bahamasuncensored.com
AUGUST 2008
Compiled, edited and constructed by Russell Dames Updated every
Sunday at 2 p.m.
Volume 6 © BahamasUncensored.Com 2008
While material on this web site can be used freely by other sections of
the press, as a courtesy, journalists are asked to attribute the source
of their material from this web site.
10th August, 2008
17th August, 2008
24th August, 2008
31st August, 2008
Click on a heading to go to that story; press ctrl + home to return
to the top of the page.
|
| PHOTO OF THE WEEK:
The 174th version of the Fox Hill Festival
began in Fox Hill on Friday 1st August. Each year the Fox Hill Community,
unique in all The Bahamas marks in both festive and solemn ways the anniversary
of the abolition of slavery. Slavery was abolished throughout the then
British Empire in 1834 with a four-year apprenticeship period for the slaves
to learn a trade. They became totally free on 1st August 1838. Fox Hill,
a village of liberated Africans and former slaves, has celebrated from
then to now. The tradition includes a day when the Baptist Churches provides
a programme of recitations by the children of the Village for the adults,
followed by a treat. This is called Fox Hill day and is celebrated on the
second Tuesday in August. Our photo of the week shows the official party
at the official opening of the Fox Hill Festival, which in its present
incarnation has been going for 20 years this year. This year’s Festival
is named after Eric Wilmott Senior. Present for the opening was Minister
of State for Culture Charles Maynard, Fred Mitchell Member of Parliament.
The photo shows from left: Senator Jacinta Higgs (FNM), Fox Hill Festival
Committee Chair Charles Johnson, Eric Wilmott Senior, Charles Maynard and
Fred Mitchell. The photo is by Patrick Hanna of the Bahamas Information
Services. |
COMMENT OF THE WEEK
ECONOMIC COLLAPSE
The country appears to be in the midst of an economic crisis.
The statistics may not tell the story. In a small community, it is the
anecdotes that frighten and set the tone. On Thursday 31st July, Craig
Walkine who up until now had been seen as a master at making money with
his stores Price Busters was clearly in deep trouble. He told ZNS news
that of the 14 stores that he had been operating in various locations in
New Providence; he was closing all but one. The last one standing would
be the store at the Mall At Marathon. This is a shock to the community.
No doubt, his bankers, his Board of Directors, his family and friends
saw this coming. But to the staff who have now lost their jobs and see
a bleak future, to the general public who came to rely on the stores for
cheap quality goods, to the other young Bahamian businessmen, this must
be frightening indeed. One cannot help but ask the question: what went
wrong.
The last people you would want to ask are the bankers. They are most
likely complicit in any failures of businesses. What happens is businessmen
when they become successful must be extremely disciplined and careful not
to accept the blandishments, offers and largesse of banks? It is a two-edged
sword. As long as you appear to be making money, the banks are busy wanting
to throw money at you. They are never there when you get into trouble.
They abandon you like rats on a sinking ship, and in fact in many cases
help to put you under. At that time, each man must save their hide and
it is not the bank’s loan officer that is going to take the fall for the
failures of a once thriving business.
So Mr. Walkine will find out pretty quickly, if he has not
already that he no longer has any friends in the world.
Mr. Walkine's story may not be unique, and it leads to the
larger public policy question which bedevils and vexes the country’s governments,
how do you empower the new entrepreneur so that greater wealth can be created
in the country and stay in the country.
There are too many stories of once seeming economic giants
who have been minimized by excess, profligate ways and some bad luck, bank
obduracy and government hostility.
This economic climate is a brutal one. The successful young
businessman has to be extremely disciplined in the environment. One of
the easy pits in which to fall, is to spend a lot of money on a big car,
on a huge house and on fancy travel all over the place as a sign of the
new wealth. It is a well-worn path. The most difficult thing to be able
to do is to set aside some cash that you will not touch. It would be fine
if after you become a big businessman all you hurt is yourself if you fail
but the problem is many scores of people go down with you in your pain.
Where are we now on the question of economic empowerment? The government’s
schemes are pitifully far and few between. There is a venture capital fund
started by the PLP that has some 2 million dollars to administer. There
is the Bahamas Development Bank that is funded in part by the government
and by the Caribbean Development Bank that provides development loans that
many say are so onerous you simply don’t want to take them. That too is
a PLP inspired institution. Then the FNM has come up with enterprise grants
for young entrepreneurs to be able to get a start. These schemes together
have not, do not and cannot tackle the wider issue.
