bahamasuncensored.com
APRIL 2004
Compiled, edited and constructed by Russell Dames   Updated every Sunday at 2 p.m.
Volume 2 © BahamasUncensored.Com
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. Click here for the law on copyright as it applies to this website.
11th April, 2004
18th April, 2004
25th April, 2004
Columns From 2002 - 2003

 
4th April, 2004
Welcome to bahamasuncensored.com
  How do you do today?  It's great to have you as a reader.  We have the most incisive political news about and from The Bahamas! 
Please tell all your friends about us.
WHAT WAS KEOD SMITH THINKING?... FORMER US AMBASSADOR REBUFFED...
DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME... LNG PIPELINE TO BE APPROVED?...
FREEPORT COUNCILLOR TO MOVE THE COURT... MISUNDERSTANDING FOREIGN POLICY...
THE AMBASSADOR RETURNS TO HAITI... SIDNEY STUBBS MP DECLARED A BANKRUPT...
BERNARD NOTTAGE REPORTS ON ANTIGUA... THE SPELLING BEE CHAMPION...
FOOTNOTE TO HISTORY... LETTERS TO THE EDITOR...
SUPER VALUE EXPANDS... MP VISITS WITH MISS FOX HILL HOPEFULS...
THIS WEEK WITH THE PM...
The Official Site of the Progressive Liberal Party... The Official Site of the Free National Movement...
PLPs On The Web... Interesting Places...
Bradley Roberts / PLP Grants Town Bahamas Government Website
Neville Wisdom / PLP Delaporte Reg & Kit's Bahamas Links
Alfred Sears / PLP Fort Charlotte Bahamians On The Web
Melanie Griffin / PLP Yamacraw Bahamian Cycling News
John Carey / PLP Carmichael FredMitchellUncensored.Com ARCHIVES...
Grand Bahama PLP
Click on a heading to go to that story; press ctrl+home to return to the top of the page.


PHOTO OF THE WEEK - A most glorious time was had by all.  The Roman Catholic Church has come of age with the consecration of its new cathedral in the heart of old Nassau.  The St. Francis Xavier Cathedral has been reincarnated in the form of a beautiful edifice designed by Bahamian architect Bruce LaFleur and built by Bahamian builders from money raised in The Bahamas.  It was the crowning achievement of Archbishop Lawrence Burke, the Jamaican who came to The Bahamas two decades ago following the retirement of the American Paul Leonard Hagarty who had led the diocese and invested its funds in the education of young Bahamians rather than buildings.  Archbishop Burke leaves The Bahamas to return to his native Jamaica where he will take up new duties but in addition to the legacy of an expansive building programme, he leaves behind a diocese that is now headed by an Archbishop instead of a Bishop and now has its first Bahamian born head of the church.  The Catholic community has a lot to be proud about.  That is why we chose this picture by the photographer Peter Ramsay, who himself is a Roman Catholic, as our photo of the week.  The service of consecration took place on Wednesday 31st March.

COMMENT OF THE WEEK

FAREWELL TO ARCHBISHOP BURKE
The new Cathedral Church of St. Francis Xavier, the seat of the Roman Catholic Archbishop is a magnificent structure.  It gives you a feeling of ‘Wow!’ when you enter it.  It is a Bahamian work of art.  It gives you the feeling that it is a labour of love and sacrifice. It gives you the feeling that it will endure.  It gives you the feeling that within its walls will come much that is positive and good and loving, and much of which we can all be proud.

Roman Catholicism in The Bahamas has always been in the ceremonial sense of the spare variety.  Traditionally that is the way it has been.  The buildings of Roman Catholic churches in The Bahamas were not every elaborate.  They were consistent with the missionary image of a church that was established here in the late nineteenth century, with a hostile establishment comfortably ensconced in Anglicanism and Methodism.  The blacks preferred the Baptists.  The Romans seemed to have made the decision to tackle the outsiders and embrace them, pouring their money into education, rather than buildings.  They used the Benedictine monks of Minnesota to push their programme forward, and it worked.  Today, Roman Catholics outnumber Anglicans in the population.  The Roman Catholic Church’s success appears in retrospect to be tied to its American origins and the increasing influence of American power in The Bahamas as the British influence faded and fades.

It has now also joined the modern Bahamas in terms of its ceremonies, its buildings, its services.  The service for the consecration on Wednesday 31st March was over three hours long. Roman Catholic Services are usually short and to the point.  One supposes it’s the market competition in the church sphere, where every other denomination engages in these long ceremonies.  The building programme began in earnest under the present Archbishop Lawrence Burke who came to The Bahamas 23 years ago following the work of Paul Leonard Hagarty.  Bishop Hagarty spent his summers roaming across the United States finding monies to help to keep the diocese going.  He invested the money in the expanding the school system in which the Roman Catholics had invested.  He encouraged American priests to come to The Bahamas to help expand the work of the diocese.

With the coming of Lawrence Burke, a surprise choice when Bahamian Monsignor Preston Moss turned down the job, things began to change.  The then Bishop Burke was from Jamaica.  That was an immediate break with the past.  He was a Caribbean man.  He was the first non white to head the diocese.  He started to take a stand on issues of social justice, rather than embrace the establishment.  Sometimes that ran him afoul of the Pindling administration which when he came here was at the height of its power and authority.  In some quarters, the Roman Church was sometimes perceived as anti PLP.  But the work of the church prevailed.

The schools expanded under Bishop Burke.  The church started investing in the training of adults, in social justice.  That brought the building of the Emmaus Centre.  He started to look at attracting the local clergy, Bahamianizing it.  The first wave of Bahamian priests couldn’t take the celibacy it appears and but for Monsignor Preston Moss all dropped out.  Archbishop Burke ordained married men to the diaconate of the church to help where priests were not available.  He even appealed to the Pope to allow married men to be ordained as priests to help alleviate the shortage.  That was not to be.  In the last years, the diocese was upgraded to that headed by an Archbishop.  He began a building programme of new churches in earnest.  The parish churches of St. Anselm's, St. Joseph's, Sacred Heart in New Providence, in Long Island he built a brand new church as well, and now the cathedral in Nassau. The mark of distinction in this programme of building was that after a century of development of the Catholic community here, this was a home grown effort.  According to the Archbishop some 6 million dollars is invested in this cathedral.  If you look at the fact that the building will last 200 years or more, that translates into a rent of 300,000 per year in 2004 dollars.  That is well worth the price.

The service of consecration is a dress rehearsal for the ordination of the new Bahamian born Archbishop who on 4th May will so quickly take over following his being named as Auxiliary Bishop.  No one knows what has happened behind the scenes.  But what is clear is that Archbishop Burke's work in The Bahamas is now finished and what a great 23 years it has been.  The new Archbishop Patrick Pinder will take over in the shadow of a huge legacy.  The ordination of the new Archbishop will be another time of celebration.  Archbishop Burke's farewell homily was punctuated by applause like it was a political rally.  The faithful were cheered and they cheered.  As he walked away from the platform with the words “Amen” and “Amen” in ringing in the ears of the faithful, they applauded again.  He has done a good job and we wish him well having run a good race and having kept the faith.  God bless him and all his faithful in The Bahamas.  You may click here for a Peter Ramsay photo essay of the consecration.

Number of hits for the week ending Saturday 3rd April 2004 at midnight: 44,596.

Number of hits for the month of March ending on Wednesday 31st March 2004 at midnight: 246,705.

Number of hits for the month of April ending Saturday 3rd April 2004 at midnight: 13,482.

Number of hits for the year 2004 up to Saturday 3rd April 2004 at midnight: 685,624.

Archbishop Burke waves during the service of consecration (top); with Archbishop Patrick Pinder, also during the service.  Photos - Peter Ramsay

CONTACT US AT E-MAIL:placid_point@yahoo.com

WHAT WAS KEOD SMITH THINKING?
    On the front page of the Nassau Guardian on Thursday 1st April, readers in The Bahamas were shocked to see a picture of Ambassador for the Environment and Member of Parliament for Mt. Moriah Keod Smith displaying a T shirt that was paid for by the supporters of Samuel ‘Ninety’ Knowles, the convicted drug trafficker.  It was not an April fool's joke.  Mr. Smith took to his feet during question time in the House of Assembly on Wednesday 31st March to defend the demonstration that a group of supporters of Mr. Knowles had held in Rawson Square during the luncheon break of the House of Assembly the week before.  There was a great deal of consternation amongst members of the Government over what he did.  It was inexplicable and inexcusable.
    The PLP struggles daily with propaganda from its opponents that it somehow has links with drug traffickers.  Only the week before, a disgraced former attorney had made a similar charge in the newspaper that caused a stern reaction from Minister of Foreign Affairs Fred Mitchell.  No one knows where Mr. Smith was coming from and he seemed quite naïve indeed to think that anyone would believe that what he said was the direction in which he was headed.  He came out with a message that said that the press had not properly represented the demonstrators and their views.  Mr. Smith claimed that what they were really after was justice, fairness and proper treatment in the Fox Hill prison and not seeking to stop Mr. Knowles from being extradited to the United States.  He said that persons were still defecating into plastic sacks at the prison and he wanted to know when the Minister of National Security was going to do something about it.  This is thought by many to be amongst the most mercurial things that Mr. Smith has done in his political career.
    Mr. Smith does not seem to understand or appreciate the role he plays as Ambassador, and has been in open conflict as the Prime Minister's ambassador with the Government.  Reported private appeals to conform have apparently not had any affect.  In Freeport recently, contrary to Government policy, he called for the repeal of the Hawksbill Creek Agreement Amendment Act.  Now he appears in a situation that is much more serious where he may be lending credence to the assertions of others that people in the PLP have some kind of agenda for a drug trafficker.
    Even in Mr. Smith's purported request though for prison reform, the people of the country are entitled to ask if he is a member of the PLP why does he see the need to have to deal with enquiries on that score in public, since he has access to all the policy makers on any given day.  The calls are for the Prime Minister to act and act quickly to bring some sense of order back to the situation that many assert has drifted too far.  Whatever the case, it is clear that Mr. Smith intends to march to his own drum.  The other fact of which Mr. Smith will have to be careful is that as his judgement on these issues gets questioned, and the PLP becomes more nervous about it, then it is not unknown for such a person to turn out as a victim of his own political strategy.  Isolation within the PLP can be just as difficult as not having a seat at all. Nassau Guardian photo of Ambassador Keod Smith MP holding a T-shirt in the House of Assembly - Patrick Hanna.
Top
 
 

FORMER US AMBASSADOR REBUFFED
    We have said before in this column that the former Ambassador to The Bahamas from the United States J. Richard Blankenship just seems to love to see his name in the press.  The latest message was apparently unable to get into the mainstream press so it showed up in that slimy rag called The Punch with some strange words, which The Punch claimed were representative of the views of the United States Government.  The article appeared on Thursday 1st April. Perhaps it was an April fool’s joke, but you really have to be scraping the bottom of the barrel when you give an interview to The Punch.  The publisher of The Punch apparently has no scruples and so will publish anything to sell newspapers.  No one takes issue with him who appears to be a person without conscience or any patriotism or personal sensitivity.  What one would have to take issue with, is a former Ambassador of a distinguished country like the United States not realizing that he is not the Ambassador and that he does not speak for his country but makes comments that seem designed to destabilize Bahamian public opinion by words suggesting that he does.
    The twice weekly rag sheet carried a story in which Mr. Blankenship claimed that the Ambassador is still the Ambassador since according to the story his resignation was never accepted by U.S. President George Bush.  The story said that the Ambassador had recommended last year that The Bahamas be decertified by the U.S. government as an anti-drug co-operating country because the government refused to follow his advice to appoint a drug czar.  The story said that he was going to Washington and again ask for the country to be decertified if within one week the Foreign Minister Fred Mitchell did not sign the order for the extradition of Samuel ‘Ninety’ Knowles.
    The Bahamas Government had no comment on the matter but the U.S. Government’s response was swift.  It said that Mr. Blankenship is no longer the Ambassador to this country from the United States.  They said he does not speak for the United States or represent their interest.  They also said that the positions espoused by him in the newspaper piece were not the views of the United States Government.
    There is of course one caveat.  The Punch is a newspaper that is not to be believed.  One can’t be sure that The Punch didn’t simply make the whole thing up.  But so far, there has been no denial by the putative subject of the article.  Even given the outspokenness of the former Ambassador these comments seem a little beyond the pale.  File photo of ex-ambassador J. Richard Blankenship.
 
