Following upon the announcement of Dr. Bernard Nottage going on medical leave, the FNM went into overdrive to try and attack the event, even though there really should be no politics in the possible sickness of a Minister of the government or Member of Parliament.  That never stops the FNM in their pursuits and so they were in the press the morning of the announcement to say that the Prime Minister should not have assumed the portfolio responsibilities while Dr. Nottage was out of the country on leave.  Not to be outdone, the ever intrepid Eileen Carron, Publisher of The Tribune, found time to write a whole editorial saying the same thing.  Utterly silly and ineffective but their point is always to have a narrative.  The PLP should have a counter narrative, like how about the FNM minding their own business and deal with the facts.  The fact is the Minister is on medical leave.  The portfolio is being covered while he is on leave by no less a senior figure than the Prime Minister and that is that. 

The question is: was Mr. Dionisio D’Aguilar duped into coming to Grand Bahama and ended up embarrassing himself (when he spoke at the G.B Chamber of Commerce’s luncheon a couple weeks ago) or was he in collusion with the president of the Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce to come and do that hatchet job on the Bahamian workforce? Did he arrange with Barry Malcolm to come to Grand Bahama to use the forum of the Chamber of Commerce to stereotype, ridicule, disgrace and piss on the lot of Bahamian workers (throwing us all under the bus at the same time) just to get back at the government for it’s now rigid policy of ensuring that qualified Bahamians are considered for jobs and opportunities before foreigners are considered for work permits in the country? Which is it may I ask? Of course all of you, my readers, know very well that I am like a typical good lawyer; I don’t ask questions to which I don’t already have the answers.

I read Yasmin Popescu’s Freeport News’ article on the speech D’Aguilar delivered and I couldn’t help but conclude that, although he tried his best to disguise the real motive, and reason, for his sudden appearance at the Chamber (which was to publicly take issue with the government on its “Bahamians first” stance with respect to jobs and opportunities created in this country) he was caught red-handed when he said what he did at the conclusion of his talk. He went on, in the initial stages of his speech to highlight aspects of the history of the development of the country’s second city but what he really wanted to say, to business persons on the Island and in the nation, came at the conclusion of his talk. It didn’t surprise me any, either, that while he made mention of the Grand Bahama Port Authority’s lack of leadership and in-fighting within the past eight years (as he put it) he didn’t say a damn word about the lack of leadership, within the central government, in dealing with Freeport and the Port Authority during that period which included the FNM’s and Hubert Ingraham’s (his Papa) five-year (2007-2012) term in office.

I need to highlight some excerpts, and quote somewhat extensively, from Ms. Popescu’s article in order to make my case against Mr. D’Aguilar, and the President of this local chapter of the Chamber here on Grand Bahama, and to show why it is reasonable for me to conclude that, because (reportedly) the president of the Grand Bahama chapter of the chamber here (Mr. Barry Malcolm) may have experienced recently some challenges of his own, when representing his employer, convincing the Bahamas Immigration Department to act decisively on certain alleged recommendations his employer may have made for the importation, at his workplace, of a number of foreign workers that this heightened objection to the Immigration minister’s stance (for the employment of Bahamians first where they are found qualified and available) seems to have taken on a “Tit for Tat” posture and what he did (by bringing D’AGUILAR TO TOWN) is merely a case of sour grapes and a grand opportunity, in a forum controlled by him, to have a most willing pawn like Dionisio D’Aguilar lambast the government on its sustained (no give in) stance of putting “Bahamians First.”

Mr. D’Aguilar according to the reporter, among other stupid and very transparent things, had this to say: “The central government is definitely in a BUSINESS UNFRIENDLY mode right now (not according to Moody’s assessment recently as reported in Guardian Business on 23rd May) they do not have any interest right now in embracing the business community and asking them how they can help to grow businesses; how they can help to create the right conditions to launch new businesses, nor how they can facilitate foreign direct investments or local direct investments into the country.”  If the reporter quoted this silly young man precisely, my only response to that is (…and I would like to put it as a question to Dionisio) why didn’t this thriving businessman (who I am told just recently under this quote; unquote BUSINESS UNFRIENDLY PLP GOVERNMENT opened a brand new Super Wash outlet) give this same scolding advice to his FNM government when they served between 2007-2012? Not one single foreign direct investment project came to the Bahamas during those five long years and Dionisio didn’t have this same damn advice for his papa Hubert Ingraham but he is now full of good advice (full of something else I do not wish to print here). This young man thinks we are all so stupid that we wouldn’t be able to see through his petty politics? I don’t think this (born with a platinum spoon in his mouth) young man’s father would still be so proud of him if he were able to see what his son has allowed his love for Ingraham and the FNM to cause him to become; totally and unequivocally disingenuous that’s what; Dionisio knows he is being most bias and downright full of you know what when he speaks about the PLP government in this way.  D’Aguilar, if he would be honest with himself, should be able to tell the truth that there hasn’t been a more business-friendly government than the PLP since 1992 and the record is there to substantiate my submission. We don’t need no other proof of that than to just look around the country; I wish to repeat, for emphasis, that young D’Aguilar’s FNM government (and his papa Hubert Ingraham) did not attract one single foreign direct investment project to the country in their five years in office between 2007-2012; as a matter of fact there were very few during their two successive terms 1992-2002 yet D’Aguilar never once gave Ingraham the advice which he now purports, so generously, to offer to the PLP.

This highly respected young man, in business circles certainly if nowhere else, whose businesses in Freeport I support religiously weekly, went on to say (and I quote from Ms. Popescu’s article, when he told the chamber’s attendees) that “Instead they (meaning the Government) are too busy lambasting business owners as not doing enough to employ Bahamians even though, in most cases, none are qualified or none are willing to work in the positions that expatriates hold” unquote; what in the hell are you talking about young Sir? Now, I am convinced, we are really getting to the real reason why you came to Freeport in the first place to speak, at Barry Malcolm’s behest I submit, at chamber of commerce. I am convinced that you, Mr. D’Aguilar, were on a mission to bring the government into public ridicule over its recent immigration policies and I further submit that Barry Malcolm was, no doubt, complicit with you on the subject matter of your speech. I submit that the chamber president saw you as some pit bull critic, on the subject at hand (i.e. the new immigration policies being pursued by the government), and so to help his own cause initiated your engagement I submit. Lest we forget according to the abundance of rumors floating around Freeport town, allegedly, the local chamber president’s employers have had their challenges, as have some other companies operating within the Industrial zone here in Freeport, in obtaining-willy-nilly-work permits as in the past on request; that, I submit, is the honest-to-goodness reason for the businessman’s visit. I wish to say here, at this juncture, that this is one of the reasons why I am not a member of the local chapter of the chamber of commerce; I hate all the shenanigans used by its leadership in the name of “Chamber Business” when all they do is practice politics; the chamber presently is only another arm of the FNM and I will not be a part of them.