When you look around the country, the same people who had the wealth
fifty years ago continue to have it and they have gotten richer. To be
sure, you have the newer examples of Franklyn Wilson and the Sunshine Group;
you have that of Sir Garret Finlayson and the Burns House Ltd. group; you
have Franklin Butler and the Sir Milo Butler and Sons group, but even these
are products of the immediate aftermath of the PLP's coming to power in
1967. The question remains does the young man or woman in the country have
faith that they can be empowered in this economy and make it.
We hope that Craig Walkine is a story that does not end in destruction.
We hope that he can bounce back. The libertarian will say that is the story
of life and business. You are up today and down tomorrow. Some make it
and some fail. That it is not the business of government to interfere in
the process of the market. To some extent that is true but a society cannot
continue to develop the image that there is no social and economic mobility.
If the younger people are to feel tied to this economy, feel committed
to the country, there has to be a clear path to success on your own steam.
The great challenge then is to design our public policy institutions
to make them neutral in their application so that the parochial issues
that now plague us in their applications will disappear. So even as we
wish Mr. Walkine luck, we lament his story. We hope that his is not the
story of a larger economic collapse, which because of the present government’s
policy of stop, review and cancel will lead to even more failure.
Number of hits for the week ending Saturday 2nd August 2008 up to
midnight: 217,734.
Number of hits for the month of August up to Saturday 2nd
August 2008 up to midnight: 26,574.
Number of hits for the year 2008 up to Saturday 2nd August 2008 up
to midnight: 8,106,549.
CONTACT US AT E-MAIL:placid_point@yahoo.com
TRAGIC
DROWNING
Three young women died tragically in Long Island while
swimming in Deal’s Blue Hole. The Pinder family of former Church of God
head Harcourt Pinder and Mrs. Pinder have lost three of their own. The
reports say that on Wednesday 30th July at about 3 p.m. 7 year-old Dava
Major watched her mother, Faye Major, 45, drown and this was followed by
the drowning death of her older sister Deidre, 13 and her beloved Aunt
Renee Pinder, 41. The latter Ms. Pinder was the Vice Consul at the Embassy
of The Bahamas in New York. Former Foreign Minister Fred Mitchell issued
condolences at a press conference on Thursday 31st July on the part of
the PLP as follows:
“I want to first express my condolences and that of the PLP on
the passing of the daughters of Bishop Harcourt Pinder and Mrs. Pinder
and their grandchild. I am good friends with the family. In particular
I worked as Minister of Foreign Affairs with Vice Consul Rene Pinder. I
know how hard she worked, and what a great love she had for her country
and the sacrifice that she made for her country in her service overseas
in New York. I am sure that all of her colleagues will miss her dearly.
I know that the Bishop and his wife are people of faith and even in this
time of trouble they know that life will endure. ”
According to police reports, the victims were part of group of
about six people swimming in about 15 – 20 feet of water just off the shoreline
of the blue hole in the Turtle Cove area, west of Clarence Town. Police
say that one of the females, who was walking along side the edge of the
blue hole, fell in. That's when the other two women jumped in attempting
a rescue, sometime around 3 p.m. This is the second incident of a mysterious
or sudden drowning that has panicked the Bahamian population. The first
was the death of a corporal on the police force who died during a training
exercise three weeks ago when he was sucked under in sinkhole off Goodman’s
bay in Nassau and could not be revived. The Pinder family has now called
for signage at the Blue Hole warning swimmers of the danger. We have learned
however that a swim rescuer has been trying for some time to get the attention
of the government to the issue of safety in the water. On beaches used
by thousands of tourists in The Bahamas and Bahamians as well, there are
no lifeguards and no signs. There is no safety equipment provided. It seems
clear that if any or three together had been available the Pinders would
still be alive today. Let us hope that this tragedy makes the government
act. One thinks of Bishop Pinder in the very winter of his life, enjoying
his retirement and looking at his life’s work as its benefits pass down
to his grandchildren. To find it all go horribly wrong in front of his
eyes with him helpless in the situation. The book of Job perhaps is the
only comfort to a man of faith: “The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away!
Blessed be the name of the Lord.”
WHAT
DOES EMANCIPATION MEAN?
We want to congratulate the people of African descent
in The Bahamas for enduring to now. In the face of the oppression, in the
face of all the negativism and degradation, these are a people of an indomitable
sprit. This is also however a time to congratulate all the people of goodwill
in The Bahamas black or white who fought against slavery, and who fought
for social justice in The Bahamas. That is why this holiday, Emancipation
Day, is not just a holiday for people of African descent. It is a holiday
for all Bahamians of goodwill. There is still much to be done in The Bahamas
to solve the problems of injustice but the face of emancipation in 1834
started us on our way. There could be no 10th July without 1834. There
could be no 10th January 1967 without 1st August 1834. So on this occasion
we ask you all to celebrate with the people of Fox Hill this glorious anniversary,
the affirmation of our freedom.
