is so, we encourage
the Commissioner to stand up to the bully at the pulpit.
We think on balance, the Commissioner has the right
ideas for fighting crime, but we say again to the Commissioner do not tell
the public or lead them to expect that you can solve the crime problem.
That is for others not you. You may click
here for the policing plan.
Police Commissioner Ellison Greenslade - file photo
SERVICE
FOR REX NETTLEFORD IN NASSAU
The Alumni Associations in The Bahamas for the University
of the West Indies sponsored a service of thanksgiving and cultural presentation
at the Dundas Centre for the Performing Arts on Thursday 22nd April for
the late Vice Chancellor Emeritus of the University, Professor Rex Nettleford.
Chancellor of the University Sir George Allyene
was in Nassau for the event. He praised Professor Nettleford, who
died suddenly while on a trip for the University in Washington DC one day
shy of his 77th birthday this year, for his great scholarship and his contribution
to the life of the university and to the region generally. Minister
of Education Desmond Bannister (pictured, right) spoke on behalf of the
government. Fred Mitchell MP for Fox Hill (pictured, left at centre
with Sir George Allyene) attended for the PLP. Dr. Mortimer Moxey,
MD, alum of UWI and one of the services co-ordinators is shown at the podium
with UWI Alumni Association President A. Missouri Sherman Peter.
You may click here for a Peter
Ramsay essay of the moments from the ceremony.
Peter Ramsay photos
THIS
WEEK ON CITIZENS REVIEW
On Citizens Review TV this week, pundit Erin Ferguson
promises a “Call to Action” in which he “reviews everything”; from
Earth Day, with Ancilleno Davis of the Nature Conservancy; Kyrgyzstan;
Thailand; Belize; and Trinidad & Tobago; Show Reviews and “Mama Africa”
- Senator Jacinta Higgs. Click the banner above to visit Citizens
Review TV.
LETTERS
TO THE EDITOR
Fred Mitchell - Press Sensational & Often Irresponsible…
It is admittedly a long time since I was trained
and worked as a journalist. However, this practice of outing suspects in
a police investigation and discussing every detail is quite disturbing
to me and I wish that the press would learn to exercise some forbearance.
In fact, I would suggest that it is still unlawful in The Bahamas.
I speak now to the story about the travails of
my constituent Sandra McDonald who according to the press is to be charged
with an offence in connection with the death of her 3 year old child. I
make no comment on it save that one wonders if this is not a matter best
addressed by social services rather than by the criminal law.
My concern here is the sensationalism of the
story written by The Tribune on 23rd April which carried an interview with
Ms. McDonald under the headline: I DID NOT KILL MY BABY. No doubt the press
will say: the public has a right to know and that she being of full age
should not have spoken to them. That may be so but the more important question
is, should the press have done it? Could The Tribune not be accused of
taking advantage of a guileless woman speaking to them in the midst of
grief, and they rushing to print in the ever energetic effort to beat to
the punch (the pun is intended) my cousin over at the nameless down market
rag to print very bit of gossip and sensation to make money, in some cases
at the expense of the truth and in most cases without due regard to the
damage it causes to people who are not public figures.
Increasingly, the mainstream papers, the papers
of record (Tribune, Guardian and Journal) have been engaged in this kind
of competition, which I think is irresponsible.
When you enter a police lock-up you are told
that you can remain silent but if you say anything it can and will be used
against you in a court of law. No such prescription is offered by the journalist,
but that does not mean that the journalist or the editor should not exercise
some responsibility to know when it is right to publish something and right
not to do so. In other words, they ought to know better and should not
have published that story, particularly knowing that the woman was released
pending inquiries.
Let us pray for all the people who suffer in
this matter: the mother, the father and our Fox Hill community. Let us
hope that there is a lesson for greater good in the tragic loss of a three
year old.
Fred Mitchell MP
Fox Hill
25th April, 2010
Forrester Carroll - Bahamasair Should Not Fly To Jamaica…
Why does this government persist on making these
very stupid, expensive and asinine decisions? The nation’s flag carrier
(Bahamasair) has proven, beyond any doubt, that it cannot effectively service
even its semi-monopolized domestic market, yet it now plans to go international
with twice-weekly scheduled flights to and from Jamaica beginning in May?
Given the company’s very unsound financial position
and, worse still, its’ normal standard of mediocre service, my guess is
that this attempt at spreading its wings is doomed to fail even before
lift off.