 

DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME
    The Bahamas like much of the North American hemisphere switched to Eastern Daylight Time as of 2 a.m. 4th April.  This time is one hour ahead of Eastern Standard Time.  All clocks in this realm should have been turned ahead one hour as at 2 a.m. Fooling with the time is a foolish thing.  Our view is that the clocks should be left where they are all year long.  But there it is, until the last weekend in October.
Top
 
 

LNG PIPELINE TO BE APPROVED?
    This must be called the week that was of startling headlines.  The Nassau Guardian claimed in a headline and front page story on Tuesday 30th March GOVT. LNG OK IMMINENT.  The headline came following a statement that the Nassau Guardian said was made on Thursday 25th March by the Minister for Trade and Industry who is superintending the process.  The newspaper quoted Mr. Miller as saying that he was certain that one of the three companies vying for a licence from The Bahamas would be given the go ahead within 14 days.  No word from the Ambassador for the Environment on the question.  The environmentalists themselves appear to be mute.
    This is a remarkable development for projects that in our view should not be allowed in the Bahamas.  The Bahamas environment should not be sullied, nor its tourist reputation made to suffer because of the presence of these pipelines in our country.  But the press is apparently on from the commercial sector, from the need for jobs, from the United States and more particularly from the state of Florida that needs the natural gas.
    Two contenders for the pipeline licence are Tractabel and AEC Corporation.  The Tractabel project would go in the Freeport Harbour.  The AES project would mean pipelines built between Florida and Ocean Cay, part of the Bimini chain.  The nationalists in The Bahamas say that the Government in granting permission to put a pipeline to the U.S. is in fact sealing the fate of the sovereignty of the country by giving the U.S. an excuse to invade the country if the gas stops flowing. Stan Burnside's 'Sideburns' caricature from the Nassau Guardian of 31st March.
Top
 
 

FREEPORT COUNCILLOR TO MOVE THE COURT
    Marva Moxey, the Freeport Chief Councillor, (pictured) has this column has learned at last decided to take the matter into court.  She should have done so long ago.  If this is indeed correct, the court should rule two things.  One is that the Minister of Local Government has no jurisdiction to determine what goes on in the Freeport Council.  The second is that the seats of the members of the Council who did not attend three consecutive meetings are in fact vacant and that fresh elections have to be held for those seats.  We will see what the Courts have to say.  This issue has gone on for much too long.
    This week the Freeport News was again at it in its editorial with the newspaper claiming that the Administrator in Freeport has issued a letter saying that the Chief Councillor could no longer authorize purchase orders.  How he got the jurisdiction to do that is another story.  He has no such jurisdiction.  The fact is that the law on these matters changed in 1996 to give local people some greater say over their lives.  The central government has no right and should not interfere with these limited rights.  We believe that Ms. Moxey should be left alone to govern until her mandate from the people expires.  Certainly no PLP should have any interest in helping to get FNMs to keep their seats in the Freeport Council.  If they lose them, too bad.
 
 

MISUNDERSTANDING FOREIGN POLICY
    That wise sage of the newspaper business Oswald Brown (pictured) is back at it again.  He is in the Nassau Guardian in his weekly column that appeared on Friday 2nd April (too late for April Fool’s day) suggesting that Foreign Minister Fred Mitchell has the guts to take steps to publicly dare the United States but Prime Minister Perry Christie would not follow the advice.  This is part of a persistent campaign of disinformation by him and other sources in the media.
    The fact is that the person who is the Chief Architect of Foreign policy is the Prime Minister but the person who is charged with the responsibility for executing it is the Foreign Minister.  He is also the Prime Minister’s chief advisor on Foreign Policy.  This then means team work. The country's foreign policy team of Prime Minister Christie and Foreign Minister Mitchell is shown at right.
    To suggest that Mr. Mitchell would seek to put this country at risk is a silly suggestion, and one that has been made over and over again by his political enemies but on each occasion it has proven to be at best a gross misstatement of the facts and in fact an outright lie.  It is time for this to cease and desist and realize that this country has its most talented team yet in the Foreign Affairs arena and that they have charted the course of this country through some pretty tough times during this past twenty four months in office.
 
 

THE AMBASSADOR RETURNS TO HAITI

    Ambassador Eugene Newry has landed back in Haiti after an absence of just over a month.  He returned to the post on Friday 2nd April.  The events surrounding the departure of President Jean Bertrand Aristide of are now fading into memory.  The former President from his exile in Jamaica has filed suit against the United States and French officials for forcing him out of the country.  It is not known where President Aristide will ultimately go when his time is up in Jamaica.  Ambassador Newry was preceded in the return to his post by Vice Consul Anthony Williams and a police detective from the Royal Bahamas Police Force.  A police detective also travelled with Ambassador Newry and his wife.  Ambassador Newry, left, is shown in this photo with Prime Minister Perry Christie.
Top
 
 

SIDNEY STUBBS MP DECLARED A BANKRUPT
    PLP backbencher Sidney Stubbs (pictured) is in trouble again.  This time the trouble can be serious.  The Tribune reported that on Tuesday 30th March, Justice Jeanne Thompson declared Mr. Stubbs bankrupt.  Mr. Stubbs has since told the media that he had in fact discharged the debt but they had not yet caught up with the facts.
    Under the constitution, if you are declared a bankrupt you are to cease performing your duties as a Member of Parliament.  You have 30 days in which to appeal, and this may be extended by the Speaker up to 150 days and then after that by the House of Assembly.  If all appeals fail, then you must vacate your seat.
    Mr. Stubbs also told The Tribune that he had contracted the debt on behalf of the PLP.  This was immediately dismissed as nonsense by an unnamed source.  The source that is close to the PLP said that when you sign a note, unless on the face of it the documents say that you are signing this as a trustee, the debt is legally your obligation.  Many argue that Mr. Stubbs is trying to muddy the water in his attempt to sully the name of the PLP because of his troubles after being dismissed as Chair of the Bahamas Agricultural Industrial Corporation (BAIC).
    The Tribune was called by Earlin Williams, who has also had his contract with the government terminated.  Mr. Williams has begun a full scale campaign to discredit the PLP and Government Ministers.  Mr. Stubbs continues to have a close association with him.
    PLPs got a hint of the problem facing Mr. Stubbs when he was served with a civil process at a public meeting in Nassau held by the Banking Select Committee of the House of which he is a part. The law says that a civil process cannot be served within the precincts of the House and the question some ask is whether or not service in that Committee meeting was the precincts of the House.  It appears that it is not since the meeting was held at the Bahamas Communications and Public Officers Union hall.  But what concerned many PLPs is why someone would raise a technical irregularity in the face of a looming serious problem.
    The public reports do not do well for the PLP and some are arguing that it is time that something is done to deal with Sidney Stubbs and the embarrassment that he is causing the party and the country.
    This story was contributed by our special correspondent from Marsh Harbour.  Since this matter went to press, the Free National Movement issued a statement calling for the resignation of Sidney Stubbs.  While, we cannot excuse the situation that has occurred, it is very curious that the FNM leaps on this.  Somehow we think that lurking in the background is the defeated candidate for Holy Cross in the 2002 elections Carl Bethel, who is now the Chair of the FNM and looking for a billet.  The FNM would want to accomplish by the backdoor what they could not do by the front door in the General Election.  The FNM getting into the fray only causes the PLP now to harden its position and resist the question of a resignation simply because the FNM is asking for it. -- Editor
 
 

BERNARD NOTTAGE REPORTS ON ANTIGUA

    Dr. Bernard Nottage, the leader of the Coalition for Democratic Reform (CDR), an extra parliamentary political party, was the Government’s representative as a Caricom observer for elections in Antigua on 23rd March.  Dr. Nottage came back and hosted a press conference at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  He briefed the press on the issues that he thought were significant in the election that saw the Bird dynasty in Antigua defeated for the first time in almost a generation.
    The whole matter of why Dr. Nottage was chosen has titillated the politically wise in the country.  The pundits have had a field day.  The Prime Minister fed the speculation when on his departure for St. Kitts on Wednesday 24th March, he said that he thought that Dr. Nottage had a contribution to make and that as a former Parliamentarian he thought it was the right thing to be inclusive.  He said that if Dr. Nottage had not accepted he would have chosen Algernon Allen, the former Marathon MP (FNM) as the substitute.
    The speculation is that the Prime Minister will act to bring Dr. Nottage back to the PLP by choosing him as a Senator to replace the vacant seat of former Senator Edison Key.  Dr. Nottage would not be drawn into that discussion saying only that he took the matter as it was presented, and that he had no discussion about a Senate seat with the Prime Minister.  He said he had not been signalled by the Prime Minister on the issue.  The tongues got to wagging even further when a picture showed up in the press with Dr. Nottage being congratulated for serving by the Foreign Minister Fred Mitchell.  Photo - Bahamas Information Services
 
 

THE SPELLING BEE CHAMPION

    Joeanne Salise of St. Georges High School in Freeport is to represent The Bahamas for a second time at the E.W. Howard Scripps Spelling Bee championships with spellers all around the world.  This is the second consecutive time that Ms. Salise who is 14 years old will travel to Washington D.C. with her coach Desiree Forbes.  Congratulations were offered for a job well done by the Minister of Education Alfred Sears to the schoolgirl and her coach.  Do well!
 

FOOTNOTE TO HISTORY

    The BEC Management and Union have come to the end of a bitter dispute, with all sides smiling in the press and signing off on a new contract on Thursday 1st April.  This was no April Fool’s Day joke.  Congratulations to Vincent Peet, the Minister of Labour for a job well done indeed!  Tribune photo.
 
 

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Kudos from Costa...
    Hi, I can't wait to get to my office on Monday mornings to read BahamasUncensored.  I especially look forward to reading about what my neighbor, for most of my life, Fred (I know him as Audley) Mitchell is doing.  Our backdoors in Centreville were facing each other.   It's no surprise that he's doing such a wonderful job representing The Bahamas government; he's always been brilliant.  I hope one day that he would be Prime Minister of The Bahamas.  Of course I grew up in the Valley playing ‘rounders’ with Perry Christie.  Coming from Centreville, Eighth Terrace, I am one of the original Valley Girls.  I am now living in Columbus, Ohio.  To Fred Mitchell, keep up the great work! Thank you BahamasUncensored.
Sandra Wood Costa
 
 

SUPER VALUE EXPANDS

    Bahamian food store magnate Rupert 'Junior' Roberts held a gala opening for the new expansion of his foodstore on West Bay Street at Westridge.  Mr. Roberts welcomed Mrs. Bernadette Christie, wife of the Prime Minister, who cut the ribbon.  Photo by Peter Ramsay.
 
 

MP VISITS WITH MISS FOX HILL HOPEFULS

    The Fox Hill Festival Committee is preparing to stage a Miss Fox Hill Beauty Pageant as part of its special celebrations this year for the 170th anniversary of the abolition of slavery.  Member of Parliament for Fox Hill the Honourable Fred Mitchell is shown with the contestants during a rehearsal at the home of Mr. & Mrs. Jan Davis.
    Last Sunday 28 March, the newly elected Fox Hill Festival Committee attended services at St. Paul's Baptist Church in Fox Hill.  The Committee is pictured with the Member of Parliament Fred Mitchell and the Pastor of St. Paul's the Reverend Dr. J. Carl Rahming.  Not pictured is Committee Chair Jacinta Higgs.  The Committee is planning several special events for this year's Fox Hill Day celebrations, including the hosting of special guests from China, Africa and the United Nations.
 
 

THIS WEEK WITH THE PM

    Prime Minister Christie and Mrs. Christie were among the throngs who gathered for the consecration of St. Francis Xaviers Roman Catholic Cathedral. They are seen sharing the greeting of peace with one of the many congregants during the service.

    Earlier in the week, the Prime Minister received a courtesy call from visiting international members of the Bahai faith (left).  From left Dr. Ferey Doun-Rahimi, Mrs. Patricia Morley, Prime Minister Christie, Mr. John Currelly and Mr. Michael Horton.  The Prime Minister on Sunday 28 March, brought greetings to the Boys Club at their annual service, held at the Evangelistic Centre on Baillou Hill Rd. with Rev. Kendal Nottage, seated at right.
The Prime Minister also this week, was presented with a copy of the book 'The Empty Ocean' by author Eleanor Philip.  As we went to upload, Mr. Christie was on his way to Grand Bahama for the launch of BaTelCo's new GSM cell phone system.  He was also expected to meet with various Grand Bahama leaders.