DECEPTION
ON CRIME
The news story was to say the least surprising. The Minister of National
Security Tommy Turnquest admitted on Friday 1st August to buying “numbers”.
For those who are not familiar, “numbers” is the colloquial term in The
Bahamas used for buying illegal gambling tickets. He says that it was a
long time ago. He said that he supported the legalization of gambling.
We hope that his irrational boss does not wake up on the wrong side of
the bed. The last we heard it was not the official policy of the government
to legalize the “numbers racket”.
The Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham did say that he thought that
the law should either be enforced or taken off the books. Now the actual
chief crime fighter has said that he bought numbers in the past, admitting
to breaking the law. What does that say to the youngsters? What will the
silent- in- the -face- of- the- FNM- church say to that? Not that we disagree
with him. It is the height of hypocrisy for this country to continue on
this path that it is, against gambling and “numbers’ but the law is absolutely
unenforceable. We repeat what Fred Mitchell MP for Fox Hill said about
Mr. Ingraham’s comments that it was a shot across the bow to those black
Bahamians who were in the web shop business that Bay Street’s “Delivery
Boy” was coming for their businesses to give it to Bay Street.
A warning to these web shop owners that as they become more open
and ostentatious, it is not beyond the present Prime Minister to take one
of them and make a public example of the lead one of them, even arrange
for a trial and heavy jail sentence in order to destroy that person and
his political clout, particularly if he is known contributor to the PLP.
Be warned! Crime is however, a major issue for the country and this
government and you would think that the Minister, especially the National
Security Minister would want to be careful what he says on this issue.
What was equally as startling was the admission by Prime Minister Hubert
Ingraham in an interview published on Monday 28th July that his government
was doing as much as it could to fight crime. This is the same leader of
the FNM who when in Opposition was scorching the earth about the PLP and
its inability to get on top of the crime problem. It is certainly much
worse than when PLP was in power. What can you say about these folks? They
are hopeless but good at public relations. Their view is that public relations,
describing the problem will solve the problem. One comforting fact that
they have, and it is a small comfort, and that is that the rest of the
Caricom region is fighting the same battle. Jamaica for example is about
to pass a set of draconian laws to suspend the right to apply for bail
for 60 days for certain crimes and to increase the penalties for illegal
possession of a gun to include up to ten years probation. The human rights
fraternity is screaming but “the times they are achangin’ ”.
PHOTO
ESSAY ON THE FOX HILL OPENING
The Fox Hill Festival, two weeks of activities to mark the occasion
of the abolition of slavery in 1834 got off to a rousing start on Friday
1st August, the 174th anniversary. Next is Junkanoo on 4th August at 1
a.m. until and the ecumenical service attended by the Governor General
Arthur D. Hanna on 4th August at 11 a.m. Patrick Hanna of the Bahamas Information
Services was there at the opening to record the event. This photo essay
shows: one of Charlene’s Angels’ dance troupe dancing at the opening ceremony
; the popular entertainer Sweet T, Dexter Thompson, son of the famous entertainer
Sweet Richard dancing on glass to the wonderment of the Fox Hill children
; the Member of Parliament for Fox Hill Fred Mitchell addresses the audience;
the church band from the Macedonia Baptist Church ; Eric Wilmott Senior
after whom the Festival is named is presented with a gift from his granddaughter
; Eric Wilmott Senior after whom the festival is named is presented with
a gift from St. Anselm’s Church where he served for 50 years as the organist
receives a gift from Monsignor Preston Moss, rector of St. Anselm’s Church
Fox Hill.
THE
MINISTRY OF THE ENVIRONMENT
In one sense, Hubert Ingraham is a master at propaganda,
more properly deception. The latest is the creation of the Ministry of
the Environment. You go around the country and you hear people praising
this man for creating this Ministry of the Environment. The interesting
thing about this is that this is the same man who scrapped the Ministry
of Energy and the Environment that was left in place by former Prime Minister
Perry Christie. The Ministry was created in February 2006. Therefore, the
newly constituted Ministry of Environment is the same Ministry. It has
the utility companies in it, including the power company. It has town planning
and environmental health. The praise then should really go to Perry Christie,
the PLP’s Prime Minister who had the foresight to establish the ministry,
which Mr. Ingraham foolishly scrapped and then had to recreate after one
year. Typical.
ROBIN HOOD OPENS EXPANDED STORE
Sandy Schafer and his partner former Minister of Trade and Industry
Leslie Miller mean to beat the prices of all other food stores in the country
in a new mega store at Tonique Darling Highway. Tens of thousands of square
feet of store space with groceries, baked items, fresh meat, fresh produce
and appliances are available at the store that promises if you find a lower
price once verified they will beat that price. At the official opening
on Saturday 2nd August attended by former Prime Minister Perry Christie
and Minister of Health Dr. Hubert Minnis for the now Prime Minister, Mr.