…I have very good reasons for believing that
within the cabinet of The Bahamas, there is an element of hatred for Western
Air’s operations and for its successes to date in competing with the country’s
national flag carrier. There are those who would not shed a tear
if this very efficient private Bahamian airliner goes completely out of
business once and for all.
And just to think, Western Air’s owners, I am
told, have always been favourable to FNM Administrations and have been
huge financial contributors to their political campaigns with -cash, flights
and anything else otherwise - I am assured.
Bahamasair would do well to abandon this foolish
notion about flying to Jamaica and leave that route to Western Air’s operators,
exclusively. They would, if it were left to them, I believe, make
a successful go at it. Who knows, Western Air may find it so lucrative
that they may even cut back on their domestic schedule, allowing Bahamasair
to access a larger “up-for-grabs” domestic passenger pool, in which to
compete.
This Jamaican route, in my view, will be Bahamasair’s
death knell, if they persist.
Forrester J Carroll J.P
Freeport, Grand Bahama
You may click here for Mr. Carroll's full letter - Editor
IN PASSING
The Cat Amongst The Pigeons In Freeport
Word on the street is that Ken Russell is out, targeted by Hubert Ingraham
to go and be replaced by Kay Forbes Smith, the now Consul General in Atlanta
for The Bahamas who is to come home for the nomination for the FNM in Ken’s
High Rock seat. Neko Grant I MP is also on the targeted list to be
replaced by now Senator Michael Pintard. Word is that the Prime Minister
who calls himself Papa is getting tired of carrying all the burdens of
decision making round the table and wants some more brain power there.
But friends of the High Rock MP say Ken Russell told Papa he will have
a fight on his hand. No word on Neko Grant I.
Dog Lovers Strike Back
The Grand Bahama Humane Society was steaming over the fact that they
were criticized by the PLP for exporting dogs from Grand Bahama to Florida.
In a piece in The Tribune, they defended the practice, saying that the
bureaucracy in The Bahamas is so complicated that the dogs would never
be saved if they waited on the government. We reported last week
that the economy is so critical in Freeport that people are abandoning
their dogs in record numbers. The Humane Society now has a programme
where they will provide food to feed your pet if you agree to keep it because
their shelter is at capacity and cannot take any more dogs. The programme
to export the dogs provides a home for the Bahamian potcake dog instead
of the society having to ‘put the dogs down’, a euphemism for killing them.
Commonwealth Bank Is 50 Years Old
The Brent and Craig Symonette owned Bank Commonwealth Bank marked its
50th anniversary last week. The Bank was founded by their father
Sir Roland Symonette, former Premier, his son Brent is now Deputy Prime
Minister. The bank originally gave small loans to people who could
not ordinarily qualify for loans. When James Smith was Governor of
the Central Bank, a rescue effort had to be organized for the bank when
it ran into financial issues, but it has since come roaring back, first
with Sir Roland’s late son the former Speaker of the House R.H. ‘Bobby’
Symonette as Chairman and now under T. Baswell Donaldson, former Central
Bank governor.
Ryan Pinder Speaks At Fox Hill Branch
PLP MP Ryan Pinder was the guest speaker at the Fox Hill PLP branch
meeting on Wednesday 21st April. Mr. Pinder thanked the people of
Fox Hill for their support in helping him get elected to the House of Assembly.
The press reported that some FNMs were saying that Ryan Pinder on that
night left the House of Assembly missing the opportunity to take his first
vote on a bill to give BTVI autonomy. Nonsense. There will
be plenty of opportunities to vote, but the speaking engagement in Fox
Hill was an important one. Meanwhile. John Delaney, the Attorney
General, says that he and his team are searching around for ways to appeal
to the Privy Council the Election Court case that brought Ryan Pinder to
the House of Assembly. Even Mr. Delaney admits that it’s a stretch.
What is fascinating, though, is that this is the same party whose leader
Hubert Ingraham said that you don’t win elections in the court but on the
ground.
Ryan Pinder MP with Party Leader Perry Christie on the steps of
the House of Assembly - Peter Ramsay photo; Ryan Pinder accepts a plaque
of appreciation from Fred Mitchell MP and Charlene Marshall, Chairman of
the Fox Hill Branch of the PLP - amateur photo.
Mt. Carey’s Anniversary
The Mt. Carey Union Baptist Church headed by Pastor Enoch Backford
is marking its 167th anniversary as a congregation in Fox Hill today 25th
April. The church is the oldest church in the village. Fred
Mitchell MP for Fox Hill attended the service of thanksgiving Sunday morning.
