Compiled, edited and constructed by Russell Dames Updated every Sunday at 2 p.m.
Volume 1 © BahamasUncensored.Com
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| PHOTOS OF THE WEEK - Glenys Hanna Martin is a second generation Member of Parliament from her family. Her father Arthur Dion Hanna was the Deputy Prime Minister of the country for 18 years. He was also Leader of the House and is considered by most to be the closest in legacy to that of Sir Lynden, the founding Prime Minister of the country. She also serves as the Minister of Transport and Aviation. It’s been a pretty rocky road for her what with the airport needing fixing, the docks in bad shape, the taxi drivers and jitney drivers kicking and screaming to remain in the 20th century, and then there is the accident at sea and a plane crash. So it must have been a special relief for her colleagues to see her pure delight in the photo in Tianjing just about an hour and a half away by air from Shanghai, China where she after invoking the blessing of Almighty God and using a silver hatchet, caused a bottle of champagne to smash on the bow. With that, Clipper Valour, the fifth of the Valour Series for the Clipper Group owned by Torben Jensen of Denmark took to the water. Also present was the Minister of Foreign Affairs Fred Mitchell at the end of his official tour of China. We thought it ought to be our photo of the week. The photos are by Nello Lambert. |
COMMENT OF THE WEEK
WHAT TO MAKE OF KINGSLEY BLACK
The
press can sometimes make you or break you. And with the Bahamian
press it appears that you have to be more than careful when it comes to
replying on what they report to be the truth. It is appears that
one such situation arose this week when Kingsley Black, the President of
the Bahamas Union of Teachers was quoted as saying something that he later
said he did not say.
It is sometimes hard to figure him out. He is the President of the Bahamas Union of Teachers (BUT). He is without doubt one of the, if not the pre-eminent trade unionist in the country. He talks a good talk and from all accounts has a good working relationship with the Prime Minister and the Minister of Education. Yet at times he seems to do and say the most mercurial things. And the Government must at times say to itself: is this simply the cost of doing business with Kingsley Black? A shorter version of the same quizzical question would be: what to make of Kingsley Black?
That is what some started to say when the reported statement appeared. Mr. Black was furious. And we would be furious too if it had happened to us.
It is clear for all to see that the country has a hard economic road to go, with unemployment and a national budget deficit looming into the future. The former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham without any reference to the future pledged in a five year industrial agreement that he would pay civil servants an additional 1200 dollars per annum beginning 1st July. The Government does not have it, and would have had to tax to pay it. The advice was to wait until December; perhaps the revenue situation might change appreciably to allow it to be done out of surpluses.
Mr. Black and all the other trade unionists seemed to understand the facts about the economy, and from all accounts the discussions seemed to be going well in public. The plain fact is that the country has no stomach for industrial action over this. The Union leaders would be wise to take the temperature of the country and not seek to press the advantage. We are between a rock and hard place.
And so on the day that school opened, when all but 15 of the 158 schools in the country opened successfully, it was all the more curious to read the supposed ultimatum issued by Mr. Black. The Tribune reported - erroneously as it turns out - that he said that the Government must pay the teachers by 1st October or there will be industrial action (read that as a strike) on 5th October, International Teachers Day, coincidentally also the birthday of the public service Minister Fred Mitchell. The language was categorical and without any room for manoeuvre. It turns out that 5th October is a Sunday.
To say that the country would be concerned about this is to make the understatement of the year. The remark would have been inexplicable and indefensible. There was no call for it, and what made it worse was that one paper suggested that he went on to say that if the children were left alone without teachers and supervisors so be it, seemed to be irresponsible. That seemed to be out of character for Mr. Black.
Within his union there are some elements who think that his conciliatory attitude toward the salary negotiations has been seen to be too soft and so the thought was that he was playing to that gallery. Others examined the statement that he made and that of Hubert Ingraham, at a politically rally in Freeport, put two and two together and determined that Mr. Black was following Hubert Ingraham’s line. All that speculation comes to naught because Mr. Black has now said that he did not say it and that he deserves an apology from the Government for characterizing his statement as irresponsible.
The Prime Minister had just returned to the country from dropping his daughter off to school and he must not have been amused when he read it. The Prime Minister is said to have made it clear to colleagues that they will have to stay close to their constituencies because it may come to a contest of wills at any time, if there is a serious push to follow through on industrial action.
We would approach with caution. But we also believe that the Government must be resolute, steadfast, stand fast and strong, and not give one quarter. The salaries cannot be paid until December and that is all there is too it.
But at the same time, we are relieved that the statement as reported is not true. We think the real apology must come to Mr. Black from The Tribune not the Government. We also think that it is a mark of responsibility that so far Mr. Black has led with caution his union through these treacherous waters. This must continue. There is no need to strike.
Number of hits for the week ending Saturday 6th September at midnight: 23,222. [Editor’s note – Our statistics engine reports zero hits for Sunday 31st August. We feel that this must be in error, since we received no reports of difficulty accessing the site that day. If you had any problems with access, please e-mail us at placid_point@yahoo.com]
Number of hits for the month of August: 131,506.
Number of hits for the month of September up to Saturday 6th September: 2003 at midnight: 23,222.
Number of hits for the year 2003 to Saturday 6th September at midnight:
967,364.
THE
MURDER COUNT INCREASES
The country is not certain what precisely to make
of the fact that we are now up to murder 32 in The Bahamas. Some
weeks it is quiet, and then like a burst of bad luck from hell, you hear
about one or two murders. The murders get all the news, someone beaten
to death, someone stabbed to death as it happened over the past week.
But what is an even more telling story is the number of persons who suffer
bodily injury and harm as a result of crime, not only amongst the local
population but in the tourist sector as well: the unreported rapes and
assaults, the incest and the abuse of little children, the armed robberies
and property theft.
The country often does not hear about the extent
of crime but for the rape and assault of tourists. That is a particular
worry. Our Ministry of Tourism has been particularly skilful in keeping
a lid on it. But The Bahamas must do something about crime; otherwise
we will go the same route as Jamaica not just for tourism but also for
our own sake. We still say the answer is trying to develop something
for those young boys and girls as they sit in primary school to show that
there is a future for them and that they must serve the society that gives
them their education. That in the long run must be the answer, together
with the elimination of poverty and all that goes with it.
SCHOOL
OPENS SORT OF OKAY
We reported above that the schools opened well. There are 158 schools
in The Bahamas and of them 15 had problems. But the criticisms remain
generally the same. We wonder what is the source of this annual complaint.
It appears that we don’t get ready for school until the week before school
opens in The Bahamas. And so if you go by the school yards in the
country during the long summer beak, you will find that there is no attention
paid to yard care and building maintenance during that break. All
of a sudden during August and late August at that there is a burst of activity
in
and around schools. Something has to change about that.
There is the interesting hypothesis posed by a caller
to one of the talk shows this past week that the problem is that there
is not enough time between the Budget being approved and the opening of
school. But what some speculate is that the present Minister of Education
and the Minister of Works started early and made the decisions and made
the contractual agreements to get the school works going. But guess
where it got stuck: between the decision makers and those who had to execute.