Schafer told the crowd that he wanted to make sure that the store provided
good prices that equaled or beat Miami’s prices. He is even arranging a
give back to the favourite charities of each customer who are asked to
say what is their favourite charity as they leave the store. That charity
then gets a check every three months. He is arranging a free bus service
from town to the store. Patrick Hanna of the Bahamas Information Services
was there and the photos show: Sandy Schafer, a native of New York, CEO
of Robin Hood as his daughter cuts the ribbon, while his wife and other
children look on. At the ceremony looking on is Dr. Minnis and former Prime
Minister Perry Christie ; In the second photo Sandy Schafer looks on as
Dr. Bernard Nottage Leader of Opposition business in the House; Fred Mitchell
Fox Hill MP; D. Shane Gibson MP Golden Gates; Dr. Hubert Minnis, Minister
of Health and Rt. Hon. Perry Christie are shown around .
HAITIAN
ILLEGALS SWAMP NASSAU
The week began in Nassau when the press reported
that over three hundred people were arrested seeking to gain illegal entry
into The Bahamas on wooden boats coming toward the southern shore of New
Providence. Some people perished on the journey, others scrambled away
in the bushes. The next day another one hundred or so were found. The repatriation
to Haiti began immediately. The U.S. Coastguard also reported to Bahamian
authorities that 24 Cubans were on a Bahamian Cay illegally and they had
to be picked up. Clearly, this is taxing the patience and the resources
of the country. It still defies logic how slow wooden boats that can be
spotted making their way up the chain can make it all the way to Nassau
without being spotted. Something must be wrong. It must be the same wrong
that causes the fishermen to complain that the fishermen from the Dominican
Republic seem to have carte blanche access to our fishing grounds. The
story of these illegals was just one very public story. However, what about
the stories that we do not hear. The situation in Exuma is quite serious.
Illegal Haitian migrants breach the southern shore of Great Exuma and melt
into the shantytown community there just over the hill from BTC in Georgetown.
Malaria, which is not endemic in The Bahamas, has since these unrestricted
incursions become a feature of life in Exuma. The government seems helpless
in the face of it, like deer staring at the lights on the highway. Eleazer
Regnier suggested that there needed to be surveillance in Haiti itself
to stop this. Well said. This is an idea that was mooted when Fred Mitchell
was the Foreign Minister and actually concretized in a draft agreement
between the Haitian government and The Bahamas' government. It still awaits
signature. However, do not wait for it to happen any time soon. It is a
PLP plan so Mr. Ingraham is unlikely to implement any of it.
IN PASSING
Wishing The Best
Within a short time, the Bahamian Olympic team will take to the world
stage again. Given the history of previous teams, there is a high
expectation in The Bahamas that they will do well. But we want them
to know that getting there alone simply makes us proud. They should
proudly represent themselves and their country. We are all with them.
This year in particular, the eyes of the country will be on the swimming
team. This is a new field for us. But the swim team will acquit
itself well. This is the highlight for the parents who trained their
children in a sport that is pioneering for Bahamian children. The
countless hours spent by their parents, waking up in the wee hours, getting
into a chilly pool, scraping and saving to send them to special camps and
expensive schools. Well this is the moment now that they have all
been waiting for and to which they have been looking forward. Some
have been before at this level. Those in track and field know the
drill. So to the swimmers we say a special good luck and do your
best. It is all you can do and your country thanks you.
Waitresses And Prostitution
The Nassau Guardian reported two weeks ago what it said was a prostitution
ring at the Arawak Cay Fish Fry in Nassau by waitresses at the fish fry.
We are surprised that someone did not sue them for such a general and non-specific
allegation. The Vendors Association took time out from their memorial service
for the founder Earl Hall who died at the age of 56 from asthma to say
that they would investigate the matter. A few days later, they said that
they would leave the matter to the police. We still say that the waitresses
at Arawak Cay should get together and sue the Guardian for such an irresponsible
statement without any proof.
Man Arrested For 2 Million Released
Two weeks ago in Grand Bahama with much fanfare the police raided a
home where an alarm had been set off and recovered over two million dollars
in pure US cash. They arrested the occupant of the home on the suspicion
of living off the proceeds of crime. The unusual thing about this piece
of legislation governing that crime is that it switches the burden of proof
so that there is a presumption that you are living off the proceeds of
crime and the person charged has to prove that he is not doing so. It is
said that the man a Haitian was living off the proceeds of “numbers” (see
story on DECECPTION ON CRIME above). He was released last week without
charge and pending further inquiries. No word on what happened to the money.
