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The Free National Movement has made a monumental cock up of the road repairs. They have dug up too many roads in New Providence and there is chaos everywhere, diversion everywhere. They have cost the country millions of dollars in lost production by poor planning and poor execution. No one denies that the roads need repair and that the roads need upgrading. It is clear that given the press of the number of cars and the failure to get a good public transportation system that there is a need to upgrade the roads. The problem is the execution of this project and the obscenity of spending 120 million dollars on roads while our children can’t get scholarships to go to school. It is quite disgraceful. Fast forward now to tomorrow 5th September. This is the day that the Government's schools open. It is widely predicted that there will be chaos on the roads. The government’s website predicts for example that you will be able to access the Doris Johnson School west bound from the Fox Hill Road. That school has 1200 students. Not so. Our photo shows the state of the school’s gate. There is still tractor work going on and the road is a white top. The road is in fact blocked at the entrance to Pine Barren Road some 100 yards or so away to the east. The whole thing is a big lie. Businesses along the strip are as dead as dead can be. Our photo of the week with the prediction of chaos on the roads of New Providence is the white top road at the entrance of the Doris Johnson School on Prince Charles Drive in New Providence.
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COMMENT OF THE WEEK
THE BATTLE OVER HURRICANE RELIEF
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There are two narratives in the country now on hurricane relief. There is the one by the Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham who says that things are not so bad after all. Then there is the narrative of everyone else who has either seen the destruction or seen the photos of the destruction and are convinced that in many of our islands there is devastation.
The Prime Minister took issue with the Nassau Guardian for using the word DEVASTATION to describe the state of the country after Hurricane Irene swept through here now almost two weeks ago. All the photos show devastation in the islands of Cat Island, Rum Cay, Mayaguana, Eleuthera and in Abaco. But Mr. Ingraham insists that there is no such devastation. He even confronted the publisher of the Guardian about the use of the word so upset is he over the point.
Last week, we reported here that Mr. Ingraham is using the hurricane to try and win re-election. He thinks that this will show him to be a great and decisive leader. Instead he is being shown to be hopelessly out of touch with reality. Nothing can save him. He is stupidly blind to the obvious.
Perry Christie led a team of PLPs across the country last week. They went to Cat Island, Eleuthera, Acklins and Crooked Island. We report below on the press conference which was held after their visit. We show a video of the destruction which they saw.
The question we ask is why Hubert Ingraham is seeking to divide over hurricane relief?
What is also interesting is that apart from the Prime Minister’s voice and an intervention on a completely irrelevant subject by his Minister of Health Hubert Minnis last week, no one can hear from any other FNM MP. They have simply gone silent. Not one single word from them. As our mothers used to say: “What’s the matter cat got your tongue?”
This again shows the difference between the PLP's approach. The PLP's approach is let’s see how we can all work together. There should be no division. The PLP’s position is that people need help, let’s pitch in and help. The PLP says that all MPs should be on deck and put in a hand and a voice and show concern. The FNM lets their maximum leader do all the work and all the talking. That is no way to run a government.
We turn our focus now to New Providence. There is a need to investigate this island’s preparedness for a hurricane. There was too much destruction for the light breeze which blew through here with Hurricane Irene. The folks at the Bahamas Electricity Corporation need to answer for why the power was off for so long and why it took so long to restore the power and why no one can seem to get in touch with BEC as soon as the power goes off. There is no getting around that even as we admit that those individual BEC workers did a fabulous job in the islands and in New Providence in getting things up and running.
But they should explain to Dr. Franklin Walkine, the former MP, how his building in Collins Avenue was off and explain why he lost four days of business because of lost power during the storm. The power went off on Wednesday 23rd August in the mid afternoon and was not restored until Monday 29th August at 1:30 p.m. to his office.
Where was the usually loquacious and ubiquitous Michael Moss, the Chair of the Corporation? Usually he is up in everything directing and redirecting. Curiously he did not surface until after the hurricane once again predicting that the Corporation was going to make a profit. So we know where his head was at. In fact he is being blamed internally for the lack of preparedness of BEC, concentrating on his promise to turn a seven million dollar profit for BEC rather than making sure that BEC is ready to provide for the people of The Bahamas. The fact is BEC can turn a profit today if the government would simply pay its power bill of some forty million dollars owed to the Corporation.
Similarly, the General Manager of the Corporation Kevin Basden has largely been silent. Internally, they are again saying that plans were set to meet the emergencies but were all changed at the top. So we think an investigation is due.
Herbert Ingraham thinks the hurricane will be his political savior. He can say good-bye to the horse’s ass and count his reign in months.
The photo at the top shows PLP leader Perry Christie with his colleagues Alfred Gray, Shane Gibson and Vicent Peet. The photo is by the Nassau Guardian.The photo by the Nassau Guardian shows the straw vendors looking at the devastation at the market the day after Hurricane Irene.
Number of hits for the week ending Saturday3rd September 2011 up to midnight:134,374
Number of hits for the month of August up to Wednesday 31st August at midnight:658,051
Number of hits for the year 2011 up to Saturday 3rd September 2011 up to midnight:5,932,828
MITCHELL RESPONDS TO INGRAHAM ON SEATS
Fred Mitchell MP for Fox Hill issued the following statement on the remarks of the Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham on his proposals for the number of seats in the next House of Assembly:
31st August 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
I wish to take issue with the Prime Minister on the remarks in the press (Nassau Guardian 30th August) attributed to him on possible boundary changes in advance of the Constituencies Commission, not yet appointed. Since the Prime Minister is empowered to change what the Constituencies Commission decides, it is important for us to take note of his ruminations on this matter.
The Prime Minister has been arguing since he came to office that the number of seats needs to be reduced in Parliament. Last year Alfred Sears MP for Ft. Charlotte and myself went to Barbados to meet with other Opposition politicians from Jamaica and Barbados. I also stopped over in St. Lucia to brief the Leader of the Opposition there. One of the questions that arose is how does Parliament in these small states act as a check on the executive? That is an issue in every Caricom state. What tends to happen in most if not all Caricom states is that the entire parliamentary team goes into the Cabinet.
This is certainly the case today in The Bahamas. There is no separate legislative branch of government. The Cabinet is in fact the Parliament. We face that issue here where almost the entire team of Mr. Ingraham is the Cabinet. There is no back bench to speak of and so there is no check on the executive at all by Parliament, limited as that is in the Westminster system.
That is one reason I support more seats, not less seats in this Parliament. With more seats, the back bench could then outnumber the Cabinet and could provide a check on the executive. That I hasten to add is a personal view.
More substantively however, I want to inform the public that the Prime Minister keeps arguing for fewer seats in the House as if this provides some magic formula for efficiency and cost savings. We know that he is being disingenuous because costs mean nothing to his government given the number of sinecures that have been organized under his leadership. Jobs for the boys and girls is the order of the day.
The reason the PLP increased the seats to 41 in 2007 is that we too were conscious of the public sensitivity on the number of seats which at one time under Sir Lynden went to 49. We believed in 2007 after Mr. Ingraham’s reducing the seats in 2002, given the shifts and increases in population, the slight increase in seats could be defended from 40 to 41.
The other issue was that under no circumstances with the PLP’s increase to 41 seats, would there be a tied election. Given the trends in the Caribbean, this could easily happen. Where there is an odd number of seats, one side will always win outright.
I am also concerned that the Prime Minister wants to take us back to the 1997 boundaries. His people are saying those were the most fair boundaries ever. I disagree. The FNM’s 1997 drawn boundaries were the most outrageous examples of gerrymandering since the UBP days.
I remind the public that the constitution does not permit the reduction of seats below 38. Now that was set in 1965 and you are telling me today 46 years later with the population having doubled since then that an increase to 41 seats is not acceptable. Mr. Ingraham is wrong.
Finally, I want again to argue in this round for the inclusion in Fox Hill of the polling divisions taken out of Fox Hill in 1997 to help to defeat me but which left the Village of Fox Hill split in half. It is now time for the Prime Minister in the denouement of his career to be a statesman for once in his life and do the right thing.
End
The Nassau Guardian responded to the statement by Fred Mitchell on the question of the number of seats in the House of Assembly as follows in an editorial dated 1st September.
Fox Hill Member of Parliament Fred Mitchell set out his views on the size of Parliament yesterday. We disagree with Mitchell, but his views are reasonable and considered. Mitchell at least regularly contributes to public discourse. Few MPs do this.
Mitchell thinks there should be more MPs in the House of Assembly. He argues that more are needed so that a vibrant backbench would exist and be capable of holding the executive to account.
Here in The Bahamas we have come to a place where prime ministers appoint nearly all of their elected members to cabinet. This is done to satisfy MPs and their factions in parties.
Many ministers, junior ministers and parliamentary secretaries are not appointed because they are capable. In some instances posts are created to give them positions of prestige with little to do, as putting them in charge of something serious would be disastrous.
Therefore, once all the posts are given out, there is almost no backbench.
We agree with Mitchell that there needs to be more of a backbench. This would exist if there were fewer cabinet ministers. Our current leaders need to stop appointing people to cabinet just to lessen the political pressure on them within their parties.
Currently, there are 17 ministers. A quick look at the current group of ministers reveals which posts could be done away with. The post of minister of housing and all of the state ministry posts are unnecessary. A deeper examination would probably indicate a few other posts that could go.
Those five MPs taken out of cabinet could be backbenchers. The five added to the eight Free National Movement (FNM) MPs who are not cabinet members would make 13 backbenchers on the government side. The problem is not that we need more members to create a deep backbench. Fewer people need to be appointed to cabinet.