In some cases the thing just sat in the file and was never carried out.
Now there is a compelling case for public sector reform if there was ever
one.
The number one public policy problem in The Bahamas
is the ability from the Cabinet on down to execute the things that they
decide in a timely fashion. That is not an FNM or PLP problem.
That is a Bahamian problem. The country suffers for it. That problem
must be solved. Nassau Guardian photo by Patrick Hanna.
PROTECTING
THE FISH AND THE FISHERMEN
Sir Nicholas Nuttal, the English baronet who lives out at Old Fort Bay,
writes a weekly column in the Nassau Guardian. He is the founder
of the conservation group BREEF and spends countless hours trying to educate
Bahamians about the need to protect the seas. The fact is that the
reef system throughout The Bahamas is under great stress. The conch
population in The Bahamas is under similar stress. But most of all
the grouper population is in danger of collapse. The Bahamas has
the last aggregations of Nassau grouper in the Caribbean. Everywhere
else it has collapsed as a result of over fishing. And yet Sir Nicholas
is unable to convince the Ministry responsible for fisheries that the right
thing to do is to close the grouper fishery during the spawning season.
The Department of Fisheries has been attacked by many for being too weak
in its science on the issue.
Now Sir Nicholas has heightened awareness of another
problem that threatens to explode on the high seas. The fishermen
of The Bahamas report that they are constantly harassed and attacked and
their catches stolen by fishermen from the Dominican Republic. There
is even the suggestion that the Defence Force is not doing its job effectively
because there may be moles within the Defence Force who are informing the
Dominicans once the RBDF is called to the scene. Whatever is happening
on the high seas, the Government of The Bahamas needs at least to prevent
the raping of the fishery resources by foreign fishermen. They owe
that to The Bahamas, and by all means we want them to avoid having to take
the law into their own hands.
THE
CHINA TOUR NEARS THE END
The Minister of Foreign Affairs should be winging
his way home this week after a long and punishing schedule in the Far East.
His travel has taken him on official tours of Japan, China and Hong Kong,
and then on to Malaysia to discuss some potential business investment in
The Bahamas in the information technology area. He is to stop briefly
in London for consultations with the London office on his way home.
The Minister said from Hong Kong that his meeting with fellow Harvard alumnus
Donald Tsang, the second in command in Hong Kong went well. He was
able also to tour the Hutchison Whampoa facilities in Hong Kong, and have
dinner with Bahamian professionals living in Hong Kong. The Minister
of Transport Glenys Hanna Martin who joined him on the earlier part of
the tour returned to Nassau on Thursday 4th September.
We think that the tour was a great idea and we congratulate
the Minister for his hard work as Minister and more importantly for keeping
the Bahamian people informed as he went along of what he was doing on their
behalf. Ministers Mitchell and Hanna Martin are pictured marching
atop the Great Wall Of China with local officials in this photo by Nello
Lambert. [Editor's note: Last week a photo was carried showing Minister
Mitchell with Bahamians Darius Turnquest, Erin Dames and Randolph Culmer.
We neglected to report that they are all medical students on scholarship
in Beijing.]
TINY
IS A TEACHER
The Sojourner Douglas College in The Bahamas has
hired Sir Orville Turnquest, the former Governor General to be a lecturer
of some kind at their local campus. It does not say what he is going
to lecture on but that should be fun being in a class taught by teacher
Tiny. Tiny is the nickname of the former Governor General.
The Sojourner Douglas College in The Bahamas is headed by former Public
Service Minister Theresa Moxey Ingraham. Sir Orville’s joining the
faculty gives the school a fillip in the community. Can you see those
hands now: “Teacher Tiny! Teacher Tiny! I know the answer!” All fun
and jokes aside, he can provide useful insights into the development of
public policy for the public administration degree that the school offers
and his involvement can be a model for how former high-level officials
can continue to contribute positively to the national agenda.
ZHIVARGO
LAING’S EDUCATION ATTACK
Zhivargo Laing is at it again. The defeated former Minister of the
Government who used to be known as the Minister for Uneconomic Development
was back in the press on Thursday 4th September. This time he was
attacking the Minister of Education for being a failure at his job as Minister
of Education. Nothing can be further from the truth of course.
Mr. Sears has done a yeoman's job in these tough fiscal times. We
think that he is getting a bum rap from critics because he has two difficult
jobs to perform that of Attorney General and that of Minister of Education.
There is no doubt that Education demands a full
time Ministry but then so do so many other jobs that many ministers have.
The fact is that at the moment the country cannot afford another Minister
and it would be wise to struggle along as best we can until we can do better.
There is no doubt that the Minister is fully engaged, and even the Union
of Teachers has to recognize that this is the best Minister of Education
that they have ever had.
There was said to be rejoicing in some Bahamas Union
of Teachers quarters when it was thought that the Director of Education
was actually going to leave the scene. The Teacher’s Union has also
called for her to go. We have to take what Zhivargo Laing says with
a ton of salt. Remember that Mr. Laing was defeated by Alfred Sears
as the representative for the Ft. Charlotte seat. In his arrogance
Mr. Laing thought that could never happen and it did. He is still
smarting from that spanking. That we believe is the real genesis
of the criticism.
Mr. Sears should be encouraged to ignore Mr. Laing
and continue with his shoulder to the wheel on behalf of the Bahamian people.
[Editor's
note: See one reader's opinion below.]
MAURICE
GLINTON BATTLES ALONE
Those who have been following this column since
its first incarnation and now in its second life would know that we have
a lot of time for Maurice Glinton. He has been battling on every
front for human rights and for the rule of law in this country. He
is not an easy fellow on friend or foe but he is a righteous fellow in
the true sense of that word. He can be counted upon when the chips
are down.
The Bahama Journal published this week on Thursday
4th September, the transcript of a revealing interview with journalist
Mike Smith that had been earlier aired on radio Love 97. He talked
about his present battle to set aside the laws passed by Hubert Ingraham
on the financial services sector. He talked about the games that
the Bahamian courts seem to have been playing in this area with the case.
What he reveals is truly frightening about the state of our Judiciary.
Please click here for the full text
of the interview from the Bahama Journal.
Reading the interview, one gets the sense that the
underlying tone is that of someone who feels abandoned by his natural allies,
many of whom now serve in the Government. He should not feel so.
This column supports all that he is doing to redress the wrongs caused
by those laws and we say that in the aggregate for good or ill, the public
service rendered by Mr. Glinton and Leandra Esfakis his co-attorney in
the matter is a good service for our country.
TROTTING
OUT COLIN POWELL
We have refrained from commenting in this column on the US policy in Iraq
for some time, to avoid the useless speculation about whether the opinions
of this column reflect the opinions of the Government, which they do not.
But it strikes us that, notwithstanding that risk, some comment is now
appropriate. It is a good and joyful thing that the Bush administration
has been humbled into admitting that the United Nations must take a role
in what is going on in Iraq. Colin Powell now has the ascendancy
in the US administration after the administration was being led by the
nose by a group of anti-intellectual hawks that caused their country a
great deal of grief - dead soldiers, but more importantly to us, a war
that killed 7000 Iraqi civilians with US “surgical” armaments.
