Compiled, edited and constructed by Russell Dames Updated every Sunday at 2 p.m.
Volume 3 © BahamasUncensored.Com
THE DEBATE OVER LNG
The battle seems to be joined over whether or not the last remaining
Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) applicant standing, the AES Corporation, will
get a licence to put a regasification facility at the site that it bought
called Ocean Cay in the Bimini chain, a stone’s throw in the jet age from
the Florida coastline.
On Thursday 5th May, scant days after the anniversary of the PLP’s election to office, the Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Ministry of Health will be promoting the LNG cause by placing on the stage in a live town meeting hosted by Darrold Miller of ZNS the consultants for each of the applicants for LNG in The Bahamas: one from Tractabel, one from El Paso and one from AES. Any pretence then of neutrality by both the Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Ministry of Health would seem therefore to be out of the window.
The ad promoting the town meeting claims that some 1.2 billion dollars of revenue will be obtained from LNG in The Bahamas at Ocean Cay. It says that there is no environmental damage to contemplate. Where have heard that story before? The BEST Commission, which is headed by Dr. Donald Cooper, at the executive level claimed in an earlier press conference that what the opposition on the matter was saying was not true.
You will also remember the contretemps that occurred at Cat Cay, which neighbours Ocean Cay, between some residents of Cat Cay and the Minister of Trade Leslie Miller several weeks ago (you may click here for that story). Well The Tribune this week published a letter from some other supposed residents of that community who claimed that Manuel Diaz, the man who threatened the Minister does not speak for them and that they have no problem with LNG at Cat Cay.
Another interesting footnote to history is that suddenly it seems the Government has remembered that there are several property owners who owe real property tax on the island and they should pay up. Pay up they should. The Valuation Section that is responsible for Real Property tax is if we are not mistaken under the Minister of Trade. So there’s a big surprise. Some have called it the revenge of the “idiot”, the word that Manual Diaz of Cat Cay called the Minister. You will remember that in the U.S. when they can’t get you for a real crime, they try to get you on a tax charge, which can stick on almost anyone.
The other side of the battle has been waging its own war in the media with ads played on the radio stations in The Bahamas urging the public to sign up for the petition to stop LNG. There have been some pretty nasty exchanges on all sides, and no doubt Thursday's meeting will be a real humdinger.
We would like to repeat our sense on this. We do not support LNG in The Bahamas at all. We find it inconsistent with our national image. We are not persuaded by arguments about revenue, since almost certainly the same revenues can be found from other less onerous processes. As for the environmentally safe arguments, we why not in their back yard, if it is so safe.
The difficulty we find is that no matter what decision makers say about their commitment to protecting the environment, when it comes to money over the environment, the environment always loses. And when the consequences unfold down the road, everyone likes to say how sorry they are. Sorry of course does not make it right, and that, on the night of 2nd May, the third anniversary of the PLP's election to office, and at Thursday’s town meeting is what we should all be remembering.
Number of hits for the week ending Saturday 30th April 2005 at midnight: 72,366.
Number of hits for the month of April up to Saturday 30th April 2005 at midnight: 338,978.
Number of hits for the year 2005 up to Saturday 30th April 2005 at midnight: 1,295,058.
THE
BAHAMAS CHANGES OAS VOTE
Late on Friday 29th April, the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs of The Bahamas announced that the vote of The Bahamas would change
with regard to the candidate for the office of Secretary General of the
Organization of American States. That vote is to be taken on Monday
2nd May. This is a change from the last vote, which was taken on
7th April in Washington. The vote led to a 17 to 17 tie between Mexico
and Chile after five rounds of balloting.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs Fred Mitchell at
the time explained The Bahamas vote as being in favour of Mexico because
of the issues it was seeking to resolve on the question of Mexico blacklisting
The Bahamas’ financial services sector. A team from Mexico’s Ministry
of Finance and its Deputy Foreign Minster visited The Bahamas on Thursday
28th May to meet with the sector.
On Friday, however, the Mexican Foreign Minister
announced that he was withdrawing so that there could be a consensus candidate
around Chile. The Bahamas then communicated that in the circumstances
it would support Chile’s candidate.
SIDNEY
STUBBS’ LAST STAND
The case of Sidney Stubbs in Bankruptcy Court was heard in Nassau before
the Chief Justice on Tuesday 26th April, and the headlines of the newspapers,
erroneously, it turned out; said that Mr. Stubbs was off the hook.
One of his attorneys Keod Smith, the MP, took the position that the Bankruptcy
having been annulled by the Chief Justice meant that the circumstances
had changed since the bankruptcy and under the Constitution he was therefore
entitled to take his seat in the House of Assembly.
The more cautious legal opinion was however that
in order for an annulment to have taken place, there must have been a declaration
of bankruptcy; that the annulment did not operate to make the bankruptcy
itself void ab intio. The Opposition’s Leader Tommy Turnquest seemed
headed in that direction when he refused to say whether Mr. Stubbs would
be welcomed back into the House by the Free National Movement. That
left only the Privy Council in London where there is an appeal by special
leave on the question of whether the Court of Appeal in Nassau was right
to dismiss the appeal on the grounds that there is no right of appeal in
the bankruptcy law of The Bahamas.
Lloyd Barnett, the Queen's Counsel from Jamaica,
has been employed by the Government to represent the Attorney General to
intervene in a matter of public importance to argue the point. Attorney
Philip ‘Brave’ Davis, the MP is also in London to represent Mr. Stubbs
personally in the appeal.
The Privy Council can decide that the Court of Appeal
was right and refuse leave. It might say that the arguments of the
other side prima facie raise an arguable appeal and reserve the full hearing
on the merits to another day. It might also decide then and there
that the arguments are with merit and remit the matter to the Court of
Appeal to be heard according to law. It could also decide the case
finally.
The decision is important for Mr. Stubbs and the
PLP. The question many people continue to ask is how Mr. Stubbs allowed
a simple matter of this kind, a debt owed which could have been negotiated
away, to get to the point where he stands to lose his seat in parliament
and risk embarrassing his party. Nassau Guardian photo - Donald Knowles
PAT
BAIN IS ILL
Last week just before we uploaded, the report came
in that Pat Pain, the President of The Bahamas Hotel Catering and Allied
Workers Union was in hospital, having undergone surgery on Friday 22nd
April. The Nassau Guardian has now published that fact and has said
that Mr. Bain had removed from his colon cancer cells. Mr. Bain was
expected to leave hospital Thursday 28th April. The Union’s activities
were being run in his stead by the Union’s Secretary General Leo Douglas.
Colon cancer is said to be a major killer of black men and is thought to
be diet related. After the age of fifty men are asked to get screening
for this disease every year.
THE
BISHOP IS NOW AT HOME
The First Bahamian Bishop of The Bahamas Michael
Eldon is no longer in hospital. He is said to be resting at home
at his residence at St. Anne’s Close. It is not clear whether or
not the Bishop is conscious. The statement issued by the family simply
said that he was in stable condition and remains under the care of a physician.
The speculation is that his condition was probably one of chronic unconsciousness
which requires life support and a respirator, and that the expense of a
hospital was not necessary since that care could be administered from at
home.