We have argued that the House needs only 20 to 30 seats in a country with a population of just over 350,000. For the number of House seats to be cut to fewer than 38, a constitutional amendment is needed. It is amazing that nearly 40 years ago our founders thought it necessary that there should be no less than 38 MPs at a time when the country only had around 200,000 people.
The time has come for us to discuss political reform in this country. Much of it requires constitutional reform. Sadly, in 2002 our leaders politicized the only constitution referendum an independent Bahamas has ever had. All of the questions were defeated. The FNM (the party pushing the process) after ‘losing’ the referendum then lost the general election a few months later. The parties are now terrified of referenda.
We must not go back to the days of 49 MPs, as existed in 1992. The trend has been downward since then and that should continue. The constitutional change to further cut the House seat total is needed.
End
PLP STATEMENT ON NEMA FUNDING
The Progressive Liberal Party issued a statement on Thursday 1st September calling for an increase in the budget of the National Emergency Management Agency which is responsible for hurricane relief. The PLP believes that NEMA’s response to the current hurricane crisis has been lacking and anemic.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) needs to be funded appropriately to ensure that protection is in place for the Bahamian people during times of natural disaster, Opposition Leader, the Rt. Hon. Perry Christie said on Thursday after touring Eleuthera in the wake of Hurricane Irene.
“We recognize that NEMA’s budget, I believe has been decreased and decreasing and so clearly that is a mistake.”
Mr. Christie was accompanied by his Deputy, the Hon Philip Davis, the Hon. Oswald Ingraham, MP for South Eleuthera, Golden Gates MP, Hon. Shane Gibson, PLP Chairman Bradley Roberts and PLP Candidates for North Eleuthera and Mount Moriah, Clay Sweeting and Arnold Forbes.
Mr. Christie, leader of the Progressive Liberal Party said that James Cistern seemed to be the most- affected settlement in Eleuthera by Irene where residents say they have received help from local church organizations but no NEMA assistance yet.
“There are people with roof damage, there are people who have suffered all kind of damage,” said Gregory Rolle, a Local Government Representative. Local Government has played an active and critical role in the post-Irene recovery period on Eleuthera, not only in James Cistern but also in Gregory Town where the Primary School has a gaping hole in the roof.
In Cupid’s Cay, roof-repairs present a major challenge too. “We need building materials,” said Lionel Fernander, a Local Government representative. The PLP leader believes Cupid’s Cay should qualify as an area requiring special attention as exists under the law because it sits on a peninsula and is extremely vulnerable during a hurricane. Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Hubert Ingraham has issued an exigency order for hurricane relief but Eleuthera is not on the list of islands that would benefit from it. Mr. Christie believes it should be. “We have seen in Eleuthera sufficient damage experienced by people who would want to have the same right as those who are in Cat Island and Acklins,” he said.
It has been one week since the storm passed and most of North Eleuthera remains without key utilities. “No phone, no power, no water,” Wellington Johnson owner of Johnson’s Gas Station in Lower Bogue, said.
The PLP has learned that Water and Sewerage Corporation generators may need to be replaced to provide the needed water supply. Mr. Christie said there must be a way to “weatherproof” communications systems. “For the north to be out of reach by the central government is a very difficult situation,” he said.
Dwindling diesel supplies at the North Eleuthera Airport could now impact the tourism product. PLP Candidate for North Eleuthera, Clay Sweeting said he offered to provide diesel from either Governor’s Harbour or Spanish Wells but was told the diesel was coming from Nassau.
“We cannot get any international flights if we do not have any diesel by tomorrow (Friday),” Sweeting said South Eleuthera fared much better but Member of Parliament for the area, the Hon. Oswald Ingraham said the process was moving “slowly” Mr. Christie however commended all those workers who continue relentlessly in their efforts to restore normalcy in Eleuthera.-
END-
THE PLP HURRICANE TOUR LED BY PGC
During the past week, the Leader of the Progressive Liberal Party took a team of MPs with him to the islands of Eleuthera, Cat Island, Crooked Island and Acklins to inspect the hurricane damage at those islands. Mr. Christie took issue with the Prime Minister’s characterization of what damage occurred and further chastised the Prime Minister for taking a partisan political approach to hurricane relief. The video embeds show the press conference and the remarks of Mr. Christie, Philip Davis MP For Cat Island, Rum Cay and San Salvador, Shane Gibson, MP for Golden Gates, Alfred Gray MP for Mayaguana, Inagua, Crooked Island, Acklins and Long Cay
( MICAL). The video is by Andrew Burrows.
Frederick Mitchell
show details 11:16 AM (21 hours ago)
MOODY’S DOWNGRADES THE BAHAMAS (PLP RESPONDS)
The following statement was issued by the Progressive Liberal Party in response to the down grade of the country’s credit outlook from stable to negative:
1st September 2011
The PLP notes the recent release of Moody’s Credit Ratings Report on The Bahamas that downgrades the country’s outlook from stable to negative. Moody’s essentially confirms FNM’s mismanagement of the economy. Of particular concern to Moody’s were the significant increases in the fiscal debt and deficits given increased spending; limited growth prospects in the near and medium term and the government’s continued challenges in improving revenue performance. "Debt rose steadily between 2000 and 2008, but over 40 percent of the increase occurred in the past two years alone." These set of conditions present difficulties to the government in “achieving a meaningful reduction in its debt levels in the near-to-medium-term” according to the report. Moody’s also said “the negative outlook reflects Moody's expectation that given the country's limited growth prospects, the government will have difficulty achieving a meaningful reduction in currently elevated debt levels in the near-to-medium term unless it is able to significantly increase revenues. While the pace of the increase in the government's debt levels is likely to slow in the coming years, a failure by the government to reverse the recent trend of rising debt would likely result in a downgrade of the Bahamas' rating. In order for the outlook to return to stable, the government would need to demonstrate a credible plan not just for stabilizing debt, but for reducing it to a level more consistent with the current A3 rating”.
This downgrade comes on the heels of the 2008 downgrading by Standard & Poors.
The Moody’s and Standard & Poors downgrading confirm the FNM’s mismanagement of the economy. After borrowing some $1.5 billion, unemployment is at record high levels; tourism continues to struggle; the private sector remains stagnant; government borrowing and public spending are dangerously unsustainable; since 2007 government revenue has failed to meet government forecasts while government expenditure consistently exceeds government forecasts.
The FNM takes care of special interests and does not put Bahamians first. The PLP is deeply concerned about the FNM’s systematic destruction of the Bahamian middle class. Putting Bahamians first, the PLP will soon be announcing its plan to create jobs; grow and incentivize small and medium sized Bahamian businesses; create opportunities for first home ownership and work with financial institutions to prevent hard working Bahamians from losing their homes.
DELGADO FORBES RESEARCH ON CRIME AND THE JOBLESS
The number one issue for the Bahamian voter in the island of New Providence where most people of The Bahamas live is crime. The second is unemployment. The FNM tries to pretend that there is no link between the two. The fact is that crime is worse today than it has ever been. Quite apart from the more esoteric arguments about the decline in the moral and ethical climate in the country, it appears that with the rise in unemployment, crime has become a bigger factor in the country. Some research by a young PLP Delgardo Forbes tends to back that up. It does not mean that unemployment is the cause of crime but what it suggests is that there is a causal link which cannot be dismissed. You may click here for the full research by Mr. Forbes.
CONGRATULATIONS TO CHASWELL HANNA
This story was reported in The Tribune on Thursday 1st September. We congratulate Sergeant Chaswell Hanna on his accomplishments. He has brought an intellectual heft to the fighting of crime in the country. Let us hope that he is able to stay the course in a country that finds his skills difficult to use . Best wishes to him. The story appeared in The Tribune:
AFTER years of intense study and the completion of a dissertation, Sergeant 2666 Chaswell Hanna of the Royal Bahamas Police Force has earned a Doctor of Education degree from Nova Southeastern University.
He majored in organisational leadership with a minor in conflict resolution, and finished the programme with a 4.0 GPA.
Dr Hanna's dissertation focused on the subject of school crime and violence.
He also holds a masters degree in criminal justice from the university of South Carolina; a bachelor of science degree in criminal justice and military science from Northern Michigan University; and an associate of arts degree in law and criminal justice from the College of the Bahamas.
The instructional content of Dr Hanna's doctorate was designed to cultivate the leadership skills needed in progressive organisations.
These include: strategic planning, informed decision making, policy drafting, creativity and innovation.
Dr Hanna said the minor in conflict resolution has built his capacity in problem solving, mediation and negotiation, as well as his ability to help feuding parties resolve conflicts.
A key part of his course focused on the ability to evaluate programmes and initiatives to determine whether they are working.
When programmes are not achieving their goals, Dr Hanna said, his training will help him find workable and effective alternatives.
Dr Hanna is the author of two studies that were inspired by his experiences as a homicide detective with the Central Detective Unit (CDU).
The most recent one, released earlier this year, was entitled: "Reducing Murders in the Bahamas: A Strategic Plan Based on Empirical Research."
He has now embarked on several new research projects, on topics such as school-based policing, police use of force, and improving detection/conviction rates.
He is currently posted at the Strategic Policy and Planning Branch of the RBPF.