75 Years Old For St. Anselm’s Church
Wednesday 21st April marked the 75th anniversary of the founding of
the Roman Catholic parish of St. Anselm’s in Fox hill. Ben Demeritte,
the first Fox Hillian to be baptized at the church, was in attendance for
the mass celebrated by Monsignor Preston Moss to mark the occasion.
Fred Mitchell MP for Fox Hill attended the service.
Happy Birthday Miss Carla
Carla Mitchell-Seymour is to celebrate her 52nd birthday on Monday
26th April. Everyone is looking forward to the party... LOL.
Happy birthday! She is the sister of Fox Hill MP Fred Mitchell.
Joy Jibrilu Is Stable
We reported recently on this site that Joy Jibrilu, the Director of
Investments for The Bahamas seemed to have been the victim of a horrible
medical accident and had to be airlifted out to a Florida hospital.
She is still in a Miami hospital, though in stable condition. She
is said to be on a respirator. We wish her well. She is the
daughter of former Methodist head Kenris Carey.
John Pinder Campaigning
In Fox Hill
The head of the Bahamas Public Services Union (BPSU) and the National
Congress of Trade Unions (NCTU) John Pinder may well be in trouble with
his own union (see story below) because he is busy frying other fish.
Reports say that he is seeking the FNM’s nomination for Fox Hill against
the now FNM Senator Jacinta Higgs, oops, we forgot to add Doctor before
her name. Sorry about that. The sentiment for a replacement
for the FNM in Fox Hill is getting stronger after the disastrous performance
of the senator in the public square for the opening of Parliament when
she embarrassed the party by showing up for the event in a ball gown and
a hat that defies description. Reports say that Mr. Pinder was seen
on the Easter weekend taking the temperature of the park and the various
bars in Fox Hill.
Graham Weatherford To Run In Montagu
Graham Weatherford, who originally approached the PLP about running
for it in the safe FNM seat of Montagu against the FNM’s Loretta Butler
Turner, announced to The Tribune that he intends to run as an independent
in Montagu. He has also been doing the rounds with Utah Taylor’s
Controversy TV pushing the position that he will run. Check out Utah
Taylor’s Facebook page for more information.
Tribune photo
The ‘Regretta’
The Family Island Regatta, which was founded as a recreation opportunity
for Bahamian traditional work boats in 1953, ended on Saturday 24th April,
following four days of fun and frolic in Elizabeth Harbour, Great Exuma.
The winner of the Prime Minister’s Cup was Emmet Munroe skippering New
Courageous and the winner of the Governor General’s cup was Jeff Gale from
Hopetown, Abaco sailing in The Dove. His boat was also the national
champion for B class sailing. The A class National Champion was Early
Rupert’s Legend from Long Island. This was the first foray of Sir
Arthur Foulkes Governor General to the Family Islands since he became Governor
General on 14th April. MPs Anthony Moss of Exuma and Fred Mitchell
of Fox Hill helped to present prizes, as did Minister of Sports Charles
Maynard. The Governor General was accompanied by his wife Lady Joan
Foulkes. We used the word in the headline ‘Regretta’. It is
a Bahamianism, expressing the fact that after all the fun, wining and dining
and other forms of recreation, the headache that it leaves with you and
the empty pocket makes it for many a matter of regret, thus the Regretta.
Prosecutors To Appeal The Kozeny Case
Victor Kozeny, who is known as the Pirate of Prague for having allegedly
ripped off the citizens of his home country in various mega deals that
he engineered and who lives in Lyford Cay in The Bahamas, may soon have
to face another day in court. The government has decided to appeal
the decision of the Court of Appeal that refused to extradite Mr. Kozeny
to the US for trial in New York. The court agreed with Justice Jon
Isaacs that the offence for which he was wanted is not an offence in Bahamian
law. The government withdrew its application to the Court of Appeal
for leave to appeal when they conceded that court did not have the jurisdiction
to grant leave to appeal to the Privy Council. The government will
now have to seek leave from the Privy Council itself. Mr. Kozeny
is represented by Philip Davis.
Jan Ward Charged With Theft
Attorney Jan Ward was again before the courts last week. He appeared
before a Magistrate, this time charged with stealing $350,000 by reason
of service. He was represented by Philip Davis.
Ingraham Having Breakfast At Sandals
Reports are that Hubert Ingraham, the Prime Minister likes to eat breakfast
each Saturday at Sandal’s restaurant on Cable Beach. Mr. Ingraham
is known to have a close relationship with Sandals’ owner Butch Stewart.