It reminds us of the stories told by one of the leading “numbers” men in
Nassau who said the police routinely raid his businesses take the cash
they find and then release him without charge and nothing is ever heard
about the money. Perhaps this is the price of doing that business.
Memorial For Nicholas Nuttal
A touching
memorial service was held for the late Sir Nicholas Nuttal Bt. Of the United
Kingdom and of Lyford Cay in The Bahamas on Monday 28th July. Sir Nicholas
died last year after a brief illness. He was married to the former Eugenie
McWeeney, granddaughter of the late Pearl Cox and sister to former Attorney
General Sean McWeeney. The memorial service was held at the seaside at
Clifton. Speaking at the ceremony that was just over an hour Cyprianna
Mcweeny, former Miss Bahamas and now radio executive of GEMS radio and
wife of Sean McWeeney, praised Sir Nicholas for his devotion to The Bahamas.
She thanked him on behalf of the Bahamian people for the fight he undertook
to save Clifton from the developers who wanted to destroy the Bahamian
heritage. Clifton is now a park held in trust for the Bahamian people.
It was established by Progressive Liberal Party Prime Minister Perry Christie
after he won in 2002, following a campaign by environmentalists to save
the area from destruction.
Missick’s Men Lose The Case
On Monday 28th July, the High Court in The Turks and Caicos Islands
rejected the application of two Members of the Parliament in the Turks
and Caicos to limit the scope of the Commission of Inquiry set up by the
British to investigate corruption in the Turks and Caicos. The action was
brought on the basis that the inquiry's scope was too wide and indeterminate,
that it amounted to a fishing expedition. Sir Robin Auld the Commissioner
is about doing his work. Some Bahamian lawyers are consulting with the
politicians in the Turks about what the next move should be.
Jamaican Independence Day
The Jamaican community in Nassau will celebrate the 46th anniversary
of the independence of Jamaica from Britain. The country is now led by
Prime Minister Bruce Golding of the Jamaica Labour Party, the party of
Sir Alexander Bustamante, the Jamaican National Hero, who took Jamaica
to independence after scuttling the West Indian Federation in 1962. The
local community will mark the occasion at a service of thanksgiving at
Zion Baptist Church on Sunday 3rd August at 4 p.m.
Simpson vs. Philips Again
Former Jamaican Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller who lost the election
last year and now serves as the Leader of the Opposition will face a challenge
again this year at her party’s conference. It is a rematch between Pr.
Peter Philips, the Leader of Opposition business in the House in Jamaica
and Mrs. Simpson-Miller. Mrs. Simpson Miller defeated Dr. Philips, a former
Minister of National Security in the previous match up three years ago.
Click on a heading to go to that story; press ctrl + home to return
to the top of the page.
|
| PHOTO OF THE WEEK:
The Beijing Games have begun. The politics is
front and centre, with the world complaining how the Chinese have cracked
down on dissent and how reporters are not able to access the places that
they want to. In one case, a former athlete had his visa withdrawn because
he was part of an effort to change China’s policy of cooperation with the
Sudanese government. The government of Sudan is engaged in a war against
its own people in Darfur with murderous consequences. The U.S. President
George Bush went to Thailand just before he landed in China for the opening
of the Games and blasted the Chinese for their human rights record. China
rejected that as interference in their internal affairs. All of that aside,
the Games began with a spectacular show. China is said to have spent some
40 billion dollars putting on this show, $300 million on the opening alone.
A full Bahamian team is there, and we wish that team well. We wish the
Chinese people well but we hope that their government gets the message
to allow their people greater freedom. The photo of the week is that of
Debbie Ferguson, Olympian, carrying the Bahamian flag on to the field from
the opening of the Olympics in Beijing, China on Friday 8th August. |
COMMENT OF THE WEEK
WHEN ARE WE GOING TO IMPROVE?
There was a huge thunderstorm over New Providence in The Bahamas
on the evening of Friday 8th August. The lightning lit up the night. There
were loud claps of thunder rumbling all over town. The rain came down in
a steady pour. There was not much wind. In a modern capital, this is something
that should be easy to cope with, particularly since everyone knows that
in the summer there will be thunderstorms. While there might be some localized
flooding, the cars have been able to deal with it. The houses withstood
the rain. Everyone should have been safe and comfortable. Except that everyone
knows that as soon as thunder starts to roll and lightning goes off, grab
the flashlights because within minutes the Bahamas Electricity Corporation
(BEC) is going to fail its customers and the island would be plunged into
darkness.