Dr Hanna said he looks forward to putting his new skills to use in the fight against crime
THE HIGHGROVE SINGERS IN CONCERT
Adrian Archer led the Highgrove Singers in concert at the St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Kirk in Nassau on Friday 2nd September. They have another concert this evening as well in the same venue. The photos are by Peter Ramsay. Special guests at the concert were Minister of Social Services Loretta Butler Turner and Edward Turner, her husband along with former Deputy Prime Minister Frank Watson who was filling in for Governor General Sir Arthur Foulkes, patron of the event.
Bahamas Press published this on Friday 2nd September:
A BREAKING BP NEWS ALERT: Bahamas Press has learnt just minutes ago, Rodney Moncur, has been REJECTED by the DNA as candidate for the Bain and Grants Town Constituency. It was reported months ago by BP that Rodney 'Da Hammer' Moncur will not get the nomination from his Green Party. Moncur its tight-lipped over the decision.
Like Unlike • • Yesterday at 12:26pm near Nassau
Then Rodney Moncur published this on Facebook on Saturday 2nd September. So what are we to believe about this fellow?
COMMITTEE TO ELECT RODNEY MONCUR FOR BAIN & GRANTS TOWN IS ESTABLISHED.
by Rodney Moncur on Saturday, September 3, 2011 at 4:01pm
Political Activist Rodney Moncur formally announced today the establishment of "The Committee to Elect Rodney Moncur" as the Member of Parliament for The Bain & Grants Town Constituency. Mr. Moncur has been a resident of the Bain & Grants Town constituency for over fifty years.
The main goal of the committee is to ensure that Candidate Rodney Moncur wins the seat of The Bain & Grants Town Constituency in the 2012 General Elections. Another goal set forth by the committee is to raise some $20,000.00 in campaign funding. Moncur said " I appeal with the greatest humility, to all of my 4,781 friends on Facebook to donate to my campaign $5.00 per month until the General Election is held."
The money raised will go towards establishing and maintaining a Campaign Headquarters and the necessary equipments and supplies; a campaign vehicle along with other Political Paraphanelias.
Moncur is a Justice of the peace for the Districts of New Providence and Paradise Island. He has been a Leading Political Activist from a teenager for approximately 38 years. He has championed many social and political causes on behalf of the Bahamian masses. Moncur is the Director General of the pro-hanging group Families of murder victims.
PLP WELCOMES FNM RETURN TO PLP SCHOOL POLICING POLICY AS BETTER LATE THAN NEVER
4th September 2011
For Immediate Release
The Progressive Liberal Party welcomes the recent announcement by the FNM government that Police Liaison Officers will be assigned to each government school for the coming school year.
The PLP notes this is essentially the reestablishment of the School Based Policing Program, pioneered by the PLP. This initiative will reestablish safe learning environments in our public schools, enabling our students to develop their God given gifts and allow our educators to perform their duties without intimidation and fear for their personal safety.
The PLP roundly condemns the FNM for its initial cancellation of this important program—more evidence of a government that has put politics first, not Bahamians.
The consequences of the government’s decision to cancel the School Based Policing Program in 2007 were dire.
Media reports indicate that since 2007, the Ministry of Education and the Police have had to respond to major student riots, attempted murders and actual murders which brought school operations to a complete halt. As a matter of fact, a student was killed in a classroom at C. C. Sweeting High School following the cancellation of School Based Policing. Violence which started inside school was taken outside and resulted in the murder of school students at the Town Centre Mall, another near the Mall at Marathon and a third on Bay Street .
In June of this year alone, there were at least two major fights involving at least seventeen (17) high school students. At least five (5) students had to be taken to the Hospital suffering from serious stab wounds.
For years, the FNM has seemed paralyzed by rising violence in schools – but they have finally taken a positive step by returning to a PLP policy.
The PLP believes Bahamians deserve schools in which safety is not a concern, so that teachers can teach and students can learn, without fear and without harassment. Re-implementing the School Based Policing Initiative is a step in the right direction. The FNM Government was four years late to act in the public interest, but the PLP welcomes this initiative for the sake for our teachers and students.
BACK TO SCHOOL VIDEO BY THE FNM..NO SHAME THEY HAVE
BACK TO SCHOOL TRAFFIC ROUTES - NASSAU from FNM Restoring Your Trust on Vimeo.
LETTERS
TO THE EDITOR
Forrester Carroll writes this week from Freeport about the plan the PLP has to fight crime as announced by the PLP’s leader in a national address to the nation last month. Mr. Carroll criticizes the FNM and the DN for having no plan themselves but being full of criticism of the PLP’s plan:
“We cannot aspire to becoming a great nation, if we stand by and do nothing while we lose a whole generation of our young people.” Paraphrased, this is what the Hon. Perry Gladstone Christie said in his national address, to the nation a few weeks ago, when he outlined several steps that the PLP will take to curb crime when it is elected, to govern the country at the next polling exercise, come 2012.
Both the FNM and DNA were quick to issue official party statements, criticizing Christie, claiming that the PLP’s plan is, among other things, “seriously deficient and lacking any real solutions to addressing the magnitude of the country’s criminal problem.” This was the essence of the criticism the PLP’s plan received from both these opposing groups; ironically, neither of the two groupings has, to date, been able to put forward a plan of their own to address this rapidly growing societal menace. The FNM government; in its four years and four months in office to date; has not found its footing with respect to controlling criminality in the country despite, thus far, putting forward no less than five or six different plans. No Tommy Turnquest/Hubert Ingraham/FNM government plan, put forth thus far, has gained any positive results; crime on the other hand has gotten worse and is getting worse by the week. The DNA’s criticisms are not worth my referencing as its leader, Branville McCartney, is of the same mindset as those of his former FNM cabinet colleagues; having been a part of that grouping up until only a year ago when, daring to aspire to be the FNM’s leader, he was forced out of the party. His colleagues failed to rally behind him and so he got pissed-off and resigned; first from his position as a junior cabinet minister and then eventually from the party completely. The man simply has no credibility when criticizing Christie’s crime fighting plans or for criticizing any other plan, the PLP will put forward, for that matter; having sanctioned the same five or six failed plans put forth, by his FNM government, before he deserted them earlier this year. It must not be forgotten that Branville McCartney and Hubert Ingraham have been bosom buddies for four years. They both sat together around the cabinet table every Tuesday morning, for all those years, planning the governance of this country and executing those plans; plans which materialized to the destruction of the lives of ninety per cent of the Bahamian people. McCartney doesn’t want the Bahamian people to focus on or be reminded of his years, as an FNM cabinet minister (2007 to 2011) before he resigned to form his DNA. Just because he doesn’t want us to talk about those years, doesn’t mean that those years are going to melt away, like magic; that’s the only record we have of him, in governance, and that’s the only thing that we have with which to judge his worth.
Stupid Carl Bethel, in responding on behalf of his party, admitted in essence that while the FNM government is well aware of the monumental task they face with the festering crime situation, the problem they have is that they really don’t know what to do about it. He said; “The government is deeply aware of the unacceptable high incidences of crime in our nation;” unquote. Well what the hell is your government going to do about the high incidences of crime, Mr. FNM Chairman? You were quick to criticize Christie’s plans, but offer none of your (FNM) own.
The murder rate in Jamaica has decreased by 40% while, for the same period, the rate of murder in the Bahamas has increased, nationwide, by 58% but in Nassau by 69%. I should tell you that, while I am not suggesting that Christie’s PLP Urban Renewal program alone is responsible for the positive results Jamaica is getting; Jamaica did, in fact, adopt Christie’s plan and vigorously implemented the program and, as a result, they are getting the same good results we were getting, with the program, prior to Ingraham dismantling it. Can you imagine 11,000 home invasions, alone, in a year and thousands more armed robberies; hundreds of rapes and attempted rapes; stolen cars and carjacking and other heinous crimes too numerous to list here? We are literally swimming in a cesspool of criminality and the only response we can get from the FNM government is criticism of the PLP’s plans to attack the menace and not implement an effective one of their own? How intelligent is it for Carl Bethel to criticize Christie’s intended approach when in fact his leader, and prime minister, has failed to implement an effective plan of his own? Does Carl Bethel think that it is simply enough for him, on behalf of his party (FNM), to admit that the government is well aware of the “high incidences of criminal activity in the country, as he put it in his response? We are not accusing your government of not knowing what the crises is, Mr. Bethel; we are accusing you of being clueless and not knowing what to do about the menace; that’s the charge you must defend.
Bahamians are even afraid to go home at nights, not knowing what they might meet lurking in the dark, waiting to pounce on them. Christie charged, and rightfully so, that in the face of all that’s going on, “the government has offered no effective solutions which could give the Bahamian people some comfort.” It is like existing in a jungle, opined a friend recently, where the law is NO law; you survive if you can for the game is; the survival of the fittest.
According to Christie’s plan the PLP intends, among other approaches, to restore Urban Renewal, but under an improved model he calls, “Urban Renewal 2.0.” As well the PLP will, with the concurrence of the commissioner of police, authorize the deployment of strike force teams to flood the areas where crime is rampant, for we must fight fire with fire and take on the criminals, head-on. All agree-the government and the police- that they know where the criminals hide out. Tommy Turnquest told us that he knows where the few criminals are who are causing this havoc in our country and the commissioner of police, as well, said he knows who they are and where they hang out so Christie says that since we know who they are and where they hang out, we will flood those areas with the presence of strike force teams. Persons accused of murder will be brought before the courts, within twelve months, tried, sentenced and given justice for the crimes committed (swift justice) and those found in possession of high-powered weapons will be tried in the Supreme Court where the sentencing would be stiffer. Special units will be set up for death penalty cases, in order to fast track appeals and avoid over stepping the time line considered and ruled by the Privy Council as being “cruel and inhumane.” And then, what seemed to piss-off Carl Bethel was Christie’s plan to engage the services of at least fifty street smart former gang-bangers, train them well and deploy them within the hot spot areas to work with the criminal minded and help steer them in the right direction. The plan is only innovative for the Bahamas but it is being used very effectively in the United States’ law enforcement circles. Much of the rehab success results (positive) seen by US Law enforcement agencies (they will tell you) are as a result of their use of these former gang members. When Christie mentioned that aspect, of his plan, my mind immediately focused on Pastor Carlos Reid who himself is a former gang member/leader and who is now (because of the grace of God he will admit to you) pastor of a ministry which focuses primarily on gang members and those on the brink of going astray. The PLP will am sure get Pastor Reid involved for the good of our country.