The release said that there was a 24 hour nursing
watch for the Bishop. The family expressed its appreciation to the
public. The Bishop’s doctor is Dr. Kevin Moss. These facts
were assembled from a story in the Nassau Guardian Tuesday 26th April 2005.
CALLS
FOR LINDA DAVIS TO GO
You might call it the revenge of Felix Bethel, lecturer
at the College of The Bahamas, but The Tribune reports that the lecturers
at the College of The Bahamas are said to be demanding that Dr. Linda Davis,
a College Vice President, resign. The union officials would not confirm
or deny that a letter to that effect had been sent. The most recent
uproar is said to have occurred as a result of a disagreement at the School
of Nursing.
You will remember that Dr. Davis is the virtual
complainant in a case against Felix Bethel whom she claims threatened her.
The case went to court but just before the verdict the Magistrate recused
herself from the case. This site has said that bringing the original
case was unwise and some persons writing us are now arguing that the matter
be dropped in the public interest, arguing that a retrial would be prejudicial
to the interests of the defendant.
THE
CSME DEBATE GOES ON
This week in the life of the Caribbean Single Market
and Economy non debate, Zhivargo Laing was at it again seeking to make
headlines where there is no real news content.
The week began on Monday 25th April with a headline
from the Sunday talk shows where Mr. Laing claimed that he knew for a fact
that the Government had agreed to sign the CSME treaty with reservations
in July at the next heads of Government meeting. The Minister of
Foreign Affairs Fred Mitchell appeared on radio show on Monday 25 April
and scoffed at Mr. Laing claiming that what he said was no big secret since
he himself had made the announcement that the decision had been taken by
the Cabinet on 21st December last year.
Not to be silenced however, Mr. Laing's sophistry
continued on a talk show on Friday 29th April when he sought again to put
the same view and went further to say that even though his party did not
disagree with the Government he wanted to see the agreement from Caricom
before he would support the Government. The Minister called the talk
show and slammed into Mr. Laing for what he called the “silly sophistry
of this young man in Grand Bahama”. The Minister read a passage from
Mr. Laing's book WHO MOVED MY CONCH that said that The Bahamas cannot opt
out of CSME. The case therefore seems to be as done as a turkey.
All we say again is: what a tiresome fellow!
BLACK
TUESDAY PASSES WITHOUT A MENTION
One of the most important events in the political
history of The Bahamas passed its fortieth anniversary last week on Wednesday
27th April without a mention. The House of Assembly of The Bahamas
did not even meet. It appears that no one thought the day was of
any importance. Yet in the history of the country that is the one
political act that set Lynden Pindling up and above every other political
leader of his time, and led to the defeat of the dreaded United Bahamian
Party (UBP) in 1967. Since that time the PLP has been the dominant
party in the country.
The centrepiece of the political action was when
the late Sir Lynden threw the Speaker’s Mace out of the window. Sir
Lynden then led his party into a boycott of the House of Assembly and the
crowds outside into a march into the Southern recreation grounds.
The expression Black Tuesday was said to have been coined by Arthur Foulkes.
TOMMY’S
LEADERSHIP IN CRISIS
You must remember the story we ran last week about
the committee set up by Tommy Turnquest, the leader outside the House of
Assembly for the Free National Movement. You may click
here for last week’s story. It gets even better. The Bahama
Journal, taking up where we began, led with a story on Monday 25th April,
which in effect points out, that the Committee was a virtual kangaroo court,
signing the political death warrant of Mr. Turnquest. He can count
his days as leader in months it seems.
The head of the Committee was former Deputy Prime
Minister Frank Watson, a full supporter of former Prime Minister Hubert
Ingraham. No guess there how that would turn out. Then according
to the Journal, you add former Senator Lynn Holowesko, another Ingraham
favourite, Janet Bostwick (she says where you put me?) and former Senator
Lawrence Glinton, also an Ingraham supporter. If that isn’t a kangaroo
court with a pre ordained result, we don't know what is.
The Committee Chair was being quite tight lipped.
He refused to comment but said that if Mr. Turnquest put the report in
the public domain he would speak to the matter. Mr. Ingraham himself
refused to comment. The report is not in the public domain but some
former MPs had their say. Lester Turnquest, the former MP for Malcolm
Creek said that he would not be supporting Mr. Ingraham's return.
Algernon Allen said that the leadership of the FNM was incestuous if they
tried to bring Mr. Ingraham back.
So what it looks like is that there is a strong
lobby to replace Mr. Turnquest but that lobby is not strong enough to overcome
the significant anti Ingraham support lurking in the wings. It seems
that all that will happen is that Messrs Allen, Tennyson Wells (Independent
MP, kicked out of the FNM by Mr. Ingraham), Pierre Dupuch (Independent
MP kicked out of the FNM by Mr. Ingraham) and Lester Turnquest, will quickly
rise up and attack, splitting the FNM in two.
In these circumstances, the better view for the
FNM would seem to be that the status quo should remain. Another strange
twist then took place; without addressing the leadership concerns, Tommy
Turnquest called a press conference with all the FNM MPs around him on
Tuesday 26th April. Mr. Ingraham was nowhere to be found of course.
This scenario simply confirmed that there is a problem.
Mr. Turnquest sought by the press conference to
deflect attention away from himself by describing the PLP leadership as
rudderless. How the PLP got into the matter we don’t know. Raynard
Rigby, the PLP's chairman answered him within minutes. Poor Tommy,
bless his heart. He doesn't have clue!
RAYNARD
RIGBY GIVES TOMMY A LESSON
When you are Chairman of the Progressive Liberal
Party, timing is often everything. Raynard Rigby has a great sense
of timing. Shortly after Tommy Turnquest’s ill fated press conference
about the leadership of the FNM, which he turned into a comment on the
leadership of the PLP, Raynard Rigby struck back. He told the FNM
“leader” that in fact he was no leader at all. That the PLP was quite
content to let him stew in his own fat quietly as opposed to pointing out
how hopeless the FNM leadership was. But when Mr. Turnquest used
the word “rudderless” to describe the PLP, Mr. Ribgy had had enough.
He told Mr. Turnquest that an organization like the FNM he is supposed
to be “leading” has a leader outside the House, a Leader emeritus, a Leader
of the Opposition and a Leader of House Business, it has so many leaders
that Tommy Turnquest was in no position to talk about leadership.
A
PROJECT FOR CROOKED ISLAND
It is finally signed. The MP for Crooked Island, the Minister for
Local Government Alfred Gray was all smiles as he, the Prime Minister and
the Minister for Financial Services Allyson Gibson watched over the signing
of a 25 million development project for Pitts Town in Crooked Island in
the southern Bahamas. Mr. Gray has wanted some signature project
for Crooked Island to show an example of his stewardship.
The development is named Capella. It is to
be built over a seven year period. The first phase will mean the
construction of 18 elegant homes, 25 residential home sites that will include
swimming pools, jogging space and a 40 slip private marina to accommodate
yachts and fueling facilities. In the second phase, the development
intends to expand the existing Pitts Town Hotel, which currently holds
13 rooms.