The chaos in Iraq can no longer be covered up.
The failure of the policy is clear and palpable. What offends us
is that now that it has failed, Mr. Powell is being trotted out to the
world, without an apology from the US. He is making the case for
multilateralism after he himself was humiliated by his boss when there
was intent to make war. It seemed quite sad as the saga unfolded
of the US Secretary of State trying to avoid apologizing to France and
Germany and making in a speech at George Washington University in Washington
on Friday 5th September a passionate and compelling case for democracy
in Iraq. It sounded good. He is an intelligent and convincing
speaker. But his case is weak and it cannot succeed. That is
the sad part that such a great man should have been reduced to this.
FIFTY
CENT COMES AND GOES
The Minister of Culture Neville Wisdom, notwithstanding the Government’s
announcement that the rapper Fifty Cent was to be allowed into The Bahamas
told the press as reported on Friday 5th September that he did not sanction
the rapper coming to The Bahamas. He said that we must be careful
how we allow US groups to come to The Bahamas. Of course they come
to The Bahamas in all sorts of forms, as tourists but more importantly
through television. So how are we to stop it?
The Government was right to allow Fifty Cent into
The Bahamas. It was said that Government Ministers were to meet with
the rapper to remind him of his obligations to the young of the country.
We think that all of this is a storm in a teacup and the Christian Council’s
dancing up and down and calling for an apology from the Government because
they let Fifty Cent in won’t make fifty cents worth of difference.
MARLON
JOHNSON RESPONDS TO PASTOR MOSS AGAIN
In what we hope and trust will be the final instalment
of the still interesting to and fro between our readers Pastor Cedric Moss
and Marlon Johnson, in this week’s mail there was an answer to last week’s
points by Pastor Moss from Mr. Johnson.
"Seeing that we will now turn our efforts to getting
rid of the deviant left-handed folks, we might as well deal with some more
evil matters before us.
"I think this letter that was reportedly
written to the US radio personality, Dr. Laura, also applies to our circumstances.
"We might as well put an end to ALL the
abominations one time and done and really start keeping God's Word!!
Dear Dr. Laura:
Thank you for doing so much to educate people
regarding God's Law. I have learned a great deal from your show,
and try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can. When
someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply
remind them that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an
abomination. End of debate.
I do need some advice from you, however, regarding
some of the other specific laws and how to follow them:
1. When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice,
I know it creates a pleasing odor for the Lord - Lev.1:9. The problem is
my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them.
Should I smite them?
2. I would like to sell my daughter into slavery,
as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think
would be a fair price for her?
3. I know that I am allowed no contact with
a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanness - Lev.15:19-
24. The problem is, how do I tell? I have tried asking,
but most women take offense.
4. Lev. 25:44 states that I may indeed possess
slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring
nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but
not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?
5. I have a neighbor who insists on working
on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death.
Am I morally obligated to kill him myself?
6. A friend of mine feels that even though
eating shellfish is an abomination - Lev. 11:10, it is a lesser abomination
than homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this?
7. Lev. 21:20 states that I may not approach
the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit
that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20,
or is there some wiggle room here?
8. Most of my male friends get their hair
trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly
forbidden by Lev. 19:27. How should they die?
9. I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the
skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I
wear gloves?
10. My uncle has a farm. He violates
Lev. 19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his
wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester
blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary
that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone
them? Lev.24:10-16. Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private
family affair like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev.20:14?)
I know you have studied these things extensively,
so I am confident you can help. Thank you again for reminding
us that God's word is Eternal and Unchanging.
US
JUDGE PENALIZES BAHAMIAN PARASAIL COMPANY
The Charlotte Observer reports that a US District
Court in Florida has found a parasailing company in The Bahamas liable
for the 1999 death of a tourist. According to the report, the court
further awarded a judgement of $1.8 million dollars against the company.
Please click here to read the Charlotte Observer
report. According to our legal correspondents, the judgement
cannot be enforced in Bahamian law.
BAHAMIAN
CULTURE DAY IN NEW YORK
The Bahamian American Cultural Society, Inc. successfully
hosted a Bahamian Culture Day in New York on August 30, at Pier 63.
This report is from Mrs. Beryl Edgecombe:
"Against the picturesque backdrops of the skyline
of New Jersey and the sky scrapers of New York City, hundreds of Bahamian-Americans,
friends of The Bahamas and visitors enjoyed a
taste of Bahamian culture. They listened exclusively to Bahamian
music during the nine hour event. They feasted on Bahamian food -
peas and rice, conch salad; and drank Bahamian beverages. They rushed
to cowbells and drums.
"There were several booths displaying art works,
straw work, books of Bahamian authors, and heritage search literature and
consultation. Adding to the cultural flavor and assisting in bridging
the divide were performers brought from The Bahamas - Kayla Edwards accompanied
by her husband Desmond, Claudette (Cookie) Allan, and Valerie Pyfrom who
is New York based.
"The promotors of the Culture Day articulated
their aims and the goals of the Society as
Strengthening the Bahamian Culture Community
Maintaining the bond and linkages between Bahamians and Bahamian-Americans
Re-connecting younger generations with their ancestral roots
Expanding the participation of others in the celebration of diversity
"As one of the promotors explains, “I deeply
believe that the exploring of each other’s culture, brings about a better
understanding among peoples. It is an instrument of peace and friendship.”
For more information call 212-213-0562 - Beryl E.
Edgecombe - President.
READER
JOHN BAIN ON THE PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM
This contribution from this week's mailbox features
reader John Bain's take on the public education system and the many public
comments put forth over the last weeks. Please
click here.
B.S.
NOTES FROM GENEVA’S IN FREEPORT…
NEWS FROM GRAND BAHAMA -
Can’t We Just Get Along?
City of Freeport Council is comprised of nine elected councillors.
Since their election last year, barely a month has passed without some
controversy spilling into the public’s view. Late Word is that at
least seven council members have petitioned the Minister of Local Government
Alfred Grey to have him intervene to remove the Chief Councillor.
The only thing is that there are no provisions in the Local Government
Act to have a Chief Councillor recalled.
The people of Freeport have grown tired of these public spectacles, which serve no useful purpose. If the councillors feel that they are unable to work with one another for the betterment of the Freeport community, then they all should resign. But these public clashes are detrimental to the whole system and are not a good reflection on a council that was thought to be one of the better ones in the country.
Royal Oasis
The management team at the Royal Oasis should hang their heads in shame
for allowing a novice manager to engage in folly. Reports are that
Harcourt Rolle, a 27 year employee and assistant manager of a restaurant
at the Royal Oasis, was terminated by the new manager. Mr. Rolle’s
employment record at the resort has been impeccable according to the Hotel,
Catering and Allied Workers Union. He has been an Employee of the
Month on several occasions and Employee of the Year and just recently he
was commended by the resort’s ‘shoppers’ who conduct undercover reviews
of staff performance.