The same situation occurred in the Fox Hill area on Saturday 9th
August in the mid afternoon. Within twenty minutes of the storm, the area
plunged into darkness. In Highland Park in New Providence, the customers
were without their power for 16 hours as a result of the first storm.
The routine has become so well known that BEC has become the laughing
stock of the country. There is not a time in the history of this country
that BEC can be counted on to keep the lights on. This summer the lights
have been off innumerable times. The real story is they did not plan well
enough and the company does not have enough power to keep everyone in lights
at the peak of the summer demand.
What however is their excuse in the winter? Rest assured when the
power goes off as it frequently does particularly in the east of the island,
there is always an explanation. BEC is quite expert at explaining why the
power went off. They are excellent at describing the problem. You then
ask yourself, if they know so much about why it went off, why can’t they
keep the lights on?
There is the story of the young child who is so accustomed
to BEC not being able to take the pressure of thunderstorms that as soon
as he heard the thunder start rolling, the little five year old runs for
the flash light. He has come to know in his short existence that BEC is
simply not reliable.
It is not only BEC of course. There is Bahamas Telecommunications
Company Ltd (BTC) that can’t keep us connected to one another in the island
much less to the outside world. The cell phone system is perennially jammed.
The system is so jammed that even in the middle of the day now you cannot
get through to land line numbers because all circuits are busy. Not to
speak about the dropped calls, the poor transmission where you have to
keep asking your party on the other end to repeat what they are saying
because you can’t make out what they are saying.
Not to talk about the Water and Sewerage Corporation, whose water
ruins the clothes of many scores of our citizens each week and day because
they cannot deliver water to their homes of those customers without it
being filled with rust? They supply filters to help. Sometimes, they offer
to give compensation for the ruined clothes. Most times, there is not even
an explanation or an apology. You just have to live with it.
Nicholas Brady, a former Bush I Cabinet member, whose family
has had a home out at Lyford Cay since the 1920s made a speech at the Chamber
of Commerce of The Bahamas once and made the point that no modern society
could develop properly unless there was a reliable supply of electricity.
We add to that, a reliable communications infrastructure and reliable potable
water supply. The Bahamas has none of those. It electricity supply, its
water supply, its telephone supply are all unreliable.
You have to ask yourself as citizens of The Bahamas whether
or not it is possible for any of this to improve. The BEC problem has been
a problem for at least fifty years. Shortly after the majority rule government
took over, there were power supply problems. Blackouts were the order of
the day for long and unpredictable periods of time. At one time, a British
ship was hooked up to the Bahamian power grid to give the city of Nassau
some relief from the blackouts.
Hubert Ingraham’s solution to all of his is to sell BEC to
the private sector. That might be a good idea one supposes if we did not
look back to the history of the power supply throughout our country and
the fact that the private sector did not serve the communities of The Bahamas
well at all with electricity. That is why BEC owns the power grid today.
The private sector did not supply the power needs. The one remaining private
power plant is Freeport Power. If you went by that company, you would certainly
not recommend turning anything over to the private sector. Freeport routinely
has power cuts, and again the culture of non communication must have infected
the Americans who run it. Freeport Power is no better than BEC.
The frustration of the public over their infrastructural issues
is rising at such a rate that the political question is being asked by
some who would not have asked the question before: are we in over our heads?
In other words, is running The Bahamas too much for us to run. Is it that
we do not have the capacity, the management skills to run The Bahamas?
The apparent answer is a dangerous one for any nationalist to contemplate.
But after the nationalism and the emotions of that are set to one side,
you must ask yourself as citizen of The Bahamas whether this government
or any previous government of The Bahamas really provided the leadership,
the management and the integrity to get the job done on some important
issues like keeping the power on?
When you look back at the facts, the facts staring us in the
face today, the reality is that when the thunder goes off, when the lightning
strikes, the power goes off within minutes of the storm. We know that Florida,
the U.S. state right next to us is said to have the worst thunder storms
and lighting strikes in the world. Yet, Bahamians have been to Florida
as they are now in Florida shopping for their childrens’ school clothes.
The power does not go off in a lightning storm. So what gives here? What
do the people who run Florida Power and Light know that we don’t know?
We ask the question, when will we get better? When will we improve?
| Number of hits for the week ending Saturday 9th August
2008 up to midnight: 220,096. Number of hits for the month
of July 2008 up to Thursday 31st July at midnight: 1,242,714. Number
of hits for the month of August up to Saturday 9th July 2008 up to midnight:
257,119. Number of hits for the year 2008 up to Saturday
9th July 2008 up to midnight: 8,326,645. |
CONTACT US AT E-MAIL:placid_point@yahoo.com
TROUBLE AT INAGUA
Late word is that the ongoing industiral dispute
in Inagua, the southern most Bahamian island, has led to disturbances in Matthew
Town, the capital. A strike vote was taken by the Union that represents
the workers at the only employer in town Morton
Salt. Last night there was reportedly an attempt to burn down
the home of the Manager of the salt operation. Royal
Bahamas Defence Force and Police Force personnel are on patrol.