The usual criticism of these schemes is that they
are really real estate schemes, for speculators, who will bring in colonies
of foreign residents, creating two tiers of citizenship on the island.
The counter argument from the proponents of such development is that in
the absence of these developments, there is a continued drain of the population
to Nassau and the island is turned over to old people and drug traffickers.
THE
TRIBUNE TRIES TO SAVAGE RON PINDER
The Tribune printed a story in their Saturday 30th
April 2005 edition, which repeats an accusation in a so called open letter
to Minster of Health Marcus Bethel about the conduct of Mr. Pinder, the
Parliamentary Secretary for Health during a visit to Abaco on 22nd April.
The letter came from Nettie Davis, office Manager of Rich’s Boat Rentals
in Abaco. The woman claims that she was insulted by Mr. Pinder and
that two “boys” were harassed by Mr. Pinder because they throwing peanut
shells into the water. Well were they right to be throwing peanut
shells into the water? Ms. Davis claims that an MP should always
be conscious of his position and behave accordingly.
An observer of the incident has written an e-mail
to this site and says that the whole thing is a manufactured political
attack on Mr. Pinder. The writer said of the note says that Mr. Pinder
was in Abaco doing his job, and from what was seen attempting to quietly
speak to the individuals concerned about their despoiling the waters of
The Bahamas by throwing peanut shells into the sea. The waters belong
to the Bahamian government and the crown notwithstanding that someone has
permission to build a marina there.
The observer writes that the “boys” were no boys
at all but were two grown men, one of whom immediately started hurling
racial slurs at Mr. Pinder and shouting at him, ‘where was the PLP when
another environmental accident had happened in Abaco?’ “It is clear
that the attack by these young men who are known for being rude and irresponsible
because of their FNM political connections in Marsh Harbour and who constantly
disrespect Black people in particular, meant to cause political trouble
and Mr. Pinder sensibly withdrew.” the writer concludes.
The Tribune reports that Mr. Pinder had no comment
on the matter and rightly so. It appears to us to be a set up.
Given the propensity of The Tribune to attack Mr. Pinder and the PLP, and
to rely on what they see on this site, perhaps they will now go and investigate
the other side. We make no assertions either way except that we believe
intrinsically in the integrity of Ron Pinder.
MINISTER
SPEAKS ON ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION
Fred Mitchell, the Minister for Foreign Affairs
spoke to the New Life Christian Centre under the leadership of the Rev.
Betty Cleare on Prince Charles Drive New Providence. It was a frank
talk on the state of immigration in The Bahamas and the relationship of
The Bahamas to it. The Minister said that the cycle of roundups and
repatriations has been ongoing since the 1950s without any discernable
success yet it continues to be the policy of the Government. He argued
in terms of long term solutions and more dispassionate voices speaking
the issue. He said that the problem with enforcement of immigration
is that of the lack of will by the Bahamian people. You may click
here for an outside link to the full address. The address was
delivered on Wednesday 27th April.
THE
PROSPECTS OF ARISTIDE’S RETURN
On Thursday 28th April, the Minister of Foreign
Affairs and the Public Service addressed the Rotary Club of West Nassau
on the subject of the possible return of former President Jean Bertrand
Aristide to Haiti. The Minister said it was not for The Bahamas to
speculate on whether or not President Aristide would return. The
question on the face of it had an easy answer since presumably any Haitian
citizen could return to his country at any time he wanted to do so.
Mr. Mitchell said The Bahamas was more concerned
about the processes that could lead to a fair election in November in Haiti
that would elect a government that both the Haitian people and the international
community would respect. You may click
here for an outside link to the full address.
CONGRATULATIONS
TO GODFREY ELLIS
We think that congratulations are in order to Mr.
Michael Ellis and his wife Ruth on the news that their son Godfrey Ellis,
a senior at Acadia University, was picked in the second round of the Canadian
Football Leagues draft. The league team that he will join is the
Calgary Stampeders. The younger Mr. Ellis is six feet and two inches
and weighs 300 pounds. His new coach says that he will make an immediate
impact on the Stampeders. This is a first for a Bahamian in
Canada. Congratulations again. His father is the former Deputy
Superintendent of the Royal Bahamas Police Force and now works with the
National Insurance Board.
POETRY FEATURE
CONDOLENCES: A single tear streams from mine left eye, as I
scribe. Two moons ago we celebrated his retirement and 65th birthday.
Last month, once again Jesus executed his secret plan that we are washed
never to question, nor will we ever understand. ‘Daddy’ Hilliard
Murphy dances eternally now with the angels, just as he did with the children
at the Hostel whilst he was with you and I on this side of the Heavens
on Earth. Mr. Murphy spent the last fifteen years of his creation
selflessly bus-shuttling all the littlest orphans at The Bahamas Children’s
Emergency Hostel and their caretakers, every where they wanted and needed
to be. Daddy Murphy was on call 24 hours every day and never missed
even one day of service. Sadly, I was invited to recite (please
click here) Psalm 23 at his wake, just like I did during his party
one month earlier. Join me as we extend our heartfelt condolences
to his adoring wife, Victoria, their beautiful children and the entire
Murphy clan – Recording and literary artist, Giovanni Stuart.
THIS
WEEK WITH THE PM
PM AT ZION 170TH - Prime Minister Perry Christie
is shown as he addresses Zion Baptist Church on its historic 170th Anniversary.
Mr. Christie brought the greetings of the Government to the Church at the
corner of Shirley and East Streets.
AUTISM WEEK IN THE BAHAMAS - A Students of the special
class for autistic children at Garvin Tynes Primary School paid a courtesy
call on Prime Minister Perry Christie this past week. The Prime Minister
is pictured with the class and teachers. Mr. Christie, who is the
father of an autistic son, told the group that they should feel free to
call on him at any time. He noted that all children in The Bahamas
have a right to realise their maximum potential.
AUTISM DAY - The day following the Garvin Tynes courtesy call,
the Prime Minister and Mrs. Bernadette Christie joined in the observance
of Autism Week at the school. Mrs. Christie addressed the assembly.
The Christies are pictured here among the other proud parents attending.
| 8th
May, 2005
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| SIDNEY STUBBS VICTORY AN ODE TO KEOD SMITH... | THE NEW CABLE BEACH HOTEL PROPERTIES... |
| MORE MISINFORMATION ON CSME... | THE DPM MOTHER PRATT IN THE CHAIR... |
| THE TRIBUNE’S ATTACKS ON GOVT. MINISTERS... | IT’S MOTHERS DAY... |
| ST. AUGUSTINE’S COLLEGE ANNIVERSARY... | POETRY FEATURE... |
| THIS WEEK WITH THE PM... | |
The Official Site of the Progressive
Liberal Party... |
The Official Site of the Free National Movement... |
| PLPs On The Web... | Interesting Places... |
| Bradley Roberts / PLP Grants Town | Bahamas Government Website |
| Neville Wisdom / PLP Delaporte | Reg & Kit's Bahamas Links |
| Alfred Sears / PLP Fort Charlotte | Bahamians On The Web |
| Melanie Griffin / PLP Yamacraw | Bahamian Cycling News |
| John Carey / PLP Carmichael | FredMitchellUncensored.Com ARCHIVES... |
| Grand Bahama PLP | |
THE PRIME MINISTER TAKES ILL
The Prime Minister took ill in the early morning hours of Tuesday
3rd May. Tuesday is the day when the Cabinet meets and it is the
Prime Minister who has the responsibility in law to summon the Cabinet
and Chair its meetings. He has the power in law to delegate that
power to someone else by advising the Governor General. He can also
ask another Minister to convene and Chair the meeting.