Mr. Rolle was let go for reportedly abandoning his position. No warning was given. He was simply summarily dismissed. A union spokesman said that there are procedures in place for dealing with such disputes should they arise, but this only proves, said the union, that the management team is not prepared to work in good faith with its employees, but instead wishes to rule by intimidation. Late word is that Mr. Rolle has been suspended pending an investigation.
Jack Hayward High
When classes began on Monday past for the students of the Jack Hayward
High School, there were no reports of repairs not being made over the summer
holiday. This was because the school’s administration has taken the
position that their woodwork and electrical departments could use as projects,
minor repairs around the school. A maintenance programme has been
put in place for these departments to effect repairs as soon as something
needs to be worked on and over the summer holidays, these departments hired
11th and 12th grade boys to do most of the painting and carpentry that
was required. The boys were paid small stipends to help with the
purchase of books and uniforms. We believe that this is the kind
of thinking that most high schools should adopt because it also fosters
a sense of belonging and might prevent in most other schools, vandalism.
We say hats off to the administration of Jack Hayward for innovative thinking.
The Four Missing Boys
Prime Minister Perry Christie was in Freeport yesterday morning, notwithstanding
the stormy weather conditions, to attend a march and rally for the four
missing boys. The march was supposed to have taken place from downtown
Freeport to the Independence Park on Coral Road but had to be held instead
at the auditorium of Freeport Anglican High due to the weather. The
rally still went on and most of those in attendance were pleasantly surprised
to see the Prime Minister, Minister of Education and Minister of Tourism
along with all the other local Grand Bahama MPs.
The case of the missing boys has baffled law enforcement officials and
most believe that the boys have been kidnapped. To date not one body
has been found. Most school administrations have beefed up security
around both private and public schools and have spoken to students about
going off with strangers. It is hoped that through these efforts
no more children are abducted. During the rally community leaders
lauded the non partisan approach that has taken place to try and bring
some reasonable conclusion as to what really happened to the boys.
BS
 |
| PHOTO OF THE WEEK - Prime Minister Perry Christie joined Sol Kerzner, the Chairman of the Board of Kerzner International, owner of Atlantis, Paradise Island and the Ocean Club at the site of the new villas for the Ocean Club on Wednesday 10th September. The occasion was the groundbreaking for the construction of the new facility. The two men spoke about the start of Phase III of the Atlantis operation in The Bahamas and about the dynamics of the tourist industry in The Bahamas. Mr. Kerzner called the Nassau International Airport, the worst in the world. The Prime Minister said that the government has pledged to upgrade it, including new management. But that aside and before they went off to breakfast the two men shook hands. We thought that this smart start of the Phase III and a 600 million dollar investment ought to be our photo of the week. The photo is by Peter Ramsay. |
COMMENT OF THE WEEK
THE TROUBLE WITH HURRICANES
The
Tribune published a map that showed the latest track of what has been called
a monster storm, with winds clocked at 160 miles per hour. The map
is generated from US technology and from US hurricane fighter sources.
By their own map, the hurricane is to pass The Bahamas on a parallel track
to the country and head off toward North Carolina. We publish the
map.
But that did not stop the United States authorities from recommending that people stop travelling to The Bahamas. And get this; they have decided to evacuate non essential personnel from the country. That includes it appears the persons who man the pre-clearance facilities at the Nassau International Airport and the airport in Grand Bahama. From this morning, the pre-clearance facilities are closed until the storm has passed. It means that everyone will now have to clear in the United States when they leave The Bahamas. Perhaps it will only be a short inconvenience to save lives. The talk is that if the hurricane hits at 160 miles per hour, it will cause severe damage and loss of life. The decision is being made to protect American lives and it is a judgement call. Leaving it beyond Sunday may be leaving it too late. Better safe than sorry.
That is one side of the question and who can argue with saving lives? But one wonders whether or not The Bahamas Government knew in advance that the US government planned to close the facility here, and what the implications of the closure of the facility would mean. In the present climate, one wonders if some pretext is not being set up to close the facilities for good even though the facilities benefit the United States.
Suffer it to be so, the hurricane may or may not come. The latest computer models show the storm turning away from The Bahamas, however, the gravity of the decision to withdraw and evacuate, the very use of those words seems to suggest that some Armageddon is on the way, and that The Bahamas won’t in fact be here after the storm has passed by. It is not a good feeling. We who are Bahamian of course have nowhere else to go.
The Bahamas weather service is predicting that the storm will pass to the northeast by about 200 miles at its closest point. That should mean strong winds and storm surges. But if that doesn’t happen and the present track of the storm continues without the expected curve to the northeast that means that sometime on Monday or Tuesday of this week, we should expect to begin to feel the effects of the hurricane and the full force will meet the country on Wednesday if not before at a point somewhere between Acklins and Long Island in the south-eastern Bahamas. Given the size of this and the wind speed, we would be in for trouble.
Even given those scenarios, the closing of the pre-clearance lounge is premature, and unnecessary and it is a cause for grave concern that such a decision was taken. We ask again: who was consulted when this was all done?
If we survive, and are alive (given the scary scenarios), for this week and during the storm, we will try to keep you updated through our site as to the latest information about the storm and how it is affecting the country. Usually the first to go is the phone system; well at least there is a toss up between the power and telephones. But they all go - but if the wireless capability is available we will try to keep you abreast as often as we can.
Number of hits for the week ending Saturday 13th September at midnight: 27,469.
Number of hits for the month of September up to Saturday 13th September at midnight: 50,691.
Number of hits for the year 2003 up to Saturday 13th September at
midnight: 994,833.
DISASTER
PREPAREDNESS IN THE BAHAMAS
Just last month, this column made some observations
after examining the public record of the way we perform during disasters.
It raised the question of whether we are in fact prepared for disasters.
The disaster that time was the tragic accident at sea on the August Monday
weekend when four Bahamians lost their lives at sea. What it seemed
to show is how unprepared we were at the business of public information,
at the ability to get out to sea to help any one in distress, and at establishing
command procedures. At the end we got it right but the question of
a hurricane is much more serious.
During the Ingraham years, this country seemed to
face hurricanes with a discomforting certainty. Mr. Ingraham’s administration
was faced with Hurricane Andrew in 1992 shortly after he came to office.
Since that time, we have experienced Hurricane Floyd and Michelle.
Each caused significant damage and some of the damage from those earlier
hurricanes has still not been repaired. During Hurricane Michelle
the facilities of the Broadcasting Corporation of The Bahamas (ZNS) went
off air for the first time in the history of the country. The whole
reason for ZNS was to provide weather information. Then the telephone
lines failed. They failed because the batteries were not kept up.
The batteries died because the generators at BaTelCo were not kept in good
repair so when the power supply of the Bahamas Electricity Corporation
failed, there was no way for BaTelCo to keep the batteries up. One
wonders if we learn from these lessons.
The television news and the printed media give a
good impression of the Disaster Preparedness Committee this time.
The Americans have already frightened us half to death by taking the run
to Miami with all their non essential personnel. Us natives will
have to stay here and suffer with it. But the Bahamas Disaster Committee
tells us that there is a plan afoot. The Royal Bahamas Defence Force
has been deployed in the southern Bahamas in anticipation of the storm.