Many people believe that this compromises his ability to act dispassionately
when it comes to looking out for Bahamians who have issues with Sandals.
Of course, eating in Sandals avoids having to deal with the ‘riff raff’
who would obviously disturb the prime minister as he was trying to eat.
Sandals is an all-inclusive, private resort, where the public does not
get access without a $150 fee. Government ministers are given a special
card, which gives them access to the resort's facilities.
PR Blitz By Sandals
Butch Stewart and his son Robert have been engaged in a major pr blitz
over the past week in local press. The older Mr. Stewart, who is
the founder and Chairman of the Board, was unusually civil, thanking everyone
for their co-operation in making it possible to get their resort in Exuma
off the ground. Sandals is the replacement property for the Four
Seasons that went belly up. The younger Mr. Stewart said that the
people of Exuma ought to forget Four Seasons; that Sandals is the new game
in town and that it will be there for generations. He said that people
have to accept the new policies of Sandals, including the fact that there
are no tips. He also added that of the 600 or so employees, the facility
still has 106 foreign employees. The pr blitz seemed timed to counteract
the problems Sandals have been having with the locals in Exuma, who complain
about low wages and excessive productivity demands and that there are too
many foreigners working at the resort. The remarks appeared in The
Tribune. One thing is that Sandals is more community oriented it
appears. They participated in helping the Regatta, which Four Seasons
never did.
Update On Antigua
Baldwin Spencer, the Prime Minister of Antigua and his two Cabinet
ministers who were declared seatless by a Puisne Judge in Antigua, are
still in the same position they were when the decision was made.
The judge issued a stay of the decision until the matter could be heard
in the Court of Appeal on 16th April. That stay has further been
extended until the Court of Appeal can hear the case. If Mr. Spencer
loses the case, there will likely have to be bye-elections to fill the
vacancies, which would mean them running again, or he might seek to call
a general election before vacating the seats. Antigua’s Leader of
the Opposition, former PM Lester Bird is waiting in the wings, claiming
that rightfully he ought to be appointed Prime Minister since the government
has lost the majority in Parliament.
TCI Bank Goes Under
The TCI bank in Turks and Caicos has gone under. The government
there, run by the British, has put the bank into liquidation and revoked
its’ licence to operate. Anthony Kikivarakis of the Bahamian accounting
firm Deloitte has been appointed liquidator. Alfred Sears MP has
been appointed the lawyer for the liquidator. The Freeport News reported
that this was the locally owned bank in which the National Insurance Fund
in Turks and Caicos had placed substantial funds. The bank was run
and owned by a relative of dismissed Premier Michael Misick. Many
horror stories were told of people who lost their entire savings, many
small people. The government is seeking with the liquidators to put
in place Deposit Insurance after the fact to help save small savers.
It is also seeking to work to try and rescue the bank by seeking to find
new investors. The country is reeling again following the great blow
of the loss of their democracy as a result of a British decision following
a series of corruption scandals in the last Michael Misick administration.
Melissa Resigns As PLP Vice Chair
News is circulating on the web that Melissa Sears, the firebrand Vice
Chairman of the PLP from Grand Bahama, has resigned from office.
No word from Ms. Sears. There are a lot of unkind things being circulated
about her from some quarters in the PLP, which is often a reaction of the
PLP to people who are perceived to be too independent, as if there is a
wish to drive people out of the party. These supporters must be careful
not to throw the baby out with the bath water.
Customs and Immigration Want Their Own Union
The press reported last week that officers in the Departments of Immigration
and Customs have had enough of John Pinder and the Bahamas Public Services
Union following the failure to resolve to their satisfaction the transition
from overtime paid workers to shift workers. They believe that Mr.
Pinder did not do an effective job and want out of the union. The
report is that they have met with Mr. Pinder’s nemesis, the Bahamas Trade
Union Congress’ Obie Ferguson and have designed a new constitution and
will be soon petitioning the Minister of Labour for a new union to represent
customs and immigration.
Mrs. Marcus Bethel (Jane) Dies at 93
She was the matriarch of the family of the late undertaker Marcus Bethel.
Her husband died in November 1967 in a suspected plane crash in bad weather,
returning in a plane with other relatives from Exuma. He was never
heard from again. She stepped into the breach, with a young family
of seven children, all not yet into their adulthood and certainly not finished
school. Many are now prominent members of society. One son
joined the family business another is a successful investment banker.