It is a tricky business; that of what happens when a national leader gets ill. There is always the chance for instability, and the nation wants itself and the world to know that in the first instance the country is still up and functioning; that despite the illness the business of Government goes on. There must also at the same time be a delicate handling of the business of Government and public functions so that it does not seem insensitive to the Prime Minister and to his family. It is truly a subjective judgment call.
Most Prime Ministers and heads of government guard the power of delegation and transfer jealously. When Ronald Reagan was shot and had to undergo a serious operation, he transferred his powers to the acting president only for the time that he was under the anesthesia, not a moment after coming out from under.
But the first recourse must always be to the law. This is a country of laws and the question of what happens when a Prime Minister falls ill is a matter of law. The law governing the matter is the Constitution at Article 75. In essence that article says that the Prime Minister remains in command of the Government so long as he is mentally fit and able to advise the Governor General. It is he who decides whether or not an Acting Prime Minister has to be appointed. If it is not possible for him to exercise his power to advise the Governor General, the Constitution says that the Governor General may exercise the powers of appointing someone else to act without the advice of the Prime Minister. It appears therefore that it is one of the powers that she exercises in her own deliberate judgment. In practice though, the Governor General will take the advice of the remaining Cabinet members who will advise her who should lead.
None of that, however, arises in the present case because the Prime Minister remained and remains fully competent through the exercise. However, that did not stop one newspaper the Bahama Journal from a silly analysis on the matter which was clearly flawed in law. The Journal in its edition of Friday 6th May claimed that the Government was in crisis because the Prime Minister was ill. It said that the Cabinet could not meet because the Prime Minister was ill. It was an amazing piece of ill informed commentary. But it only points out that one of the first things a holding Government ought to do is to establish for the public in a clear legal and concise fashion the legal authority upon which it is proceeding. Otherwise rumour and confusion take over.
One of the difficulties of successive Governments in The Bahamas is the oversensitivity to matters that they consider delicate, too delicate to discuss in public. The tendency is to cover it up by silence which only leads to greater difficulty. No clearer example could be found in our history than the day when the HMBS Flamingo was sunk by Cuban MIGS on 10th May 1980. The country was rife with rumours about the incident. The incident happened early in the day. It was not until night time and very late in the night that the Cabinet finally issued a statement confirming what had been rumoured all day. There has not been a change in that basic approach to public information in a generation.
In fact the Government still has no official spokesman who is able to answer any queries or questions by the press and public and who is seen as an authoritative voice of the country in a time of crisis. Perhaps this is a time to start thinking about it.
Never fear, however, the Deputy Prime Minister Cynthia Pratt is now in the chair and the Prime Minister himself remains in firm control of the Government. The various tasks of the Government continue. It is important that in times of stress this small country be seen to be able to weather the crisis. Government is a continuous exercise: whether through rain or sunshine, it always goes on.
It remains only for us to say that the country was deeply touched by the illness of its leader. There was a spontaneous outpouring of affection even from his political opponents who cancelled their political rally out of sensitivity to the Prime Minister's illness. Now if only we can get the Haitians, our troublesome southern neighbours to understand that this is how a community of interests works, then we could really be saying something.
We wish the Prime Minister all the very best and hope that he is back and up working soon again.
Number of hits for the week ending Saturday 7th May 2005 at midnight: 67,899.
Number of hits for the month of May up to Saturday 7th May 2005 at midnight: 67,899.
Number of hits for the year 2005 up to Saturday 7th May 2005 at midnight: 1,362,957.
SIDNEY
STUBBS VICTORY AN ODE TO KEOD SMITH
Sidney Stubbs has now taken his seat back in the House of Assembly after
an absence of almost 14 months. You will remember that he allowed
himself to be declared bankrupt on 31st March 2004. The Prime Minister
and his party stuck with him, through all the calls from the Opposition
and within the Party itself for him to step down and save the party further
embarrassment.
In the end, by the force of legal argument and not
a little bit of God given luck, he survived to the represent his constituents
again. But we repeat something that we said here before, the victory
at the courts is really a tribute to Keod Smith, and Mr. Smith deserves
a poetic ode written for him by Mr. Stubbs. Mr. Smith is the PLP’s
Member who defeated now Senator Tommy Turnquest in the last election.
He is as tenacious as a pit bull. His friendship for Sidney Stubbs
put the issue squarely to the party that unless the party wanted to face
a bye election, it had no choice but to support Sidney Stubbs. That
fact drove the party's continued support and in the end it paid off.
Mr. Smith put his own resources behind the matter. We think he deserves
Mr. Stubbs’ undying gratitude. No one else came close to the level
of support. Of course the Prime Minister who resisted the calls from
within his party to call a bye election and force Mr. Stubbs removal deserves
the credit for being right to stick it out as well.
The legal story is this. The bankruptcy was
annulled by the Supreme Court on Tuesday 26th April by order of the Chief
Justice. It was not legally clear, however, whether an annulment
was effective from the beginning to wipe out the bankruptcy as if it never
occurred. Mr. Stubbs was therefore advised not to take his seat until
the Privy Council's appeal had been heard. That came on 3rd May.
The Privy Council granted special leave to appeal from the decision of
Joan Sawyer, the President of the Court of Appeal in Nassau. The
Privy Council wiped up the floor with her decision. They did not
even call for arguments on the point. She and her fellow judges were
clearly wrong that there was no appeal from the bankruptcy order.
It is embarrassing that they should have made such a huge and obvious mistake.
It raises other issues which we have raised about that Court. So
the Privy Council agreed then and there to hear the substantive appeal.
They also agreed that Mr. Stubbs could take his seat immediately.
That was all done on Wednesday 3rd May.
Mr. Stubbs, once back in the House now claimed that
he was humbled by the experience. He said that he is a different
person. We hope so but recall that in his first statement to the
House he wafted philosophical with largely irrelevant recourse to Plato
and Aristotle, instead of simply saying thank you and sitting down.
It took the MP for Kennedy Kenyatta Gibson to remind Mr. Stubbs that there
is rule which limits your statements to five minutes. No time for over
the top rhetoric. We wish him well. Holy Cross MP Sidney
Stubbs was all smiles on Wednesday as he headed to the House of Assembly
to take up his seat for the first time in more than a year - Bahama Journal
photo by Omar Barr
THE
NEW CABLE BEACH HOTEL PROPERTIES
The deal is now done. The Baha Mar group has taken over the properties
on Cable Beach from the mercurial and stingy Phil Ruffin. Mr. Ruffin
who up until this week owned the Crystal Palace and the Nassau Beach Hotel
allowed both properties to be run into the ground. The tourism product
fell off considerably in that part of New Providence. Now with greater
airlift than ever, the Minister of Tourism Obie Wilchcombe is saying that
there are not enough hotel rooms. This deal won’t solve that problem
but at least will give some light of an improved situation on that part
of New Providence which was completely lost in the lustre of Atlantis at
Paradise Island.
