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THE TURKS AND CAICOS, OUT KITH AND KIN	THE WOMEN PUT ON AN EXCELLENT PROGRAMME
DO DO HITS THE FAN AT NATIONAL INSURANCE	CARIBBEAN PROMOTIONS BODIES MEET
THE CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING IN FOX HILL	THE TURKS PARLIAMENT GETS GOING AGAIN
SPEED WEEK AGAIN THIS YEAR	BAHAMAS MININSTER OF TOURISM HONOURED
ALMA ADAMS GETS QUEEN’S INSTRUCTIONS FOR CUBA	TURKS GOVERNOR WELCOMES BAHAMIAN DELEGATION



LETTERS TO THE EDITOR...	IN PASSING...




Fred Mitchell Launches 3^rdEdition of 'Great Moments In PLP History...	Fred Mitchell's 56th Birthday Party In Support of the 'Mission Fund'...
The Official Site of the Progressive Liberal Party...	The Official Site of the Free National Movement...
PhilipBraveDavis.com...	Interesting Places...
JeromeFiztgerald.org	Bahamas Government Website
KendredDorsett.com	Reg & Kit's Bahamas Links
FredMitchellUncensored.Com ARCHIVES...	Bahamians On The Web
How & Why The PLP Lost in 2007 - The Greenberg Report...	BahamasIssues.com
	BradleybRoberts.com

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THEY WALK IN THE GIANT FOOTSTEPS: the women of The Bahamas have much about which to be proud. Throughout the twentieth century, they have moved from chattel status to equal partners in the country for its development. Much of that fight was driven through the fight for the right to vote, ironically started in The Bahamas, when a losing candidate for office Rufus Ingraham in 1948 complained to his wife Mary that if only women could have voted, he would have won the election. That set her organizing with the Elks of which she was a part and started a whole movement. The Elks were central to that. On 26th November 1962, women voted for the first time and have voted in elections since then. They outnumber men in the electorate; today there are ten per cent more women registered to vote than men but only 22 per cent of the parliament is female. Change must come and will come given what is happening with men in the schools and in the work force. Women celebrated the day with a special joint sitting of Parliament on 26th November and it was led by PLP women Melanie Griffin, Allyson Gibson, Glenys Hanna Martin, Hope Strachan, Cheryl Bazard, and Sharon Wilson. On the FNM side, there was Heather Hunt and Loretta Butler Turner. They read Dame Doris Johnson's speech that should have been delivered to the House in 1959 into the record. A pleasing sight. Our photo of the week then is that of the female Parliamentarians leading the way across Rawson Square for the day’s celebration on 26th November 1962. The photo is by Derek Smith of the Bahamas Information Services.

COMMENT OF THE WEEK

THE TURKS AND CAICOS, OUT KITH AND KIN

It was a strange sight and an even stranger feeling. The clergyman in the service called for the singing of the National Anthem. The people stood at attention, and as the sun shone outside on blue water, God Save the Queen rang out across the church. This after all was British territory. The British had just surrendered some of their power, which they had seized from the Turks and Caicos Islands three years before, arising out of findings of corruption in the government of the Turks and Caicos Islands. The day was 28th November 2012 and this was Grand Turk, capital of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

In the first half of the twentieth century, a century now 12 years in the past, The Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands were both British possessions. There was an uneven history between them. First they were tied administratively and juridically to The Bahamas, then after protest over taxation and representation, they were not. They were governed out of Jamaica until Jamaica achieved its independence in 1962 then they were back with The Bahamas again.

One consequence of that shared British heritage and common administration was that when the Owens Illinois company was looking for workers to cut pine in the fields of Andros, Abaco and Grand Bahama, they looked to The Turks and Caicos Islands to the south for the labour pool. The results are that settlements in Abaco and Grand Bahama have large pools of Turks and Caicos Islanders. In fact, it is said repeatedly that there are more Turks and Caicos Islanders in The Bahamas than there are in the Turks and Caicos. We are one people.

The Bahamas is now an independent country. One result of that independence was a new found prejudice against Turks and Caicos Islanders. There is still that general warmth of feeling but in times of strife it surfaces, the differences between the two nations who are really one geographical unit, separated by law.

So many shared institutions though: the Anglican Church is governed by one Bishop from Nassau, the Seventh Day Adventists, The Church of God of Prophecy, the Methodists. At one time, The Bahamas trained their police force and we shared the same Court of Appeal.

When the economy of the Turks went through its boom in the first decade of the 20th century led by Michael Misick, Bahamians with Turks Island roots went back to the islands and got jobs and positions. Their officials all know Nassau and its people. That is still true today. The new Premier and his wife who is Bahamian both worked at the Princess Margaret Hospital as doctors.

Where are we going with this? The government of The Bahamas was the strongest voice in the international arena against the British from their actions in the Turks and Caicos Islands. The Bahamian Bishop Laish Boyd in his sermon at the special service on 28th November said that the British could not be absolved of responsibility for what happened in the Turks and Caicos Islands. He went further and said that when he examined the charge sheet arising out of what happened only Turks and Caicos Islanders are there and he thought the sheet should be amended so that at least one person who was not from the islands was on that charge sheet. Tough stuff.

The Bahamians sent their Deputy Prime Minister Philip Davis to lead a delegation. During the ceremony for the opening of the House, the Speaker of the House Robert Hall thanked Fred Mitchell, the Bahamian Foreign Minister for being a stalwart advocate for the Turks and Caicos Islands. Mr. Mitchell told the press that The Bahamas would continue to be a platform for the voice of the Turks and Caicos and their right to self-determination so that their voices can be heard in a way that the British were unable to do.

We think that these two countries are kith and kin and they ought to think about making some kind of constitutional or legal arrangements. In the first place, it should be hassle free travel so that passports are not necessary for Turks and Caicos Islanders to come into The Bahamas. Secondly, work permit free access to The Bahamas and for Bahamians to TCI. That would be a start.

The new government says that they will put the question of Independence for the Turks and Caicos to the country in a referendum. Sounds familiar. Should they go that route other things can ensure with The Bahamas.

Until then, we are their big brother. We congratulate them and wish them well in all their endeavors. The photo shows Fred Mitchell with the new Premier Dr. Rufus Ewing.

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THE WOMEN PUT ON AN EXCELLENT PROGRAMME

On the 26th November 1962, Lilla Angelina Mitchell, nee Forde, mother of Fred Mitchell, the MP, then 39 years old voted for the first time in her life. There has been general elections in The Bahamas from she reached her adulthood on 24th December 1942: 1949, 1956 and a special election in 1960. She could not participate in any of them. She was a woman and women could not vote. Hope Strachan, now a Minister of the government, and the granddaughter of the leading suffragette for the rights of women voters Mary Ingraham, told the story of how her grandmother started the campaign for women to vote after that 1949 general election when her husband Rufus lost the election and came home and told her: if women could have voted, he would have won. Such is how history is made. Lilla Mitchell later signed the petition for women to vote. One of many petitions that went to the House of Assembly. The first of them was rejected by Stafford Sands, who reportedly said that it would happen over his dead body. One of the ironies of life is that having made that declaration, he reversed course in February 1962; he was the one who moved the bill which saw women get the right to vote. The British had apparently made it clear that if the local legislature did not do so, they would act to enable it from the imperial Parliament in London. On 26th November 1962, Lilla Mitchell voted for the first time. She would turn forty years old on the 24th December of that year. On Monday 26th November 2012, the women of the Bahamas Parliament got and hosted a special joint sitting of Parliament to tell their story. It was a stellar event, one of those events that are historic. The speech which the men of the Parliament refused to hear in 1959 by Dame Doris Johnson was read in the House by the women who are today the beneficiaries of Dame Doris’ pioneering work. There were a few spoil sports like Loretta Butler Turner, the MP for Long Island, who insisted on trying to give the FNM credit for all that had happened. Then there was Darren Cash, struggling to maintain his efficacy and authenticity as Chair of the FNM, saying that Melanie Griffin the Minister was rewriting history on the PLP’s position on women. He suffers from a variant of the disease from which Eileen Carron, The Tribune editor, suffers that of a convenient memory. The rewriters of history are in fact Mr. Cash and his partisans. The fact is the day last week to mark the anniversary was a good day. Parliament was packed, people were proud of what they had done and now we move on to meet the challenge set by Melanie Griffin and that is to convert the clout of women in the electorate into actual numbers in the Parliament. There is much work to do but at this point we say a hearty congratulations and thanks for Lilla Mitchell and all those other anonymous souls who signed the petition long time ago. We salute again Mary Ingraham, Dame Albertha Isaacs, Georgiana K. Symonette, Mabel Walker, Dame Doris Johnson, and Eugienia Lockhart, the first leaders of the movement. Thank you ladies. The photos of the event are by Peter Ramsay and Derek Smith of the Bahamas Information Services.

Photos by Derek Smith:

Photos by Peter Ramsay:

DO DO HITS THE FAN AT NATIONAL INSURANCE

This column is read faithfully by some people. Perhaps it is read by the wrong people. Perhaps it is read by some people for the wrong reason. The right people clearly do not take seriously what is written here. In this column two weeks ago, there was a fairly extensive commentary on the situation which was brewing at the National Insurance Board, arising out of a leaked document which was written by the Board to its minister making allegations which might have been defamatory about the Director of National Insurance Algernon Cargill. The import of the commentary was that the course upon which the combatants were embarking was not a wise idea. It was hoped that there would be a drawing back from the breach. No such luck. The comment did say that in this present dispensation, there is not thought of compromise, it’s just let’s get whoever we can get from whatever advantage. The late Dean William Granger used to use the word bumptious to describe people who simply thought too much of themselves, were so self-absorbed that they couldn’t see the forest for the trees. The PLP has to be especially wary of this because the trap it fell into in the last term of office where a fight between two of its MPs in the Cabinet Room was one of series of tribulations that led to an image of a party out of control. Young men would not know their place and were soon accused fairly or not of corrupt intentions. Now we face that spectre all over again and full flight damage control is necessary. One side put the letter about Mr. Cargill, the NIB director, in the public domain. Mr. Cargill has now put his story in the public domain in the form of a court case which makes allegations of misconduct by the Board chairman. The end of the day, it has to be settled but in the meantime, each side is scorching the earth to no effect. This can only lead to damage to the PLP's brand if this is not taken in hand and taken in hand quickly. There is no right and wrong as we see it in this matter. Mr. Cargill’s defence is that he did it because he had the authority to do so, signed off by the Chairman of the Board at the time Patrick Ward. The Chairman of the Board today Greg Moss, an MP, is now forced to answer questions about spending habits, associations of people who he helped, the question of ultra vires spending by the Board. The last Chairman of NIB who acted ultra vires the powers of NIB was Earl Thompson then an MP, and he was charged before the courts with an offence. The charge failed but he left the PLP a bitter man which to this day has not been solved. He believed the PLP tried to destroy him. Dangerous grounds this is. Please someone; stop this madness before it goes any further.