Next week full details.
CROWING
ABOUT THE D+
The things people say when they get to power. The FNM
along with others were busy chastising the PLP for the D average that was
the national grade average for school children during the time of the PLP.
Tried as the Minister under the PLP and the staff of the Ministry did to
explain that D average did not mean that this was an actual reflection
on the state of the country’s learning but rather should be looked at as
a useful indicator of the skills of the school aged children, they failed
to make the case. On the scale, D was not what people thought it meant
but the fact is they all thought D meant bad, one step above F for failure.
No one bought the Ministry’s arguments under the PLP and it was good fodder
for the FNM opposition party. Fast forward to today when the Minister of
Education Carl Bethel with an absolute straight face announces that yes
indeedy do, D+ is the average and this is an improvement. We say that he
said it with a straight face and a beatific smile. Then get his quote from
the Bahama Journal of Friday 8th Augusts: “When the environment was conducive
to learning, the children learned, and it is reflected in the results of
national examinations. When the police were there it went from D+ to D.
When the police were out it went from D to D+." So the police out of the
schools are what caused the grade average to go up. What will they think
up next? Only the FNM could say such absolute claptrap and get away with
it. The evidence is that the police kept the peace in the schools and allowed
the children to learn. The police did not keep the children from learning
not the other way around. Where is your head man?
GINN
GIVES WORDS OF COMFORT
Bobby Ginn is the driving force behind a four billion dollar investment
in Grand Bahama at West End called Ginn Sur Mer. Some 675 million dollars
was borrowed from Credit Suisse and the reports were circulating that the
development was about to default on the loan. The actual story was that
talks were being held about rescheduling the loan before an actual default
was called. Mr. Ginn told the Bahama Journal on 8th August not to worry;
some 124 million had been put into an escrow account to protect against
bankruptcy and some 36 million in another account to finish the golf course.
He did not think that the project was in trouble because of the world economy.
Here is what he told the Bahama Journal on Friday 8th August in his own
words:
“Just the housing market by itself really doesn’t affect us
here much. People are going to buy a lot and build a house here. They’re
not the ones that you hear about in the housing market.
"Most of the American housing market came out of easy under-priced
money for mortgages and a lot of people bought houses under these loans
(and) now that these loans are maturing and the interest rates are adjusted
back to where they are, they can’t pay for the houses. The banks are taking
them back and they are selling them now at discounts. That is going to
take two years, in my opinion, to flush out. "
I don’t think the housing market is a real issue for us or the economy
in the United States and now the U.K. The world is becoming a global economy
and that’s going to slow us down but the good part is that we had two years
more of getting this project ready. "So if everything works out like I
think it works out, [with] the hard work [that we put into it], we should
be in the perfect position going into 2010.”
FEAR OF
CUBA IRRATIONAL
It appears to us that Bahamians are always looking around for a problem
where there is not one. Nothing made this more clear than the debate engaged
in and around the Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME) when supposedly
intelligent people were busy creating a problem where there was not one.
The same cast of characters are stirring up false enemies and false
issues with regard to the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the
Europeans.
Now, grounded on a reference in a report by the International Monetary
Fund (IMF), the press has been circulating that The Bahamas will be in
trouble when Cuba opens up to Americans. According to this scenario, there
will be such pent up demand for U.S. visitors that the US visitors will
all abandon The Bahamas and head to Cuba. How silly can you get?
The Bahamas has its own unique product mix and that will not change
because Cuba opens up. The new tourism Minister Vincent Vanderpool Wallace
if he is worth all the hype about him, the boy wonder, ought to move with
alacrity then if the situation is so alarming to get The Bahamas to readjust
to the market. We think that The Bahamas will continue to get its share.
The problems that The Bahamas face are much more fundamental than
Cuba opening up. It has to do with the deteriorating quality of service
in the country, the run down infrastructure, the bad airport, the inability
to get things done on a timely basis, all underpinned by a lousy educational
system. Fix those and you won’t have Cuba or anything else to worry about.
The people who are making these false complaints about Cuba ought heed
the advice given that one of the reasons we need to have relations with
Cuba is so that we understand precisely where are neighbour is on these
matters.
FOX
HILL JUNKANOO
The sounds, sights and beat of Junkanoo came alive on the Fox Hill
parade as the people of the Fox Hill Village celebrated the 174th version
of the emancipation of the slaves. Some 12 Junkanoo groups participated
and a great time was had by all. Peter Ramsay of the Bahamas Information
Services was there. The scenes from Junkanoo Fox hill are by Mr. Ramsay.
