Compiled, edited and constructed by Russell Dames Updated every Sunday at 2 p.m.
Volume 2 © BahamasUncensored.Com
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| PHOTO OF THE WEEK - At last, the Bahamas Hotel Catering and Allied Workers Union and the Bahamas Hotel Employers Association have signed the agreement that brings to an end an acrimonious and bitter dispute, bitterest in all the decades of the existence of what has to be the biggest and best Union in The Bahamas. Pat Bain, its President, can savour the moment. The Kerzners, owners of Atlantis at Paradise Island, who drove a hard bargain, hiding behind the skirts of weaker properties, can now go on to rake in the cash in peace for five years. There is a lot of bitter water under the bridge. The deal was signed on Wednesday 28th January. Total for the deal over five years is 17 million dollars. Atlantis at Paradise Island makes three times that in one financial quarter. Mr. Bain was not gracious in victory. He launched a missile straight at the Prime Minister for suggesting that the laws ought to be changed because of the Union's behaviour over the past dispute. For this and many other reasons, this seemed to be the photo of the week and Patrick Hanna of the Nassau Guardian seemed to capture it best in his photo that appeared in the Nassau Guardian on Thursday 29th January. |
COMMENT OF THE WEEK
OF BUTCH AND PAT
There
must be some kind of occupational disease going around in the hotel industry.
Some are calling it, put foot in mouth. The headline was startling
on Monday 26th January. The Nassau Guardian led with the story: PHASE
III ON HOLD. Below it there was a picture of Butch Kerzner, the Kerzner
Jr. that runs Atlantis at Paradise Island, the country’s biggest employer
save the government, and the country’s largest single investor. The
Prime Minister was counting on the jobs and the money would come from Phase
III at Atlantis. The company was to have started building in July
of this year. From the headline, it appeared that things were on
hold.
The next thing we know Butch is in his newspaper, The Tribune, saying that he never said it, and that the project was going full steam ahead. But the problem is that while the Nassau Guardian may be guilty of editorializing, the import of what he actually said was the same thing. He said that he and his father had made it clear that if the Government did not proceed with building a new airport that they would not proceed with Phase III. You are talking about a 600 million dollar investment going down the drain. That is no joke. Mr. Kerzner said that he could not hear anything from the Government about what was happening at the airport. Turned out that is not true either. Mr. Kerzner's father is said to have been told by the Prime Minister exactly what was happening with the airport. And in any event, if they hadn’t heard, there is a way to collect information from the Government especially when you have invested one billion dollars in the country, and especially since you and your representatives must speak to the Government every day.
Was it a coincidence that this announcement came hard on the heels of a speculative story about a new development taking place on Cable Beach? The story is that the Crystal Palace is to be sold and the new developer is to put a massive Las Vegas style casino and hotel at the Cable Beach strip. That investment would dwarf the investment of Sun. The Government should really try to get that one but because after this week’s headline it is clear that Paradise Island is not beyond economic blackmail.
The Nassau Guardian later in the week apologized for misquoting Mr. Kerzner. Keep those advertising dollars coming, or more charitably, let us say that it was responsible journalism in the face of a technical, rather than a substantive error. The Tribune was busy crowing the next day its own set of lies in the story that trotted out as they slavishly follow the will of the Kerzners. The Tribune said that Mr. Christie who responded vigorously to Mr. Kerzner’s ambush the same day was embarrassed when he realized that he had spoken before knowing that what Mr. Kerzner said was not true. That in itself was a lie. But The Tribune has its own standard for lies (See story WHAT HAPPENED IN HAITI). We leave that there.
On
the other side of the divide was Pat Bain, the labour leader. Mr.
Bain is in charge of the largest and most successful union in The Bahamas.
He is supposed to be a friend of the PLP and the PLP a friend of the Labour
movement. Part of the problem why the negotiations took so long to
settle is that the union which has more money than it knows what to do
with, is not run like a modern business with proper legal and public relations
advice. The negotiators were sometimes shocked at the table
that a union with all the expertise that was available and could be made
available to it, still seemed to be guessing as it moved forward.
But that is not the problem. For us, it just seemed a little strange the attack on the Prime Minster for daring to suggest that the law might be changed to stop sick outs and other wildcat strike action. We did not agree with that but it is the Prime Minister's right if he so desires to talk about changes in the law. You would have thought Mr. Christie had robbed a bank for suggesting it.
But it goes further, Mr. Bain said in his statement that the Prime Minister and his Ministers were flying all over the place trying to help other people solve their problems instead of staying at home to solve the problems at home. No doubt, that was an attack on the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Prime Minister for their recent engagement in the situation in Haiti. After something like that, you have to ask: “What is intelligent thought in this country coming to?” How can an intelligent man make such a patently silly statement?
It must be apparent to even the most casual Bahamian observer that the work being done with Haiti and the rest of the Caricom countries is being done to help Bahamians. It will serve no one’s interest if Haiti implodes as a result of the instability and neglect of the world. The Bahamas, least of all, could afford to let the problem simply slip by without trying to do something to ease the tension. In the simplest of equations: dollar for dollar the money spent by The Bahamas in pursuing the beginnings of a solution in Haiti is far outweighed by the current and potential cost to the country of a failed Haitian state.
They say that the Lord works in mysterious ways. But it seems to us that there is no mystery at all as to the confluence of Pat Bain as the employee and Butch Kerzner as the employer. Both seem to shoot off their mouths half cocked sometimes. It results in painful lessons. But we need them both anyhow. It also reinforces the freedom and democracy we have. We wish them well anyhow. We just wish they will continue to think of the best interest of this country as they move their individual agendas forward.
Number of hits for the week ending Saturday 31st January 2004 at midnight: 48,208.
Number of hits for the month of January up to Saturday 31st January 2004 at midnight: 183,637.
Number of hits for the year 2004 up to Saturday 31st January 2004 at midnight: 183,637.
WHAT
HAPPENED IN HAITI
And now for another surprise about Haiti.
This time it is whether or not there was an attack on The Bahamas embassy
in Haiti. On Wednesday morning 28th January, The Tribune, the lyingest
newspaper in The Bahamas beside The Punch, published the headline: BAHAMAS
EMBASSY ATTACKED. The Tribune claimed that a large number of Haitian
protesters shook the Embassy gates on Tuesday 27th January at Port au Prince.
The only problem is that in the Nassau Guardian of Wednesday 28th January
on the same day of The Tribune’s report, printed a complete denial in a
story by Mindell Small, quoting Jerome Sawyer, the Island FM reporter who
was on the scene in Haiti for the demonstration. The Tribune did
not say where it got its information.
At the meeting of the House of Assembly that morning,
the Minister of Foreign Affairs Fred Mitchell calmly told the House that
the information that he had, showed that the report of The Tribune was
factually incorrect. He based his report on a letter that was sent
by the Bahamas Ambassador to Haiti Dr. Eugene Newry. Dr. Newry said
that it was absolutely untrue. He said that what The tribune reported
was not true.