CARIBBEAN PROMOTIONS BODIES MEET

Minister of State for Investments, Khaalis Rolle was the guest speaker at the Caribbean Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (CAIPA) awards banquet November 28 at the British Colonial Hilton. The two-day CAIPA annual general assembly was hosted by Caribbean Export Development Agency in its role as the CAIPA secretariat. CIAIPA forms part of the regional private sector programme funded by the European Union and in collaboration with the Bahamas Investment Authority. It was formed in 2007 with the objective of enabling collaboration among the CARIFORUM investment promotion agencies.Its aim is to strengthen the region’s visibility as an attractive destination, provide joint marketing opportunities, facilitate customized training for its members, and give them access to reliable information. The theme of this year’s conference was “Strengthening our Foundation, Expanding our Reach”.

Caption:Minister of State for Investment Khaalis Rolle speaking at the CAIPA awards banquet November 28, at the British Colonial Hilton Hotel. (BIS Photo / Raymond A Bethel)

THE CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING IN FOX HILL

Fred Mitchell MP for Fox Hill hosted the 15th annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony in his constituency. Thanks to Derek and Janet Davis, business people in Fox Hill, Ken Perigrod who donated the Christmas tree and the Fox Hill Festival committee headed by Maurice Tynes, the event was a swimming success. This year, the tree was named in honour of Gwendolyn Pratt, a well-known teacher and civic leader in Fox Hill. The photo is by Kristan Ingraham of the Bahamas Information Services.

THE TURKS PARLIAMENT GETS GOING AGAIN

We send congratulations to the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands on the restoration of democracy after it was seized by the British three years ago. It has been a slow climb back from an absolute mess. The new Parliament opened on the 28th November. The delegation was headed by Deputy Prime Minister Philip Davis and included the Foreign Minister Fred Mitchell, Hon. V. Alfred Gray, Minister of Agriculture, Marine Resources and Local Government; Khaalis Rolle, Minister of State for Investments; Hope Strachan, Minister of State in the Ministry of Transport; Picewell Forbes, M.P., Bahamas High Commissioner to CARICOM; Arnold Forbes, M.P., Chairman of the Bahamas Agricultural and Industrial Corporation; Senator Joseph Curry; Hubert Chipman, M.P., Opposition Spokesman for Foreign Affairs; Theo Neilly, M.P., and Mikhail Bullard, Foreign Service Officer.The new Turk’s Premier is Dr. Rufus Ewing and he worked as doctor in the Princess Margaret in Nassau. The photos are by Gina Gibbs of the Bahamas Information Services and PLP media and from the Facebook page of Theo Nielly MP.

SPEED WEEK AGAIN THIS YEAR

Using vintage cars and with the old racehorse and battle axe Sir Sterling Moss there to look things over Speed Week is getting underway once again in The Bahamas. On 30th November with the support of the Ministry of Tourism, the cars were in town and the racing will begin. Some photos for your enjoyment.
Photos are by Derek Smith of the Bahamas Information Services.

BAHAMAS MININSTER OF TOURISM HONOURED

Two Bahamians are among celebrities and business leaders being honored on the occasion of the 57th anniversary of the Montgomery Bus Boycott in the United States.
Minister of Tourism Obediah Wilchcombe and Dr. Deborah Bartlett have been selected by the Southern Youth Leadership Development Institute, the Alabama Power Company and the cities of Montgomery, Tuskegee, Saline and Atlanta to receive awards.

Minister Wilchcombe will receive the highest, The Vanguard Award, and Dr. Bartlett will receive the Legacy Award. Other recipients include the Staple Singers, civil rights attorney Fred Gray and Christopher Womack of the Southern Company.

President and Founder of the Southern Youth Leadership Development Institute, Doris Crenshaw, said the linkages between The Bahamas and Dr. Martin Luther King’s legacy is clear evidence of the need to strengthen relationships between The Bahamas and the United States, particularly Alabama. Mrs. Crenshaw said she worked with Minister Wilchcombe on several occasions during his first term in office and was impressed by his passion to advance the economic interests of the people of The Bahamas.

Dr. Bartlett is being awarded for her unwavering, non-stop support of all people and her continual support of the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

The award ceremony, scheduled for December 1, will include the unveiling of a marker at the offices where Dr. King and the Montgomery Improvement Association conducted their daily operations of the historic Montgomery Bus Boycott. Award recipients will also visit the parsonage where Dr. King lived and the house at which Freedom Riders were hidden.

ALMA ADAMS GETS QUEEN’S INSTRUCTIONS FOR CUBA

Nassau, The Bahamas -- Governor-General Sir Arthur Foulkes, presented Alma Adams with her Instruments of Appointment as the first woman Ambassador of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas to the Republic of Cuba, during a ceremony at Government House on Thursday, November 29, 2012.During the ceremony Mrs. Adams presented Letters of Recall on behalf of her predecessor Ambassador Vernon Burrows.She thanked the Governor-General, the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs for her appointment, and her parents for instilling the discipline and training she was able to use in her professional development.Mrs. Adams also credited former ambassadors Vernon Burrows and Carlton Wright for the work they accomplished in Cuba as it relates to further strengthening diplomatic ties between both countries. Some of her goals expressed are to explore partnerships in Mari culture, agriculture, industries and education, specifically Bahamians studying Spanish in Cuba. “Since I will be there, many more Bahamians will be speaking Spanish,” said the former Spanish teacher.The Governor General said it was a pleasure to present Mrs. Adams with her Instruments of Appointment, which comes at a time when the country is celebrating two important events – the 50th Anniversary of the Women’s Suffrage Movement and the 40th Independence Anniversary.He said the country appreciates the remarkable public service women have given in other areas but somehow they seem reluctant to venture into politics, although the political parties have embraced women over the years.Speaking to the close ties between The Bahamas and Cuba, Sir Arthur said he is working on a project to have a monument erected in Inagua in honour of Cuban liberator José Martí. (The story is by Lindsay Thompson of BIS and the photo is by Latisha Henderson and with the Minister of Foreign Affairs Fred Mitchell by Peter Ramsay)

TURKS GOVERNOR WELCOMES BAHAMIAN DELEGATION


Governor Damian Todd extends an invitation to the Bahamian Delegation to his Turks and Caicos residence, Waterloo. Governor Todd is standing in between DPM Phillip Davis on his right and Foreign Affairs and Immigration Minister Fred Mitchell on his left. (BIS Photo / Gena Gibbs).	Bahamas Government Opposition Spokesman Hubert Chipman at Governor's Residence in Grand Turk, TCI. (BIS Photo / Gena Gibbs).

The Bahamian Parliamentary delegation to the November 28 opening of Parliament in the Turks and Caicos Islands visited Waterloo, the Governor's residence, where they were warmly received by Governor Damian Todd.

Governor Todd noted how pleased he was to welcome the "very strong, distinguished delegation from The Bahamas'" as it was a very special day for TCI, following the November 9 general election.

“So, I am very pleased that your Deputy Prime Minister and your delegation are here to share this happy moment with us and also to show how very important relations are between the Turks and Caicos Islands and The Bahamas," said Governor Todd. He noted that its about people, business, shared culture, and shared experiences and that he and the people of TCI want to work together with their Bahamian friends and neighbours..

The Bahamian delegation included the Hon. Phillip Edward Davis, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Works and Urban Development; the Hon. Fred Mitchell, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration, the Hon. V. Alfred Gray, Minister of Agriculture, Marine Resources and Local Government, the Hon. Khaalis Rolle, the Minister of State for Investments; the Hon. Hope Strachan, Minister of State in the Ministry of Transport; Picewell Forbes, Bahamas High Commissioner to CARICOM; Mr. Arnold Forbes, M.P., Chairman of the Bahamas Agricultural and Industrial Corporation; Senator Joseph Curry; Hubert Chipman, M.P., Opposition Spokesman for Foreign Affairs, Theo Neilly, M.P., and Mikhail Bullard, Foreign Service Officer.

Deputy Prime Minister Davis offered the support of the Bahamian Government to help the Turks and Caicos Islands where necessary, as the two countries enjoy a rich history of good relations.

“It is indeed a pleasure to be at Waterloo and I thank the Governor for his warm and gracious welcome and hospitality, said Min inter Davis. "It was indeed a great day and a significant day for the peoples of Turks and Caicos Islands and we share their moment of joy at this moment. And, as I said earlier, The Bahamas is the facilitator for all the peoples of the Turks and Caicos Islands, we trust that this first step to wherever they wish to go and take their country is a magnificent one and momentous one,” he said.

DPM Davis admonished them to heed the advice of Bishop Laish Boyd, who said only cooperation between the Governor, the Opposition, and the new Premier that the wishes expressed through the vote of the people will be fulfilled.

Bahamian Opposition spokesman, Hubert Chipman, made remarks about the Bahamian Government's perception and support of TCI's resolve to mend the division brought on by accusations and confusion that are currently under investigation.

“First of all, I’d just like to thank the Governor for inviting us here on this occasion being the inauguration of Parliament. When I look at the Turks and Caicos over the last two or three years, which they had an interim government, not even an interim government, it was run by the Governor himself involved with a committee. And to come to this day, and to realise what the significance of what happened today is certainly indeed a pleasure to be a part of and witness it today," he said

Mr. Chipman said The Bahamas and Turks Island are one set of people and that Turks Islanders played a significant role in majority rule for The Bahamas in 1967. He said what has happened in the TCI is certainly a new beginning.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Forrester Carroll writes from Freeport this week about the leadership of the FNM, under pressure from all sides. He thinks that Dion Foulkes is as hot as a cayenne pepper after having lost four times in succession at getting elected to something. He thinks that Loretta Butler Turner is not much and calls her “Big Sexy”. As for Dr. Minnis, the FNM’s leader he tells him to stop being an ass. Whew! Hot stuff.

“I’d like to take you in the back room and tear up your ass;” this, reportedly, was how Dion Foulkes responded to his leader (Dr. Minnis) after Darron Cash “cleaned his clock” (beating Dion three to one) in the recent election for the post of chairman of the FNM. We are told that Dr. Minnis, who openly supported (he thought) the lesser of two evils (Darron Cash), attempted to extend the olive branch to a dejected, downtrodden and war weary Dion Foulkes when Foulkes retorted with the above opening volatile and threatening response. Dr. Minnis, as a leader though, has a lot to learn about good leadership practices-you don’t openly show support for any candidate in contests such as these, Sir; as leader you can’t afford the luxury of openly supporting one over the other; a good and prudent reason for observing this practice is that you just may end up having to work with the one you didn’t particularly like; you support your candidate (yes)but by prayer, supplications and your one secret vote; you then live with whatever the consequences happen to be; what you did, Mr. Leader, in endorsing Cash over Foulkes (openly), was a grave mistake which will haunt your tenure no matter how long you remain in your position. Foulkes will never forget what you did nor will he forgive you (Sir) for this political blunder; as a matter of fact, as we speak, Foulkes is marshalling his forces who will oppose you, for the leadership, at the next opportunity.

