Compiled, edited and constructed by Russell Dames Updated every Sunday at 2 p.m.
Volume 1 © BahamasUncensored.Com
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| PHOTO OF THE WEEK - The photo of the week is taken by Patrick Hanna of the Nassau Guardian of George Smith former MP for Exuma talking to Prime Minister Perry Christie at a press conference announcing Mr. Smith as the new Chair of the Hotel Corporation Board, a post in which he has been serving since July 2002. The announcement brought a firestorm of adverse commentary for the PLP and the Prime Minister. You may read the story below. |
At the end of the day - all the bit about collective responsibility we know - but at the end of the day it is the Prime Minister who must face the music for the Government’s decision. He ultimately decides how much political capital will be expended and over what. His critics within the PLP found it curious that political capital would be expended to defend the choices of Chairs of Boards; Sidney Stubbs as Chair of the Bahamas Agricultural Industrial Corporation (BAIC) and George Smith, Chairman of the Hotel Corporation. Well, with Mr. Stubbs no one is quite sure. Mr. Stubbs is using the telephone at BAIC, its car but still apparently has no appointment. But the damage is being inflicted all the same. And what was even more curious is the fact that not one PLP, not the Chairman, not a member, not the Chairman of the Young Liberals, no newspaper, no voice seemed to have come out in the defence of the PLP and the Prime Minister’s decisions. Something is seriously wrong with the PLP’s political machine that it cannot defend its own leader when clearly there is a case to be made.
It was therefore left to the Prime Minister to defend his choices of Messrs. Stubbs and Smith. He was angry about the attacks on Mr. Smith but he did not tell all at the press conference. It was as if he is holding back against his critics. But now is not the time to telescope blows. The fact is Mr. Christie has preached redemption all along. George Smith was condemned in 1984’s Commission of Inquiry as corruptly having received money from convicted drug trafficker Carlos Jo Ledher. The case against Mr. Smith in the courts was later dismissed. He travels to the United States. He played a pivotal role in the Family Island campaign of the PLP.
The troubles of Sidney Stubbs have been well chronicled here and there was more response to it by e-mail from our readers. Read the reactions below.
On the other side you have the FNM that engaged actively a confessed drug trafficker Abner Pinder of Spanish Wells. Mr. Pinder confessed to that same Commission of Inquiry. He is the FNM’s broker for North Eleuthera. He is the Chair of the Local Government Council. Whatever needed to be done in Spanish Wells, the FNM caused Abner Pinder to do it.
The Prime Minister raised the more substantive point about the issue of the mismanagement of the Corporation under the FNM and how it had left the Corporation with a massive deficit. No commentary on that from the FNM dominated media.
But you know what they say: perception is reality, and the decision in the view of some gave the FNM unnecessary fodder for their political mill. Different roles could have been found for many persons who have been chosen in the front lines as Board members and Chairs. And one suspects that what is feeding this is the feeling from the new PLPs that after five months in office, some of them have not yet received the call to service that they expected. And so their friends both neutral and Opposition are asking them: “After all the work you did, why is there nothing for you?” The Government in their view is insensitive to those facts.
But it is the Prime Minister’s choice and as he reminded his Council two weeks ago, they know what to do if his judgment is now being questioned. We withhold our judgment because he is still the best leader for the PLP in these times.
Number of hits for the week ending Saturday 5th October 2002: 24,804.
Number of hits for the month of October to Saturday 5th October 2002: 13, 416.
Number of hits for the month of September to Monday 30th September 2002: 110,619.
Number of hits for the year to Monday 30th September 2002: 1,810,820.
NEW
PUBLIC SERVICE LEADERS
John Pinder is now the President of the Bahamas Public Services Union (BPSU).
He and his team routed the incumbent William McDonald (pictured).
Mr. Pinder in his late 30s marks a change in generation. The election
took place on Monday 30th September. The result ended 12 years under
the leadership of Mr. McDonald. His first pronouncement was that he wanted
some assistance from the Government in trying to prepare the public service
for its role in the FTAA process. The Minister for the Public Service
Fred Mitchell welcomed the new President and pledged to work with the new
team. The Minister announcing Public Service Week said that he intended
to arrange an early meeting with Mr. Pinder with a view to discussing his
agenda. He asked that the whole climate within the Public Service
come to understand that nothing can be done without consultation with the
trade unions.
SENIOR
CITIZENS MONTH
The Minister for Social Development Melanie Griffin has launched the month
to honour senior citizens. This is an important effort in a country
where by the year 2115, it is expected that the largest single birth cohort
as a percentage of the population is going to be the group over 65.
That means the population is aging and there are special considerations
that have to be put in place now in terms of public policy if the aging
population is to be taken care of. One thing is that youth have to
be trained to take care of older people, that it is a moral obligation.
Then there is the question of making sure that National Insurance and national
health insurance are in place to be able to take care of the elderly population
and their health and pension needs. This week, Jason Moxey of National
Insurance (pictured at right) reported that already the amount of money
being paid into National Insurance will not be enough to meet the commitments
of the fund in the year 2003. This is alarming. Mrs. Griffin
also has the added job in these hard times to provide the safety net for
a population that is seeing rising unemployment and poverty. The
Prime Minister himself was shocked at the reports from the police officers
in his Farm Road project that indicated that there are people going to
bed in the area without food to eat at night. Minister Griffin is pictured
meeting with the Crippled Children's Committee in this Guardian photo by
Roland Rose. From left are Dorothy Philips, CCC Administrator; Harold
Longley, Treasurer; Faith Ene, CCC Secretary; Lisa Ritchie, CCC Deputy
Chair; Bismark Coakley, CCC Chair; Minister Griffin; Velma Burrows, CCC
Professional Committee; Barbara Burrows, Permanent Secretary, Ministry
of Social Development and Paula Bowleg, CCC Professional Committee.
CHINESE
NATIONAL DAY
The People’s Republic of China celebrated the 53rd anniversary of its existence
on Tuesday 1 October at a spectacular reception at Sandals Hotel.
The Bahamas National Youth Choir under the direction of Cleophas Adderley
performed - and in Chinese - the national anthem of China. It wowed
the crowd. Present for the occasion was the Minister of Foreign Affairs
Fred Mitchell. He was accompanied by several other Government Ministers.
This was to show how important Government finds the relationship with the
Peoples Republic of China.
The Foreign Minister made the point that The Bahamas
supports the “one China” policy. That means that The Bahamas and
the eight of the Caricom countries that have diplomatic relations with
the People’s Republic accept that there is only one China, headed by the
Government of the People’s Republic. But the Minister added that
The Bahamas is also committed to the peaceful pursuit of all international
goals. That is code for the fact that The Bahamas will not support
the retaking of Taiwan by warfare.
In the meantime, the Taiwanese are nipping around
the heels of the country seeking a deal to re-establish diplomatic relations.
They have reportedly offered 35 million dollars to the country to do so.
This resonates with many Bahamians who feel that the mainland Chinese have
been stingy with their money. But Foreign Minister Fred Mitchell
has made it clear that he will have none of it. There is only one
China and that one China is represented by the regime in Beijing. Minister
Mitchell is shown at top congratulating The Bahamas National Youth Choir;
at right, Governor General Dame Ivy Dumont (centre) and Mr. Dumont are
joined by the Minister in meeting the Chinese Ambassador and his wife.
Photos by Derek Smith BIS.
SIDNEY
STUBBS APPOINTED?
No one knows for sure what the position is.
Has he been appointed or not? The Prime Minister has been out of
the office for most of the week not feeling well, so the announcement that
was expected did not come. He did announce the Board of the Hotel
Corporation but perhaps two bits of bad news was too much for one week.
The fact is Mr. Stubbs is said to be sitting in the Bahamas Agricultural
Industrial Corporation’s office and riding the car of BAIC and using their
telephones. But it appears that he does not have an appointment.
The e-mail traffic to this site was all one way on the point and we repeat
some of it here below. Some suggest that the wiser thing to have
done with Mr. Stubbs is to have given him another appointment in another
less contentious area given all the hullabaloo about BAIC and the missteps.
Here is some of the e-mail response:
From a student at a Canadian university…
If Prime Minister Christie wants to show the
world that his administration will not tolerate the type of behaviour displayed
by Sidney Stubbs, he must publicly fire him without hesitation.
He has proven he does not have what it takes
to be in public office.
Another writer –
It is distressing to me that Sidney Stubbs is
still on the job. If I was in charge and had to answer for his actions
he should be fired right away without question.
I flew home on Election Day to vote and I voted
for justice and fair play. Not for this. The new government must
grow the economy and the put all of us to work. In the name of justice
and fair play, Sidney Stubbs, must be fired and his Minister must be called
into question.
Yet Another Writer –
It is great to see that you are not just simply
on the PLP. You make no crumbs about your support of them and that
is ok, but what the hell is the matter? Sidney Stubbs should be fired
immediately. What is the Government waiting on?
FRED
MITCHELL HAS A BIRTHDAY
We wish happy birthday to the Minister of Foreign
Affairs. Mr. Mitchell celebrated his 49th birthday in Rochester,
Minnesota at the Mayo Clinic, where he was completing a routine physical
started in the springtime. Mr. Mitchell has announced that he will
be working up to his fiftieth birthday with a lecture every month in a
different island. The idea is to compile a book with a retrospective
of his involvement with the Progressive Liberal Party, which also celebrates
its fiftieth year as a party in November 2003. Happy Birthday!
And we look forward to the lectures. Meanwhile Mr. Mitchell has also
announced that he has been invited to deliver a sermon at a Methodist church
in Los Angeles, California. He is trying now to negotiate a date
for the sermon, which will be about the unity of nations.
THE
HOTEL CORPORATION BOARD
The Prime Minister has announced the board of The
Hotel Corporation of The Bahamas. Heading the board is the Chairman
George Smith, the former Member of Parliament for Exuma. (See Comment of
the Week above). Its Deputy Chair is Baltron Bethel, the former Director
General of Tourism under the Pindling administration. The two appointments
did not go down well in certain sectors of the community including some
grumbling within PLP circles. ‘Where is the new PLP?’ was a familiar
cry over the last week.
The Prime Minister is known to have great confidence
in Mr. Bethel as a brilliant man who is able to get the Corporation going.
But that did not impress the young people who expressed the view that the
party needs to show evidence of a new PLP with young people at the helm.
Joining Messrs. Smith and Bethel in the Board are: Debi Williams-Hancick;
Archdeacon Ranfurly Brown; Annischka Holmes, James Catalyn and Alphonso
Smith.
Mr. Christie defended the choice of Mr. Smith as
follows: “I believe in redemption. Mr. Smith is now accepted as a
full fledged law respecting, law abiding citizen. He has met every
public challenge that has been made of him, every legal challenge that
been made of him.”
BARCLAYS
GOING… LLOYD’S TO CLOSE
The news again was bad on the economic front.
Two weeks ago there was an offer made to Lloyd’s Bank to buy their building
and some wondered why the building was up for sale. The answer is
now clear. Lloyds is leaving The Bahamas and firing the 50 people
that work for it. They will have one year's grace and a good package
but that appears to be an epithet. The Bank’s Chair said the decision
to leave had nothing to do with the Government or its policies but with
world economic conditions. But it could not have come at a worse
time. The Bahamas is about to lose Barclays Bank as a marquee name
on the front street of the island. Now with Lloyds it just sends
a bad signal. Minister for Financial Services Allyson Gibson has
a her work cut for her in trying to prop up this industry that one can
only blame Hubert Ingraham, the former Prime Minister for wrecking single-handedly
and leaving us in the lurch.
CIBC
MERGER STALLS?
We thought that it was all a go but Terry Hilts
who represents the interests of CIBC in The Bahamas told The Tribune this
past week that there are still some outstanding issues that need to be
resolved before the merger is official. The Government regulators
in The Bahamas were insisting that there needed to be an accord between
the Bahamian employees and the Bank before the merger of Barclays and CIBC
into First Caribbean could take place. The Bahamas is the last country
to give regulatory approval. Thirty per cent of the business of the
new entity will be conducted in The Bahamas.
A
DECISION IN THE NINETY CASE
After five postponements for one reason or another,
the Magistrate Carolita Bethel finally gave a ruling in the case of Samuel
‘Ninety’ Knowles. Mr. Knowles has been in prison for over a year
awaiting the decision on his extradition to the United States. He
is unable to get bail. He has a diabetic problem and has had some
easing of the conditions in prison to allow him to be properly treated
for that.