Where did The Tribune’s story come from? The
next day in a feeble attempt to try and defend their lies, they said they
relied on what a ZNS reporter had said on the Broadcasting Corporation's
News service on the Tuesday evening 27th January. They did not bother
to say their source in the story or to get the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
to find out whether or not it was true, or at least get their side of the
story.
The ZNS reporter said that a crowd of five to six
hundred Haitians attacked the embassy in Port au Prince. They shook
the gates and shouted anti Caricom and anti Bahamas statements. She
said the crowd then turned its vengeance on Ambassador Newry and his wife
who were arriving in their SUV by shaking the car. Again, we say
the Ambassador said the entire matter was untrue.
No doubt there will have to be an investigation
as to what happened and who did what. But part of the answer is in
future to take anything we learn from The Tribune with a grain of salt.
You may click here for the Minister’s version
of the facts as revealed to the House of Assembly.
LESLIE
MILLER ON OUR HERITAGE
It is always interesting to discover a new dimension of a personality in
The Bahamas. Leslie Miller, the Member of Parliament for Blue Hills,
gave a moving and revealing address in the House of Assembly on Wednesday
28th January. The House was considering the bill to establish a trust
corporation to hold the Clifton property, the last undeveloped land in
New Providence. The site is to become a national park where the remains
of the Lucayan culture (the aboriginal culture of The Bahamas), the Loyalist
culture and the slave culture can be found.
Mr. Miller who is not known for these kinds of addresses,
gave a well researched presentation and embraced the concept of African
heritage, an unusual fact in a society where as a brown skinned man, he
could easily have joined many others in the country denying their African
heritage. The entire debate about Clifton was enhanced by the contribution
of the Minister.
This year on 1st August, The Bahamas will mark the
170th anniversary of the abolition of slavery. The United Nations
Education Scientific Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has designated this
year as the year for the remembrance of slavery. The debate on Clifton
and its contribution to the heritage of The Bahamas caused many an MP to
call to mind the history of our country and the role that Africans played
in building up the common life. We think Mr. Miller made an invaluable
contribution to the debate.
CLIFTON
BILL COMES TO PARLIAMENT
It seemed just like yesterday when the then Leader of the Opposition Perry
Christie (now Prime Minister) stood on a beach at Clifton and announced
that if The Bahamas government granted a permit to develop the last undeveloped
site in Nassau where the heritage of the Bahamian cultures could be found,
that if he became Prime Minister he would revoke the permits. Click
here for that speech. Mr. Christie is now Prime Minister and
a bill is now before the House of Assembly to establish the Clifton Heritage
Trust.
The Trust will act like a public corporation.
It will have the power to raise some 18 million dollars for the purpose
of a public park, and the money will finally go to Nancy Oakes who lost
her land to Government acquisition more than a decade ago but has not yet
been paid for it. The environmentalists are generally happy but there
are some problems that they pointed out and the Government is likely to
make some amendments to the Bill.
Sam Duncombe, ever the dissenter, is most unhappy.
Her view is that there was not sufficient consultation on the bill by the
Government. But the bill was passed last Wednesday and now goes into
Committee for any finishing touches. Presumably Ms. Duncombe will
have more to say then. Senator C. B. Moss who was head of one of
the “Save Clifton” groups said that he and his organization had not been
consulted either. Well there is still time. Nassau Guardian
photo of Coalition to Save Clifton's Senator Rev. C.B. Moss and Fred Munnings
by Donald Knowles.
PM
IN JAMAICA FOR MORE HAITI TALKS
Prime Minister Perry Christie was in Kingston, Jamaica on Friday 30th January
to Sunday 1st February. The reason was to join fellow Caricom Prime
Ministers P.J. Patterson of Jamaica, Patrick Manning of Trinidad and Kenny
Anthony of St. Lucia. Despite severe criticisms from all of their
respective publics, the Prime Ministers feel an obligation to help Haiti
out of its present problems. The matter has become so serious with
Opposition supporters taking to the streets every day, threatening the
continued rule of the elected government of President Jean Bertrand Aristide.
President Aristide is engaged in a near death struggle with the Opposition
that say he is repressive and dictatorial and must go or else. They
refuse to negotiate with him and say they will not stop until he is gone.
The question is whether the measures that President
Aristide has promised his fellow heads to take under threat of sanctions
from Caricom will be enough to save his presidency so that he will be able
to serve out his constitutional mandate which runs out on 7th February
2006. He said at a press conference in Jamaica that he will quit
on that date and he assured the public that his wife will not run either
to succeed him, that she has no interest in becoming the President of Haiti.
The US, Canada, the Organization of American States and the European Union
are all watching with wary and weary eyes as the process unfolds.
Everyone is hoping that with Caricom being an organization of small nations,
with mainly black populations that this will persuade President Aristide
to move the process that will bring peace to Haiti.
The Prime Minister of The Bahamas pronounced himself
pleased with the outcome. Please click
here for the text of the Prime Minister’s news brief upon his return to
Nassau.
Foreign Minister Fred Mitchell is to lead a further
mission to Haiti beginning on Tuesday 3rd February to brief the Opposition
on the proposals put together in Kingston and to say what President Aristide
has agreed to do. Now comes the hard part of whether or not this
will be enough to get the Opposition to the bargaining table. The
chief aim is to put in place immediately the rules for demonstrations so
that the two sides have a fair chance to show their relative strengths
in the society without violence. We shall see!
PICTURES
OF THE CARICOM INITIATIVE IN PROGRESS
It is unusual for The Bahamas to be so prominent
on the world stage, but the last several weeks have seen the comings and
goings of regional leaders and the representatives of great nations.
All
our interested in whether or not Caricom and The Bahamas can succeed where
others have failed in finding a positive solution to the political crisis
in Haiti. Bahamas Information Services Peter Ramsay has chronicled
the efforts at moving the so called 'Caricom Initiative' thus far. Please
click here.
SIDS
CONFERENCE IN NASSAU
Minister for the Environment Marcus Bethel was the
host of the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) conference that was held
in Nassau from Monday 26th January to Friday 30th January. The conference
was a preparatory regional conference for the main event that is to be
held in Mauritius in August.
Mauritius is a country like The Bahamas that will
feel the effects of climate change and other environmental damage and in
August countries with similar threats are getting together to see where
they have come from since the Barbados Plan of Action was launched in Bridgetown
in 1994.
Most speakers seemed to think that while there were
a lot of pretty words in Barbados, there has not been much progress on
doing what is necessary to do to promote sustainable development.
In many ways the situation got worse over the last ten years.
Prime Minister Perry Christie did not seem to be
in a good mood over the matter. As he opened the conference, he took
a different tack, saying that while the erudite diplomats were sitting
in the air conditioned comfort of the Radisson in their suits, talking
about climate change and invasive species, nations like Dominica were having
a hard time making ends meet, and other nations had people who could not
find food to eat.
COMPLAINTS
ABOUT THE SOURCE
Last week, we did a story in which we revealed whom
we believe to be the source of the recent crop of stories are that have
suddenly begun appearing in the smut press The Punch and The Source.