What I predicted (a few weeks ago) would happen in the FNM, after the battle for the chairmanship would have concluded, is indeed happening. Foulkes is now on the rampage and there’s no question that he has the support of one third of the party’s council-being those one out of every three council members who voted for him. Loretta Butler-Turner is, as well, adamantly opposed to Minnis; it is very obvious that she doesn’t think he is capable of leading the FNM anywhere much less into a successful general election battle against the well-oiled and battle ready PLP-hers is the third faction; and then there is the darkest of the horses (Zhivargo Laing) who makes up the fourth opposing force with which the good doctor will have to contend. For Dr. Minnis Laing’s pending departure from the senate should not be taken lightly but should be regarded as the clearest signal that Ingraham will, as well, be on deck against him; it should have sent him the clearest of messages that his position, at the helm of the FNM, is far from secured. If I read my radar images correctly it is Hubert Ingraham who will be manipulating Zhivargo Laing’s campaign, from the sidelines, from this point on; I submit that it was Ingraham who instructed Zhivargo to give Minnis his senate appointment back and clear the deck for the battle ahead. Laing’s “deep personal reasons” excuse for relinquishing his senatorial appointment is a bunch of hog wash; Whoever thinks that Zhivargo Laing is leaving the political scene for good should think again; those of you (FNMs) who are accusing him of being a deserter because (as you are saying) he did this very same thing once before (when in the aftermath of the FNM’s loss in 2002 he announced his departure from politics saying that the Lord called him back to the church) take heart for he is now under heavy manners from (he) papa so don’t be too hard on the young man. And so the four factions, I alluded to in an earlier article, are developing quite nicely and readying themselves for battle.

If I were Dr. Minnis I wouldn’t dare put any dependence in what Darron Cash tells me; Darron Cash will not support the good doctor when the vote, for the leadership of the party, takes place at the next general conclave of the party. I fully understand why Minnis supported the lesser of the two evils though (although I would not have shown my hand like he did if I were him) but Cash will not regard his support sufficiently to cause him to change his mind about Minnis’ inability to lead the party. Cash was very empathic in his opinion, of Minnis’ lack, which he outlined, precisely, in that secret email memo dispatched to all senior members of the council, minutes after that very volatile council meeting which took place days prior to the election for the chairman. He (Cash) made it clear that he and Dr. Minnis were at opposite ends of the spectrum when it came to the way forward for the party; Minnis he said was for less consultation, with the party’s hierarchy, while he (Cash) was for more in-depth consultation.

Having lost all of the last four political battles he waged recently (those both inside and outside the party) I can only imagine how pissed Foulkes is right now; his state of mind (am sure) compares with that of a wounded lion trying to protect her cubs from the advancing pack of Hyenas; it’s no doubt that he is hotter than a cayenne pepper. I would say that Minnis was quite lucky, given the mood the four time loser must have been in after his loss to Darron Cash that he (Dion) didn’t employ, in practical terms, the use of the physical threat he made against this very unwise leader.

No one can deny that the party is in shambles; no settled leadership, no definitive forward agenda and no defined policies, for the organization, in place. The party’s agenda seems to have settled at simply re-acting to the PLP’s agenda with clear emphasis on the word “NO.” Until the FNM goes to convention and have this situation settled (at that forum) they will remain in turmoil and limbo for the foreseeable future. I can tell you Sir (Dr. Minnis) that the majority of the hierarchy (of the FNM) has not embraced you, with open arms, as their legitimate leader; the factions, mentioned, intend to settle that question at the next convention; in the meantime, however, they are gathering their forces and readying themselves for a good old break down political fight. It is certainly very obvious (to me at least) that Loretta Butler-Turner is on a mission to make a name for herself and to attract attention to her supposed abilities to lead the party. She is so consumed with undermining (you) Dry Minnis (subtly she thinks) that she intentionally deports herself like an ass in parliament; her intention is to endear FNM supporters to her way and away from you, Sir. Her conduct was plain for all to see when, during the PM’s presentation of the bill dealing with the amendment to the gambling matter, she carried on like a hen in heat trying to attract the largest rooster in the pen. She ranted and raved like a dope head wanting a fix but getting none; no class and no finesse would be quite mild in describing the way she carried on while sitting there like a tub, firmly weighted down, on its own bottom. The rules of the house dictate that when the prime minister is making a presentation to the parliament-be it the budget or any other-that members sit their asses down and listen but not “BIG SEXY;” she had her own agenda, independent of her party’s, and no one-not the speaker and not her leader-could dare stop her; her conduct was so very despicable that the speaker was about to “NAME” her but instead called for a brief suspension of the house so he could have some words with her leader; the woman was a total disgrace. I am not so sure if her Long Island constituents appreciated their BIG and SEXY robust MP carrying on in that undignified manner; she reminded me of those huge Lower Deadman’s Cay Long Island pigs, we used to rear in our backyard, wallowing in their slop hole.

Today (20th November 2012) after reading the front page story in the Nassau Guardian and watching Minnis’ entire contribution to the debate on the gambling amendment, I herewith conclude that the man is an ass of the highest order and deserves to get his behind cut; he deserves to lose the leadership position, in his party, if only for the simple reason that he lacks even the very basic qualities of good, prudent and sensible leadership; I doubt very seriously that the party’s hierarchy elected him (initially) because they loved him; but no they elected him, I assume, because they thought him the one best able with the skills to lead them effectively. I was appalled while watching the opposition leader mislead parliament; he spoke as if he and his party were always against the idea of decriminalizing the web shop gambling activity when in fact the evidence, from the cabinet office, proves otherwise; the man even went as far as to claim that he, personally, has never been near one of the web shops. Paul Major, on JCN’s roundtable show “The Platform,” told that it was the Ingraham cabinet who engaged his services to bring web shop operators all together so they could meet with the cabinet; now Minnis, a senior cabinet minister at the time, claims he knows nothing about the matter? Additionally despite his government employing the services of the same British consultancy firm on gambling, and which the country has had for more than 30 years, his party’s position now is that the firm’s credentials are suspect. These are the same gambling advisors (mind you) we’ve had, for more than 30 years, under successive governments including Pindling’s, Ingraham’s and now Christie’s so what’s Minnis’ beef? Franklin Delano Roosevelt (America’s 32nd President) once said that “A radical is a man who has both his feet planted firmly-in the air though;” sounds very much like this “slipping and sliding” nincompoop, jackass FNM leader doesn’t it? I do not honestly believe that Minnis really wants to question the legitimacy of those British Advisors but rather that he wants just to say “NO” to everything the PLP does for that is his party’s only mandate, in all circumstances, comes what may.

After having agreed, themselves, that should they have won the government on May 7th they would have caused to be brought a referendum as well, to the people, for a “YES” or “NO” vote on the issue, and having pledged that they would have been guided by the people’s decision accordingly, we see them now flip-flopping on that very promise; having lost the elections they are now, very saintly, opposed to the idea. They have no damn credibility on anything and are simply prepared to say “NO” whenever the PLP says “YES” to something; is this going to be the essence of their agenda going forward?

The leadership role of Her Majesty’s (Queen Elizabeth the second) loyal opposition (presently) seems to be far above Minnis’ pay grade; it seems to be totally out of his depth; indeed the position deserves to be taken away from him before he self-destructs. Beware, Dr. Minnis, that you don’t find yourself, sooner, rather than later, in a similar precarious position as opined by American President Roosevelt when he said once (and I paraphrase) that “It is a terrible thing to look over your shoulder, when you are trying to lead a people, and find that not a damn one is following you.”
Lead Dr. Minnis and stop being an ass.

Thank you
Forrester J Carroll J.P
Freeport, Grand Bahama
December 2012.

A Message From Moses Moxey On Facebook

The grandson of the late Bonefish Folley of West End, Grand Bahama is a student at Kearny in Nebraska and wrote this reflection on his Facebook page. Here is a young man that you can expect great things from. It was posted on 30th November.
• I was asked yesterday in an interview, what motivates me? I thought long and hard and I said that I consider myself a computer, because there are so many things that come together to make me a wonderful invention. I look at my past and could not help but remember that there was hardly a Saturday when my hands were not bloody cleaning fish for my late grandfather and doing chores for him and grandmother.
I remember my mother, a true iron lady; before we started our Saturday’s work we would gather around the bed and pray.
I remember the time in elementary school when I was sick and missed weeks of school only to return and be scorned by friends.
I remember surviving through hurricanes that took a lot from me and my family including all of our possessions and my grandfather’s home.
I remember the times that some teachers made me feel stupid because I took a little longer to learn than others.
...
•
• I remember the Chicken Little play in the 5th grade. I wanted to play the king but I struggled with reading so I had to watch my friend Kyle play it.
• I remember every awards ceremony when I got absolutely nothing.
• I remember struggling not to get my b’s and d’s mixed up.
• I remember watching the kids on the basketball court and on the track rub their talent in my face because I was not as good as them.
• I remember the constant bullying I faced well into high school and the deplorable grades I received.
• I remember wanting to join the Royal Bahamas Police Force, but instead I was insulted by an officer in front of the entire recruitment staff because I did not have Good grades on my Bahamas Grade level assessment test.
• I remember worrying about my looks and color because others made me feel as if I did not deserve to be loved.
• I remember wanting to attend college, having everything, but money.
• I remember struggling to find myself in a lost world.
• There are many things I regret in my life but those things have made me who I am. I have chosen not to play the blame game, but instead play the hand I was dealt. I tried my best to learn from my mistakes though there are times that some lessons are taught twice. I look at who I am; where I am and where I've been and that motivates me to take another step in my journey of a thousand miles. What motivates you?

IN PASSING

World Aids Day

1st December was marked as World Aids Day, to remember the disease that has caused the deaths of millions around the world, as much from lack of affordable medicine as from ignorance and prejudice. Let us work together to eliminate the disease but also to eliminate ignorance and prejudice. Let each person know their HIV status and practice safe sex.

Loretta Really Gets Nasty

There is a new FNM connected web page which is circulated by e mail from an address cooperstown@gmail.com. That is the only attribution. It carries commentary generally in favour of the FNM. Last week in its first salvo it led with an attack on Fred Mitchell, the Foreign Minister, saying that this site had gotten the facts wrong with regard to Loretta Butler Turner’s unseemly behavior in the House of Assembly on 15th November, reported last week in the Comment of The Week. In the process, the article attempted to impugn Mr. Mitchell with nasty bits directed at him personally. This is all very interesting since, Loretta Butler Turner is a woman, and should know from the history of discrimination against women how easily it is to make allegations of being too butch, too biggity, too fat, too opinionated, all based in prejudice. Here it is, in 2012 when the entire world is moving so fast toward marriage equality and respect for the rights of all people, she is engaging in what Bishop Simeon Hall describes as homophobia. We are sad for her. She must really have some deep seated personal and political issues which she must overcome. Someone posted on Facebook, this quote said to be from the Greek philosopher Socrates: When debate is lost, slander becomes the tool of the loser. Pity Mrs. Butler Turner who should know better.

Hand Over In Miami’s St. Agnes

Rev Canon Richard Marquis Barry retired as the rector of St. Agnes Anglican Church in Overtown, Miami on Saturday 1st December. He has been the rector there in the Bahamian Church founded out of St. Agnes in Nassau since 1977. Rev Barry is succeeded by Rev. Fr. Denrick Rolle, a young Bahamian pastor who has been understudying for the last year and begins his pastorate today. Fred Mitchell, the Minister of Foreign Affairs attended, Fr. Barry’s last service and the Prime Minister Perry Christie along with Mr. Mitchell attended the first service of Fr. Rolle on Sunday 2nd December. The church has some 3000 members and is mainly made of people of Bahamian descent in Miami.