In the neighbourhood where he lives Mr. Knowles
is a hero. He is not that to the United States. He is a drug
conspirator as far as they are concerned and was responsible for running
a big drug smuggling ring from Jamaica and the United States and including
Canada. This is the second time that they have gone after him for
extradition. His lawyers Edward Fitzgerald Q.C. from the United Kingdom
and Philip ‘Brave’ Davis and Roger Minnis made submissions that there is
no case to answer on the four charges that he is wanted for in the U.S.
The Magistrate on Monday 30th September ruled that
Mr. Knowles had no case to answer on two of the charges relating to possession
and importation of cocaine with intent to supply. But she also found
that the charges of conspiracy to import and conspiracy to possess with
intent to supply needed a defence. The case is now adjourned again
for that hearing. The Americans are getting antsy about this and
their Ambassador has from time to time made interventions in the public
domain about the case. Many are concerned that these interventions
can be used by a defence attorney to ask for the case to be thrown out
because the law prohibits any public form of pressure on the Judiciary.
BACK
TO COURT FOR MAURICE
The Court of Appeal of The Bahamas, that most difficult of Courts, has
given Maurice Glinton, the Freeport Attorney and his partner in the litigation
Leandra Esfakis, a victory of sorts. The Court ruled on Monday 30th
September that the ruling of Chief Justice Sir Burton Hall that he could
not grant interlocutory relief to block the effectiveness of the laws relating
to the Financial Services Sector like the Compliance Commission should
be reversed and he should hear the case and then decide.
Mr. Glinton and his partner have made the arguments
but in the original case Sir Burton said this: “I have an inclination to
grant the interlocutory relief being sought, but a previous ruling on a
similar matter involving Gladstone McEwan and his campaign for election
ballots to become “truly secret” has set a legal precedent. The idea
of Mr. Glinton is that while he challenges the compendium of legislation
passed into law in a rush by Hubert Ingraham's administration, he wants
the effect of the laws stopped until the matter is adjudicated or until
further order. Sir Burton will now have to hear the matter.
Mr. Glinton is doing yeoman’s service for the country.
All of the laws need to be set aside. The Bahamas has suffered because
of the laws. They are too intrusive and have made it difficult to
transact banking business in The Bahamas. Further there are some
who argue that the laws have not done what they were supposed to do.
The Bahamas is still said to be on an informal blacklist because it is
viewed as a tax haven. That means if you put your money in the Bahamas
it attracts attention in the developed world. That makes The
Bahamas a place not to go.
The Minister of Financial Services Allyson Gibson
(pictured) has much work to do to improve this situation. The feeling
is that the whole sector is imploding and cannot be saved. The feeling
is that the UB, the Swiss Bank is next to go after Lloyd’s Bank and there
is another rumour in the market that CIBC Trust is also going to pack up.
As for Mr. Glinton, we believe that it is time that
his knowledge and expertise be used by the establishment to help develop
The Bahamas in some more direct way. Perhaps, he ought to be asked
to serve on the Constitutional Reform Commission. Perhaps, there
is a role on an advisory board but it seems a shame that there is not a
more central role available. But perhaps, the role that he plays
serves the country best because all Governments end up doing rotten things
even though there are good men and women in it. You need someone to keep
those good men and women in their collective action honest. Minister
of Financial Services Allyson Maynard-Gibson is shown (centre) in this
Guardian photo by Patrick Hanna speaking about her Ministry's efforts to
create dialogue between the public and private sectors. Far left
is Craig Gomex, Managing partner of Gomez Partners & Co., Wendy Warren,
Executive Director of the Bahamas Financial Services Board and Jerome Gomez,
Managing Director of Gomez Corporate Services ltd.
THE
SPOUSE OF THE MAJOR DRUG MAN
The headline in the press said that Keva Major 38 (pictured in this Tribune
photo by Felipe Major), the wife of convicted drug smuggler Dwight Major
of Long Island had been caught on Tuesday 1st October with cash in the
amount of $850,000. She was remanded in custody because she could
not make the one million dollars cash bail with two sureties. Sure
enough on Saturday 5th October, the press again reported that Mrs. Major
had made bail - one million dollars in cash. This site ran a story
of then Opposition's spokesman for Foreign Affairs to Long Island voicing
concerns about Dwight Major. Concern was also voiced at that time
by Bradley Roberts, the Chairman of the PLP.
Mrs. Major has been charged with being found in
possession of two sums of money - one $401,605 suspected to have been derived
in whole or in part directly or indirectly represented another person's
proceeds and two $448,900 in possession of the funds being concerned in
an arrangement for the retention, control and concealment and to ensure
that other person's proceeds of drug trafficking are used to acquire property,
knowing or having reasonable grounds to suspect that the mentioned person
has been engaged in drug trafficking and has benefitted from the same.
When you see what we have just seen with this, it
again raises the necessity to preach the doctrine of a meritocracy. This
country's whole fabric is undermined by the fact that you have persons,
some without a lick of sense in their heads, no formal education but able
by the use of slickness and illegality to accumulate large sums of money
and live well. The society has that image to fight when these kids
coming out of high school see that. Why, they ask, should they go
to college or even bother to finish school when they can be drug traffickers
and make large sums of money without school?
The message needs to go out that you will always
be caught and if you are convicted as you will be, you will go to jail
for a long, long time and you will lose the money.
CLOSED
GROUPER SEASON
Minister of Fisheries Alfred Gray has confirmed
that there will be a no take period or closed season for grouper during
the upcoming spawning season from 1stNovember to 1st February. This
has pleased BREEF, the conservation group headed by Sir Nicholas Nuttal.
We think that it is a good idea. The grouper in The Bahamas is the
last place in the Caribbean where there is an aggregation or schools to
be found. Scientists have said that if The Bahamas does not act now;
within five years the grouper will be gone.
NEVILLE
WISDOM'S NEW COMMITTEE
A new sailing Committee, an advisory one has been
formed by Minister of Sports Neville Wisdom. It is to be headed by
Danny Strachan, the Commodore of the Family Island Regatta of Exuma.
No doubt this is an attempt to bring some order to a sport that is always
bickering over leadership. The idea did not go down well with Philip
McPhee who is the former FNM candidate for Bain Town in the last election.
He accused the Minister of trying to supercede the work of the existing
committees. He said that the new committee could not work without
the cooperation of the existing sailing groups. Duh! Minister
Wisdom is pictured in this Tribune photo by Felipe Major bouncing one of
the twin three month old babies of Cynthia Cooper-Dyke of the Womans National
Basketball Association, in Nassau for exhibitions.
PAUL
ADDERLEY FOR ACTING GG
The Hon. Paul Adderley, the former Attorney General,
former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of National Security and Minister
of Finance is now the Acting Governor General. Mr. Adderley is acting
in the absence from the country of GG Dame Ivy Dumont who is in St. Vincent
for a Heads of State Conference of Caricom.
CONCERN
OVER BOMB DETECTION
The Tribune ran a story on Saturday 5th October
that speculates that the police do not have the capacity in The Bahamas
to do anything about bombs that it might detect. So we need to hear
from the Minister of National Security.
A
NOTE TO BAHAMIAN EQUITIES EXPERTS
BaTelCo is slated for privatization. But it
is still being talked about that this Bahamian company previously managed
by foreigners should be sold to foreigners again even though that previous
experience was disastrous for this country. Why is it that Bahamians
do not accept the fact that the Bahamians who run the company today can
run the company as a private concern and should be able to buy it if they
want? Further, the simplest way to privatize BaTelCo is to sell its
shares off in tranches like Bank of the Bahamas was sold off in tranches.
Then all we have to deal with is the monopoly policy. The interesting
thing is that the employees in BaTelCo and the financial experts who are
Bahamian all think so but no one is promoting or putting the idea forward.
Where the hell are you? Or are you going to let this company go to
foreign interests without a fight?
B.S.
NOTES FROM GENEVA’S FREEPORT… PLUS
In this new format, the former News From Grand Bahama is renamed
as above. This signifies the initials of our senior correspondent
from the nation’s second city, with the ‘plus’ for the many other sources
from whom contributions are accepted. Ed.
Quote of the Week... Goes out to Prime Minister Christie -
"The FNM is out of office today because the people that were most
important to them at the end of the day could not vote." A retired
hotel Maitre'd
Justice of The Peace
A former senior FNM MP was seen going into the Garnet Levarity Justice
Centre (The Freeport courthouse) in the cool of the evening to be sworn
in as a Justice of The Peace. The FNM informant told us that it was
a disgrace: "This man should be involved in million dollar deals
and not ten and twenty dollar deals, trying to take bread out of the little
man's mouth... Shame on him," the FNM supporter told News From Grand Bahama.
On top of that, the former senior MP now receives a handsome Parliamentary
pension.
Don't Do It - Bus & Tax Drivers
Concerns have been raised to this column about a proposal that is being
put before the Government and the Grand Bahama Port Authority by the Tour
Bus Association to allow buses to pick up passengers from the Lucayan Harbour
and the Grand Bahama International Airport. We say to the Ministers
of Transport and Tourism that the proposal should be disapproved out of
hand and any such proposal that would cause major upheaval at both ports.
It would take the Defence Force being stationed at both ports to have that
deal work smoothly. So our advice is don't do it Ministers, given
the state of the Grand Bahama economy.
Minister Mitchell in Grand Bahama
On Monday 30th September, Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Public
Service Fred Mitchell was in Grand Bahama on a private visit. Minister
Mitchell spoke at Discovery Primary School 4th Grade class about Government
and Politics. This class is taught by Miss Denise Minnis who believes
that through practical experiences, learning is made much easier.
This term, her class has heard from the Parliamentary Registration Department,
who mock registered some of the students in the class and later on, a nomination
process will be demonstrated and at the end of the term there is to be
a mock election. Minister Mitchell spent his forty five minutes telling
the children about his childhood experiences and to be goal-oriented and
finally, explaining what his job at Foreign Affairs entails. The
schoolchildren were startled to see someone always seen on TV in their
classroom… an enlightening experience for both the Minister and the students.
FNM Leadership
FNM leader Tommy Turnquest was in Grand Bahama this past weekend to
learn about some of the plots that were afoot. The FNM leader was
given a detailed report on how the Brent Symonette rebellion was put down
by his supporters who reminded those involved that Bahamians were "not
ready for a white man". But it now seems that having overcome that
hurdle, Zhivargo Laing is now enquiring quietly in hopes of making a bid
for the party's leadership. We are also informed by an FNM close
to the source that Dion Foulkes is to run for Chairman. The informant
told News From Grand Bahama that Zhivargo, Dion, Dwight Sawyer and Randy
Conliffe should all dig a deep hole and bury themselves and allow people
like Darren Cash, Michael Pintard and Desmond Bannister to come to the
fore and take over the running of the FNM. So the plot thickens.
Shalimar Hotel
Grand Bahama residents on Friday passing the Shalimar hotel were surprised
to see that the old property on the South Mall was being demolished by
a large tractor. The property was said to have been owned by businessman
Jack Wong and has lain vacant for at least the last decade. Sources
say that a new touristic project is to be built on the site, but no public
announcement has yet been made. We will follow this story.
The New Law
Observers in Grand Bahama were shocked to find out that The Bahamas
had in place anti-money laundering laws. They were flabbergasted
to know that $800,000 could be confiscated and that there is actually a
law, which says that if the monies were suspected of being drug-related
that it could be confiscated. They were also surprised to know that
the same law has wide-ranging consequences for Bahamians involved in the
Cash3 and Play4 numbers business. So any Bahamian found with large
quantities of money, if they don't have good reason for having the monies
could find that their money would be confiscated. Most observers
now say that the law seems to be unfair and that the only thing it's going
to do is to drive people into burying their money in the pine forest.
Many though, were truly shocked that we have had such laws on the books
for years.
A Complaint About CM 14
A complaint has come to News From Grand Bahama that when it comes to
your private business, particularly at 1am, that the Government car CM
14, should not be out on the streets in front of the British Colonial Hilton.
Perhaps it was legitimate business.
 |
| PHOTO OF THE WEEK - The photo of the week is a picture of Foreign Minister Fred Mitchell with Prime Minister Perry Christie and Rev. Fr. Sebastian Campbell, Chair of the National Heroes Day Committee. National Heroes Day is being celebrated on the renamed Discovery Day of 12th October. The actual holiday this year is Monday 14th October. There were some who were unhappy about the change but Fr. Campbell pronounced himself pleased. The photo is by Derek Smith. |
COMMENT OF THE WEEK
THE US AND THE BAHAMAS
This
week Foreign Minister Fred Mitchell got his wish at the resumed Parliament.