The Saxons were the overall winners of the parade. More
photos
JACK
LARGE AND IN CHARGE
Jack Hayward was quoted in the Bahama Journal
on 30th July in a manner that told the public that he was large and in
charge up in Freeport. It appears in the war of words and what is actually
happening in the Grand Bahama Port Authority’s building in Freeport, Sir
Jack Hayward and his allies are in the ascendancy.
It appears that the St. Georges were duped by the present Chair
of the Port Group of Companies Erik Christiansen. They thought that he
would support their position but it is now a whole other story now that
he is in charge at the Port. Jack Hayward was quite fulsome in his press
interview defending the Grand Bahama Port Authority. He said he thought
that the Port does a pretty good job.
In the meantime, the Fleming group, headed by Roddie Fleming,
a Brit, says it has an agreement to buy the Hayward share in the Port.
In pursuance of their quest to run the Port, they put out a glossy, flashy
93 page booklet that they sent around to leaders in the community including
Members of Parliament. If you believe what is in there you will believe
anything. The unfortunate thing about it is that the press published material
from it uncritically as if what they say is the gospel truth.
One must be careful of the list of snake oil salesman that have come
to Freeport. Some of the assertions are patently absurd. One that sticks
out is that the people of Grand Bahama are opposed to the government taking
over the regulatory powers of the Port or Hutchison owning the Port area;
another the assertion that Grand Bahama drives the economy of the northern
Bahamas when the economy of Abaco and Bimini are going great guns despite
the down turn in Grand Bahama. Where do the Flemings get such information
from?
The Flemings also promise that they are going to provide greater
growth for the GDP of The Bahamas reversing what they say is a decline
in GDP in real terms for 20 years. The Flemings also have a credibility
problem. Their partner Jack Hayward is looked at with a jaundiced eye.
Most people in Freeport are convinced that the sale of the Hayward interest
is not a sale as such but a back door way of Sir Jack to maintain control
of the Port. Most people are equally convinced that if that happens this
mean Hannes Babak, who was ousted by the Courts as Chair and is widely
reviled will run the Port as Sir Jack’s agent. Reports are that the other
major partner in Freeport Hutchison Whampoa wants no part of the Flemings,
Sir Jack or all that comes with him.
The Flemings’ booklet is a great big promotion exercise. The
sound of too much protest. Tread carefully with them. Edward St. George
was the brain behind whatever success the Port had. Jack Hayward collected
his dividend while Edward made the money. What would make people want to
trust Jack Hayward to bring the success that he says he can in the face
of the history of his past involvement in the Port. Here is what he said
in his own words to the Bahama Journal:
"[I am] one port owner and I don’t think the St. George’s have
done anything…I don’t know where they are. They are never here. But certainly
this Hayward family has fought to get them here.
"I was in one restaurant the other night; we could not get a table.
It was absolutely full. We went to another restaurant and it was absolutely
full. The recession is due to the American recession and the high cost
of fuel," he said.
"You must have a whipping boy. Who do you blame but the port?
You blame the port for everything. If your dog is sick, it’s the port’s
fault and if your wife is sick, it’s the port’s fault. But we think we
do a good job.”
(Editors note: How does one trip to a restaurant in Freeport and
not being able to get a table mean that Freeport is doing well? How silly
can you get? Freeport is a city with tens of thousands of residents. Suppose
there are only two specialty restaurants in the town. Obviously on any
given night it would be difficult to get a table. That’s the problem with
Jack Hayward, clueless to the pain that exists in that city and the abuse
to long serving Port employees that is being done in his name. That is
why during his lifetime Edward St. George kept him the hell out of the
Port’s day to day affairs. Every time he opened his mouth he put his foot
in it.)
RAYNARD RIGBY’S BLUEPRINT
Former Chairman of the PLP Raynard Rigby has intervened several
times in the past months since he stepped down to urge reform of the PLP
and new leadership of the PLP to take it into the next general election.
Some have sought to isolate him because of it. He remains PLP but has now
embarked on a more ambitious project of reform. He wants to start a national
conversation among the people of the country about where we ought to go
from here. To start the conversation he has published a book called A BLUEPRINT
FOR THE FUTURE. You can obtain a copy of online at blueprintbahamas.com.
Mr. Rigby told a press conference on Wednesday 6th August that he believes
that The Bahamas has great potential. He said he also believes that many
Bahamians desire to play a more active role in ensuring that The Bahamas
presents the best for her people. He said that was part of the reason for
presenting the blueprint and inviting the beginning of a national conversation.
You
may click here for the full statement.
&nbs