The Deputy Prime Minister Cynthia Pratt sat in for
the signing with the Hotel Corporation which finally is rid of the Radisson
Hotel. Presumably, the Government has collected its taxes from Mr.
Ruffin who owed considerable millions of dollars of unpaid taxes from his
casino operation in Nassau. The basis of the deal with the new owners,
who are permanent residents of Armenian descent living in The Bahamas,
was not provided. The company announced that it has immediately started
a 15 million improvement programme for the hotels. At the end of
the day they promise a diverse hotel property of 2700 rooms in total.
The employees seem happy that there will now be some robustness in their
futures.
This deal was one that consumed Prime Minister Perry
Christie, perhaps to the detriment of his health. It was a difficult
deal to strike and if it moves forward as it is anticipated it will go
down as the largest single investment ever in The Bahamas. Further,
it goes down squarely in the column of Perry Christie, unlike Paradise
Island which many see as a Hubert Ingraham project. The deal envisages
expansion across the street, a re-routing of the West Bay Street road and
the implosion of the existing hotel towers, replaced with a brand new set
of hotels. John Forelle, vice chairman of the Baha Mar Company
Limited, signs documents for his group to formally take control of the
Cable Beach properties that will be a part of a $1 billion development.
At right is Chairman of The Bahamas Hotel Corporation George Smith. Also
shown from far left are Managing Director Baltron Bethel and Acting Prime
Minister Cynthia Pratt - Bahama Journal photo by Omar Barr
MORE
MISINFORMATION ON CSME
Brian Moree is the latest in the scheme of ‘misinformants’
on the question of the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME).
The Minister of Foreign Affairs Fred Mitchell had to answer a letter written
in The Tribune by William Allen, the former Minister of Finance, who joined
his former colleague Zhivargo Laing in spreading misinformation about CSME
for purely political reasons. On the same day, his son Andrew Allen
in another Tribune column was busy with his own line accusing the Minister
of liking the sound of his own voice. What an utterly stupid comment.
Presumably it is the only voice the Minister has so he had better like
it. Presumably, Mr. Allen does not like his own voice. Silly!
But that is the level to which this has all now sunk. They cannot
win on the rationality of the argument so they resort to name calling.
The
Minister's reply to William Allen can be seen by clicking on this outside
link.
At the end of the week, Mr. Moree weighed in with
something more profound. Mr. Moree wants us to leave Caricom all
together. That shows the true nature of these arguments. It
is pure prejudice. The World Trade Organization (WTO) entry that
The Bahamas contemplates has far more all encompassing provisions than
the CSME ever will but no problem there. Just don’t get involved
with those West Indians, and you know that that is only a word used for
another word that they dare not use in public.
The Minister spoke to the trade union movement on
Thursday 5th May and the Kiwanis Club of Nassau again showing that the
arguments are quite rational, and there is simply much ado about nothing
on this matter. You many click
here for the address to the National Congress of Trade Unions and here
for the address to Kiwanis.
THE
DPM MOTHER PRATT IN THE CHAIR
Once the Prime Minister took ill last week, the Deputy Prime Minister Cynthia
Pratt took the Chair. Mrs. Pratt has been in the position of Deputy
since the 2002 general election, having served before that as the Deputy
Leader of the Progressive Liberal Party, a position that she still holds.
The Tribune started tongues wagging when it showed
the order of protocol on its front page. The order reveals that after
the DPM, comes Bradley Roberts, the Minister of Works, Vincent Peet, the
Minister of Labour and Immigration, Obie Wilchcombe, the Minister of Tourism,
Fred Mitchell, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alfred Sears, the Attorney
General, At times of instability like this people are
interested in who can take over the country. It seems clear that
the PLP is a very hierarchal organization and that if number one is in
trouble number 2 will take over and so on down the line.
For the moment the DPM is in the chair and is doing
a credible job at it. She told the country that the business of Government
is going on and that there is no need for concern.
THE
TRIBUNE’S ATTACKS ON GOVT. MINISTERS
Last week, we pointed out that The Tribune has now
joined The Punch every week in seeking to attack PLP figures. Last
week, they made up a story about Ron Pinder that simply had no traction.
This week, they had a field day at Leslie Miller's expense when he slipped
again on the radio by saying that the environmentalist Sam Duncombe was
only getting exposure because of the colour of her skin. That set
off a fire storm for which he apologized. Then it was Neville Wisdom,
the Minister of Youth’s turn to be attacked by The Tribune.
The Tribune accused Minister Wisdom of going to
the Four Seasons Golf Club in Exuma and demanding a discount. They
claimed the Manager told the Minister that he could not get a discount.
The Minister reportedly said: “Do you know that you are speaking to a Minister
of the Government?” The manager allegedly replied: “I don’t; care
who you are, you are not getting a discount.” And asked the Minister to
leave, where upon the Minister is alleged to have said that the man should
pack his bags because he will be leaving The Bahamas soon.
It wasn't long before The Tribune had to back track
on every statement and assertion that it made. The Minister did not
ask for a discount. He paid for the full price with his own money.
But because of the discourtesy shown to him, he demanded and received his
money back. Further, no such threat was made to the Manager of the
Club, nor was he told that he should pack his bags. The statement
issued by the Four Seasons on Friday 6th May made that clear that no threat
was made, and they apologized to the Minister inviting him to come back
and play on the course. For good measure though, it is clear that
the Manager of that facility should be fired and we would support him being
fired and being asked to pack his bags and leave. Our point here is that
The Tribune and The Punch seem to be competing each week for the nation’s
prize in fiction. In each paper, you have to take what they print with
huge grains of salt.
IT’S
MOTHERS DAY
Today is Mother’s Day in the new world. We
wish all mothers a very happy day.
ST.
AUGUSTINE’S COLLEGE ANNIVERSARY
The Roman Catholic Church became in the 2000 census
the largest single church in The Bahamas. This was due in no small
measure to its role in the education of Bahamian young people. Part
of that effort was led by St. Augustine’s College, known affectionately
as the Big Red Machine, for its role in sports in the country. St.
Augustine’s College also has a leading role in academics. Its places
are in demand today.
This year Sst. Augustine's is 60 years old, having
started out in humble beginnings on the Priory Grounds on West Street in
1945 by Benedictine monks. The school later moved to its place in
Fox Hill, first on top of the hill adjacent to the Monastery, and then
below the hill. Today the school has 963 students. Its graduating
class this year will have 137 students. On Saturday 7th May, the
alumni of St. Augustine’s held a banquet. Its former students turned
out in great numbers to celebrate. It also marked a farewell to the
last three monks left in The Bahamas. The monastery closes its doors
officially in June of this year, and the property will be turned over officially
to the archdiocese.
POETRY FEATURE
Verse X – THE D
Metaphorically darker mixed blood-red is our theme
for this week’s feature, ‘The D’ (click
here), is an adorn/twist on the original supernatural classic.