In pursuance of the PLP's 2002 election platform named ‘Our Plan’, the
Government supported the creation of a Select Committee on Foreign Affairs.
The Committee is headed by MP for Kennedy Kenyatta Gibson. The idea
of the Committee is to serve as a review body for the work of the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs and to seek public views and generate consensus on foreign
affairs matters through hearings both in private and in public. The
debate was interesting because it revealed the depth of feeling about the
US / Bahamian relationship as it relates to Iraq.
The Government’s position in the matter was reiterated by the Foreign Minister. Ordinarily, The Bahamas would have no comment on Iraq. The Foreign Minister explained that there is no specific policy on Iraq but simply a general policy on the manner in which international disputes are to be resolved through the United Nations Security Council. But the comment became necessary because of a provocative headline in the press earlier in the week in which the U.S. Ambassador was said to have asked The Bahamas for assistance to help the US oust the leader of the Iraqi people.
Some MPs seemed to be incensed by the US Ambassador’s intervention. Malcolm Adderley MP for Elizabeth was the strongest saying that he was sick and tired of the Ambassador coming into the country and telling Bahamians what to do. Keod Smith, the Ambassador for the Environment, said that he hoped the country would not follow the path of war mongering that he had heard from the US. Prime Minister Perry Christie and the Foreign Minister looked on impassively.
The Foreign Minister said that he was not discomforted by the statements of the US Ambassador. You may click here for the full address.
What is clear is that the Foreign Minister is walking a tightrope between the grass roots views of many in the country re the US and the realities of life in The Bahamas. The fact is that on the matters of foreign relations, the US/ Bahamian axis is paramount. There is no getting around that and we had better face it. Therefore no Government of The Bahamas can be perceived to be anti-American. The fallout is too dreary to contemplate. That is why the Minister is fighting hard to restrain any further contact with Cuba because of the potential concern about a backlash from the US Government.
We shall see.
Number of hits for the week ending Saturday 12th October 2002 at midnight: 20,763.
Number of hits for the month of October up Saturday 12th October 2002 at midnight: 34,137.
Number of hits for the year up to Saturday 12th October 2002 at midnight:
1,831,583.
WHAT
SHOULD THE FOREIGN POLICY BE?
The Bahamas is a country of 300,000 people more
or less. Small though it is, it is a country. It makes its
own decisions and in international law, it is recognized as being responsible
for its own affairs. But the question remains, with national corporations
in the US having a larger turnover than the whole country, with some US
individuals being richer than the entire country, and with no standing
army or military capability, what can 300,000 people say or do that makes
any bit of difference to the rest of the world? And can The Bahamas
really defend itself?
For example, each week, the US Coast Guard makes
a number of requests to come into The Bahamas to be able to rescue migrants
who have wandered into our shores. It is framed as a request and
we grant the request but if we say no, can we really stop them? We
have the AUTEC base at Andros, which is used by the United States Government.
By the terms of the treaty that governs the use of the facility for underwater
testing of naval equipment, The Bahamas can notify the US that it wants
the relationship to be discontinued. Can we really do that?
WHAT
DOES SOVEREIGNTY MEAN?
In fact in all kinds of practical ways our sovereignty
is circumscribed by the power of the United States and the other countries
around us. That was demonstrated in 1980 when Cuban MIGs sank the
HMBS Flamingo carrying out a policing action against poachers from Cuba
in our waters. We had no capability of stopping the Cubans.
The United States sent its planes to the area to deal with the MIGs.
Malcolm Adderley, the MP for Elizabeth, speaking in the foreign affairs
debate in the House on Wednesday 9th October said that he stood up for
the sovereignty of The Bahamas. He said that he would stand alone
if necessary. He said he needed no troops to do so.
Sovereignty is not just the practical side but also
the idea of independence and a belief in the country and its people.
But at this time, we are being forced for all sorts of reason to ask who
we really are. As we look toward a higher level of practical co-operation
with Cuba, there are many Bahamians who are concerned that the Americans
will simply yank our chain and destabilize our economy because of their
aversion to Cuba. And yet in a country where people are free to travel,
and there are thousands of Bahamians in Cuba, how can we continue to ask
the British to handle our consular matters for us?
At the airport recently, since Bahamasair started
its flights to Cuba, US Customs authorities have been harassing Americans
that want to visit Cuba from The Bahamas. At one point, it is reported
that a US Customs officer stood up with a bull horn in the Nassau International
and warned Americans that it was illegal to travel to Cuba. This
flight by Americans is not encouraged or condoned by the Government here
but the US is not a subtle country and to them it is a distinction without
a difference. Then add to that the fact that you have a US Ambassador
whom many Bahamians find offensive in his public pronouncements.
It is against that background that the Bahamas Foreign Minister has his
work cut out for him. And each day there is a fresh assault from
all the sides in the argument.
THE
US AMBASSADOR IN HIS OWN WORDS
Speaking before the American Men’s Club on Tuesday 8th October, U.S. Ambassador
Richard Blankenship made a demand of The Bahamas to support the US position
on Iraq. Here is what he said in his own words:
“We call on the nations of the world to join us in this coalition to ensure that Saddam no longer continues to threaten the region and the world. We call on nations like The Bahamas to do the right thing, to align themselves with the United States against this brutal, aggressive thug, just as they did on September 11th…
“The Bahamas has stood by us in the fight against terrorism and we call upon them again to do so. To stand with the United States against the threats represented by Saddam Hussein and his weapons programme.”
MALCOLM
ADDERLEY IN HIS OWN WORDS
Malcolm Adderley MP is a radical with a cause.
He has never been one to mince words. And he rose in the House of
Assembly to speak on the request for a select committee on foreign affairs.
Mr. Adderley received his legal training at the University of the West
Indies in the height of the movement for democratic socialism led by Michael
Manley, the late Jamaican Prime Minister. His comments came against
the background of a demand by US Ambassador Richard Blankenship that The
Bahamas must demonstrate its support on Iraq and other pronouncements by
the Ambassador:
“I am sick and tired of people coming into this country and telling this country and the institutions, the courts, the magistrates, the supreme court, what to do and how to do it. You can’t have that, Mr. Speaker. Not if you claim to be an independent nation…
“I do not like the innuendoes that our courts are corrupt, that our magistrates are corrupt and people are corrupt. My God! Let’s compare corruption world wide and you come to your own conclusion…
“The country must decide whether we are being
asked to support a worthy cause or being asked to join a crusade of revenge
or hate or some other hidden agenda. The country cannot make decisions
because we are afraid to rock the boat of big nations that we are friendly
with.”
KEOD
SMITH IN HIS OWN WORDS
Keod Smith is the Member of Parliament for Mt. Moriah, having recently
defeated the Leader of the FNM Senator Tommy Turnquest in the 2002 Elections.
Mr. Smith is a real “campus radical” type. He supports all the “right”
causes. He launched a blistering attack on the American position
on Iraq and other foreign affairs matters. He was speaking on the
request for a Select Committee on Foreign Affairs on Wednesday 9th October.
Here is what he had to say in his own words:
“Before we have public debates on a matter as crucial as killing other people in another country, or supporting another country to dispose of the leader of another country, we need to fully understand what happens in Iraq and what happens in the UN…
“Are we performing within the confines of the United Nations or are we going to allow ourselves to be pulled along to get involved with the kind of war mongering we see happening in New York…
“We do not have any presence in Cuba. We have some Bahamians in Cuban jails, we have Bahamians who are marrying Cubans, taking up residence in Cuba and some Cubans taken up residence here…
“Many Bahamians are going to Cuba for medical attention, we do have many Bahamians who do business with Cuba and I can’t understand why it is that The Bahamas has not created the right kind of relations on the ground in Cuba that Cuba has already created here… [The Cubans have a resident Consul General.]
“The Bahamas has to see what is in the best interest
of The Bahamas and take a very unashamed approach to making the kind of
alliances with the countries that we wish in the best interests of The
Bahamas. Are we in this place determining what our policy is to be
with Cuba or is it being determined some other place? ”
FOREIGN
MINISTER IN HIS OWN WORDS
The Foreign Minister during the course of the debate gave the policy of
The Bahamas with regard to Iraq. He said the policy was not specific
to any country but a general one. Here is what he had to say in his
own words:
“We stand in concert with our Caricom partners and that is, we support the United Nations and the Resolutions of the United Nations. By the fact that we are members of the UN, we are bound to follow United Nations Resolutions…
“Any policies that are pursued with regard to enforcement of United Nations resolutions ought also to be pursued through the United Nations. That is our position with regard to all international disputes, even those that arise on a bilateral level.”
You may click here
for the full text of the remarks delivered on Wednesday 9th October
2002.
SELECT
COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS
The Government supported and the House has passed
a resolution for the creation of Select Committee on Foreign Affairs.
The Members of the Committee are as follows: Kenyatta Gibson MP Kennedy;
John Carey, Carmichael MP; Veronica Owen, Garden Hills MP; Keod Smith,
MP Mt. Moriah [All PLP]; Brent Symonette, Montagu MP; Kenneth Russell MP
High Rock [Both FNM]; Pierre Dupuch MP St. Margaret [Independent].
MPS IN CHINA
On a recent private visit to the People's Republic
of China, MPs Philip ‘Brave’ Davis, Keod Smith and John Carey, pause for
a photo at the Forbidden City in Beijing. During their visit, the
Members of Parliament were hosted to a dinner reception by officials of
the Government where they were able to discuss matters of mutual interest
between the Bahamas and China.
THE PM
ON REDEMPTION
The Prime Minister continued his defence of his appointment of George Smith,
the former Member of Parliament for Exuma to the Chairmanship of the Board
of the Hotel Corporation. His remarks came at the National Heroes
Day celebration on 10th October 2002 in Rawson Square. He also announced
a Cultural Commission that will look into the question of a National Heroes
Park and the system of National Honours. But he launched into his
critics on the Smith appointment though never calling him by name.
He said: “I just want you to know when they talk to me about who I appoint,
I just want you to know that I will not be dismayed or distracted by people
who seem not to understand even the Bible, and its commitment to forgiveness
and redemption. As long as you cannot show me that an appointment
I have made will bring cancer, rot or lack of integrity to today’s Bahamas,
show me that and I will change course. I have a second chance government
because I was given a second chance, and as long as I am prime minister,
you go take it God.”
WHAT’S
HAPPENING AT BAIC?
No one is quite sure what the deal is now with the
Bahamas Agricultural Industrial Corporation (BAIC). You will remember
that the corporation is mired in controversy over the appointment of the
Chair. No word from the Prime Minister but it is believed that Sidney
Stubbs (pictured), who dismissed some FNM supporters at BAIC, and then
the matter was reversed by the Minister Leslie Miller is still the Chair.
It seems that Mr. Stubbs is still in the dog house with the Prime Minister
and his Minister. But the report is that Caleb Outten, the putative
Deputy chair has been told by the Minister that he should no longer expect
the job. Mr. Outten was the PLP's candidate for Eight Mile Rock in
the last election. He ought to be given something.
THE
KIDS AND THEIR SOCCER BALL
When Foreign Minister Fred Mitchell visited South
Africa in August he saw some kids on the Bowe-Joubert farm playing on the
windswept vineyard hills with a deflated soccer ball. He had to leave
but asked Earle McPhee from the Ministry of Tourism who was travelling
with him to leave some money to purchase a new soccer ball for the children.
So said, so done. And now Tina Joubert reports in these pictures
that the children are happily playing with their ball. Bowe-Joubert
farms is an investment in South Africa by Alphonso Bowe, a Bahamian businessman
with the Joubert family of Stellenbosch.
INTERNATIONAL
CULTURAL FESTIVAL
The International Cultural festival will be held
at the Botanical Gardens in Nassau on 19th and 20th October, 2002.
James Catalyn, the writer, is the Chair of the festival for the eighth
time in a row. This year Fred Mitchell will be there in his capacity
as Minister of Foreign Affairs. The fair will include some 40 countries.
Bands are being flown in from Cuba, Haiti, Scotland and Canada. There
will be plenty of food. Try to make it if you are in town.
NATIONAL
HEROES DAY
Rev. Fr. Sebastian Campbell is a happy man. He is
the Chair of the National Heroes Day Committee. The Committee started
out as an idea of Foreign Minister Fred Mitchell in 1990 when he was leader
of his own political party called Peoples Democratic Force (PDF).