The US has deployed a forward team for disaster preparedness and the Caribbean
has also sent a forward team. So with the hurricane coming and it
will surely go, let’s hope we do a good job this time.
BAHAMAS
LENDS HELP TO BERMUDA
There was a hurricane in Bermuda last week on 5th
September. Hurricane Fabian packing winds of 115 miles per hour slammed
into Bermuda and laid low the place. When the skies cleared, four
people were missing and presumed dead. There were 19,000 homes without
power. The Premier Alex Scott told his country that Bermudians would
pull together to overcome the crisis. Helping in that process are
workers from the Bahamas Electricity Corporation. They are assisting
the Bermuda Electric Light Company (BELCO). The Bahamian team
is part of a larger team of 41 Caribbean nationals. The Bahamians
are led by Ian Pratt. The team is a restoration team of linesmen
and engineers from six member states of the Caribbean Electric Utility
Services Corporation (CARILEC). The other members of the team come
from Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, Barbados, Belize and Dominica.
The team is said to be putting in 4 hour shifts to help restore the power
to the territory. The Bahamas Government has communicated to the
Government of Bermuda its concern and has offered any further assistance
that is required to help the territory get up and running.
11TH
SEPTEMBER ANNIVERSARY IN THE BAHAMAS
There was a moving service held at Christ Church Anglican Cathedral in
Nassau on Thursday 11th September. That marked the day when incredibly
the two tallest structures in the United States in New York City came tumbling
down after two jumbo jets were highjacked and slammed deliberately into
the towers. The towers caught fire, then they fell to the ground.
The pictures were dramatic. Last year, the service of commemoration
in The Bahamas was held in the public square. This year and more
sensibly it was held in a church. The Minister of Foreign Affairs
Fred Mitchell, Minister of State for Finance James Smith and Michael Halkitis,
Parliamentary Secretary for Finance attended the service on behalf of the
Government. The Minister of Foreign Affairs (pictured, right) reaffirmed
the country’s support for the values which we share in common with the
United States. Charge D’affaires of the US Embassy (pictured, left)
in Nassau spoke on behalf of the US Government. You may click
here for the remarks by the Minister. The photos by Peter Ramsay
show scenes from the service.
CONDOLENCES
TO THE SWEDES
The Swedish Foreign Minister Anna Lindh was stabbed
to death in a Swedish department store this past week. The Minister
of Foreign Affairs Fred Mitchell issued a statement on behalf of the Government
of The Bahamas expressing condolences to the Swedish government on the
untimely death of the Minister. You may click
here for the full statement.
Ministers in The Bahamas like those in Sweden do
not have police bodyguards or civilian aides with them as they move about
the country or overseas. It is felt by some to be unnecessary and
extravagant. Seventeen years ago the Swedish Prime Minster Olaf Palme
went to the movies without his bodyguards and he was gunned down as he
left the cinema. His murder was never solved. It looks like
the murderer has gotten clean away again in this case as well. It
is said that the Swedish Government has ordered immediate security details
around their Ministers and doing a rethink on the entire issue.
THE
PUBLIC SECTOR UNIONS TAKE OFFENCE
ZNS television and radio dragged up some old footage
of Leslie Miller, the Minister of Trade speaking at a forum which was not
identified but in which he made some gratuitous and not so pleasant remarks
about public servants. Many people felt the remarks were true but
impolitic in the face of the tortuous negotiations being conducted by the
Minister for the Public Service Fred Mitchell to settle a wage dispute.
The Unions were due to meet with the Minister on Friday 12th September
and they did.
Just when it appeared that all the controversy about
the relations between Government and Union had been settled, the Unions
had a cause again. John Pinder, President of the Bahamas Public Service
Union (BPSU) said that he did not take kindly too it at all. He said
that productivity in the public service was something that he as union
president had been preaching about since he took office. He believed
the Minister was making an unfair attack. He denied that he had ever
said or that any union leader had ever said that members should close down
the town. Mr. Pinder said:
“I have never asked our members to close down the
town. Neither do I know of any union leader who has asked membership
to close the town down. I have at every opportunity stressed the
importance of increased productivity to our members with a view of cutting
back the cost of personal emoluments to the government so that more revenue
would be at our disposal when it comes to negotiating for salary increases.”
As for the meeting of 12th September, the Minister
for the Public Service told The Tribune that the BPSU took the position
that the first instalment of the pay raise must be paid in October and
the rest follow in December. The Government said that the entire
increase would be paid in December. Mr. Mitchell added without reference
to the Leslie Miller controversy:
“I wish to drive home the fact that there was no
condemnation from the Government in relation to the position of public
servants. All of us live in this country and while we recognize that
there are issues in pubic administration, it is to the benefit of no one
to cannibalize each other over this subject, but to deal with the issue
as forthrightly as we can and solve whatever problems there are.
There is an appreciation for the wide value of work in the public service
and for public servants. There is an understanding that the Government’s
position is that public servants as a group are not being condemned.”
The meeting was adjourned to Monday 6th October.
BATELCO
BIDDER NAMED
The Bahamas Government has announced that Tom Bain,
son of Rodney Bain and his group backed by Morgan Financial group have
won the bid for the purchase of the 49 per cent and controlling stake in
the telephone company. This brings an end to all the speculation
about the Government backing out of the process. The Government did
not accept the price offered and authorized the tenders committee to negotiate
with the preferred bidder to meet what the Government wants. If they
back out then the rules say the next preferred bidder - the Blue group
that is connected with Deutche Telecom - should be asked if they wish to
negotiate for the purchase. The losing bidders were asked to extend
their bids in order to keep themselves in the running.
THE
FIFTY CENT CONCERT
The last laugh is on the Bahamas Christian Council
who were trying to stop the artist Fifty Cent from coming into The Bahamas.
There were many who were pleased that the Government stood its ground against
the attempt to create a theocracy and allowed the artist to come in, conditions
and all. As it turned out the conditions were useless and they merely
stated the law anyway. Fifty Cent came on to perform at “fore day
in the morning” as they say in The Bahamas. The concert ended at
4 am. It was not as well attended as they wanted but all told some
4000 people were said to have turned up. Those who did had a good
time.
The pre show was said to be a good show for the
fellas with the artist Trina showing up with some women in slinky outfits
that showed much of their unadorned posteriors. But Fifty Cent followed
his agreement with the government and did not utter a curse word.
He bleeped out the words but put the microphone to the audience that knew
the songs and used the words for him. One irate pastor wrote a Minister
of the Government to complain that the police should have arrested those
members of the audience who were cursing. The fact is in a country
where there is free speech and adults go to an adult forum what does one
care whether they use curse words in that forum?
It is also reported that Fifty Cent can curse in
French and Spanish so the police would not to have known any way.
A good time was had by all including many police women who were singing
along, curse words and all with Fifty Cent. It only goes to show
that the Government was right. Let freedom ring.