 
 
11th April, 2004
Welcome to bahamasuncensored.com
  How do you do today?  It's great to have you as a reader.  We have the most incisive political news about and from The Bahamas! 
Please tell all your friends about us.
CENTRAL BANK GOVERNOR BREAKS OUT... SECURITIES COMMISSION MAN JOINS IN...
HAITIANS WARNED BY THE POLICE... A NEW MISS BAHAMAS UNIVERSE...
FNM CALLS FOR STUBBS RESIGNATION... SIDNEY STUBBS MP IN HIS OWN WORDS...
THE CONSTITUTION AND BANKRUPTCY... KUDOS TO THE FINANCIAL SERVICES MINISTRY...
WORLD HEALTH DAY... EASTER MESSAGE FROM FOX HILL MP...
THE EXTRADITION ORDERS ARE SIGNED... DR. CONROY WILLIAMS DIES...
WELLINGTON 'BRITELY' FERGUSON DIES... LETTERS TO THE EDITOR...
THE R. C. LEADER ON SAME SEX MARRIAGES... THIS WEEK WITH THE PM...
The Official Site of the Progressive Liberal Party... The Official Site of the Free National Movement...
PLPs On The Web... Interesting Places...
Bradley Roberts / PLP Grants Town Bahamas Government Website
Neville Wisdom / PLP Delaporte Reg & Kit's Bahamas Links
Alfred Sears / PLP Fort Charlotte Bahamians On The Web
Melanie Griffin / PLP Yamacraw Bahamian Cycling News
John Carey / PLP Carmichael FredMitchellUncensored.Com ARCHIVES...
Grand Bahama PLP
Click on a heading to go to that story; press ctrl+home to return to the top of the page.


PHOTO OF THE WEEK - Today is Easter Sunday.  This is by far the most glorious time of the year in The Bahamas.  It does not have the melancholy feeling of Christmas with its oppressive demand for a festive feeling, and the excessive emphasis on commercialism and gift giving.  This is a time for new suits and shoes for boys and white dresses for girls.  It is certainly the most religious time of year for Bahamians.  The Friday before Easter is public holiday Good Friday and that caps the week of religious services starting the Sunday before with Palm Sunday.  The Monday after Easter is also a public holiday, the start of the swimming season for Bahamians.  Before that Bahamians complain that the water is too cold.  It suddenly warms up on the day after Easter.  The emphasis all week is on fish eating, and the docks have had deluge of customers.  Our photo of the week is by Bahama Journal photographer Omar Barr of Bahamians flocking to the docks to buy fish for eating on Good Friday 9th April 2004.

COMMENT OF THE WEEK

THE TROUBLES OF SIDNEY STUBBS
(A special contributed by our Grand Bahama correspondent)

Chairman of the Progressive Liberal Party Raynard Rigby issued a statement published on Thursday 8th April.  In it he said that the bankruptcy of a Member of Parliament was a matter at the most personal level.  (Click here for last week’s story on Sidney Stubbs.)  Mr. Rigby said that the PLP was watching the situation and that it had been assured by Sidney Stubbs that the debt had been paid.  He added that the FNM could not lecture the PLP on the need for Sidney Stubbs’ resignation when it was a party riddled with deceit and scandals itself.  And so that for now is the PLP's position.  You may click here for the full statement of the Chair.

The Free National Movement as an Opposition party is plainly hopeless.  If the PLP had been the Opposition, its spokesmen would have been dancing up and down, pushing cajoling and elucidating for the public what the position ought to be on the subject.  Instead, we have this tame call for a resignation by FNM Leader Tommy Turnquest, whose party does not seem to have an appreciation for the law.  The fact is that while a declaration of bankruptcy can cause a resignation, a resignation is not required for the Member of Parliament to lose his seat.  This is a lack of knowledge that the FNM apparently shares with Mr. Stubbs himself and his spokesman Earlin Williams who both seemed to think also that a resignation is required.  The constitution says that if you are declared bankrupt, you shall vacate the seat.  Bottom line, no resignation is required.

It would be most unfortunate if a bye election has to be held.  The country can ill afford it, and the PLP should not have to be distracted by the holding of any election with much work still to do.  Mr. Stubbs should never have put his party in this position.  Mr. Stubbs has publicly and - it appears from the press - privately assured his party that a bye-election will not be necessary in that he has paid off the debt.

Some bankruptcy experts say that it is not as easy as all that; that it appears that the constitution requires that an appeal be open to the Member of Parliament after he has been declared a bankrupt and if it is not then the seat is to be vacated.  One hopes that an appeal is filed quickly so as to defend his position, and if the party is not to be led into unnecessary expense prematurely.  The experts say that the bankruptcy law is filled with all kinds of pitfalls and procedural difficulties, and it should be followed strictly.  It might be that an act of bankruptcy was not extant, that a procedural flaw exists, and if the sub stratum is not there, then the bankruptcy should fail.

One thing that could help this situation is if Mr. Stubbs and his so called spokesman Earlin Williams would keep their mouths shut.  They seem to be their own worst enemies, with Mr. Stubbs displaying what seems to be martyrs or victims complex, which the country simply will not buy.  Neither does it buy the conspiracy theory that the FNM plotted his downfall.

The fact is that there is a debt which was unacknowledged and unpaid, and that on the face of it grounded the action.  It is not in keeping with the status of an honourable man for him to have the arguments cluttered with the disinformation that the debt was for someone else and in particular to appear to turn on his own party, giving the wrong impression that his party abandoned him.  Attorney Wayne Munroe for the judgment debtor Gina Gonzales said that he doubted very much that this was a PLP debt.  It is simply not wise or becoming to spread that kind of propaganda. One should take the medicine.

That said, the PLP appears for the moment to have risen to extend its protection to its errant and difficult member.  Mr. Stubbs ought to appreciate the value of the gesture.  That is what a party does, that is part of what it is there for, to rise to protect its own when there is a problem perceived against the whole.  He does a great disservice to a great organization if that is forgotten.  Just as easily as it protects you, if you behave in particular way, it can eat you up or leave you to your own devices to sink or swim on your own.  In this case, it is clear that without that support life would be more difficult.  Discretion should therefore be the better part of valour. We hope that all who have ears to hear will hear.

And so the country waits to see how this unfolds.  The hapless FNM will no doubt be beating the drum, seeking inspiration from the courage of others.  The PLP watches and waits.  And as for Sidney Stubbs we hope he heeds the advice, keeps his head down, his mouth shut and let his lawyers do what they do best.

Number of hits for the week ending Saturday 10th April 2004 at midnight: 59,257

Number of hits for the month of April up to Saturday 10th April 2004 at midnight: 72,739.

Number of hits for the year 2004 up to Saturday 10th April 2004 at midnight: 744,881.

Mr. Stubbs is pictured in a file photo

CONTACT US AT E-MAIL:placid_point@yahoo.com

CENTRAL BANK GOVERNOR BREAKS OUT
    The right wing Nassau Institute cosponsored a symposium in Nassau on Monday 4th April.  Central Bank Governor Julian Francis (pictured in this Bahama Journal photo) addressed the seminar on the topic THE GLOBAL CHALLENGE AND THE NEED FOR REFORM.  The speech had some interesting remarks which will cause some discomfort within the Government.  They touch and concern some sacred cows: the policy of Bahamianization and the policy of the Cabinet making decisions on investments.

On Cabinet Decision Making
    For a long time, there has been pubic criticism of the Government's decision making on foreign investment and on licencing decisions for Bahamians.  The cry has been in some quarters that the fault is the Bahamian Public Service with its excessive reliance on paper work and references and cross checking.
    From Pindling to Ingraham to Christie each Prime Minister has sought to address the issue by bringing the decision making into the Cabinet on the theory that the smaller the group of people who have to deal with it the better and the quicker.  But what has tended to happen in each Government is the criticism that the Government itself is involving itself in too much minutia.  The feeling has emerged in the sector that the public service is being unfairly blamed for a problem which is political in nature.  It also means that often if a politician does not like a particular person then personal considerations might get in the way of a good investment decision.  But no one who is a senior public official has ever voiced the concern before.
    Now the Governor of the Central Bank in his address has called for the decision making on investments to be taken away from the Cabinet and given to an administrative body.  While this appears on the face of it to be attractive, the fact is that ultimately there has to be someone politically accountable to the country for an investment coming into The Bahamas.
    The idea of the Governor of the Central Bank should not be dismissed out of hand but perhaps a modification of the idea with a subcommittee of the Cabinet as opposed to an administrative body alone.  There should also be time limits imposed in law so that the decisions can be made quickly.  Mr. Francis is sure to get flak from attacking this sacred cow but we are sure he is used to it.
    Mr. Francis said: “I am not at all certain that the strict [control] of this area by the Bahamas Cabinet is the most efficient way of managing investment in the economy.”

On The Need For Foreign Labour
    In earlier addresses, Mr. Francis also attacked the monopoly of the Bahamas Bar Association.  He believes that foreign lawyers ought to be able to practice freely in the Bahamian market.  This he argues is in line with the global practice around the world.
    The President of the Bar Wayne Munroe has taken issue with Mr. Francis’ call saying that right now it is possible for lawyers from other countries to come into The Bahamas if their clients require their services.  Mr. Francis went further in his address this time and said: “We do need to consider seriously the benefits in terms of the costs of this input [labour] to our economic product and the benefits derived from permitting a free flow of labour from the outside.”

Our Comments
    This is sure to bring howls of protest within the country.  We agree with much of what Mr. Francis wants to achieve.  The slowness of decision making and the criticism of how slow the decision making is, finds resonance throughout the investment community.  But given the size of the country, there is a natural in built caution which people have when agreeing to let persons come from outside their country into the country.  Further in the matter of labour, the PLP having come to power as a nationalist Government directly opposed to the FNM’s wholesale acceptance that the only way to advance the country is by embracing foreign labour, is now faced with the extraordinary fact that if the economy expands the way the PLP expects, there will be a serious labour shortage within the country within one year.
    Right now some employers are finding that at a given price they are unable to find Bahamians who are willing to work and willing to go to a new place of work if it is not within the confines of Freeport or Nassau.  Much therefore has to be done in terms of worker education and training, if The Bahamas is going to keep its people employed.
    What Mr. Francis does not seem to acknowledge or recognize is that we will have a social explosion if this economy expands and for whatever reason, the true true Bahamians are left out of the economic equation.  That is a recipe for economic disaster.
Top
 
 

SECURITIES COMMISSION MAN JOINS IN
    Hilary Deveaux is the Acting Executive Director of the Securities Commission.  Mr. Deveaux (pictured in this Bahama Journal photo) was a guest speaker at the symposium sponsored by the right wing think tank the Nassau Institute on Wednesday 4th April.  He has joined the Governor of the Central Bank in attacking another sacred cow.  This one is whether or not certain sectors of the Bahamian economy will be reserved for Bahamians.
    Mr. Deveaux believes that The Bahamas ought to open up economic sectors now reserved for Bahamians only.  He believes that if we fail to do so this, it would mean a loss of competitiveness against other jurisdictions.  Mr. Deveaux is also the chair of the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) services negotiating group.  He said: “There has to be a review of this policy if The Bahamas is to remain competitive with other jurisdictions.  If services are inefficient, the final product is not efficient and The Bahamas will lose market share.”

Our Comments
    For a long time, this and its predecessor column has been urging successive governments to rethink the entire policy of reserving segments of the economy for Bahamians.  This works a particular hardship where Bahamians do not have the money to establish businesses and what it does is it prevents new young Bahamians from going into business and simply protects the market shares built up by the existing Bahamian businesses.
    We have to design a policy which allows Bahamians to access capital from abroad with a view to allowing younger Bahamians to go into business.  Both the comments of Mr. Deveaux and Governor of the Central Bank Julian Francis find considerable sympathy amongst young Bahamians.  It is clear to many of them that the existing policies have now to some extent to be consigned to the past if the younger Bahamian is going to get the break that he or she deserves.
 