It was begun to mark the passing of the death of the first Bahamian Governor
General Sir Milo Butler who died on 22nd January 1979. This year the day
was officially proclaimed on the now renamed Discovery Day. The Prime
Minister attended for the first time in the 12 years of the marking of
the day. The photo in the editorial shows the Prime Minister with
the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
The actual idea for a National Heroes Day was first
mooted at the very first of the commemorations in 1990 by Loretta Butler
Turner (pictured at top being greeted by Prime Minister Christie)
who is the granddaughter of the late Sir Milo. Fr. Campbell in his
address said “It is with a sense of much pride that we are able to come
to this level of celebration. This is the way in order to bring attention
to some historical injustices that we have perpetrated as a people and
really and truly educate our children as to who the true heroes of The
Bahamas are. Derek Smith took the photos.
PAUL
ADDERLEY ACTING GOVERNOR GENERAL
The former Attorney General Paul Adderley was sworn
in as Deputy to the Governor General. He then proceeded to act for
Dame Ivy Dumont the Governor General who went off to a Heads of State conference
in St. Vincent. Amongst the topics discussed was the question of
the Caribbean Diaspora. The Prime Minister indicated that other Deputies
to the Governor General would be chosen. It is believed that Arthur
Hanna, former Deputy Prime Minister might be one of those persons.
Mr. Hanna and Mr. Adderley had both resisted up to this point any formal
titles or roles in the new Government. Mr. Adderley is shown at
left with the Prime Minister on his appointment (Peter Ramsay) and at right
greeting Governor General Dame Ivy and Mr. Dumont at the airport on their
return Friday 11th October (Derek Smith).
MANNING
WINS IN TRINIDAD
Congratulations to Patrick Manning, the Prime Minister of Trinidad on his
victory at the polls 20-16 in Trinidad. This is the third general
election in Trinidad in three years. The last one in December 2001
produced a stalemate of 18-18 and Basdeo Panday, the Indian Prime Minister
stupidly refused to co-operate with the new Government and has now lost
it all. He has promised to demit office as soon as a new Leader of
the Opposition can be found.
Trinidad is a harsh racial landscape with Africans
40 per cent and Indians 40 per cent. The level of violence is not
the same as in Guyana but difficult all the same. Other Caribbean
Governments are afraid that Mr. Manning's election was bought with the
assistance of the radical Muslim group that tried in 1991 to overthrow
the country's Government and kill the now President when he was Prime Minister.
Mr. Manning has denied this. Trinidad bears watching but at least
the stalemate is over. Now Mr. Manning has to learn to be magnanimous
and amongst the things he ought to do is remove his wife from the Cabinet.
Trinidad
Prime Minister Manning at right; partisan crowds of his People's National
Movement (PNM) in celebration. AP photos by Shirley Bahadur from
the Nassau Guardian.
BACKLOG
OF INVESTMENT PROPOSALS
The Tribune of Wednesday 9th October carried a story
under the headline that you see above. David Morley, the President
of the Real Estate Association, said that he had heard the complaints that
the Government had a pile of investment proposals and they were being held
up by inaction. Mr. Morley told The Tribune that he had been assured
by the new Government that the applications would all be dealt with expeditiously.
But privately, many have been expressing worries about the new Government
and its commitment to investment. At the lunch tables in Café
Matisse and in Lyford Cay, they have been saying that no new money has
come into the economy under the PLP and that the PLP does not appear to
be concerned to deal with the issue of flagging revenue and the lack of
new dollars coming in.
Prime Minister Perry Christie adverted to it in
a recent public statement introducing a Government Board when he said that
he had a real crisis of decision making when he had to choose between people
who had no food to eat and the trips being taken by Ministers overseas
that costs thousands of dollars. He felt that too many of the decisions
the Government was making had to do with spending money and not getting
money into the kitty. Many people thought that it was a dig at the
Minister of Foreign Affairs who hardly spends a day at home these days.
There is a further problem, the old divide between
a liberal immigration policy and a tough, protect The Bahamas at all costs,
stance has resurfaced. The thinking on one side is that we need the
jobs. On the other side, we need to protect Bahamian jobs.
The scuttlebutt around town is that the real reason that Lloyd’s Bank left
The Bahamas is because they could not get the work permits they wanted
and several other banks are worried about it as well. So a meeting
of the minds must take place.
A similar divide can be found between those Ministers
who in their gut feel that it is wrong to sell BaTelCo to foreigners and
those who think that we have no choice for revenue reasons and for reasons
of modernity. Whatever it is people are now crying openly about jobs
and more jobs. That is the first priority now of the administration.
PUBLIC
SERVICE REFORM
Public Service Minister Fred Mitchell met with the Human Resources Officers
of the Public Service on Friday 11th October. He said that he has
set two limited goals as public service minister, dedicated to public service
reform. He said that he wants human resources departments to be developed
and he wants there to be an improvement in service to the public.
The two are interrelated according to the Minister. Here is some
of what he said in his own words:
“Workers in the pubic service from top to bottom are dissatisfied with the state of their employment, where it appears that every employee has some quarrel or issue with the terms and conditions of their employment. This may only be anecdotal and impressionistic, but it is of sufficient concern to me, that this should not be allowed to continue…
“The complaints that come to me include the lack of promotion, being at the salary bar, the inability to get answers on promotions and pay, the inability to get reasonable and timely discussions on career paths and just the feeling that there is no concern about the welfare of the worker…
“The system is too paper intensive. It does not appear to have appropriate and open lobbying procedures for vendors to provide goods and services to it and the result is, there is too much of a lag time between requests for information or decisions on pay and promotions and the actual time the decision is carried out. Often the employee including the supervisor is left in the dark about what is happening…
“One step to improvement would be telling employees who their human resource officers are, where these officers ought to give a commitment to get answers within 14 days of any inquiry. The whole system ought to commit to a final determination and reply within six weeks of the employee’s first enquiry.”
ED
BETHEL NEW CONSUL GENERAL IN NEW YORK
Prime Minister Perry Christie announced that Ed
Bethel, the journalist and lately News Director for Love 97 Radio news
is to be the Consul General for The Bahamas in New York. Mr. Bethel
and his wife Dawn are expected to be in New York on or before 1st January
2003. In welcoming Mr. Bethel, Mr. Christie said that he was sure
that Mr. Bethel would do a good job and that he was well equipped to assist
the Bahamian community abroad and to encourage investment to The Bahamas.
Mr.
Bethel, centre, is shown being congratulated by Prime Minister Christie
at left and Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell at right in this BIS
photo by Peter Ramsay.
STUPID
PRIVY COUNCIL DECISION
The Tribune reported on Wednesday 9th October 2002
that the Privy Council has ruled that but for the fact that the Court did
not specify what instrument should be used for flogging Prince Pinder,
the sentence of the court in The Bahamas under Bahamian law was constitutional
and lawful. This is a bad decision in law and just plain stupid.
You expect something like this out of the hanging Court our Caribbean friends
are planning to implement next year. It only goes to show that the
Englishmen don’t always get it right. The decision was a majority decision,
with Lord Millet who came to The Bahamas on a hobnobbing visit being one
of those going with the majority of three. Two judges sensibly went
against the majority.
BANK
OF THE BAHAMAS IN FLORIDA
Paul McWeeney, the Managing Director of the Bank
of The Bahamas has ambitious expansion plans for the Bank. The bank is
51 per cent owned by the Government of the Bahamas. There are some
who believe that the whole kit and caboodle ought to be sold off to the
private sector. The Bank is now expanding beyond its domestic trust
unit to an office in Florida. The bank unveiled a new logo on Tuesday
10th October. Prime Minister Christie is shown speaking at the launch
of the Bank of The Bahamas International in this Tribune photo by Tim Aylen
of Vision Media. From left are Minister of State for Finance James
Smith, Mr. McWeeney, Mr. Christie and Bank of The Bahamas International
Chairman Hugh Sands.
ZHIVARGO
LAING’S NEW JOB
Want to learn about the Free Trade Agreement of
the Americas (FTAA)? Well what better person to learn it from than
a former Minister of the Government who is quite in the dark about the
matter himself. Anyway, he was the Minister, so the blind could quite
possibly have a good time leading the blind in this matter. The course
that he is offering is a three day seminar on the issue from 11th November
to 14th. Mr. Laing is among the other former Ministers struggling
to make a living post 2nd May. Many of them are now radio presenters
on Love 97. Mr. Laing has moved back to his home base in Freeport.
Tribune
file photo.
BARCLAYS
CIBC MERGER
Much to the consternation of this column, the Government
has approved the merger of CIBC and Barclays Bank. The Bank has not lived
up to its agreement with the Government to sign an industrial agreement
with its line staff, yet the merger is going ahead and will become effective
on 14th October. This is disgraceful.
B.S.
NOTES FROM GENEVA’S FREEPORT… PLUS
In this new format, the former News From Grand Bahama is renamed
as above. This signifies the initials of our senior correspondent
from the nation’s second city, with the ‘plus’ for the many other sources
from whom contributions are accepted. Ed.
Freeport City Council
The Freeport City Council after coming into office
in July has had nothing but turmoil. First, it was the matter of
the Council computers over at the Teen Centre, which turned out to be nothing,
more than in fighting between Local Government Councillors (see
our story from August, 2002). This week the controversy continues
with the closing of the public wash room facilities at Taino Beach.
The council response was that there were no contractors in place to keep
the wash rooms clean so they were ordered to close. A local conch
vendor described Taino Beach as a cesspool the morning after a function
was held the night before and he described the situation as unacceptable.
We are informed that the real problem in City Council
is a pitched battle between high levels of that council and if it is not
dealt with it will shortly spill in the public domain and derail the whole
idea of local government in Freeport.
Fishing Hole Road
The causeway at the Fishing Hole Road flooded for
two consecutive days this week. This is the only road that connects the
western district of Grand Bahama to the rest of the island. The MP
for Eight Mile Rock Mr. Lindy Russell and former Cabinet Minister Kenneth
Russell were in the press this week saying that the monies for the construction
of a bridge was budgeted for and borrowed from Inter American Development
Bank. They wanted to know why the works had not yet started.
Other observers on Grand Bahama wanted to know where
was Caleb Outten and what was his position on the bridge. Reports
say that Mr. Outten was off the island but it is believed that once he
returns he will make his views known to the public.
Pelican Bay Hotel
Pelican Bay Hotel was in the news this week with
the maids at the property saying they were let go without proper notice.
The hotel manger in his response said that the hotel sources out to a private
cleaning company their housekeeping services and they were not aware that
the private company did not follow the Labour Laws but said his company
would step in to set the matter straight. Now comes word that the
cleaning company was paying below minimum wage so we ask the Local Labour
Department to investigate. Freeport News photo by Richard Rae of a fired
maid squeezed between a security officer and a fired housekeeper in a confrontation
at Pelican Bay.
FTAA Reflections
The FTAA for The Bahamas represents a subtle form
of devaluation and exploitation of the human resources or raw materials
of this island state. It is nothing more than a high tech form of
slavery which relieves the master (imperial power) of its moral and social
obligations to its servants. To put it in another way the master
(lord) was required to house, feed and clothe his servants in return for
the slaves labour. Under this arrangement the imperial power assumes
no responsibilities. We believe in the wake of FTAA the Bahamas would be
left with massive social dislocation and a reduced standard of living for
the people of these islands and the sooner we understand the better for
all concerned.
The Bahamas has suffered a major set back with the
trashing of our bank secretary laws. This has set in motion a slow death
march into decline of our financial service industry, which use to be the
stabilizing pillar of our economy that we could count on when the tourist
industry was sluggish.
I believe that there are four components that will
lead us to the death of financial services industry. The first one
being a dogmatic former Prime Minister Ingraham who we believe saw it as
his duty to make laws for the peace order and good governance of the OECD
countries rather than The Bahamas. The second component was Mr. James
Smith who now serves, as Minister of State for the Ministry of Finance
in the Christie Government who we believe has not kept Bahamians abreast
on FTAA matters. Mr. Julian Francis Governor of the Central Bank who we
believe is a contract worker should have shown more independence in guarding
and defending the Financial Sector. Finally, Parliament who
blindly followed Ingraham over the cliff.
Of the four problematic components the people of
The Bahamas has taken care of two of its problems by removing the FNM Government
from the seat of power. It is unlikely if the Christie Government
will fare any better in negotiations with James Smith and Julian Francis
as part of any team. So to move forward they should be replaced because
of their lack of foresight.