The selection is an excerpt of verse from the poetry, ‘Ayana & The
Count’ by Bahama recording & literary artist, Giovanni Stuart – www.nubah.com
[Literati Photo by Peter L. Ramsay]
THIS
WEEK WITH THE PM
This Week with the PM featuring Bahamas Information Services photos
by Peter Ramsay will return following the Prime Minister's convalesence.
RALLY TALK WILL GET YOU IN TROUBLE
If there was any doubt that the political season has started, it
should now be clear. The Free National Movement after weeping crocodile
tears for the Prime Minister who took ill on the day that their rally was
first scheduled, held the rally last Tuesday 10th May 2005, one week later.
The day of the rally was the anniversary of the death of four marines in
the sinking of the Flamingo, off the coast of Ragged Island in 1980.
At their rally, they did not mention the marines. They said nothing
about the future of The Bahamas. What they engaged in was a scorched
earth policy of rally talk and irresponsible comment about public figures
and public matters.
The talk was so irresponsible that the next day, they found themselves on the defensive because of a comment made by Brent Symonette, the Opposition’s Leader of Business in the House. Mr. Symonette said that the Prime Minister had almost died and if he had died, the PLP would have died with it. This outraged PLPs, and the PLP's Chairman struck back with a statement condemning it in the strongest terms.
So despite the fact that Mr. Christie is still out ill, and cannot defend himself, Mr. Symonette proved to be the nasty man that most people know him to be. He is the master of sarcasm and below the belt attacks, all the while pretending that he is not doing what everyone knows he’s doing and that he never meant it. And this is to be the Leader of the Free National Movement? In the eyes of many he disqualified himself that night as someone who simply does not know how to judge when it is right to say something.
Mr. Symonette proceeded to attack Mr. Christie, saying that it was he who was responsible for the “mess” in which The Bahamas finds itself. The question is: what mess? Can it be the mess where the water is in short supply in Nassau because the FNM administration refused to plan for the future needs of the country during the ten years that they were in office? Can it be the mess that required the Christie administration to negotiate furiously to ensure that there was a new hotel plant at Cable Beach, which was allowed to deteriorate during the FNM administration? Can it be the mess that was left with the airport runway and the Nassau International Airport, which is facing collapse because the FNM administration did not invest anything in the planning of a new airport? We wonder how Perry Christie can be responsible for that mess. What he is responsible for to the extent of damaging his health is trying to clean up a mess that was left by Brent Symonette and the FNM.
The difficulty about Brent Symonette is that he and the FNM are so out of touch with reality that they did not even have the grace to apologize for the stupidity and insensitivity of the remark. Mr. Symonette when he was asked about it on ZNS television said that he did in fact say what he said but did not mean it in the way the PLP was taking it. It shows how he is steeped in his own upbringing that is insensitive to the way the majority of the population thinks. When a man is sick you don’t attack him. When he is well, he is able to defend himself.
Mr. Symonette claims that the first letter in the name Christie “ C” means corrupt. Can you imagine Brent Symonette calling someone corrupt? This is the same man who was fired as Chairman of the Airport Authority because a company that he owned was given the contract to fix an airport runway. Now if that isn’t a case of the pot calling the kettle black, we don’t know what is.
In the mean time, the PLP continues to grow the economy, with the evidence there that unemployment is dropping in the country, that the business community has a sense that things are getting better. This is the real story that will lead us into the next election. It is not the skewed picture of lies and exaggeration that drunken rally talk brings.
Brent Symonette ought to have the grace which we know he does not possess to apologize, to retract the remarks and to do so immediately before further damage is done to his cause and to his party. With that single remark, we now know he is not fit to lead.
Number of hits for the week ending Saturday 14th May 2005 at midnight: 61,144.
Number of hits for the month of May up to Saturday 14th May 2005 up to midnight: 129,043.
Number of hits for the year 2005 up to Saturday 14th May 2005 at midnight: 1,424,101.
FRANK
SMITH IS STABBED AT HOME
The PLP got another fright this week, when the news went out after the
close of day that shortly after 9 p.m. on Thursday 12th May, Frank Smith,
the Member of Parliament for the St. Thomas Moore constituency had been
stabbed and had to be admitted to hospital. Thankfully, it turned
out that the wounds were superficial.
The story is that Mr. Smith had just returned from
his constituency headquarters when as he entered the door, he was set upon
from behind by two men who were masked and armed with a knife. The
men attempted to slash Mr. Smith’s throat. He fought them off.
Mr. Smith is trained in karate. He received a gash on his chin and
two other stab wounds. None of them appeared to have penetrated much
below the skin to damage any internal organs. He was discharged the
next day and is convalescing at home.
Mr. Smith’s wife, Shalin, the daughter of College
of The Bahamas Chair Franklin Wilson and President of the Senate Sharon
Wilson was at home at the time with their newborn child. It was probably
her scream and the fact that Mr. Smith was able to strip the mask off the
men that led to the two persons fleeing the scene. The police are
investigating. All of this points to the fact that The Bahamas is
in some sense a dangerous place and volatile place. All the more
reason why the FNM should be wiping up irresponsible rally talk which encourages
people to do foolishness. No motive has been established for the
crime.
THE
NEW FNM SENATOR
John Delaney has been hiding his light under a bushel for years, pretending
that he was not really the kind of FNM who would want to take the front
and centre stage. Now he has come out into the open and revealed
himself to be what everyone thought he was a raw boned FNM who wants to
bring the PLP government down. No more participation in public with
seemingly judicious comments that attack the Government but are designed
to sound like they intend to help. The Free National Movement’s Leader
outside the House Tommy Turnquest announced that he is to be the new Senator
for the Free National Movement. Senator Turnquest could only announce
since he does not have the power to appoint.
The immediate reaction from the rank and file of
the FNM was that it was a stupid choice, and showed the extent to which
the United Bahamian Party rump still control Tommy Turnquest and the FNM.
Mr. Delaney is a partner of Geoffrey Johnstone, who was the UBP's last
Leader of the Opposition. The result is once again, while they have
a surrogate, Bay Street is very much in charge of the FNM.
Some PLPs were of course thinking of poor Alvin
Smith, the real Leader of the Opposition in law. No where did the
FNM say whether he had a hand in the decision. The fact is that in
law that is the only person that the Governor General can listen to.
How Tommy Turnquest got in it, we don’t know. We hope the PLP demands
to see just who advised the Governor General. By the way our choice
would have been Loretta Butler for Senator for the FNM. Support the
“vimin” as their former leader Hubert Ingraham would say. Photo
of John Delaney from the Bahama Journal
JOHN
ISAACS’ JUDGEMENT
The constitutional lawyers have struck again at
the heart of the extradition treaty arrangement between the United States
and The Bahamas. The case arises out of the last seven persons who
were nabbed by Bahamian police on behalf of the Americans for allegations
of drug conspiracy. Instead of attacking the substance of the allegations
of crime, the defendants decided to go by way of constitutional motion.