 

HAITIANS WARNED BY THE POLICE

    A remarkable warning was issued by the police and published in The Tribune this past week.  Superintendent Hulan Hanna who is the spokesman for the police to the press gave a warning to Haitians in The Bahamas who were walking on the streets alone.  He said that it appeared that they were being targeted for robberies.  He also said that they should ensure that they change their patterns of walking on the streets to work so as to avoid being harassed and attacked.  This is a serious matter.
    One wonders whether or not the Government has formally been advised that Bahamians are making Haitians a target for robberies.  If so, then there must be a more concerted effort including public education to stop it.  It cannot be said anywhere that Bahamians condone this sort of action against any nationality living in our country, particularly a group that is so vital to the success of our economy whether we want to recognize it or not.  A woman police officer holds back Antoinette Baptiste, the daughter of Tony Baptiste, murdered in Sunlight Village this past week.  Nassau Guardian photo by Letisha Henderson.
Top
 
 

A NEW MISS BAHAMAS UNIVERSE

    Raquel Horton is the new Miss Bahamas Universe.  She will represent The Bahamas when the Miss Universe Beauty Pageant is held later in the year.  Ms. Horton pictured in this Nassau Guardian photo on Monday 5th April won the prize over 11 other contestants.  The win was not without the usual controversy and cries of cheating.  Some people felt that the first runner up in the contest Leslia Miller should have won because she was said to have answered her question much better than Ms. Horton.
    The Nassau Guardian responded in an editorial that the people of The Bahamas ought to recognize that someone has to win and someone loses.  This is all the more so in something as subjective as “beauty contests”.  The point is the women enter the contest knowing the rules, and though the losses can be heartbreaking, the decision of the judges should be accepted as final.  The same thing occurred in Junkanoo this year.  In our national life, we need to accept that in some things the decision of the judges is final.  Ms. Horton in victory (top); waiting for word with runner-up Leslia Miller at right.  Nassau Guardian photos by Donald Knowles.
Top
 
 

FNM CALLS FOR STUBBS RESIGNATION
    After days of stony silence and after The Tribune led the way, the Free National Movement finally came to life to call for the resignation of PLP MP Sidney Stubbs, ever the carpetbaggers of issues, they and their leader were busy lecturing the PLP on how the PLP was silent on the issue and how it was important for the PLP to move swiftly to deal with the issue.  With the FNM entering the picture, this gave further credence to the assertion by Sidney Stubbs that the matter was one which was pushed by FNM ideologues.  We do not subscribe necessarily to conspiracy theories but it is easy to see how he can make a case for that.  No doubt there is lurking in the background Carl Bethel, the Chairman of the Party and defeated by Mr. Stubbs in the last election, anxious to get the seat back that he lost in an open contest, only through the back door.  You may click here for the full text of the FNM’s statementBahama Journal photo of Tommy Turnquest at news conference by Omar Barr.
 
 

SIDNEY STUBBS MP IN HIS OWN WORDS
    There is an old Bahamian saying: “Shut mouth catch no fly”.  It appears that this is an adage that does not apply to the Member of Parliament for Holy Cross Sidney Stubbs, who under the constitution and having been declared a bankrupt must cease to perform the duties of a Member of Parliament.  Mr. Stubbs is defiant in his own defence.  We thought that we should share with you his thoughts in his own words as reported in the Nassau Guardian on Saturday 11th April:
    “What I am trying to do right now is to clear my name.  I am not bankrupt.  Everybody in this country has debts.  I have a mortgage which I am servicing, and so that is my right.  Every Bahamian, as far as I know, has some loan that they are paying off.  That is the way societies are built.  I was servicing my debt, but that does not mean that I am bankrupt.
    “The debt owed to Gina Gonzales has been settled.  The money to pay off the loan came from my investment account.  My attorneys had the funds from last week Wednesday (31st March) and since the bankruptcy order was perfected, the money had to be paid through a court appointed trustee.  [He was declared bankrupt by the court on Tuesday 30th March]
    “A friend of mine then paid his money to liquidate the Gonzales debt and also the debt from her lawyers, but my attorneys were holding my banker’s draft, drawn on my investment account at Fidelity Bank and Trust, Frederick Street, where I have always had an investment account…
    “I am clearing my name, which is my right.  So no man or woman, no boy or girl, will cause Sidney Stubbs to do that, which is not in Sidney Stubbs’ best interest.  So Tommy Turnquest (FNM Leader) who has had all kinds of questions levied against me should not be the one to ask for my resignation…
    “I am a good man…
[On his time as Chair of the Bahamas Agricultural Industrial Corporation]
    “I never victimized anyone while I was executive chairman of BAIC, I was a creature of instruction.  Sidney Stubbs never fired anyone.  Sidney Stubbs was simply carrying out an instruction, an order.  I could have cared less whether someone was hire or fired.  I was purely a creature of instruction.  If you check the BAIC Act, my instructions came from above.
    “I did not set out on any given day to fire anyone.  I kept quiet on that, but I will not be tagged in this country as a victimizer.  I did not do it and those who instructed me, they know that I did not fire those people myself.”

Stan Burnside's 'Sideburns cartoon from the Nassau Guardian of Saturday 10th April

 

THE CONSTITUTION AND BANKRUPTCY
    We thought that it would be interesting to display here the provisions of the constitution of The Bahamas on the question of bankruptcy.  A bankrupt is disqualified from running for the House of Assembly.  When you are adjudged bankrupt you are to vacate your seat unless you have an appeal open to you.  We lay out the relevant terns of the constitution of The Bahamas on the subject below:
    49.-(1) Every member of the Housed of Assembly shall vacate his seat in the House-
...(2) If circumstances such as are referred to in sub-paragraph (1) (e) of this Article arise because any member of the House is under sentence of death or imprisonment, declared bankrupt, adjudged to be of unsound mind or convicted of an offence relating to elections and it is open to the member to appeal against the decision (either with the leave of a court or other authority or without such leave), he shall forthwith cease to perform his functions as a member of the House but, subject to paragraph (3) of this Article, he shall not vacate his seat until the expiration of a period of thirty days thereafter:
    Provided that the Speaker may, at the request of the member, from time to time extend that period for further periods of thirty days to enable the member to pursue an appeal against the decision, so, however, that extensions of time exceeding in the aggregate one hundred and fifty days shall not be given without the approval, signified by resolution, of the House of Assembly.
    (3) If, on the determination of any appeal, such circumstances continue to exist and no further appeal is open to the member, or if, by reason of the expiration of any period for entering an appeal or notice thereof or the refusal of leave to appeal or for any other reason, it ceases to be open to the member to appeal, he shall forthwith vacate his seat.
    (4) If at any time before the member vacates his seat such circumstances as aforesaid cease to exist, his seat shall not become vacant on the expiration of the period referred to in paragraph (2) of this Article and he may resume the performance of his functions as a member of the House.
 
 

KUDOS TO THE FINANCIAL SERVICES MINISTRY

    On Thursday 8th April, ZNS TV news did an excellent special news story on the new Ministry of Financial Services and Investments.  The Ministry has now moved into its new premises in the Goodman’s Bay Corporate Centre.  This is a fitting place for a Financial Services Ministry.  Having its own quarters will allow the Prime Minister to have use of his office on Cable Beach.
    But what people viewing the report thought was interesting about the special was the great array of obviously keen, bright young people who have the prime job of putting together the investment proposals for the country and attracting investment to the country. We think it speaks well for us and we wish them and their Minister Allyson Maynard Gibson (pictured) well.  The story and the faces made a good impression.
Top
 
 

WORLD HEALTH DAY

    Minister of Transport Glenys Hanna Martin has been involved in an active campaign with the Ministry of Health to try to bring to the attention of the Bahamian public the need to lessen the number of traffic deaths in The Bahamas.  This year’s World Health Day theme was that of reducing the death toll by road traffic accidents.  Too many people are killed in The Bahamas result of traffic accidents.  We suspect that part of it has to do with speeding and the laxity of enforcing laws on drinking.  There is also inadequate driver education and enforcement of the rules of the road generally.  The country does not put a high premium on the enforcement of the rules.  We support the campaign, and in particular ask for stricter enforcement of the rules against drinking.  One word to the Government here, the Associated Press reported on Monday 5th April that Ghana was able to reduce the road traffic deaths in the country by 35 per cent as result of the increased use of speed bumps in their streets.  Minister Hanna Martin is pictured laying a wreath to victims of a traffic accident in this Nassau Guardian photo by Letisha Henderson.
 
 

EASTER MESSAGE FROM FOX HILL MP

    The Member of Parliament for the Fox Hill constituency has sent a message to all of the people of Fox Hill to be read at churches throughout the constituency on Easter Sunday.  We thought we would share the letter with you:
    I hope that this glorious Easter finds you and your congregation in the best of health.  I want to take this opportunity to let you know how pleased I am about the work of the Fox Hill Festival Committee.
    Fresh Elections were held and a new team is in place.  This year is the 170th Anniversary of the Abolition of Slavery.  That makes this a special festival year.  To mark the occasion, the Director General of the United Nations’ Education Social Cultural Organization (UNESCO) will visit Fox Hill with Ambassador to UNESCO, Sidney Poitier for a luncheon address on 21st May 2004.  More will be announced about this.
    The Festival is to take place this year, beginning 30th July and ending 10th August.  There is an activity planned for each day.  It will be a continuous event.  The Executive Council of the Committee includes:  Charles Johnson, Eric Wilmott, Paula Tynes, Jan Davis, Gwendolyn Pratt and Rev. Carl Rahming. A Freeport Committee of Fox Hillians has also been formed and chaired by Wellington “Doc” Stewart.
    A Miss Fox Hill Emancipation Pageant will be held on 25th April 2004 at the Grand Hotel, Paradise Island.  The contestants are:
1. Yvrose Ava Valcin 2. Leshanda McPhee 3. Kristania Bastian 4. Lashanda Clarke 5. Shekeitra Lightbourne 6. Dashanique Poitier 7. Alexis Bethel 8. Janiska Davis
    Please lend as much support as you can for all of these events.
    I wish to say that plans for the Community Centre are progressing and I hope to start construction in October 2004.  Pastor Carrington Pinder of St. Mark’s and Benjamin Rahming of Tom’s Radiator are the Co-chairmen of that committee.  Please lend them your support.
    Finally, it is left for me to thank you and the congregation for all of your hard work and dedication to the community and to our country.  I am proud to represent you in the House of Assembly.
    May God bless you all!
    Yours sincerely,
Fred Mitchell
 
 

THE EXTRADITION ORDERS ARE SIGNED
    The Broadcasting Corporation of The Bahamas reported on its newscast of Good Friday 9th April that Minister of Foreign Affairs Fred Mitchell who is the minister responsible for extraditions signed the warrants of surrender for Samuel ‘Ninety’ Knowles and Frank Cartwright.  Both men were wanted by the United States on a number of drug charges.  The Privy Council made the final decision in the matter on 11th February.
    Mr. Cartwright was taken to the United States to face trial.  According to ZNS, Mr. Cartwright was taken by U.S. officials on Friday 9th April and landed in Florida on the same day where he is in a U.S. Federal Correctional facility.  ZNS reported that Mr. Knowles’ immediate extradition has been prohibited by a court in The Bahamas because there is a further action pending.
    The Corporation also quoted a press statement from the U.S. Embassy in Nassau saying that Mr. Cartwright would get a fair trial in the United States.  There are many Bahamians who do not believe that it is possible for the two men to get a fair trial.  There were public demonstrations before the Parliament in Nassau calling for the Government to free Mr. Knowles.
 
 

DR. CONROY WILLIAMS DIES

    A memorial service was held for Conroy Williams at Holy Trinity Anglican Church on Saturday 10th April.  Dr. Williams died shortly after being conferred with his PH D in Counselor Education at the University of Central Florida.  He also held a BA in Sociology/Administrative Studies from University of Western Ontario and a Masters in Counseling from the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary, Springfield, Missouri, and a Masters of Science in Education from the University of Nebraska at Kearny.  He was a personable young man, well liked by his contemporaries and all those who knew him.  He was a great example to his country and to young Bahamian male leadership.  'Tis passing sad that he has died and all his talent is lost to our country.  He was 33 years old at the time of his death.
 
 

WELLINGTON 'BRITELY' FERGUSON DIES

    We express condolences on the passing of Wellington "Britely" Ferguson.  Though best known for running a great restaurant in the Bain Town area, he was also a well known Race Track man and fought to the end for the rights of race track men.  He was also a die-hard FNM.  You need people like that to make the political system work.  He ran unsuccessfully for the Bain Town seat for the FNM.  He was never fully rewarded for that faithfulness during their time but he stuck with them to the end.  Mr. Ferguson's body was laid out in the FNM headquarters and viewed by FNM Leader Tommy Turnquest who issued a statement marking his passing.  We mark his passing too and say well done.  God bless until we meet again!
 
 

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
The Nassau Institute
    I'd like to know your opinion of the small but vocal group of Bahamians known as the Nassau Institute.  I have yet to see from Bahamas any contra opinion to their preaching but I have to say - from my perspective in Canada - that articles like the one in (this) link: http://www.nassauinstitute.org/wmview.php?ArtID=412 plus many others from this organization are full of b.s.  These Bahamians would be given zero credibility in my country and I don't understand why they continuously trash us.  Are they trying to stir up bad relations between Bahamas and Canada or what?
Bill Cara
    Few people take the Nassau Institute seriously in The Bahamas.  We ignore them.  They are a right wing think tank, a mixture of racists and other ideologues who would turn back the clock.  One of them likes the idea of going to the Lyford Cay Club every morning and regaling his rich friends with stories of how he told off the Bahamian Government.  They are like the Pharisees and Sadducees.  Much too self-righteous.  But in our country, since they have no impact, everyone says what's the harm in printing foolishness which people simply ignore?  Recently though we find that the US Embassy seems to be pushing their agenda.  Hmm! Ed.