Bahamians are angry, Christie says; “for every shooting leaves a devastating legacy; every murder leaves behind a shattered family; every criminal act leaves behind a heartsick community, terrified that they would never escape the vicious cycle of violence.” “The escalation of crime in the country is a direct result, Christie charged, of poor governance; the tsunami of violence didn’t have to be” furthered, the Hon. Perry Gladstone Christie.
I commend the incoming prime minister for his foresight in putting forth this innovative plan to attack and dismantle these organized criminal groupings in the country. I condemn the outgoing prime minister for his lack of vision and his stupidity in dismantling the former government’s programs which were showing very positive signs of controlling this now out-of-control menace. The PLP’s, internationally acclaimed, Urban Renewal Program, it’s school policing program, its swift justice and witness protection programs were all achieving results but, for Ingraham’s FNM government, they were PLP programs and Ingraham was not about to work with anything that had Christie’s brand on it. Where ignorance is bliss, its folly to be wise and so it is.
Someone once said that you can’t fix STUPIDITY in a government; you must VOTE it out of office; FNM, you’re gone.
Forrester J Carroll J.P
Freeport, Grand Bahama
September 2011.
IN PASSING
Leslie Miller is Robbed
Former MP and Minister Leslie Miller was robbed at around 8 a.m. on Tuesday 30th August as he was doing his morning jog. Mr. Miller told his story to The Tribune. The robber snatched a gold chain from him and tore his shirt. He took off across the yard of J.M. Pinder another former MP in the Winton neighbourhood. The police have some leads.
Steve McKinney Gone
The press is reporting that radio talk show host Steve McKinney is once again off the air. He had among the most popular shows on radio, on the air at 5 p.m. each work day. The show has left Gems radio. The web press said that it was because URCA the regulatory authority fined the station for criticizing the FNM over the sale of BTC. Others say it was a simple commercial dispute where there is an argument over money. The new show’s host is Lincoln Bain who used to host the morning show at Gems before and used to be one half of Controversy TV. The morning show is now co-hosted by Ivoine Ingraham, an FNM ideologue and Athama Bowe, a PLP activist and former Tourism Ministry executive.
Michael Pintard’s Knee Jerk Reaction
Last week, Fred Mitchell MP issued a statement about the state of readiness of the country for hurricanes following the slow response of BEC, the power company and Cable Bahamas, the cable company. Senator Michael Pintard who has a pathological hatred and preoccupation with Fred Mitchell MP for Fox Hill was quick off the mark on the radio the next day to attack the statement. This is what you call a knee jerk reaction, dismissing the message because you hate the messenger.
Bolt Disqualified
There was shock and horror last week this time when the news came that Usain Bolt, the Jamaican runner and world record holder at the 100 and 200 metre distances flamed out by jump starting his 100 metre race last week Allison Smith of Freeport wrote on her Facebook page: “ Bolt is out” Turns out he was. The photo shows the priceless expression on his face. On Saturday 3rd September he made it all good by smoking the field in the 200 metre race, winning with the third fastest time ever for the race.
Bahamas Press Says No Landing
Bahamas Press carried a story last week which said that even after the power was restored to the country following Hurricane Irene, the lights were still out at the Lynden Pindling International Airport, delaying flights on Saturday 27th August. Shame on them.
Ingraham’s Disconnect On Devastated
Imagine in the face of all of the pictures showing the devastation wrought by Hurricane Irene in The Bahamas, the Prime Minister of the country Hubert Ingraham wants to take issue with that characterization. Lost in space. A picture says a thousand words.The photo shows the Anglican Church in Clarence Town, Long Island. Photo by Alex Storr.
Disconnect Of The Minister Of Health
There was a letter from the Minister of Health Dr. Hubert Minnis in the press last week. No one could quite figure out what the genesis of the letter was. There are rumours that he has ambitions beyond his present post to be the leader of the FNM. The long letter was ranging all over the place on subjects which had nothing to do with health but general public policy issues, like he was writing a manifesto or something. The point most people made is what he needs to be talking about is the dengue fever epidemic which is still raging in the country and which has been taking more lives and some are suggesting that the bleeding version of the disease is now surfacing here. The Minister takes the position that it really has little to do with him and is the province of Earl Deveaux, the Minister for the Environment who should be spraying the mosquitoes who carry the disease. Well what did we say about these FNMs and their disconnect from reality.
PLP Meets With Standard And Poors
Standard and Poors who are in the news as the ratings agency that recently downgraded the credit rating of the United States was in town last week and met with the Opposition PLP led by its Leader Perry G. Christie. Those attending were Fred Mitchell MP, Shane Gibson MP, Ryan Pinder MP, Philip Davis MP and Deputy Leader, Senator Allyson Gibson and Greg Moss, the PLP’s candidate for Marco City. The meeting took place on Tuesday 30th August.
Marjorie McKinney Dies
At the age of 89 Marjorie McKinney an émigré to New Providence from San Salvador in the southern Bahamas then known as Watlings Island died on 29th August. At the time of her death she was living with her daughter Janet and Janet’s husband Derek Davis of the Davis Convenience Store in Fox Hill. Mrs. McKinney whose husband predeceased her is survived by her children Winnie, Anthony, Andrew (former Chief of Protocol), Janet . Fred Mitchell MP for Fox Hill spoke at the memorial service for her at Epiphany Anglican Church in a service on Friday 2nd September. The funeral service is today at 2:30 p.m. at Christ The King Anglican Church in Ridgeland Park and she will be buried in Woodlawn Cemetery. The service will be conducted by her son-in-law Rev. Fr. Rodney Burrows.
Plans For Southwest Regional Conference
The plans for the PLPs next regional conference in New Providence are going full steam ahead. The South west region which will include the constituencies of Kennedy, Blue Hills, South Beach, Carmichael, Golden Gates, Golden Isles, Garden Hills and Mt. Moriah will meet in conference on the 28th, 29th and 30th September. The conference chairman is Dr. Kendal Major, the PLPs’ candidate for Garden Hills. The conference will be held at Worker’s House.
The Rigby Clan On Holiday
They spent the time with their father Raynard and mother Alex and had a grand time in Negril in Jamaica, but when the time was up could not be convinced that vacations come to an end. A happy family of the Rigby clan at play in Jamaica. Best.
Cell Phone Service Disruptions
More people have been given their walking tickets by Cable and Wireless nicknamed Cable and Wutless by the Bahamian people. These are the new owners of the Bahamian telephone company BTC. Marlin Johnson is the lead Bahamian at the company and he has done a good , no we say more, a credible job in putting a good face for this otherwise worthless company that does not have the interest of the Bahamian people at the heart. For example, while the phone system stayed largely intact during the storm, the cell phone service has deteriorated under their ownership and gotten worse as result of the storm. They promised last week that it will soon be fixed. Then they claimed that they gave away 2 million dollars to the Bahamian people to help us get over the storm: $250,000 in the cash, the rest in free phone calls. Well whoopee do. We hope that Mr. Johnson is suitably rewarded by this company for his efforts and not cast to the wind like the others that they laid off during the past week.
Alfred Gray MP Accuses PM Of Corrupt Practices
Alfred Gray MP for Mayaguana, Inagua, Crooked Island, Acklins and Long Cay (MICAL) has accused the Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham of corrupt practices according to The Tribune. The newspaper quoted Mr. Gray who appeared on a radio show in a story which appeared on Thursday 1st September on its front page. Mr. Gray said that the Prime Minister is using to get about the country a helicopter during this hurricane relief period owned by the Aga Kahn which was the centre of controversy in the country when it was used by Earl Deveaux, the Minister of the Environment who then violated the rules against dredging in the Exuma National Park and gave a permit to the Aga Kahn who has an island in the park. Notwithstanding all of that Mr. Ingraham is using the helicopter to get around the country. He has no shame. It is corrupt practice. It shows again the disconnect. Incredibly the silly cow Eileen Carron who runs The Tribune responded by saying that the PLP is just jealous of the fact that they can’t use the Aga Kahn’s helicopter. Bullsh.. She is just as corrupt in her thinking as her father before her.
Ingraham Signs Exigency Order
An order has been signed under the Customs Management Act to allow in goods for the rebuilding of homes and businesses as a result of the storm damage of Hurricane Irene duty free. The order was announced on Thursday 1st September. The order gives the duty free access for the islands of Cat Island and Acklins for six months. Rum Cay, San Salvador, Ragged Island, Inagua, Mayaguana, Long Cay will benefit for 90 days. The others will have to come under a general provision which says that anyone who has suffered storm damage can get the import duty free once it is approved by the relevant authority. The Director of NEMA has to approve the import in the named islands. It is unclear who the relevant authority is in other cases. The people of Exuma, Long Island, Eleuthera and Abaco are furious.