B.S.
  |
| PHOTO OF THE WEEK - The photos of the week are two photos of the defeated candidate Johnley Ferguson of the FNM who is challenging the result of the MICAL Constituency result of 2nd May 2002. The winner, Minister of Agriculture Alfred Gray, won by just 4 votes. The two were pictured leaving the Court where the arguments took place before Sir Burton Hall Chief Justice and Madam Justice Jeanne Thompson on Thursday 17th October. With Mr. Ferguson is Leader of the Opposition Alvin Smith. With Mr. Gray is Attorney Valentine Grimes and an unidentified aide. The photos are by Farreno Ferguson of the Nassau Guardian. |
COMMENT OF THE WEEK
THE PM ON HIS GAME
Martin Kilson of Harvard used to always say that if you want to
lead a black country you have to be able to “speak good”. In other
words, you had to be a good talker in order to move people behind objectives.
This week Perry Christie, the country’s third Prime Minister was on his
game. The backbench who had been rumbling about his indecision on
issues and appointments suddenly came alive when on an insignificant bill
to allow additional casino games, the Prime Minister launched full-scale
into the Opposition and their hapless leader Alvin Smith, the MP for North
Eleuthera. The Opposition leader deserved it for a supercilious intervention
he gave on a bill that did not deserve a major debate at all.
The backbench has in its habitat Kenyatta Gibson, Keod Smith and Sidney Stubbs. They are all first time MPs chomping at the bit with youthful vigour. They are the thorns in the side of any Opposition group with a constant set of taunts whenever Opposition members get up to speak. And so when their Leader Perry Christie launched into the broadside against the Leader of the Opposition they loved it and relished it. All the grumbling was stopped and they were fully part of the team. At one point Kenyatta Gibson took out his handkerchief and said to the amusement of the House “I surrender for you”. He said that he didn’t think that the Opposition leader could take it any more.
The Opposition Leader seemed to be reading a speech that someone else prepared for him. He kept saying that Mr. Help and Mr. Hope had fled since the PLP came to power and that the PLP needed to give that help and hope that they promised. The PM replied that he felt ashamed for Mr. Smith, he felt like he could cry for him. He told the Leader: “Do you know what you all put on my head? We came to office and the first act we had to do was to pay 125 million dollars in debts that your administration refused to pay, and then the second was to agree to borrow 186 million because the economy was headed into a deficit, and you talk about what happened to help and hope.” He said that someone had to restrain him from taking up the chair on the side of him and throwing it at the Leader of the Opposition. This brought the House down.
No one is quite sure why the Opposition picked this insignificant bill in a gambling country to draw their line in the sand. But they did, making it a bill to expand casino gambling, to ignore religious leaders, not consulting with the people. This was the same bill that the Government of Hubert Ingraham (in which Mr. Smith served as a Parliamentary Secretary) tabled in the House prior to the General Election and had promised the industry that they would pass. In the end, the Opposition themselves could not agree on what they were doing.
When the vote came, the Opposition called for a division and the
Leader of the Opposition abstained. Ken Russell, the MP for High
Rock who was part of the Government that designed the bill voted against
it, and the rest of the party voted for it. What a mix up.
There were 14 Members absent. Many of them PLPs with religious
convictions who did not want their votes recorded. But the end is
the Bill passed. Mr. Christie has his backbench troops in order through
a stellar performance.
The number of hits for the week ending Saturday 19th October 2002 at midnight: 32,946.
The number of hits for the month of October up to Saturday 19th October 2002 at midnight: 67,071.
The hits for the year up to Saturday 19th October 2002 at midnight: 1,864,529.
FOREIGN
MINISTER PLANTS A TREE
Fred Mitchell, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, officially opened the 8th
Annual International Cultural Festival at the Nassau Botanic Gardens.
The Gardens have been closed since 5th November 2001 when Hurricane Michelle
wrecked the gardens. With the help of inmate labour and the direction
of Eric Carey, the gardens were put back in some kind of shape to host
the event. The event is chaired by James Catalyn, the playwright
and former Ministry of Tourism executive.
On Wednesday 16th October, the Royal Society of
St. George, the society of Englishmen and women abroad, donated a mahogany
tree to The Bahamas and invited the Minister of Foreign Affairs to plant
the tree in the gardens. The Minister gladly obliged and this Peter
Ramsay photo shows the tree being planted with Judy Grindrod, the President
of the Society. Peter Ramsay took the photo.
On Sunday 20th October, after the official opening
of the festival, the Minister toured the grounds. Photos are by Derek
Smith.
TOURISM
AND GAMBLING
The bill that came to Parliament was the same bill that the FNM administration
had promised the gambling industry that they would allow to become law.
What it does is allow for pari-mutuel betting in The Bahamas, betting on
horses or the dogs in real time. The FNM through the ten years they
were in office passed acts that allowed for the first time sports betting
at the casinos. They allowed the Sun International Casino to expand
its floor space. So it was quizzical indeed that the FNM took the
position in this House of Assembly that they were against his bill, which
merely provides variety for customers coming to The Bahamas.
The battle on whether or not their should be gambling
in The Bahamas is over. Not even the church can make such an argument
with a straight face (see the 'Sideburns' cartoon by Stanley Burnside from
the Tribune of 18th October). The numbers racket goes unabated.
Every day couriers leave The Bahamas and go to Miami to buy the Florida
Lotto for their customers in The Bahamas. Some of that money inevitably
ends up in the collection plate. And yet you have the leaders of
the church talk about their Opposition to gambling.
Let us make it clear that this site believes that all restrictions against
gambling in The Bahamas should be abandoned. They are a violation
of the right to choose of individuals. Right now there is a ban on
Bahamians gambling in The Bahamas. That should be removed.
It is simply foolish to argue otherwise. But clearly the FNM thought
they were on a good wicket.
Neko
Grant the MP for Lucaya (pictured top right), speaking after what must
have been a really hearty lunch, held forth the about how the PLP did not
consult with the people before going into the expansion of gambling.
No one could quite figure out what was going on with Brent Symonette (pictured
middle right), the would-be great white hope of the FNM. He was Minister
for Tourism once and supported the expansion of gambling as part of the
tourism product. It is 
believed
that he wrote the speech for Alvin Smith (pictured bottom right), his Leader,
and then when Perry Christie launched into the foolishness of the address,
Mr. Symonette took flight and left the for the smoking room. In the
end he voted with the PLP.
A country really needs an Opposition, and right
now this crew is doing a disservice to the country by not getting their
act together. Minister of Tourism Obie Wilchcombe is shown at top in
a Peter Ramsay photo presenting the amendment to the Gaming and Lotteries
Act in the House of Assembly.
PJ
PATTERSON IN JAMAICA
Percival Patterson is once again Prime Minister of Jamaica. His initials
are P.J. and he told the victory crowd in Jamaica that his granddaughter
told him that his initials mean ‘Protect Jamaica’. He said that this is
what he intended to do. He has a reduced majority; some 35 seats
in a 60 member house in Jamaica compared to the 48 he had before the election.
Mr. Patterson watched with horror the defeat of
Hubert Ingraham’s government in Nassau and called in his pr and marketing
people to study how the PLP had won and try to defeat the tactic that he
felt would be employed by his Opposition in Jamaica. It worked.
His party is the Peoples National Party, the party of Michael Manley.
Edward Seaga who was trying at the age of 72, a newlywed and a father at
that tender age again, to win one last battle to regain the Prime Minister's
seat that he held last during the Reagan years. He has sadly become
an anachronism and a caricature. It is time for him to retire.
If he did not know it then he needs to know it now. Jamaica is obviously
tired of him. His Jamaica Labour Party with Bruce Goulding back in the
fold could easily have defeated Mr. Patterson if Mr. Seaga had only stepped
down and allowed Mr. Goulding to lead the party.
There is a message to Mr. Patterson as well.
It is time too for him to go. At 68, this is the fourth time that
he will be Jamaica's Prime Minister. This is history in Jamaica that
heretofore would throw out Governments every two terms. But he has
obviously not solved Jamaica’s problems and the electorate had a voter
turn out of some 56 per cent. Jamaica just seems an endless morass
of descent into crime, into politically inspired violence and economic
rot. The tribalism was denounced by Jimmy Carter, the former US President,
fresh from his Nobel prize win, who observed the elections and declared
them free and fair and reflecting the will of the people of Jamaica.
And so while we congratulate our friends in Jamaica, our wish is that Mr.
Patterson begins immediately the process of moving on and out. Jamaican
Prime Minister Patterson is shown third from left in this file photo with
Bradley Roberts, now Minister of Works; Perry Christie now Prime Minister
and Fred Mitchell, now Minister of Foreign Affairs & the Public Service.
The picture was taken during a visit to Jamaica by a high level Bahamian
delegation to attend the installation of Professor Rex Nettleford at Vice
Chancellor of the University of the West Indies.
BEC
POWER CUTS AGAIN
The Minister of Works Bradley Roberts had an extensive
communication in the House of Assembly this week about the state of the
generation plant at BEC and why there was considerable load shedding during
the summer. But at each juncture it becomes clearer and clearer why
the management of BEC cannot be trusted. Just when people in New
Providence had come to the point where they believed that it was now safe
to use their electrical appliances without fear of power cuts, BEC announced
on the morning of the power cuts that load shedding would begin extensively
throughout the weekend, some three hours at a time. Extensive sections
of the island were blacked out all day Saturday 19th October and the blackouts
continued into today. We repeat the call for changing the management
of BEC at the very top. We ask you to click
here for the communication of the Minister.
GLADSTONE
FARMS
The owners of Gladstone Farms are now down and out and on the ropes again.
Despite the protective tariffs, despite the fact that they have monopoly
deals almost with every demand for chicken in the country, they can’t make
a go of it. The farm is expected to close in mid November.
Workers went on strike this week to get their severance pay. There
is a deal afoot to rescue the chicken farm but many ask the question is
it worth it to be producing chicken in The Bahamas anyway since without
protective tariffs there is no way we can compete with American prices.
The economic question asked is why should the consumer in The Bahamas pay
$1.29 per pound for chicken when you can get it from Miami for 29 cents
per pound? The age old question. One supposes the consumer
in Japan asks the same question about Japanese rice when rice can be produced
in the US for much less. This becomes all the more important as the rescue
offer is being put together for the farm in the shadow of our try to access
the World Trade Organization and the Free Trade Agreements of the Americas.
All of these economic cooperation agreements demand the removal of protective
tariffs. But there is a compelling argument for self-sufficiency
in food as matter of national security. Is that a realistic goal?
Some say that last year’s closure of US ports after the 11th September
incident frightened many Bahamians because they realized that there was
only three weeks supply of food in The Bahamas and most of our food comes
from the United States. Nassau Guardian photo by Donald Knowles
of Gladstone Farms workers off the job in protest.
ALFRED
SEARS AT CAFTAF
Alfred Sears, the Bahamian Attorney General, has
been named the new Chair of the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force.
(CFATF). This is the regional version of the Financial Action Task
Force of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)
that put the nail in the coffin of the Bahamian financial industry last
year when a weak Prime Minister capitulated to them and changed the laws
of The Bahamas. It is a strange thing. The Bahamian Government came
to office and was elected after promising to reverse the capitulation to
these outside interests, and now we are the Chair of the body that is responsible
for putting the nail in our coffin, and all the pronouncements emanating
from the forum seems to be the opposite of what we preached that we would
do. We realise, of course, that Minister Sears is necessarily walking
a fine and difficult line with this. Anyway, we shall see. Minister
Sears is pictured with the outgoing Chair of the CFATF in this BIS photo
by Derek Smith.
SHANE’S
NEW HOUSING
Minister of Housing Shane Gibson was pictured by Donald Knowles in the
Nassau Guardian with Junior Bethel, brother of the Late PLP MP Peter Bethel
overlooking plans for a new housing project. Shane Gibson, the former
Trade Unionist and now Minister of Housing, has been a most active minister
trying to get the housing programme of the Government off the ground.
The Minister was announcing that some two million dollars are expected
to be invested in the creation of a new Government built subdivision on
35 acres of land on Marshall Road in South beach Estates. There will
99 residential lots, including 89 six thousand square feet single family
lots, 10 multi family lots, plus a community park and commercial site.
The demand for housing in this country goes unabated. But the price
tag of $80,000 is still way above the means of many who need the housing.
The result is that the housing is put on hold while people try to scrap
deposits and often they can’t meet the commitment. And so we ask
again for zero percent down for housing in this country.
CULTURE
MINISTER IN PHOTO FLAP
Kenneth Love is the President of the Bahamas Photographers
Association. He was furious said The Tribune of Thursday 17th October.