According to the newspaper article in question Mr. D’Aguilar went on to cast aspersions on the PLP government when he is quoted, during his speech, as saying that; “We (meaning business persons) are chastised as not having done enough to train Bahamians even though the failures in the public education system, which these very same politicians have control over, makes many Bahamians hard to train. Everyone knows that there is an enormous skills gap in our workforce and such things as work ethic, productivity, timeliness and honesty are traits that the Bahamas scores very unfavorably in comparison to other jurisdictions;” unquote. I am truly appalled at this brassy young businessman; I used to know his father very well when I worked at a summer job, for a while, at BEC Big Pond office in 1961; his father (Mr. Vincent D’Aguilar) was a very respectful, humble and soft spoken gentleman for whom I had the greatest respect; it is inconceivable that Vincent D’Aguilar (my respects to the dead) could ever raise a child as seemingly pompous and unpatriotic as this young man. These statements of his are very disturbing; they give me the impression that he thinks himself “all that and a bag of chips” but who is nothing more, in my opinion, than one of those who believe that he is a “SPECIAL NEGRO.”The same Bahamians he described, in his speech, as having no work ethic, do not produce, are never on time and are extremely dishonest are the same ones who he has employed (en mass)to manage and run, very successfully I might add, his two SOLOMON’S, one COST RIGHT and one DOMONIO’S PIZZA outlets here in Freeport. I will not sit here, at this computer, and pretend that we don’t have these challenges, the young man numerated in his speech; I would be less than honest about our state of affairs, however it is so wrong for people like Dionisio D’Aguilar to stereotype all of us in the worst of categories he mentioned. We are not all lazy and dishonest and lack work ethic and do not show up for work on time ever; no, we are not all like how Barry Malcolm chamber president allowed his guest to describe us; D’Aguilar’s speech certainly served a purpose; it revealed to me, certainly, the kind of conversations that goes on around his family’s dinner table, and others like his, at nights. The small talk, I can imagine is usually all about how bad and no good we are as a people. It seems like it takes just one of us to fit D’Aguilar’s description and his kind moves quickly to throw us all under the bus; like my mother used to say sometimes- catch yourself boy.  Malcolm’s guest speaker continued:

“And yet, we (meaning business persons) are expected to work miracles while politicians talk about another public holiday, the introduction of a confusing and hard to collect VAT, a costly health insurance scheme and higher work permit fees (I guess he forgot to include “the mortgage protection bill”). If you push back and don’t wrap yourself in the Bahamian flag screaming from the roof tops that you are “Putting Bahamians First” you are criticized as being unpatriotic;” unquote. It is exactly what you are Dionisio D’Aguilar-UNPATRIOTIC to the bone. We see in this quotation all the things which are bothering you people; you just simply hate to see relief come to just ordinary, everyday, struggling to make ends meet Bahamians. Whenever the PLP government enact laws and social programs to bring relief to the downtrodden among us you people have a problem and object; you never object to legislation which comes to benefit your businesses though. The only use guys like D’Aguilar have for the masses of Bahamians is to gouge their eyes out when paying the excessively inflated prices for the food items and services offered for sale by their various business enterprises; and around elections time blackmail them into voting for the FNM the very organization which has failed miserably- in the three times they’ve been the government- to promote their (the Bahamians’) interests.

I patronize Solomon’s (both stores here in Freeport) and cost right at least once per week (twice some weeks) and all I’ve ever seen working from the doors to the cashiers, and coming out of the administrative offices, are Black people who, until now, I assumed were all Bahamians; they all look very much like Bahamians and I have yet to see one who looks like a foreigner.  I am told that the make-up of the 100% of the employees of the man’s Super wash outlets, as well, are also all very Black people and we assumed, until now, that they too were all Bahamians but, I guess we may have been mistaken here; I guess they are all black foreigners because for as bad as Dionisio talked about Bahamian workers his employees really could not have been employed from among those same Bahamian nationals; if they were it obviously contradicts what he said at the chamber’s meeting; the Hon. Minister, for immigration, will have to dispatch officers from the immigration department to investigate the status of all these hundreds of employees (the man has in his employ) for I cannot, in light of his speech, imagine him employing so many of these same Bahamians if he says that they are crooked to the bone, have no work ethic, cannot be trained and are never ever on time for work; the minister must, of necessity, take an in-depth look at who these people are that D’Aguilar employs. I started my business operations in January 1980 (33 years going on 34) and I’ve never had a FOREIGN employee; my business has been a complete success, over all those almost 34 years, with all Bahamian workers; contrast that with Mr. D’Aguilar’s description of all Bahamians and you will see the contradiction in terms. I am not sitting here saying that we don’t have problems facing us, in our workforce, but I am saying that D’Aguilar’s attitude stinks and if we were to give into what he and the GB Chamber of commerce president wish the government to do we would immediately cart our whole workforce off to the dunghill and replace them all with imported foreign labour, but the devil is a liar. I say to them both; “Get a life.”

While this article is not meant to be in defense of those Bahamians who may fit in one or more of the categories that Mr. D’Aguilar described, it is indeed meant to defend, those who are not, against D’Aguilar’s unfair and vicious attack on us. Does young Mr. D’Aguilar realizes the kind of false picture he has painted to the whole world about the Bahamian workforce? He must know because the youngster may be a lot of negative things but he is not stupid; he must have had an ulterior, sinister motive for his sacrilege of our men and women in the workplace.