Five Most Powerful Bahamian Women
According to The Tribune newspapers, the five most influential women in The Bahamas (at the time) were identified by the US Embassy in a cable released by Wikileaks on Friday 2nd September. They were identified as The Tribune’s publisher Eileen Dupuch Carron, former Court of Appeal president Joan Sawyer, former Deputy Prime Minister Cynthia "Mother" Pratt, former Attorney General Allyson Maynard-Gibson and domestic violence victims' advocate Sandra Dean-Patterson. The list was compiled allegedly by Brendt Hardt, the duplicitous Charge D’affair for the Americans who served here during the time of the Progressive Liberal Party and part of the FNM’s time. All the women interviewed by The Tribune seemed flattered by the whole thing. That was an interesting effect. The Cables have served to embarrass the PLP on so many things and show how divisive American foreign policy can be: showing a good face to PLP officials in public but another face in their private cables. On the same day for example, the cables savaged Obie Wilchcombe, the PLP’s tourism minister saying that he had fooled the Bahamian public about his impact on changing the mind of the U.S. on the mandatory passports rules that was being implemented by them. So who do we believe the one on the women or the one on Mr. Wilchcombe? You see the difficulty. We believe the entire thing ought to be rejected as duplicitous. Certainly anyone who thinks that Eileen Carron is influential needs to have their head examined.
The Changing Look At Cable Beach
We share this photo of the changes that are taking place on the ground with the Cable Beach project known as Bahamar. It is already taking shape as this aerial photo shows.
Bahamians At World Championships
We have won a bronze medal on Thursday 1st September in the high jump competition at the games in Daegu, South Korea. Trevor Barry will bring home of the bronze medal. Debbie Ferguson McKenzie, an Olympic gold medalist in 2000 got into the final for the 200 metres but managed only sixth place. She is 35 years old. God bless her! Leevan Sands is in the final of the long jump. The Bahamian men's relay team for the 400 metres flamed out. There is a lot of chat about the coaches making the wrong decision in choosing the team that ran in the heats. Oh well better luck next time!
Ron Pinder rormer MP Applies For Bar Call
The Bar Coucnil has sent around a notice about the call to the Bar of Ron Pinder,the former MP who lost his seat in the 2007 general election. Since losing office, Mr. Pinder has married and now is to become a lawyer.
Missing Poodle
Missing Poodle 'Ace' Lost Saturday night in the vicinity of Eastern Rd. (Ridgeway Dr.)
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GIFT GIVING AT SANDILANDS: Friday 9th September was the day when the Member of Parliament for Fox Hill Fred Mitchell as he does annually joined the Fox Hill Constituency office in distributing gifts of books and pencils and other school supplies to the children of the school. After the presentations to the children this group wanted to gather for a picture. The boy on the right is the grandson of former Member of Parliament and founder of the FNM James Shepherd. He is the nephew of Karon Shepherd who is the head of the FNM Women’s Association. Politics and leadership it appears is in his blood. The young man told Mr. Mitchell that he wants to be the Prime Minister. All the more reason said Mr. Mitchell why we should take a picture “so I can see who my boss is going to be.” The photo of the group after the school presentations is the photo of the week.
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COMMENT OF THE WEEK
FLOAT LIKE A BUTTERFLY STING LIKE A BEE
The days are coming nearer, although the Prime Minister says that only he knows the day and the hour. Good for him. We want to tell him that it does not matter anymore what he does, his time is up. No matter what the day or the hour, he is gone.
But we write this today in the face of the boasts of his men who have been all around Freeport in their favourite meeting points like Wendy’s and their watering holes boasting about what the great chief is going to do to snatch the victory from the jaws of defeat. The problem we have is that the Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham has a long list of enemies real and imagined. He is too busy plotting and scheming to get rid of all of them and in the process the only person he will get rid of his himself. Praise God! And not a minute too soon.
He is famous for saying stupid things these days. Neil Percentie on whose death we report below is a young PLP activist, formerly an FNM organizer who was shot dead on the spot on a dark road in Fox Hill. No clue as to why he is dead. He did nothing wrong. He was just at the wrong place at the wrong time. This gives the lie to the stupid statement by the Prime Minister and his Minister of National Security Tommy Turnquest that the murders that we are experiencing now at 93 for the year are only the criminals killing one another. What explanation do they give to Neil Percentie's mother?
Mr. Ingraham's men say that he has no time for crime though. He is focused on elections. The FNM believes that it can buy the election out from under the PLP. So they are doing no canvassing,. They are simply waiting for the man to cut the boundaries and then they will announce their candidates and then it’s off to the races. As far as they are concerned the PLP and the DNA are simply wasting their energy at the moment.
So what are the specifics: the latest salvo is that in New Providence Fox Hill and Clifton seats are to be eliminated by re-districting. He thinks that he can get rid of Fred Mitchell this way and Kendal Wright who is his own FNM MP will also be gone. He did want him in the first place. So you see the point that we make: when you dig one grave you should dig two. How does he expect the FNM rank and file to sit back and take that sitting down? But then wait, there is Branville McCartney of the DNA. He has to eliminate that seat to in order to get rid of Mr. McCartney. So you how complicated this thing gets.
Fred Mitchell he can do nothing about. What the Prime Minister ought to do is purge himself of his hatred and just get used to the fact that Mr. Mitchell is a fact of his life. Get over it.
The people of Fox Hill, the traditional freed African village should not take it lying down either. It is clear that we have here is an Uncle Tom who will do anything to please his masters. He would destroy the constituency for purely political reasons.
The report gets juicier. The boaster in Freeport was saying that he has nothing to do with the jokers who are FNM representatives in Freeport ( five MPs and two senators and three of whom are Ministers of the government). He says that he works for Hubert and for the number two man. That there is going to be major change in Freeport with Neko Grant, the Minister Of Works losing his nomination for Lucaya and out also is Ken Russell and the nomination for High Rock.
This is great news. The boys are beginning to fight. This is precisely what led Mr. Ingraham into the trouble he had the last time in 2002 he was trounced by the PLP. Well not a moment too soon. It is time for him to go and we will help to put him under.
Number of hits for the week ending Saturday 10th September up to midnight: 102,755
Number of hits for the month of September up to Saturday 10th September up to midnight: 151,437
Number of hits for the year 2011 up to Saturday 10th September 2011 up to midnight: 6,050,774
GOVERNMENT PAYS EVANS AND CO'S BILL
This column has been reliably informed that the legal costs to the government from their
counsel in the case that they mounted unsucessfully against Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Cheryl Bethel has amounted to $644,800. The bill was rendered reporetdly by the firm Evans & Co and has been reporetdly paid. The question the public must now ask is whether or not this administration under Hubert Ingraham has the sense they are born with or have they taken leave of their senses? The issue is this: the cost of a new Director of Public Prosecutions has now been enormous to this country, easily now nearing two million dollars. The results of the imported Director of Public Prosecutions over a Bahamian has been spotty at best and if we are to be frank the results have been hopeless. There is no visble improvement in the sitaution in the Courts since Vinette Graham Allen came to The Bahamas from Jamaica with all her supposed expertise. She has been a stellar failure in the job. Most rcently she was even hauled over the coals by the Court of Appeal for what they thought was a misrepreantation. The government lost the case against Cheryl Grant Bethel who they stopped from getting the job using spurious evidence and manufactured propaganda. They then appealed the decision on costs which were awarded to Mrs. Grant Bethel of 90 per cent of the total costs, and certified for two counsel. Their late appeal cost them 3000 dollars which they had to pay right away to Mrs. Grant Bethel's lawyers in order to proceed. It is not usual for an appellate court to interfere with a judge's discrection on costs so one wonders really again have they taken leave of their senses. Clearly, this is a case of throwing the baby out with the bath water. They are spending money which is not their own. The country must demand some accountability in this matter.
PLP ISSUES STATEMENT ON POWER IN ABACO
The following statement was issued by the Progressive Liberal Party following our uplaod on the power supply in Abaco. The statement is issued by the Chairman of the Party Bradley B. Roberts :
Press Statement
By
The Progressive Liberal Party
September 11th 2011
BEC’s New Abaco Power Plant initially budgeted at $90 Mil escalated to $120 Mil and further costs overrun of $10 Mil to go.
The record will reflect that BEC’s Board of Directors in the latter part of 2006 approved a contract for the installation of four new generators and a Power Plant in Snake Cay, Abaco. Upon coming to office in May 2007 the contract was ‘stopped, reviewed & amended’ to change the site from Snake Cay to Wilson City at considerable expense (new road, transportation of fuel) to BEC.
The records will also reflect that only after the new Plant was finally completed it was remarkably discovered that new transmission lines were necessary and the ensuing mandatory exercise, to correct this oversight, took almost eight months to complete.
During a recent visit by the Leadership of the PLP to Abaco it was brought to our attention that both the new and old Power Plants were operational. Needless to say we were shocked but this was only the tip of the iceberg, as we were further informed that special transformers, a new switching system and a sub-station are required to complete the project. This remarkable discovery, which has not been publicly disclosed, will add millions of dollars beyond the expenditure to date of $120 million.
The cost of running two power plants is absolutely outrageous and ridiculous and a massive waste of BEC limited. The PLP has been advised, however, that it will take more than a year to acquire the additional equipment, as provision has to be made in the new fiscal period budget, beginning October 1st 2011.