We won’t repeat that but we think that it was interesting to see the complaints
reported in the main stream press The Tribune on one of its jump pages
decrying the fact that The Source published a picture of an impaled tourist
who died as a result of tragic traffic accident in Freeport. An unnamed
source went to The Tribune to complain about the fact that The Source newspaper
published the distasteful picture on its front page.
We think that if people would only stop buying the
trash then there would no complaint because the bloody newspaper would
be out of business. The fact that people like the complainant still
read it and buy it emboldens them to print such trash and gore through
its pages, upsetting families and libelling others.
There appears to be a writer at the Source who has
been running a series of stories about this web site. The stories
though factually incorrect are passably written, like from an aspiring
political writer. It is a pity that a person with that kind of potential
would be wasting his time on a trashy paper like that instead of getting
a real job a real paper. Oh well!
EMILY
DEMERITTE ORDAINED
Kendal Demeritte, whom we all know as Funky Demeritte,
confidante of Prime Minister Perry Christie is married to a beautiful lady
Emily Demeritte. Mrs. Demeritte is one of the best Human Resources
officers in the country. She is a fine person. Now to add to
her beauty, brains and personality is the work of God. Mrs. Demeritte
is now an ordained Methodist minister. The Caribbean version of the
Methodist Church in The Bahamas ordained Mrs. Demeritte as the first female
Minister of that church in The Bahamas last Sunday 25th January at Rhodes
Memorial Church. The Nassau Guardian carried a photo of the occasion
on its front page on Monday 26th January. Congratulations to the
Demerittes and their family. Mrs. Demeritte is the sister of Director
of Legal Affairs Rhonda Bain. Photo by Letisha Henderson
JAMES
SMITH ON NEW TAX SYSTEM
James Smith, the Minister of State for Finance, is on a smooth but relentless
campaign to change the way we do our tax business in The Bahamas.
Mr. Smith has been talking up the idea of Value Added Tax to replace the
present system of customs duties, which he describes as a tax on international
trade. While the move for this is largely being driven by the fact
of the Caribbean Single Market and Economy, the Free Trade Agreement of
the Americas and the World Trade Organization accessions all coming within
two years, Mr. Smith says what John Rolle of the Central Bank first said
to the civil society group at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs two years
ago.
Mr. Smith says that the present tax system is inadequate
to support the demands of the Bahamian public. We need to find other
sources of revenue. And so we thought when Mr. Smith laid out the
whole case for VAT as it is called, this was an opportune time to allow
you to read the case for it. You may click
here.
LETTERS
TO THE EDITOR
A letter writer who is an American resident of Harbour
Island and who was a frequent writer to the column when it was called fredmitchelluncensored.com
felt moved to respond to our piece last week on the US elections.
We do not have the express permission to use the name. Here is what
he had to say:
I know you are making you observations from afar, so that may seriously affect your conclusions. As one who has been an intimate player for over 30 years in the Iowa early presidential process and politics in America for almost 40 years, I can tell you that you are dead wrong in your assessment of Gov. Dean. Dean's main 3 point campaign of (1) honesty in matters of going to war, (2) balancing the budget, and (3) health care for all is a winning formula in the US and for those abroad. Dean has accomplished these very points himself in his past performance in governance. It's not just political hype.
Any of the other Democratic candidates are better than Bush the Usurper. Many of my Bahamian acquaintances, like the big time media that finally got out of their plush eastern offices, found that BUSH IS REALLY NOT LIKED by many Americans and his policies are rejected by most, even thoughtful Republicans. Don't believe everything in the media! Those 12 million war protesters in 700 cities and 70 countries on last February 15, 2003, like Dean, were right.
The War death, carnage and attendant billions of expenses were unnecessary, and that alone should remove both Bush and Blair from any levers of power.
Dean is a candidate that the establishment cannot control, and for them it means he must be stopped. They did it to Hart, Buchanan, and McCain, among others in the recent past in America. The sub rosa attacks in those campaigns were unbelievably vicious and nasty in order to keep the status quo.
Bahamians, and a PLP supporter in particular, should have more empathy for small state upstart Governors, who would do more for small upstart countries like the Bahamas. Remember the OECD attack on your upstart finance and banking system?
The powers that be want all of us to have nowhere to go for protection
from their greed and lust for power and domination. Take another
look, please?
[We are so grateful that an American has stood
up with another perspective. We really thought that the dissenters
had lost their voices. We can't say who will be best for the US but
traditionally relations between The Bahamas and the US have fared better
on a personal level with a Democrat in office. We have to live with
whomever is elected. What is your guess as to who will win the election?
Does Dean really have a chance? Ed.]
COLINA
SUING THE JOURNAL
Would you believe it? A few weeks ago we tried to
send a warning to the Colina executives not to fool around with suing the
Bahama Journal because they could end up like Oscar Wilde, setting the
stage for their own destruction. You may click
here for the original story. The hard press is on with some employees
claiming that in the take over of Canada Life, they are being short changed
on their severance pay and that the company in Canada is threatening to
fire everyone in The Bahamas if the Government does not approve the sale.
The Government is bombarded with lobbying efforts by the Colina group to
get the sale approved. Now Wendall Jones of the Journal will have
his day in court to expose what he says is a bad deal. We think that
this is just a gag writ to stop the Journal from talking adversely about
it at all. The key is that the writ also has a request to restrain
the Journal by injunction from printing anything about the matter until
trial. Hmmm!
ANGLICAN
ARCHBISHOP HONOURED
The glitterati were out in full force on Friday
night 30th January for the Jones Communications / Bahama Journal Man of
the Year banquet. This year, publisher and CEO Wendall Jones' organisation
named the Anglican Archbishop the Most Reverend Drexel Gomez. Photo
(left) of Wendall Jones and Archbishop Gomez by Peter Ramsay; photo (right)
of Archbishop Gomez and Bishop Neil Ellis by Derek Smith.
RED CROSS
PHOTOS
Last week, we promised a photo essay of the recent
Red Cross Ball. Led by this engaging image of former Governor General
Sir Orville Turnquest and Lady Turnquest 'shaking a leg', here
is the promised photo essay by Peter Ramsay.
THIS
WEEK WITH THE PM
Our photos this week of Prime Minister Christie
are (left) of Mr. Christie as he addressed the international conference
on Small Island Developing States (SIDS) [see
story above] and (right) of the Prime Minister addressing a conference
on Tourism as Minister Obie Wilchcombe, far right, and Deputy Director
General Vernica Walkine, centre, look on. Photos (left) Tribune
/ Tanya Cartwright; (right) Nassau Guardian / Donald Knowles.
NEWS
FROM GRAND BAHAMA
Searching for Answers...
Last Saturday 24th January as the weekly edition
of this column was being put to bed, there was a disturbing report out
of Freeport, Grand Bahama, that an explosion had taken place in the Grand
Bahama Shipyard and that four people were dead. The truth turned
out to be a little different.
What actually happened was that two men were welding
a tugboat in the repair yard. There was apparently a residue of fuel
in the boat. There was a small explosion and then a larger one.