The Consequences Of The Gay Debate!
    A letter writer who used to be a resident of Exuma and does not want their name reported wrote the following about the debate on same sex marriages in The Bahamas:
    ZNS Television news was carrying a story on Thursday 8th April.  They were reviewing a discussion by leaders of the Christian Council on same sex marriages.  Overlaying the footage as the story was being reported were scenes of men and men and women with women in intimate details.  Doesn’t anyone see that one of the, I guess, unintended consequences of this whole debate in The Bahamas by people who brought this up is to promote the exact thing that everyone is trying to stop?
 
 
 

THE R. C. LEADER ON SAME SEX MARRIAGES
    The Roman Catholic Archbishop Lawrence Burke leaves The Bahamas to take up a new assignment as the Archbishop of Kingston, Jamaica.  The new Archbishop of The Bahamas is the first local man in the job Patrick Pinder.  Archbishop Burke gave a farewell interview to Jeff Lloyd on Love 97 FM.  He spoke inter alia about same sex marriages.  Here is what he had to say in his own words:
    “The position of the church is very clear.  We have to have a pastoral approach to people who have a homosexual orientation.  This orientation itself is not sinful, it is not something that people are responsible for, this is the way they are, and we don’t want to be judgmental on such people. But just as there is a law about how a heterosexual practices sexual activity in their life, and there are do’s and don’ts in this area, and so for the homosexual we also have do’s and don’ts.  One of the things the church is clear on is that people are free to form unions but do those unions have to be recognized as marriages?
    “This is the crux of the matter.  It seems to me that all of the great religions of the world subscribe to the fact that a marriage is between a man and a woman because they follow the natural law. Natural law says that the procreation and the extension of the human race can only happen when there is a union between a man and woman.  Now many of our homosexual friends would say that procreation is not of the essence of marriage, that in fact it is only a mutual love and support.
    “Well, the Catholic Church is very clear that even if a man and a woman approach the church for marriage and they say we’re going to get married but children are totally out of this union, as far as the Catholic Church is concerned that marriage is null and void.  And that is one of the questions we ask people when they are preparing for marriage.  Marriage in our point of view must be open to life.
    “Now I said Natural law has one thing to say about the human race – it has to be between man and woman.  Now when we get to the Revelation as Christians we see that in the very beginning in Genesis when Adam was looking for a suitable partner and they paraded all the animals etc, when Eve the woman was created, he said now at last I have someone who is a suitable partner for me.  And throughout scriptures even when we talk about the relationship between God and his church it’s always a male/female relationship.
    “In Isaiah and Jeremiah we talk about the unfaithful wife, the spouse and in St. Paul’s letters we talk about the marriage between a man and a woman is like the relationship between Christ and the Church; and on the other hand nowhere in scripture is a homosexual relationship celebrated; it’s always mentioned negatively, saying it is wrong whenever we refer to that scripture.  So from Revelations point of view this will not be accepted.

JEFF LLOYD: Would you criticize Parliament if it decides to legislate same sex unions?

ARCHBISHOP: Absolutely, I would criticize Parliament because I don’t know what would be served by doing this.  If people are concerned about inheritance we can have laws that might allow someone who is living with a homosexual partner to inherit from them.  One would have to look at all the different laws when people are asking to have equal rights, but this would not make a marriage.

    “One of the things that’s happening is that maybe it will be necessary to separate marriage as a legal entity and marriage as a sacramental nature.  This needs to be explored.  But as we understand marriage now, marriage has to be open to life and it has to be between a man and a woman.”
 
 

THIS WEEK WITH THE PM

    Prime Minister Christie and Mrs. Christie attended a private function in Nassau this week, where the PM met up with sporting legend Muhammed Ali.  The PM is seen trading punches with the boxing great in this Bahama Journal photo by Omar Barr.

    This past week, the Vice Minister of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China, His Excellency Liao Xiaoqi "engaged in extensive discussions, covering technical co-operation and trade relations at Cabinet Office with the Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Honourable Fred Mitchell and the Minister of Trade and Industry, the Honourable Leslie Miller" according to a Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman.  The Prime Minister is shown hosting the delegation at the Cabinet Office in this Bahamas Information Services photo by Peter Ramsay.


 
 
18th April, 2004
Welcome to bahamasuncensored.com
  How do you do today?  It's great to have you as a reader.  We have the most incisive political news about and from The Bahamas! 
Please tell all your friends about us.
REGINALD LOBOSKY DIES... A CALL AGAINST ARMS...
EVENTS IN HAITI... A BRUTAL MURDER...
MITCHELL AT SIMEON HALL’S CHURCH... NINETY EXTRADITION - FOOLISHNESS IN THE PUNCH...
CASSIUS STUART THROWS DOWN THE GAUNTLET... FALSE REPORT ON PM...
STUBBS FILES HIS APPEAL... PICTURES OF THE FABULOUS FIVE FROM THE TRIBUNE...
LETTERS TO THE  EDITOR... MINISTER MILLER VISITS UWI...
ON MUHAMMED ALI... THIS WEEK WITH THE PM...
The Official Site of the Progressive Liberal Party... The Official Site of the Free National Movement...
PLPs On The Web... Interesting Places...
Bradley Roberts / PLP Grants Town Bahamas Government Website
Neville Wisdom / PLP Delaporte Reg & Kit's Bahamas Links
Alfred Sears / PLP Fort Charlotte Bahamians On The Web
Melanie Griffin / PLP Yamacraw Bahamian Cycling News
John Carey / PLP Carmichael FredMitchellUncensored.Com ARCHIVES...
Grand Bahama PLP
Click on a heading to go to that story; press ctrl+home to return to the top of the page.


PHOTO OF THE WEEK - What a piece of work is man.  That is a line from Shakespeare’s Hamlet.  Indeed!  That must have been the thought in the minds of many who sat in the funeral service of attorney and former Senator Reginald Lobosky.  Mr. Lobosky died at the age of 71 (see biography below) after battles with a long series of illnesses.  He left his mark as a former politician, one of the last of the United Bahamian Party and he left his mark latterly as an attorney in labour law and as a civic activist.  He was an outstanding Bahamian.  As a former Senator he was entitled to a state recognized funeral.  His funeral service was held at St. Francis Xavier’s Cathedral in the presence of the Archbishop Elect Patrick Pinder.  His remains are interred in the cemetery at the Ebenezer Methodist Church.  This picture of the interment by Peter Ramsay is our photo of the week.

COMMENT OF THE WEEK

JUST WAITING FOR THE MOMENT
The economy is just about to turn around.  We are just waiting.  They are waiting in the parks, in the architects’ offices, on the construction sites and in the lawyer’s offices.  They are waiting in the cabinet makers workshops, the tile layers are also waiting.  The boys on the blocks are waiting.  The women sewing at home are waiting.  They are all waiting for the economy to turn around.  Most of all, the politicians are waiting and hoping.  Their very political lives depend on the economy turning around.

The news in the air is that the tourism sector has performed very well during the past season.  Now it is time to expand to prepare for an even bigger season, and the project across the water at Paradise Island must get going and soon, if there is to be any dent in the sad unemployment statistics.  The community of Exuma is now alive and kicking because of the hotel Four Seasons.  Exuma is unrecognizable as it goes into the frenetic season of regatta number 51.  Everyone has an eye to the economy.  Our ears hear that the U.S. economy is turning around.  We expect our turn to come soon.  Soon too it will be political season in The Bahamas.

The PLP is in the curious position of having no natural enemies about which it needs to be concerned.  All of its natural predators appear to be under control.  What it does have to fear, however, is its ability to inflict damage on itself.  The fact that there is no visible threat does not mean that there is not a nascent threat.  That threat is based on the 40 per cent who do not support the PLP whatever happens, and the twenty per cent over which the PLP and the FNM fought during the last general election.  It is to this latter group, their hearts and minds that the appeal went out to nationalism and to save the country.  It was their forgiveness that was sought when it was said that this was not their father’s PLP, that the perceived ways of the Pindling administration would not be practiced under a new PLP administration if given a chance.

And so it is to that gallery that we ought to be playing as the PLP seeks to deal with the issue of Sidney Stubbs.  The party seeks to protect its own but it must not be foolish or an ostrich with its head in the sand.  Even within its own ranks there are people who know right from wrong, and have a sense of discomfort and unease when it does not respond as it should.  They may be silent but they are there can help to build that nascent dissent that can lead to a new majority.  When it is time to let a fellow go, it should be done, swiftly cleanly and without rancour.

One has only to look back at why Hubert Ingraham was so successful against the old PLP.  He was able to break out from under that sub culture of protectionism: a see no, hear no evil view that was incestuous and caused the party to lose focus on the rot that existed within, hearing only its own voices and lulling itself to sleep at the pat of the hands on its own backs.  This should never be allowed to happen again.

It’s the economy stupid!  Yes indeed.  After people have their very basic needs fulfilled, they start to turn to quality of life issues, and to issues of self esteem and their own sense of what is right and wrong.  The political party that represents them must reflect that.  So one must be very careful indeed not to forget that lesson.

The Government has signed almost two billion dollars in investment projects.  We are all waiting for them to come online, just one in New Providence would get this economy hopping.  All of the complaints that you hear on the road about indecisiveness, within the party about not making decisions, and about PLPs not getting pieces of the pie would disappear with an economy that is hopping again.  It has been the singular preoccupation of the Prime Minister since he came to office.

Budget time is coming soon.  At the end of May the Prime Minister as Minister of Finance will go down to the House of Assembly and read to the nation how he plans to raise money and what he plans to spend over the next year.  The Central Bank says that it will not be a pretty picture, and behind the scenes will no doubt be suggesting that there be further cutbacks and that there ought to be tax increases.

But three years of public sector hiring freezes has sent out a negative signal to the country, that there is lack of confidence in our own ability to move forward.  It is time for it to be considered, the pressure is enormous from the people who are looking for work.  But the talk is, just give it 12 months, the economy will be hopping and no one will be talking about joining the public sector.

So we sum it all up.  Fix the economy, play to the middle.  Keep the enemies at bay.  Learn and remember the lessons of the past.  That should be a formula for continued success.  We are simply waiting.  We are certain the PLP is up to the task.

Number of hits for the week ending Saturday 17th April 2004 at midnight: 52,847.

Number of hits for the month of April up to Saturday 17th April 2004 at midnight: 125,586.

Number of hits for the year 2004 up to Saturday 17th April 2004 at midnight: 797,728.


CONTACT US AT E-MAIL:placid_point@yahoo.com

REGINALD LOBOSKY DIES
    The day that Reginald Lobosky died was Easter Sunday.  The priest who gave the homily at his funeral on Friday 16th April saw some significance in that.  He portrayed Reginald Lobosky as a religious man.  Few would have known it or guessed it.  He was rough and tumble.  He led the fight.  His former partner Sir Geoffrey Johnstone eulogized him.  He said that Reginald Lobosky had said to him that after his last bout of illness, he had prayed to God and promised him that if he spared his life, he would serve him, like he had never served him before.  It may account then for what appeared to be the softening of his positions in life.
    In the year 2002, when at the height of the dispute with City Markets over the unionizing of that company he quit as the company’s lawyer, some were concerned.  But he told his friends that he quit because he did not agree with the position that City Market had sought to put.  That was a strange move but one which many on the other side appreciated and in death which came to be seen as an important fact about him.
    When 'Reg' Lobosky served in the Senate, he was Chairman of the United Bahamian Party.  The party was known for being the white man’s party in a Black man’s country.  Yet he defended the party in the difficult circumstances of the PLP being at the height of its power.  He was unrelenting and withering.  So unrelenting was he that he came up against the leaders of his own party, with them threatening to remove him from the party.  He served his last year in the Senate as an independent.
    In 1972, Mr. Lobosky left The Bahamas with his wife and went to the United Kingdom, they both studied law, returning to the country in 1977.   It was in the practice of law that he really distinguished himself and found himself, developing the expertise in labour law, and a particular expertise in keeping unions out of companies.  He had a dispute with his law firm Higgs and Johnson, and was forced to move on first to his own firm, and then amalgamating with Harry B. Sands and Co. where he became the managing partner.  During that time, he was hit with a series of illnesses, a lifetime of smoking cigarettes, long hours without proper nutrition took its toll.  The workaholic in him brought him first to heart bypass surgery, then to kidney transplant, accepting a kidney from his wife Sarah.
    Reginald Lobosky became a civic activist.  He worked with the Chamber of Commerce as its President.  He was once head of the Bahamas Confederation of Employers.  He headed the Civil Society Consultation group of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs where he opposed The Bahamas’ participation in the Free Trade Agreement of the Americas, the Caribbean Single Market and Economy and only grudgingly accepted the World Trade Organization.
    Mr. Lobosky came from a complex social, racial background in The Bahamas, being from that group of racially mixed people who were most comfortable with the world of the white Bahamian and considered by the black world in The Bahamas to be part of the white world.  But as he came to the end of his life, he seemed to be more comfortable with even those facts.  His great friend was Napoleon McPhee, an African Bahamian, whom he described as like a father to him and when Mr. McPhee died he was profoundly moved by the death.
    The state gave what is called state recognized funeral, with policemen, flag and national anthem.  The Governor General, the Prime Minister and the Cabinet all attended.  His colleagues in the law were all there.  His former Parliamentary and political colleagues came.  May he rest in peace!  Widow Sarah Lobosky is pictured receiving the ceremonial flag from her husband's funeral from Prime Minister Perry Christie.
Top
 
 

A CALL AGAINST ARMS
    Chief Superintendent Marvin Dames spoke to a Rotary meeting on Thursday 15th April about something that has been obvious for years in The Bahamas.  The statistics are shocking nonetheless.  He reported that of the 50 homicides in The Bahamas last year, 48 per cent of them were committed with guns.  Of the 735 armed robberies last year, 650 were committed with guns.  In a country of 300,000 people, that is too much.
    Mr. Dames said that there is a need for the police force and the wider community to get on top of this problem.  Mr. Dames said:  “The police can go into some of these communities and arrest a young man for possession of drugs and somewhere next to him is an assortment of ammunition.  So he is selling the drugs and the ammunition and it’s a problem.”
    On the international front, Caribbean countries have been trying to push the United States that is the source of the guns coming into Caribbean countries to do something about the firearms flooding the Caribbean.  But instead of helping, the United States seems to try to pile on further problems by threats to the countries on drug issues and on other means tests which cause further stresses on the Caribbean societies.
    What is clear is that The Bahamas government needs to take seriously what Superintendent Dames has said and so do the Bahamian people.  No doubt the Deputy Prime Minister already has this information and is working assiduously toward some kind of special measures to deal with this.
 