A
MORNING AT PARADISE
The Government is obviously pleased at long last a shovel is going into
the ground over at Paradise Island. The official ground breaking
ceremony was held for the first phase of Phase III at Atlantis Paradise
Island. This is a 20 million dollars phase with the construction
of new villas for the super rich who want to take of advantage of the Ocean
Club’s reputation as the “One and Only Ocean Club.” Room price $3500
per day. Mr. Kerzner boasted that the Ocean Club has got the highest
rating in the world for the niche market that it serves. Bahamas
Oscar winning Actor Sidney Poitier told the Prime Minister that he has
never stayed at any place else where service is so good. That said
20 million is not the significant part of the investment.
Despite all the happy smiles, Paradise Island, the
Kerzners and Atlantis have to do more than that. The Government will
also have to do more. Mr. Kerzner made it plain that their investment
is contingent upon two things being done. One is the Nassau International
Airport (NIA) has to be fixed. He called it the worst airport in
the world. The other matter that the Government needs to move on
is the final stages of an agreement for groups travelling to The Bahamas
to take advantage of the convention tax exemption offered by the US for
its citizens who travel and have their conventions here. Mr. Kerzner
believes that the convention centre and its rooms won’t make sense unless
the formalities are completed to allow the convention tax exemption.
The Paradise Island project as a whole is crucial
to The Bahamas. The Emerald Bay project in Exuma that has been hiring
a number of young males from New Providence for the last year has finished
its construction phase and is nearing completion. They are starting
to trickle back into Nassau. There is no other major project on the
horizon. The Crab Cay project in Exuma shows no real evidence of
getting off the ground before next year. Everything else is
said to be slow to dead stop. All eyes then are looking to Paradise
Island and as we said 20 million is not going to cut it. Photo of Prime
Minister Christie and Mr. Sol Kerzner by Peter Ramsay.
ALARM
ABOUT NATIONAL INSURANCE
The Bahama Journal in its weekend edition says that
there is alarm at the losses being sustained by the National Insurance
fund that will without some changes go broke in 25 years. The contribution
rate is said to be too low at 8.8 percent of an insurable wage. Also
several Government corporations including the Water and Sewerage Corporation
are in default in their loan repayments to the fund. This news is
not new but all of it highlights the fact the Government ought to act today
to save the Fund from ultimate bankruptcy.
FR.
JOE PERNA DIES
Joe Perna or Fr. Joe as most people knew him is
dead. The last time we saw him in public was at the service for the
ordination and consecration of Bishop Patrick Pinder as the first Bahamian
Bishop. Fr. Joe was described in a Catholic Church release
as being known for his “directness and no non-sense approach”. That
must be the understatement of the year. Fr. Joe used to know just
how to fire off the right word to solve the problem. Let’s put it
that way.
Fr. Joe was the pastor of Sacred Heart Church on
Shirley Street. He was a supporter of the ecumenism between the Anglican
Catholic and Methodist Churches particularly during lent when the services
were shared between the denominations. He had a varied life before
becoming a priest and was led to the priesthood rather late by the late
Bishop Leonard Haggarty here in Nassau. We will miss Fr. Joe.
GEORGE
MACKEY WRITES ABOUT LAND
George Mackey wrote a column in The Tribune on Saturday
13th September in which he wrote of the scrapping of the land policy implemented
by the Government in which he served. The land policy came into effect
by legislation in 1982 and each person who wanted to buy land in The Bahamas
had to have permission to buy the land. By the time the PLP lost
office in 1992, the PLP’s policy in this area was being blamed for the
lack of capital in flows into The Bahamas and the slow down in the economy.
Mr. Mackey writes that the FNM came to office and
scrapped that policy leading to the buying of land by foreigners in the
country and driving up the price of land beyond the reach of ordinary Bahamians.
In this dispensation including that aspect of desperate economic times,
there is not much support for changing that position. Some like Maurice
Glinton, the attorney, argue, what is the point of land sitting there in
your hands with no economic benefit or value? Nevertheless George
Mackey’s piece should remind those who now sit around the Cabinet table
that there is a faction in The Bahamas that does not believe that Bahamian
land ought to be sold off lock, stock and barrel to foreigners.
JACKSON
BURNSIDE BURIED
Dr. Jackson Burnside, the activist dentist and citizen
of renown was buried after a funeral service St. Agnes Anglican Church
last Sunday 7th September. He was 89 at the time of his death.
His service was attended by the high and the mighty in the land.
Peter Ramsay followed the Prime Minister Perry Christie there and provides
this montage of photos from the service including one of Ambassador Sidney
Poitier, the Oscar winning Bahamian actor who is a relative of Dr. Burnside’s
widow. Gertrude Burnside nee Fawkes is the sister of the late Sir
Randol Fawkes, the labour activist. Dr. Burnside is survived by his
sons Stanley (Sideburns cartoonist), Jackson and Wayman, and a daughter
Julia.
MINISTER
BACK FROM CHINA
The Minister of Foreign Affairs Fred Mitchell is back from his official
tour of the Far East. At a press conference held at the airport in
Nassau upon his arrival, the Minister said that the trip was an interesting
one that he commended to the Bahamian people. He said that he was impressed
by the dynamism, industry and discipline of China. He said that service
in China in the tourism sector was impressive. The Minister was met
at the airport by the Chinese Ambassador upon his arrival. Top
photo shows members of the delegation with Bahamians resident in Hong Kong.
From left (back) Robin Roberts, Antonia Carey, Terry Archer, Protocol Officer;
Christopher Johnson, Andre Carey. Front are Freddie Tucket, Hong
Kong Consul General; Dr. Patricia Rodgers, Permanent Secretary Ministry
of Foreign Affairs; Minister Mitchell and Shane Stuart. Photo at
right pictures Minister Mitchell with Hong Kong's Chief Secretary Donald
Tsang.
COB
AND KENT STATE
The formal articulation agreement signed between
Kent State University in Ohio and the College of The Bahamas on 30th October
1998 has been expanded to include a student exchange programme for teachers.
On Friday 12th September, the COB President Dr. Leon Higgs signed to join
COB formally to the Consortium for Overseas Student Teaching (COST).
Signing on behalf of COST was Dr. Kenneth Cushner. COST is a programme
that emanates from Kent Sate but includes universities from the Midwest
and south-eastern United States and one in Canada. COB teacher trainees
can go to the universities within the COST programme to do their teaching
practice. Dr Higgs said that this would provide a good opportunity
for Bahamian teachers.
B.S.
NOTES FROM GENEVA’S IN FREEPORT…
NEWS FROM GRAND BAHAMA -
Percentie Stands With Her People
There she was on the front page, shovel in hand backed up by heavy
earthmoving equipment, vowing to shift away the offending roadblock.
It was a compelling image of Ann Percentie, Pineridge MP and Parliamentary
Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister who is quickly developing
the reputation of being a ‘no nonsense’ representative of the people.
The story began when unknown agents blocked an unpaved extension of Balao Road in the east of Freeport City which had been used as a shortcut home by residents of Freeport Ridge estates. The residents complained and Ms. Percentie acted, saying that the residents were being discriminated against by the closing of the road and called on “the authorities” to immediately address the situation. Bravo, Ann. But we wonder who exactly are the authorities? Surely it is she and she has, in fact, acted already. One of those things that happen from time to time where government and quasi government interact and one of those things that make you go, hmmmm.
