Cassius Stuart Claims Credit For PLP Slogan
On his Facebook page on Saturday 23rd July, Casius Stuart ( of the lean and hungry look) who abandoned his 11 year effort to form a third party and went swimming into the FNM lock stock and barrell, tried to claim that he invented the slogan for the PLP's Eastern Region Conclave " It's about you" Wrong Mr. Stuart. That would be said someone on Facebook like Donald Trump trying to claim that he invented the phrase "You're fired". No such luck. The truth is the slogan was used with some success in a South African political campaign and the slogan is being tested here in The Bahamas and finds great resonance Nothing to do with Cassisus Stuart. It is a generic phrase and people seem to like it. The FNM itself used a version of it in one of their conventions in the 1990s. But it has great life and no Cassius Stuart had nothing to do with it. |
| 3rd. July,
2011 Welcome to bahamasuncensored.com |
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| BRAN MCCARTNEY STOPPED FROM SPEAKING | |
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| Its election time and the candidates are beginning to put their campaign material together. Some supporters are coming up with innovative ideas of what the posters ought to look like. Calvin Smith provided this photo of Fred Mitchell for the 2012 campaign on his Facebook page and we thought it would make an ideal photo of the week as Mr. Mitchell gets the campaign going for re-election in Fox Hill. |
COMMENT OF THE WEEK
LOCAL GOVERNMENT CHANGES
In most countries around the world, the psephologists take a look at the election results for the local government round and say that this portends what will happen in the general election. If that follows through there in The Bahamas, the PLP made a clean sweep of the local government elections on 23rd June and so it means that they are on track to win the general election. This is not through any active role that the PLP played from a national level. Local democracy took over and the PLP’s spirit is strong in the islands
On the winning side was Kevin Ferguson, the PLP Vice Chair, who ended up being elected the Chief Councilor in Freeport. This was a post that was held by the FNM since the advent of local democracy in 1996. It rocked the establishment in Grand Bahama. In Spanish Wells, the white enclave that heretofore was FNM rock solid, there is a PLP elected to the head of the local government council and he has a four to three majority in the council. In Exuma, the council is dominated by PLPs.
This should tell the PLP leadership something loud and clear in the country. The PLP has a strong base in The Bahamas. It is in fact the default position of the country in politics. You know when things go wrong and need to be corrected with a humane face, then the PLP is the party to choose.
PLPs are worried that the party does not look like its getting itself organized. You know the FNM propaganda about the PLP's leader being late, disorganized, unfocused. But maybe that’s the PLP way: dragging slippers, last minute but you get the job done.
We think that there is simply a cultural difference in the way the PLP does things and the FNM. The PLP deals with soft lines, the FNM with hard lines. Right now we need soft lines. The bull in the china shop mentality of Hubert Ingraham is simply wearing thin.
So we congratulate the local government councilors for their wins. We look forward to their contribution to the development of the country. If we were leading the PLP, we would promise explicitly that in the next government that local government councils in the islands would get revenue raising authority, and the right to get real money to make some added local decisions to aid their communities. This is the next logical step in addition to promising local democracy for New Providence where the bulk of our people live.
Number of hits for the week ending Saturday 2nd July 2011 up to midnight: 153,554
Number of hits for the month of June up to Thursday 30th June 2011 up to midnight: 662,047
Number of hits for the year 2011 up to Saturday 2nd July 2011 up to midnight: 4,575,549
In most countries around the world, the psephologists take a look at the election results for the local government round and say that this portends what will happen in the general election. If that follows through there in The Bahamas, the PLP made a clean sweep of the local government elections on 23rd June and so it means that they are on track to win the general election. This is not through any active role that the PLP played from a national level. Local democracy took over and the PLP’s spirit is strong in the islands
On the winning side was Kevin Ferguson, the PLP Vice Chair, who ended up being elected the Chief Councilor in Freeport. This was a post that was held by the FNM since the advent of local democracy in 1996. It rocked the establishment in Grand Bahama. In Spanish Wells, the white enclave that heretofore was FNM rock solid, there is a PLP elected to the head of the local government council and he has a four to three majority in the council. In Exuma, the council is dominated by PLPs.
This should tell the PLP leadership something loud and clear in the country. The PLP has a strong base in The Bahamas. It is in fact the default position of the country in politics. You know when things go wrong and need to be corrected with a humane face, then the PLP is the party to choose.
PLPs are worried that the party does not look like its getting itself organized. You know the FNM propaganda about the PLP's leader being late, disorganized, unfocused. But maybe that’s the PLP way: dragging slippers, last minute but you get the job done.
We think that there is simply a cultural difference in the way the PLP does things and the FNM. The PLP deals with soft lines, the FNM with hard lines. Right now we need soft lines. The bull in the china shop mentality of Hubert Ingraham is simply wearing thin.
So we congratulate the local government councilors for their wins. We look forward to their contribution to the development of the country. If we were leading the PLP, we would promise explicitly that in the next government that local government councils in the islands would get revenue raising authority, and the right to get real money to make some added local decisions to aid their communities. This is the next logical step in addition to promising local democracy for New Providence where the bulk of our people live.
Number of hits for the week ending Saturday 2nd July 2011 up to midnight: 153,554
Number of hits for the month of June up to Thursday 30th June 2011 up to midnight: 662,047
Number of hits for the year 2011 up to Saturday 2nd July 2011 up to midnight: 4,575,549
Next week this time, The Bahamas will mark the 38th anniversary of its formal independence from the United Kingdom. The country is getting into the spirit and the public sqaure has the festive bunting. Rawson Square has the photos of all the Bahamian Governors General from Sir Milo in 1973 to the present. So in advance Happy Independence.
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BRAN MCCARTNEY STOPPED FROM SPEAKING
You know quite early in the days after Branville McCartney said he was leaving the FNM, we told him to get over it. Make the psychological jump and simply join the PLP to save his soul and his seat. He did not listen but embarked on the fool’s errand on which he is now set to establish his own party. The party has gotten some early name recognition, some resonance on the lips of the young people and disaffected FNMs but it has not a possible chance of winning one seat in the next general election. His statements and moves since then have really dissipated the public relations bump which he got from the launch. The candidates have been less than stellar. That came because many have found out that contrary to the rumour mill, Mr. McCartney had no money to fund a political party. They are hustling just like the rest of the would be candidates and parties. Mr. McCartney has also come off to his detriment as trying to be all things to all men. He supports the death penalty but wasn’t there to support Rodney Moncur's last useless march on the subject. He is for gambling but only after a referendum which leaves him in a less radical position that two PLP MPs who are for it unequivocally. But the latest one is the threat to lock up the guys on the blocks who smoke marijuana. He claimed in the House of Assembly on Wednesday 29th June that he saw MPs of all sides standing around where people were smoking grass during the Elizabeth bye-election and that he made a complaint but nothing was done about it. His people are saying that he made a complaint to Tommy Turnquest whose side he then supported. The Speaker made him withdraw the remarks and expunged the remarks from the record which is a stupid act because Parliament cannot stop the press from recording and reporting what took place. Mr. McCartney stopped speaking rather than continuing with his address. Mr. McCartney then repeated his remarks outside the House to a Guardian reporter. The Bahama Journal carried the remarks anyway and the Speaker said he is going to write Wendell Jones its editor. Here’s the thing with Mr. McCartney. He wants to come off as a law and order kind of guy, what with support for the death penalty and all but he also wants to appeal to the young. The young amongst whom marijuana use is endemic. What he should be saying is that he agrees that it should be decriminalized, not threatening to lock up the young ones on whom he will have to count to support his election. He also told The Tribune of Friday 1st July that God guides his deliberations. Well here we go again, the Bahamian version of Sarah Palin. That’s all we need now is a religious ideologue in charge of a secular state. He is also against gay rights. So that means he is pissed off that largely silent but sizeable part of the population. Keep going Mr. McCartney. Election night don't be surprised “ Bran McCartney no votes; no votes”.
CHANGES TO THE ELECTORAL LAWS
The Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham introduced amendments to the Parliamentary Elections Act on Monday 27th June. They are designed to bring the law into conformity with the requests of various Election Courts on the definition of ordinary residence. Ordinary residence is the term that one has to meet in order to register in a particular constituency. There was confusion in situations where people had two or more places of abode as result of their job or they may have been studying abroad. The bill does not address internally displaced employees, i.e. those who are normally resident in Nassau but live in Cat Island or some other island because of their job. It seeks to allow the voter to choose which of his many possible residences his ordinary residence is for the purposes of the general election. Former MP and Minister of the Government Vernon Symonette lost his vote and that of his wife in the 1992 general election because of the ruling of the court on the matter. The most revolutionary aspect of the bill is that it allows students to vote and public officers who are overseas at Bahamian embassies and consulates abroad. The problem is that it puts in place a cumbersome bureaucracy for the vote where you have to elect to vote overseas on the overseas register and when you do, you cannot vote at home. It is a step in the right direction, said the PLP but does not go far enough in the revolutionary work that is needed. Typically Education Minister Desmond Bannister who summed up the bill for the government blamed the PLP for not doing anything while they were in office, suggesting that because of that the PLP should make no suggestions on how to improve the bill. Of course, Hubert Ingraham is going to fix Mr. Bannister’s business since he has been ordered to remove himself from Carmichael where he is thinks he has a firm chance of getting back in, to run in North Andros which is not so safe. Mr. Ingraham prefers Charles Maynard and in the constituency boundary line up, the presumed safer FNM part of Carmichael is being shifted to Golden Isle to help Mr. Maynard out when the election comes. You may click here to read a copy of the bill.
Malcolm Foulkes is the Governor General Sir Arthur Foulkes’ grandson and the son of Dion Foulkes, the Labour Minister. He look like he is following is father and grandfather into political life. He delivered this speech at an FNM Men’s Conference last weekend.
MITCHELL ON ELECTORAL CHANGES
The House of Assembly met on Wednesday 29th June to pass the amendments to the Parliamentary Elections Act. The amendments will amongst other things clarify the laws on residence. It will also allow overseas voting for certain categories of persons especially students overseas. Fred Mitchell MP spoke to the issue on Monday 27th June. You may click here for the full address. The video conversion is by C. Allen Johnson.
We apologise for the quality of the transmission for the first 2 minutes of the audio on the video. This is due to faults at the source. The synchronization should be solved, by 7pm
The Honourable Fred Mitchell 2011 Parliamentary Election Contribution from C. Allen Johnson on Vimeo.
PLP TAKES ISSUE WITH JUAN MCCARTNEY
PLPs on the web took issue with the headline in The Nassau Guardian on 23rd June by a story written by Juan McCartney: PLP Backs Gay Rights. Andrew Burrows, the webmaster for the site myplp.com took issue saying that Perry Christie did not say what the Guardian's headline said. The video prepared by Mr. Burrows shows the clarification.
Jamaica will celebrate the 50th year of its independence from great Britain on 6th August 2012. Prime Minister Bruce Golding says that by that time he hopes that Jamaica will have cut itself off from all of its colonial ties. He says that means he wants to be a republic with a Jamaican head of state by that time. Presumably it means that he will also move for the approval of the use of the Caribbean Court of Justice as Jamaica’s final court of appeal. The problem Mr. Golding faces is that his country men don't seem to be sold on independence and its benefits. A survey released by the Jamaica Gleaner daily newspaper shows that most people believe in Jamaica they would have been better off under the British. That is sad indeed if true. You may click here for the report of the survey from The Gleaner.
U.S. DOUBLE STANDARD ON CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
The United States and other developed countries forced The Bahamas and a host of other countries to change their laws in the financial services sector to comply with the supposed international standards of transparency. This caused a host of new bureaucracy and regulation. It makes it difficult for anyone to open a bank account in the country and to deposit large sums of money without going through the wringer. The only problem is that within the United States itself, they do not have the same standards of transparency and corporate governance. The Royal Gazette of Bermuda wrote this story about the state of Wyoming where it is possible to use shelf companies to hide assets. You may click here for the full gazette story.
The following statement was issued by the Progressive Liberal Party today:
BEC LOAD SHEDDING HAS MADE LIFE UNBEARABLE FOR MANY BAHAMIANS
BEC LOAD SHEDDING HAS MADE LIFE UNBEARABLE FOR MANY BAHAMIANS
While residents in New Providence suffer from the blistering summer heat caused by BEC constant load Shedding, the FNM Government continues to play Russian roulette with the welfare of young and senior Bahamians who are vulnerable to the high summer temperatures.
It was Jr Minister Phenton Neymour who assured the Bahamians in mid-2010 that major overhaul of BEC Generators would be executed during the winter season of 2010-11 and the said maintenance only began a few days before summer officially began. Jr. Minister Neymour is now offering the excuse that the delay of the commencement of the overhauls was due to a lack of cash; this is offensive and a deplorable excuse. Thinking Bahamians expect that a caring Government would organize it priorities and would have made the necessary arrangements to ensure that electricity, an essential service, was available to residents especially during the blistering summer period.
The Government and its Agencies could have easily reduced its sizable payables to BEC thereby placing the Corporation in a position to fund its maintenance program on a timely basis rather that subject the residents to potential health risk etc. Clearly the government has its priorities terribly misplaced thereby adversely affecting the welfare and well-being of its citizens.
The Progressive Liberal Party demands that the Prime Minister comes clean and tell the Bahamian People the Facts on BEC and to forthwith answer the following questions:
Will the Prime Minister explain why the maintenance on the first major generator at the Clifton Pier Station (CPPS) failed after it was recently returned to service?
Will the Prime Minister provide an explanation on the very serious problem with one of the 40 MW generators at the CPPS?
Will the Prime Minister provide a full explanation why Generators DA9, DA10 & DA 13 are currently generating power at very low levels?
Will the Prime Minister provide full details on the maintenance program scheduled for the CPPS and the Blue Hills Power Station and in the Family Islands?
Will the Prime Minister provide full details on the estimated cost for all maintenance of Generators including the Family Islands and the schedule for same?
The PLP reminds the Prime Minister and his Government of the terrible conditions which currently exist at BEC were virtually the same that existed in 2001(see attached Tribune article dated September 14th 2001) leading to the General Elections of 2002. The 2007 FNM manifesto promises on BEC affirm the strong state of affairs of the Corporation at that time. The conditions which existed in 2001 under the FNM have returned once again in 2011. A concerned citizen yesterday wrote: “The frequent power outages are becoming unbearable for many of us.” To that we add, "so has the governance of Hubert Ingraham and his FNM Government".
PLP MAKES A CALL AGAIN FOR SCHOOL POLICING
The following statement was issued today by the Progressive Liberal Party calling for the re-establishment of the school policing porgamme:
The Progressive Liberal Party calls for the full re-establishment of School Based Policing in time for the September, 2011 new school year. This call follows the recent announcement by Commissioner Ellison Greenslade that as of September, 2011, Police Liaison Officers will be assigned to each government school. The announcement was made yesterday as the Commissioner and other government officials met with public school principals during a forum at Superclubs Breezes Resort yesterday to discuss crime and other related matters.
The PLP is convinced that the announcement by the Commissioner had to be a directive of the FNM Government as evidence of the seriousness of school violence. However, the mere appointment of Police Liaison Officers to each government school is not enough and is an obvious attempt by the FNM to deny that the PLP was progressive in establishing School Based Policing.