The program left by the PLP Government in 2007, was to ensure a reliable source of electricity for the People of Abaco. As a result of this government’s infamous ‘Stop, Review & Cancel (or amend)’ policy, Abaco has suffered for massive power outages during the summers of 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 & again in 2011. Tourism during these past five summers has suffered greatly, notwithstanding the many promises of the FNM Government that the power outages would cease in Abaco.
Is this a Government that you can trust?
The Progressive Liberal Party demands that PM Hubert Ingraham, Ministers Earl Deveaux and Phenton Neymour definitively, and without equivocation, provide the expected date that the long overdue new Abaco Power Plant fully comes on stream? The nightmare needs to end for the good people of Abaco, who continue to suffer at the hands of a visionless and reckless FNM Government, whose management of BEC’s Abaco Power Plant has been destructive and costly.
This pattern of calamitous mismanagement of BEC is sadly being widely experienced, particularly in New Providence and is reflective of the overall destructive course the FNM has taken the entire Bahamas on since their return to office. The quality of life for lower and middle income Bahamians, who can least afford it, have been greatly diminished under this outgoing FNM Administration.
MITCHELL, PINDER AND NOTTAGE ON SCHOOL DAYS
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The following statement was issued by Fred Mitchell MP for Fox Hill, Ryan Pinder MP for Elizabeth and William Nottage, the PLP’s candidate for St. Anne’s
6th September 2011
Yesterday 5th September we observed the first day of school at Doris Johnson Senior School on Prince Charles Drive. We express our concern about the state of readiness of the road in front of the school and the accessibility of the school during what appeared to us to be a heavy construction period. The children returning to school had to run the gauntlet of road closures, unpaved roads, lack of directions, misinformation and blocked entrances.
We were particularly concerned that the children had to cross over and between a tractor which was busy at work on the road while the children were navigating their way to school. This is a safety concern.
The government's road improvement programme administration did not fulfill its promise which was to ensure that by the time school opened the road would in fact be fixed. This is symptomatic of the mismanagement of this so called road improvement programme which has led to chaos on our roads, mass inconvenience to the public, threats to the safety of pedestrians and motorists alike, and economic disaster for merchants everywhere the programme has been taking place.
In addition, the MP for Fox Hill wishes to draw to the attention of the public that the Sandilands Primary School grounds were not ready for the school opening. There is still the remains of construction on the site, refuse needs to be collected, and the debris from the Hurricane Irene has not been removed.
The MP has specific concerns about the openness of the school property as well. Despite the fact that the wall was built higher during the holidays, the campus is still to open to strangers wandering in the school yard without proper checks being possible by the security staff.
The other point is that there is a serious demand for a preschool to be placed in the Sandilands Primary School. Right now the only pre-school to serve the eastern area of New Providence is the Thelma Gibson School. That school does a good job but cannot take more than 40 students. The catchment area which the school serves has a much greater demand than that. The need cannot be met. Teachers in Sandilands are slowed down because too many students are coming into grade one without the requisite basic skills for a grade one student: the ability to write their names, count and identify letters. This can be rectified by a proper pre-school education.
When Carl Bethel demitted office as Minister of Education he held a signing ceremony for the transfer of certain church held lands to the Sandilands School for the expansion of the school. The formalities of that have still not been completed and the Church is now threatening to take back the land if something is not done to bring the matter to a conclusion. This is a broken promise by the FNM administration.
These matters are known to the Minister of Education and are unaddressed
We in the PLP have pledged to double the size of the education budget in real terms over the five year term when we next get the opportunity to govern. Part of that will be a dramatic expansion and investment in pre-school education.
End
THE FNM PUSHES BACK ON SCHOOL STATEMENT
The Minister of Education Desmond Bannister does not like the idea that the PLP plans to double the budget for education over its fiveyears in office in real terms. The Tribune interviewed him and in an article on 7th September, he asked: “Where is the money doing to come from?” This is the line which the FNM means to take. Their propaganda chief Eileen Carron, silly cow, sitting at home with nothing better to do. She of the same argument that said that the PLP’s allegations of corrupt practice against the Prime Minister for using the Aga Kahn’s helicopter was because the PLP was jealous that they couldn’t get the helicopter. Theargument was the same as Mr. Bannister: where is the money going to come from? She thought the idea was ridiculous. She thought that just because you throw money at a problem does not mean you will fix it.
Let us answer it this way: the society will either pay now or it will pay later. For correctness, this is not just the position of two PLPs MPs as The Tribune portrayed it. This is the Party’s position. Perry Christie speaking to the country on the crime issue said the following on 15th August in a national broadcast:
“We intend to double our investment in education over the next five years. We need better quality education for all our children, starting at the very beginning. Did you know that research has shown that at-risk children who don’t participate in quality preschool programs are five times more likely to be criminals at age 27 than children who did have a good quality program early in their lives? Early education works – and it deserves our funding and our support.”
What this means is that there will be an investment in the human capital of the country. The same source which gave us 50 million dollars to dredge a harbour that we did not need is the same source that will find the money to make the investment. That source is really the source called political will. The society needs to make that investment; if not we will fall further behind and crime will swamp our society. It is as simple as that.
Further, there will be an investment in tertiary level scholarships for the young people; there will be more pay for teachers, better training for teachers and students, better buildings and more secure buildings. Yes, the PLP means to do it. It must have the political will.
But if you want to see what Desmond Bannister had to say about it you can click here for the full story by The Tribune.
CUBA’S STATEMENT ON LIBYA
The following statement was issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cuba on the situation in Libya. It is in sharp contrast the view of the western democracies about what is going on there:
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has proceeded to withdraw its diplomatic personnel in Libya, where foreign intervention and the NATO military aggression have intensified the conflict and have prevented the Libyan people from advancing towards a negotiated and peaceful solution in the full exercise of their self-determination.
The Republic of Cuba does not recognize the National Transition Council or any other provisional authority and will only give its recognition to a government legitimately constituted in that country without foreign intervention and through the free, sovereign and sole will of the sister Libyan people.
Ambassador Víctor Ramírez Peña and First Secretary Armando Pérez Suárez, both accredited in Tripoli, have maintained an impeccable conduct, strictly adhering to their diplomatic status, have run risks and have been at the side of the Libyan people in this tragic situation.
They have been direct witnesses of NATO bombings of civil targets and the deaths of innocent people.
On the crude pretext of protecting civilians, NATO has killed thousands of people, has ignored the constructive initiatives of the African Union and other countries and has even violated the questionable resolutions imposed by the Security Council, in particular by attacking civilian targets, by funding and supplying weapons to one side, as well as through the deployment of operative and diplomatic personnel on the ground.
The United Nations has ignored the clamour of international public opinion in the defence of peace and has become the accomplice of a war of conquest. Events are confirming the early warnings of Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro Ruz and Cuba’s timely condemnation in the UN. Now it is better understood what the so-called "responsibility to protect" is for in the hands of the powerful.
Cuba affirms that nothing can justify the killing of innocent people.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs demands the immediate end of the NATO bombardments which continue costing human lives and reiterates the urgency of permitting the Libyan people to find a peaceful and negotiated solution, without foreign intervention, in the exercise of their inalienable right to independence and self-determination, sovereignty over their natural resources and their territorial integrity.
Cuba attests to the fact that NATO’s conduct is directed at creating similar conditions for an intervention in Syria and demands the end of foreign interference in that Arab nation. It calls on the international community to prevent a new war, urges the United Nations to fulfil its duty of safeguarding the peace and supports the right of the Syrian people to their full independence and self-determination.
THE PLP’S MISSION TO NORTH ABACO
Renardo Curry is the PLP’s candidate for North Abaco. This is the seat of Hubert Ingraham, the Prime Minister. The seat is now in play. You would have thought with all the stuff being done by Hubert Ingraham, spending like a drunken sailor the public funds to invest in government projects in Abaco, he should be in a safe seat. But not so. Renardo Curry is on him like white on rice. He has a team of energetic young people. The mantra is this. Mr. Ingraham does not look out for the young people of North Abaco. He barely spends time there. It is a seat he takes for granted. He does not engage with the younger people. He spends too much of the government’s purse on fixing up Cooper’s Town where he comes from and the rest of North Abaco suffers. It is payback time big time. It is refreshing to see how the PLP’s candidate relates to the people there. So look for a big surprise when the election is held. PLP leader Perry Christie and a team of MPs including Shane Gibson, MP for Golden Gates, Fred Mitchell, MP Fox Hill and Ryan Pinder, MP for Elizabeth, along with the PLP’s chair Bradley Roberts and the Deputy Leader Philip Davis all went to Abaco to hold up the flag. They took the time to inspect the hurricane damage there and to visit the clinic where there was nurse’s strike in Marsh Harbour. PLP candidates Dr Danny Johnson and Dion Smith also travelled with the delegation. The visit took place on Wednesday 7th September. The video is by Burton Wallace.
THE DEATH OF NEIL PERCENTIE
The news broke early Friday morning 9th September. The story is sketchy. Neil Percentie, a well known member of the PLP’s Young Liberals, former FNM Torchbearer and an activist in the Pinedale area of the Marathon constituency, was shot to death instantly as he rode into the Fox Hill neighbourhood of Reeves Street around 11:30 p.m. on Thursday 8th September. It appears that someone thought since the windows of his car (he was not the driver) were tinted that he was in search of something and opened fire with a high power assault weapon at the car. The result: he was shot multiple times and died. The life of a 35 year old young man was snuffed out just like that. There are no leads just outrage, sadness, sorrow and impotence. One month before the MP for Fox Hill Fred Mitchell warned the police that there was a problem in that area that needed attention. What was done about it? There is a need to shut down that area of Fox Hill with physical pressure. Meetings have been held with the police. Nothing has happened. So we now have murder 93 almost the record for the whole of last year’s 94 murders. Jerome Fitzgerald, the candidate for Marathon issued a statement in which he expressed his sadness at the event. He said that Mr. Percentie had a heart of gold. Senator Fitzgerald was called to the scene of the police station where Mr. Percentie died. He said he was stunned by the event. This shows the foolishness of the statement by the Prime Minister that the murders are criminals killing one another.