 

EVENTS IN HAITI
    Ambassador Eugene Newry Mrs. Françoise Newry returned to The Bahamas on Sunday 18th April, following what is reported to have been an attempted armed robbery near the Haitian public market in Port-au-Prince on Saturday 17th April at approximately 1:40 p.m. during a shopping trip by Mrs. Newry. The Ambassador was not with her at the time. Mrs. Newry and her Bahamian security aide Royal Bahamas Force Sgt. Michelet Meronard were slightly wounded. The Prime Minister of The Bahamas the Rt. Hon. Perry Christie was informed of this incident as soon as the news was received in The Bahamas.
    Medical attention was received in Haiti. Although the injuries to Mrs. Newry and the security aide are not serious, in the circumstances, a Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman said that it was felt that a return to The Bahamas was appropriate given that the Ambassador was due to return home for consultations in any event. The incident is being investigated fully by the Haitian and Bahamian authorities. The U.S., Canadian and French Ambassadors in Port-au-Prince have also been informed.
    The spokesman said that Dr. Newry is to remain in The Bahamas having now completed his diplomatic and security review of the situation in Haiti.  He will provide a report to The Bahamas government.
    According to the Ministry, the Prime Minister of Haiti Gerard La Tortue in a call to Foreign Minister Fred Mitchell late on Saturday 17th April has expressed his deep regret and sympathy to the Prime Minister and people of The Bahamas about the incident and has promised that the matter will be fully investigated and The Bahamas Ambassador’s security increased.  As a precaution, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also recalled Second Secretary Anthony Williams and his wife, Vice Consul Michelle Williams.
 
 

A BRUTAL MURDER
    On Tuesday 13th April, the country woke up to the shocking news of the death of Jermaine Thompson formerly of Monastery Park in New Providence and latterly of Abaco.  Mr. Thompson was found in ignominious circumstances, having been missing for only three or so days.  He was found in what Bahamians call a Blue Hole or also known as an Ocean Hole.  These are natural holes in the limestone shell of The Bahamas that lead to the ocean.   They are a source of tourist fascination, and often a swimming point for local people.  But in this Blue Hole in Abaco was found Mr. Thompson’s body.  Somebody or some bodies had gone to a great deal of trouble to get the body there.
    The body had started to decompose when it was discovered by two tourists come to see the Blue Hole on Easter Sunday.  According to the press, the head and much of the body was wrapped in duct tape, which strapped the arms to the sides and the legs together.  The body was bound with a chain fastened by a large lock and weighted by a cement block tied to the legs with a rope.  All of that did not prevent the body from being found.  Once the body was retrieved, it was found with dog bites all over the body.  It appears that the person was killed by attack dogs and then dumped into the Blue Hole.
    The police questioned two persons in custody.  They have now charged Abaco man Ian Knowles (right, in photo) with the murder.  His picture was shown by The Tribune from The Abaconian by David Ralph.  This matter is reminiscent of another murder in Abaco that went unsolved when the former head of the Bahamas Electricity Corporation in Abaco left his home to answer a call, and never returned home.  His body was burnt beyond immediate recognition and the murderer was never found.
Top
 
 

MITCHELL AT SIMEON HALL’S CHURCH
    Minister of Foreign Affairs and The Public Service Fred Mitchell is to do a reprise of his appearance in the pulpit of a church.  He was invited on African Heritage Sunday today at the New Covenant Baptist Church of Bishop Simeon Hall.  This is sure to raise some eyebrows, Bishop Hall being a known supporter of the Free National Movement.  The Minister will speak to the congregation on the role of The Bahamas in international affairs.  You may click here for the stories around his first address in Altadena, California at the Methodist church there in January 2003.  You may click here for his address earlier today.
Top
 
 

NINETY EXTRADITION - FOOLISHNESS IN THE PUNCH
    The newspapers all got the news after the Easter Holiday was over.  As reported on this site last week, Foreign Minister Fred Mitchell signed the order for extradition of Samuel ‘Ninety’ Knowles and Frank Cartwright just before the Easter weekend.  Mr. Cartwright was immediately extradited to the United States.  Mr. Knowles is still in The Bahamas awaiting the disposition of a court on his latest application, based on the allegation that he will not get a fair trial within the United States of America.  There is some considerable sentiment in the country that the United States is being a bully and should not be allowed to have Mr. Knowles.
    Bahamians have to be careful that they do not support the drug culture as part of this society simply because that drug man is able to mobilize money and influence friends through that money.  It undermines the meritocracy that the country needs to survive and it undermines the moral fabric of the society, not to mention the work ethic.  Mr. Knowles should go, and no tears should be shed about it.
    The low grade gutter press, led by The Punch has been running a rear guard action against the Government on this matter.  The newspaper keeps trying to insinuate that there is something untoward in the way that this matter has progress through the courts and to extradition.  Nothing is untoward about the matter save and except the perverse mind of the Editor of The Punch.
 
 

CASSIUS STUART THROWS DOWN THE GAUNTLET
    In Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, Caesar makes the comment as he looked at Cassius, one of the progenitors of the murder conspiracy against Julius Caesar and says: “Yon Cassius has a lean and hungry look”.  It comes to mind as it now appears that Mr. Stuart has thrown down the gauntlet to the PLP.  For years, his friends within the PLP have been seeking to persuade Mr. Stuart and his partner Mr. Smith that it is in the best interests of both of them to join the PLP.  They have refused.
    Mr. Stuart’s latest effort is to make the statement that both PLP and the FNM, have not properly disclosed or complied with the Public Disclosure Act and its regulations.  He claimed that no Member of Parliament has properly disclosed in law for the past two years.  That is patently false.  Quite apart from the untruth of it, one wonders what political game he and his partner are up to.  The matter has no traction at all, and they become just another headline that is grabbed on a slow news day.  The way the legislation is written, the person who activates complaints in matters against Members of Parliament are the Leader of the Opposition and the Prime Minister.
    The Prime Minister responded that it was good for persons such as Mr. Stuart to keep the society reminded of the obligations of leaders.   But that’s fine, if all one wants to do is remain on the fringes.
    Mr. Stuart was at it again as he spoke to the Bahama Journal about the success or lack thereof of the PLP on its second anniversary as a Government.  He was quoted on Friday 16th April as saying: “What is needed in the PLP administration is leadership.  It is a forgone conclusion that they are not equipped to govern this or any country.  There is no vision in this Government.”
    This is now a case of biting the hand that feeds you. Mr. Stuart clearly does not know where his loyalties should lie.  Since he is content to be a fringe, will not equip himself with a proper job and profile to be in the mainstream, perhaps the fringes are where he ought to remain.  Mr. Stuart’s latest attempt at a headline grab is a promise to bring a court action against the Government of the act is not complied with.  Obviously this is a man with nothing better to do with his time.  Prime Minister Christie chats with BDM leaders outside the House of Assembly last week.  BIS photo Peter Ramsay
 
 

FALSE REPORT ON PM
    There was a false claim reported in The Tribune Wednesday 14th April that PLP stalwarts held a meeting with the Prime Minister and roasted him on performance of the Government.  The report was that a heated meeting took place that angered Stalwart Councillors about the inability of the Prime Minister to make decisions and of the Government to deliver for them.  This is a constant complaint that simmers below the surface in the country.  The complaint betrays a fundamental disconnect about the vision of the PLP, which is not to do business as usual but to try to change the culture around to evidence based decisions, and to make sure that the benefits are there for everyone as opposed to the tribalism that was practiced by the Free National Movement.
    The PLP went into overdrive on refuting the claims saying that the meeting that took place was one in which there was a frank exchange of views but that most people left quite satisfied about the outcome of the meeting.  There was also a report in the newspaper of Saturday 16th April that said that two Members of Parliament Obie Wilchcombe, Minister of Tourism and Ambassador Keod Smith had an argument at a council meeting on Thursday 14th April over support for Sidney Stubbs.  The Minister denied the allegation.  Clearly, the political onslaught is on against the PLP.  The party does not seem yet to have determined an effective strategy to deal with these matters.
 
 

STUBBS FILES HIS APPEAL
    The Notice of Appeal has been filed by Member of Parliament Sidney Stubbs to set aside the order in bankruptcy made against him by Jeanne Thompson, the Justice of the Supreme Court on 30th March.  The appeal is quite tortuous but it is based on the technical view that rules under the Bankruptcy Act were not promulgated by the Government so any actions taken under the bankruptcy law are nugatory.  Charles Mackay and Keod Smith MP (PLP Mt. Moriah) are acting for Mr. Stubbs.  Until then, Mr. Stubbs cannot carry out the functions of a Member of Parliament.  If he loses, the appeal he will have to vacate his seat.
Top
 
 

PICTURES OF THE FABULOUS FIVE FROM THE TRIBUNE

    The Tribune did a story this week in one of its feature sections about the progress of the four girls of Mrs. Joanne Pyfrom.  Mrs. Pyfrom gave birth to quadruplets nine years ago.  It was then quite a thrill for Bahamians and for the new mother.  But from the looks of the picture by Steve Taylor, they are still quite a special blessing from God.  The four girls are now students at Queen's College.
 
 

LETTERS TO THE  EDITOR
A German Investor’s Story
    A letter writer to this column reacted to a story in The Tribune of Friday 16th April.  Toby Michaels writes:
    “The self proclaimed German investor Harold Fuhrmann was back in press this week or it is more correct to say back in The Tribune, spouting off his lies and larceny about The Bahamas again.  He has nothing but odium and contempt for The Bahamas, based he claims on some bad experiences that he had apparently had with Bahamian professionals.  The Tribune keeps him going by reporting his every move.  His campaign of disinformation against The Bahamas has not worked so far so he is now threatening to shift his public relations campaign against The Bahamas into higher gear to further embarrass The Bahamas.  He has given The Bahamas Government ten days to comply with his deadline or else.  He can take his deadline and shove it [expletive deleted].  He is clearly an inveterate racist.  But what appears to be the best situation is for the Bahamas Government to invite him out of this country in handcuffs and to go back to Germany where everything is fine and the sun shines every day.”
 
 

MINISTER MILLER VISITS UWI

    Minister of Trade & Industry Leslie Miller’s government travels took him to Jamaica recently and while there he visited with Bahamian students at the University of the West Indies Mona campus whom he took to dinner.  The photo is are courtesy of Bahamian student Adrian Cargill.  Thanks Adrian.  The Minister was accompanied during the visit on Saturday 17th April by Trade & Industry official Hank Ferguson.
 