The PLP forewarns the FNM to stop playing politics with the lives of our Educators and children. This band-aid approach to this major problem will not stop the bloodshed and violence. In-depth research undertaken by the PLP Christie administration in 2003 has concluded that this problem is not going away and is only getting bigger. There must be an aggressive and sustained approach to stop the violence.
Reports in the media indicate that the Ministry of Education and the Police have had to respond to fights, stabbings and at least one homicide on or near New Providence public schools. This statement is totally inaccurate as it does not paint a true picture of the extent of the problem.
Since 2007, the Ministry of Education and the Police have had to respond to major student riots, attempted murders and actual murders which brought school operations to a complete halt. As a matter of fact, a student was killed in a classroom at C. C. Sweeting High School following the cancellation of School Based Policing. Violence which started inside school was taken outside and resulted in the murder of school students at the Town Centre Mall, another near the Mall at Marathon and a third on Bay Street.
The FNM Government must be blamed for this unacceptable state of affairs. Just last month alone, there were at least two major fights involving at least seventeen (17) high school students. At least five (5) students had to be taken to the Hospital suffering from serious stab wounds. Last week, a student was stabbed at another high school and is currently in hospital fighting for his life.
The PLP again re-emphasize that schools are supposed to be safe environments where teachers feel safe enough to teach and students feel safe enough to learn. Re-implement the School Based Policing Initiative to restore this element of safety. As long as the FNM Government continues to bury its head in the sand, Home schooling is becoming a more viable option to parents.
LETTERS
TO THE EDITOR
Forrester Carroll writes this week about the disastrous policies of Hubert Ingraham on the farming sector. He takes time to explain the tariff regime and how the PLP used it to protect farmers:
There are four schedules which comprise the Customs Tariff Act namely: the first, second, third and fourth schedules. The first schedule details tariff headings and sub-headings for goods imported and the corresponding normal basic rates of duties applicable at the time of importation. The second and third schedules list variable rates (commonly called the sliding tariff) which the minister of finance, in his/her capacity, is at liberty to impose from time to time, when goods being imported are being produced locally in sufficient quantities to supply the local demand. The fourth schedule details a list of goods which are dutiable under the first schedule, under normal import circumstances, but which can be permitted duty free when meeting certain criteria and conditions detailed in the said schedule.
The customs tariff, then, is not only designed for the imposition of rates for the collection of customs revenue but also to impose certain conditions and sliding tariff rates, by which the minister of finance, from time to time, may impose for the protection of local producers. We have always had these protections in place for farmers, manufacturers and other producers of goods, locally, for supply to the local Bahamian market. For clarification, to the simple-minded who genuinely do not understand and or to those who just don’t care to understand for whatever reason, permit me to explain; when items such as bread, chicken, certain indigenous fresh fruits/ vegetables and beer are produced in sufficient quantities, in the country by local farmers and other producers, to fully satisfy the needs of the country’s consumers then the Minister for Finance is empowered, by the parliament of the Bahamas, to immediately invoke those restrictive measures and authorize the sliding tariff rates provided for the protection of local producers. The idea being to protect the local producers from having to compete (in most cases-unfairly) with their foreign counterparts.
The powers to invoke these measures are, by no means, to be abused by the minister to the detriment of either the consumer or the farmers/producers, but he/she should be fair and balanced when faced with invoking these provisions in the law. Let me state further that, in the case of certain seasonal products there may arise, at times, conditions where the minister, in the exercise of his or her wisdom, would see fit to PROHIBIT the importation of certain items for short periods of times just for the protection of those farmers/producers who may have produced an unusual large crop of items. In such cases, and under those circumstances, it would be perfectly sensible for the finance minister to invoke a STOP order to allow the farmer/producer to dispose of the glut produced. Parliament, in other words, has always provided for the protection of local producers and farmers, as a priority concern, and has made the necessary provisions, in law, as standard procedure. Finance Ministers, however, in many respects over the years have failed to come quickly to the rescue of local producers; hence many bumper crops have had to rot in the process. This Hubert Alexander Ingraham fellow, the minister for finance for the past fourteen of the last nineteen years, has by far been the farmers/producers’ worst ENEMY. Pierre Dupuch, who in my view, was probably the country’s best Agriculture Minister ever, in terms of his aggressiveness in wanting to protect Bahamian producers from being consumed by foreign juggernauts, could certainly testify to the lack luster approach by the Ingraham regime for the success of local farmers, fishermen and other local producers of Bahamian products.
When the FNM came to power in 2007, they met certain restrictions in place, left there by the PLP government, which sought to protect local producers of poultry, fresh fruits/vegetables and bread. Restrictions included a limited allowable amount of foreign poultry imports (i.e. maximum fifty pounds) and a higher than normal rate of customs duty applicable thereon. In addition IMPORT PERMITS were required to be obtained from the Ministry of Agriculture, in advance of importation, as a method of control; whether the poultry was to be imported as cargo or brought into the country by returning residents. Customs duty rates were maintained on certain fresh fruits, vegetables and bread with the sliding tariff in place which could always be invoked when necessary to do so, for the protection of our local producers.
Following Ingraham’s election victory in May 2007, in his first budget 2008/2009, he removed the restrictions from poultry imports and thus opened up the market for the indiscriminate dumping of foreign (below standard in many cases) chicken imports. He reduced the customs duties on other foodstuffs, fruits and vegetables (chapters 01-21 of the tariff act’s first schedule) to the detriment of farmers but he increased customs duties, on everything else, by an average of 3%-18% (chapters 22-98). Bread, poultry, fruit and vegetable producers were all very angry as they saw the move as a counterproductive to the vibrancy of their businesses. They screamed but Ingraham failed to listen to them and many had to reduce staff and cut salaries for those who were left employed. They could not believe that a government which proclaims to want to empower and protect Bahamian producers would go to the extent Ingraham did to actually put them out of business. In the case of the Bakeries in the country, Ingraham dealt them the worse blow by removing the 45% import duty rate entirely, from bread, making it a “duty free” import. Big Bird farms in Abaco and as well Bahamas Poultry farms here in Freeport, had a rough time continuing their operations. They called for a reversal of the decision but their cries fell on deaf ears. The Hon. Shane Gibson often admonishes us not to listen to what Ingraham says but watch what the sucker does.
Having gotten used to the idea of competing, with their foreign counterparts, under the changes which came about in the 2008/2009 budget, Ingraham now comes with another blow to the industries (in his 2010/2011 budget) when in the current budget he removed customs duties entirely from all fresh fruits and vegetables and lowered the duty rate, once again, on chicken from 40% to 30%. To say the least, this is another worst decision, among all the other worst decisions he has made to date, and I would not be surprised if some of these local producers just don’t quit altogether, rather than fight city hall. What Ingraham is doing to them is criminal and he should pay the ultimate penalty at the polls come the next general elections. I remind you once again of what the Hon. Shane Gibson admonished; don’t listen to what this Negro tells you; watch closely what the sucker does. While I am here, on the subject of farmers and producers, may I remind you that it was this same Hubert Alexander Ingraham who, when he came to power in 1992 reduced the quota of purchases, by the Agriculture ministry, from farmers and producers from the unlimited amounts, heretofore, to now a maximum of $9000.00 per family per year. This was when farming, in the country, began going downhill. Farmers just felt that $9000.00, in total from a family per year, was a waste of their time and that it was better for them to farm for only enough for their families. Farming became a worthless proposition to them and consequently many of the fields were left abandoned. The records will show that Ingraham and the FNM have done more to damage the moral of farmers and producers, in this country, than any other factor; including the hurricanes.
Given all the abuse that Bahamian farmers have suffered at the hands of successive Ingraham Administrations, why would another chicken farm want to locate here? I read the business section of the Tribune, Monday May 30th 2011, and saw the announcement of a new proposed $14 million chicken farm slated for Andros. It’s a foreigner, of course, so I suppose Ingraham’s policies would be more flexible to them and so their chances for success would be more favorable. Hubert will never treat this foreigner the way he treated Big Bird and Bahamas Poultry Farms. He would probably prohibit poultry imports, when this foreigner gets his Farm in full operation, but no such luck for BIG BIRD and BAHAMAS POULTRY; after all they are only Bahamians. I recall, as well, the PLP government approving a huge vegetable farm operation for Andros some years ago. The operation was by an Israeli firm which proposed to grow fruits and vegetables for exclusive supply to Carnival Cruise Lines. They proposed to employ up to four hundred (400) workers but unfortunately for them, and the country, Hubert Ingraham came on the scene and eventually aborted the project. This Negro has no interest in the full development of our agricultural and marine resources and his lack-luster approach to the department tells very clearly that he is BAD, BAD NEWS for Bahamian farmers and fishermen.
I am convinced that nobody sitting around that Cabinet table on all those Tuesdays of all those weeks, in the last four years, exercised any common sense whatsoever. The kinds of decisions, we see, emanating from that group of MISFITS make one wonders if (like Hubert Ingraham their leader) all of them attended night school and slept during the day time. The case that I’ve made against Hubert Ingraham and his FNM Administration today should be reason enough for voters, in this election, to ignore his speeches and VOTE his BEHIND of office; he doesn’t give a damn about you; only himself. Would someone please tell that idiot (Hubert Ingraham) that it is not necessary for him to be constantly competing for the prize (for being the biggest JACKASS in the parliament) for he has already won that years ago. I don’t ever listen to the brain-dead sucker but I am told that in his wrap-up, in the debate on the 2011/2012 thing he called the budget, his deportment could only best be described by such words as; NASTY, INSIPID, INSOBRIETY and INSINCERE. “Mama-Do” Hepburn (God rest the dead) used to say (when referring to people who displayed a heightened degree of STUPIDITY) “Put a goat on a board floor and the animal is bound to PRANCE.” I rest my case against this prancing goat-Hubert Ingraham.
Forrester J Carroll J.P
Freeport, Grand Bahama
26th June 2011.
Nicole Ferguson of Staniel Cay writes about the electricity supply or the lack thereof at Staniel:
Are we back on Gilligan’s Island? It sure feels like it in Staniel Cay!
How can we be advertising for tourist to come to our island and upon arrival they are unable to sleep at night because of the heat? In addition our guests are deprived of running water which is considered necessities. As a young entrepreneur whose business (like most in the country) thrives on tourism, the inability to provide guests with crucial necessities such as electricity and water is border lining embarrassment.
I am the owner and operator of 3N’s Vacation Services Enterprise, a unique hospitality business that books activities, rentals, accommodations and transportation for our incoming traveler’s. This being as such I am the main point of contact for many of the guests that come in. Thus, I am the person they are saddling with complaints and utter discontent about the lack of electricity available to them on the island. Question such as, “Why don’t we have any electricity tonight?”, “Why does the power go off so often during the day?”, “Where can we get water to take a bath or flush the toilet?” are questions that no landlord or business owner would like to hear from people who come to our country for a “vacation”.
The timing for such a case is quite unflattering being it that our rental occupancy rate is nearly 100%. During our time of blessing we are experiencing immense adversities. The power outage problem lowers the likelihood of our guests returning to the island they were so eager to come to. There were even cases where guests who were scheduled to stay through the upcoming holidays decided to cut their vacations short because their children could not sleep at night due to the heat. To be fair, should we tell the guests “you can come but be ready to live on an island where there is no surety that you will have power at night or water during the day?
The mission of my business is to ease the stress of incoming tourists by helping them to plan their vacation. How can I do this with no water and no surety of electricity? Even I, a Bahamian have trouble coping with the heat at night.
Country heads, tourism is our number one industry we are here in Staniel Cay trying to bring the visitors in, but we need something to bring them to. The tourists pay to come to paradise, not Gilligan’s Island.
Government of the Bahamas helps us here to help the Bahamas with its number one industry. There is only so much we can do. Please don’t make our work to be in vain. We can get them interested in coming, but we need you to help us keep them here and heighten their urge to come back.
The community is growing so the infrastructure has to likewise grow with it! generators that are on their way out and can only handle a portion of a community is not going to do.
Onward, forward, Upward, Not, Backward, Downward, Reverse!
I am proud to say that since the start of the recession, Staniel Cay and its tourism has remained steady we, there were no loss of jobs in fact more jobs were created while in other islands of our country including the capital, people were losing their jobs by the hundreds.
Sun sand and sea yes all well and good but at the end of the day when the guest are done with the sun, the sand, and the sea, they need fresh water to wash away the sand and a cool room or house to relax and sleep in.
Don’t let improper or lousy infer structure cause us to end up having to depend on monthly visits from social services or the National Insurance Board. Put what we need in place we can take it from there we love having the guest here and we love it even more when they come back.
Looking forward to some assistance.
Nicole S. Ferguson
3N’s Vacation Services Enterprise
Staniel Cay Exuma
A Bahamian trying to keep the tourism industry alive!
IN PASSING
PLP Meets With Landscapers Association
We reported on this site last week the protests of the Bahamas Landscapers Association who allege that they all got together to make a bid for the work at Baha Mar’s project at Cable Beach which work was to be reserved for Bahamians. The work was instead given to a company that is an American company which appears to be fronted by a Bahamian. The landscapers met first with Opposition leader Perry Christie on Tuesday 28th June at the PLP’s headquarters at Gambier House. The PLP promised its support of the landscapers. They later met with the Prime Minister who promised that he too will intervene to see that the contracts are given to genuine Bahamian businesses. We shall see.
Abner Pinder Defeated In Spanish Wells
Spanish Wells, the previously safe FNM enclave, now has a PLP as its Chief Councilor. Following the local government elections, Hubert Ingraham's man Abner Pinder tried to get the position Chief Councilor again. However with four out of the seven people elected to the Council being PLP, the choice went to Gil Pinder, a family relation of PLP MP Ryan Pinder and of course a PLP.
DPP Does Not Turn Up To Court Tuesday
The Court of Appeal summoned the Director of Public Prosecutions to court to explain herself. She was accused by the court of misleading them on a material fact regarding a decision they made in an appeal of a murder case. See last week’s story in this space. The DPP did not appear. Instead the Attorney General himself John Delaney came on Monday 27th June. He said he showed up to stress the importance of the matter to the Government. It was a form of intimidation. The Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham was in the meantime telling Members of the House of Assembly in the smoking room on 27th June that the Court of Appeal was wrong and would have to back down and do something to save face. No word on the Court’s decision.
DNA Turns Down Whitney, Ryan But Says Yes To Wayne
The reports are that two people who were rejected by the PLP for nominations and who went to the new party the Democratic National Alliance (DNA) looking for nominations, came up empty handed. The reports say that both Whitney Bastian who was rejected by the PLP because of a drug charge in his past for the South Andros seat and Derek Ryan who was seeking the nomination for the PLP in Kennedy but was rejected by the PLP, were both rejected by the DNA. However, the press is reporting that Wayne Munroe, who has up to this time disdained politics and politicians, is now a candidate for the DNA in the Mt. Moriah seat which is now held by Minister of National Security Tommy Turnquest. The PLP has put up against Mr. Turnquest attorney Arnold Forbes.