He said that the photographers were upset that the Minister of Youth and
Culture Neville Wisdom (pictured) has ordered them removed from Bay Street
during Junkanoo in favour of the foreign press. Not so said the Minister.
It was all a misunderstanding. He seemed upset that photographers
would misinterpret his motives to expand and expose Junkanoo to the world.
He said that negotiations were ongoing with American TV networks to have
coverage on Bay Street for Junkanoo and they might want an exclusive.
As we went to press a meeting was being called to see if the two sides
could come together.
ELECTION
COURT CALLED
The sore losers called the Free National Movement
are now in court, an election court constituted under the Constitution
to review the election results when they are under protest. At last
we have Bahamians sitting on the bench with Sir Burton Hall, the Chief
Justice and Madam Justice Jeanne Thompson reviewing the matter. The
first question the Chief Justice asked on Tuesday 15th October when the
case convened was what was the view of counsel on whether having regard
to the decision of the Court of Appeal in McEwan, the secret ballot campaigner,
as to whether the Court had the authority to scrutinize ballots or should
he void the election all together and call fresh elections.
There are some who argue that the court should never
scrutinize the ballots unless a high threshold of public interest is overcome.
The court should almost always come down in favour of the secrecy of the
ballot. The Judge then proceeded to rule on Thursday 17th October
that he did have the authority to order a scrutiny of the ballots and he
proceeded to hear the evidence. It turns so far on the defeated candidate
Mr. Ferguson’s claim that at least two spoilt ballots were counted when
they should not have been.
The PLP is concerned that dropping this seat will
get rid of a Minister of the Government. The FNM wants the seat because
it will give them a much needed boost. And so we are off and the
case resumes on Monday 21st October. Mr. Gray won the seat by four
votes.
THE
RESTLESS TROOPS
The troops continue to be restless as the PLP nears
the six month mark of its second time in office. The economy continues
to worsen with every day some rumour of a business collapsing. PLPs
are frustrated that they have not yet seen their piece of the pie.
But the PLP's leadership is still counseling patience; that it has not
been long enough given the problems that we face. The revenue for
the country is running behind. There is still a hiring freeze in
the public service. But the stories of poverty are getting worse
and worse. The calls are beginning for special measures to be taken by
way of emergency aid to persons who are not working. It is that desperate.
PREDICTIONS
FOR THE ECONOMY
The team of Larry Gibson and Anthony Ferguson writing
in their weekly column in The Tribune’s Business Section gave a sober analysis
last week. Their view is that the country will be running an enormous
budget deficit somewhere in the region of 220 million dollars. This
will be the highest ever in the history of the country. What is alarming
about this is the fact that the deficit was already predicted to be the
highest ever at 186 million dollars. However, the revenue is seriously
underperforming. By the Prime Minster’s public reckoning the revenue
is some 20 million dollars behind per month where it should be. The
revenue that was expected was 970 million dollars so it appears that we
are not on target for that. The Government has restricted hiring
in the public sector. But public sector salaries are expected to increase
again shortly when the agreement to the anomalies exercise is complete
in its second phase. And next year in July there is to be another
general increase in salary for the public service.
Huedley Moss, who is the President of the Union
at the Water and Sewerage Corporation (one of the most radical), made a
startling revelation to the business community when he urged the Union
community to stop pressing for wage increases with The Bahamas trying to
improve its competitive position with WTO and FTAA accession coming.
Mr. Moss has been evolving his position for months as he and Reginald Lobosky,
the archenemy of Unions, have been working more closely together in the
civil society consultation group of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The negotiations for wages and benefits is now going on in earnest in the
tourism sector and the feeling is that demands have moderated considerably
on the wages question as the industry suffers serious setbacks.
In Singapore, we are told that public servants get
a bonus for their work if the GNP of the country rises. Perhaps that
is something that we ought to employ here. The plain fact is that
this economy is reeling. The Government is more or less going on
automatic and automatic is clearly not good enough as the tide of complaints
about poverty and hunger continue to rise.
MRS.
CHRISTIE TO BERMUDA
Bernadette Christie, the wife of the Prime Minister
is in Bermuda for a conference on Women In Public Life. She is accompanied
by an aide. The conference was held from 18th October to 20th October.
She returns to The Bahamas today.
KING
ERIC AND THE REGATTA COMMITTEE
It is no surprise that King Eric Gibson has taken
umbrage at the appointment of the new Regatta Committee appointed by Neville
Wisdom, the Minister for Culture and Sports. He now joins Rev. Philip
McPhee in denouncing the Minister for appointing the new Committee and
usurping the job of the Regatta Committees. King Eric said that the
Minister had no right to appoint any such committee. Not surprising
because King Eric disagrees with anything that doesn’t have him at the
head of it. And so the ball of confusion continues in sailing.
YOUNG
LIBERALS SEMINAR
The Progressive Young Liberals, youth arm of the
PLP, are holding a seminar this Thursday evening 24th October on the challenges
facing Government Ministries. Among the speakers scheduled are Prime
Minister Perry Christie and the Minister for the Public Service Fred Mitchell.
The venue for the seminar is PLP headquarters at Gambier House on Farrington
Road, contact youngliberals2002@hotmail.com.
B.S.
NOTES FROM GENEVA’S FREEPORT… PLUS
In this new format, the former News From Grand Bahama is renamed
as above. This signifies the initials of our senior correspondent
from the nation’s second city, with the ‘plus’ for the many other sources
from whom contributions are accepted. Ed.
Youth Minister
Minister of Youth Neville Wisdom has fine tuned
his public crusade against underage drinking and for the playing of Bahamian
music and selling of Bahamian foods at local festivals. You will
recall that we that we had to criticize Mr. Wisdom for the approach he
was using to convey his positive message. The Minister it seems has
gotten the message and he was heard at the Eleuthera festival with a more
fine tuned message. Well done, minister.
Attorney General & CFATF
Alfred Sears the Attorney General and Minister of
Education shocked his friends in Grand Bahama this week when he accepted
the chair of the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF). His
friends wondered what has changed to make Mr. Sears change his position
on bodies such as the CFATF. Prior to Mr. Sears’ election to Parliament,
the now Attorney General wrote a paper which clearly showed that these
bodies were detrimental to The Bahamas’ financial services industry.
We wonder if Sears has now adopted the approach of a former British Prime
Minister who said these famous words "We shall have peace in our time''.
Appeasement did not work in that instance and we believe that it will not
work in this instance. We feel let down.
Boat Race
Eldin Ferguson was able to convince the American
Power Boat Association that Freeport would be a good place to close out
its racing year. The hotels that were experiencing low occupancy
have all gotten a needed boost. Port Lucaya on Friday evening was
a buzz of activity with tourist in the square. The local casino also
saw some much needed activity. Taino Beach yesterday was the scene
of the first day of the two day race. News from Grand Bahama would
like to say thank you to all those who came together to make this event
happen.
Maynard Has His Say on the Sale of BaTelCo
Freeport attorney Rawle Maynard is holding forth on the pending sale
of BaTelCo. Here is Mr. Maynard's contribution to the public debate.
The previous and present Government of The Bahamas
have proposed and have taken steps to sell the assets of Bahamas Telecommunications
Corporation (BaTelCo) to a person or persons unknown except for the description
given as " a strategic partner". Since I consider myself one of the
many beneficial owners of BaTelCo, I thought to share my position and thinking
on the matter with the other beneficial shareholders, namely the public.
When one offers real property (land and fixtures)
for sale one is required by law to deduce a good title and when one offers
personal property (e.g. shares in a company) one represents and warrants
a good title.
Can The Government of The Bahamas pass a good, or any, title to
the assets or undertaking of BaTelCo to a purchaser?
The assets or undertaking of the Bahamas Telecommunications Department
were owned by The Colony Of The Bahama Islands and paid for with taxes
out the Public Treasury. By THE BAHAMAS TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
ACT (1966) (The Act) The Bahamas Legislature created a corporate entity,
an artificial but legal person, separate and apart from the Government
of The Bahamas having the right to acquire hold and dispose of property,
to enter into contracts and to sue and be sued in its name and provide
for the sale by The Colony of The Bahamas of the undertaking of the Bahamas
Telecommunications Department to BaTelCo to be paid for in the following
manner:
"(1) As soon as practicable...
the Corporation shall, by way of compensation for the transferred undertakings-
(a) In respect of moneys expended or to be expended from loan funds of
the Government in connection with the transferred undertakings create and
issue to the Government debenture stock of equal nominal value, bearing
similar interest rates and repayment dates as the stock issued by the Government
as set out in the Schedule to this Act; and
(b) In respect of moneys expended from tile general revenue of the Government
in connection with the transferred undertakings, create and issue to the
Government ordinary stock of a total nominal value to be agreed upon by
and between the Governor General and the Corporation''
It is a notorious fact that BaTelCo has, subsequently,
paid off the loans, the debt and more, and therefore, has redeemed the
debenture and ordinary stock. BaTelCo, the person, is the unquestionable
owner of its assets and or undertakings absolutely and is guaranteed by
The Constitution of The Bahamas protection from the expropriation of its
property, without compensation. The beneficial owners of BaTelCo
are the persons whose moneys paid for the assets; i.e. those persons who
since 1966 bought and paid for BaTelCo services. The members of BaTelCo
(not members of a Board), who were appointed by the Governor General, were
at all times public trustees. It is, nevertheless, true that the
Government despite the sale to BaTelCo has continued, either through ignorance
or misfeasance, to behave as if it were still the owner and even though
it has not taken steps to lawfully acquire the assets and pay compensation
to the true owners.
It is my submission that neither The Government
nor The Members had the authority to offer BaTelCo for sale and to spend
the Corporation's moneys towards that goal without first obtaining by referendum
the consent of the beneficial owners and it seems to me that those Corporate
members (trustees) and others who would have aided or coerced them into
acting in breach of their trusts stand personally liable for the BaTelCo
assets which have been wasted.
BaTelCo as The Water Corporation and B.E.C.
is necessary and essential but most importantly it is generation property,
please leave it alone.
Yours truly,
Rawle Maynard
 |
| PHOTO OF THE WEEK - The photo of the week is a picture of Cassius Stuart and Omar Smith, the Leader and Deputy Leader of the Bahamas Democratic Movement. This is the party that fielded ten candidates but won no seats in the last election. But as part of the young radical intelligentsia of the country they excited the imagination of many young Bahamians when on 3rd December they chained themselves to the Speaker’s mace in the House of Assembly. The FNM Speaker Italia Johnson brought charges against them. The PLP’s Attorney General dropped the case on Tuesday 22nd October. The photo was taken by Omar Barr outside Court Number 5. The photo shows Attorney Jamal Davis of Gwendolyn House with Cassius Stuart at the microphone and Omar Smith looking on. |
COMMENT OF THE WEEK
A TACKY LOOKING TOWN
In 1970 or thereabouts a short lived group of the late Freddie Munning’s
son and nephews called the Beginning of the End had a one hit wonder with
a tune called Funky Nassau. Funky was transformed from its original
meaning of smelling bad and looking dirty to being a pop and rocking town
as in Funky Broadway. It is perhaps time to go back to the original
meaning of that word as you ride along Bay Street, the centre of the town.
East of East Street is increasingly filthy with one abandoned building after the next. Beginning at the old Victor's, east of the Kelly Dockyard, past the Moses Plaza, past the old Stop N Shop and past the old Williams, and then there is a cement depot built without regard for the environment, safety and cleanliness by George Mosko in the cities environs, then opposite Central Furniture where another shop is abandoned, Stokes Thompson’s three story building has no real commercial activity.
To the west of East Street, while there are stores, increasingly it is a T-shirt town. The straw market is now housed in a tent. The Prince George Dock is looking more and more ramshackle. The building next to where the old burned down straw market was is still standing as a burnt out shell. The sidewalks are dirty; there is garbage everywhere in containers that are hardly emptied and on the streets that never seem to be cleaned. The walkways themselves seem to need a good scrubbing and buildings all along the front street need painting. That is Nassau today. Funky indeed!
And yet through all of this, the tourists keep coming in their millions. The Bahamians say that they are proud of their town even as it loses its character to renovation and cutting down the trees in the city. The beauty of Nassau as a coastal town is the ability to stroll beneath the awnings of the shops all the way down the city’s front street and to see trees along the street. Trees are now seen as a nuisance and are being cut down and not replaced.