One man got away but he could not warn the other man and the second man
perished in the explosion. Dead is 33 year old Wendell ‘Sarge’ Martin.
A bevy of Ministers of the Government rushed to
the scene, led by West End representative Obie Wilchcombe. He was
later joined by Glenys Hanna Martin, the Minister of Transport and by the
representative for the Marco City constituency Pleasant Bridgewater.
According to the press, they got an earful.
The men said that they resented the Members of Parliament
coming to the shipyard after the death because they had sent messages of
warning before to the MPs about safety and according to what they told
the press nothing had happened. Edward St. George, the Chairman of
the Grand Bahama Port Authority, a major shareholder in the shipyard also
got an earful.
The men said that nothing was being done to correct
the problems and called for immediate changes in the rules as they relate
to safety at the shipyard.
As we go to press this week, there is an investigation
into the matter. The name of the tugboat is the Caribe Merchant.
It now lies 47 feet under the water in the Freeport Harbour. Mr.
Martin was buried in Grand Bahama on Saturday 31st January.
A letter this week with specific reference to labour matters in Grand Bahama:
The Gaming Union vs. Royal Oasis Casino - Our Appeal To Minister Peet
The recent articles from the various newspapers on the Bahamas Gaming and Allied Workers Union concerning the latest move by the Management of the Royal Oasis Casino at union busting in Freeport clearly show a double standard in the Industrial Relations Laws of The Bahamas and its ability to provide protection for smaller unions in the country.
The Industrial Relations Act states in section 43(3) that where there is no industrial agreement in place after 12 months of negotiating twenty-five percent of the employees or the employer may make application for the Minister to make a decision for that union’s determination to be revoked. As in the case of the Gaming Union, the president accuses management of intentionally delaying the negotiations for over the 12 months, as they knew that a new casino was opening and they expected members of the Gaming Union to leave. Furthermore, that management of the Royal Oasis hired many new employees to replace the old ones. Then management on returning to the negotiations presented a letter to the Gaming Union president citing the above section 43(3) to have the Minister revoke his recognition of the Union.
The Gaming Union and the Royal Oasis Casino have already completed 95% of the contract with only the wage increases left. Why is an employer involved in the process of Bahamian employees right to have a union in the workplace that protects the rights of the employees from unscrupulous employers who do not want unions in their establishments?
It should only be the employees right to have a union removed as their representatives. Additionally, this law gives sinister employers the ability to frustrate smaller unions and cause untold hardship on the Bahamian employees (by firing and intimidating employees).
Minister Peet should not even entertain such a move by the Royal Oasis Management as it is clearly union busting and Bahamians will not be protected in the Casino Industry in Freeport or any other casino. (It worked in Nassau, ask Mr. Morris).
The owners of the Royal Oasis have reportedly caused untold hardship on those Bahamian employees of the resort from the day they purchased the resort from Princess Resorts. Something must be done once and for all about the situation in Freeport as Bahamians livelihood and ability to care for their families are in jeopardy. Honorable Minister of Labour and Immigration Mr. Peet should not take a poll as only Bahamian employees should have this right to question or apply for you to revoke a recognition of a union to represent them in the workplace.
The late Honorable Lynden Pindling, the father of our nation would never
allow unprincipled employers to take advantage of Bahamian workers at anytime
or anywhere in the Bahamas.
   |
| PHOTO OF THE WEEK - Foreign Minister Fred Mitchell was off on another jaunt to Haiti this week from Tuesday 3rd February to Thursday 5th February. The mission that he described on his return as difficult but intense did not seem to offer much hope. The Haitian Opposition remained resolute and they insisted the President Jean Bertrand Aristide of Haiti should resign forthwith. Before leaving the country, the Minister spoke to the media about what he was seeking to accomplish with the mission. All the newspapers gave the matter front page coverage complete with the photo of the Minister speaking to the press. It seemed a remarkable confluence of editorial views. And so we present the images of those headline stories from the newspapers as a montage making up the photo of the week. |
COMMENT OF THE WEEK
THE POLITICAL PLANS OF THE PLP
Raynard
Rigby, the Chairman of the PLP, led a seminar yesterday 7th February, with
the leaders of the branches of the Progressive Liberal Party throughout
New Providence. The idea is to get leaders of branches attuned to
what they ought to be doing as constituency leaders. It is time for
the political machine to start with some light training for the heavy work
that will have to done in less than three years.
The elections in the United States and the campaigns for the Democratic Party nominee in the next Presidential election should be a fascinating study of how to prepare for elections, particularly as it relates to sizing up your opponent and his or her views. U.S. President George W. Bush who most people think will win the next election hands down in November has his people now sizing up John Kerry and John Edwards as the potential team that will face Mr. Bush and Vice President Richard Cheney in the fall U.S. Presidential elections. The press in America is saying that the Bush political team is going over the records of these people with a fine tooth comb, and will attack them with a vengeance when the 2004 election campaign kicks off in earnest. Compare the 130 million dollars the US President is said to have to carry out this task, to the reports that the Democratic Party candidates are scrapping for money.
We
think that the PLP ought to be doing similar research. The Prime
Minister should put in place a special team that ought to have the job
of looking at the potential political landscape three years from now.
Who will emerge?
One thing seems clear and that is that Hubert Ingraham, the former Prime Minister, is still jonesing for power. The talk throughout all FNM circles is that he is once again persuaded that only he can save the Free National Movement from political oblivion. Tommy Turnquest, the now leader of the party, from his ignominious position in the Senate told the press that as far as he knows that is not true, and that Mr. Ingraham has pledged his support and has been very helpful to him as Leader. But the story is that in Mr. Ingraham's circles, they are saying: “Why give a child a job that a man must do?”
The potential field looks like either a Christie vs. Ingraham rematch or a Christie vs. Turnquest rematch. It is no slam-dunk to defeat them, given their access to money but cleverness and doing the right thing and good policies and the closeness of MPs to their constituents will do the trick. In other words, the same thing that got us elected in the first place.
It was good to see John Carey re-emerge as a political figure.
He seemed to have gone to ground. The reports coming 
from
his constituency that Senator Desmond Bannister was gaining ground were
not comforting. But during the past two weeks, there are signs of
renewed activity in Carmichael.
As the term settles in, it is imperative that MPs, both Ministers and backbenchers, take extra steps to reconnect with their constituencies, building on the lessons of the FNM's defeat and the PLP's victory in 2002.
The Government certainly has to help. The complaints about the slowness of making decisions and the seeming inability to be able to execute decisions quickly and to the benefit of supporters are still ringing in the ears of Ministers. All would do well to heed that lesson. The backbench must be given the ammunition to make sure that they retain their seats.
And so what the party did this past week is a good start at reconnecting to the base, and at preparing for the future. There is a need for a political conversation to take place with backbenchers and party officers as we share the vision of where the country ought to go as the next five years unfold.
The PLP has its candidate for the Prime Minister’s position in 2007: the Hon. Perry Christie. The FNM is still seeking to find one but we know who the potential leaders are. We must also be looking at who the younger ones coming up are likely to be. There are some bright young people waiting on the short line of the FNM. What are their weaknesses and strengths, and how can we defeat them in 2002? We should be thinking on those things.