BRENT SYMONETTE ACTUALLY DEIGNS TO SPEAK
You should read the story, if you have not that appeared in The Tribune of Friday 9th September. The story is Brent Symonette who has studiously avoided since he became Deputy Prime Minister commenting on the scandal of his being a shareholder in Bahamas Hot Mix which has collected one contract after the next from the government to fix the roads in Nassau. Now he has responded to Steve McKinney’s comments (now on a radio show on Love 97) about him enriching himself in government office. He suggested that Mr. McKinney was saying that because he was a rich man he could not or should run for office. Not so. The point is that you should not use your public office to enrich yourself. That is a point which he appeared not to get. The fact is that his net worth has gone up since he became the Deputy Prime Minister substantially. The question: how was it done and what is the basis of it. What we see is that this company Bahamas Hot Mix keeps getting contract after contract. He says in the article that he is a shareholder in the company. He also says that his children's trust is the shareholder in the company. Other Bahamians do not seem to qualify. What was curious though was his allegation that there were PLP ministers who got contracts when they were in office that could be called “special interests”. We would like to know what the heck he is talking about. Let’s not come with propaganda. Let’s come with facts.
You may click here for The Tribune story.
Bradley B Roberts, Chair of the Progressive Liberal Party, issued the following statement about the New Providence Road Improvement project. This project that has cost the Bahamian public 120 million dollars is now over budget and needs another 12 million dollars to complete. The roads are in a mess and chaos reigns on our streets as a result of the government trying to do too much at one time. They took no heed of the contract that they signed to be more sensitive to the public that they say they are trying to help. Businesses are suffering all along the route. Some have had to close down
. You may click here for the full statement of Mr. Roberts.
A Vice Premier of China visited The Bahamas on Saturday 10th September bearing a gift. He is on his way to the third China Caribbean Economic Conference which is being held in Trinidad and Tobago on Monday and Tuesday 12th and 13th September. The Vice Premier signed a technical cooperation agreement with the Government of The Bahamas which provides for the Chinese to give a grant of five million U.S. dollars. It is not said what the money is to be used for. This is to be decided. The Prime Minister hosted a dinner for the visiting guests at Atlantis on Saturday 10th September. Fred Mitchell, Opposition spokesman on Foreign Affairs attended the dinner for the PLP. The photos are by Peter Ramsay of the Bahamas Information Services.
FOX HILL PLP ELECTS YOUNG LIBERAL TEAM
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| First Vice Chairman Corey Munroe Secretary Rashad Smith Treasurer Tameka Collie P.R. Officer Shanea Armbrister NGYC Member LJ Glinton Chaplain Donique McPhee |
LETTERS
TO THE EDITOR
Forrester Carroll writes about the performance of the National Emergency Management Agency under Hubert Ingraham’s leadership:
This nerd, of a prime minister, just knows how to piss people off. While persons in Cat Island, Long Island, Abaco, Acklins, Eleuthera, Mayaguana and the adjourning Cays were suffering through the worse time of their lives, Ingraham goes before the news media, with that smirk, sheepish grin on his stupid face, making light of the situation and declaring that, “it was not all that bad.” He told the press that the situation in the islands was not as grave as the Nassau Guardian reported it to be. Are we to believe that the Nassau Guardian would report, as facts, unsubstantiated information? No, I do not accept that the publication would be that irresponsible at a time like that. Ingraham also made a silly statement to the effect that if his house were damaged in a hurricane he wouldn’t expect the government to make the repairs; I would like this MULLET-HEAD to tell us exactly what was the message he intended to convey by this asinine statement. Was he telling those, whose houses were damaged and or destroyed not to ask, or expect, the government to help them? This man, who calls himself the country’s prime minister, is a damn irresponsible, nasty little nincompoop. This bastard had the gall to make light of the suffering of our people? What should be done about this infidel who wants another five years to pass his gas, every five minutes, in the prime minister chair (as if he hasn’t done enough damage to us and our country already)? Kick the bastards out, at the polls, come the next election. This is the one time when what you say, counts.
In the aftermath of the devastating hurricane season of 2004, Perry Christie (yeah this same Perry Christie who the FNM has branded as having no vision and is indecisive) caused NEMA (the National Emergency Management Agency) to be brought into being. Christie, in his vision for a better Bahamas, saw the need for an agency, of the government, which would be mandated and charged with total oversight in times of natural disasters occurring in the country. We experienced the value of this agency when the furor of the hurricanes of 2005 hit Grand Bahama. Christie’s vision paid off, big time, and Grand Bahama could attest to the “HELP and HOPE” the agency brought to the many thousands who were affected, to the extent of losing all their worldly possessions. We did not see that state of preparedness in NEMA, a couple weeks ago. Post Irene, more than 48 hours passed before we received any kind of an official report and that from a clueless prime minister who obviously didn’t know what the hell he was talking about, when he spoke to the press. Ingraham claimed he was still waiting for some details from BTC. It appeared that officials from NEMA were intentionally prevented from giving any kind of a report and this is highly unusual as these are the people who should be in possession of first hand knowledge of the situation on the ground, in the affected areas. NEMA’s personnel would normally be the ones to brief the press, but in a DICTATOR’S world the DICTATOR is KING and is the only one who speaks and so it was, in this case, with Hubert Alexander Ingraham. This is typically Hubert Ingraham’s style; he has to have all the say because he considers himself to be the only one with any common sense and all the others, of us, are just ordinary FOOLS; but I say to this nerd, speak for yourself, you FOOL.
An anonymous letter writers with inside information on BTC since it was sold to cable and Wireless wrote this:
It truly is a damn shame that you are not still at BTC to not only speak up and protect the Staff but also to protect us the Bahamians from looking like a bunch of dumb jackasses. Of Course there are those Executives who are selling their souls for a bowl of porridge and the sad part is that they are a reflection of the staff and like someone said you need 2 GPS to find them where they are soo lost.
Everything we heard about C & W is becoming so evident now. A Leopard cannot change its skin. The BTC team is only supplied with information on a "need to know" basis and it is obvious in the technical area.
The plan to converge BTC into it's ONE network is taking shape and not one BTC Senior person have the testicular tissue to say anything about it. I have been advised that all the alarms on the Cellular 4G (3.5 HSPA) will be connected to Jamaica and there may be a monitoring station here in the Bahamas . The Cisco IP/MPLS Network has been identified to be taken out - Cisco has already been told that C&W will not renew the contract that we have with them - reason being they are too expensive.(you get for what you pay for)
The most dumbest thing i heard in telecommunication in a long time is that they have already purchased a firewall to be the lone firewall that is used for everything - LAN, 4G, NGN etc. (So if they have to put a new policy on the firewall for the LAN you would hold your breath hoping that person don't have a "fat finger" or don't make a mistake because the others will be affected).
C & W have decided not to use SONUS switch - SONUS is on its way out also. They say because they want to provide 8M in November they prefer to use Genband because it could interface to the Nortel switch (DMS 100/200 etc.)and allow ease of deployment of 8M DSL - I can't seem to get answers to my question from anyone in BTC and so i give up on asking questions. According to them BTC overpaid for the purchase of the NGN equipment by some 40%)
I hope that the PLP is serious about taking back control of BTC because many, many staff that remains is counting on them. Just about every day staff come looking for me to re-assure them that once the PLP return to Government that they will do something about BTC. (Of course I do re-assure them but even I am not too sure if they are serious).So many persons including myself believe that BTC was Hijacked just to fatten someone pocket because it just don't make sense. C & W main interest is to make money and not to improve the Telecommunication infrastructure in the Bahamas so that our country could remain on the cutting edge of technology. Their goal seem to be that they will put in the most cheapest equipment once it could do the most basic thing - there seem to be no Plan for BTC but to make them some money.
If the PLP takes back BTC it will take two Leon Williams to get it back to where he left it because by the time C& W finish with BTC no one would recognize it.
Michael Obediah Smith, the poet, wrote this open letter to the Prime Minister:
Dear Mr. Prime Minister,
How is it that in this country of ours, persons are allowed to get away with music in vehicles so loud that it shakes the earth and the sky? Do they pay more to license such vehicles - pay more for such a right, for such a ride - pay more to make life for others of us so uncomfortable - more than what is paid by the rest of us with nothing at all in excess - with nothing out of the ordinary?
It seems entirely unfair to the rest of law-abiding us that these persons are allowed to get away with these excesses. This though is one of the big problems in Bahama Land. What are the standards? What is the uniform? How aught a Bahamian to behave in The Bahamas? Why is more not done to establish and to maintain such a code?
Such persons are being allowed to GET AWAY WITH MURDER, as the saying goes. Why are such extremes in behavior allowed, more and more, to become HABIT? I tell you and you know very well already, that when behavior is allowed to become ingrained as it were - like a stain - it is that much more difficult to undo - that much more difficult to get out or to uproot.