To Mr. Dionisio D’Aguilar (especially) I wish to say Sir-beware: “In the final choice a soldier’s pack is not as heavy as a prisoner’s chains;” US President Dwight D Eisenhower 1953-1961.

Thank you.
Forrester J Carroll J.P
FREEPORT, Grand Bahama
June 2013.

IN PASSING

Stephen Sarette Arrested

Stephen Sarette, who has been somewhat of a political activist, first PLP, then into some very strange incarnations of a kind of Christian party, was arrested last week in a high profile arrest and charged with molesting his two sons.   He was remanded in custody. He was popularly blamed for his wife Sonia’s troubles at the Bar last year when she was disbarred and subsequently imprisoned for some issues relating to the conduct of her practice.


FNM Trying To Remain Relevant

You can count on it.  Not a morning goes by when Darron Cash, the FNM Chair or Hubert Minnis, the FNM Leader are busy with some press release trashing the government.  There is no consistency to the approach: just trashing the government.  We are told that the Leader of the Opposition said some things about the police the other day that when he appeared at the funeral service for one of the officers, he had to backtrack and apologise saying that you have to forgive his excesses which sometimes come in politics.  The National Security Minister Bernard Nottage reminded the church that confession was good for the soul.


Biased Press Coverage

The release of the government’s budget did not capture headlines we are told.  The government’s own radio and television station thought that the floods, almost a week old by then, was still the lead story for the Budget Day day—go figure.  They got to the government’s budget at eighteen minutes into the newscast.  The JCN news decided that the Opposition’s response to the budget was more important than the budget presentation itself.  The press well, they thought that the numbers of the borrowings were more important than the substantial progress made during the past year given the mess the country found itself in last year.


Candia Praises Ingraham

You whistle and we will point at who wrote that editorial praising Hubert Ingraham to high heaven on the day that the budget was presented, saying that we ought to thank him for the service to the country.  Thank our horses’ ass. The Nassau Guardian must be out of their everlasting minds.  This is a man who wrecked the country, borrowed us into oblivion, sacked mature men and women from secure government jobs and reduced them to tears and to penury, had no respect for man nor beast.  We just thank our lucky stars that the good Lord saw fit to remove his behind from office.

Immigration Officer Francis Buried

Marcian “ Big Six “ Francis, was buried following a funeral service at Our Lady’s Catholic Church in Grant’s Town on Friday 31st May.  He served as an immigration officer for 43 years.  The Deputy Prime Minister Philip Davis, the Minister for Social Services Melanie Griffin and the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Immigration Fred Mitchell attended the service.  He was a stalwart councilor of the Progressive Liberal Party.


Dr. Porter Is Arrested

Dr. Arthur Porter, the medical oncologist, was arrested with his wife in Panama City, as they transited through that country to get to Trinidad.  They were arrested on a warrant for defrauding the health care system in Montreal, Canada.  He has announced that he is fighting the extradition.  Dr. Porter is in the end stages of cancer.  He denies any wrong doing.  He heads the team of specialists advising the government on stem cell research in The Bahamas.

Breakout At The Detention Centre

The following statement was issued by the Department of Immigration on a break out at the Detention Centre in New Providence:

31ST MAY 2013

In response to press inquiries, we wish to advise the public that
during the rain storm in Nassau last week there was an attempt to
escape the Detention Centre at Carmichael Road.  All were prevented
from escaping but one person. That man  Roberto Angulo La madrid
remains at large.

It has been brought to our attention that a web site is today showing
pictures of detainees within the Centre and voicing complaints about
their treatment. These photos and their origin are being investigated.
A complete search was done of the premises by the officers at the
Centre two days ago. The investigation now begins afresh.

Moody’s On The Budget

The Tribune buried the good news deep in their business section but itwas good news all the same.  Moody’s, the international financial rating agency, they reported said that the Budget of Prime Minister Perry Christie delivered on Wednesday 29th May “ hit all the right notes”.  

You may click here for the full story.

The following note appeared on the Facebook page of Rev. Myles Munroe and his wife Ruth as they took a group of Bahamians to Isreal.  The photo appeared on 26th May:

When your image is bad in the country, and you get no thanks for what you believe is a yeoman’s effort on your part, don’t fix the problem which is causing the injury just fix the public relations.  So the Bahamar project has started its Public Relations blitz, telling us what a wonderful investment it is for our country and what great things it will do for us. There is a link to their well-produced blurb which says how they will improve the Gross Domestic Product (GDP ) of The Bahamas.




You may click here for that blurb.

In this ongoing budget debate, the country should expect an abundance of sleaze from a “Lost in the wilderness” FNM opposition. We have proven over the past year that the only thing the FNM does very well is disagree and say “NO.” Those of you, who may still be in a dream world and expect to hear substance in this most important of parliamentary debates can right now dispel that notion-you will get to hear more of the same hogwash, from the side opposite, you’ve been hearing since May 2012. It is clear that the Free National Movement gang feels that it exists only to disagree and nothing, and no one, will deter them from that exclusive mission they’ve embarked upon. They can’t be found dead (they think) agreeing with National Health Insurance for all Bahamians and the mortgage protection legislation etc; etc; etc because they would, in effect, be agreeing with and sanctioning the PLP on these matters and the code they live by prevents them from doing that; never mind that these are good and timely pieces of legislation. It reminds me of when the PLP government proposed “INDEPENDENCE” from the United Kingdom back in 1967-72; the FNM’s argument back then was, “INDEPENDENCE-YES; BUT NOT AT THIS TIME AND NOT UNDER THE PLP;” this is just how stupid they’ve been playing their role as opposition each time they’ve been thrust in that official role. How can one be so stupid as to stand on one’s feet and DISAGREE with something which deep down inside of them they really DO AGREE with? It sure beats the hell out of me.

Shortly after the Rt. Hon. Prime Minister delivered his 2013/2014 budget communication, to the Hon. House of Assembly on Wednesday 29th May 2013, the concentration of the search, by the side opposite, has been for any potential negatives, they can spot in the document, to form their talking points and nothing else. Immediately, from the smoker’s room, the side opposite issued a press statement “blasting government on the new budget” as the Nassau Guardian’s headlines read.