Number of hits for the week ending Saturday 7th February 2004 at midnight: 49,325.
Number of hits for the month of February 2004 up to Saturday 7th February at midnight: 49,325.
Number of hits for the year 2004 up to Saturday 7th February at midnight: 232,962.
THE HAITI
DECISION
The Bahamas and Bahamians can be forgiven for asking the question: “What
is wrong with those people in Haiti?” There is a pervasive feeling
around The Bahamas that the Haitians do not want peace, that all they are
interested in is fighting and killing one another. In the northern
city of Gonaives, the so called Gonaives Liberation Front burnt down a
police station, killed a dozen people, injured scores more. They
did this on Thursday 5th February to force the ouster of Jean Bertrand
Aristide. They are the remains of the criminal gang of Amoit Metayer,
an estranged Aristide supporter who had turned to criminal behaviour, who
escaped from prison in Port au Prince and was not captured before he was
murdered.
The Opposition in Port-au-Prince has not said whether they support this
kind of stuff. Their silence appears to mean that they countenance
the violent overthrow of the Government. No Bahamian government,
no Caricom government can accept that and each Government has an obligation
to condemn it. The Bahamian Foreign Minister, trying as he might
to see his ever optimistic side, did not get much out of his visit to Haiti
on Tuesday 3rd February to Thursday 5th February. The Opposition
leaders were gracious but resolute. They do not want to talk to President
Aristide.
The Minister in his statement reported that the
Opposition believe that they have the President on the run and they want
the international community to get out of the way so that they can get
on with the fight. The Organization of American States (OAS) and
Caricom and the European Union with the United States and Canada have to
get together and quickly draw up rules for demonstrations and then they
have to put a firm message to the Opposition: “Get on board or you become
part of the problem”.
The fact is that President Aristide was elected the president of the country,
boycott or no boycott, with a legitimate mandate. That term runs
out on 7th February 2006. He has said he will not resign. He
is not the first head of state to say such a thing and the next picture
you see is the man taking the chicken run to exile in a far off country.
Certainly, given the history of Haiti where most of their Presidents died
in exile, this is a distinct possibility.
By “liberating” Gonaives, where historically revolts
have begun against the Haitian establishment, the Opposition forces are
setting up to start the same process of extra constitutional ouster and
exile of their President. They can't seem to help themselves.
Haiti is once again setting the stage to become the embarrassment of the
region and of African peoples in this hemisphere. If that happens,
it will be a perfect disgrace.
The Opposition has two years to prepare properly
for elections. The international community can help them do so, but
the sine qua non for this must be leaving Mr. Aristide where he is and
allowing the institutions to develop so that those elections can be held.
The Opposition does not see it that way.
The picture then is very grim and Bahamians have
been sending signals to the Government that they need to declare victory
in their efforts in Haiti and bail out. Leave those people to their
own devices, and if they try to come by boats to The Bahamas just bottle
them up and send them back. You may click
here for the arrival statement of the Minister at the Nassau International
Airport on Thursday 5th February. AP Photos - Protests
in Port-au-Prince (top); gunmen in Gonaives.
MILLER
ON WTO CSME FTAA
Leslie Miller, the Minister for Trade, responsible for moving The Bahamas
toward the Free Trade Agreement of the Americas (FTAA), the World Trade
Organization (WTO) and the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME) spoke
to the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce this week with Ambassador Leonard Archer,
the High Commissioner of The Bahamas to Caricom. Mr. Miller told
his audience that the first step was WTO for The Bahamas. Ambassador
Archer said the first step should be CSME. Get it right guys!
Meanwhile Hillary Deveaux (pictured, left) and Helen Ebong attended the
17th Meeting of the FTAA Trade Negotiations Committee in Mexico from 2nd
February to 6th February. The meeting is to set the agreement in
place by September for the rules on market access under the new regime
of FTAA where countries can indicate at what level of commitment they wish
to engage for the FTAA. Mr. Miller also announced the formation of
a Trade Unit in his Ministry to prepare The Bahamas for FTAA and the other
trade agreements. How this is different from the trade Commission
announced by the Prime Minister, no one has yet said. Nassau Guardian
photos; Leslie Miller by Donald Knowles
MITCHELL
IN GRAND BAHAMA
Fred Mitchell is also the Minister for the Public
Service and shortly after he landed in Nassau from Haiti on Thursday 5th
February, he departed again for Freeport, Grand Bahama where he met with
public servants over two days responding to various complaints from public
sector unions and their members about progress or the lack thereof in the
public service. He also met with the Freeport community of Fox Hillians
who are restarting their association there. The Minister hopes that
there will be the equivalent of Fox Hill Day in Freeport this year.
This is also the year for the Remembrance of Slavery, so designated by
UNESCO, in addition to being the 170th anniversary of the abolition of
slavery. Special celebrations will be held in the Fox Hill community
to mark the occasion.
FOX
HILL PLP LUNCHEON
Fox Hill MP Fred Mitchell flew back to Nassau from
his sortie to Freeport (see story above) to host a luncheon seminar for
executive officers of the Fox Hill PLP. Mr. Mitchell updated the
members on work to be done in the constituency and brainstormed over the
areas various 'at risk' citizens and how the group could assist in helping
to make each and every resident of the Fox Hill constituency into a fulfilled
and productive citizen.
PM
OPENS ANDROS CLINIC
Eleven years ago the late Sir Lynden O. Pindling
had a clinic built at Johnson Bay in South Andros, his constituency.
That was his last public act on behalf of his constituents. He lost
office before the building could be opened. During the entire time
that the Free National Movement was in office, that administration as an
act of political spite refused to open the clinic, denying necessary services
and facilities to the people of South Andros.
Prime Minister Perry Christie along with his Minister
of Health Marcus Bethel travelled to South Andros and Johnson Bay to officially
open the state of the art facility to a grateful group of residents.
The Minister of Health said that as long as he was Minister of Health,
decisions on health would not be motivated by political spite. The
Prime Minister echoed the same sentiment, saying that politics had no place
in the allocation of Government resources that were due as of right to
all people. OLDEST MAN IN JOHNSON'S BAY - Daniel Rahming, the
oldest citizen in the settlement of Johnson's Bay where the Andros clinic
is located greets Lady Marguerite Pindling as Prime Minister Christie (left)
and Minister of Health Dr. Marcus Bethel (right), look on. BIS photo
/ Eric Rose
STAN
BURNSIDE MISSING FROM THE TRIBUNE
One of the most talented public political satirists
in the business is Stan Burnside. He has been drawing cartoons, first
in The Nassau Guardian and then in The Tribune. How he got to The
Tribune is that he drew a cartoon in the middle of the last years of the
Pindling administration that The Guardian felt it could not publish and
did not. The situation became impossible and Stan Burnside migrated
to The Tribune. There he stayed for over a decade.