Ivan Johnson Punch Editor Arrested And Charged
The newspapers blared the happy headline on Thursday 30th June. Ivan Johnson, the editor of the down market rag called The Punch, who the late Sir Lynden Pindling dubbed the lyingest reporter in The Bahamas, was to be charged with the offence of not declaring more than ten thousand dollars as he was trying to go into the United States. The story is that he had $9800 on him and his two associate travelers had sums of two thousand dollars each. They charged him with not declaring that he was traveling with more than ten thousand dollars. Seems to us the charge isn’t worth the paper it’s written on. They charged the two associates with a conspiracy to make a false declaration about the $10,000. Sounds like foolishness to us, but it’s the Americans and so off to court he is supposed to go. Strange though how the press simply gets away these days before a man is actually arraigned of blaring all the details of a case on their front pages. Something is wrong with that. Of course, we do not feel sorry for Ivan Johnson. He should be locked up and the key thrown away. Let’s see if he reports this in that lying newspaper he owns. He was shown in the Nassau Guardian in handcuffs with his lawyer John Bostwick II. He is out on $7000 bail. Again what is this business of Ivan Johnson in handcuffs. For what? But it’s hard to feel sorry for him. He has ruined the lives of many. It’s time for payback and it is being said that the police who he has been fooling with in his newspaper helped to set up this charge. The case is to be heard on 2nd December. Photo from the Tribune
67 Murders This Year
There are now 67 murders for the year 2011. We are on track for 130 murders for the year. When will the carnage stop? Tommy Turnquest, the Minister of National Security should resign.
How Ingraham Treats His MPs
We reported last week how Vernae Grant MP (FNM) for Eight Miles Rock is having a problem securing her nomination from the FNM. Hubert Ingraham, the Prime Minister and leader of the FNM, reportedly wants someone new in that seat. Perhaps this story which follows is a sign of the times. Mrs. Grant was in the smoking room of the House of Assembly on Wednesday 29th June. She saw the PM and asked if she could speak to him about something for a minute. “ I have something I need to say to you,” she said. The PM turns around and says: “Well if you need to talk to me, call the Prime Minister’s office and make an appointment.” “ But I just need to say something here, ” she pleaded. The Prime Minister replied: “ If you want to talk to me, you should call the Prime Minister’s office and make an appointment.” He turned around and left the room. Kendal Wright, the MP (FNM) for Clifton, a man who knows about snubs by the Prime Minister said to the perplexed Mrs. Grant: “ I bet you if that was Kay Forbes Smith ( the Consul General in Atlanta) he would simply have gone off to the side and spoken to her. ” Amen!
Caricom Heads Of Government Meeting
Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham and his Deputy Prime Minister Brent Symonette went to St. Kitts for the annual Heads of Government meeting from July 1 to July 3rd. Interesting. This is the same FNM group who made fun of the PLP Foreign Minister Fred Mitchell for traveling on behalf of the country. This is the same Brent Symonette who was recently reported to have told the U.S. diplomats in The Bahamas that he could not see himself wasting time at endless Caricom meetings. The same Brent Symonette who said to the Americans that they should not go through the public servants to get to him, just come to him directly since he could not trust the message getting through to him via the public servants. Photograph is courtsey of the Barbados Nation
Schools Policing Is Back?
The country was shaking its head in disbelief or perhaps laughing its head off at the FNM and their decisions. The Commissioner of Police Ellison Greenslade was speaking to principals at their conference put on by the Ministry of Education on Thursday 30th June. He announced that he plans to have police liaison officers for each school in a bid to stop the violence in the schools. Sounds familiar. The PLP was crowing from the roof tops. It is clear that putting the police back in the school where the PLP left them and from whence the FNM took them is again the policy but by another name. This is typical FNM re-branding. On Saturday 2nd July, the Commissioner of Police must have said second thoughts and quickly clarified that he is against putting police back in the schools because he says that will take away the authority of the principals. Well whatever!
Mitchell On Radio
Fred Mitchell MP for Fox Hill will be the first guest of Andrew Burrows’ radio show on Island FM called Unscripted on Monday 4th July at 10 a.m.
Dominque Strauss-Kahn Case Near Collapse
His career as an international public servant came crashing down in and around allegations of sexual misconduct in a New York hotel where he was staying. With great fanfare the American justice system locked up Dominque Strauss Kahn, paraded him in hand cuffs set ridiculous bail conditions and said that they had a strong case. Now it turns out they don’t have a strong case at all. The case seems to have been built on the word of a woman who is a liar. Mr.. Kahn was set free of all bail conditions on Friday1st July, save that he could not get his passport back. He is to return to court to find out whether or not he will continue to face the charges. Does this not remind you of the Bahamian straw vendors?
Ingraham On The PLP And Gay Rights
For some reason, in this year of our lord 2011 (A.D.) or 2011 of the common era (C.E.), the officialdom nor the rank and file in The Bahamas still can't seem to settle down about the issue of gay, lesbian and transgender people in their midst. The religious are still exercised to the point of apoplexy. Here is a society which most assuredly must have known or experienced this phenomenon since its founding but the moment there is some public issue or comment on it or about them, it sends certain folks into a scramble. It smacks of a lack of self esteem. Hubert Ingraham, the Prime Minister, thinks that this is a button he can push even though his government has been the proponent of gay rights since they came to office. He shouted out in the House Of Assembly last week that the only thing that the PLP supports that the FNM did was gay rights. He claimed that this would be a noose around the neck of Opposition Leader Perry Christie. Mr. Ingraham is becoming increasingly stupid. He obviously believes nothing. He was seeking to denigrate the PLP because it said that it supported the fact that the FNM government gave support to a resolution at the United Nations Human Rights council to investigate allegations of violence against gay, lesbian transgender people and report back to the council at the end of the year. Simple straight forward. Nothing about same sex marriage or rights generally for gays as a class. How does one vote against a resolution to investigate acts of discrimination and violence against any people? Mr. Ingraham is a fool particularly since his government did it.
Youth Minister's Love Affair With Hubert Ingraham
It is embarrassing really to see the son of Andrew “Dud" Maynard quarming up to Hubert Ingraham as Prime Minister. During the debate on the amendments to the Parliamentary Elections Act, Charles Maynard was more supplicant than Candia Dames, the Guardian reporter. He thought that Mr. Ingraham taught him so much about the art of being practical in politics. He said how under the Coalition for Democratic Reform (CDR) which was headed by Dr Bernard Nottage, he had certain ideals about electoral reform. Pronounced “electorial” by Minister Phenton Neymour ( Jeez!). Mr. Maynard said that teacher Ingraham taught how he had to be practical and that is why he loves the Prime Minister so. Mon Dieu! My God what a thing from Dud Maynard’s son. Incredible!
Power Cuts Continue
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BEC continues to have power cuts in New Providence despite the idle promises made last week that they had the generators back up and that they were bringing in capacity to stop the power cuts. They made an announcement last week asking people to run their private generators to help BEC keep the power on.
Freeport Flight Services
50 people have reportedly been laid off at Freeport Flight Services in Grand Bahama. Another nail in the coffin of that city and of our country. Hopefully the FNM will now get the message.
DNA Launch In GBI
Last night DNA leader and candidates went to Freeport for the launch of their campaign there. They added to the list of candidates. No big names. Roger Rolle for West End and Bimini, Osmond Johnson for Pineridge. Looking at the audience the party comes off more and more like a “coloured" man's party. It is concentrating on the high brow, the intellectual, the “coloureds” and well off. This means that it is fracturing the FNM;s base.
Director Of Immigration Resiles
He came out swinging at the conference of Principals of the Ministry of Education on Wednesday 29th June. He said report all illegal parents to me by telling me whose children are there without legal residence and I will deal with them. The penny must have dropped because by Saturday 2nd July, the Director Jack Thompson said that was not what he meant; the schools were not going to have scenes of grabbing little children out of them to cart them away on the boat.
Click on a heading to go to that story; press ctrl + home to return to the top of the page.
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Today is the 38th anniversary of the independence of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, dubbed by Perry Christie, the Leader of the Opposition PLP when he was Prime Minister, as the best little nation in the world. We believe him. We support him. Since we have been an independent nation, we have been led by three Prime Ministers including the one who leads the nation today Hubert Ingraham. Bay Street was decorated for the occasion and just in front of the House of Assembly the photographs can be seen of the three men who headed the nation: Lynden Pindling (the founder and now deceased), Hubert A. Ingraham, the incumbent; and Perry G. Christie, the now Leader of the Opposition. Our photo of the week in honour of the independence of our country then is that of the decorated public building on Bay Street, the House of Assembly, and the photos of the three men who have led us. Happy Independence to you all. |
COMMENT OF THE WEEK
THE PANIC RESPONSE ON DNA
When a man is running on the track by himself, he looks as if he is running fast. You will tell the true measure of the speed of the man when he is up against competition in the arena. The others in the race should not take their speed and power for granted, because it is possible that there comes a point in the race when the runner may get too far out ahead and then there is nothing you can do to catch up.
That is an apt metaphor for the Democratic National Alliance (DNA) and the fool’s errand in which they are now engaged on the political race track of The Bahamas. So far it has been all positive press. Branville McCartney seems to have captured the imagination of some young people particularly and a fair amount of disgruntled FNMs. What we know about who is supporting them comes from the television pictures that we have seen from their various staging grounds. It still looks to us like a mainly FNM fight. However, it appears to us that it’s the PLPs supporters who have been publicly worrying about the response of their own party to these events.
The Progressive Liberal Party will be 58 years old this year on the 23rd November. It has branches in every settlement in the country.
It would seem counterintuitive to us for a party that is barely three months old, with no national reach and depth to displace the PLP as the Opposition party much less challenge it for the government. It took the Free National Movement from 1972 to 1992 to win the government. The DNA and Mr. McCartney simply cannot do it. Not this year and not next year.
One thing that is working against Mr. McCartney is a structural problem. The way the electoral process is set up, it works for two parties. A third party cannot survive. The historical evidence is that at some point the third party will have to absorb its views and demands within the rubric and schemes of one of the major parties. When the dissident eight broke away from the Progressive Liberal Party, they had to amalgamate with the United Bahamian Party which then dissolved to form the Free National Movement. Mr. McCartney will be lucky indeed if he holds on to his seat.
For further evidence of how this first past the post system works, you can go to the experience of our friends in Jamaica where Bruce Golding the now Prime Minister went the third party route because he was unable to displace Edward Seaga his predecessor. He formed the National Democratic Party. He provided great entertainment, newspaper headlines, radio talk shows for the Jamaican people but at the end of the day when election time came did not win one single seat with his party. The party eventually dissolved and he went back to the Jamaica Labour Party which he now heads as Prime Minister.
The best then we can say to PLP supporters who keep thinking that they must frantically react to Mr. McCartney and his green party is hold your heads. Think on the formidable legacy and strengths that the PLP has. Branville McCartney will not displace the PLP.
At the same time, the PLP has to figure out what his resonance means for them. It must take nothing for granted. It must find an antidote to the excitement about the DNA which has caught fire in the younger ones. The younger PLPs have a responsibility in that regard.
Well paying job in the tourism sector. Has not registered to vote. His mom tells him he needs to register. Why he asks? What is the reason for voting? Its your right, his mom says. He responds: my right or my obligation? Both, says the stranger to the group. He makes up his face. He is twenty something. All that is built in Exuma was put here because some men and women of ordinary means a generation ago fought to set this up, make him free to vote to choose his own destiny. After all the people who killed themselves setting this up for you, don’t you think you owe it to them? You always have to bring that one up, the young man says. But its true says the stranger. Story. Young kid in Exuma.
The PLP has come too far to panic now. We would recommend for the faint of heart to read the story Shogun by James Clavell and the preparation that Lord Toranga made for war. He appears to be brooding in his tent and the troops are restless. What is the great lord doing? He seems to be doing nothing. In the end it turns out to be a duck and feint, a battle plan which stuns the enemy when executed.
PLPs should think on that lesson.
Number of hits for the week ending Saturday 9th July 2011 up to midnight: 108,269
Number of hits for the month of July up to Saturday 9th July 2011 up to midnight: 136,997
Number of hits for the year 2011 up to Saturday 9th July 2011 up to midnight: 4,683,818
CONTACT US AT E-MAIL: placid_point@yahoo.com
GOVERNOR GENERAL AND THE LEADERS
Sir Arthur Foulkes, Governor General and the representative of Her Majesty the Queen in The Bahamas, hosted the Leaders of the country to lunch on the occasion of the independence of the country. The photo was taken by Peter Ramsay of the Bahamas Information Services. The lunch took place at Government House on Friday 8th July.
NEW CUSTOMS MANAGEMENT ACT
There was a new act passed by the Parliament on Monday 4th July to replace the existing Customs Management Act, the governing statute for the Customs Department. The law is a modernizing and consolidating statute. The questions raised by the PLP’s lead spokesman on the issue Fred Mitchell Fox Hill MP were whether or not there had been appropriate consultation; whether or not the government actually knew what it was passing; whether or not the new act fulfilled the obligations under the international agreements that we have signed including the economic partnership agreement. You may click here for the full address by Mr. Mitchell. The video conversion is by C. Allen Johnson.
The House of Assembly passed unanimously a new Sports Authority Bill. The bill is to create an authority to provide for the development and superintendence of a national sports policy. In addition, it will facilitate the management of the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium recently handed over by the Chinese Government to the Commonwealth of The Bahamas. Fred Mitchell MP for Fox Hill spoke to the issue and put the receipt of the gift in its proper context on Thursday 7th July in the House of Assembly. You may click here for his speaking notes. The video conversation is by C. Allen Johnson.
KILLING GILBERT KEMP
Gilbert Kemp, the Mangrove Cay administrator who invented the Crabs for Computers programme, has been dismissed from the public service . Mr. Kemp, a lifelong FNM supporter, who served for five years under the PLP as the special assistant to the then Leader of the Opposition Alvin Smith and now Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham, has been unceremoniously dumped. He got the news two weeks ago when he was summoned back to Nassau to report for a new assignment. When he got to work for the new assignment, he was handed a letter saying that his contract would not be renewed. The government has been holding out on renewing his contract since January. The public in Mangrove Cay is stunned and cannot quite figure out what the problem was that could lead the government to fire the man who has been so successful in their district. While no official reason has been given, the rumour mill has it that he was dismissed because he led the people of Mangrove Cay to agitate and demonstrate for administrative autonomy from the South Andros district. Right now, the district is administered by a senior administrator in Kemp’s Bay, South Andros with an Assistant Administrator serving in Mangrove Cay. That administrator in Mangrove Cay does not sign cheques. We say that because one of the things that the government forces have been suggesting is that there were some problems with money. There were none. This act by the government is a new low. They depended on Gilbert Kemp to win the North Eleuthera seat of Alvin Smith. They called on him again to help Sir Michael Barnett when he ran for the FNM in Ft. Charlotte. You would have thought that since they have no reason to terminate the man, they would at least for old times’ sake ensure that he can make a living. Instead, he has been loosed to the elements. He served for five years as their main agent while in Opposition. The Free National Movement is in big trouble over this with this man’s family in Eleuthera. The fact is in Mangrove Cay mainly FNMs were organizing the autonomy fight and the FNM stands to lose big time because of what they have done. The Prime Minister speaking from his seat in the House of Assembly has said that he plans to visit Mangrove Cay. Wonder what he will say to the people there.