The side opposite (This reference, in this article, is obviously to the FNM BUNCH) wants the country to forget that the PLP is trying like hell to pull us out of the ditch in which they put us during five years of their tumultuous and reckless endangerment of the country’s finances. We inherited a huge mess (I must repeat) when we came to office on May 7th 2012, and the side opposite’s intent is to ensure that the Bahamian people somehow forget (that period of our history) and not remember that it was them (the FNM), and not the PLP, Which left our country, in this mess, with a debt to GDP ratio of 53% and climbing; not even a miracle, by the Christie Administration, could get us out, from under their blunders, in twelve months. We all know that, to the side opposite, it is imperative for them to dumb down, and push back, as intelligently as possible, any “saving-grace” issue/project  that the government brings to the parliament but, must they do so in such a manner that even an unschooled person on the streets could recognize when they are being STUPID? Before May 7th 2012, and for the five continuous years prior, we were like a ship, tossed to and fro, which were being captained by a DRUNK who took us so far off course that corrective measures would have to be austere and would take some years to get us back on course; this bunch will, now in this debate, disavow any knowledge, or blame, for how our ship-of-state got so far off course and heading for the shoal of financial disaster.

Can it be imagined that Dr. Hubert Minnis and Loretta Butler-Turner, who served the entire five years prior to May 7th 2012 as crew members on that ill-fated ship with that out-of-control tyrant for a captain, going before the press to criticize the new Captain and his crew for the corrective austere measures they find themselves having to employ to get our ship-of-state back on the straight and narrow? Can you fathom their audacity? The charade they will put on, under the guise of “sober debate over fiscal matters” I promise you, will be a mudslinging contest among the seven of them (I am not counting the Hon. Edison Key because it is obvious to all that he is not with them in soul and spirit and sometimes body absent from them as well); throw mud against the House of Assembly wall, will be their motto, and see how much of it would stick and should any does stick there is where they would hang their hats. I anticipate they will be all over the place trying to find that niche of talking points to accommodate their shallow-minded arguments so that their supporters wouldn’t abandon them as many have done already. So far they have disagreed with the government’s mortgage protection bill (which is designed to protect unsuspecting, vulnerable borrowers); as well they disagreed with majority rule being a holiday; they had issues, as well, with the PLP’s heightened focus on putting Bahamians first, in jobs and business opportunities in the country, which is designed to empower ordinary Bahamians; now they are all gearing up (fixing their mouths) to oppose the NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE  PROGRAM which the PLP will bring into force, with or without their agreeing, in 2014. This is a terrible record, thus far for the FNM, indeed.

In the newspaper they (the FNM) faulted, and accused, the prime minister of quote, “painting a rosy picture;” well what kind of damn picture they would have the prime minister of the country to paint? Do they want him to put forth plans and measures then project no growth, doom and gloom? That would be silly, of any government, and tantamount to surrendering and giving up; who wants a government that offers no hope and essentially gives up? These guys (the FNM) are such imbeciles. We note that all ten of their budgets, including their mid-term budgets between 2007-2012, were all very rosy-painted pictures, as I recall, even in the midst of the chaos and disaster they brought upon us; all this while the country was really going to hell in a hand basket; I don’t expect Chipman, Lightbourn, Turnquest and or Neilly to know any better but Loretta and Minnis, who sat around the table feeding from Ingraham’s trough for five years, know and are very experienced in these matters; they were both part and parcel of the wrecking crew. Everybody knows that it is easier to demolish a building than to build one; it took the side opposite (FNM OPPOSITION) five years to break up our country and now the same wrecking crew, responsible for our troubles, expects Christie to re-build in twelve months what they took sixty months to break down? They must be kidding.

Chipman, who just reach, told reporters that “We in the Free National Movement are extremely, extremely disappointed by what we heard from the prime minister this morning;” well, well, well; it just happens that the nation anticipated exactly this kind of reaction, to what the PM communicated, from the side opposite; not for one minute we expected Chipman, or any of the other six of them, to be saying anything else and that whether they really believe otherwise (and I believe he believes otherwise) or not; Chipman definitely couldn’t come praising the PLP because that would have gotten him sanctioned by (and probably kicked out of) the FNM altogether; they feel they  are obliged to come united against any and all PLP proposals, never mind the Programs and or projects benefit greatly the majority of the Bahamian people; voters in East Grand Bahama now are questioning whether Peter Turnquest, their MP, believes in Bahamians first or not; they are asking this because of his posture, on the subject, in parliament. I am just waiting now for the Chairman, Darron Cash, to chime in with his buggy load of horse crap; you can bet your bottom dollar he will be out with his statement very soon and it will all be negative, negative, negative-just towing the party line, or else, they say.

The country is blessed (believe it) to have team PLP at the helm, on the ground this go around; It would have been most regretful, for the nation, had the FNM won the general elections, especially with this bunch of nincompoops. Chipman went on pretending to cry over the fact that “last year (as he said) the prime minister indicated that there would be no new taxes right at the outset. Then he commenced the blame game;” said Chipman; being a CPA this Chipman fellow, from St. Ann’s, should know that in the financial climate (within which we live) adjustments  are made regularly, and rightfully so, from time to time; even quotes obtained from professionals, for their services, have a guarantee span of only thirty (30) days; they will not give quotes for longer periods because the price on materials must be adjusted so frequently; and so Mr. Chipman (the CPA), of all people, should know better. Are you suggesting (Mr. MP for St. Ann’s) that the PLP government would increase taxes, willy-nilly, for no good reason?  That they are doing what they propose, in the budget, for revenue simply because they are in the position to dictate whether taxes are increased or not? Please don’t sicken me during this debate, Mr. Montagu Lightbourn will be enough for any one session.

My opinion is that these budget debates are above the heads of the side opposite (that motley FNM bunch); it’s above their pay grade-out of their league if you will. Listen carefully when each of them speak (and remember that most of the speeches will be written for them probably by Aaron Knowles and ZHIVARGO Laing) and you will hear little substance; I predict that the leader, Dr. Hubert Minnis, will be the dandy lion of them all, just you wait.