There was one time when Mr. Burnside told The Tribune
that he was tired and he would not return. But he did, and apart
from the times when he was involved in Junkanoo, the cartoon has appeared
every day. The drawing has gotten better, and the humour is more
directed and funny. But after the recent dispute between The Tribune
and the Minister of Foreign Affairs over the question of an attack on the
Bahamian embassy, the cartoons suddenly ceased appearing in The Tribune.
To show you how accepting the Bahamian population is, no one has bothered
to ask why it has not appeared. There has been no public outcry.
The Tribune dumped Nicki Kelly, the acerbic columnist,
from their paper and replaced her with the more compliant Arthur Foulkes
when they became uncomfortable with her positions, which conflicted with
their political positions at The Tribune. Ms. Kelly’s column was
withdrawn summarily. Now we wonder if the same fate has befallen
Stan Burnside - this from the champions of free speech at The Tribune.
TOMMY
FLUBS IT AGAIN
Senator Tommy Turnquest is in a sad state. He is like the youngest
son Prince John in the movie ‘The Lion in Winter’ who says in a fit of
frustration when rebuked by his father: “I’m always doing something wrong”.
And yes Senator Turnquest is always doing something wrong. This week
he spoke at the Rotary Club on Thursday 5th February about Haiti and he
misspoke. We take apart his ideas in turn.
Senator Turnquest said:
“Although the government is very much concerned
about the ongoing crisis in Haiti, it must not neglect its local domestic
agenda in the process, nor commit itself to unrealistic goals”.
Our response:
This is an entirely foolish statement. The
Opposition is now separating itself from the Government on this foreign
policy. What they are doing is pandering to the narrow minded view
that anything to do with Haiti is bad for The Bahamas. What they
should be doing instead is trying to explain to the Bahamian people that
the problems in Haiti are Bahamian problems. We are trying to avoid
the rush of migrants into this country by promoting stability in Haiti.
Senator Turnquest said:
“The Bahamas does not have the resources necessary
to correct the myriad of problems facing Haiti. I do not support
the establishment of labour offices in Haiti to process migrant workers,
as it will not have the effect the Bahamian people desire, and the illegal
flow of immigrants by boat will continue.”
Our response:
Does this mean that the FNM supports the illegal
migrant walking off the boat, his clothes still wet, and seeking a sympathetic
employer and getting a work permit in The Bahamas? We think not.
It would be foolish to support that view. The idea of the Government
is to provide disincentives for potential illegal migrants to come to this
country.
Senator Turnquest said:
“We must be extremely careful in the regularization
of illegal Haitian immigrants who claim to have been in the Bahamas for
a long period of time. We must be sensitive to the feelings of Bahamians
who are beginning to feel overwhelmed and outnumbered by the situation.”
Our response:
The draft agreement between The Bahamas and Haiti
says that only those who came to this country before 12th January 1985
will be regularized. That is the position agreed by the FNM with
the Government of Haiti back in 1995. Nothing has changed.
The Immigration Department has assured the Government that the numbers
of persons who would come into that category would necessarily be small
since most if not all people in that category have already been regularized.
Everyone else is subject to repatriation.
Senator Turnquest said:
“The only way to stop the flow of illegal immigrants
is to implement real resources at the Defence Force base in Inagua, such
as adequate vessels that are able to regularly patrol the Southern and
South Eastern Bahamas and stop illegal immigrants before entering Bahamian
waters.”
Our response:
Senator Turnquest and the FNM are really lost souls.
They obviously have not been reading the papers. The fact is that
the number of illegal migrants coming via the high seas has fallen off
significantly over the past half year. The reason is that the interdiction
efforts of the RBDF and the US Coastguard have been catching them in the
straits between The Bahamas and the North of Haiti, putting them right
back on a boat and sending them back to Haiti. Also, the Government
has committed the sum of six million dollars to building a base at Inagua
and a million dollars to the purchase of a plane for the RBDF to improve
its surveillance capability.
Bahama Journal photo of Tommy Turnquest at Rotary
PLP
CASTIGATES FNM'S SHALLOW APPROACH
The Progressive Liberal Party issued a statement
Sunday 8th February castigating Tommy Turnquest and the FNM's "shallow
and narrow approach" to the country's policy on Haiti. In the statement,
PLP Chairman Raynard Rigby says that the FNM leader's recent address to
the Rotary club "...reveals once again that he is not fit to lead this
nation and that he has no vision for this new Bahamas". Please click
here for the full statement.
ON
JANET JACKSON’ S BREAST
Hypocrisy and Puritanism has always been part of the American body politic
when it comes to sexual matters. There is a long history of people
of a so called strict moral code in their politics being found out to be
sexual fiends and more importantly hypocrites. In recent times, you
have Strom Thurmond, the oldest man to have served in their Senate and
the longest in history, a known segregationist, being exposed as a fornicating
fan of mixing of the races. He fathered a daughter outside of his
marriage with the black maid at his parent’s home. You have the former
Speaker of the US House Newt Gingrich, denouncing Bill Clinton for his
philandering ways only to be found out to be a philanderer himself. There
is a seemingly endless list.
The pattern of human behaviour is such that sex
is a great and enjoyable thing that most people like and want and will
despite their best intentions indulge in a dalliance from time to time.
One does not want to dispense with any sense of reason with regard to sex
given all the attendant risks that go with indiscriminate sex but what
you would think is that at the very least people would allow for the fact
that it is very much a part of human existence, and our social constructs
that prohibit and control it are a very thin veneer over all of our basic
instincts.
All of that comes to mind over the silly furore
over Janet Jackson (pictured in a publicity photo), the younger sister
of Michael Jackson (who has his own sexual problems today) baring her breast
on the national television networks during a football game in the United
States last Sunday. Who cares really? Ms. Jackson is simply
guilty if of anything at all of a misjudgement of the commercial effect
that this would have on her career. You know they immediately said
that this was a 37 year old woman on the downside of her career who was
trying to do something to spike her career prospects. Instead it
appears that she is being dis-invited from all sorts of forums. But
she is an entertainer.
We are sorry we missed the breast baring in the
midst of the usual boring football game. Sex is a great part of the
entertainment world in The Bahamas and in the United States. All
those young women who are winding, bumping and grinding, although fully
clothed as they cheer their respective teams, what are they there for but
to fire the sexual imagination?
Anyway, the morality police in the US, headed by
Mike Powell of their Federal Communications Commission, the right wing
son of the Secretary of State Colin Powell says that it was a crass thing
to do and that he is investigating Ms. Jackson and CBS television to see
if any laws on indecency were broken. Did he really use the word
crass in the context of a football game in the US? Sheeesh!
LETTERS
TO THE EDITOR
More On The Source –
"Thank you very much for the opportunity to keep
abreast of the highlighting activities in my country on a weekly basis.
As a Bahamian living in Monaco for the next few years, I remain alert on
each topic of discussion which would affect me or my family in some way
or another.
"My main reason for writing is after having read
the comments about The Source. I would like to express my shock and
disbelief at the way that some of the rag newspapers are allowed to trash,
discriminate, anger and depreciate a great majority of the local Bahamians
and foreigners alike.