 

ON MUHAMMED ALI
"I was born in the Bahamas, and as a youngster, my Dad and an elderly neighbour would gather for all of Ali's fights by the radio. They would tell me stories of Ali and I was drawn in. I remember the fight with Henry Cooper in England. I was inspired by the way Ali held his ground, despite all of the racism that existed when he first started to box. That carried me through when I moved to the U.S. 15 years ago. Whenever I experienced a bit of racism, I would say to myself, 'How would Mohammed Ali handle this situation?' It led me to carry myself with dignity, and represent not only the Bahamas, but black people the world over. Just look at Ali now. He is respected and loved all over the world by people of all colors. I just love him and thank God for allowing him to be an inspiration to me." — Bahamian Philip Brice, Los Angeles [writing in USA Today as a contest winner -http://www.usatoday.com/life/books/2004-04-16-ali-contest_x.htm
 
 
 
 

THIS WEEK WITH THE PM

    Prime Minister Christie and Deputy Prime Minister Pratt, along with other Government Ministers were in Andros this past week, attending the official opening of a new clinic at Stafford Creek.

    Also during the week, the Prime Minister chatted with the press outside the House of Assembly.  Bahamas Information Services photos by Peter Ramsay.


 
 
25th April, 2004
Welcome to bahamasuncensored.com
  How do you do today?  It's great to have you as a reader.  We have the most incisive political news about and from The Bahamas! 
Please tell all your friends about us.
MORE DEMONSTRATIONS FOR NINETY... A FOREIGN MINISTER’S MEETING...
WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED IN HAITI... A PERIPATETIC POLITICAL JACK-IN-THE BOX?...
WHAT SHOULD OUR HAITI STRATEGY BE?... A MISGUIDED GUARDIAN EDITORIAL...
THE DPM SAYS SHE’S LEAVING IN 2007... THE TRIBUNE ATTACKS THE PLP...
IAN STRACHAN GETS MARRIED... PROBLEMS WITH BATELCO...
ELECTRICITY SUPPLY NOT TO BE OUTDONE... INGRAHAM COMING BACK...
HENRY BOSTWICK WRITES... BASIL JOHNSON – EX RAF DIES...
CONDOLENCES... LETTERS TO THE EDITOR...
THIS WEEK WITH THE PM...
The Official Site of the Progressive Liberal Party... The Official Site of the Free National Movement...
PLPs On The Web... Interesting Places...
Bradley Roberts / PLP Grants Town Bahamas Government Website
Neville Wisdom / PLP Delaporte Reg & Kit's Bahamas Links
Alfred Sears / PLP Fort Charlotte Bahamians On The Web
Melanie Griffin / PLP Yamacraw Bahamian Cycling News
John Carey / PLP Carmichael FredMitchellUncensored.Com ARCHIVES...
Grand Bahama PLP
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 country’s Minister of Foreign Affairs was actually on leave. But he was called back to service on Sunday last 18th April to meet the entire Bahamian diplomatic corps that had been called back to Nassau from Haiti when Francoise Newry, the wife of the Ambassador, was shot along with her Bahamas Police Bodyguard.  He was shot in the left calf.  She in the right buttock.  They were all flesh wounds.  Later, the Vice Consul, Anthony Williams received a threat by telephone to his family.  The Government decided to withdraw the whole lot immediately by private charter.  Unquestionably that was the photo of the week, Mrs. Newry being helped by Chief of Protocol Andrew McKinney shortly after she left the plane at the Nassau International Airport.  The BIS photo is by Peter Ramsay.

COMMENT OF THE WEEK

A CLASS CLOWN
A PERIPATETIC POLITICAL JACK-IN-THE-BOX
He has been around the political scene from king hatchet was a hammer.  He first emerged as a political presence in around the freedom and justice campaign of ‘Muscle and Guts’ Edmund Moxey about 1975.  Mr. Moxey represented the area around the Grove during the PLP’s early years.  Black Village from where Mr. Moncur hails is adjacent to the Grove.  Mr. Moxey resigned as a Parliamentary Secretary after his work at developing his Jumbey Village project; the site of the National Insurance Board today went unrecognized by his political colleagues.  Mr. Moxey either led or joined the campaign of Rodney Moncur who emerged from Black Village, a poor and depressed area just to the south of Bain Town.  The campaign was to stop the execution of Errol Dean, who they believed was not rightly convicted for the murder of a police officer.  The campaign failed but Mr. Moncur and his friend Nicholas Jacques, of Haitian ancestry, had launched his campaign for national recognition.  Together they formed the Workers Party.  He has used it as vehicle for publicity and without success in getting to the House of Assembly.

That must be going on thirty years ago.  Mr. Moncur was and is in a word mercurial.  You are never quite sure where he is on any given day on any given issue.  That’s the way it has always been.  He has had something of the flare for the dramatic.  These days his act is wearing a little thin and comes off as exaggerated histrionics.

In 1981, he brought the PLP’s convention to a stop with a demonstration outside the convention.  The late Sir Lynden Pindling, someone who was never short of the flair for dramatic himself, stopped the convention and engaged in negotiations with the Workers Party, for it to join the PLP.  The event was just another dramatic blip that came to nothing.  But one got the impression that Rodney Moncur had accomplished his objective by simply grabbing the headlines.

On another occasion, he was detained by Sir Clifford Darling, then the Speaker of the House of Assembly for walking up to then Prime Minister Pindling in the precincts of the House and saying:
“You have been weighed in the balance and found wanting” as an act of civil disobedience during the last years of the Pindling Administration.  Again, to no real effect but he grabbed a headline.

One thing is certain, sometimes he has been on the right side of an issue, most times not, but definitely he has been able to grab headlines.  He has an interesting relationship with the owners of The Tribune.  He is the man they love to hate and they also love to entertain his antics in their newspaper.  He is good entertainment and it sells newspapers.  They also at the same time often condemn what he does.  This week there was the example of him being fussed out by Wendall Jones because of irresponsible remarks made on a Love 97 talk show and threatened with expulsion from the radio.  The story came from Mr. Moncur himself.  Most people would think that such a negative story would be bad for one’s reputation but to Mr. Moncur that was no doubt music to his ears.

There are others like him but he is not really duplicated.  Ortland Bodie, from time to time takes the prize for being the class clown, and the fellow who will sell his support to the highest bidder.  Earlin Williams, Mr. Moncur’s sometimes comrade has left his side, in pursuit of capitalism.  Nicholas Jacques has a real job and is the leader of a real group of people.  Cassius Stuart, now leader of the BDM, is more intelligent than many of these people, and in a kind of different class, certainly a different generation.  But he risks putting himself in that category of persons doomed to irrelevance if there is not some switching to the centre and soon.  Randol Fawkes, made a great contribution early in his life, but near the end of his life had become so mercurial and eccentric that it was only his early years that saved him from being dismissed as irrelevant.

When the PLP lost power, Rodney Moncur seemed to be on their side.  He ran for the post of leader of the Bahamas Taxi Cab Union and was defeated.  But they gave him the right to represent them on the PLPs National General Council, the governing body of the party.  You would have thought that at last he had found room at the centre of politics, a niche from which he could wangle his way into a seat in the Senate or maybe even into the House of Assembly.  But it wasn’t long before that mercurial bug took over again, and he was off attacking the PLP, attacking the Union and then he was bounced out.  His latest effort to bring down the Presidency of the Union failed miserably and he had largely disappeared from his beloved headlines.

But last week on Monday 19th April, he was back with a vengeance.  After trying desperately around town to peddle his extreme views on Haiti, and with no one listening, he somehow got Wendall Jones to allow him on to his radio station.  And he performed up to standard.  He asserted as a fact that the shooting of Francoise Newry, wife of the Bahamian Ambassador to Haiti in Port au Prince market was an assassination attempt.  He said that the Newrys should not have gone to Haiti because Mrs. Newry was a distant cousin of ousted President Jean Bertrand Aristide.  He said that compromised their independence.  Then he said that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was responsible for a demonstration by Haitians in support of President Aristide in The Bahamas.  The next day the Minister of Foreign Affairs Fred Mitchell denounced him as irresponsible, inflammatory and a liar.  He was threatened with expulsion from the radio station’s premises in the middle of the show by its owner if he did not apologize to Pastor Simeon Hall of New Covenant Baptist Church for making an unseemly accusation against Bishop Hall that won’t be repeated here.

But all of that is Rodney Moncur.  He had gotten the headlines again, the attention he had been dying for.  His views have to become more and more extreme in order to get attention.  He has not in this latest episode failed to oblige.

The real act of irresponsibility though must be that of the radio station for inviting him on in the first place.  It is not like the radio station is not familiar with him, his style and what he would do.  But we have a culture today influenced by The Punch and The Source and other low life newspapers that encourages this kind of pastiche of exhibitionism that passes for lobbying on public policy.
There is freedom of speech but it is axiomatic that freedom comes with responsibility.  There is no right to incite violence.  What Mr. Moncur did borders on that.

We can be sure that we have not heard the last of him.  No doubt there will come some more extreme histrionics in the not too distant future.  But a man, who must be near his fiftieth birthday, if not over fifty, with grown children and probably grandchildren ought to really stop and examine his behaviour to figure out why he is still on the fringes, an irrelevancy and a bit of entertainment in the great political debate.  It is sad really because had his activism made the turn to centrist’s actions, he could well have made a great contribution to the public policy of The Bahamas.  But to each his own.

Number of hits for the week ending Saturday 24th April 2004 at midnight: 47,171.

Number of hits for the month of April up to Saturday 24th April 2004 at midnight: 172,757.

Number of hits for the year 2004 up to Saturday 24th April 2004 at midnight: 844,899.


CONTACT US AT E-MAIL:placid_point@yahoo.com

MORE DEMONSTRATIONS FOR NINETY
    On Wednesday 21st April, there were demonstrations again in the public square seeking to put pressure on the Government with regard to the extradition of Samuel ‘Ninety’ Knowles.
    You should know that the order for surrender of Mr. Knowles was signed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs on 7th April.  That order was stayed by the Courts until the hearing of another application by Mr. Knowles to prevent extradition.  Mr. Knowles is charging that he will not get a fair trail in the United States because of his designation as a drug kingpin by President George Bush.
    The demonstrators are seeking to poison the debate, however.  They say that foreign countries should not try to force The Bahamas to commit acts that are not in the national interest.  We agree except we believe that it is in the national interest to extradite Mr. Knowles.
    The demonstrators were seen by Prime Minister Perry Christie who told them that while we all have the right to our point of view, we must not get carried away by hysteria, and ruin the efficacy of our arguments because of getting carried away by hysteria.  Well said! Tribune photo of Prime Minister Perry Christie chatting with demonstrators in Rawson Square by Dominic Duncombe.
Top
 
 

A FOREIGN MINISTER’S MEETING
    Foreign Ministers of the Caricom countries minus Haiti met in Barbados under the Chairmanship of Dame Billie Miller, Barbados’ Foreign Minister over two days 22nd and 23rd April.  This was the Council of Foreign and Community Relations (COFCOR).  The agenda was dominated by Haiti, and the fact that Haiti still remains outside the Councils of Caricom.
    A core group of Heads of Government meet in special caucus under the Chairmanship of Baldwin Spencer, the new Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda on 4th and 5th May.  It is expected then that the special envoy to Haiti will be approved and that the way forward on Haiti’s participation in Caricom will be mapped.
 
 

WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED IN HAITI
    The Minister of Foreign Affairs Fred Mitchell made a communication to the House of Assembly on Wednesday 21st April on the known facts of what happened in Haiti as regards the shooting of the wife of Ambassador Eugene Newry and the Royal Bahamas Police Force bodyguard Sgt. Mitchelet Meronard.  In order to do so, the Government had to ask the leave of the House and its unanimous consent to interpose the communication, since the House was already in the middle of a debate on the Weights and Measures Bill.
    When Brent Symonette, the Opposition’s leader for House business got to his feet to respond to Government Leader Vincent Peet's request, he said the Opposition was refusing because there was nothing new to tell the House, the story already having been told to him by the Minister (Mr. Symonette is Opposition spokesman on Foreign Affairs) and further that it had already been aired in the press.
    The Member of Parliament for St. Margaret’s Pierre Dupuch immediately rose and said that he found it incredible that on a matter of national importance such as the shooting of a Bahamian diplomat's wife for the first time in the history of the country, the FNM would seek to block it.  Notwithstanding that it had been published in the press, the Minister had a responsibility to the people by way of the House not to the press.  Mr. Dupuch asked them to rethink their position.
    Larry Cartwright, representative for Long Island and Ragged Island rose to make the same request and statement.  The Minister added that he was leaving that day for Barbados for the meeting of Foreign Ministers of the Caribbean and that if the FNM maintained its position the record would show that they were blocking the obligation of the Government to the House.
    An embarrassed FNM, having been put on the defensive that they were blocking the Minister's responsibility to inform the House at the earliest opportunity of the matters in Haiti, backed down.  ‘Why didn’t you say so?’ was what they seemed to be saying.  Mr. Symonette said that if only he had been told the Minister had to travel, he would have yielded.  That said, the Minister made his communication and you may click here for the full story.  Oh what a web we weave, when first we practice to deceive.
 