I see around me and from year to year and more and more, the worst habits - the worst practices allowed to go unchallenged. Why these are so blaring for me is because this is so contrary to how I was brought up. This is so contrary to how DISCIPLINE is established. I was disciplined because I was loved. We discipline our children because we love them. Are we to conclude that the children or citizens of this nation of ours are not loved? Do they love their nation to abuse it and to traumatize it as they do? Would someone who loves his land or her land litter as I see people do - young and old - male and female? They just drop or fling anything anywhere.
There is this entire dynamic that I see that is NOT being addressed in the NATION building process. What is addressed? Murder. A lot of attention is given after someone is a murderer or a murder victim. These murders though are tied to littering are tied to this excessively loud music that is allowed to go unchallenged - that is not addressed.
Why to The Bahamas has the law not yet come which disallows cigarette smoking in public places and why is the law concerning burning or lighting fires without a permit not enforced? I see your government and you react to what you consider the BIG things - the economy and crime - when it is OUT OF HAND. What I do not see enough attention being paid to are the fine things - the finer things - the finest things.
The fine negative things as well as the fine positive things are as if occurring in a world apart. You neglect the things I complain of above and you neglect the nation's artists and the nation's art. You neglect the nation's poetry and the nation's poets. The country I live in as an artist, with the beauty I labor to make and to add, and with the things which are offensive to my soul - which offend me to the core, are as if occurring in a world or in a country apart from the one you govern.
I have been wondering, along with another artist-friend, from a prominent political family, I might add, if it is even worth it to register or to vote. It shall make no difference for us one way or another whether the FNM or the PLP is in power. What do they care of what our concerns are? What do they care for our refinement and sensibilities or for a REFINED NATION that is Paradise not just for tourists but for us ALL?
This is a rough, harsh place we like in and our politicians seem to like it JUST SO. It might be because of how well paid you are once you are in power. You can afford to live away - apart from the harsh reality of the life most of the rest of us have to deal with - have to face.
Obediah Michael Smith.
PH 242 394-6649
1:54 p.m.
Philip Smith writes on the boundaries and house seats:
1st September 2011
The Editor
Nassau Guardian Editorial of 31 August 2011
Captioned: “Keep cutting parliamentary seats”
Once again I have been provided cause for disappointment with the print media- a medium which provides some great material but, all too often, resonates with drivel. Your paper’s editorial of 31 August 2011 captioned “Keep cutting parliamentary seats” was one of those. The writer missed the point and the great difficulty facing us in The Bahamas.
It really does not matter if we have 38 seats (presently required as a minimum by the Constitution) or 49 (the number contested at the 1992 election) or even more. What matters is what is expected of members of parliament and the capacity to produce as required by the electorate.
The Bahamas could do quite well with less than two dozen members in a unicameral parliament with six or seven ministers- provided they were able and dedicated. The present parliament has too many ministers and members who just do not measure up to a reasonable standard. There is a real job that members of parliament could do working for and with the people who elected them but it does require some talent; an appreciation of the world around us; an appreciation of national realities; a social justice commitment; love and respect for the citizenry; among other capacities.
Another cause for great concern is that the present cabinet numbers seventeen ministers (and, there is one junior minister), even though the Constitution ONLY requires nine ministers including the prime minister. Mr. Ingraham has eight more ministers than constitutionally required. Yes, I know other prime ministers have headed cabinets of more than nine. Philip P. Smith Letter to Editor, Guardian re Editorial “Keep cutting parliamentary seats” 1st September 2011 2 | P a g e
Eight supernumerary ministers COST the taxpayer SUBSTANTIALLY MORE than eight members of parliament would cost. What is particularly galling is that there remains four so called ministers of state working in four ministries which already have ministers with job titles. I know that they were supposed to be ‘apprentices’ with ‘real’ ministers until they were able to learn the job- so far only one ‘apprentice’ has been given a real job! This is a clear case of the proverbial ‘jobs for the boys’.
And speaking of members of parliament, it is insulting to the supposed impartiality of the Honourable Speaker of the House of Assembly and the Justice of the Supreme Court who serve as Chairman and Deputy Chairman, respectively, of the constitutionally mandated Boundaries Commission, to have the prime minister publicly ruminating on the numbers before the Commission is able to consider and receive input from the public. The Commission would include two members of parliament appointed on the advice of the Prime Minister and one member appointed on the advice of the Leader of the Opposition. The prime minister is provided the opportunity, by the Constitution, to make changes to the Commission’s report before bringing the report to the House of Assembly. Take him to task for this breach rather than compliment him.
I support an independent electoral commission which will set constituency boundaries and be responsible for conducting elections. Then the prime minister and anyone else would be free to ruminate at any time because the decisions would not rest with them.
Just because it is a prime minister who speaks it does not mean that it is not drivel.
Thank you for your kind courtesies.
Yours sincerely,
Philip P. Smith
philippsmith@gmail.com
IN PASSING
Land And Sea Park Repairs
Hurricane Irene which blew through The Bahamas in August during the week of the 22nd left damage in its wake. One of the places it hit was the headquarters for the Bahamas National Trust in the Exuma Land and Sea Park. A photo of the repairs being done. The park is in the news because the Government of the FNM decided to allow a rich man who bribed them with money and the use of a helicopter to allow dredging inside the park in violation of the spirit and intendment of the rules.
Fred Mitchell MP Signs Cuban Book Of Condolences
In honour of the death of the member of the Political Bureau of the Cuban Communist Party (PCC), Vice President of the Council of State and Minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR), who died on September 3, 2011, the Cuban Embassy in the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, opened a condolence book for the public to sign. The book was available at the Embassy of Cuba on 61 Miller House, Collins Avenue, New Providence, The Bahamas, on Tuesday, September 6, 2011 through Thursday, September 9, 2011 from 09:00 to 18:00 each day. Casas Regueiro, the Minister, was born in Bombi, Mayari Arriba, on February 16, 1936. Fred Mitchell MP, the Opposition Spokesman on Foreign Affairs signed the book of condolences for the PLP on Wednesday 7th September
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The Dengue Fever Better Or Worse?
The people of the country still seem to be getting sick. In fact they are getting sicker as the bleeding version of the disease is now reported in the country. This is dengue fever, a mosquito borne disease, which The Bahamas should have stopped in its path several months ago but which rages on. The Minister Of Health Dr. Hubert Minnis lives in la la land on the subject, claiming that it is not as bad as it seems and that the cases are decreasing. The next day the Deputy Chief Medical Officer reported the bleeding version of the disease. Dr. Minnis takes the position that he does not understand why people are troubling him about the disease since it’s not his problem, it is a problem for Earl Deveaux, the Minister of the Environment who simply needs to spray for mosquitoes. That’s one way to deal with it Doc!
Suspicious Death Of A Woman And Her Child
A woman and her child were found dead floating in the harbour waters of New Providence on 6th September. The whole country was awash with rumours about happened? Columnist Felix Bethel ventured that this was a murder suicide with the mother killing the child and then killing herself. He speculated that something must have gone wrong terribly in her life. Her car was found a few days later and a man was questioned. This caused one web site to suggest that the spouse had done it. Nothing confirmed with that as the police let the man go without charge. Whatever. It is very sad. The mother is Amanda Seymour. The daughter is Kayla Burrows.
Portrait Of A DNA At Mass
Holy! Holy! Holy! Lord God Almighty! Nicholas Jacques as a Eucharistic Minister in the Roman Catholic Church at the altar. In his other life he is an activist ally of Rodney Moncur who is formerly Worker's party now DNA. Interesting!
Marjorie McKinney’s Funeral
The Leader of the Opposition Progressive Liberal party Perry Christie, Marguerite Pindling and MP for Fox Hill Fred Mitchell were amongst the mourners last week for the funeral of Marjorie McKinney whose funeral took place at Christ the King Anglican Church in New Providence on Sunday last. Mrs. McKinney is the mother of former Chief Of Protocol Andrew McKinney. The photo is by Peter Ramsay.
More Closures In Freeport
The city of Freeport is reeling with unemployment the number one issue on the minds of voters there. More unemployment has come with the promise that Club Fortuna will not reopen after the hurricane because of damage to the facility and Taino Beach Condominiums also closing. What is the FNM going to do to get Freeport back to work?
Bahamian In Major League Baseball
The Class of 1970 of St. Augustine’s College sent a congratulatory note to Glendia Huyler on her son Antan Richardson joining the Atlanta Braves as a Major League Baseball player. His first time at bat he hit a single. Congratulations. He is the great grandson of Dame Albertha Isaacs former PLP Senator.
Talk Of Bribery And Corruption In Abaco
The PLP’s Leader Perry Christie led a delegation to Abaco to have a look at the hurricane damage and to visit with supporters there in the constituency of Hubert Ingraham, the Prime Minister. All the talk is the FNM is bribing voters by the signing of a 27 million dollars contract to build the new airport building at Marsh Harbour. The place is swarming with Mr. Ingraham’s constituents. Not a problem one guesses if there is value for money. Problem is DNA candidate Roscoe Thompson of the South Abaco seat says that the building there is a building less than the square footage of the new supermarket built there in Marsh Harbour also with a huge parking lot and costs eleven million dollars more than the supermarket building. He asks where is the extra money going? We guess this is how Mr. Ingraham will pay for his campaign up there. The FNM intends to buy its way back into office.
Good luck to singer Osano Neely who is running to be the President of the Student Council at Queen's College. Also best wishes to Latrae Rahming who is also running to be President of the Student Council at Temple Christian.
Al Dillette reports that someone with an eagle eye who read this column found his beloved pet Ace who was reported missing on this site last week. We are happy he is home and safe.