"We already have a major problem in our lovely
islands with locals stereotyping each other according to family background,
without any added encouragement from the rag press. These reporters
should be made to justify every statement made about an individual, especially
when they are bold enough to quote a person's name.
"My main concern was the story they printed on
the closing of a particular offshore institution during early 2003.
In this article they totally disrespected every female employee that had
ever worked for that institution. Even though they had been encouraged
by a former staff member, the facts were so far off from the truth that
you would have to think who on earth they were writing about. Regardless
they continued to hound the institution while Bahamians were still employed
and already going through a major shock in their lives. Some of them
actually employed with the Company for the 50 plus years that the Bank
had a presence in the Bahamas. Yet this organization was described
as being run like a slave plantation. As a former staff member I
can certainly say that my many years there was well worth the $$$ we were
paid as a result of its closure. How many other hundreds of staff
of the banks that closed since them can say this, and not one article was
written about them.
"This showed an attitude is if they were maliciously
striking back at every Banker and, conjuring more hate against each other.
They do not add any value to the community, everything they print supports
dislike for our neighbours. The former staff of that institution
had to go on to other jobs with a negative rumour over their heads, regardless
of their professional knowledge.
"How is it that the owner of this rag press was
an offshore Banker, after losing their license, they used the same staff
to create a rag publishing Company? They more than any other profession
should be more sympathetic of persons in the same shoe as themselves.
"Please advise who is the authority on giving
a license to such unprofessional negative instigators? They certainly
are not making life any easier for our local people to "Bind together".
"My family and I (70 persons in Nassau) would
be the first to spearhead a ban on the purchase of any SOURCE publication.
"Thanking you for allowing me to vent."
We thank you for the letter. We think that you are right. The unfortunate consequence of free speech is just this ability of irresponsible people to rag people unfairly and in a nasty fashion. That is why we take the position that we do about the paper. We don't understand why anyone buys it or The Punch. Ed
On American Presidential Politics
"I am an American in Fort Lauderdale that has
been
reading your Bahamasuncensored.com since it was by Fred Mitchell.
I have a time-share in Freeport, Grand Bahama and I visit Freeport about
four times a year. I felt compelled to write in response to the article
from the man from Harbour Island. If one is reading the American press
on a regular basis, one would see that President Bush is well liked by
the American People, however Mr. Dean is doing well but was just beat out
by John Kerry.
"Fox news reports one side of the story in favour
of Mr. Bush, ABC news reports the news in favour of Mr. Dean and others
a real balancing act. This leaves the issue with a balanced view
until all the votes are in; this in my opinion.
"Just a thought since this American is a faithful
reader, and I wanted to express them.
"Thank you."
THIS
WEEK WITH THE PM
Prime Minister Christie began the week with his return
from Kingston, Jamaica last Sunday. Later in the week, he travelled
to Johnson's Bay, Andros to speak at the official opening of the Ministry
of Health's clinic there (see story above). But the highlight of
the week was undoubtedly the Prime Minister's trip to the Sir Lynden Pindling
Centre at Gambier house, pictured above. Mr. Christie gave a rousing
address to the gathered executive members of each of the Progressive Liberal
Party's branches in Nassau. Photo / Peter Ramsay
SHUTTING
THE COUNTRY DOWN
The Bahamas Electricity Corporation has gone and done it again. There
was a massive walkout by the line staff trade union on Friday 6th February.
They brought out the management union and the other unions in the country
to the BEC premises, storming the grounds. The reason, they say,
is a threat by the General Manager designate Kevin Basden to discipline
the Union Chief Dennis Williams. The Union threatened to shut down
the country. That is foolishness of course but the BEC management
has to begin to act like they work within the milieu of a labour friendly
government. This is the second attack on a labour leader since the
new Board has taken over. Minister of Labour Vincent Peet has entered
the matter and discussions are set to continue on the matter on Monday
9th February. Minister of Labour & Immigration Vincent Peet
heads to negotiations with BEWU President Dennis Williams (left) and BEC
General Manager Bradley Roberts (right). The Minister had just flown
back from his constituency in Andros. Tribune photo by Dominic Duncombe.
In the Nassau Guardian photo at right, Minister Peet speaks with BEC workers
during their sit out. Photo / Patrick Hanna
GROUPER
BAN ENDS
Some people will never know what is good for them.
The ban on fishing grouper ended after one month on the 31st January 2004.
The idea was to protect the last aggregations of spawning grouper in the
Caribbean so that there will be a future for the fishery. The loudmouths
in the fishing community who we believe do not represent the majority were
bitterly complaining about how this was going to damage their livelihood.
What they obviously prefer is for the whole fishery to collapse and then
blame the Government for there being no more fish left in the sea.
Stupidity is a powerful thing!
The real point some make is the Government has a
responsibility to make sure that while the Bahamians are kept out of the
sea, the fishermen from the Dominican Republic aren’t stealing the fish
out of our waters. One of the conservation organization reps told
us that the Dominican Republic exports some two million pounds of conch
from their country. There is only one catch - pardon the pun - but
there are no conchs in Dominican waters. The answer: the conch is
coming out of Bahamian waters. Nassau Guardian photo of fisherman
Dwayne Bastian showing off his grouper catch hours after the lifting of
the ban, by Donald Knowles.
CLEANING
UP THE JET SKI BUSINESS
Minister of Transport & Aviation Glenys Hanna
Martin turned her attention to the jet ski business this week with a two
day "discussion" with operators in the industry. The Minister said
the effort was aimed at creating "a culture... where the industry would
not tolerate" conduct which would "sully the reputation" of the industry.
Three cheers! It's about time a serious effort was made to properly
regulate this sector of the tourist business which has long been the subject
of many negative stories in the press, ranging from harassment to customer
injury and death. Bahama Journal photo / Omar Barr
INDUSTRIAL
TRIBUNAL REPORT
Harrison Lockhart, President of the Industrial Tribunal,
recently delivered the annual report on the tribunal and made news with
complaints about the longstanding "inhospitable" conditions at the tribunal's
offices. Please click here for the
text of his report.
HAROLD
MILLER - 103
Harold Miller, a resident of the Sandilands Geriatric
Hospital, celebrated his 103rd birthday Thursday 5th February. He
was born in 1901 in Conch Sound, Andros and is shown accepting a gift from
Nurse Della-Mae Sterling. Story reported in the Bahama Journal. Photo
by Omar Barr
DORIAN
ROACH WEDS
Mr and Mrs Lawrence Feingold of Lyford Cay announce
the marriage of their daughter Lori Lee Feingold to Cameron Morrell Roach
son of Mr and Mrs Osmond Roach of Nassau on October 11, 2003.
The wedding and reception was held at The Lyford
Cay Club, Nassau Bahamas. Lori was the Bahamas Junior National tennis
champion many years and the Bahamas National Champion. She represented
the country numerous international events including the Orange Bowl and
Federation Cup.
Cameron was the 4 time Bahamas Swimming Champion.