 

A PERIPATETIC POLITICAL JACK-IN-THE BOX?
    The phrase peripatetic political jack-in-the box was one used by Foreign Minister Fred Mitchell to describe Rodney Moncur.  The phrase was used by the Foreign Minister during his appearance on Love 97’s Issues of The Day.  Some said that they went scrambling to the dictionary to find out what it meant.  The phrase is not one that originates with the Minister Foreign Affairs.  It was first heard by the Bahamian public during the Pindling administration serving from 1977 to 1982.  Paul Adderley, the former Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Attorney General, first used the phrase to describe Henry Bostwick who had served as the Leader of the Opposition for a time after the 1977 General Election.  Mr. Bostwick had been a PLP, an FNM, a BDP, and then an FNM again.  Thus Mr. Adderley’s description of a peripatetic political jack-in-the box.  It means some one who pops up in different political guises all over the place.
Top
 
 

WHAT SHOULD OUR HAITI STRATEGY BE?
    Haiti is not so complicated an issue for The Bahamas that it is beyond our ability to assist.  You have the scaremongers and the ignorant engaged in public commentary that has injured the cause.  But those who know better must persevere.  First, the Haitian issue is not one that can be solved in the classic sense of the word.  It requires constant management.  To that extent Secretary General Kofi Annan of the United Nations is correct that the international community abandoned Haiti in its earlier interventions.  Mr. Annan has argued that the UN must be in it for the long term.  The country that needs to learn that lesson most of all is the United States.  Its policy makers have failed to recognize that they committed a most egregious breach of faith with its Caricom partners over Haiti.
    Now that the United States is in Haiti, in its enthusiasm for the thing to succeed, they are trying to bully an embarrassed Caricom into accepting a regime that Caricom finds odious and a process that it finds flawed.  Caricom itself must certainly move on because events in Haiti and the hemisphere are moving on.  But we think that it is incumbent upon the United States to find the way to cut through the thicket of recriminations and act like the moral power that it is supposed to be.
    Perhaps then what The Bahamas policy ought to be is to act as an honest broker between the harsh judgments of our neighbours to the south on this issue and the silly recriminations of our neighbours to the north, and maybe just maybe the Haitian people will be the beneficiaries.
Top
 
 

A MISGUIDED GUARDIAN EDITORIAL

    The Nassau Guardian ran an editorial on Thursday 22nd April in under the headline: INFLAMMATORY RHETORIC.  The editorial said that there could be more to the shooting of Francoise Newry than the Minister of Foreign Affairs is telling the Bahamian people at this time.  It then went on to list that because Mrs. Newry chose not have the bullet removed in Haiti, because there was a list of dignitaries from Haiti at the hospital to wish Mrs. Newry well in Haiti and because there was a threatening phone call and because there was a convoy taking the diplomats to the airport, no one could believe the Minister’s story.
    The Nassau Guardian was giving aid and comfort to the Rodney Moncur School of conspiracy.  Stan Burnside had a cartoon to support the view on 23rd April 2004.  The Ministry of Foreign Affairs immediately issued a statement challenging the Nassau Guardian.  You may click here for the full response of the Ministry.
 
 

THE DPM SAYS SHE’S LEAVING IN 2007
    Deputy Prime Minister Cynthia ‘Mother’ Pratt kind of stunned the nation when she told the country by way of radio that she had no interest in running in the 2007 general elections.  Whatever she said precisely, the Nassau Guardian ran a headline that said that she was not running in the 2007 General Election.  While, the talk has been going around for some time, it was still a surprise to hear it first hand and personal.
    Here is what the Nassau Guardian reported that Mrs. Pratt said on the programme Parliament Street on Island FM last Sunday 18th April:
    “At present Anthony [Delaney talk show host] I have no interest.  God directs my life, but for me, I have no interest in running again.  In 2007, we don’t know if we are going to be here, so we have to just take it one day at a time, and if God decides that is what happens.”
    On the question of an appointment as Governor General here is what she said in her own words:
    “Everybody knows except me.  I am ready to serve my country in any capacity.  Whatever God wants me to do, that is what will happen, I am not caught up on whether I am on the hill or if I am not.  It does not matter and my objective is to serve.”
 
 

THE TRIBUNE ATTACKS THE PLP
    On Monday 19th April, The Tribune returned to its old tricks again by attacking the PLP as facilitating drug trafficking in The Bahamas.  They used the excuse of Keod Smith’s unfortunate intervention in the House of Assembly, which he was warned would be interpreted as being in favour of drug dealer Samuel ‘Ninety’ Knowles. (Click here for the story on Keod Smith).
    Now comes The Tribune in predictable fashion to use Mr. Smith’s speech as a launching pad for dredging up history and claiming that this means that the PLP of today has a pall of facilitating drug trafficking against it.  Only in the minds of The Tribune.  The facts speak otherwise.  It is a fact that the largest drug busts have been since the PLP came back to office.  It is a fact that the volume of extradition requests came under this now PLP administration and they are being dealt with expeditiously.
    The people who are now being prosecuted for drug offences did so and gained their wealth when the FNM was the Government.  We are not as stupid as The Tribune as to suggest that because Samuel ‘Ninety’ Knowles and Dwight Major and his wife Keva (their extradition case moved a step closer this week when a magistrate said they have a case to answer) made their drug wealth under the FNM that the FNM was responsible for it and that the Government of Mr. Ingraham is drug smeared.  Yet that is what The Tribune’s editorial of Monday 19th April would have us believe.  Hogwash!  It won’t wash.  It is a lie.
 
 

IAN STRACHAN GETS MARRIED

    Perhaps one of the nation’s most eligible bachelors is now off the market.  Ian Strachan, the Ph D playwright, lecturer and social commentator got married to his beau of some standing LaTasha Antoinette nee Joseph at Christian Life Church on Sea Breeze Lane on Saturday 17th April.  Peter Ramsay was there and recorded the nuptials with his camera.  Congratulations to Ian!
Top
 
 

PROBLEMS WITH BATELCO
    For those of you who are living overseas and have found it difficult to get through to home with the most annoying tones or some stupid recording saying all circuits are busy, the reason is that a ship has for the third time cut the cable between The Bahamas and the U.S. near Freeport.  The telephone company says that the cable ship won’t reach The Bahamas until Tuesday 27th April.  Hmm!  That’s the anniversary of Black Tuesday.  Until then good luck with your phone calls.
 
 

ELECTRICITY SUPPLY NOT TO BE OUTDONE
    Notwithstanding BEC's pledge that power cuts will stop in Nassau, the power outages continue with annoying regularity in the eastern area of Nassau.  Freeport was plunged into darkness by the Freeport Power Company on the evening of Friday 23rd April, and again on Saturday all afternoon and into the night of 24th April.  No generator in the Our Lucaya Resort so the whole place was in darkness and no restaurant service because there was no light in the kitchen.  Ah the glories of life in the third world!
 
 

INGRAHAM COMING BACK
    It seems that the politics of The Bahamas proves each day the adage in politics that the memory of the people is short.  Just a few short years ago; the people of the country threw out Hubert Ingraham and the Free National Movement because of his bull headedness as he governed the country.  The only opinion that counted was his and he did whatever he wanted come what may.
    Perry Christie, the now Prime Minister came to office with the promise that before making decisions he would consult widely to get a sense of where the country was at any particular moment.  Now the chorus of disapproval comes that he takes too long to make decisions and that the PLP is doing nothing.  The Prime Minister himself had enough when he denounced the people making silly comments about this from silly minds.
    Hubert Ingraham’s memory too is short.  He is now trying to base a comeback on the talk going around town during mid term blues that nothing is being done.  People simply don’t want to see what is being done we think.  Shane Gibson’s record in housing has already outstripped the FNM’s entire time in office.  (Minister Gibson is shown accepting the joy of a new owner of Government housing in this Bahama Journal photo by Omar Barr).  The FNM wanted to make an issue of the PLP’s first 18 months in office and how often the Senate met.  They had to drop the issue when they discovered that the FNM convened the Senate less than the PLP during its first 18 months in office.  But then again some people don’t let the facts interfere with a good story.
    The word is that Mr. Ingraham is actively campaigning to come back as leader.  The word is that Tommy Turnquest will step aside for him.  If he does, that will be a silly decision.  Why would a comfortable, retired man want to come back take the abuse that goes with his attempt that is almost certainly bound to fail?
    According to The Tribune, Mr. Ingraham caused a stir by the words which follow as reported by The Tribune (no doubt it caused a stir in the boardroom of The Tribune where they can just see the dollars rolling in) to the Grand Bahama Association of Administrative Professionals (formerly secretaries) at the Crown Plaza Gold Resort and Casino on Thursday 22 April 2004:
    “Now I am listening.  And some people say I’m not talking enough.  Perhaps one day I’ll get it right.  The welfare and betterment of The Bahamas remains my obsession, my only obsession.  And so I say as long as those who are in, advance The Bahamas and all its people, people like me, who are out, will be comfortable with our station in life.  I say no more today.”
    Give it a rest!  P. ‘Shuteye’ Dorsett ran a cartoon on Saturday 24th April in the Bahama Journal with an interesting and funny angle on Mr. Ingraham’s situation.
 
 

HENRY BOSTWICK WRITES
    The former President of the Senate and former Leader of the Opposition J. Henry Bostwick has written a letter to the press condemning any possible decision in favour of the various proposals by AES, Tractabel, and El Paso to build a gas pipeline from The Bahamas to Florida.  It mirrors our sentiments exactly and we publish an excerpt from his letter that first appeared in The Tribune on Monday 19th April:
    “Put very simply The Bahamas has nothing to gain from this devilish scheme, and without seeming to be melodramatic such an undertaking places Our Bahamas at the most perilous and unthinkable risks.  Hurricanes, floods, droughts, famines and other forms of pestilence may fade away.  The doom that this devilishness forebodes for us is irreversible and damnable.
    “It must not happen.  It cannot happen.
    “Our Bahamas, given to us in trust, must be handed down to our succeeding generations no less habitable and beautiful than it was when we inherited it --- clean and pristine.”
 
 

BASIL JOHNSON – EX RAF DIES
    Every year, Basil Johnson sold poppies for the men and women of the British Legion.  It had become something of a quaint anachronism in later years, but the sacrifice of time and effort was important.  He had made a pledge along with many other Bahamians, not to forget the men and women who had died during the Second World War, his comrades at arms.  He had seen action over Europe during the war in an R.A.F. aircraft.  He made it out alive.  Others did not.  He had fought for freedom.  They died for it and their sacrifices could not be forgotten.  He defended the British Empire and the freedom that it gave him.  He would never forget his colleagues that paid the ultimate price.  Every year, he would come to the cenotaph on Parliament Street and lead the intonation: “We Will Remember Them.”
    Basil Johnson joined the RAF in 1941.  He returned to The Bahamas with a British wife and raised a family of four children.  He was a man of great bearing and strong convictions.  He started the Bahamas Electrical Workers Union, led it for five years beginning in 1958.  He was a strong churchman; a regular figure until recently at St. Agnes Anglican Church in Grant Town where he and his whole family went to church from he was a child.  He was the quintessential gentleman, a ladies man when he was younger, and certainly cut a dashing figure well into his older years.
    The Johnsons are related to the Mitchells (as in Fred Mitchells).  The Mitchells lived in Bain Town.  The Johnsons in Grants Town.  The mothers of the two families were Weeches, and were sisters.  The two sets of children were more like brothers and sisters.
    Basil Johnson, RAF man, an old soldier faded away and left this mortal life into the next on Wednesday 21st April after a long battle with prostate cancer.  He was 84 years old.  We will never forget him.  He is survived by his son Ivan, the publisher and editor of The Punch; daughters Felicity, Janet and Jill.  His wife Eunice predeceased him.
 
 

CONDOLENCES
    Condolences to Greg Stuart of North Eleuthera on the death of his seven month son. This is an unspeakable tragedy and loss.  We mourn with him.  Prime Minister Perry Christie and Mrs. Christie attended the funeral on Saturday 24th April.
 
 

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
    This week, we feature a short, but to-the-point letter from a writer signed as ‘Conrad’, who takes issue with a disgruntled German investor.
German Jerk
    Should anyone take anything seriously what this German jerk has to say? ... The Bahamas was a world class destination for investors before him and will be one after him!
 
 

THIS WEEK WITH THE PM

    Among the photo opportunities this week with Prime Minister Perry Christie were the opening of a new Government Housing Subdivision with Minister of Housing & National Insurance Shane Gibson and a major address by Mr. Christie to a conference of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) being hosted in The Bahamas by Minister of Labour and Immigration Vincent Peet.  BIS Photos by Peter Ramsay.