The motion alleged amongst other things that the treaty between the U.S.
and The Bahamas was unconstitutional because Article 18 of the treaty imposes
an on going financial obligation on the Government of The Bahamas which
the executive of the country through its Minister of Foreign Affairs was
not able to execute unless, he had the authority of Parliament in advance
or Parliament specifically ratified it. That means that if the Judge
is right, each treaty that imposes an on going financial obligation would
have to be laid in Parliament and specifically approved before it could
become part of the domestic law of The Bahamas. The notion is fatuous,
and turns on its head the constitutional arrangements that were made and
the practices arising out of the British constitution handed over to this
country in 1973.
The civil rights activists were over the moon. They
said that the ruling had far reaching implications; that The Bahamas government
could not offer to pay for the Caribbean Court of Justice, that everyone
in prison under the present extradition arrangements had to be freed and
freed immediately. There is only one thing, the Judge despite agreeing
with the musings of the attorneys and finding that the attorneys for the
defendants were right, declined to make the declarations that would have
released the men from prison.
The question then is: what did the judge decide?
The lawyers for the defendants said that notwithstanding that no orders
had been made by the Judge, the Government should immediately free the
men. The Government through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed
its commitment to the extradition treaty and said that it had been informed
that the Attorney General’s office had appealed the decision. Further,
the Ministry said that the status quo ante obtained, which is fancy language
to indicate that the men would not be freed and that the effect of the
Treaty still stood until there was a further order of the court.
Next move is for the attorneys to get the court to actually order the release
of the seven men. That is unlikely. The Judge said in his decision
that he realized the implications of his judgment to the international
obligation of The Bahamas government and declined in the circumstances
of that to make the declarations asked of by the lawyers. So no order
was made. What then do these defendants have? It appears nothing
but judicial sympathy.
PM
RECOVERING AND RESTING
A public statement during the week revealed that
the Prime Minister is resting comfortably and recovering at home.
He continues to receive tests and therapy after recovering from a transient
ischemic attack on Tuesday the 3rd May. The Minister of Foreign Affairs
Fred Mitchell speaking in Grand Bahama revealed that the Prime Minister
spoke to his Cabinet by telephone in what the Minister described as an
emotional moment for the Cabinet. Here is what the Minister said
in his own words:
“Yesterday, the entire Cabinet was moved by the
voice of the Prime Minister who called us by telephone during our Cabinet
meeting. It was quite an emotional time for us all. We are
not used to his chair being empty and we are not used to his voice being
silent. He spoke to us for about an hour. He reminded us of
our comradeship, and how we came to office and our connectedness to the
Bahamian people. He told us that we do not need to pick unnecessary
fights. We can only take the country as far as it has the capacity
to go. He reminded us of the need to lead and to be cohesive.
The national debate has been incisive. The discussion is enlightening,
but try as they might, there will be no fight over this. The Bahamas
has reached the point where its political leaders must know when to say
no to potentially destructive partisan behaviour and publicly come together
for the good of the country.”
THE
ILLOGICAL OPPONENTS OF CSME
All the right wingers have lined up to say that
they want to stop the hordes of Black West Indians from coming to The Bahamas.
This despite the fact that there is universal agreement that The Bahamas
would not agree to the free movement of people.
When you look at the opponents whose voices make
it to the press, all of them voted against the PLP in 2002. So when
you add it all up, this is political season.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said that the
FNM communicated to the Minister that they have no difficulty with signing
the revised Treaty of Chaguaramas provided the reservations are obtained
against the Free Movement of People, the Caribbean Court of Justice on
its appellate side, the Monetary Union and the Common external Tariff.
Here is what the opponents had to say.
Brian Moree
Mr. Moree is an attorney. He is the head of
the Financial Services Forum, appointed by the Government. He supports
the Free National Movement. Mr. Moree has publicly urged the Government
not to agree to the Caribbean Single Market and Economy.
Remarkably, Mr. Moree has either not read what the
Government intends to do or has not understood it or does he? He
went further than any other citric and said that he realized that by refusing
to sign the revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, The Bahamas would have to forgo
the other geopolitical advantages of being a part of Caricom but he thought
that it was still better not to sign. Mr. Moree is thus indicating
that he wishes The Bahamas to leave Caricom. That is quite incredible.
What Mr. Moree means to do is to reverse more than
fifty years of connection with Caribbean institutions that have benefited
The Bahamas. The question is why? He claims that under the
CSME, even if we sign reservations to the Treaty that the Government proposes,
in the end we will be forced amongst other things to accept the Free Movement
of people. Quite apart from that being simply wrong, this is the
same man who just weeks ago was asking for a more liberal immigration policy
to allow persons to work in the financial services sector of The Bahamas.
So he really has no problem with the liberalization of immigration procedures
and laws. What problem then could he have? Could it be that
it’s where the people will come from under the CSME? Who knows since
he has two Caribbean people working for him at his law firm. He did
not say. There is no logical consistency in the argument. Is
it pure prejudice?
Sir William Allen
The knight of the round table was at it again in
the press. Still smarting from being smacked down by the arguments
of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and obviously with nothing better to
do in his retirement, Sir William responded to the Minister's letter.
The second letter by Sir William was simply tortuous.
All it confirmed was that he was simply wrong on all points. There
was nothing new in his second letter. It was just a matter of I’m
not taking last. Sir William is simply against it. He has no
credible economic argument against it since he even agreed in another place
that The Bahamas could do without its dollar, which, of course is not even
being proposed. But that still does not cause him to support the
CSME. Note that the government has said it will not join the monetary
union.
So Sir William's remarks simply boil down to ‘I
am against it’, and because I am Sir William Allen and I say so it must
be so. There is no rational and logical consistency to it.
So is it pure prejudice?
Eileen Carron
No one is surprised that Eileen Carron took the
position that she did in her editorial of Friday 13th May. She and
The Tribune are firmly against joining the CSME. She followed the
line that Sir William Allen took. She claimed that Sir William Allen
doubts what the Minister of Foreign Affairs is saying about not being able
to continue in the other Caricom institutions if we don’t sign is true.
Mrs. Carron obviously did not bother to read the
arguments and follow the provisions of the Treaty. The Heads of Government
Conference of Caricom is the ultimate decision maker for all the institutions
of the Community of which for example the University of the West Indies
is one. The CSME is contained in the revised Treaty of Chaguaramas.
The revised Treaty is no longer in two documents like the old treaty where
you signed one part and don’t sign the other part having to do with the
Common Market.
All The Bahamas seeks to do at this time is to preserve
the status quo by opting out of the economic side of the Treaty. That will
be left to a future Government how we proceed from there. William
Allen does not understand it. Eileen Carron does not understand it
and neither does Brian Moree. And not because they can’t understand, they
don’t want to understand. Is it not pure prejudice?
Andrew Allen
This is the second half of the double team act of
father and son on the first day that Sir William Allen’s piece appeared
in the press. It was Attack Fred Mitchell Day. Last week, the
younger Mr. Allen wrote in his column that there was no evidence of pure
prejudice in the arguments that he and other opponents were making against
the CSME.
Of course, Andrew Allen like Brian Moree also believes
in immigration laws being liberalized, so the question is what problem
does he have with this trade liberalization regime of CSME? Certainly,
the reason for the reservation on free movement of people has no economic
justification. It would have no adverse affect on The Bahamas.