THE STORY BEHIND THE MARRIAGE ACT
The government in the House of Assembly passed on Thursday 7th July a new act which would facilitate the cruise ship industry to marry passengers at sea under Bahamian law. Many of the cruise ships which come here are flagged as Bahamian ships and so can only carry out the marriages if Bahamian law permits. They have been pressuring the government for years on the issue and the last PLP government refused. Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham said that he refused but capitulated once the industry said that they could possibly flee the jurisdiction and we would lose the business from our registry if the bill was not passed. The problem is that something so innocuous was turned into something else, something that it should not have been. The story has been told by Bahamaspress.com in part. The bill has a definition in it for marriage as being that of the union between one man and one woman. The progenitors of the bill in the House, the holier than thou Zhivargo Laing and well we don’t know quite what to make of Kwasi Thompson but it appears he has the religious fervor as well, all rose on their high horses in the House to extol the virtues of one man one woman marriages. They both claimed that this was the Christian thing to do, that this was part of our heritage. In other words The Bahamas was standing up to the ungodly trend of the devil countries that give us business that allowed people of the same gender to marry. It seems a bit over the top. It certainly is hypocritical. Both these smart gentlemen would know in their heart of hearts that if the cruise industry came running to them next week and told the government that they had to take that definition out of the law because it was costing millions of dollars of lost business, the FNM would be busy scrambling to the House to change the law. That is why it always seems important to us that politicians should not go over the top in what they say, when they know that what they are saying is simply pandering nonsense. The fact is the world is changing on this subject and The Bahamas will have to change too. No matter what they do change is coming on that score as well. It is also hypocritical since when the matter came up, the leaders of the FNM in the House came to the PLP to ask for its permission to withdraw the bill. They said they wanted to take the bill off the agenda and quietly replace it with a new bill which did not have that definition because they did not want to offend the gay community. It was when the PLP objected to it that the Prime Minister seized the propaganda initiative and said that the PLP was not going to man up more than him and he would make it into a debate about same sex marriage. So the Prime Minister’s propaganda became that this bill marked the first time a government had defined marriage for Bahamians as being between a man and a woman. Of course that is not true since it is in the existing law. But this is to make up for the adverse publicity that the FNM got for having supported at the United Nations an anti-discrimination measure in favour of gays, lesbians and transgender people last month on 17th June. The PLP was boxed into a corner on a bill that will almost certainly decimate the local marriage market. They should not have voted for it but given the way the debate was shaped, it did so because of it did not want to be labeled a pro gay party. Such is politics in The Bahamas. The Bill passed unanimously on Thursday 7th July and goes on to the Senate.
DREGDING IN THE LAND AND SEA PARK
A correspondent provides us with photos of the rape of the Exuma Land and Sea park by the agents of the Aga Kahn who was given permission by the Bahamas Government with the complicity of the Bahamas National Trust to dredge in the land and sea park.
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BLUE AND YELLOW
One of the PLP youngsters wrote and produced this song. Enjoy
Fred Mitchell the MP for Fox Hill speaks about Wikileaks and the U.S. Bahamian diplomacy on Thursday 7th July. Andrew Burrows is the host and Island FM was the radio station for the new show.
EXCUSES FROM BEC MINISTER ON POWER FAILURES
Minister responsible for BEC Earl Deveaux spoke in the House of Assembly on Thursday 7th July about the constant power failures in New Providence. One lousy excuse after the next. This video exchange between Fred Mitchell MP for Fox Hill and himself was circulated by FNM video.
PLP ANNOUNCES EASTERN REGION CONCLAVE 21- 23 JULY
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JOINT STATEMENT BY THE EASTERN REGION OF THE PLP
BRANCHES, CANDIDATES AND MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT
PROGRESSIVE LIBERAL PARTY
5TH JULY 2011
Gambier House
We have come this afternoon to announce that there will be a special conclave and town meetings that will take place over three nights at the auditorium of the New Life Christian Centre on Prince Charles Drive beginning at 7:30 p.m on Thursday 21st July and ending Saturday 23rd July.
The conclave has been approved by the national party as a means of supporters and interested Bahamians to get an opportunity to review with the party its plans and programmes for the upcoming general election and beyond. The theme of the conclave is “IT’S ABOUT YOU”. It signals the commitment of the PLP to Bahamians first and to the people of the country and their concerns first and foremost. The public is invited to attend and to participate.
It will provide an opportunity for supporters, well wishers, members and the general public to exchange views on the current political and civic events in the country and to give input to the party leadership on the way forward.
It is important for the Progressive Liberal Party during this summer of discontent to be able to put its message out; to put into context the events of the day; to show the country where we are headed for the future. It is important that people are not beguiled or fooled by the current political fancies, fashions and whims of the day. We need steady, considered and deliberate leadership to move our country forward. The PLP offers all that and more.
The region is made up of the following constituencies: Montagu, Fox Hill (Fred Mitchell MP), Yamacraw (Melanie Griffin MP), Elizabeth (Ryan Pinder MP), Sea Breeze (Senator Hope Strachan) and Marathon (Senator Jerome Fitzgerald) and St. Anne’s. Each of the standard bearers that has been chosen for these areas will get a chance to speak to their ideas with their constituents and potential constituents.
We believe that it is crucial as we face the general election to encourage people to register, to participate in the political process and to engage in the civic life of the country.
It is necessary for the PLP to help frame the political and civic debate as we advance toward the general election.
A highlight of the conclave will be the address on Saturday evening 23rd July by the PLP’s Leader Perry G. Christie. Deputy Leader Philip Davis MP and Chairman Bradley Roberts will also address the conclave. On Youth Night, the Leaders will have an opportunity on that night to hear from the young people of the party their ideas and views. Saturday night 23rd July is dedicated exclusively to the views of the Progressive Young Liberals.
The other nights Thursday and Friday will be focused on reports from constituency branches about their work and ideas.
We trust that all supporters and well wishers are able to attend these three exciting days.
Further information about the event can be obtained by contacting the PLP’s National Headquarters.
Thank you very much indeed.
End
A team of PLPs led by Leader Perry Christie descended into North Andros to show support to Vincent Peet, the PLP's MP and standard bearer in the next general election for that seat which also includes the Berry islands. The FNM has decided to move Desmond Bannister from his seat in Carmichael and send him to run in North Andros. Interesting times. Just as they have decided to move Phenton Neymour from South Beach and send him to run in Exuma. Lambs to the slaughter. This is homecoming and regatta weekend for North Andros. A fine time was had by all. The photos are by Andrew Burrows
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LETTERS
TO THE EDITOR
Forrester Carroll writes this week that Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham is responsible for the down fall of the Freeport economy. He paints a bleak picture of the future and present of Grand Bahama and lays the blame at the feet of Mr. Ingraham. In this expose he looks at the Wikileaks cables on Freeport and says that it appears that the former Chair of the Grand Bahama Port Authority Hannes Babak was not given his work permit because he fired a special friend related to a high up Cabinet minister:
I told you, in an article several months ago, that a major factor attributing to Grand Bahama’s continuing economic decline (more rapidly now) is Ingraham’s decision not to re-new Hannes Babak’s work permit, when it came due for renewal, in December 2009.
You may be wondering (and legitimately so) why emphasis has been (and is being) focused so heavily on the renewal of this particular work permit (and not on the employment of a Bahamian to fill the post). Well, to explain briefly, the Grand Bahama Port Authority is the sole entity charged with the responsibility and mandate (under the Hawksbill Agreement) for economically marketing Freeport’s city area and to secure maximum investment inflows. With such a mandate the Port needs an individual (or some individuals), at the helm, which is/are capable of achieving the success necessary to cause the City to grow, expand and prosper. Unfortunately there are few (if any) Bahamians who are able to command the attention of the international business community and convince big business operators to re-locate their enterprises to our second city. Consequently the Port’s Principals selected, and settled on, Hannes Babak, as such an individual, who came to the post with the required, very impressive, credentials. The man’s resume put him at the top of the class, I am told, in terms of his international business associations and influence. Babak was well suited for the job and immediately set about to turn Freeport around economically. At the time the man’s work permit was denied he was well into negotiations with, at least, four major projects for Freeport. Ingraham’s announcement, essentially, terminated those negotiations and pulled the rug from under Freeport. Freeport’s already struggling economy immediately began to worsen, by each passing week; closures of businesses and staff lay-offs began escalating; investors who were already here, and those in the process of wanting to come, lost all confidence in the Ingraham government and suspended all further negotiations. Freeport has been going downhill ever since and today the economy is the worst it has ever been in this city’s history; no question about it.
I don’t know about Nassau but I know about Freeport and the situation here in this city is; thirty per cent of the households are without basic utilities; another fifty per cent are (payments behind) struggling to pay just enough on their outstanding balances in order to keep the man from disconnecting everything. The remaining twenty per cent comprise those of us who go to the electrical panel boxes, in our homes, every day and disconnect all the appliances and apparatus, which we can do without for more than a couple in the night or day. All circuit breaker switches to lights we don’t need are disconnected. Outside lights, which we should keep lit from dust to dawn, are kept off. Our water heaters are turned on for about two hours in the day and the only air condition unit that is in use is the one in the master bedroom and we hold out from turning that on for as long as we can withstand the heat before bedtime. Those of us with children must tolerate them sleeping in our bedrooms when the heat in their rooms become too unbearable. If we were not afraid of being attacked, robbed and killed, while we sleep we would keep the air condition off and open the shutters, but that would be life threatening for us. Whole families who have lost their houses or who have been kicked out of their rented apartments (and there are hundreds of them in both categories) are lucky if they find family members who are able and willing to take them in if only temporarily; those who don’t are either sleeping in their cars or have taken up residence in some isolated coppice (copse) of bush, on someone’s property, somewhere around the city. All this going on while the eight FNM members of parliament/Senators (three of whom are Cabinet Ministers) are all over the news talking fool, trying to convince us, that things are not as bad as we are, in fact, experiencing them. While they enjoy the fat of the land, travelling the country on the taxpayers’ credit card, we in Grand Bahama are suffering the toughest times of our lives here.
Lest we forget, it was Hubert Ingraham who, during the 2007 general elections campaign promised, that unlike Perry Christie and the PLP government, he and the FNM government (if elected) would intervene with the feuding partners and solve their problem. He promised also that unlike Perry Christie and the PLP government (if elected) he and his FNM government would preside over the opening of the Royal Oasis Hotel within months of taking office. He promised, as well, that unlike Perry Christie and the PLP government (if elected) he and his FNM government would create 10,000 jobs in Grand Bahama alone. Well it has been more than four years and no one would disagree with me when I declare that conditions have worsened in respect to all three of Ingraham’s major promises to the Grand Bahama people. With respect to solving the matter between the two feuding partners, he had nothing to do with their conciliating but rather he had everything to do with creating the great gulf, which now stands, between the Port and the Bahamas Government, resulting in the stalling of Freeport’s economy as opined by the embassy official in the referenced WikiLeaks Cables.
Hannes Babak’s continuing Chairmanship, of the Port Authority, was vital to the materializing of the several major projects being negotiated for the second city; however when his work permit was denied (by Mr. Know-it-all) the projects abruptly went away. According to a WikiLeaks expose’ on the matter (as reported in the Nassau Guardian of Tuesday 14th June 2011) there were at least four major ventures being negotiated, by Mr. Babak, at the time his permit was denied. The US Embassy felt (according to the WikiLeaks cable), as well, that Babak’s removal from his position, “put into jeopardy ongoing negotiations between the Port Authority, and two firms; (one Texas-based and the other Virginia-based); for the establishment of a Natural Gas and re-gasification facility; in addition to a $100 million hospital; projects which, the embassy official felt, could have had a major impact on Grand Bahama’s struggling economy and contribute tremendously to the reduction of the 15% unemployment rate at the time.
The cables went on to list the four pre-conditions to Babak’s permit being granted renewal, one of which was the promotion (within the Port group) of (the cable said) “a relative of a high-ranking government official. In fact this person was a woman who was not a blood relative, but the “special friend” of the referenced high-ranking government official. Everybody in Freeport knows who that “special friend keeping bandit of a cabinet minister” is and before any one of you go off trying to guess which one of the three Grand Bahama cabinet ministers he is; don’t bother because the culprit is neither of them. The cabinet minister, in question, in any event is higher up the ladder, in the cabinet, than any of them (you whistle and I will point). My sources tell me that the lady, in question, was in fact dismissed from the employ of the Port, by Babak. I am told that Babak determined that she served no useful purpose and since they were cutting back on staff, she was included on the list of those to go. Initially, they tell me, her engagement was as only a favor by Mr. Edward St. George to the cabinet minister in the first place. Almost immediately, however, she turned up employed, at the prime minister’s office here in Freeport, at a $50,000.00 per year salary and no job description. The office of the prime minister felt, that she had to be given something to do so she was assigned to the useless task of walking the length and breadth of Pinders Point, Lewis Yard, Hunters and Mack Town, visiting all the homes to determine who among the residents would wish to be relocated and who would wish to remain where they are; another useless task indeed. What can we say; She is the “MAN’s” sweetheart so the “MAN” was obliged to give her a job and who better to pay for his sweetheart’s inflated cost of living? The Bahamian taxpayers, of course.
But can you imagine, while we in Grand Bahama are grappling with double-digit unemployment; thousands of families going without basic utilities (light, water and garbage collection) and losing all we’ve struggled for, all our lives that the country’s chief executive, in the face of causing further deterioration to Grand Bahama’s economy, would engage in these kinds of shenanigans?
Sir Jack opined often, within the last eighteen months, that Hubert Ingraham’s actions (or the lack thereof) caused most of Freeport’s economic woes. When Sir Jack accused Ingraham he meant that by Ingraham’s decision not to renew the Port’s chairman’s work permit it resulted in the suspension of at least four major projects which Babak was in the middle of serious negotiations on, at the time. All other talks, as well, going on at the time for investments in Freeport were actually suspended; hence the stalling of Freeport’s economic thrust. The projects (all of them) went bye; bye. Ingraham didn’t care about the affects his arbitrary decision would have on Grand Bahama’s economy; his concern, as I see it, was for his set pre-conditions to be met. The inference of the WikiLeaks cables gave the impression that he (Ingraham) was concerned for the employment and promotion of Bahamians, in general, at the Port but nothing could be further from the truth. We know that this man cares very little, or none at all, for the welfare of Bahamians generally. We’ve been seeing that side of him for four years now, so I am convinced that when the WikiLeaks cables say his concern was for Bahamians, the truth of the matter is that the concern was for this one Bahamian Lady only. Besides Ingraham need have been concerned for the employment and promotion of Bahamians at the Grand Bahama Port Authority for he knows that of the almost three hundred persons employed at that establishment only one (Babak) was not fully a Bahamian citizen. Babak has permanent resident status with the right to work in his own business, granted him by this very Hubert Ingraham back in 1996. So we can say, for qualification purposes, that Babak can be considered a half-Bahamian which should give him some advantage over any other foreigner.