Simeon Hall Attacks Homophoiba

Very interesting. The Nassau Guardian on Wednesday 28th November carried a headline which said that Baptist Bishop Simeon Hall was attacking his fellow Bahamas Christian Council pastors as being homophobic. Bishop Hall was responding to the newspaper’s queries on gambling. He made it clear that he thought there should be no gambling at all but since gambling is here, they believe that it should be regulated. In that reply he said that the pastors were misdirected in their zeal on gambling and only seemed to be engaged in public commentary when it was time of attack homosexuals. He accused them of being homophobic. Strong words. Perhaps Loretta Butler Turner, the FNM MP, can take note.

Simeon Hall on Gambling

Bishop Simeon Hall, newly freed one supposes from the rigours of every day pastoring, went to the press to disagree with his fellow Bahamas Christian Council people. He said that while he did not support gambling, the activity exists and we should either abolish it altogether or regulate it. He thought that there were more pressing issues in which the Bahamas Christian Council could get involved. Bishop Hall is the second high profile preacher to publicly disagree with the Christian Council on the upcoming referendum on gambling scheduled for 28th January 2013. The other is Rev. Dr. Philip McPhee who said that he refused to supply money to help with the campaign against gambling and told the Christian Council they could more usefully use that money to help the poor. Bishop Hall’s remarks were reported in the Nassau Guardian of Wednesday 28th November.

Shane Gibson Dressed in White

The Facebook page of Michael Hooper, the brother of Minister of the Public Service Shane Gibson, did not identify the occasion but it’s pretty safe to say it looks like a wedding and a very special occasion indeed which took place at Nygard Cay in Lyford Cay, the rich ghetto out on the western end of New Providence. The lady, it appears is Mr. Hooper’s daughter. He is the former Manager of the British Colonial Hilton.

Leave Stephen Seymour Alone

Stephen Seymour was a cop who knew the streets when he was a policeman on the beat and even when he was promoted to the upper ranks. He left the Force during the waning days of the Ingraham administration to take a job at City Markets but we all know how that fell apart. Now he is back in the Force as an Assistant Commissioner, one step up from where he was when he retired a Superintendent on the Force. Thanks we think to Perry Christie, the Prime Minister and a Commissioner of Police who simply saw a good cop that was needed on the Force. Darren Cash, the FNM Chairman, trashed the appointment, and other nameless people said unkind things about police cronyism and jobs for the boys. But what does Darren Cash have to say about the fact that the retired Commissioner of Police Reginald Ferguson was after being appointed Commissioner of Police over the objections of the PLP, then retired and was made head of the Financial Intelligence Unit. Talk about jobs for the boys. Commissioner Ferguson was the most divisive commissioner in the history of the Force, seen to be an FNM ideologue and Hubert Ingraham hatchet man. We say leave Mr. Seymour alone.

Tommy To Be Buried Next Week

The country will pay tribute to its National Hero Thomas Augustus Robinson, better known as Tommy Robinson, who lost a battle with cancer last week in Nassau. Mr. Robinson, the track star, will be buried following a state recognized funeral service at the Christ Church Cathedral in Nassau on Wednesday 5th December. The Prime Minister Perry Christie will pay tribute. Regrettably the press reported last week that some following his death ransacked his home and stole personal mementos. No one has been arrested.

Happy Independence Day Barbados

The following statement was issued by the Bahamas Information Services on the 46th anniversary of the independence of Barbados on 30th November 2012:
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration Fred Mitchell congratulated the government and people of Barbados on behalf of the government and people of The Bahamas on the celebration of its forty-sixth anniversary of independence.

This was conveyed via diplomatic note earlier today to the non-resident Barbados High Commissioner to The Bahamas. The Foreign Affairs Minister assured Barbados of the support of The Bahamas as a regional ally and looked forward to continued work through CARICOM, friendship and functional cooperation around national issues of mutual interests.

Ghandi Reveals Multiple Sclerosis Diagnosis

Ghandi Pinder, the radio talk show host and the daughter of businesswoman Elaine Pinder, did what we consider an extraordinarily brave thing and that was to announce that on 17th October, she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. We wish her well.

President Obama Hosts Romney To Lunch

We would have paid a fortune to hear what happened in that luncheon meeting between Barrack Obama, the newly re-elected President of the United States and his challenger Mitt Romney which took place at the White House on Thursday 29th November.

Congratulations To Rev. Timothy Stuart

Rev. Timothy Stuart today celebrates 30 years as the pastor of the Bethel Baptist church in Meeting Street, Nassau, the oldest Baptist congregation in the Caribbean and the oldest Baptist church in The Bahamas. He recalled in a television interview that when he became the pastor of the church in 1982, he was 26 years old and was the average age of the grandchildren of most of his members. Deputy Prime Minister Philip Davis is to attend the services later today to mark the occasion.

Another Court Challenge To Referendum

The word in the back channels is that the FNM and some businessmen are preparing to challenge the government’s right to hold a referendum and to effect legislation on the basis that a law needs to be passed first which spells out the regime which the government intends to follow. It says that if they do not, then the referendum will not be lawful. The idea is to get an injunction to stop and delay the government, spread political confusion on the question and then make it look like the PLP does not know what it is doing.

U.S. Marine Ball In Nassau

The Minister of Foreign Affairs joined American Charge John Dinkelman at the U.S. Marine Ball held at the Hilton British Colonial on Saturday 17th November.

Meeting With Cuban Ambassador

Fred Mitchell, Foreign Minister, met over lunch with the Cuban Ambassador to The Bahamas on Friday 30th November to mark the occasion of the anniversary of the establishment of a physical presence of the Cuban embassy in Nassau.

Vernice Walkine Appointed

Congratulations to a well deserved Vernice Walkine as the new head at the Lynden Pindling Airport beginning March 2013. She is a former Director General of Tourism for The Bahamas.

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Fred Mitchell, the Foreign Minister of The Bahamas, travelled with Consul General Rhoda Jackson to Marrakesh in Morocco for a meeting on the Syrian crisis. While there he took the opportunity to meet with the Foreign Minister of the United Arab Emirates to propose a technical cooperation agreement between The Bahamas and the Emirates which includes Dubai. The financial services sector has been pushing for some outreach in Dubai. While there, a technical cooperation agreement was also proposed by the Government of Morocco which is now a non-permanent member of the Security Council of the United Nations. The photos show the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Morocco with Mr. Mitchell and a visit to the OCP, a phosphate company which is Morocco's largest corporation and sample of the simulator at a school for teaching people to drive in Morocco. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of St Lucia Baptiste was also in Morocco.

BRADLEY ON THE MOODY’S DOWN GRADE

The following statement was issued by Bradley Roberts, Chairman of the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP), on the announcement by Moody’s that The Bahamas’s credit rating has been downgraded from A3 to B . The company said that the financial situation of the country had deteriorated over the past five years, with negative growth and a rising public debt, and no sustainable path to getting the issues resolved. The Government has said that it will continue policies to try and grow the economy.

In a rating action today, December 13, 2012, Moody’s Investor Service has downgraded the credit rating of The Bahamas from A3 to Baa1.

The Report confirms and supports what this administration has been saying all along i.e. that during the years 2007 -2012 the Bahamian economy was grossly mismanaged by the FNM. Like the Standard and Poors downgrading, this downgrading by Moody’s is another indictment of failed FNM policies.

This administration inherited almost $100 Million in cost overruns on the New Providence Road Improvement Project (“NPRIP”), these funds had to be borrowed. Thirty three percent of the capital budget of the Ministry of Works and Urban Development for the 2012 – 2013 fiscal year relates to the completion of the NPRIP. The NPRIP is the most visible of the many examples of FNM mismanagement. Contrary to the suggestions made by the previous administration, this project did not result in a stimulus of the economy. Moody’s links the downgrading directly to the road works (FNM mismanagement). Additionally when this administration came to office in May of this year it was saddled with well over $100 Million in other unpaid bills for which money had to be borrowed to meet these long overdue obligations. This was on top of the $200 Million overdraft left by the FNM. These obligations had to be met as well as servicing a spiraling national debt.

The government has already stated that in conjunction with its international partners it is taking steps to address the drain on resources due to public sector support of loss making public sector corporations, to increase revenue by revamping our tax structure, to control the growth of public sector employment, to strengthen public sector planning, to accelerate job creating new construction and developments and to maximize job creation through existing and new touristic developments.

Notwithstanding the impediments left by the FNM, the Government has been resolutely moving ahead with short, medium and long term initiatives to systematically and in a sustained manner grow the economy. They include initiatives relating to the cost of energy and other measures which will reduce cost to consumers, stimulate investment and create jobs. Specific examples include the Sunwing/Hutchenson/Government recently announced project for Grand Bahama and the Genting/RAV Bahamas Bimini Bay project. Working cooperatively with the Developer and its hotel partners, the Baha Mar Cable Beach project is moving on target for a completion and opening in 2014, which will result in the creation of some 8,000 new jobs. A number of other projects are underway. These are all measures designed to positively impact the GDP, increase investor confidence, create new long term jobs and improve The Bahamas’ ratings by international agencies. As has been said, the ultimate objective of the Government’s medium term strategy is to gradually restore the debt to GDP ratio back to internationally accepted levels.

We previously created 22,000 jobs, restored investor confidence and placed the Bahamian economy on a significant growth pattern. We are confident that our strategy for turning around the economy and placing it on a growth trajectory will bear fruit in the short and long term.

In a rating action today, December 13, 2012, Moody’s Investor Service has downgraded the credit rating of the government of the Bahamas from A3 to Baa1.
As explained by Moody’s, key considerations of this rating action are:

1. Limited growth prospects following a protracted recession and weak recovery in tourism and construction
2. Significant and rapid deterioration of the government's balance sheet, exacerbated by a low revenue base
3. High and rising levels of debt and a weakening of debt sustainability metrics relative to peers
As rationale for the rating, the report highlights:
· The economy contracted at an average rate of 0.8% annually between 2007 and 2011 and Moody's expects the post-crisis recovery to remain fragile.
· The report reveals that as a result of expanding financing needs, the central government's debt level rose to 53% of GDP in 2012 from 31.7% in 2007.
· Tourism, offshore financial services, and construction sectors - the main drivers of economic activity - continue to face downside risks, exacerbated by an uncertain recovery in the US, the Bahamas’ main tourism market.
· The downgrade incorporates a marked deterioration of the government's financial balance over the past five years.
· The state plays an increasingly dominant role in the economy through elevated levels of capital spending on public works projects (as a result of prior commitments), social safety net transfers, public sector employment, and increased budgetary support to public sector corporations.
· This fiscal stimulus program is yet to yield growth dividends and unemployment remains close to 15%, depressing domestic demand.

The last point is especially telling in that despite the elevated levels of spending over the past five years and particularly the past two years, the benefits have been very narrowly distributed as evidenced by the persistently high level of unemployment.

The government of the Bahamas is committed to the stabilization and gradual reversal of these negative trends and to that end has developed a medium term strategy the aim of which is to reduce expenditure as a percentage of GDP, and increase revenue as a percentage of GDP. We intend to achieve this through expenditure control, improved revenue administration and economic growth.

During the upcoming mid-year budget process the government will lay out a clear detailed action points to address the fiscal imbalance.
The ultimate objective of this strategy is to gradually move the debt to GDP ratio back toward acceptable levels and ultimately to achieve a primary budget surplus.