It is only necessary for local political reasons. But logic
is not a part of Mr. Allen's thinking. He too was smarting because
he got attacked in this column for the silly comment about the Minister
liking his own voice. Presumably as we said last week, that is the
only voice he has. We hope that Mr. Allen likes the sound of his
voice as well.
So since there is no logical argument against what
is being proposed, the only conclusion that we can come to is that Andrew
Allen like his father and Eileen Carron who runs the paper that he writes
for, and his fellow traveller in the legal profession are engaged in arguments
based in pure prejudice.
CARICOM
CORRECTS CSME MISINFORMATION
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has published a
letter from the Secretary General of the Caribbean Community Caricom to
the Minster of Foreign Affairs Fred Mitchell qualifying certain remarks
attributed to an official of Caricom by Winston Rolle, the President of
The Bahamas Chamber of Commerce.
The letter by Caricom Secretary General Edwin Carrington
makes clear that at least two reservations to the treaty have already been
agreed; on the free movement of people and monetary union. It also
confirms the absolute right of the sovereignty for The Bahamas. The
Minister of Foreign Affairs welcomed the clarification and added that the
Caribbean Court of Justice position is also already agreed. The only
two left to be formally put are the reservation on the Common External
Tariff and a possible carve out on the right of establishment as raised
by the pharmacists in The Bahamas. Please click
here for the full text of the letter.
THE
LAST HIGH COMMISSIONER
The Bahamas bid a formal farewell to the last British High Commissioner
to be resident in Nassau. The British Embassy is closing its doors
this summer in a reorganisation of the United Kingdom’s overseas offices.
At a goodbye reception for High Commissioner Roderick Gemmell, Foreign
Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell expressed regret at the occasion, but said,
“...the relationship between our two countries will continue to be good.”
Minister Mitchell echoed the Prime Minister’s concern
that the relationship between the two countries “has not been as vigorous
as it could be given the historical ties and the range of activities on
which we used to co-operate”, but said the decision “occurs within the
context of changing realities and currents around the world. We all
live with our choices and we all make those choices in the best interests
of our countries.” Bahamas Information Services photos show (top)
Minister Mitchell and High Commissioner Gemmell engage in a toast - photo
by Peter Ramsay; High Commissioner and Mrs. Gemmell accept a parting gift
from the people of The Bahamas - photo by Derek Smith. Please click
here for the Minister’s full remarks.
YOUNG
PROGRESSIVE DEBATERS
The Nassau Guardian reported on Saturday 14th May
2005 that the youth Parliament held its annual debate at the House of Assembly
on Friday 13th May. The day is given over to high school and COB
students to debate a topic of importance as if they were Members of Parliament.
The newspaper reported that the debaters voted in favour of granting automatic
citizenship to anyone born in The Bahamas or to a Bahamian man or woman
overseas. Hooray! At last there seems that there is some progress
in breaking the head in the sand approach in this country. Let’s
see what they actually do when they get there. They of course know
the stories of the frustrations of at least one third of their classmates
who are born in this country to foreign parents, grow up here but cannot
call the place home because they are not citizens of the country.
The photos are of Carl Culmer, Quintin Lightbourne and Andrea Simms-Adderley.
The photos are by Letisha Henderson and were published in the Nassau Guardian
on Saturday 14th May.
SOME
FOOTNOTES TO HISTORY
Harl Taylor Acquitted
Harl Taylor, the fashion designer was acquitted by a magistrate’s court
in Nassau of charges that he assaulted a former client.
Whit Monday Holiday
Monday 16th May is a public holiday in Nassau.
It is called Whit Monday, a religious holiday which marks the descending
of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples of Jesus.
Long Island Regatta
The Long Island Regatta is taking place this weekend
in Salt Pond, Long Island.
New Cayman Government
There has been a change in Government in the Cayman
Islands. Long time Government Leader Mckeeva Bush of the United Democratic
Party lost his position. His party won only five seats. The
new administration is headed by Kurt Tibbetts and the Peoples Progressive
Movement. That party won nine seats.
'Flamingo' Sinking Anniversary
10th May 2005 was the anniversary of the sinking
of the HMBS Flamingo by Cuban MIGS off the Ragged Island chain in 1980.
The Force was then only several weeks old. The Commander of the boat
at the time was Amos Rolle. Four marines lost their lives in the
incident for which the Cuban Government formally apologized. The
marines were Fenrick Sturrup, Austin Smith, David Tucker and Edward Williams.
We will remember them.
Little Boys Let Go
Four little boys who were charged with manslaughter
of one of he missing youngsters in Grand Bahama last year, were released
by the Magistrate in the matter on a no case submission by their attorneys.
The homicide remains unsolved.
BRENT
PUTS HIS FOOT IN IT
It only takes some ill considered remarks at a rally
to get you in trouble and make you look like a nincompoop. Experienced
politicians know not to let crowds get them in trouble. As Andrew
‘Dud’ Maynard, former Chairman of the PLP used to say: “Don’t let your
mouth write a cheque that your behind can’t cash.” That is precisely
what Brent Symonette did however. He let the crowd carry him away
and led him to talk foolishness and now the PLP has him on the defensive
for speaking savagely out of turn about the Prime Minister, a sick man
who is out for thirty days and so is unable to defend himself.
Mr. Symonette first pleaded that he was taken out
of context, although he confirmed that he said it but he and his party
said there was no need to apologize. Here is what he said in his
own words as reported by the Bahama Journal Thursday 12th May 2005:
“What will we do in two years? Vote them
out! Now just assuming they last two years… Christie almost died
the other day and his government is [going to] die sooner. That’s if they
last those two years.
“You know they dead scared. You heard many
people say that it is all in a name, the mess, the predicament and the
terrible state of affairs that The Bahamas is in today can be described
by one word and one world only and you know what that is: Christie.
“The Christie government is described by his
name: C stands for corrupt, chaotic cronyism; H-helpless, hopeless and
hospitalized; R-rude and rudderless; I-insulting, inept and idle; S-scandalous
and slack; T-Treacherous, tedious and troublesome; I-indecisive and intolerant
to criticism and E-embarrassing.”
(When Mr. Symonette was accused of having a death wish toward the Prime Minister, he was quoted as follows—Editor)
“I made no such insinuation that Mr. Christie should die and to interpret my remarks as meaning that, is as far from the truth as possible. I wish Mr. Christie a speedy recovery and trust that he does well.”
(He was also accused by the PLP’s Chairman of making a remark that was “akin to racial slurs”. His response: –Editor)
“Let them attribute one comment to me that is racial. I never made any racial comment. I do not consider any of the comments I made racial. I think that Mr. Rigby had better spend some time trying not to stir up this racial issue which is a non issue in this country and it is obvious that the rally we had hit home because they are feeling the heat from it and there’s more to come.”
(The only one feeling any heat is Brent Symonette – Editor)
RIGBY RESPONDS
The PLP’s Chairman spoke for his members who believe
that at best Brent Symonette’s remarks were insensitive and at worst they
were racist. They were probably both. Mr. Symonette has a penchant
for being out of step with the reality of a Bahamas that he grew up in
but in which his education was totally racially isolated. He was
educated at St. Andrew’s School at a time when only whit