Imagine, though, the chief executive of the country putting the onus on the Chairman of the Grand Bahama Port Authority, whose status was that of an employee working merely on commission, to either bridge the divide between the two feuding partners (Sir Jack and the St. Georges) and get them to agree to sell the entire company to a buyer of the chief executive’s choosing (Hutchison Whampoa-the Chinese Government) and to retain on staff at the company a lazy woman employee who had no real job description in the first place, as pre-conditions to getting his work permit renewed? This is really an unorthodox way of conducting government business; but what else can we expect from a total JACKASS.
Freeport continues to decline; I am now being told that due to the degree of inactivity at Freeport’s International Airport, Freeport Flight Services Co. Ltd is in the process of scaling back on their staff compliment or alternatively will close their doors completely. But Laing, at every opportunity he gets, says that Freeport’s economy is improving. I wish tell him what one of his “used to be supporters,” in the last two general elections, asked me recently: “Does that boy live on this Island, Mr. Carroll?”
I would like to leave you with a quote from Proverbs chapter 28:2; “When there is moral rot within a nation, its government topples easily; but with honest, sensible leaders there is stability.” For four years now we have been saddled with this ignorant jackass leadership, and now enough is just enough. For four years, said one of my friends recently, you have been throwing your net on one side of the boat and haven’t caught a thing in all that time; isn’t it time that you get some sense and try the other side of the boat? Throw your nets on the other side of the boat Grand Bahamians-Vote PLP all the way, this time.
Forrester J Carroll J.P
Freeport, Grand Bahama
July 2011
A Window Into The Mind Of.Hubert Ingraham
Dear Editor:
Bert Williams, a Building Contractor in Dundas Town,Abaco, has a son. Bert Williams and his wife Esther they started the FNM Branch in Dundas Town. Those were words from
the mouth of Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham during his comments at the funeral of Esther
Williams a few years ago. Mr. Ingraham's generals namely, Bert Williams Jr., Larry, Jackie, Tyrone, Paul and Eleanor Williams-Darville, all live on the property where the FNM headquarters once stood and has now been demolished. Larry Williams, one of his generals, was awarded a contract for some road project in Abaco. Larry went ahead and used his liquid cash and purchased the equipment needed to complete the work. The "White Boys" in Abaco, reportedly met with Mr. Ingraham and told him to pull the contract, and today Larry's business went into difficulty and he is now reportedly selling all of his assets, one of them is the Convention Hall in Marsh Harbour. Mr. Ingraham has reportedly refused to meet
with any of the brothers.
The oldest brother Bert Williams Jr. reportedly wrote Mr Ingraham a letter asking
him to please pay the lease for property where his [the FNM] headquarters was.
Mr. Ingraham's reported response was that he would not honour his request. Therefore,
Bert Jr. sent a message to him asking him to remove the headquarters or he
will do it for him. These men are building contractors and are experiencing economic hardship. They are all strong FNM Supporters. As a result, Mr. Ingraham lost the entire Williams Clan. They all have an average of five children.
Please sign me:
An Abaco Correspondent
IN PASSING
The Anthony Acquittal In The U.S.
Well Casey Anthony, the alleged child murderer (her own child) is to be free on Wednesday 12th July. Who is she? She is an American woman in her twenties who has been on trial for the past month, in jail for three years awaiting trial for killing her daughter. How the U.S. public and by extension the Bahamian public gets so absorbed in these court cases, we would like to know. How do they pick one over the other. They are saying in the States that not since the O.J. Simpson trial has the TV public been so caught up in a trial. Gavel to gavel coverage. Live TV. Nancy Grace who is the odious U.S. TV commentator who savaged Michael Jackson during his trial, who helped to whipped up the frenzy against Aruba with the Natalie Holloway story, was at it again on CNN's Headline News Network by calling the young defendant “tot mom” and predicting that she would go down and would be sentenced to death for murder one. Turns out the jury had other ideas and acquitted the young woman except for the crime to the police. Result after sentencing to four years and taking into account time served, the lady is free to go next week. Just to see egg on Nancy Grace's face, this was a good verdict.
Wilbert Moss Dies last Sunday
Popular and well known Attorney and partner of FNM Chairman Carl Bethel MP died in Cuba last Sunday 3rd July after a battle with pancreatic cancer. Our condolences to his family
Punch Editor Dead Vex
The Punch, the down-market rag, that makes up lies on Bahamians, is fighting back now that its publisher’s own reputation has taken a further dive because he was allegedly caught taking money out the country with two jungliss looking gals without declaring it. We reported the story last week with a photo of Ivan Johnson, the editor in handcuffs. The newspaper carried blaring headlines last week that the charges were baloney and that the U.S Customs agents acted like Gestapos. The case resumes on 1st December.
Jeremiah Wright Visits And Is Snubbed By Bahamian Officials
The Reverend Jeremiah Wright who used to be the pastor of U.S. President Barrack Obama before President Obama unceremoniously dumped him, was in The Bahamas to preach two sermons at the Final Hour Apostolic Ministry on the Fox Hill Road headed by Bishop George Fowler on Monday 4th July and Tuesday 5th July. On 4th July, Pastor Wright’s hosts took him to the House of Assembly where he was placed in the front row and sat as an honoured guest. Usually, the Speaker of the House would welcome any prominent figure to the House. In this case the clerk actually got Pastor Wright’s details and took them up to the Speaker. The Speaker Alvin Smith said nothing. The Leader of Government Business ignored the man. Even though some FNM members came up to him to greet him during the break, the Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham practically pushed one of his member out of the way to get out of the House without saying hello to the man. Just an odd way to behave. PLP Members Leader Perry Christie, Phillip Davis and MP Fred Mitchell greeted Rev. Wright in the House and attended along with Ryan Pinder MP and Picewell Forbes MP the service on 5th July.
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Number Of Murders
The number of murders so far this year in The Bahamas is 68 .That makes 131 murders since Tommy Turnquest was Minister of National Security.
BTC Moves To Fire Staff
Part of the deal negotiated by the government with Cable and Wireless, the British company that now owns the Bahamas Telecommunications Company Ltd, was to allow the new owners to fire 30 per cent of the staff “voluntarily”. Well the verdict is now in and it appears that more staff than expected simply want to get out. The company says that it will let them know who the volunteers will be.
Government Embarrassed Over Monies In BTC
When the business of the Bahamas Telecommunications Company Limited passed hands from The Bahamas government to its new owners Cable and Wireless, there were 58 million dollars in cash in the Bank. The Bahamas government was supposed to leave 15 million in the bank at the handover. Now the word is that government wants the balance of its monies and Cable and Wireless is saying that it isn’t there to give. This is causing huge embarrassment to the government and the Minister of Finance Hubert Ingraham is said to be pissy mad about it. But that’s what you get when you make a deal with the devil. We want to know where is our money Cable and Wireless? Word is that special auditors have been brought in to find the funds. The new foreign BTC head is being accused of cooking the books to hide the money.
Revenge Killings
The Nassau Guardian reported in its Thursday 7th July edition that a murder was committed on a man who had earlier been acquitted of murder. This is said to be seventh murder this year that was a revenge killing. This shows the frustration people appear to have with system that does not get and convict the guilty. Even though vengeance is said to be the Lord’s, it appears more and more that people are taking the law into their own hands; their own version of swift justice and capital punishment.
DNA Names Its Candidates
Branville McCartney’s Democratic National Alliance (DNA) announced at its launch in Grand Bahama on 2nd July the names of its latest candidates:
Candidates announced include Karen Davis, businesswoman, Marathon; Dario Terrelli, sales manager at Seaboard Marine Bahamas, Blue Hills; Osman Johnson, attorney, Pine Ridge; Roger Rolle, businessman, West End & Bimini; Shawn Francis, businessman, Rum Cay, Cat Island & San Salvador; and Philip Thomas, businessman, High Rock. The report comes from The Nassau Guardian.
Zhivargo Laing On Facebook (Self-Absorbed)
Increasingly the Minister of State for Finance has been baring his soul on his Facebook page. He is just as self-absorbed as the youth who so easily expose all their personal business on the web. It comes off as maudlin. Here is what he had to say last week:
Zhivargo Laing
I've hurt so deeply sometimes that I felt my soul had been put in a meat grinder and then passed through sewerage pipe. Often it was because someone said or did something unthinkably nasty or callously unthoughtful. My lesson in those moments? This too will pass! Nothing last forever, not even deep hurt. The best way to cure, not hide but cure the pain, is to forgive and let go. Live well and prosper.
Planking Fad
Don’t know where it comes from but there is a new fad called planking people on some surface with their feet and trunk hanging suspended. Former Progressive Young Liberals’ chair Aarone Sargeant showed how on his Facebook page.
Pastor Myles Presents His Book On Leadership
On Thursday 7 July, Dr. Myles Munroe head of Bahamas Faith Ministries presented his new book on leadership to all members of the House of Assembly. Dr. Munroe is a renowned and internationally known author. He is well known in the boardrooms and cabinet rooms around the world. Pastor Myles as he is affectionately known is shown presenting his book on leadership on which he is an expert to Fred Mitchell MP Fox Hill and Alfred Sears MP Ft. Charlotte on the steps of the Assembly on 7th July. The photo is by Dennis Fountain.
Sir Jack Goes Green?
The co-owner of the Grand Bahama Port Authority was a rabid FNM up until a couple of years ago when the Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham told him that he could not get his man Hanes Babak's work permit. Rumour then had it that he had switched his allegiance to the PLP. But now comes the photo of Sir Jack Hayward in the flesh sitting at green event, the launch of the DNA in Freeport, Grand Bahama. Interesting. Strange! 'Tis passing strange.
Independence Exuma 2011
MP for Exuma Anthony Moss is shown with Fred Mitchell MP for Fox Hill at the celebrations for the 38th anniversary of the independence of The Bahamas held in Georgetown at Regatta Park. This is the 13th consecutive occasion that Mr. Mitchell has attended the Exuma celebrations. Phenton Neymour, Minister of State for the Environment and the FNM's would be candidate for the Exuma seat was there and Byron Woodside, Minister of State for Local Government was also there.
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With the simple powerful words, “I hereby name this vessel the CS Calvina and pray that all who sail on her will be blessed with good health, safety and joy," Sir Orville Turnquest, a former Governor General of The Bahamas launched the latest vessel to be registered on the Bahamian ship registry. The CS Calvina is a 37,000 dry bulk carrier that will join the fleet of Campbell Shipping Company Limited. Campbell Shipping is a Bahamian company which operates from the Campbell Maritime Centre, West Bay Street, Nassau. Lowell J. Mortimer, the President of Campbell Shipping said that the CS Calvina is one of many ships on the Bahamian registry which was built in China. The Clipper Group of companies, which is also based in The Bahamas and Campbell Shipping have, over the years had ships built in China at a cumulative cost in excess of a billion dollars. G.T.R Campbell, another Bahamian based company supervised the construction of the CS Calvina. The construction of the CS Calvina is by the Tianjin Xingang Shipbuilding Heavy Industry Co. Ltd. Mr. Mortimer in his remarks stated that the personnel of Campbell Shipping has a long history with Tianjin Xingang Shipbuilders which will become more solidified in the future. The launching was followed by a special dinner hosted by the shipyard. On Thursday 15th July, Mr. Mortimer signed a contract for two (2) sea transporter series which are also to be built in China. The sea transporter series are 38,000 tons dry bulk carriers and were designed by Smart Engineering And Design Solutions Ltd., another Nassau based company. Anthony Prince is the President of Smart with offices in Sandy Port, West Bay Street. The delegation from Nassau for the launching included Sir Orville, Caryl Lashley, Charles Lashley, Kamana Valluri, Leroy Major, Peter Ramsay and Brandon Charlton. Our photo of the week is that of the Bahamian delegation as it watches the launch of the CS Calvina on July. The photo is by Peter Ramsay.
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COMMENT OF THE WEEK
THE GROUND TREMBLES
THE GROUND TREMBLES
I feel the earth move under my feet
I feel the sky come tumbling down
-Carole King
John Pinder (President) and the Bahamas Public Services Union must be stunned, in a state of shock, the wind must be knocked out of their sails. The ground has shaken and the earth has trembled. There is a tumult going on. There is a seismic shift in the political landscape. The signs are there. Even the blind can see.
We are talking about the fact that on Friday 15th July after years of stall, delay and defer, the Customs and Immigration Departments have had their way. They formed their own union to break away from the Bahamas Public Services Union and now they have the right to represent themselves. The Minister of Labour Dion Foulkes had to be taken to court in order to get the vote to take place. We now know why he was stalling.
John Pinder is widely perceived in the country to be an FNM sympathizer and supporter, so much so that it is believed that he cannot and does not serve the interests of his workers because he cannot bring himself to oppose Hubert Ingraham and the FNM. This was a man who after the FNM fired the government workers hired by the PLP before 2007, supported the dismissals of his own members. My! My!
The Customs Officers and Immigration Officers are pissed off that they lost their overtime pay and have to work on shifts. Mr. Pinder negotiated a makeup package but some people who had their incomes cut in half barely saw seventy dollars added to their pay after the deal was struck by Mr. Pinder. That cooked his goose. He told the Nassau Guardian it was discontent over the promotions freeze that the FNM implemented in 2007,the FNM government caused his loss.
The vote was 694 for the Bahamas Customs Immigration and Allied Workers Union to 56 for the BPSU. Mr. Pinder’s union did not even get 60 votes nationwide.
Given Mr. Pinder’s closeness to the FNM, those who read the tea leaves are saying that the FNM’s inner circle is badly rattled by the overwhelming defeat of Mr. Pinder’s union. It is a portent of what is to come for the FNM. The country is simply sick and tired of them. They have to go. Mr. Pinder faces a tough fight in September of this year to remain as President of the Union. He has two of his officers fighting him for the job. He will be lucky to survive by the looks of it.
Number of hits for the week ending Saturday 16th July 2011 up to midnight: 167,692
Number of hits for the month of July up to Saturday 16th July 2011 up to midnight: 318,102
Number of hits for the year 2011 up to Saturday 16th July 2011 up to midnight: 4,864,923
CONTACT US AT E-MAIL: placid_point@yahoo.com
Nassau, Bahamas – The following is the 2011 Independence Day Message by Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Hubert Ingraham.
Fellow Citizens of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas:
I extend every best wish for a happy and safe Independence Anniversary Celebration. This year we celebrate under the theme “38 years – United in Love and Service”.
During the past 38 years we have evolved from a small colony on the periphery of the British Empire into a vibrant democracy and international business centre, proud of our social and political stability and determined to broaden economic opportunities for every citizen. Our success to date is manifested in the fact that we enjoy one of the highest per capita incomes among countries in the Americas.
Nevertheless, in recent years we, like much of the rest of the world, have endured economic hardships, the fallout from the global economic recession. In the face of such adversity we responded by in ways reflective of the theme of this year’s anniversary celebrations. We preserved public sector jobs, increased social assistance programmes, introduced an unemployment benefit, implemented a short term jobs programme, implemented a jobs training programme and accelerated planned infrastructure projects so as to improve service to the Bahamian people while protecting private sector jobs and serving as a catalyst for more job creation.