Transition to University -- The College of The Bahamas held a Press Conference at the Northern Campus 13 December to discuss the result of an 11 July 2012 approval by the College Council to establish a Secretariat to "envision the character and design the roadmap to the University of The Bahamas." The Secretariat is mandated to ensure that the voices of administrators, faculty, staff, students, alumni and external stakeholders of the College are an integral part of the journey. Pictured from left: Dr. Joan Vanderpool, Higher Ed & Development Policy Specialist; Antoinette Seymour, Archivist; Rubbie Nottage, Legal Advisor; at the podium Dr. Ellamae Johnson Dennard. (BIS Photo / Vandyke Hepburn).

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Forrester Carroll writes from Freeport at the mortgage crisis and the PLP’s pledge to help those who were in trouble with their mortgages. He attacks Dr. Duane Sands, the former FNM Senator and is particularly harsh on Zhivargo Laing, the FNM’s former Minister of State for Finance because of their criticisms of the PLP’s programme for mortgage relief.

December 2012.During the general elections campaign, did the Rt. Hon. Prime Minister (Perry Christie) assure mortgagees (in default) that they would all qualify, no matter their financial situations, for help under the PLP’s proposed mortgage relief plan? No he didn’t. Did he tell them that, under the PLP’s proposal, there would be no qualifying standards (at all) that each would have to meet before relief could be considered? No he didn’t. Did he tell them that the government would assume payment of their mortgages? No he didn’t. Did he tell them that it would be a “free for all” where all that they owe would automatically be paid off (somehow) by some “sugar daddy” and that they could then remain in their houses with no other financial obligations? No (damn it) he didn’t; well where in the hell did Zhivargo Laing and Dr. Duane Sands get the impression that Christie promised all those things? I saw where those two FNM losers were bitching, in the newspapers recently, about something that did not happen. They were at their little political games again trying to convince mortgagees (who lost the ability to pay their mortgages during the hard times under the FNM government) who may not qualify at the end of the day to the standard required that the PLP somehow deceived them, during the elections campaign, giving them “false hope” (as Laing was quoted as putting it) that no matter the reason their mortgages were in arrears that they would be helped; nothing could be further from the truth, of course, but when since truth stood in the way of these suckers making up a good old lying story?

I have a question for the news media; why in the hell what Zhivargo Laing has to say, nowadays, is being considered newsworthy? This boy should go into hibernation and never again show his sour face in public; better still he should retreat into a mode of “sack cloth and ashes” while repenting of his and his government’s sins for putting this country in debt (we cannot pay) to the tune of Billions of dollars; destroying the lives of thousands of Bahamians in the process and bringing them into such bad financial positions where they lost everything (including their houses and properties) they worked so hard to qualify and secure mortgages against in the first place; this revolting young man should disappear and make sure he is not heard from again.

During the said campaign in the run up to the recent general elections and being cognizant of the impact of the Bahamian recession, precipitated (brought on) by the negative policies of the Ingraham Administration (2007-2012), Christie pledged that if the PLP won in those elections one, among the first pressing issues his new PLP Administration would address, would be the crisis in home mortgage defaults with the view to helping to save, through cooperation with the lending Institutions in the country, as many mortgages as could possibly be saved; provided mortgagees qualified to the agreed standard for relief. In 2009 or 2010 the Ingraham Administration, as well, pledged to do something similar with the view to achieving the same purpose and outcome but with them it was all talk and no action and therefore their plan (if they ever had one to begin with) never materialized in the three years left in their parliamentary term. The PLP is now delivering on that promise and all we could hear from the peanut gallery of the FNM is political negativity? Both Laing and Sands ought to be ashamed of themselves to be accusing the PLP of delivering only “false hope” (as they termed it), in this regard, when in fact their FNM Administration (although they promised) failed in their five-year term to lift a finger to assist in that socially-debilitating crisis situation.

Laing must have sought out the Nassau Guardian (I doubt seriously that they ran him down for comment) and begged them to interview him because I am very sure that the entire country doesn’t regard anything he has to say, at this point, on any matter as news worthy. In expressing his sentiments, on the PLP’s progress to date on the mortgage relief program, Laing told the Guardian’s reporter that quote; “I thought it was really “a selling of false hope” to people in the first place; the one reality is that hope deferred makes the heart sick and I imagine that out of this mortgage relief plan there will be many sick-heart people because they have gotten an expectation that cannot be fulfilled.” This boy is one “short of statue” deceiving, washed-up political jackass; the boy is a damn sore loser, just like his papa Hubert, whose heart and soul are saturated with anger; he and his lousy papa Hubert thought they had a monopoly, from the people, for governing this country but found out the hard way (after the recent general elections) that they were sadly mistaken. The PLP has been governing this Bahamas before the little twit (Zhivargo Laing) was even born; he knows nothing about the struggles of average Bahamians over the years so we give credence to nothing the little jackass says. To set the record straight (for all those who are influenced by Laing’s lies and innuendo) the PLP promised to introduce a mortgage relief plan and we have; we did not project a number, or a percentage, of those in default who would benefit from such a plan, we simply promised to save as many as possible and we are delivering on that promise. Obviously any fool would have expected that there would be qualifying factors for persons making application to the plan; to date, according to our State Finance minister, the Hon. Michael Halkitis, there are 400 applicants and of the 400 persons applying 150 have already qualified and the others are pending processing. From where I sit the percentage of the applicants, who have qualified thus far, represents around 38% which is no number to balk at under the circumstances. This is far more than the FNM, under Laing, Ingraham and Duane Sands, did for those who were losing their houses, on a daily basis, on their watch to default; they didn’t lift a damn finger to help the people but now Laing wants to run to the newspapers with his bunch of crap? Shut up, little boy, and go off the scene quietly you junior piss-head; I don’t know of many Bahamians who are not tired of hearing your damn name called Zhivargo so please, for the sake our sanity, go in the precious name of Jesus and let us try and forget you ever existed. When Laing makes statements like; “I think what we have is an example where the PLP said a lot of things in order to get elected. I suspect that they knew that this could not be accomplished,” it is obvious he is still sore over losing his cookie jar gravy train; get over it boy and settle on another career because your days in governing are over. When you see the inside of the House of Assembly again it would be to pay your respects to one of your fallen kind-not before.

“Any pretense that there is some plan out there that could rescue hundreds and hundreds of people from the situation that they are in when an economic crisis brought them into that situation really is pretentious. I believe it would be very difficult to have any program that provides relief to the thousands who find themselves in difficulty basically because the economy is still not meeting their need which is a good paying job that allows them to pay their mortgages;” Laing said. This damn young twit thinks he has the monopoly on intellect in this country when in fact Halkitis could run circles around the little jackass; you are quite a silly little fellow young man; I wonder what you are going to say when you meet the persons who actually would have been rescued by this PLP plan and they testify to you about how sweet it is to have their properties saved by the PLP’s plan; what will you say to them you damn fool?

It is typical of FNM politicians (like Zhivargo Laing) to avoid contributing anything real on real issues (when in opposition); their aim is to preach the negative even on issues where normally they would be in total, and unequivocal, agreement and so I say, like the apostle Paul to the Roman church; “O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death (fool)?”

Sidney Stubbs, the former MP, writes that his life is being made a living hell by someone whom he says he got elected. The message was posted on his Facebook page on Saturday 15the December:

I am a 52 year old Bahamian, who has made my share of mistakes, but I have asked God and the good people of The Bahamas to forgive me for those transgressions sometime back. I supported the Progressive Liberal Party(PLP), in the last elections. I worked with the campaign of a senior member of my Party in a family island, that member was elected with a comfortable plurality. I have always been transparent in my dealings with the candidate whom I worked with. Indeed, I now live quietly in the constituency of this senior politician. I have learnt recently that this politician whom I helped to get re-elected, is now spreading the word that he is going to run me, a Bahamian, out of his constituency. I have been accused of taking his campaign funds; a special meeting had to be called in order to clear my name. I don't want any thing from this politician, all I want to be is left alone to live my life quietly. I threw myself into the last campaign, and now this new Pharaoh, who I supported, is now trying to make my life a living "HELL". No Bahamian should be made to endure such treatment at the hands of callous men. I pray to my God every day that this cup will pass from me. I lived from May 2007 to May 2012, under the FNM Government, and was never treated this way. I am a Bahamian, a former Member of Parliament, who lives quietly, I mind my own business, but I too, have a right to make a living in the country of my birth. I am not going anywhere, and I will not be chased from where I currently stay; Right is on my side and God will protect me. God bless the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.

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Fred Mitchell MP for Fox Hill and the Minister of Foreign Affairs can tick off another one on his list of must get done before he leaves the scene. This time it was the refurbishment of the John F. Kennedy memorial site where the late U.S. President, the only sitting US President to visit The Bahamas planted a ficus tree on 21st December 1962. Mr. Mitchell talked about his first engagement in public policy that of walking to school with his boyhood and primary school friend Dr. Austin Davis and talking about the Cuban missile crisis as U.S. planes flew overhead and how John Kennedy influenced his life as a young man. The ceremony was a joint effort to refurbish the site because the plaque laid had been damaged by a road traffic accident and the trees planted by Mr. Kennedy, Prime Minister Harold MacMillan and Canadian Prime Minister John Diefenbaker on 21st December 1962 had all died. The Prime Minister Perry Christie did the honours on the recent occasion. He told the story of the President coming over to a group of Bahamian demonstrators and asking them why they were demonstrating and the President having lunch with five of them. The names of those who were at the lunch were Dr. Eugene Newry, Sir Arthur Foulkes, I.G. Stubbs, Friday Butler and Jeffery Thompson. Dr Newry and Sir Arthur were at the event, one now Ambassador to the UN, the other now Governor General. They were members of the National Committee for Positive Action (NCPA), an activist group of the Progressive Liberal Party then in Opposition at the time.

The photos are by Derek Smith of the Bahamas’ Information Services.

INSTRUMENTS -- Governor General Sir Arthur Foulkes, right, presents the new Bahamas British High Commissioner to Great Britain designate Eldred Bethel with his Instruments of Appointment, 13th December at Government House. (BIS Photo/Patrick Hanna)

The Fox Hill Urban Renewal Office headed by Inspector Antonio Munroe held its annual Christmas party on the Fox Hill parade on Thursday 20th December. The photos show that the seniors and the juniors had a grand time. They were joined by the representative for Fox Hill Fred Mitchell. The photos are by Urban Renewal.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Forrester Carroll writes from Freeport this week about Tommy Turnquest but only for a brief moment. He is really after Dion Foulkes, the former Labour Minister, whom he calls a pretender and says that he was the worst labour minister in the history of The Bahamas.

It amazes me to see how Tommy Turnquest, who didn’t give a damn about the spiraling crime statistics against persons, when he was National Security Minister, now pretends to care deeply about crimes against people. He never expressed, when he was minister for police matters, the high level of concern (he now pretends to have) which he expressed when he gave his opinion (on the recent crime report issued by the COP) to a Nassau Guardian reporter in an interview appearing in a report in Monday’s (3rd December) Edition of the Newspaper. I should like to remind Tommy of his miserable record as National Security Minister and to point out that his biggest achievement was that of the introduction of the ankle bracelet which, itself, was a colossal failure; just today (Wednesday 5th December) the media reported that one Keno Johnson, who was cuffed with one of the tracking bracelets, detached his and allegedly went about his business and murdered an unidentified man; so much for any credence that can be put in anything this FNM failure says. My subject character today, however, is not the pretender (Tommy Turnquest) but the other pretender Dion Foulkes. To Tommy, though, I wish to say, as Dwight David Eisenhower (President of the United States 1953-1961) once said; “The search for a scapegoat is the easiest of all hunting expeditions.”