Moody’s International Rating Agency, in their response to the government’s budget among other things, had the following overall assessment;

“ The Government’s Budget hit a lot of the right notes….the plans should prevent the Bahamas’ debt metrics from spiraling out of control…the Christie Administration, with its budget plans, will effectively  put the brakes  on the national debt’s growth by beating its projected 6.5 per cent GFS fiscal deficit target for the 2012-2013 budget year…this, coupled with the announced revenue reform package, has gone a long way in calming Moody’s fears that the Bahamas would lose control of its public finances….in a nutshell, we think they’re making a lot of the right moves, particularly on the revenue side…we think the Bahamas is assuming a pretty steady recovery in revenues based on the reform package they have…the future looks very good…the government has the potential to net a substantial amount of revenue from VAT…from the messaging in the budget we think the government hit a lot of the right notes” unquote.  It would be interesting now to hear what the FNM’s response will be to these wonderful, positive assertions, of the new budget, by MOODY’S International rating agency.

Ponder these sayings from the archives of the 35th president of the United States of America (John Fitzgerald Kennedy 1961-1963) “Too often we…enjoy the comfort of OPINION without the discomfort of THOUGHT…SINCERITY is always subject to PROOF” unquote.

Thank you.
Forrester J Carroll J.P
Freeport, Grand Bahama
June 2013

Kirk Pratt wrote on Facebook ON THE JACK HAYWARD STUDENT'S SCUFFLE WITH A FEMALE POLICE OFFICER (see video above): I have a slightly different take on all of this ...NO the girl should never fight a policewoman but that's from OUR rearing - that's how OUR generation sees it ...this girl and her friends alike see adults as conflicting and hypocritical and a uniform IS NOT gonna change that in her/their head/s! ...truth be told, I understand why this generation sees us as they do - we have socially promoted them in school (pass or not), we beg them for pussy and dick, we instill cheap morals in them as we shadow, we rear them to prostitute their bodies (examples by many mothers), we talk about God on one hand and do the devil's deeds on the other, we lie, whore, cheat, play numbers, spawn illegitimate children all over the place, sucker off of others etc all in front of them - the class categorization between Bahamians is polarizing and the PINDLINGESQUE entitlement culture coupled with predicating xenophobia now prevails in our country ...it has offered up what we now experience to be the chickens coming home to roost ...these same drug babies ....these same kids! ...its US people ...its US! ...we need to collectively up our game and set better examples so the ideals of authority translate into respect for the same ...hanging, beating - none of that is proactive it is reactive! ...in the absence of a family planning dialogue in the country crime will continue - this is a cognitive war that we must win for this generation! ...it's the adults who need the cut ass NOT the kids, not the Haitians ...not the "white people" - it’s us!! -Kirkland H. Pratt

IN PASSING


Jo Blacks Dies: Valley Boys Leader

Alas poor Yorick.  We all called him Jo Blacks but his proper name was Yorrick Brice.  He was a worker at Bahamasair, the national flag carrier, a fixture at the airport around the planes for a generation.  He was also however a leader in his Culmerville Community, a member and leader of the Valley Boys as the leader of their back line.  He was a friend and ally then of Perry Christie, the Prime Minister and  Winston “ Gus” Cooper, the Leader of the Valley Boys.  He died after a brief illness in hospital in Miami on Thursday 6th May. Rest In Peace.

Stephen Dillet Eulogized


Stephen Dillet was the quintessential gentleman: courtly, well mannered, quiet spoken.  He was a leader in the business community of Freeport and in the insurance sector in particular his expertise in underwriting was well known.  He was considered a fair man.  At the age of 59 he died last week after battling with multiple myeloma.  He was memorialized at a church service at Ascension Anglican Church in Freeport on Saturday 8th June.  He is to be cremated.




Consul General In Washington Takes A Courtesy Call

 Award-winning writer, editor and publisher Allegra Bennett presented a copy of her recently published book, “12 Steps to Self-Publishing Success,” to Her Excellency Consul General Paulette Zonicle during a visit to the Bahamas Embassy in Washington, D.C. on Thursday. Ms. Bennett was visiting the embassy at the invitation of her former journalistic colleague Oswald T. Brown, the press and cultural affairs manager at the embassy. Mr. Brown, who previously lived in Washington, D.C., for 21 years, is a former news editor of The Washington Informer for 12 years. At the time Ms. Bennett was an editor at The Washington Times and both were members of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ). Above, Ms. Bennett (centre) is seen presenting a copy of her book to Consul General Zonicle as Mr. Brown looks on.

The Countdown Begins For The Fortieth Anniversary


Members of The National Independence Commission launched the 40-Day Countdown at the Office of The Prime Minister, Cable Beach, Friday, 31 May 2013. Pictured from left: Chairman of the 40th Anniversary Independence Secretariat, Jack Thompson; Co-chair of the 40th Independence Anniversary Commission, Dr. Tracey Thompson and Commission members Mrs. Arlene Nash-Ferguson and Dr. Gail Saunders. (BIS photo).  The second photo is that of the Deputy Prime Minister Philip Davis arriving in the public square on Tuesday 4th June for the official countdown of 40 days to the 40th anniversary of the Bahamian independence.




A Bahamian Headed To The Majors In Baseball USA


Jervis 'Champ' Stuart, from Bimini, Bahamas, has been selected to play with the New York Mets reported Paul Caselba of MLB.com. "Stuart played three sports at Christ School in Asheville, N.C., before heading to Brevard (N.C.) College. Brevard is a Division II school and off the beaten path for scouts, but they took notice of  Mr. Stuart. Mr. Stuart is a special athlete who is still learning the game and has exciting raw tools. His swing is a work in progress, but he generates good bat speed. His tools profile best as a top-of-the-order hitter, where his speed can play up. Mr. Stuart has a solid arm and can play right field or center field, though he must improve his reads." Jervis graduated from Christ School and is the son of Jervis and Cicely Stuart.

The Speaker of the House of Assembly Dr. Kendal Major was the guest speaker at the annual graduation exercises of the Sunland Baptist School in Freeport.  The Speaker told the students that their country needs them. He added: “You are the next generational agents of change this young nation needs. It’s up to you now to take the moral responsibility and chart a new course.”  