Mrs. Bethel has been suffering from Alzheimer’s for years and has had a
slow deterioration in health. She died on Thursday 22nd April at
the age of 93. She was a great lady. Imagine this: in 1956,
her husband Marcus who founded Bethel Brothers Morticians, was the Member
of Parliament for the Western District of New Providence and was running
for re-election. Her brother, the late Sir Milo Butler was the PLP’s
candidate for the same area in 1956. Sir Milo won. Thankfully,
she did not have to choose, although for unfair reasons, because at the
time of that vote in 1956, women did not have the right to vote in Bahamian
elections.
Strange Response From Met Officer
Public life is sometimes really strange. You question why public
figures often go to any lengths to help some people. That must be
the question PLP Chairman Bradley Roberts asks himself as he contemplates
the response to his circulating the letter of Lee Marvin Johnson, the met
officer, who wrote the Prime Minister last year to complain about certain
shortfalls in the met office that also applied to Freeport. Freeport
is where disaster struck and three people died, it appears because of the
fact that there was no met office in Grand Bahama, a fact which could have
caused serious issues, known as early as last year by the Prime Minister
and which was ignored by the Prime Minister and his government. The
only thing is, Mr. Johnson wrote the press to say that he was unhappy about
his letter being used (he claims) for political purposes. How silly
can that be? Presumably, the man wrote the letter so that it could
influence the policy makers. Now, when it gets wider coverage, he
writes a letter talking fool about using the letter for political reasons.
Why did he write the letter if it were not to influence politicians?
This sounds like an FNM who is having buyer’s remorse because his views
were made public. But we believe the public has a right to know.
Click here for his letter written to the
PM and here for the letter to the editor
complaining about the PLP chairman’s use of the letter.
Sir Durward Is Released From Hospital
Sir Durward Knowles, who was recently involved in a serious traffic
accident, has been released from hospital. Sir Durward, the first
Bahamian Olympic gold medallist, is 92 years old.
Eastern Community Festival
An ‘Easter Community Festival’ is being staged on Saturday 1st May
at Super Value Winton to raise funds for the 80 strong Eastern Marching
Band. The organising committee is organising entertainment and will
host children of the Elizabeth Estates Children Home, the Simpson Penn
and WillieMae Pratt Schools to the event. A panel discussion on ‘Crime
and its Impact’ is also expected.
Bran McCartney Says He Doesn’t Want To Be A Minister
Branville McCartney who resigned as a Minister of State in the Ingraham
administration has told the press that if he is re-elected to office next
time, he will not be seeking a job in the Cabinet. We asked the question
after 2007 the general election, when all the young FNMs were hankering
after Cabinet jobs, why they would want one, particularly one as a Minister
of State where you are neither fish nor foul. We thought maybe it
was the fact of policemen snapping to attention or being driven round in
one of the government gas hogs by a chauffeur. But Mr. McCartney
seems to have learned quickly, having resigned and now says he won’t ask
for it. Of course, this is the same thing that Hubert Ingraham did
when he was elected in 1982. He knew Pindling was not going to ask
him to come into the Cabinet, so he went on offence, saying that he was
not interested in a Cabinet post. That might be Mr. McCartney’s strategy,
knowing that if the FNM wins (God forbid) that he won’t be asked by Mr.
Ingraham anyway. Perhaps the public will solve the whole problem
and the PLP will win the government and so the issue would be moot at that
point anyway.
Bahamasair Into Jamaica
Bahamasair has announced that beginning in May they will start a twice
weekly flight into Kingston using a 120 seat 737 jet. This is an
amazing thing to do. You will remember that we first suggested that
they do so when Air Jamaica said they were dropping out of the Nassau/Kingston
run. The Board told the public that they could not do it. So
Rex Rolle of Western Air went and worked the route with a 33-seater plane
for five days a week at a 400 dollar round trip fare. Now the national
airline says it’s going to go in and use a bigger plane. Is this
designed to drive Western Air out of the market? Is this a wise use
of tax dollars? This is also peculiar because Rex Rolle is an FNM.
Wonder what they have against him?
IMF Says Cutback
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has said in its World Economic
Outlook report published in Nassau last week that the economy of The Bahamas
will contract a further .5 percent this year and grow 2 percent next year.
They want the Government to cut back on social spending, because the country
can’t afford it. Let’s see if ‘Papa’ is brave enough to do that foolishness.