Those initiatives are now being expanded to include new job readiness training, a new jobs creation programme and special targeted initiatives to support small and medium size businesses. These will all contribute to our planned return to economic prosperity as the world economy and our own continues their recovery.
Sadly, our celebration of this 38th anniversary of nationhood is marred by a continued high incidence of crime. While the Government has mounted a multifaceted response to the problem it is increasingly important that all Bahamians unite in sending a clear message to the small minority of persons who break our social contract of good neighbourliness and who choose to live outside of the law, that we will neither tolerate nor excuse their criminal behaviour.
In this regard, we should all recall and reflect upon the important role that the extended family and the neighbourhood have played in our development as a people who are open and welcoming, who share easily and who believe that service is a virtue.
As is my custom, I wish to once again use this year’s Independence Day Message to thank all those who serve our people throughout the year, those in the private sector, in our churches and civic organizations, and throughout the public sector.
I wish also to acknowledge and thank all those who work in our diplomatic, tourism and maritime services internationally. Many of them will celebrate independence at their overseas post where they pursue our country’s interests internationally. I acknowledge their sacrifice and thank them for their continued service to our country.
We will face many challenges in the year ahead: achieving economic recovery and expansion, protecting our environment from degradation in the face of climate change and sea level rise, safeguarding the supply and cost of energy and of food and winning our war on crime.
We are a hardy people, self-reliant and bolstered by a long tradition of resourcefulness and self-reliance. So as we celebrate this 38th anniversary of our independence we recall those qualities.
Fellow Bahamians, on this special national anniversary I extend my very best for a happy and safe Independence Day and pray God’s blessings upon our nation and upon each and every one of us.
Thank you.
CHRISTIE’S INDEPENDENCE MESSAGE
RT. HON. PERRY G. CHRISTIE
LEADER, PROGRESSIVE LIBERAL PARTY
My fellow Bahamians,
As we celebrate our 38th anniversary of nationhood, let us be ever mindful of our collective responsibility to continuously define and promote our unique Bahamian identity on this global stage.
As Bahamians, we take great pride in our free, modern, democratic state called the Commonwealth of The Bahamas. With this national pride comes national responsibility to further develop and deepen our democracy. I encourage every Bahamian to participate in civil society to continue this progressive and noble course.
We as Bahamians have every reason to be proud of our national accomplishments in just thirty-eight short years, but just as we proudly proclaim success in many areas of national development, we must acknowledge the many challenges that confront us and the shortcomings that plague us.
We must therefore commit ourselves and redouble our efforts to promote social justice, advance Bahamianization, strengthen our social infrastructure, arrest the scourge of crime that threatens our way of life, protect our territorial borders, restore and expand our economy with economic justice as our principal driver and guard our heritage.
Yes, it is this generation’s responsibility to stand on the shoulders of nation builders before them, boldly and fearlessly confront and conquer our national challenges and deliver to the next generation of Bahamians, a stronger, safer, richer and a more civil Bahamas; you must not and cannot shirk from this awesome task. Our country demands, expects and deserves no less of you, our young, strong and ambitious sons and daughters. This is my charge to young Bahamians everywhere.
In closing I wish the Bahamas a happy 38th Birthday and may Almighty God continue to guide, bless and sustain us. Our best days are indeed ahead of us.
Long live the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.
DNA ON INDEPENDENCE
For Immediate Release
July 8, 2011
Democratic National Alliance
The Democratic National Alliance (DNA) joins the Commonwealth of The Bahamas in celebrating our 38th Independence Day as a sovereign nation. In doing so, DNA leader and Member of Parliament for Bamboo Town, W. A. Branville McCartney issued this statement:
We celebrate our democracy, our unmatched heritage and our nation builders, who have left us this past year in their great splendor.
Only seven weeks have passed since the official introduction of the DNA and immediately the Bahamian public redefined the possible by welcoming our alternative platform. This rare occurrence solidifies that true democracy is not extinct in this Bahamaland, at least, not in the minds and hearts of its people. Every day, my appreciation for your support and prayers grow; more and more, my faith grows with it.
During this time of the year, however, one cannot help but rest aside political ‘colours.’ July 10th, like all other Bahamian holidays and special dates in our history, reminds me that before I adorned myself in DNA-green and long before the colours of yellow, blue and red; my joy, hopes and my resounding pride was threaded with aquamarine, black and gold. Essentially, no other colour matters.
To truly celebrate our freedom and our history, we must recognize the great sons and daughters of this archipelago that we’ve lost this past year, including Dr. Keva Bethel—a scholar and a bright spirit, who set a standard that we all should chase; and Jackson Burnside—a cultural icon and structural visionary, who will certainly be the cool breeze we feel on Bay later this year.
The DNA, like you, celebrates their sacrifice and we will never forget their imprint on these Family of Islands. Indeed, they press us to unite in love and service. Let’s honor them by celebrating peacefully this weekend.
On behalf of the DNA executive and candidates, and my family, I wish all Bahamians a jubilant and safe Independence weekend. Happy Independence Bahamas!
U S MESSAGE ON INDEPENDENCE
Fred Mitchell MP Fox Hill joined the PLP’s Leader in the Senate Allyson Maynard Gibson to represent the PLP at the reception held at the home of Ambassador Nicole Avant of the United States marking the anniversary of the independence of the United States (235th ). The parents of the Ambassador were also in Nassau for the occasion at the official residence of the Ambassador in Nassau “Liberty Overlook” on Saturday 2nd July. The photo shows from left Clarence Avant, father of the Ambassador, Senator Gibson, Jaqueline Avant, mother of the Ambassador, Ted Sarandos, husband of the Ambassador, the Ambassador and Fred Mitchell MP. What follows is the message from the United States Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton to The Bahamas on the occasion of our 38th anniversary of independence.
STATEMENT BY SECRETARY CLINTON
Commonwealth of The Bahamas Independence Day
On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I am delighted to congratulate the people of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas as you celebrate 38 years of independence this July 10.
This is an opportunity to reflect on The Bahamas’ proud history and rich cultural heritage. It also gives us the chance to honor our shared democratic values and commitment to the future peace and prosperity in the region and throughout the world. We demonstrate our commitment to work together as partners each day through the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI), The U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), and many other joint initiatives that benefit communities throughout The Bahamas.
On this special occasion, whether you are celebrating with family or friends on New Providence, Grand Bahama, or the Family Islands, I send best wishes to all the people of The Bahamas for a safe and happy holiday, and reaffirm the commitment of the United States to this enduring partnership.
STAN BURNSIDE: WORKS MIN AS MR. MAGOO
Mr. Magoo is the cartoon character that is as blind as a bat but always thinks he is getting it right. That is how the cartoonist Stan Burnside has now portrayed Minister of Works Neko C. Grant as the road works he is seeking to finish, can't seem to finish. He does not understand the harm he is doing. Blind to the subject. Enjoy.
THE ROAD DEM DIG UP DIG UP
Geno D - Dig Up 2011 by 242party
HAPPY INDEPENDENCE CALVIN SMITH ON FRED MITCHELL
The community of Fox Hill marks the independence of our country in their own special way the week after the national independence day celebrations. On Saturday 16th July, the community held a flag raising ceremony to mark the 38th anniversary of the country's independence. Fox Hill MP Fred Mitchell led the observances and decried the government's inattention to Fox Hill and to independence day obervances especially the absence of flags for the Fox Hill parade. The preacher for the occasion was the Rev. Warren Anderson of Mt. Carey Baptist Church. Rev. Sabrina Pinder of St. Mark's was the MC and Pastor Leonard Roberts of Coke Methodist did the invocation. The flag was raised by the Fox Hill Scout troop. An independence cake was cut. The services were organized by Charlene Marshall of the Fox Hill consituency office. The photos for the event are by Fox Hill media.
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CHINA SHIP LAUNCH
The photo of the week describes the launch of the CS Calvina in China. Lowell Mortimer of Campbell Shipping led the delegation to the ship launch which took place on July Peter Ramsay took the photos. The visit included a tourist stop at the Great Wall of China for Mr. Mortimer and his special guest Sir Orville Turnquest, former Governor General of The Bahamas.
Today we publish a letter by Pastor Allen Lee that represents one sector of opinion on human sexuality and the public issues that surround it in The Bahamas. Pastor Lee is wrong but is sincere in his beliefs. Similarly, Myles Munroe has preached on the subject saying that what the government when it supported the UN on gay rights did violated the constitution of The Bahamas. He too is wrong. The difficulty we have is people are entitled to their views but we are concerned about the irrational the hysteria and political brownie points that people keep seeking to make off a group of people that do not interfere with anyone in this country and have rights as citizens not to be discriminated against for what they are. They have a right to participate in the public life of the country without jeers and prejudice or to live a life of peaceable quiet enjoyment if they so choose. But the radio talk shows are filled with trash talking on the subject and as we reported last week the political parties themselves are skittish on the subject. The Christian pastors are the most cruel of all. Instead of taking the principled position like Perry Christie and Brent Symonette did, it is so easy to descend into pandering to what appears to be popular prejudice. Leaders ought to lead on the subject. Leaders must lead all people. They have to be neutral on the subject and take everyone as they find them. That is why when you read what Keenan Johnson, the PLP’s Young Liberals Chairman had to say on the subject of the outing of the alleged drag queen, it was a proud moment. It appears that at last someone who is a political leader gets the point. Political leaders are not called on to deal with matters of faith and morals. That is for preachers. So Pastor Lee while he is welcome to his preaching on the subject should also realize that within his own congregation are men and women who are like that who simply know that what he is saying is plain wrong. So this week, the press was at it again. Demarion Alamanzar, son of a Bahamian mother and Dominican father, became the subject of ridicule because it is alleged by the web pages and The Tribune that he was in a drag queen contest (see photo) when he was a 16 year older. You can click here for the full Tribune report. Mr. Alamanzar who is a leader in the Young Democrats, the youth arm of the new party the DNA, has had no comment and has neither confirmed or denied his status. Perhaps though that reaction in itself is a sign of some recognition that everyone is different and we must accept each other as we are not as we want them to be. There is no pathology in being homosexual, transgender or lesbian or a cross dresser. Perhaps this is a teachable moment. First there was no panic response by Mr. Alamanzar to go running to the nasty press to say “No! No! It aint so”. You know these preachers who denounce; the basketball players on the court who call people routinely sissies; the screams of faggot are all examples of prejudice which must be expiated from our national life. We are dealing with a phenomenon that is like the black in the skin colour of most people in this country. Aint nothing people can do about it. One radio commentator sought to attack Perry Christie because he supported the UN’s position on gay rights. Why would an intelligent man like that commentator, seek to make political hay out of something that has no political legs unless he purposely intends to whip up the fires of prejudice and baser instincts, instead of being responsible and saying each person is entitled to be what they want provided no law is broken? Our final point on this is that the DNA, notwithstanding all our tolerance arguments, has an image problem that is building up of not being serious by this and other stories. That is a political problem they have with Sammy Starr as a candidate, Mr. Alamanzar as one of its leaders and we now hear a male stripper is to be the candidate for Cat Island.
You may click here for The Tribune story.
PHOTOS OF PORGY AND BESS
Dr. Cleveland Williams continues to make his contribution to the cultural efforts in our country. Last year he did the opera Tremonisha by Scott Joplin. This year he did Porgy and Bess by George Gershwin at the Rain Forrest Theatre at the Crystal Palace in Cable Beach over the independence holiday weekend. Peter Ramsay was there and recorded these shots from the performance.
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DAVID ALLENS PRESENTS CD TO PLP LEADER
Six years ago, David Jonathan Allens, was a first grade student at Queen’s College Primary School who sang at the Farm Road Urban Renewal Project house dedication. At that time, the Rt. Honorable Perry G. Christie was the Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas and was also at that event. Mr. Christie encouraged David to continue singing with a personal autograph that read “You have a wonderful voice.” David still cherishes that autographed note to this day.
Over the years, David continued to be inspired by Mr. Christie’s endorsement of this talent as he committed himself to developing his skills by joining The Bahamas National Children’s Choir, and The National Boy’s Choir of The Bahamas. David took advantage of every opportunity to travel with the national choirs throughout Europe and North America as an ambassador for The Bahamas. In addition, he often sang at the Church of God of Prophecy, East Street where he is a member.
“It was hard work,” David said, “But I persevered, there were many times when I thought that I could not make it, and I wanted to quit.” Over the years, David balanced the numerous rehearsals, music lessons and extra-curricular activities with the demands at Queen’s College primary school while maintaining a high grade point average (GPA).
David and his family made the decision to release his debut C.D. to have record of his unchanged voice, and most importantly, as a tribute to give back to the community through music. “We made the decision to inspire other children like David,” said Miss. Dorcas Cox, David’s mother. “They need to follow their dreams and always keep them in sight.” Ms. Cox says that the people who have already heard David’s singing on ZNS radio often call and say that David has given them, and their family joy.
David was very excited because he got to go into the studio and record and was happy to hear that people liked it. David’s grandmother Mrs. Ena-Mae T. Cox says “It has given us another reason to celebrate, especially after David has just passed his Grade Three theory exam from the Royal School of Music.”
David is proud to celebrate the occasion of his C.D. launch by dedicating and presenting copies to the people who have encouraged him in his many endeavors over the years. David continues to reflect on the words of the Rt. Honorable Perry G. Christie and throws out a challenge to other young people to continue to develop themselves in their passion.
David presented the CD to Mr. Christie at his office in Parliament Street on 14th July. he ws accompanied by his grandmother Ena Mae Cox ( far left); his mother Dorcas Cox ( second from the right), and Fred Mitchel MP for Fox Hill, the constituency in which David llives. The photo is by Andrew Burrows.
YOUNG LIBERALS RELAUNCHED IN GBI
Tristaan Lockhart is the new leader of the Young Liberals in Grand Bahama. He and his team were elected to office at a meeting held in Freeport on Saturday 16th July at the PLP's headquarters there. The photos are by Andrew Burrows. The team from Nassau was led by Keenan Johnson, PYL National Chief and advisor MP Ryan Pinder.
LETTERS
TO THE EDITOR
Forrester Carroll writes this week from Freeport about Branville McCartney and calls him a political fraud and phony for having sat in the Ingraham cabinet inflicting the harm which now is upon us but now seeking to wash his hands of the harm which he helped to create:
Branville McCartney is a political FRAUD and a political PHONY. He is another one of those who thinks that, just because a few people swell his head by convincing him that he is the man; that he deserves to be prime minister; that the baton should be passed on to him, that that qualifies him for the job? No way Jose.