HOUSE SPEAKER, Dr. Kendal Major addressing the graduating class of Sunland Baptist Academy in Freeport, Grand Bahama on Thursday evening.	GRADUATING class of Sundland Baptist Academy
TOP STUDENT – Ms.Taryn Smith was the top student and class Valedictorian.

You may click here for the full story on his address.  The photos are by Simon Lewis of the Bahamas Information Services

If you wish to see how some of the MPs did in their debates in the House of Assembly you can go to YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/user/abetterbahamas

Jesus shall reign where'er the sun
Doth his successive journeys run;
His Kingdom stretch from shore to shore,
Till moons shall wax and wane no more.

To Him shall endless prayer be made.
And princes throng to crown His head,
His name like sweet perfume shall rise
With every morning sacrifice.

People and realms of every tongue
Dwell on His love with sweetest song;
And infant voices shall proclaim
Their early blessings on His name.

Blessings abound where'er He reigns:
The prisoner leaps to lose his chains,
The weary find eternal rest,
And all the sons of want are blest.

Where He displays His healing power
Death and the curse are known no more;
In Him the tribes of Adam boast
More blessings than their father lost.

Let every creature rise and bring
Peculiar honors to our King;
Angels descend with songs again,
And earth repeat the loud Amen.

I can readily understand why Candia Dames would do so but why, in God’s Heaven, would the Nassau Guardian’s Publishers legitimize an absolute FAILURE (at financial matters), like Zhivargo Laing, by allowing his opinions (all of which are negatives) on the PLP’s first budget of its term in office to be publicized? Why would they allow his opinions, on any financial matter in the country (public or private) for that matter, be printed in a story in their newspaper? Why would they legitimize anything he had to say by including them in its headlined story “BEYOND THE BUDGET” carried in its “NATIONAL REVIEW” supplement on Monday 3rd June 2013? Why? Why? Why? It sure beats the hell out of me. Fifteen years, fiddling around the country’s finances, this boy has been a colossal failure and Guardian Business seeks out his opinions? Have they forgotten that it was Laing’s masterful creations which landed us a $6 Billion national debt, with a 53% debt to GDP ratio? And what about all the downgrades, by the three foremost International Rating Agencies, during those 15 years of hell on earth here in the Bahamas? Are we forgetting what he and Ingraham did to us? Give us a break; please.

To appreciate the reason why Guardian Business would seek out Laing’s advice I guess, one would need to search the business corporate archives to find out who exactly are the Guardian owners and then one will understand why the little twit was brought into the equation. If Guardian Business was really interested in a real sober analysis of the PLP’s budget they would have sought out and approach a real, sober and QUALIFIED financial analyst like the eminent Mr. James Smith. I am told that these Guardian owners are the same people, though, who have allegedly risked an investment opportunity by allegedly involving the former junior finance failure in a land development deal which is about to go bottoms up. The deal allegedly was for the young retired politician to head the construction of dwelling houses on a large plot of land (they reportedly own) off Polaris drive here in Freeport’s caravel beach area; they tell me a couple houses were in fact built but none has been sold and the deal, it is alleged, is about to go burst; so much for the boy’s financial astuteness.

Candia Dames apparently asked young, bitter and restless Zhivargo Laing to give his views on whether Christie’s predictions in the budget, with respect to growth, controlled spending and debt reduction, were realistic or not; but, of course, before she asked she knew that his view would be that the PLP is not capable of achieving any of the objectives proposed in its budget; she knew he is incapable of giving the PLP credit for achieving anything worthwhile. He responded to her question like this; “The biggest problem is not debt; that’s the easy political thing to hold on to, to spin and to talk about. The Bahamas’ biggest challenge is GROWTH” said Master Laing. Well when did Laing get this sudden revelation on what ails the country and what’s needed to solve our problems? The PLP government is quite aware of that fact (Zhivargo Laing) and we are doing something about it; this is more than we can say about the FNM, led by Ingraham, when it was in power; this is exactly the reason why, in opposition, we (the PLP) were telling them this very same thing-that they needed to grow the economy if they were to get us out of the mess but they didn’t listen. While am sure the FNM government knew that GROWTH was the key to most of the country’s financial ills the FNM government was incapable of attracting GROWTH because of the lack of investor confidence in the boy’s (Laing’s) government; no investor wanted to invest in a country governed by a tyrant and that was the country’s fundamental problem during Laing’s tenure; couldn’t grow the economy because no one wanted to invest their hard earned (or stolen) monies under Hubert Ingraham’s and Zhivargo Laing’s leadership. The proof is in the pudding, my friend, for as soon as Christie took control of the reins of government, investors began breaking down our doors to be approved for investing; the proof is certainly in the pudding.

Within a year Bimini, Eleuthera, Cat Island and Exuma have all experienced the influx of much new money; even Grand Bahama, which is somewhat slower than the others to take off, will see the opening of the 500 room, five-star Reef Village Resort in December with the employment of around 1000 Bahamians; this since the PLP came to power a year ago; not only that but I am assured that the much talked about East End Resort project, which is some $3.4 Billion (with a “B”), is about to get the green light from the Christie Government; these are what is needed to stimulate GROWTH to fire up the country’s economic engines and we are getting the projects on the ground, Mr. Failure Zhivargo Laing. People are clamoring to invest in our country under the PLP government because they have confidence that the PLP, led by Perry Christie, will honour commitments made with them and not renege like the FNM government, led by the tyrant, did.

We will begin now, in our second year of the term, to see tremendous growth but knowing Zhivargo Laing, he will continue to be the pessimist and not concede any ground to the PLP; he will twist TREMENDOUS GROWTH as well into negativity.

Please, Please, Please Candia Dames, the next time you want a real genuine critiquing of the PLP government’s financial dealings please seek out and speak with Mr. James Smith and avoid your articles getting the rap as being sleazy and devoid of genuine journalistic skills and analysis.