Dion Foulkes was the labour minister (if am not mistaken) during two successive FNM Administrations; he ran as fast as he could to avoid every labour dispute (and they had plenty) which popped up, and became a crisis, during his tenures; he ducked and dodged unions and hardly ever responded to their calls for his intervention, and or mediation, in situations when they were at stalemate positions yet he seems (just like Tommy Turnquest now that he is in opposition) to be the first out of the gate pretending he cares so very deeply about what BTC’s management has done to Fayne Thompson’s sister when they dismissed her for what they say is a conflicting situation in that while she holds a management’s position at BTC she serves as well in a vice-president’s position in her union. I am not getting into the merits or the demerits of Ms. Thompson’s case but I will get up in Foulkes’ business to show just what kind of a pretending snake this four-time loser is.

This former labour minister says that he stands with Ms. Thompson and that BTC, under the labour laws of the Bahamas (and I am not disputing his accuracy on this point), cannot legally dismiss a union Executive, arbitrarily, without real cause while working through an agreed procedure with the union. This is the same former labour minister (I must remind you) who allegedly made it quite clear that he was prepared to fire all union executives, of the Customs and Immigration union, had the FNM won in the last general elections. Yes this is the very same pretending snake, along with Margo Seymour, Ivonne Ingraham and one Peter Carey (according to a face book dialogue which went back and forth between them) who had a real plan, it seemed, to deliver letters of dismissal to all the said union Execs (as soon as the elections would have been called for the FNM) but the devil was lying to them and it was God the Father Himself who saved those officers from certain dismissal. These were all union Executives who Foulkes is now saying cannot be fired under the labour laws of the country; what exactly do you think is this piss-head’s motives here? It was alleged, as well, that Foulkes had proposed to attempt to influence the courts to have it schedule the case, brought by the Customs Union against the FNM government just prior to the general elections, for a convenient time after the elections which they clearly expected not to lose; it was not known how he expected to do it but his idea, allegedly, was to somehow get the case dismissed.

On record Dion Foulkes will go down, in our history to date, as the Bahamas’ worst labour minister. I don’t know of one labour issue, or union dispute, he ever successfully mediated; not a damn one. The Grand Bahama Power company’s union is still waiting for him to deal with numerous complaints they’ve had with the union busting tactics of this power-generating monopoly here in Freeport. I am not sure if Foulkes even got around to making sure that that entity was ever registered officially as a union. Lionel Morley’s union, as well, has been struggling for years while Dion Foulkes ignored them all and so have the workers at the Grand Bahama Shipyard and Container Port facilities. He couldn’t hear the cries of these struggling Bahamians, while he was in a position to make a difference for them, but now he comes from the sidelines pretending that he cares so much? It is so typical of him-he cares for them when he can’t help them but when he could have he didn’t lift a damn finger to do so; this is typical of all those washed-up, rejected FNM losers. We wish him to remain on the sidelines and watch how a real minister of labour (Shane Gibson) functions and handles disputes; I predict that Minister Gibson, after meeting with BTC’s executives, will emerge with the matter solved as he did in the case of the customs and immigration union matters for which Foulkes wanted to fire them rather than negotiate with them. Minister Gibson will show Foulkes how a real labour minister operates as opposed to a ducker and dodger like him.

A statement, attributed to Foulkes, appearing in the Freeport News, had him being quoted as saying; “There is no provision in our laws to terminate an employee without cause, as was done to Ms. Thompson, subject to provisions in the Industrial Agreement and I am advised that there are no such provisions. BTC did not follow the proper procedure in terminating Ms. Thompson and I urge them to reinstate her forthwith;” by damn he sure as hell talking with spunk now that he is no longer Minister responsible for labour matters; where was this guy, I ask again, when Emera (Freeport Power Co.) dismissed those union Execs during his time at the helm? Not a damn word from him nor Ingraham nor Laing nor the Grants nor Russell; not a damn one of them had a word of condemnation for the power giant and I didn’t hear “REINSTATE FORTHWITH” from the (now) great and mighty pretender Dion Foulkes, did any of you? The Union sent out an APB for the sucker and couldn’t find him but now that he is out in the cold, and wants to get back inside, he is now talking like some proactive achiever but we will not be fooled buddy.

Dion, I submit, has a two-fold mission here; one to unseat Dr. Minnis as leader of the FNM and the other to try and gain as much FNM support (for his existence in the process) as he can. To achieve these two goals he feels he must jump on any old break down bandwagon issue to get the PR necessary. The problem for you, though, Dion; We all remember you and your terms at the helm as labour minister; you didn’t do a damn thing to protect workers then so why do you think you can convince us now of your sincerity? Your inaction is well documented, my friend, and these people will not be fooled by your crocodile tears on this issue involving Ms. Thompson and BTC. By the way (like I said earlier) you don’t have to lose any night rest over Ms Thompson’s situation because minister Gibson will surely take good care of that matter and he doesn’t need a failure like you to help him.

Mr. Foulkes; you would do well to adhere to words of wisdom spoken by American President Grover Cleveland (1885-1889 & 1893-1897) when he opined “Men and times change-but principles-never.”

The former MP and Minister of the government Pierre Dupuch write another of his critiques of public policy in this piece contributed to the web and dated 21st December on the destruction of the beach that he alleges by Bahamar on the western shore of New Providence:

Sometime ago Perry Christie, now Prime Minister of The Bahamas, made a public statement saying that he would encourage the investor, but would always protect Bahamian assets. This statement is profound. But it's deep rooted in the very fabric of Bahamian psyche.

There are two kinds of assets, one tangible and the other intangible. Most countries have an abundance of tangible assets such as gold, oil, uranium. The Bahamas has none of these. These assets are usually exported outside of the country's borders.

The Bahamas has a unique asset, beauty. This, oddly enough, is one of the two assets in the world that can be sold and kept to be sold again. It is usually consumed within the country's borders.

This is why devaluation of a currency works for one and not the other. But this will be explained and examined at some other time.

The beauty of our beaches is one of our most valuable assets. Cable Beach is the jewel of New Providence. It is this island's most beautiful beach, and its most valuable asset. We must protect it.

For years it remained the playground of the rich and not so rich. Laws were made to protect it. One of the laws laid out was where buildings could be erected. The high water mark was not good enough. The law said that buildings had to be built not less than forty feet behind the "dune line" in Nassau, and more in the Family Islands. This was done to guarantee that there would not be erosion and residents and tourists could forever enjoy the beauty of this breath-taking asset.

When the tourist industry came into full bloom, hotels were built there, but always behind the dune line. And the people welcomed the investment and the investor. But it created conflicts and resentments.

The question was being asked, "How much, if any of our assets had to be given up to accommodate the tourist trade." I think Senator Rubio of Florida, in addressing the immigration problem in the United States said: "we can't expect the immigrant to respect and support us if on the one hand we tell them that we'll give them citizenship, and on the other we say we're going to deport their grandmother."

This applies to the Bahamian problem. Investors cannot expect to invest millions of dollars in our country on the one hand, and then on the other destroy our assets, which are our beaches. If they do, they will be hated and resented. We must make this clear to any investor. Invest your money and make a good profit, but do not destroy our assets, our beauty, in the process.

Most investors understand and respect this, and we live in harmony and perfect happiness. But there are others who are greedy and short sighted. One such person was Mr. Arison who built the Crystal Palace, and told the Bahamian people that his investment was the greatest thing to ever happen to The Bahamas since sliced bread.

He ignored the dune line; he ignored the high water mark. The Government allowed him to break all the well-established covenants. Some of the Crystal Palace towers were built on the beach. In the morning its shadow ruined the sunshine for tourists on the western side of the beach and in the afternoon threw its shade on the eastern beach and pool deck.

I understand the tower started to sink so retaining walls had to be built and eventually a lagoon and artificial beach with a fortified steel wall was built out into the water to protect the towers. This effectively destroyed the beach, caused extensive erosion of the natural beach, and took away from the Bahamian people and the residents here one of their most prized assets - Cable Beach.

Many people resented Mr. Arison and I'm sure that after he had invested so much here he could not figure out why. He's gone now to spend the rest of time in, I hope, a better place; so are most of the others who aided and abetted him. But the bad mark has been left as his legacy; the beautiful asset had been destroyed.

And then came new hope. BahaMar arrived with a billion dollar investment but most important they were going to implode the offending structures and "restore" the beach. They produced well airbrushed photos of the "restored" beach. The Bahamian people were happy because one of their assets was being returned.

Driving on West Bay Street was a pleasure. Conch shells were being used to decorate the roundabouts, a driveway was named after Hobby Horse Hall, the roads were well constructed and everything seemed so professional. We were impressed and happy. Finally, there was a big investor prepared to keep the Bahamian beauty and, at the same time, make a profit.

We watched with interest and pride as the offending structures came down. But a walk along the beach was revealing. What was being done did not appear to resemble "restoration," and instead it appeared to be "reclamation." What was shown on the airbrushed photos did not appear to be happening on the ground.

Boulders were put into the sea and the natural beach that Bahamians have enjoyed for generations was blocked off and filled in, making more property for BahaMar, and less beach. The beach reclamation appeared to be the same as before under Arison, but bigger.

It appears that the Government has leased to BahaMar the beach and the water table. The high water mark, as we knew it, is gone. The land has been extended over the beach and an artificial breakwater with poles to mark the spots were put into the water. This is dangerous, especially for boats passing at night.

This begs a question, who or what Government Agency leased the beach and the seabed? In case they don't know, the new subdivision Act is supposed to require town meetings for major changes like this. There were no town meetings.

Who's been fooling who, and was there an act that somebody was involved in? The rat's starting to smell again!

Yes, Mr. BahaMar, you are spending billions of dollars on your development, but you've shot our grandmother, and the people of this country will resent it!

I concur with my colleague Franklin Wilson that we failed to mention 20 Dec, an extremely important date in our nation's development. The INDEPENDENCE ORDER was signed in London on that date back in 1972, forty years ago.

Thursday the 20th of December 2012 came and went quietly and without fanfare. We amateur historians must try to correct this oversight. It's too important to our history.

As we celebrate our 40th Independence, we must include 20th December as a landmark date in the modern political history of The Bahamas.

Thank you editor.

Elcott Coleby

IN PASSING

Mitchell Family Marks

Fred Mitchell MP and his siblings Ian, Carla, Matthew and Marva remember their mother Lilla Mitchell (nee Forde) now deceased who would have been 90 years old on Christmas Eve were she alive this year. Her husband Frederick Mitchell Senior died two years following her in 2001. R.I.P.

McKeva Bush In Cayman Islands Ousted

The British have gotten their way and ousted Premier McKeva Bush of the Cayman Islands. Last week we reported that Mr. Bush was arrested by the British on suspicion of corruption they say. He was defiant and said he would not resign accusing the British of acting out of jealousy and spite. The British obviously got to his party because four of the Ministers in his government then sided with the Opposition in a no confidence vote which succeeded after the governor refused to dissolve Parliament and go to elections. Mr. Bush’s party has announced that it will now expel the ministers who sided with the Opposition in the vote. The new Premier is female Juliana Connolly.