Who will save the town from its funkiness? Will it be the Ministry of Tourism or the Ministry responsible for the Environment? At a time when money is increasingly in short supply, is it possible? The economists argue that the signs of disrepair in a town are signs of savings being effected by postponed maintenance. Curious thing! Why should there have been postponed maintenance when the Ingraham Government before this one said that the country did so well during the last ten years. But the Minister of Transport Glenys Hanna-Martin was able to report that it will take tens of millions to effect even short term repairs to the Prince George Dock that is literally falling to pieces.
Oh well, the Lord will find a way!
As we go to press, word comes that former Governor General Sir Gerald Cash has taken ill. Our prayers are with him and his family. We will report fully on this story next week.
The number of hits on this site for the week ending Saturday 26th October 2002 at midnight: 28,572.
The number of hits for the month of October up to Saturday 26th October 2002 at midnight: 95,664.
The number of hits for the year up to Saturday 26th October 2002
at midnight: 1,893,101.
A
TALE OF THE AIRPORT AND THE DOCK
Minister of Transport Glenys Hanna Martin, pictured in this Tribune photo
had her day in court on Wednesday 23rd October with a tale of woes about
the state of some of this country’s vital infrastructure. It is a
depressing story of neglect and emergency after emergency. One asks
oneself how long can a government go from crisis to crisis like this?
It is clear from the Jamaican model that it can last for several decades
without let up. Is this what we in The Bahamas now face?
Here is what it boils down to in pure numbers.
We need 13 million dollars to effect immediate repairs to the Prince George
Dock, where the iron bits that hold the ships to the dock are falling into
the sea, where tractor tires are being used to prevent the boats from rubbing
up against the dock, where there is no adequate security. The airport
requires in short term fix money some 20 million dollars. But overall
to fix the two areas central to our tourism product we will need 200 million
for each area. Chicken feed in the real world but one has to have
the imagination and the courage to find it. It should no longer be
a government responsibility and as fast as we fob it off to the private
sector the better.
The other side of the story is the inability of
the Government to collect the taxes it is owed for the use of the airport
and for travel. The Minister made her announcements in two communications
to Parliament on Wednesday 23rd October.
THE
STORY OF DRAFTING
The business of Parliament that should have gone
on throughout the day on Wednesday 23rd October was brought to a dead stop
on Wednesday 23rd October. The reason, Bills that were supposed to
have reflected the Cabinet’s conclusions did not reflect them at all.
And having survived the draughtsmen of the Attorney General's office, the
review of the Ministry of Finance, the review of the Cabinet and the Political
Committee of the party, the bills came to Parliament and were fundamentally
flawed and defective. The story was the same for several other bills
that the Government proposed to put forward on Wednesday. And so
the legislative programme of the Parliament is frozen in time until the
people who draft these bills can get it right. This kind of stuff
shatters the confidence of a country and undermines the success of any
Government. The Opposition has not gotten itself together of course
to be able to make any sustained attack on this kind of incompetence and
pin the blame on those responsible. But the Prime Minister is said
to be livid that the agenda is on hold because the people who are the professionals
can’t even read a Cabinet conclusion and follow the darn thing into proper
legislation.
SALATHIEL
THOMPSON IS DEAD
The first Bahaman Commissioner of Police Salathiel Thompson is dead at
the age of 84 after a long illness. He is to be buried from St. Agnes
Anglican Church with full military honours on Tuesday 29th October.
Mr. Thompson joined the force in 1937 and when he retired he had every
police medal there was and the distinction of being the first Bahamian
Commissioner of Police and serving in an Independent Bahamas.
It was known throughout the 1960s that if the PLP
won office, he would become the first Bahamian in the job as opposed to
the now Sir Albert Miller, Chairman of the Grand Bahama Port Authority,
who if the UBP had won would have gotten the job. Deputy Prime Minister
and Minister of National Security Cynthia ‘Mother’ Pratt paid tribute to
Mr. Thompson who was honoured in retirement by the Queen as Companion of
the Order of St. Michael and St. George (CMG). But perhaps the finest
tribute came from his wife who said that he took care of his family, that
they were especially close and he was always solicitous of her welfare
and that she would miss him. Amen!
BDM PAIR
FREED
They were not exactly gracious in the face of a pure political decision
lobbied for them but at thirty something one supposes that they can still
be forgiven for hogging their moment in the limelight with some ungraciousness.
What was that about the 15 minutes of fame? In victory there are
certain things that you do not say and certain confidences that you do
not betray. But it was a decent act by Attorney General Alfred Sears
without conditions to enter a writ of nolle prosequi against the Bahamas
Democratic Movement leaders Cassius Stuart and Omar Smith who on 3rd December
last year chained themselves to the Speaker’s mace in a bid to protest
the unfair boundaries being set by the Free National Movement administration.
Speaker Italia Johnson, pushed by Hubert Ingraham
charged the pair, even though in a similar action by PLP Leader Sir Lynden
Pindling in 1965 the dread UBP government of the time did no such thing.
They could not it is said because there was no law on the books and it
was the PLP who put the law on the books to allow prosecution. But
in fact Eugene Dupuch who was a Member of the Cabinet at the time said
that the UBP saw the act by Sir Lynden as a political act and treated it
as such. The same here for Messrs. Stuart and Smith. These
are two bright young men who engaged in an act of civil disobedience.
One hopes that the point is made and that they will not engage in another
such act overplaying their hand or using the actions of civil disobedience
frivolously. It is time for them to get on with their lives whatever
their larger roles are to be. One suspects it means joining a mainstream
party. Guardian photo by Donald Knowles.
MITCHELL
ON US BOMBING RANGE
On Wednesday 23rd October The Tribune carried a
report that the United States may be moving its bombing activity now banned
from Vieques Island off Puerto Rico to The Bahamas. The report was
itself based on another report in the Orlando Sentinel of the state of
Florida. The Sentinel reported that the activities from Viequez are
to be transferred to South Florida to the Elgin Air Force Base that includes
an in water range off Andros Island. This report immediately raised
the hackles of the environmentalists in The Bahamas who have been waging
a battle to stop the sonar use by the US Navy in the waters off Andros,
part of the AUTEC base activities there. The Minister of Foreign
Affairs told The Tribune that while no formal proposals of the use of The
Bahamas for such training have been received, he was aware of the reports
circulating to that effect. He said that the “situation does not
sit well with the Government.” This column opposes any such exercises.
SIR
CLIFFORD’S NEW BOOK
A new Bahamian book, 'Sir Clifford Darling: A Bahamian
Life Story: Volume I: The Years of Struggle - 1922 to 1958'. Sir
Clifford Darling was the country’s fifth Governor General and fourth Bahamian
Governor General. He has a history of public service to The Bahamas
first as a trade union leader when he led the 1958 general strike and then
as a politician. He served in the Senate from 1964 to 1967, then
in the House of Assembly until he demitted the office of Speaker to become
the Governor General. He retired from public life as Governor General
in 1994. With such a rich public history, it is therefore pleasing
to note the release of the first volume of his memoirs, spanning the time
from 1922 to the end of the General Strike, 1958, the first 36 years of
his life. Sir Clifford has been working patiently since his retirement
on the book "as told to" to writer Patty Roker since 1999. The book
will be launched on October 30th at Government House and will be widely
available for sale. Sir Clifford may be contacted through his listed
number or those out of the country may contact Patty Roker at pattyroker@bahamas.net
BIS photo by Peter Ramsay.
THE
PINDLING BOOK SOON
Michael Craton’s definitive work on the life of
the late founding Prime Minister of The Bahamas Sir Lynden Pindling is
to be launched next month. The biography was commissioned by Sir
Lynden shortly before he died 26th August 2000. Michael Craton is
a former Government High School history teacher, a Canadian by birth, a
Professor at the University of Waterloo in Canada, and the author of the
History of The Bahamas. The book is said to be a tell all history
by the desire of the late Sir Lynden. We look forward to it.
UN DAY
The Minister of Foreign Affairs said it all about
Bahamian foreign policy when he hosted UN Day celebrations at the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs on Thursday 24th October. He said “Now more than
ever we need the United Nations. ” UN Day is the day when countries
around the world mark the founding of the UN in 1945. The membership
of the UN now stands at 191 with the addition this year of Switzerland
and Timor-Leste. The Bahamas became the 143rd member of the United
Nations on 17 September 1973. The first Ambassador to the United
Nations for The Bahamas was L.B. Johnson. The B.I.S. photos by Derek
Smith show the Minister with Governor General Dame Ivy Dumont at the ceremonies
and the Defence Force raising the Bahamian flag.
PM IN JAMAICA
The Prime Minister of The Bahamas Perry Christie
joined his fellow Prime Ministers from St. Kitts and Nevis and St. Lucia
in Kingston, Jamaica for the swearing in of P.J. Patterson, the Prime Minister
of Jamaica. He was elected to a fourth consecutive term as PM.
Mr. Patterson asked the other PMs to join him for his special time.
Accompanying the Prime Minister of The Bahamas was Fred Mitchell, Foreign
Minister; John Carey, Parliamentary Secretary at Ministry of Works and
Senator Traver Whylly. BIS photo by Peter Ramsay shows the party leaving
for Jamaica.
MELANIE
AND THE BAPTIST PARADE
The Bahama Journal showed an engaging picture by
Quentin Glover of Minister of Social Services Melanie Griffin as she marched
in the annual Baptist Day Parade. Each year the Baptist Churches
in the Bahamas led by Rev. William Thompson (pictured at right from the
Guardian by Donald Knowles) hold a huge float parade through the streets
of New Providence. It demonstrates the size of the church in The
Bahamas. The variety of costuming is amazing. We show some
of the scenes from The Tribune's photographers.
DREXEL
GOMEZ AT SYNOD
The annual charge of the Anglican Bishop used to be an important intervention
in the life of The Bahamas. The whole Cabinet would generally be
out in force. That practice fell into disuse under Hubert Ingraham
who did not like to attend church. This first year under the PLP,
the Prime Minister was represented by Foreign Minister Fred Mitchell.
Other Ministers who attended the opening on Monday 21st October were Allyson
Gibson, Minister of Financial Services and Investment; Dr. Marcus Bethel,
Minister of Health; Leslie Miller, Minister of Trade and Industry and Michael
Halkitis, Parliamentary Secretary at the Ministry of Finance. They
heard an earful from the Archbishop who spoke once again too long this
year, one hour and five minutes, short by one hour from last year’s two
hour marathon.
This country must do something about the length
of its ceremonies. They are too inefficiently carried out.
But the Ministers got to hear an earful including a discourse on gambling
that there needs to be dialogue on whether it ought to be expanded but
that church leaders ought to be honest and admit that gambling despite
the legal prohibition to Bahamians is widespread; on same sex intercourse
and how those who engage in it are in a disordered moral state; that Sidney
Stubbs the MP for Holy Cross who is believed to be the Chair of the Bahamas
Agricultural Industrial Corporation ought to be fired for engaging in narrow
‘winner take all’ politics by firing FNMs from the Corporation; that Franklin
Wilson and his wife have agreed to donate $300,000 over three years for
the reconstruction of their alma mater Sr. John's College to mark
their 30th wedding anniversary. BIS photos by Peter Ramsay.
MICHELLE
FOX CALLED TO THE BAR
Michelle Fox, the former ZNS reporter, is now a
Member of the Bar of The Bahamas. She was called formally to the
Bar by Chief Justice Sir Burton Hall on Friday 25th October. We extend
congratulations and show these photos by Peter Ramsay. The call petition
of Ms. Fox was presented by Foreign Minister Fred Mitchell. He said
that the day was really one that would cause the late Archdeacon William
Thompson to smile. Ms. Fox was described as the daughter that the
late Archdeacon never had. You
may click here for the full address. Ms. Fox is pictured from the
front page of the Nassau Guardian in this Farreno Ferguson photo taking
the oath at her call to the Bar.
PUBLIC
SERVICE WEEK
Public Service week in The Bahamas officially kicks off today with church
services throughout the islands. The main service is being held in
Nassau at the Church of God of Prophecy. The Deputy Prime Minister
will speak at that service. Public Service Minister Fred Mitchell
will speak at the service in Freeport also today. The week is meant
to mark the contribution public servants play in the running of the country
and to give certificates of appreciation and pins to public servants who
are retiring. The Minister has been engaged in an effort to promote
public service reform. In that connection he spoke on Monday 21st
October to the telephone operators and front desk clerks (pictured) in
the Government service to address the complaints that they had about the
service and the complaints that the public had about them. He gave
a definition of public service reform from Professor of Management Charles
Cambridge: “To improve the productivity and efficiency of the public service,
laying the infrastructure both physical and social to allow the private
sector to produce more jobs.” BIS photos by Derek Smith.