Tommy T and Every ‘Bye Ain Gone
There is mischief afoot among the movers and shakers of the FNM party
apparatus in Grand Bahama. The chief instigator is said to be a high
ranking FNM official with an base in the east of Grand Bahama who feels
that the FNM should cut its losses with Tommy Turnquest and steadily move
to bring back Hubert Ingraham. Sources tell us that with the PLP
projects not taking off quickly, this faction believes they could force
the government into early election; but they must first get Tommy to move
aside. We send out a warning to our friend Tommy: There is
in fact a conspiracy afoot, be very careful as you forge ahead. A
word to the wise is sufficient.
Late word is that on an FNM boat cruise over the weekend, former West End MP David Wallace was moved to lecture the gathering on support for Tommy, using a curious example: “After all, Sir Lynden’s people never deserted him… they stayed ‘til the end… we must do the same for Tommy T.”
Is The Lucaya Casino Deal On?
On Monday past, the Freeport News’ lead story said that the Isle of
Capri casino deal had hit a snag with the government. The Isle of
Capri operators were quoted as saying that they had hoped that a full agreement
would have “been signed by now”. We found that to be strange.
Other sources tell us that the real reason for the snag is that Isle of
Capri believes that the Hotel Corporation, which owns the casino licence,
is overcharging them and they want the percentage being asked of them to
be reduced. The Minister with responsibility for investment, Allyson
Maynard Gibson told the newspaper unequivocally that there was no snag.
Inside sources say that there may be a problem with gouging, but not from
the hotel corporation, rather from the casino’s prospective landlord on
the Lucaya strip. We say, whatever it is, the government should move
quickly to resolve the situation.
BS
 |
| PHOTOS OF THE WEEK - Two persons died, one instantly and one shortly after the explosion occurred. It was Thursday 18th September and the radio stations reported live from the scene in Lyford Cay, reporting not of the usual scene of wealthy beauty but one of destruction. A famous name was connected with it. Sometime on that afternoon and fifteen minutes after Mrs. Callender had left the house to go to the funeral of the contractor who had built the house, a gas tank exploded and demolished the home of Attorney Colin Callender and his wife. Sheila Hailey, the wife of Alex Hailey the author of the novel ‘Airport’, heard the explosion at their mansion down the road. She described it as a scene like one in Iraq. The Tribune’s photographers were there and pictured this photo of the devastation. The Nassau Guardian showed another photo of Mr. Callender surveying the catastrophe. Everything was lost including two lives. It was a bad end to the week but that it makes the photos our photos of the week. |
COMMENT OF THE WEEK
COMMENT OF THE WEEK
THE WEEK OF THE BRADLEY
Bradley
Roberts aka Big Bad Brad was ready and rearing to go. He is pictured
as he entered the House of Assembly to deliver the good news. Help
and hope is here. The Minister of Works who is considered one of
the most active of the Christie Ministers came with a comprehensive announcement
that stopped the tongues of the Opposition from wagging. He announced
a series of plans that would effectively cut the price of electricity for
most consumers, some 17 percent. He also announced that interest
would now be paid by Bahamas Electricity Corporation on deposits given
by consumers when they open their accounts. The Minister later said
that the rates of electricity competed with those set by Freeport Power
where there was no tax on fuel and where they had no social obligation
to light up the rest of The Bahamas. You may click
here for the full text of the communication. Mr. Roberts’ announcement
dominated the front pages.
The FNM had to congratulate the Government but claimed that it was their work that caused the Government to be able to reduce the cost of electricity. Yes, these were the same people that caused BEC to have to pay an additional 20 million in taxes.
Later in the day, Mr. Roberts returned to the House of Assembly to move the second stage of the Bill to Register Professional Engineers in the country. It has been a long struggle to bring the bill to the House. It has taken two Governments to try to bring it forward, and each time the old cranky school of engineers of Bahamas Institute of Professional Engineers (BIPE) have been the stumbling block to the bill moving forward. The Minister had a poll of all engineers and the Bill was overwhelmingly approved in that poll, with the support of some of the members of BIPE.
The one objection publicly has come from architects who argue that the Bill does not sufficiently account for the overlapping responsibilities of architects and engineers and may increase the cost for consumers by making it necessary for a professional engineer to sign off on buildings which architects now do as a matter of routine for smaller buildings.
It seemed like a good day though generally for Mr. Roberts and the Government on Wednesday 17th September, the first day since the summer break. There is a need for some joy in the business of Government. There is a cacophony of complaints about the Government's inability to produce jobs. In every watering hole, the cry is that the Government is indecisive and not doing enough to produce economic benefits for the people who voted for the PLP. Many PLPs still feel that there are too many FNMs in positions that are hindering the Government's works. It also appears that many of the decisions made by the Government don’t seem to get carried out. The PLP rank and file is in the mood for a house cleaning.
Our guess is that this pressure will go nowhere with the Prime Minister. Our guess is also that the source of the complaint is mainly economic in nature. If the economy were doing better and people were working and feeling like they could pay their bills and their children were safely in school, then you wouldn’t hear a single complaint. We keep our fingers crossed for the Government to get into next year with the announced projects up and running. Attention must then be focused on Sol Kerzner’s Paradise Island and putting their feet to the fire for them to do what they say they intend to do. More importantly for the Government to deliver on what it is supposed to do in order to get the project at Paradise Island going.
There are two ways to improve the lot of people. One way is to raise their income level. Another way is to lower costs. The announcement of the lowering of electricity rates falls in the latter category, and one hopes that this will truly translate into a lowering of costs and not turn out to be one of those ephemeral accounting procedures. If it turns out to be real, it will go down as one the PLP's first major and tangible objectives. We congratulate the Minister for driving this forward.
Number of this for the week ending Saturday 20th September at midnight: 35,548.
Number of hits for the month of September up to Saturday 20th September at midnight: 86,239.
Number of hits for the year 2003 up to Saturday 20th September at midnight: 103, 0381.
PRE-CLEARANCE
REOPENS
All of the newspapers of The Bahamas led the way
in their editorials over the past week with speculations that there must
have been some other reason for the closure of the pre-clearance facility
in Nassau and Freeport by the United States Government last week.
It was blamed on the weather. It was also unprecedented in the sense
that we have had hurricanes before come to The Bahamas, pass over the island
of New Providence (Hurricane Michelle in 2001) and the pre-clearance lounge
did not close. Further, it was clear from the map that we showed
on this site last week that when the Americans issued their order to evacuate,
the hurricane was not headed toward The Bahamas.
The press speculated that the motive was to test
what the reaction would be to shutting the whole thing down for good.
The Tribune was particularly pernicious claiming that somehow the fact
that the US and The Bahamas had a disagreement at the joint task force
meeting in December 2002 that the United States was taking spite against
The Bahamas in closing it down.