PLP Loses The Election In Bermuda

The Progressive Labour Party (PLP) that’s been the government of Bermuda since 1998 has lost the general election held on 17th December. The margin was close with the reconstituted United Bermuda Party (UBP) now calling themselves the One Bermuda Alliance (OBA) winning with 19 seats and the PLP with 17 seats. Paula Cox, the Premier under the PLP lost as did the first PLP premier Dame Jennifer Smith. Two important casualties. The problems are probably related to fatigue by the electorate, the economy trumping the racial politics of Bermuda with the PLP representing blacks and the UBP/OBA representing whites together with other issues like crime and corruption. The PLP says that it will challenge two seats because there were irregularities in the nomination process for two OBA candidates.

Jackass FNM Critics At IT Again On Travel

Hubert Ingraham on the eve of a general election hopped on a plane and went to Australia with his retinue for a Heads of Government conference. No talk then of how expensive that was. Brent Symonette, the FNM’s Minister of Foreign Affairs in doing his job was in parts of the world unknown because whenever he travelled, he never announced where he was going on behalf of the Bahamian people. No talk from the FNM on travel expenses. Now suddenly the FNM has a bout of conscience about travel because Fred Mitchell is the Foreign Minister. Mr. Mitchell reacted furiously to the reported comments of the Leader of the Opposition Dr. Hubert Minnis on the point last week after Dr. Minnis said he wanted to know the travel expenses of the Minister. What a jackass! Has he got nothing better to do? The trip that caused all the stir was the trip to Morocco last week which was sponsored by the Moroccan government, operative word “sponsored”. Dr. Cleveland Eneas used to say that if you want to hide something from Bahamians put it in writing. Jesus what dummies!

Preacher’s Revolt In The Face Of Gambling Orthodoxy

Well it looks like there is a real break in the ranks of the preachers and the Bahamas Christian Council on the issue of gambling. Leading the revolt is retired Bishop Simeon Hall of New Covenant Baptist Church. He is joined in his revolt by Rev. Dr. Philip McPhee and Rev. Gregory Minnis. Strangely enough, the three are FNMs and are now arguing that the gambling business of Thenumbers is so culturally intertwined in the fabric of Bahamian life that the only practical thing to do is to regularize it. We think they are right. They add that their concern is that the money that is raised from it should go to socially redeeming purposes.

The President of the Bahamas Christian Council told The Tribune Saturday 23rd December that no pastor could in good conscience support gambling. Things that make you go: hmmm!

Two Questions

Dr. Philip McPhee, one of three rebel pastors, who support gambling, said to the press on Friday 21st November that there will be two questions and not one question in the referendum on gambling to be held on 28th January. Presumably there will be one on regulating the numbers houses, the other on a national lottery. His comments came after the three rebel preachers Bishop Simeon Hall and Rev Gregory Minnis met with the Prime Minister on Thursday 20th December.

Ronnie Butler, Marguerite Pindling Ill

Ronnie Butler, the popular and iconic musician who popularized the song Burma Road, is now ill in hospital from an undisclosed illness. It is in some senses a sign of the changing of the guard. A few weeks ago Dame Marguerite Pindling, the Deputy to the Governor General, and the widow of the first Prime Minister of The Bahamas Lynden O. Pindling, was also hospitalized. It was a second time in hospital in two years. She is now back at home and recovering.

Vola Francis To Retire

Junkanoo icon Percy Vola Francis is to reach the mandatory age of retirement from the public service next year. The Saxon Superstar works at the Ministry of Youth Sports and Culture.

Don’t Owe 45 million To Bahamar

The government should think again before it forks over 45 million dollars to Bahamar for having reached a certain stage in their construction of the new Cable Beach Hotel complex. Even though the Prime Minister has indicated that the stage has been completed, back channels in the government indicate that they disagree with the Bahamar assessment of where they are. The agreement signed with the government says that when Bahamar reached a certain stage in the development, the government would pay the developer back for the expenses of changing the road system around the project.

Junior Junkanoo

The Minister of Culture Danny Johnson pronounced himself pleased with the annual Junior Junkanoo Parade, now celebrating its 25th year. The parade took place on Thursday 13th December. The announced winners are: Spanish Wells All Age School won 2701 points for the Senior Division; A F Adderley School won for the Juniors with 2554 points; Uriah McPhee won in the primary category with 2623 points and the One-On-One Pre School secured 2377 points.

BTC Talks Breakdown

Prime Minister Perry Christie told The Tribune the following with regard to the BTC talks, that is the talks to take back the ownership of the telephone company sold at a fire sale price to Cable and Wireless have collapsed. He told the press on Wednesday 19th December the following: “Cable and Wireless has given us the complete assurance that they have no intentions on selling and I could understand why they wouldn’t sell it because it’s a profit setter for them. The only concern I would evidence at this stage is that we have to reach a conclusion on our talks sooner than later. Whatever that conclusion is we have to know so that the government of the Bahamas can in fact review whatever options are available.” Speaking to the Nassau Guardian Fred Mitchell , Minister of Foreign Affairs on Thursday 20th December said that the sale of BTC to Cable and Wireless was disgraceful. He said the company was sold to Cable and Wireless for 200 million dollars and then within a year declared a 90 million dividend recouping almost half the investment within the first year. That said Mr. Mitchell could have been a dividend going straight into the coffers of The Bahamas Government. He said the sale was scandal. Mr. Mitchell is on record as saying that if BTC does not sell the shares, they must be compulsorily acquired. In the Saturday edition 22nd December of the Nassau Guardian, the Prime Minister clarified his remarks and said that he was still hopeful that good sense would prevail in Cable and Wireless.

Turks And Caicos Challenges Proceed

Three seats are being challenged in the election court in the Turks and Caicos Islands since the elections there held in November restoring Democracy to that country. A preliminary motion to dismiss the petitions failed last week. The government of Dr. Rufus Ewing was elected with 8 seats and the Opposition 7 seats.

New Roman Catholic Deacon

The Roman Catholics have a new Deacon, ordained on Wednesday 19th December. His name is Oswald Ferguson. Congratulations. The photo is from Tyson McKenzie’s Facebook page.

The PM's Wife Plays The Sax

On Wednesday 19th December, the country woke up to the pictures in the newspapers of the wife of the Prime Minister Bernadette Christie playing the saxophone for the Salvation Army. She is accompanied in the picture by the man who taught her how to play Constable 323 Teddy Russell of the Royal Bahamas Police Force Band. Donations swelled we are told.

30th December , 2012 *Welcome to bahamasuncensored.com* *How do you do today? It's great to have you as a reader. We have the most incisive political news about and from The Bahamas!* *Please tell all your friends about us.*
CELEBRATING MONARCHY—JESUS CHRIST!	THE PLP’S YEAR
GUARDIAN REMINDS INGRAHAM OF HIS COWARDICE	WILSON SPEAKS ON BTC
STEM CELLS COMMITTEE REPORTS	NEW HIGH COMMISSIONER IN LONDON
REMEMBER THE 2OTH DECEMBER	NEWRY GETS INSTRUMENTS OF APPOINTMENT
PM’S VIDEO ADDRESS FOR CHRISTMAS	PHOTO ESSAY VALLEY AT JUNKANOO BY PETER RAMSAY



LETTERS TO THE EDITOR...	IN PASSING...




Fred Mitchell Launches 3^rdEdition of 'Great Moments In PLP History...	Fred Mitchell's 56th Birthday Party In Support of the 'Mission Fund'...
The Official Site of the Progressive Liberal Party...	The Official Site of the Free National Movement...
PhilipBraveDavis.com...	Interesting Places...
JeromeFiztgerald.org	Bahamas Government Website
KendredDorsett.com	Reg & Kit's Bahamas Links
FredMitchellUncensored.Com ARCHIVES...	Bahamians On The Web
How & Why The PLP Lost in 2007 - The Greenberg Report...	BahamasIssues.com
	BradleybRoberts.com

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MUCH AS WE DON’T WANT TO ADMIT IT, the Valley Boys, headed by Winston Gus Cooper on the objective facts were the winners of the Junkanoo Parade of Boxing Day 2012. That one is in the history books. The Saxon Superstars headed by Percy Vola Francis was relegated to a disgraceful fourth place. The perennial also rans One Family and Roots bested them. Oh well next time. After all it’s Junkanoo. The theme that seemed to captive them all was the 60th anniversary of Elizabeth II on the Bahamian throne. (See Comment of The Week) The photo of the week is that of Gus Cooper of the Valley Boys the winner of the Boxing Day Junkanoo and the King of Junkanoo. The photo is by TM from Facebook page of Rosemary Hanna. By the way, we salute Junkanoo and all the aficionados of the art form. It is simply magnificent manifestation of what we are. As Rex Nettleford would have said: the rhythm of Africa with the melody of Europe.

COMMENT OF THE WEEK

CELEBRATING MONARCHY—JESUS CHRIST!

The Bahamas and its founding fathers made a mistake in 1973 by not proceeding to independence as a republic and abolishing the monarchy for this country at that time. Independence was a tricky question and given the threat of secession and the conservative nature of the electorate, they went for the safer alternative that of this monarchy business. Now we are stuck with this anachronistic foolishness in a country that is 99 per cent African but with us still worshiping Europe as the centre of the universe and with a European monarchy.

That is the sad commentary we make in the face of the decision by three of the A group Junkanoo groups to choose as their theme the 60th anniversary of Elizabeth II reigning on the throne. It is ridiculous that African culture should be used as a monument to that foolishness. What in the blessed name of heaven has Elizabeth II got to do with the modern Bahamas. It is silliness. It is simply time for her to go as Queen of The Bahamas and time for the monarchy to be abolished for this country.

We are however squarely in the minority view. It is sickening to see the nonsense spun on the web about how great the Nygards were for allowing one of the Nygard women to act as the Queen for the event, complete with the Valley Boy’s Winston “Gus” Cooper accepting a knighthood from the fake Junkanoo queen. They said it wowed the crowd. Obviously that bit of Rawson Square drama wowed the judges and gave Mr. Cooper and his Valley Boys the fillip that they need to win in all categories. But just imagine 40 years after independence, we are here celebrating the Queen instead of getting rid of the monarchy.

There seemed to be some heartening boos when the fake Junkanoo Queen stepped out of the fake carriage on the parade. That was a good sign . We hope it is a political sign and not just a sign of rivalry. We hope it is a political sign that there is some good sense that prevails in this country and that in time we will rid ourselves of this nonsense.

Number of hits for the week ending Saturday 29th December 2012 up to midnight:122,104
Number of hits for the month of December up to Saturday 29th December 2012 up to midnight:627,964
Number of hits for the year 2012 up to Saturday 20th December 2012 up to midnight:8,008,052

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(Editor’s note: As the year ends, we really want to thank people for continuing to read what is now being called a blog—a word we really hate but that is what people call it. This site was begun in 1998 when an editor refused to publish the material in a weekly column by Fred Mitchell, the now Minister of Foreign Affairs. It is remarkable what success it has accomplished. Thanks again to all and we hope it continues to be of interest and influence.)