I really intended not to bother with Branville McCartney, and just to leave this misdirected soul alone, because the truth of the matter is that he and his DNA party are no political threats to the PLP. But after he appeared on Ortland Bodie’s show talking all sorts of foolishness, I suddenly had a change of mind. This man resigned his “Ingraham appointed position,” as junior minister of immigration about a year ago, claiming to be an “FNM for life” and that he would remain as such, notwithstanding his resignation from the cabinet, no matter what; but now, all of a sudden, he is everything else but an FNM. For the record, let me state empathically that I do, firmly, believe that Branville McCartney is, indeed, an FNM and will remain as such. He is a “McCartney,” after all, and this family name is (and has always been in party politics history in the Bahamas) synonymous with the old UBP guard. Remember who the UBP were? They were the bastards who thought that they owned the Bahamas and that they had the only legitimate, unalienable right and entitlement to leadership of the country. Bran’s parading around, now, like the “Jolly green giant” is only a falsity. What he is actually doing is to occupy himself, in the meantime, until after the general elections when he knows that Hubert Ingraham will get his behind cut and then he (Bran) will abandon his DNA and return to pick up the broken pieces of that screwed up FNM party; I am convinced of this. After all it was he (Bran) himself who made it abundantly clear that he was an FNM and would remain, as such, for the rest of his life.
I labeled the young, inexperienced, forty-four year old a political PHONY, and for good reason. When he resigned from the Ingraham cabinet and issued his press statement, instead of telling the country the truth about the kind of animal he found Hubert Ingraham to be, he instead tried as best he could not to castigate the tyrant too much. He seemed to have made a concerted effort to be as graceful as possible and very careful not to offend the HEDGE HOG. In addition to making the claim that he would never leave the FNM he said, at the time, that Ingraham was best able to run the country, than anyone else. This is what McCartney said while at the same time declaring that the country was headed in the wrong direction under Ingraham; a contradiction in terms, indeed. I hate political hypocrites; how in the hell could Ingraham be the best one to run the country (in his opinion) if the damn country is being led (again in his opinion) by Ingraham in the wrong direction? It’s either one or the other, Branville; you don’t get to make your cake and eat it too. Now that he (Branville) has severed his ties with the FNM (something he said he would never do), he changes his mind on us and suddenly he is now the best one to run the country. Well wasn’t he there, on the scene in the FNM all the while, when he declared that he was not better than Ingraham the PISS-HEAD? What has changed since then, Branville McCartney? You are just as much a political hypocrite as Cassius Stuart is.
Read More.
Pastor Allen Lee of Calvary Bible Church in Collins Ave in Nassau writes a letter in which he denounced the government’s stand on homosexual rights at the United Nations. In this he joins Pastors Lyall Bethel and Cedric Moss:
Dear Editor:
June 28, 2011
I would be most pleased if you would deem it fit to publish the following:
I am in Tampa, Fla. Recuperating from open-heart surgery and almost suffered a post-surgery heart attack after reading the article appearing in the June 18th. issue of the Nassau Guardian that was emailed to me by a concerned member of Calvary Bible Church.
What concerned me most was not the act that the Hon. Brent Symonette was dealing with an issue it is quite obvious he has no real inkling of its true nature, but the manner in which he dealt with it as a supposedly representative of the Bahamian people. I once though he had a bright future in politics, but no longer – if his handling of this vital issue is an indication of his intellectual, moral, political and spiritual acumen.
If the Guardian’s article is correct, he voted for a Bill he did not read. That immediately reminded me of the statement Mrs. Pelosi, the then leader of the Democratic Party, when she said, concerning a controversial bill that was seeking passage in the house: “You’ll have to pass the bill in order to know what’s in it.” The Hon. Bahamian Member of Parliament, Mr. Brent Symonette’s statement is just as stupid, irresponsible and shows a complete lack of concern for the Bahamian people’s welfare. How is it possible for any Bahamian – or anyone else for that matter, even the UN – to take him seriously! His actions betray both his mentality and his lack of concern for Bahamian citizens. He simply does not have the interest to UNDERSTAND the issues he’s dealing with on our behalf!
Again, if the Guardian’s statement is accurate, Mr. Symonette seems to have no consciousness or awareness of the spiritual and Christian ethos of the nation he is supposed to represent. Every period of our history has show a disdain and rejection of the sodomite lifestyle. But it appears that, for My Symonette, it’s only what he – or his UN friends – think is morally acceptable to a people – and that in spite of the fact the preamble of our constitution mandates that he reflect “Christian principles” in his behaviour and decisions as a representative of the Bahamians who elected him to represent them – not HIS personal moral values. One must wonder if he has not, both in principle and in actuality, violated the constitution, which he has sworn to uphold as a Member of Parliament. Is this not and evidence of his inability to truly “protect” the Bahamian people? He simply is not aware of the Christian underpinnings or the thrust of the constitution. How can he “protect them in these areas?
Brent Symonette
One wonders what “human right” Mr. Symonette is concerned about with regard to hose that choose to perform one particular type of sexual activity. Our present laws offer protection for all citizens from unlawful harm. Doesn’t Mr. Symonette understand that fact? Is this another evidence of his inability to truly “protect” the Bahamian people? He doesn’t know the laws of the land! In addition, he does not understand the nature of the bill. He refers to his being in agreement with the right for everyone to have a choice, what he calls, “the expansion of rights for “people of any persuasion.” In context, he is referring to so-called “right” of individuals to choose their sexual mate. However, the right of choice is not the issue, it’s what is it right to choose without forcing others to agree that that choice is the right one for everyone. He is actually voting that Bahamians agree that homosexuals are a special group of people based on their preference to have sex with whom they please and that we must agree that this is a “right” position for all to believe, or else they will be penalized for it. In other words, he is forcing Bahamians to endorse the lifestyle of sodomites or be punished by the Government for not doing so. This just does not make sense!
I and other colleagues in the Christian Ministry here in the Bahamas, have adequately covered the moral, health, psychological, historical and biblical reasons for outwardly rejecting the homosexual/sodomite way of life in previous public communications as well as from our pulpits, so I won’t do so at this time. My concern is that we, as Bahamians, must protect our future, by being sure that those who represent us are able to do so both morally and spiritually as well as intellectually.
The following quote from the Guardian’s article is also very troublesome ‘The United States supported the resolution, which also asked that the study be conducted before the end of the year to look at how international laws can “be used to end violence and related human rights violations based on sexual orientation and gender identity.” This “universal Brain washing” strategy has already been set in motion via the so-called “hate-speech” bills passed by the UN and imposed upon its members, including the Bahamas. It appears in section 53 (3) IV of the Communications Bill 2009 that is presently being implemented by our URCA. The import of this proposed mandate upon “freedom of speech” was well recognized by the PLP leadership from a political perspective when they challenged ZNS for attempting to implement it with reference to political speech. The same principle holds with reference to the Church, but now, not only is free speech impacted, but also freedom of religion. A research on the negative impact of this being imposed in Great Britain, Australia and other UN member nations, is easily discovered by doing even a Google research using “hate-speech” as a keyword.
As we say, “mark my words, soon it will be illegal for preachers, or anyone else for that matter, to read portions of the Bible condemning sodomy. There is no question that the UN is on a deliberate path to, at a minimum, marginalize Christianity throughout the world by seeking to remove its worldwide traditional and historical impact upon human values. It’s relentless efforts to eliminate capital punishment, promote abortion on demand, remove gender distinctions and the such, including the issue under discussion, creating a new non-gender gender!
We need representative “who understand the times” and who have the courage and moral fortitude to do what is necessary, not only for the physical and material protection of our citizens, but also for their moral and spiritual benefit as well.
Yours for a truly “better Bahamas,”
Allan R. Lee {citizen}
IN PASSING
Who Is This Man McCartney?
The piece this week by Forrester Carroll does a good job in examining the recording of the green man Branville McCartney MP for Bamboo Town who was FNM up to march and now has his own party the DNA. What comes off, the more Mr. McCartney exposes himself and his policies is that he is ambitious, impatient but he doesn’t have it, not bright enough for the task. As K.D. Knight the former Jamaican Foreign Minister and Q.C. used to say: “Some people have it and some people don’t have it.” Bran McCartney just doesn’t have it.
Ingraham Cussing Like A Sailor
The count for murder is up to for the year. Last week there were three murders in one night. The total since Tommy Turnquest was the Minister of National Security is quite a record. Unprecedented in the history of The Bahamas. The Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham has become so testy that the other day his friends say as he was being asked how he could go on a private vacation when the country was in such a crime problem. His reply: “ What the F… you want me to do? They killing each other when I’m here. When I go away they killing each other. When I come back, they still killing each other. What the F you want me to do? ” Touchy! Touchy! The numbers are 69 murders for the year 392 murders since Tommy Turnquest was Minister of National Security up to 12th July.
It’s Important That Obama Wins Again
We have been watching as the debate unfolds in Washington D.C. about the United States government and whether or not it is going to be able to meet its lawful debt commitments after 2nd August. The vehemence with which the Republicans are seeking to stop U.S. President Barrack Obama dead in his tracks. You have to say that there is a subtext to all of this which has nothing to do with the merits or the demerits of his policies. This just seems to us to be pure racism. We hope this man gets a second chance and is able to win re-election.
Lynwood Brown Charge Tuesday 12 July
The Tribune reported that Dr. Lynwood Brown, who was seeking a PLP nomination, an employee of the Ministry of Health was arraigned on Tuesday 12th July in the Magistrate’s Court on a charge of indecent assault. The Tribune pulled what was supposed to be their front page story on that day to substitute for the story savaging a PLP. They neglected to tell the background of the story. This is a private prosecution being bought after the police thoroughly investigated the matter and refused to prosecute. Three days before the statute of limitations ran out, the complaint was filed by an FNM Lawyer/Activist Ramona Farquharson. You get the picture. Dr. Brown was the supervisor of the woman making the accusation that he touched her breast. Her complaint came after she was disciplined by Dr. Brown. The matter is now to be challenged in the Supreme Court. This is a matter in which the Attorney General ought to intervene and stop the prosecution.
Murders Up by 40 Per cent Over Same Period Last year
The Nassau Guardian reported on Tuesday 12th July 69 murders up to that day for the year in The Bahamas. This is almost certainly a record and according to the paper’s records bests the same period last year by forty per cent. Amongst the more memorable from last week’s carnage a man from Englerston was gunned down, the second in a week who was charged with a homicide who met his death following release from prison. Englerston PLP MP Glenys Hanna Martin decried the violence and guns, and called for an end to the horror.
BTC’s Cable And Wireless Owners Bribing Consumers
Well we guess we should all be happy now that the Englishmen who bought the Bahamas Telecommunications Company Ltd (BTC) for a song from this traitorous government have announced lower cell phone rates between the islands. On 12th July, the new owners of BTC announced with great flourish that the 18 cent per minute long distance charge for cell phone calls to the islands will no longer apply. It will be one flat rate throughout the country. They expect to make up the loss of revenue with an increase in volumes. So this is why we sold the company to get lower cell phone rates between the islands. We suppose that Bahamians could not lower the rates.
The Customs Vote For New Union
Customs and Immigration Officers appear to have chosen a new union. They have separated themselves from the Bahamas Public Services Union in a vote which took place on Friday 15th July. Despite the prediction of John Pinder that the BPSU which he heads will prevail, he has now has lost the customs and immigration officers who voted overwhelmingly to break away. The Minister of Labour had refused to hold a vote in order to stall the decision but the new union went to court and the court ordered the vote to take place. Now we will see how quickly the government will act to sign a recognition agreement and then an industrial agreement. John Pinder is an ally of the governing FNM and they count on him to stall things for them. But you have a radical crew with this new union. They are angry at the government’s decisions on overtime being taken away which sliced some of their annual incomes by half.
The Old Register History On 14th July
To the great confusion of the public, the register on which the general election of 2007 was fought has died and become part of history. That register was widely criticized by the courts for being riddled with inaccuracies, people who were not resident where they should have been and some who were not citizens. This time the new register which came into force on 15th July promises to be the cleanest ever. We will see. What it is proving is that despite the talk to the contrary, people want to register to vote. In the last 24 hours before the register died, some 1700 people lined up to register. Registration does not stop but continues up to the dissolution of parliament and the issue of the elections writs.
Oswald Brown’s Grammar Lesson to Peter Carey (Puts Candia Dames In Her Place)
We thought that you would find this exchange interesting. On Facebook, there are a number of FNM operatives. One of them is Peter Carey, once dismissed from the government service, who has a pathological hatred of the PLP, and stoops to any length to write nasty things on the web about the PLP. He is believed to be behind a page called Voices Bahamian that posts nasty caricatures about PLPs. He is not too bright and has an issue with his sexuality that he seeks to project on those who interact on Facebook. We thought that it was interesting Oswald Brown, the former Nassau Guardian editor, wrote a good put down on Facebook. He gave him a lesson is simple English grammar. Then for some inexplicable reason Candia Dames, the Nassau Guardian editor intervened in the conversation. Well we know about her and her ethics. Read on.
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Oswald Brown
MEMO TO PETER CAREY: Here's a lesson in "subject/verb" agreement: It is wrong to say, "Inside sources HAS reported..." The correct verb in this case is, "Inside sources HAVE reported..." You should have paid more attention in school. And why are you so concerned about Rodney Moncur's status with the DNA?
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Jennifer Jaye Johnson and 4 others like this.
Candia Dames Whatever motives you think I may have, that's totally on you, Mr. Brown.
11 hours ago • LikeUnlike
Oswald Brown Candia, There's no need for us to be having this exchange, so I shall refuse to comment further.
11 hours ago • LikeUnlike
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The Situation In Long Island
Fred Mitchell MP for Fox Hill joined fellow PLP candidate Alex Storr (Long Island) for a visit just after independence on 11th July and an evening with the generals at Mario Simms place in Simms, Long Island. Their enthusiasm for the campaign is strong. Mr. Storr is making good progress. He was well received at the cook out and sailing race at Clarence Town on 11th July. People are angry at Larry Cartwright their present representative because they believe that he let Long Island down. He has not stood up to Hubert Ingraham. They think he is afraid of Hubert Ingraham. Local Government Chief councilor Ian Knowles and Larry Cartwright appear to be at loggerheads with a promise being made that Larry Cartwright will lose the seat. People are angry that after the faithfulness of Long Island they should have a proper dock, international service at Deadman's Cay Airport, water throughout the island and cable service.
Independence In Miami
Fred Mitchell MP for Fox Hill and Opposition spokesman on Foreign Affairs will travel to Miami to attend the independence day observances for the Bahamian community in South Florida at the Pentecostal Baptist Church in North Miami beginning at 3p.m.
Congratulations To Indira Grime Nee Minus
Congratulations are due to Indira Grimes, daghter of Leslie Minus of Freeport and daughter-in-law of former MP Valentine Grimes and his wife Thlema passed her Family Medicine Masters Exams from the University of the West indies with the highest marks and the only Distinction granted throughout the Caribbean in the exams this year.
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Saturday 23rd July was the culmination of three days of the Eastern Region Conclave of the Progressive Liberal Party held at the New Christian Life Centre on Prince Charles Drive in New Providence. The meeting which was anchored by an address from Party Leader Perry Christie on the Saturday brought the faithful from the constituencies of Sea Breeze, Marathon, Yamacraw, Montagu, Fox Hill, Elizabeth, St. Anne’s together. Their candidates and MPs were all present for the event. A great time was had by all. Our photo of the week then is the PLP in mini convention at the Eastern Region Conclave on Saturday 23rd July. Photo is by Andrew Burrows.