FAKE
LETTER WRITER ATTACKS MITCHELL
Brendamae Demeritte cannot be found on the register
of the Fox Hill constituency. Yet the letter writer of that name
was printed in The Tribune. The letter writer claimed that the Foreign
Minister insulted her when she appeared at a PLP Branch meeting in Fox
Hill looking for those jobs that were promised the people of Fox Hill only
to hear an attack on The Tribune about Nicki Kelly. The writer claimed
that the Minister spends his time flying up and down to foreign places
and eating the best foods in the best restaurants overseas. They
also claimed that nothing has been done in the five months since the Minister
came to office in Fox Hill, except paint the trees in Fox Hill. We
won’t bother to defend the Minister. It is clear that the letter
writer does not know what he or she is talking about. We say that
because we believe we know who the person is. It is he who writes
under various noms de plume. He is a notorious and inveterate liar.
He is a public servant and engaged full fledged in the campaign of Juanianne
Dorsett, the FNM’s candidate for Fox Hill. He recently appeared in
a public performance and gave the worst, flattest performance in the production.
His problem is lack of self-esteem. So much for Brendamae Demeritte.
NEW
HAITIAN ENVOY ANNOUNCED
Dr. Eugene Newry is the new Ambassador to Haiti.
The Ambassador’s name was announced at a press conference by the Prime
Minister on Tuesday 22nd October at the Cabinet Room. Dr. Newry is
a retired brain surgeon who has had a longstanding and consuming interest
in public affairs. His wife Francoise is Haitian by birth.
He is multi-lingual and includes French and Creole amongst his languages.
The Prime Minister welcomed Dr. Newry as a trusted friend under whom he
served when Dr. Newry was head of the National Committee for Positive Action,
the activist arm of the PLP in the 1960s. Prime Minister Christie
is shown congratulating Dr. Newry in this BIS photo by Derek Smith.
BISX IS
BANKRUPT
The Minister of State for Finance James Smith (pictured)
has announced that the Bahamas Stock Exchange (BISX) is virtually bankrupt.
He told The Tribune’s Business Section on Wednesday 23rd October that the
Government is still considering whether it will supply corporate welfare
to the tune of two million dollars to BISX. No support for that here.
Let the darn thing go under if by the measures of private enterprise it
can’t make it.
BATELCO
FOR SALE --- BOO!
Bradley Roberts, the Minister for Works and responsible for BaTelCo has
announced that the telecommunications sector policy has been amended to
encourage Bahamians to apply to buy the strategic 49 per cent that the
Government intends to sell. The ads for the bidding processes to
begin appeared in the international press and in the local press on Wednesday
23rd October. The previous FNM policy did not encourage Bahamians
to participate. This is a vast improvement on the old policy but
it does not go far enough. Batelco should be reserved exclusively
for Bahamians and should be sold off in tranches like the Bank of the Bahamas
20 percent at a time to Bahamians only. The only matter that is left
after that is the policy on competition. The monopoly should be removed
right away. The whole policy on this matter is at once paternalistic
and discriminatory.
The Minister said that there will be some requirements:
first there will have to be ten thousand dollars put down to get the details
of the bidding documents. Then there will have to be a show and tell
to demonstrate that the potential group has access to at least three hundred
million dollars. Many patriots were sad on the day of the announcement
but having regard to the change in the sector policy some are resigned
to say better that than nothing. Farreno Ferguson's Guardian photo shows
from left the Minister, Minister of State for Finance James Smith and BaTelCo
Chair Reno Brown.
CRUCIFYING
RENWARD WELLS
The Bahamas Association of Athletics Associations (BAAA) announced on Tuesday
22nd October the banning of Bahamian national record holder Renward Wells
for two years for using a banned substance. Mr. Wells tested positive
for the substance ephedrine at the National meet 21st and 22nd June in
New Providence. Also found was trimterene, hydrochlorothiazide.
The Tribunal was headed by a three member panel headed by Dr. Bernard Nottage,
a former BAA President, joined by Alpheus Finlayson, Harold Munnings and
Philip McKenzie. The present BAAA President Senator Desmond Bannister
said that the action would assist young athletes about the do’s and don’ts
and that he was obliged to issue a public reprimand and suspend Mr. Wells
for two years.
Mr. Wells’ infractions were the fact that Mr. Wells did not declare all
the banned substances that were found in his urine. Curiously enough
according to The Tribune’s report of Wednesday 23rd October Mr. Wells’
was not told directly by the Tribunal but his family was told. That
seems odd that you would announce something like his before the athlete
himself knows. Mr. Wells took Nyquil that he declared. He did
not declare that he had taken high blood pressure medication prescribed
some 18 months before but which he took when he got symptoms that he felt
were high blood pressure just before the meet.
After the fact there were plenty of recommendations
about the need for athletes to have proper coaching and proper knowledge
of what they can do. But this decision amounts to nothing more than
a public execution of this young man for faults that appear to be largely
that of the athletic establishment. A lawyer looking at the process
could knock holes in the entire procedure, which make the finding of guilt
worthy of being set aside. There is simply something that does not
smell right here. The alacrity and promotion of this sad pronouncement
leaves much to be desired. We think that Mr. Wells ought to consult
a lawyer. The Guardian photo by Donald Knowles shows Desmond Bannister
conferring with Dr. B.J. Nottage. Renward Wells is shown in a Nassau
guardian file photo.
PHOTOGRAPHERS
STRIKE BACK
Anthony Morley, a PLP and photographer, who feels
put off and displaced by the position taken by Culture Minister Neville
Wisdom on photographers not being able to shoot Junkanoo on Bay Street
struck back in The Tribune of Monday 21st October. He was reacting
to a statement published a week earlier in The Tribune in which the Sports
Minister described many of the photographers as “amateurs”. Mr. Morley
said that while he thought Mr. Wisdom had good ideas and was energetic,
the Minister had gotten beside himself and was now acting like he was “superior”
to other people. The comments were a blow. But no come back
from the Minister except he was able to announce that NBC in the US has
a producer in town that is looking at televising Junkanoo for Christmas
live from Nassau.
MARRIOTT
NOW A WYNDHAM
As of 1st November the Marriott Crystal Palace will
be reflagged the Wyndham Crystal Palace. We wonder what that means.
Wyndham is not exactly a high class name. The rumour in the market
is that Marriott was about to dump the Crystal Palace anyway because its
owner Phil Ruffin has refused to keep the property up to scratch.
Anyone who visits the Crystal Palace can see the signs of aging and lack
of repairs. The place simply looks like a dump. It is being
suggested that the Government needs to step in and force a new buyer on
the property. The Jamaicans are keeping the Cable Beach strip alive
with their investments in Sandals and Breezes. John Issa has just
built a new restaurant called Reggae Café with Jamaican dishes and
pretty good service. But the Crystal Palace and the Radisson Cable
Beach are not worthy of praise.
MAYNARD
ON INSURANCE INDUSTRY
Allyson Maynard Gibson joined the representatives
of the domestic insurance industry to discuss legislation to improve the
standards in the industry. The meeting took place between the Minister
and The Bahamas Association of Life and Health Insurers on Friday 25th
October. Gerald Strachan, President of the Association, called for
a strengthening of standards and review procedures before licences are
issued. Mr. Strachan told The Tribune that this would be especially
necessary as the FTAA comes closer.
REGINALD
LOBOSKY ON FTAA
The Civil Society consult group continued at the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday 24th October. The proceedings
this time were headed by Reginald Lobosky, the former Senator and Labour
Law specialist. He gave a comprehensive analysis of FTAA and the
deficiencies of the process and the FTAA itself for The Bahamas.
Mr. Lobosky called on the Government to hold a referendum before The Bahamas
commits itself any further to FTAA and WTO.
PORGY
AND BESS
The Dundas Centre for the Performing Arts last weekend
staged a performance of works from Porgy and Bess under the musical Direction
of Anton Wallace. The performance of excerpts from Gershwin's works
was well received. The performance of Joanne Callender of Summertime
brought down the House. Ricardo Knowles performing as Honey man was
a great crowd pleaser, as was Dwight Dorsett singing It Aint Necessarily
So. Mr. Wallace and his colleagues are to be congratulated for a
fine performance. The executive members of Artist Guild International are
Kendrick Coleby, President; Eldridge McPhee, Vice President; Antoine Wallace,
Vice President and Afton Moxey, Treasurer. The US Embassy co-sponsored.
Among those attending the performance was Minister of the Public Service
Fred Mitchell who went backstage to congratulate the performers.
Photos by Peter Ramsay. From left, Joanne Callender, Dwight Dorsett, Lillian
Bastian and Alan Butler.
B.S.
NOTES FROM GENEVA’S FREEPORT… PLUS
In this new format, the former News From Grand Bahama is renamed
as above. This signifies the initials of our senior correspondent
from the nation’s second city, with the ‘plus’ for the many other sources
from whom contributions are accepted. Ed.
Mitchell and the 2 Step Dance
Vieques is an American territory and the people of that island
protested against the US Navy using that island for live range bombing
and testing. It was to the point where the US Navy decided to stop
using the island range. Why should The Bahamas allow one of its islands
to be used as a bombing range?
We believe that The Bahamas should not be used as a dumping ground
or a guinea pig and we call on the Minister of Foreign Affairs to make
a clear and definitive statement on the said bombing. (See
story above, Ed.)
Could it be that these are some of the issues that might arise
out of the FTAA agreement? When it comes to the environment of The
Bahamas, that is our only selling point and saving grace and if the environment
is not zealously protected we could easily lose the last selling point
that this country has to offer.
The Red Rose Ball
Last evening, Saturday 26th October, the Grand Bahama Red Rose
Ball was held at the Royal Oasis Resort. In attendance were the Prime
Minister and his wife among the who’s who of the Grand Bahama elite.
A ballgoer was quoted as saying, “If my house burn down tonight I won’t
lose anything because I have all my clothes on”. Ladies were elegantly
dressed in their evening gowns and the event was said by those in attendance
to have been a delightful experience.
Proceeds from the Ball are said to be in the area of $28,000,
which will be given to the Grand Bahama Aids Awareness Committee.
The Red Rose Ball was sponsored by Imperial Life Assurance, headed in Grand
Bahama by Dashwell Flowers. Well done!
CDR on BaTelCo
A press release from Ben Lafleur, the Coalition for Democratic
Reform (CDR) Regional Officer for the Northern Bahamas maintains that the
government has not made the case to the pe0ople for the sale of BaTelCo.
The release quotes Prime Minister Perry Christie as pledging to go throughout
the country to consult the people on the proposed sale.
“The CDR believes that until a referendum is held on the sale
of BaTelCo, and the consent of the people received, and such move would
be considered illegal, or to put it another way, the selling of generation
property without receiving the consent of the family is illegal.
“…to allow a 49% stake holding to be sold to foreign interest,
could very well affect our ability to communicate with one another, and
by extension, undermine our national security.
“Given the depressed state of the world telecommunication market,
can the Government get a fair price for BaTelCo? We think not.”
Neko Grant and Obie Wilchcombe
Last week, Neko Grant, the FNM MP for Lucaya went to Parliament
with eight questions for the Minister of Tourism about the West End Power
Boat race and the finances of the race. The exchange in Parliament
ended in harsh words between these two West End natives and most people
wanted to know what was going on behind the scenes to cause such a ruckus.
West End sources say that Mr. Grant was being very nice to the Minister…
It turns out that what West End boys really want to know is when would
the raffle for the jet ski take place and when is the presentation of prizes
for the boat race. We believe that the Minister has now been alerted
by this site and will move with haste to rectify the matter.
Our course, the best advice when West End fellows fall out is “just
don’t get up in it.”
ZNS Freeport
We are concerned that the ZNS newsroom in Grand Bahama is at
this early stage in this new administration behaving like the only news
stories worthy of carrying is what a Minister of the government has to
say.
It is a pity that after these many years the news directors have
not learned that to try and suppress the news and allow those stories that
only involved the government to air is in fact not helping the government
but doing a great disservice to the government and the people. Suppression
of the news did not work for the PLP in 1992 and it certainly did not work
for the FNM in May of this year. So the sooner we learn to allow
contrasting points of view and debate the stronger our democracy will become.
It is a disgrace to watch the evening news and see what this
Minister or the other Ministers had to say with only the crime news being
added to the script. We can do better than that!