Thank you.
Forrester J Carroll J.P
Freeport, Grand Bahama
June 2013

IN PASSING

A Comment On No Graduation At Jack Hayward High School Freeport

This from Jennifer Jay Johnson on Facebook.  The Ministry of Education did not hold a graduation for the children of the Jack Hayward High School in Grand Bahama because of bad behavior by some students.  We do not agree with that but it’s done and we think that the Ministry had its reasons.  Some parents have decided to hold their own ceremony.  Here is what one commentator had to say:
If a high school decided not to have a graduation ceremony for rude and badly behaved students, why are parents so concerned to have one among themselves? To venture into this, I believe this would give off mixed reactions that those students unruly behavior or deportment in that school is acceptable, which begs the question whether those parents are disciplined. There's a saying "one bad apple shouldn't spoil the whole bunch" and that my child should not suffer for what others have done, but it appear that the action taken by the school is warranted. I believe the Principal and faculty expect to graduate well behaved, well-mannered and disciplined students and by the same token, maintain its reputation. Just sayin!

Eileen Carron And The Tribune Support Violence

The proof is in the pudding and what a week it was.  Eileen Carron, the Publisher of The Tribune, is so anti PLP that she cannot even stand up for the Catholic principles in which she is supposedly steeped. How pray tell does she in her editorial justify on 13th June that she supported the fact that Loretta Butler Turner, a leader of the FNM and the country, slapped another Member of Parliament.  This was an act of unmitigated violence against another Member of Parliament.  How does she support that?  Violence?  If that had been a PLP MP who slapped another Member of Parliament we would not have heard the end of it.  Then she went on to attack Jerome Fitzgerald , the Minister of Education, who reminded the FNM that while they were attacking him of over signing a nolle prosequi to end the prosecution against two people for gun charges, the FNM’s then Attorney General Orville Turnquest, freed John Mosko, a rich Bahamian white businessman by the same process who had jumped bail and had shot down a man in cold blood who was not guilty of anything save being suspected by Mr. Mosko without any proof of having robbed his home.  Again, she claimed that she slept soundly that night when the man had been killed.  This is the Catholic Eileen Carron again supporting violence.  All because it was the PLP on the other side. 


Nicholas Mitchell Called To The Bar


Chief Justice Sir Michael Barnett called to the Bar Ian Nicholas Alexander Mitchell, the son of Robert Ian Mitchell and Celeste Mitchell nee Williams on Friday 14th June at the Supreme Court in the Chief Justice’s court room.  Presenting his petition to the Bar was Luther McDonald, this father’s school friend and his godfather.  Robing him on the occasion was Attorney Kelphine Cunningham.  Amongst the family and friends present were his maternal grandparents Edward and Esther Williams ( nee Mortimer) his mother and father, his paternal Uncle Fred Mitchell, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration, his paternal aunt Carla Seymour, his maternal Grand Uncle Philip Mortimer.


The Plane Crash

On Thursday 13th June, the political news of the day was interrupted by the report that a Sky Bahamas plane landing from F. Lauderdale, Florida with 20 persons on board and three crew crashed, broke apart and burned on the runway in Marsh Harbour, Abaco.  Fortunately no one was hurt.  The plane was landing in a thunderstorm and the suspicion is that the weather, wind shear blew the plane into two bounces and then a hard landing.   This was a lucky one that could have easily ended another way.  People praised the skill of the pilots who reportedly lost sight of the runway lights as they were landing.  It of course raises other concerns.  The first is about the judgment of the pilots and whether they should have been landing in that weather.  Secondly, the question is should they have been flying in that weather?  Thirdly, the regulatory regime of the airline sector in this country: is it adequate to the task?These questions will continue to come up and there’re not satisfactory answers at the moment.  But as they say: “ Thank God”.  All are well.

Barbados  Former Prime Minister Visits


The former Prime Minister of Barbados Owen Arthur visited The Bahamas on Friday 14th June as a guest lecturer at the College of The Bahamas luncheon marking the 40th anniversary of the independence of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.  Mr. Arthur’s talk was sobering in that he urged countries in the region to adapt to the changing circumstances of the world economy, not to get over specialized so that you are unable to adapt and he warned countries not to be tied to an ideological agenda which cannot be sustained by a good economy.  He paid a courtesy call on the Prime Minister Perry Christie while in Nassau. 

You may click here for the full address by Prime Minister Owen Arthur.

The photo is by Peter Ramsay of the Bahamas Information Services.

Sir Baltron’s Wife Has An Operation

The Bahamas Information Services Issued the following statement on the wife of Sir Baltron Bethel on 12th June:

Lady Helen Bethel, wife of Sir Baltron Bethel, Senior Policy Advisor in the Office of the Prime Minister, is in Baptist Health Doctors Hospital in
Coral Gables, Florida where she has undergone shoulder replacement surgery.She is resting comfortably. Sir Baltron and other family members are with her.
End

With mixed emotions I announce, this week, the cessation of my weekly contributions to the political dialogue, in the country, but declare like Schwanaggar would say; “I’ll be back.”

The Rt. Hon. Prime Minister has graciously appointed me to head the Bahamas’ Consulate Office in New York and I am grateful to the Rt. Hon. Perry Christie for the confidence he has reposed in me. I wish, as well, to thank the Hon. Foreign Minister for his kind support of my appointment and I pledge to them both, and to the Bahamian people (from all political persuasions), that I intend (and will) serve our country’s best interests with excellence and the greatest integrity.

Protocol dictates that I desist my activity, in this regard, and I shall honour all that is expected of me. Nonetheless, I assure you, that since there is no code against my monitoring the political shenanigans, here in our country for my own purposes, I shall do so intensely and so, to this end, I promise that I will remain vigilant at all times; so beware you FNM fictitious story tellers.

The Bahamian public should know that I have committed myself to (for my entire tenure) using the instruments of my office, in New York, to aggressively pursue methods of increasing visitor arrivals to our shores, from that part of the USA, and to spare no effort in doing all I can, along with my staff, to generating investor interest in our wonderful investment climate here in the Commonwealth of the Bahamas.

Once again I wish to express my sincere thanks to the Rt. Hon. Prime Minister and the Hon. Foreign Minister for this once in a life time opportunity to serve our country abroad.

 God bless the government, the wonderful people of our country and God bless the Commonwealth of the Bahamas.

Forrester J Carroll
Consul-General Designate
 For the Bahamas to New York
30th June 2013.

IN PASSING

Nicholas Called To The Bar

Nicholas Mitchell, the son of Ian Mitchell, the brother of the Fred Mitchell the MP was called to the Bar on Friday 14th June.  We have the photo to show it.  His mother is the former Celeste Williams.