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COMMENT OF THE WEEK
THE FNM IN FREE FALL
The Facebook pages were saying it. The Nassau Guardian repeated it. One guesses from a certain perspective they are right: the Free National Movement (FNM) appears to be in freefall. There is nothing that they can do right it seems. The murder rate which is now the measure by which most people track their success is at an all time. Before you can catch your breath, it was 75 now it’s 77, no wait there were two more last night. That’s how it is now in The Bahamas. Remember that the record setting year was 79 for the FNM in 2010. We are now at 77(last count) and this is just the month of July. So we know that another record is going to be set this year.
Then there is the economy. They have yet to release the job stats but there was a funny press release being done by the Director of Statistics a few weeks ago which we reported on this site :sounds suspiciously like when the stats come we should not believe them. She said something about releasing all the facts and the full story about the statistics because the political parties and the trade unions and the public were so interested in them. Just the facts Maam. No p.r. fluff. Just the facts. We believe that unemployment will be at all time high.
The PLP’s investigations show that those are the things that people are interested in: jobs and the economy on the one hand and crime on the other hand. Crime is number one in New Providence and the economy number two; the situation is reversed in Grand Bahama. So the FNM's feeble attempts through their various propaganda organs to say that this is about the leadership between Perry Christie and Hubert Ingraham are falling as flat as a pancake.
The most perplexing thing to them must have been the public reaction to the Mackey Yard fix. This is the yard where Haitian migrants were living in abundance and a fire swept through there a few months ago. There was a public meeting by the Minister of Housing Kenneth Russell and his Parliamentary Secretary Brensil Rolle. They explained that they intended to give conveyances to those who were in actual occupation of the land at the government concessionary rate of $3.40 per square foot. When the message got out, they were accused of giving illegal Haitians land in The Bahamas for next to nothing. They can’t win for losing.
The PLP’s Kendal Major, the candidate in the constituency which the Mackey Yard sits issued a press release statement calling for an immediate clarification of the issue.
So the story is that they can’t win for losing.
And yet in the face of all of this, the word is that the parties are running neck and neck. Then there is this new invention called the DNA, a party that is headed by someone who acts more like a rock star or pop idol than the leader of a political party. They are likely to be also rans in the race but they seem to have captured the imagination of some young people and the press. It appears that mainly FNMs are drawing away from their party and supporting the DNA. That is good for the PLP.
People though seem to be worried more about the PLP than the FNM. They keep treating the FNM has has beens but keep wondering aloud about the PLP and its so called fitness or readiness to govern. They need not worry we think. The worry is idle. The PLP will be ready to govern on day one, following any general election. Hubert Ingraham should call its sooner rather than later.
One sign of that worry was an editorial in The Nassau Guardian which said this:”As bad as things are for the FNM, voters will not automatically flock to the PLP just for the hell of it. For the PLP to win, someone must find Perry Gladstone Christie and tell him, “Wake up.”
Now that’s a hell of a thing to say. The issue is not Perry Christie we keep saying. Their newspaper headlines were full of the PLP for the whole week: the PLP this, the PLP that and yet they seek to put it all on Perry Christie.
We have some advice. The Nassau Guardian needs to wake up.
Number of hits for the week ending Saturday 23rd July 2011 up to midnight:178,279
Number of hits for the month of July up to Saturday 23rd July 2011 up to midnight:496,381
Number of hits for the year 2011 up to Saturday 23rd July up to midnight:5,043,202
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NELSON MANDELA CELEBRATE HIS 93RD
He is the eminence griese of the world. He is a symbol of freedom and a symbol of the struggle for freedom. He is a symbol of the proud heritage of African peoples everywhere and on the continent of Africa itself. He looms large over every other figure in the world. He is an old man now but the once freedom fighter deserves all the accolades and more for a life well lived. He celebrated his 93 rd birthday on Wednesday 20th July. Happy birthday Madeba! The photo shows him celebrating with his family in South Africa.
DIGGING UP THE ROADS
Geno D - Dig Up 2011 by 242party
MCCARTNEY SAYS WHY HE LEFT INGRAHAM
The Tribune published a fascinating interview with Branville McCartney, the man who says that he will be Prime Minister of The Bahamas this time next year. He is head of a party that was just formed a few months ago. The party is called the Democratic National Alliance (DNA). They use the colour green. They are the tenth attempt to form a third party in The Bahamas and if history is any predictor we know what will happen to them, bar a miracle, is what happened to all the rest. Mr. McCartney whose party is making a great meal out of a tough immigration policy on illegal migrants said that one of the reasons he left the Cabinet is because Hubert Ingraham prevented him from doing his job as the immigration minister and carrying out tough policies. Here is what Mr. McCartney said in his own words to Nicolle Nichols of the Tribune you may click here for the full story.
Cat Island, Bahamas — On Tuesday, July 19th, U.S. Ambassador Avant traveled to Cat Island as part of her continued efforts to strengthen- the U.S. Embassy’s ties with the Family Islands. Once on Cat Island, Ambassador Avant was greeted by Cat Island’s Chief Councilor Mr. Alfred Daniels and Inspector Jeffrey Darling who accompanied the Ambassador on her one-day tour of the island. Ambassador Avant’s first official visit to Cat Island included stops at a local library where she donated books and films featuring Cat Island native and acclaimed actor and director, Sir Sidney Poitier; a tour of Arthur’s Town by Poitier’s daughter and Cat Island resident, Pamela Poitier; a visit to the Young Marine Explorers Summer youth summer camp; and a cultural exchange with a local Rake ‘n’ Scrape band and straw weaver. Click here to read more
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NEW STUDENT COUNCIL AT C.O.B.
Fred Mitchell and Ryan Pinder PLP MPs were special guests at the induction ceremony of the new COB executive of its student council. The photos are from the COBUS Facebook page. The induction took place on 10th July. The new President of COBUS is Renbert Mortimer. He succeeds outgoing President Antonio “Toonz” Butler.
THE ADDRESSES AT THE PLP CONCLAVE
We present the full texts of the speakers at the Eastern Region Conclave of the Progressive Liberal Party which took place from Thursday 21st July to Saturday 23rd July. The address are of Keenan Johnson, Chairman Progressive Young Liberals, Senator Hope Strachan, PLP candidate for the Sea Breeze constituency; Senator Jerome Fitzgerald, PLP candidate for the Marathon constituency; Fred Mitchell MP for Fox Hill; Melanie Griffin MP for Yamacraw; Bradley Roberts, PLP Chairman, Ryan Pinder MP for Elizabeth; Philip Davis, Deputy Leader of the PLP; Perry G. Christie Leader of the PLP. Enjoy
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PHOTO SPREAD OF THE EASTERN REGION CONCLAVE
Andrew Burrows, the chronicler of PLP events, was there for the Eastern Region PLP conference and posted these photos from the event which took place from 21st July to 23rd July. A great time was had by all supporters and friends.
LETTERS
TO THE EDITOR
Forrester Carroll this week writes from Freeport about the fact that certain people like Bahamian businessmen of the Bay Street elite and Long Islanders cannot seem not to be able to get over their racial hatred of the PLP even when it is in their best interest to do so. He says that the history of the Ingraham administration over these past years means that they should be voted out:
Any voter who supports the Free National Movement, and or Hubert Ingraham, in this upcoming general election will be doing so out of mere habit and loyalty; loyalty to an organization which they’ve always supported and which they just cannot bring themselves (not ever in their wildest dreams) to oppose. They would be supporting the FNM in the face of glaring reality, and the full knowledge, that they would be supporting a party which has brought us full circle back to the 1960s when poor Bahamians-ninety per cent of whom were descendents of slaves-were totally dependent on the five per cent “Anglo-Saxon merchant class Bay Street elites,” for their bread and water. Their loyalty would be to a party which they know, full well, don’t have the country’s nor the Bahamian people’s best interest at heart. They would knowingly be supporting a tyrant administration which, from the record, would plunge us further in debt without blinking an eye.
I am at a loss when trying to determine the kind of reasoning that some Bahamians, including traditional Bahamian business folk, use for their “die hard” support, over decades, for this “business-unfriendly” political grouping (FNM) as opposed to the very “business-friendly” PLP. I just don’t get; they admit to me, all the time, that their businesses flourish whenever the PLP governed the country, as opposed to when the FNM is in power, yet they are never inclined to give the PLP their political support; their reasoning? Ethnic hatred could be their only unreasonable excuse.
In the 1950s and 1960s, when growing up on Long Island, if you dared mentioned the PLP, anywhere, it would have been like using foul and filthy language. They hated the PLP (as an organization) but not a Christ soul could ever tell you why. They could never give a credible reason for their hatred. As a matter of fact the children of those bigots, to this very day, still hate the PLP but cannot tell you why they do. The FNM has always capitalized on this ignorance (and really no one can blame them) and have always sought to maintain this racist status quo, for their own selfish political reasons (and they accuse the PLP of playing the race card).
IN PASSING
Leader And Deputy Of The PLP In Exuma
The Leader of the PLP Perry G. Christie and the Deputy Leader of the PLP Philip Davis were Georgetown, Exuma on Wednesday 20th July to speak with supporters about the way forward politically in Exuma. They were accompanied by Fred Mitchell MP for Fox Hill. While there, the Leader took the opportunity to address the new chapter of the Progressive Young Liberals being formed.
Budget Discussion In The U.S
The budget discussion is becoming more contentious and idle in the United States. It seems a little silly. The United States would be crazy to default on its debts, even though they are big enough to do whatever they want. What must be galling is that you have increasingly a country that seems controlled by nut cases who would simply cut off their noses to spite their faces. They seem to hate the U.S. President so that they will do anything to try to bring him down. It seems to us that this they are all about.
John Marquis Is Back Says Tribune
The Tribune announced with great flourish during the past week that the arch enemy of The Bahamas and one of the most unethical journalists that has worked in this country was to begin writing a column again for their paper, after retiring from the Bahamas’ duty and moving back to his home country England. He started the week on Wednesday 20th July with the same old tired analysis about the PLP. The PLPs sell newspapers and obviously he gets his jollies by writing about the PLP. No sex life one imagines. But what should be noted is that in England the journalists all seem to be going to jail in handcuffs. A sign of things to come? Mr. Marquis has never forgiven Sir Lynden Pindling for expelling him from The Bahamas the first time he lived here and was only welcomed after the Uncle Toms who run the FNM came to power. He was on the verge of losing his work permit when Eileen Carron, his boss at The Tribune ran to Perry Christie, then Prime Minister crying that she needed Mr. Marquis to run her paper. Now that elections are coming again and the PLP is poised to victory, they have to bring out their old propagandist to help to muddy the water. The silly old cow who runs The Tribune, in her bitter exile at her Camperdown home denied it. But we know if she denies it, since she and the truth are strangers, you had better believe the opposite of her denial.
Andre Rollins Facebook Comment
A good comment and observation made by Andre Rollins, the PLP candidate for Ft. Charlotte, who looked at an editorial written by The Tribune and thought that in their anxiousness to attack the PLP, the newspaper’s publisher used some offensive language. We agree. See his comment from Facebook below.
(Wednesday 20th July)
Andre Rollins
The Tribune, a newspaper that works so hard to raise awareness about animal cruelty and the need to improve animal rights and protections, stated the following in today's editorial:
"These RETARDS must still be in the stone age of journalism if they believe that an editor must....."
Shouldn't The Tribune also be promoting respect for the mentally challenged?
Facebook Response To DNA Story
Bernard Swann of Exuma responded to the story published in The Tribune which we reported above on why Bran McCartney, the leader of the new party called the DNA left the FNM. We think it’s important for people to know that you can’t accept everything at face value. See what the response was below:
The Leader of the DNA said in the Tribune that he resigned from the FNM after he tried to do something that his party did not have the will to do. He was an FNM member for 25 yrs and found no fault. He was a Cabinet minister for 4 yrs and only left when he tried to do 1 thing that they did not agree to. He agreed to everything else they did but after voting with them for 4 yrs he did not get permission for 1 thing so he resigned. Now he wants to lead people who may also not agree with him, meaning that it will be his way and his way alone. How do you lead a country with that mind set?
Wednesday at 11:40am
Jan Ward Pleads Guilty To Stealing By Reason Of Service
The Tribune reported that disbarred attorney Jan Ward appeared at the Supreme Court on Thursday 21st July and admitted stealing by reason of service and fraudulent breach of trust. Ralph Jan Ward, 49, pleaded guilty to taking $47,500 from Scotia Bank Limited between January 24, 2007, and April 16, 2007, through his services. Ward, who represented himself before Justice Vera Watkins, also pleaded guilty of misusing the money, which was given to him as a trustee on behalf of his client Leterio Edgecombe. This took place between September 22, 2006, and April 16, 2007. The Nassau Guardian reported on Saturday 23rd July that he was charged with another offence before a magistrate and granted bail on that offence of stealing by reason of employment. Mr. Ward has in addition three other matters before the courts (for a total now of four) and remains on bail. The matter to which he pleaded guilty was adjourned to October 17.
Six Hundred And Two Employees Apply To Leave BTC
Bernard Evans, who is the Leader of the trade union representing the workers at the now Cable and Wireless owned BTC telephone company has announced that the number of people that have asked to leave BTC is 602, way more than the company needs or expected. It shows how people feel about the future at that company. It rankles that a foreigner is running a company that Bahamians can run. The PLP has pledged to take the company back from its foreign owners.
Industrial Action In The Public Service
There are reports that the public service is to go on work to rule with immediate effect. The industrial action is called by their union President John Pinder in a dispute over the lump sums that are to be paid to public servants at the end of the July pay period. The Minister of State Zhivargo Laing said it was all a mistake. The regular increments are to be paid as increments are to be resumed. They will be paid on the anniversary dates of employment. The lump sum promised is for those at the end of their scale and who cannot get promoted or get an increase. But they said they never promised that it would be paid in July. This has John Pinder who just lost the customs and immigration officers from his union upset and he may now be flexing his muscles now that elections for Union president are coming up in September.
What Ingraham Said In His Budget Communication In May On Raises
"I am also announcing that Public Officers at the maximum of their pay scales will receive a one-time lump-sum payment equivalent to one increment. In addition, as of FY2011/12, two additional increments will be added to every pay scale. Every Public Officer will be entitled to an increment in pay during the next fiscal year, and a further increment during the subsequent fiscal year. Finally, the freeze on promotions is being lifted."
Ingraham Out Of The Country
The Nassau Guardian reported Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham departed New Providence on Friday 22nd July for the United States, from where he will accompany his wife for their return to Nassau next week. Prime Minister Ingraham and Mrs. Ingraham return to Nassau on Wednesday, July 27. He said to be assisting his daughter in settling into a job in the United States.
Zhivargo Laing’s Wedding Anniversary
Zhivargo Laing, the Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance, wrote a message on Facebook to mark the anniversary of his wedding to his wide Zsa Zsa whom he describes her as the queen of “Laingland” (where’s that?). Awww! They were married on 20th July 1991.
Zhivargo With The Students
The Minister of State Zhivargo Laing posted on Facebook pictures of himself with the students in Atlanta from The Bahamas at the home of the Consulate General. Hmmm! Now with Bahamians now able to register and vote overseas: what are they up to?