He represented the country in numerous CCCAN, CISC and Carifta Championships.
He also represented the country on the Bahamas National Rugby team.
Lori and Cameron started their own company, Golden
Wings Charter, and aircraft charter company three years ago with one Aztec,
added a second Aztec last year and will add a Navajo next month.
The couple will reside in Nassau Bahamas.
NEWS
FROM GRAND BAHAMA
Minister Peet appoints investigative team in shipyard explosion...
Minister of Labour Vincent Peet has appointed attorneys
Obie Ferguson and Fred Smith to begin an investigation into the tragic
accident of 24th January at the Grand Bahama Shipyard in Freeport.
33 year old Wendell ‘Sarge’ Maxxam was killed.
The attorneys, representing the Grand Bahama Port Authority Workers
Union and the Shipyard respectively began interviewing workers on Tuesday
3rd February.
 |
| PHOTO OF THE WEEK - The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC), aka BaTelCo, must have the prettiest women in town at their disposal. There was a stunning picture on the front page of the Nassau Guardian on Monday 9th February with retiree Charles Sweeting as BTC launched their new GSM cellular phone product. That was enough to cause the public to forget that the whole product is coming to The Bahamas so late, and that the product is not yet available throughout The Bahamas. But improvements in the cell system are definitely on the way, and the breaking up and disconnections of the cellular system should soon be a thing of the past. And so Bradley Roberts, the Minister of Works and Utilities gets another encomium for his diligent work at seeing this through but the thing that really caused it to be the photo of the week was those pretty, pretty women. Where did he find them? The photo is by the Nassau Guardian’s Donald Knowles. |
COMMENT OF THE WEEK
ARGUING FOR STABILITY
At
the end of the House of Assembly on Wednesday 11th February, the Prime
Minister rose to his feet to defend the Government’s position on the Amendment
to the International Business Companies Act. The criticism was levelled
by Brent Symonette, the Opposition spokesman on Foreign Affairs and on
Finance that the Government had abandoned its promised review of the financial
services laws and was simply following the policies of the Free National
Movement. Then Mr. Christie added before he sat down that the Opposition
should get used to the fact of dealing with him as Prime Minister because
they would be dealing with him for at least another 8 years. He added
with some levity that he had to limit it to that because of those around
him who were anxious for the job. He pointed to some of his Cabinet
Ministers sitting around him.
It was one of those comments that was not well reported in the country but still got the attention of the country and is the talk in all the watering holes. It should help to put a stop to all the endless propaganda and rumouring about who is to replace him, who wants to replace him and whether he is going or not going. The FNM has been trotting out a man named Steve Simmons, probably a nom de plume for one its leaders who has been parroting this line about the Minister of Foreign Affairs. The line they take is that the Prime Minister should be careful lest his authority be usurped by an active foreign minister. They can’t help themselves since that’s the way Hubert Ingraham ran the FNM. The present Prime Minister sees it as a strength that authority can be properly and comfortably delegated to Ministers.
The
Free National Movement has been running a clever propaganda campaign in
which it was trying to set up one supposed aspirant Minister against the
next, and then suggesting in one case that a minister was actively pursuing
the job even while pretending to work for the Prime Minister. The
end should be put to that useless campaign as well.
In the back of every PLP’s mind is the debacle created by Hubert Ingraham, the former Prime Minister, when he announced without anyone’s prompting that he would only serve two terms and then go. As the end of the two terms came so quickly, so quickly that he could not believe it, and the sweetness was just getting sweet, he tried to abandon that effort by attempting to orchestrate a spontaneous public outcry. When that failed, he tried to anoint a successor. The bloodletting and infighting ripped his party apart. That was part of why the FNM lost the general election of 2002.
One of the aspects of Bahamian life is that if Mr. Ingraham had never brought it up again after he said it and simply continued, without a word, no one would have made a challenge. But he kept making it such an article of faith. One has only to look at the number of heads of Baptist or other Protestant, non-Anglican denominations where the heads of the churches stay on until they are literally ga ga and can't be moved while young successors get as old as Prince Charles waiting to get the prize. That is in the culture.
The British Government announced on Thursday 12th February that Prime Minister Christie had been appointed to the Privy Council. That means that he can now use the honorific ‘Right Honourable’ before his name. This may be the last Bahamian Prime Minister to use this from the British system because the Government soon plans a system of national honours that will deal with all of these issues.
The Prime Minister in saying what he said then postpones what some were suggesting would have been a difficult issue for the PLP until well after the next general election. The party expects that it will comfortably win the next election, if all of its plans that are now in place come to fruition. But as you all know “the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry.” So the party that has already started working toward putting the machine in place for the year 2007 must begin working even more assiduously, now that the gauntlet has been thrown down. The party has the challenge of working to establish and protect the Christie legacy.
This then argues in favour of stability for the party. There can be no excuses now.
Number of hits for the week ending Saturday 14th February 2004 at midnight: 55,597.
Number of hits for the month of February up to Saturday 14th February 2004 at midnight: 104,922.
Number of hits for the year 2004 up to Saturday 14th February at midnight: 288,559.
TRADE
UNION LEADERSHIP DOUBTS
The week in New Providence started badly. The public not for one
moment believed that the walkout by BEC workers on Friday 6th February
would lead to the kind of mayhem that occurred at the start of last week.
On Monday 9th February all illusions about the true face of today’s trade
unionists were gone. All bets were off. The Minister of Works
was furious. The Prime Minister was again calling for changes in
the Labour laws to make labour leaders personally responsible for the damage
they cause. Dennis Williams and Timothy Moore, the two labour leaders
at Bahamas Electricity Corporation would have been lynched had certain
members of the public gotten a hold of them.
Just as the day was beginning, the whole island
fell into an electrical void. There was no doubt in the minds of
the public that it had to do with the fact that the BEC union was in the
midst of a dispute with its Board of Directors. In what has now become
a tradition in trade unionism in The Bahamas, the workers left their jobs
to demand the instant dismissal of the Chairman of BEC Al Jarret and the
General Manager designate Kevin Basden. The Union said that it would
not return to work until those persons were fired. The Union leaders
said that the Government should know that they were not playing.
They also demanded the rehiring of Timothy Moore, the head of the Managerial
Workers Union at BEC, whom they argued had been unfairly terminated from
his job. You may click here for
the response of the Minister of Works Bradley Roberts to the issue.
In the late evening on Monday 9th February, the
Minister was also able to reveal that there was widespread sabotage on
the BEC network. The press showed pictures of BEC poles that were
sawn in half with chain saws. There were breaks in transmission lines.
And so the island plunged into darkness. The only other island affected
was Exuma where some persons did not report to work. But the power
did not go off. One of four BEC poles sawn through by saboteurs using
a chain saw is shown in this Nassau Guardian photo.
WHAT
THE PM SHOULD DO ABOUT BEC
The Prime Minister refused to meet with the labour
leaders of BEC as long as the lights were off. He told them that
they could not see him because literally, he could not see because the
lights were off where he was. The Labour leader Dennis Williams claimed
that they had nothing to do with the sabotag