Loretta Butler Turner No Apology –Propaganda Continues

During the past week, the most extraordinary thing has happened.  The FNM has put their full faith and credit behind the discredited Loretta Butler Turner, their Deputy Leader and FNM MP for Long Island and her slapping of Andre  Rollins, the PLP MP.  This is disgraceful.  The Hubert Ingraham amanuensis who writes under the name Front Porch defended it by saying that women are supposed to slap men who don’t know to keep their hands to themselves.  They put it in  feminist terms that men just don’t seem to get it.  With respect this had nothing to do with men getting it.  This was simply a plain old biggity woman who acted in a crude and unseemly manner to something which was in no way offensive.  Certainly whatever he said could not have been more offensive than the criminal conduct which she had accused him of on two occasions in the House of Assembly just minutes before the event.  The FNM is way off base with their defence of Mrs. Butler Turner.  You even had the Nassau Guardian in an editorial praising her for slapping Mr.Rollins saying that because she had slapped him she got one up on her leader Hubert Minnis in the effort to dominate the FNM. Are these people really serious?  That is quite sick.


Defending Andre Rollins

We support Andre Rollins. Several of the MPs said that had it been them who she slapped they would have given her a Bruce Li drop kick.  But Mr. Rollins chose to deal with it like a man. He walked away.  That is the only sensible thing to have done. Walk away.  We have been telling the young men this, that to avoid trouble walk away in the face of the most egregious provocation.  Mr. Rollins is better for it. Loretta Butler Turner is worse for the wear and her reputation has taken a heavy beating for it. 


Kevin Evans On Mango Skinned Men

The issue of the colour of the skin continues to dominate the  culture of the Bahamas.  One of the FNM fellows on Facebook had this comment to make, a rare sensible comment which caused one to think.  It causes one to wonder why the fake hair  purveyors are making so much money from black women who just don’t seem to like the hair which God gave them

Kevin EvansThe No Spin Zone

I would like a candid answer from my black Bahamian sisters to this question: Supposing that you were single, would you prefer to marry a man who has dark complexion or a man who has bright complexion? I have noticed throughout the years that Bahamian women would bend over backwards in order to catch a mango-skin man with curly hair. A former buddy of mine who is mango-skin told me that when he was in high school many women used to ask him to date their daughters. They wanted grand kids with nice color n curly hair. What say ye my black Bahamian sisters?

Watch Our Kids From A F Adderley



Basketball Fever In The Bahamas

The game finals for the National Basketball Association in the United States took place during the past week.  The Bahamas was in a swoon with most people supporting the Miami Heat basketball team.  The affinity with Miami is obvious because we are so close to them.   Basketball is a passion in The Bahamas.  The Heat snatched victory out of the jaws of defeat on Wednesday 19th June while the House of Assembly was in the death throes of the endless and tedious budget debate.  The Opposition FNM seemed to take great delight in stretching the useless line by line examination of the budget while the crucial sixth game was going on.  At one time led by the Prime Minister who fancies himself the coach of the opposing Spurs team, led his  ministers in emptying the chamber to see what the Heat were doing.  You could hear the staffs downstairs as the dunks and baskets made the score that much closer and the game more exciting. The game that night was won in overtime.  The Prime Minister came back into the chamber with delight on his face. The final game on Thursday 20th June was also a cliffhanger; the result LeBron James was the hero of the piece having won a second ring, leading the Miami Heat.  Celebrations broke out on Facebook and accords The Bahamas. Does anyone now deny that this is America overseas?  The photo of the winning troika of the Heat team: James, Bosh and Wade.




The Nationals In Grand Bahama

The Nationals took place in Freeport, Grand Bahama on this past weekend.  Runner and fielders from across the country gathered to make the qualifying times for the CAC Senior Championship Games in Mexico this summer and later the World Championships in Moscow.  Look for new names and faces to emerge as track and field continues to attract some of our brightest and best. Veterans Derek Atkins and Debbie Ferguson McKenzie were there running with the youngsters.  Jonathan Farquharson thrilled the crowd.



PYL Conclave

D’Asante Beneby and her team of Progressive  Young Liberals held a day long seminar at the PLP’s headquarters in  Nassau on Saturday 15th June.  The seminar was designed to get the younger ones up to speed on events in the PLP and the government as far as national policies was concerned. Speakers included: the Minister of Social Services Melanie Griffin, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Fred Mitchell, the Minister of Youth Danny Johnson and the Minister for Trade Ryan Pinder.

  The photo is by Athama Bowe.

Taking Issue With Desmond Bannister

Desmond Bannister, the former Minister of Education, may have captured a Tribune headline with the allegation but he should back off it together with his FNM colleagues.  Mr. Bannister and his colleagues by continuing to make political fodder at what is a straightforward decision by Acting Attorney General to stop the prosecution of an alleged gun  trafficker  is being irresponsible.  When they cause these people their lives we hope that they will not regret this matter.

Fr. George Wolf’s Memorial Service


Fr. George Wolf was the last of the great Benedictine pioneers from Minnesota who served the Church and the people of The Bahamas for their entire priestly ministry. The monks of saint John's Abbey, Collegeville, Minnesota assumed responsibility for the Catholic Mission in The Bahamas in 1891. After providing Episcopal leadership and establishing numerous parishes as well as St. Augustine's Monastery and St. Augustine's College, they formally ended their mission to The Bahamas in 2005. In August 1944 Fr. George arrived in the Bahamas as a young priest. He was 28 years old. He had only been ordained a priest one month earlier. Fr. George was interred in the Abby cemetery in Minnesota alongside other Benedictine pioneers who served with distinction in The Bahamas. Photo shows Monsignor Moss showing the faithful at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral, Fr. George's Bible and Rosary during the memorial service, June 19, 2013. The items will be placed in the Church's archives. 

The photo is by Peter Ramsay.

Edward Fitzgerald Is Back

Having suffered a very serious and life threatening stroke, Edward Fitzgerald, the father of the Minister of Education is back in Nassau having recovered in hospital in Florida sufficiently to make it back.  Welcome home.