The truth is probably quite simple. The US
made a mistake and ordered the evacuation too soon and without a basis
in fact, and then could not reverse themselves when the order was made.
But all of this shows just how jittery Bahamians are about US/Bahamian
relations. What is clear is that when the US decides to move, they
have no care what other countries think or do. They simply do it,
notwithstanding the adverse consequences to other people and countries.
CHRISTIE
TO MEET BUSH
The Cabinet office has announced that Prime Minister
Perry Christie is to travel to New York for a breakfast meeting on Wednesday
the 24th September with US President George Bush. The Prime Ministers
of St. Lucia and Grenada with the President of Guyana are also to join
the breakfast. The meeting is a working breakfast at which matters
of mutual interest both bilateral and regional will be discussed.
The Heads of Government will be joined at the meeting by their Ministers
of Foreign Affairs. The Bahamas delegation will depart Nassau on
Tuesday 23rd September.
THE FNM’S
PROBLEM
Poor Free National Movement! Bradley Roberts had them completely
off stride this week. They had set themselves up to make the argument
that the PLP had been wasting its time all during the summer. They
were hoping that when the PLP came back to the House they would have no
agenda. But the agenda got off to a roaring start with a series of
communications from Ministers of the Government; the major one of course
was that announcing the reduction in electricity rates. Neville Wisdom
(pictured) gave an excellent account of what’s happening in sports.
Then Alvin Smith, the Leader of the Opposition got up and tried to muster
an argument over some small point in the House. You heard him asking:
what has the PLP been doing over the summer? He was asking why some questions
on the agenda had not been answered. He said that the PLP had been
doing nothing over the summer break. This from a party that dissolved
the last Parliament with five years of unanswered questions. It made
him look just a little foolish.
True to form Brent Symonette was absent from the
chamber as Mr. Smith worked himself alone into a frenzy. When the
noise stopped, no doubt the embarrassment having passed, Mr. Symonette
returned to the chamber. The trouble with the FNM is at the moment
they cannot mount a credible case on anything. Minister of Sports
Neville Wisdom is shown in Paris, France during the IAAF World Championships
congratulating Bahamian triple jump Bronze Medal Winner Leevan Sands.
Nassau Guardian photo by Donald Knowles.
THAT
WILL BE A GLAD REUNION DAY
The Royal Bahamas Defence Force is headed by Commodore Davey Rolle.
He was chosen by the Free National Movement administration in a choice
that pitted him against Commander Anthony Allens, now Port Director.
Both were said to be equally qualified. There is no suggestion here
that political considerations enter into the present running of the Force.
It is said that the FNM believed Mr. Rolle to be their supporter and so
he got the job. Mr. Allens is thought to be a PLP supporter.
Be that as it may, the Force was said to have been divided into two factions;
those who support Davey Rolle and those who are said to support Commander
Allens, even though he is long gone and is unlikely to return to the Force.
Many members of the RBDF are said to have voted for the PLP in the hope
that Commodore Rolle would be replaced by someone they perceived to be
more PLP friendly.
All of that aside, life goes on. But we thought
it was interesting when we read a report in the Nassau Guardian at the
opening of the hearing by the Wreck Commission looking into the maritime
disaster of 2nd August 2003. The final paragraph of the Nassau Guardian’s
story on Tuesday 16th September read thus: “Royal Bahamas Defence Force
Commodore Davey Rolle and Captain Allens are scheduled to meet later this
week on what additional steps are required to enhance overall security
measures.” We thought that will be a glad reunion day. Nassau
Guardian photo of Captain Allens conferring with Deputy Director of Public
Prosecutions and Legal Counsel to the Wreck Commission Cheryl Grant-Bethell
by Donald Knowles.
ABACO
AIRPORT IN PROBLEMS
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the enforcement
arm of the US for air safety was in town the other day looking at facilities
and aerodromes into which US carriers fly. They looked at Nassau’s
International Airport. But more importantly, the press reported that
they looked at the Marsh Harbour Airport. People in Abaco are saying
that they were not pleased with what they saw. Some are reporting that
because of the shortage of fire fighting equipment and lack of security
around the field, the FAA will cause the plug to be pulled and US airlines
will be told that they can no longer fly to Marsh Harbour. This is
one reason why we really need to have a US Ambassador in The Bahamas.
The present situation where a public servant is carrying out political
tasks will not do for long. A political Ambassador would be able
to fight for The Bahamas in position while we get it fixed. But fix
it, we must.
EXPLOSION
IN LYFORD CAY
It has been learned that experts from the United
States are to fly into The Bahamas to examine the reason why the gas explosion
took place in Lyford Cay and levelled the home of Attorney Colin Callender.
Mr. Callender lost a housekeeper, a national of Peru. Another Peruvian
national was killed. She was a housekeeper from the home of Mr. and
Mrs. William Burchnall. There was high praise for the rescue efforts,
and Minister of Works Bradley Roberts has promised a full investigation.
The gas company that installed the tank said that they were certain that
it wasn't their fault. Whatever the problem, two people are dead,
and the house is in total ruins. We need the investigation to be
completed and its finding made public. Nassau Guardian photo.
ISABEL PASSES
The hurricane Isabel passed away from The Bahamas with only slight breezes
felt in Nassau. The Glass Window Bridge in Eleuthera had to be shut
temporarily during the storm because of the high surf and winds.
No one lost their life this time. The interesting thing about the
passing of the hurricane is the fact that people who claim to be Christians
said that they prayed the Hurricane away from The Bahamas. What we
don’t understand is if God listened to your prayers and supplications then
why would he send the hurricane toward another land mass that ended up
killing at last count 17 people and causing almost a billion dollars in
damage. Did they pray it away to the Carolinas or did they just pray
it away without care for others? There seems to be some kind of contradiction
there. Anyway, the storm is over now, and we pray that there won’t
be another for the rest of the season. The last thing we need is
another hurricane. Chief Meteorologist Basil Dean is shown pointing
out Isabel's shift in this Bahama Journal photo by Omar Barr.
A
FIGHT BETWEEN BABY PLPS AND FNMS
It was about time. We hadn’t heard from the
Young Liberals, the baby version of the PLP, more respectfully said
- the younger version of the PLP - for some time. They were responding
to the baby version of the FNM, the Torchbearers, who appear to have a
more active life. The Torchbearers attacked Alfred Sears the Minister
of Education for what they claimed was his lack of application to the system
of education. Not so said the baby PLPs, he is doing a good job in
particular he is just trying to clean up the mess created by the FNM during
its time in office. We agree with the baby PLPs.
The FNM are the last ones who should talk, having
created a slush fund in the Education Guarantee loan scheme, without controls
and which the PLP has had to spend time and money to straighten up, and
having left a school system where the Director of Education was proud to
proclaim that students who were getting an average of D for their exams
as an improvement. Lawdy me!
What we are concerned about is that the Young Liberals
are not heard from enough. The PLP in general is not heard from enough.
It takes too long to respond. It is almost like the PLP has forgotten
the art of politics, like the cat has got their tongues. So maybe
this is the start of something new and nice. The chair of the Young
Liberals is Andrew Edwards.