CONTACT US AT E-MAIL: placid_point@yahoo.com

THE PLP’S YEAR

Loftus Roker, the former Minister of National Security and one of the signatories to the agreement with the British to grant (see story and photo below) us our independence, made another one of his infrequent forays into present day public policy last week. Mr. Roker did an extensive interview with the Nassau Guardian’s Candia Dames. She extracted a story about of it for the front page in which Mr. Roker questioned why Perry Christie, the Prime Minister, would say that the negotiations to get control of BTC had failed or were at an impasse. He asked why Mr. Christie would announce that he would get the company back if he did not know how he was going to get it back.

Mr. Roker is of course from the glory days of the PLP, an era that is far different from the nuances of today and today’s leaders. In his day it was black or white. Sir Lynden Pindling would call you in and say we want the telephone company back and you either did it or he took it back. Not so in today's situation and today’s leaders. There are all sorts of international rules and sensibilities which seem to proscribe the national will.

Nevertheless, a little slower and perhaps not as directly, the job often gets done.

That is the message as we go into the year 2013 for the PLP. There must be a return to those glory days in one sense, the fact that the national will should not be thwarted by nuances, nor should we be afraid to stand up for what we are, such as we are. Whatever we are, we are and there should be no apology for that fact.

The year 2012 was definitely the year for the Progressive Liberal Party. Perry Christie’s dogged determination to fight to win the government again in the face of a nasty and worthless opponent says much about the man and about the party he leads. He has said he is going at the end of the term but there are no signs of that or any disturbance in the force which would suggest that a transition of any kind is underway.

So we have a situation where the man who is king is the master of all he surveys in the Bahamian context and the question is what will be done with that power and that legacy. There is a short time to get it all done and more than half a year has passed.

There are some things that can be done right away: 10 January should be made a public holiday for example; real property tax before 2008 should be all forgiven and people allowed to start anew; there should be the new national heroes legislation brought into force so that national heroes day can be properly celebrated and the new national honours come into force; there should be a switch to value added tax and a reduction in customs duties; there should be national health insurance. We should actually stretch the bounds of propriety in this small society to get some things done before time runs out.

Those are simply pipe dreams of course in a society that is so creakingly slow to accept the obvious. Nevertheless it is the PLP's year and we trust that next year is a better year particularly as Michael Halkitis, the boy wonder who heads the finance ministry, has predicted that there will be three per cent growth next year. Let’s hope so. Let’s work for him to succeed. God knows, unemployment is the great scourge of this society and crime comes next. We have a feeling if we get back to growth then maybe we will put a licking on both issues.

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GUARDIAN REMINDS INGRAHAM OF HIS COWARDICE

The Nassau Guardian published an editorial on Thursday 27th December. We hope that it did not get lost in the shuffle. Thankfully, Bradley Roberts, the PLP’s chair is pretty good at posting the PLP news on the web and he did post the Guardian’s editorial of that day. The editorial paid tribute to Perry Christie. It answered his critics who had said that Perry Christie was weak.

In the editorial, they pointed out that unlike Hubert Ingraham who did not stay around after his defeat this time, Mr. Christie was defeated but stayed around and doggedly fought his way back to power. Now the Guardian says that he is the undisputed leader of the country and they wait to see what happens next.

The devil for black leaders, well perhaps any leader , is when it is time to go. A couple of people have set the way before: Julius Nyerere of Tanzania; Nelson Mandela of South Africa and in our region P.J. Patterson of Jamaica. When it is time to go, it’s time to go. The question is how do you go and how does the transition take place so that it is seamless and there are no fracture lines in the organization that you lead? The Nassau Guardian suggested that Mr. Christie ought to plan to leave at a time when it is possible for the country to get a look at his successor operate in office and then that successor would go to the country. That is the P.J. Patterson model.

Mr. Patterson in his third year decided that he would go and that he would demit office when a successor had been chosen. That meant calling a party convention while he was still Prime Minister, a vote taking place and then Portia Simpson Miller emerged as the winner over Peter Philips. Mrs. Simpson Miller lost and then won the government again on her own last year. The Bahamas said the Guardian waits to see how it will unfold here.

Notwithstanding the lack of public discussion or debate over this issue, with young and ambitious men and women in the wings, no doubt the discussions go on in the halls behind closed doors. The PLP has dominated the policies of The Bahamas and if they get this one right, it stands to lead for yet another generation.

WILSON SPEAKS ON BTC

Franklin Wilson who represents The Bahamas government along with Sean McWeeney and Leon Williams in the negotiations to recapture the 2 per cent of the shares of BTC for the Bahamian people to get the control of the company once again thinks that they are near agreement. Or perhaps put more properly that despite the erroneous headline which indicated that the Prime Minister may have given up on the proposition, the two sides are nearer than we think. He spoke to the Nassau Guardian’s Friday 28th December edition. If that is so then all the better.

We have made it absolutely clear in this column that the government ought to demand and get control of BTC and if Cable and Wireless refuses then the majority shares must be compulsorily acquired. There should be no long talk about it. If there is nothing that convinces the Bahamian people that this is the right course, it is the simple fact that the company has not performed. Despite all the marketing stuff that they have done, they simply do not provide the service that the country requires. In Passing below we report how once again people could not reach The Bahamas by phone because all circuits were busy. The internal record of communication is bad. Dropped calls continue. The poor sound quality of calls is another problem. What you get from the company is promises to do better but nothing happens. Then you get smarmy British talk advanced by pretty girls and smart mouthed young gentlemen about how BTC cares and spending money on Junkanoo and that is to convince us to change the policies. Not a day like it. We hope that The Bahamas government does not lose its resolve. We hope that Mr. Wilson is right but the government and the Committee will have the support of this column to take it back like they did by law in Belize. Enough of this already. Almost a year has gone by since the PLP became the government and it is just moving too slowly on this matter. We know also that Cable and Wireless cannot improve. All we have to do is to look at the performance in Jamaica, in Barbados and in Trinidad and Tobago and we see the graveyard that Cable and Wireless presents for the Bahamas sold by a traitor to his country to these worthless people.

STEM CELLS COMMITTEE REPORTS

Several members of the National Task Force on Stem Cell Therapy Treatment presented Minister of Health the Hon. Dr. Perry Gomez with their recommendations regarding the possible use of Stem Cell Therapy in The Bahamas during a press conference at the Ministry of Health, Thursday, December 27, 2012. Pictured sitting from left: Hyacinth Pratt, Permanent Secretary; Dr. Gomez; Professor Arthur T. Porter, Chairman, Task Force and Managing Director, the Cancer Centre. Standing from left: Dr. Wesley Francis, President, Medical Association of The Bahamas; Dr. Barrett McCartney, Senior Anaesthesiologist and Pain Specialist, Doctors Hospital; Dr. Indira Martin, Laboratory Research, Ministry of Health; Dr. Duane Sands, Senior Cardiovascular Surgeon, Princess Margaret Hospital; Dr. Glen Beneby, Medical Director, Public Hospitals Authority and Dr. Robin Roberts, Director of the University of the West Indies School of Clinical Medicine and Research, Bahamas Campus. (BIS Photo/Patrick Hanna)

Stem Cells From Embryos Rejected
The following statement was issued by the Bahamas Information Services

NASSAU, The Bahamas -- The National Task Force on Stem Cell Therapy Treatment has recommended to the Bahamas Government that embryonic stem cells should not be used to create human stem cells in this country, said the Task Force’s chairman and managing director of the Cancer Centre, Professor Arthur T. Porter.
Professor Porter presented a copy of the Task Force’s recommendations to Minister of Health the Hon. Dr. Perry Gomez during a press conference held at the Ministry of Health, Thursday, December 27, 2012.

The Chairman told Dr. Gomez that the Task Force’s members unanimously support all of the recommendations within the report.

In November 2012, the Bahamas Government appointed the Task Force to develop a series of recommendations regarding the possible use of Stem Cell Therapy in The Bahamas
The Committee had to weigh all the pros and cons associated with Stem Cell use, including the more controversial use of embryonic Stem Cells. The Task Force also had to look at how adult Stem Cells would be used.

Members of the Task Force include Dr. Robin Roberts, Director, University of the West Indies School of Clinical Medicine and Research, Bahamas Campus; Rev. Angela Palacious, Anglican Archdiocese; Dr. Duane Sands, Senior Cardiovascular Surgeon, Princess Margaret Hospital; Dr. Paul Ward, Chief of Services, Rand Memorial Hospital, Grand Bahama; Dr. Barrett McCartney, Senior Anaesthesiologist and Pain Specialist, Doctors Hospital and Dr. Indira Martin, Laboratory Research, Ministry of Health.

Dr. Wesley Francis, President of the Medical Association of The Bahamas; Dr. Glen Beneby, Medical Director, Public Hospitals Authority and Mrs. Michelle Pindling-Sands, Attorney-at-law, also sit on the Task Force.

When the Task Force was first introduced, Professor Porter explained that there are two types of stem cells.

“Embryonic cells usually derive from a five-day embryo or earlier, which have the ability to become any cell in the body whether a brain cell, a fat cell or a nerve cell. They are pluripotent (capable of differentiating into one of many cell types).

“The second type are the adult stem cells, which are smaller in quantity and can be found in most tissue and organ systems, but which lack the flexibility of what they can be, and so scientist have tried to take some of the adult Stem Cells and make them able to be more or less like embryonic stem cells to sort of get around the problem.”
Professor Porter explained that during the Task Force’s deliberations, it was found that there is no need for the use of embryonic Stem Cells, because research is finding that adult Stem Cells can be transformed to be able to act as Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells.

As a result, he said there is no need to focus on embryonic stem cells in The Bahamas.

Professor Porter said the use of umbilical cord blood, which has been used for over 15 years in different parts of the world, should also be permitted in The Bahamas.

“The use of somatic cell nuclear transfer, which is a type of technique in which adult Stem Cells are encouraged to behave, as early Stem Cells should also be used.

“But again recognising that we are on the frontiers of new science, so the appropriate clinical trials, the appropriate committees, the appropriate ethics support should be given to the use of these areas.”

Professor Porter said many have asked the Task Force for an opinion regarding reproductive human cloning. “The Task Force was quite committed in its opinion that reproductive cloning should not be permitted.”

He added that the Task Force felt that it was important that there be widespread education and consultation with various stakeholder groups that will be involved in making the ultimate decision, so people would become aware of the importance of Stem Cells, some of the ethical issues and be able to opine in this regard.

Professor Porter said the Task Force believed that Stem Cells would be an important part of the country’s medical tourism thrust, but the Government needs to broadly review what is necessary for a successful medical tourism industry.

Dr. Sands added, “We have to understand that this is a rapidly evolving field and there are many countries in the world that have embraced medical tourism and as such have tried desperately to ensure the process of approval or the rapid acceleration of new projects is done in a timely fashion.

“Similarly, efforts have been made to ensure that phenomenal scrutiny of the proposed projects, the participants, etc., is carefully done.

He said legislation in The Bahamas has to be robust enough to protect the integrity and the reputation of the country while at the same time promoting good science and this is an on-going process. “We need to make sure the laws are constantly keeping up with what is happening on the ground.”

Dr. Gomez said after he reviews the report, he would present it to Cabinet early next year so that policies can be made surrounding Stem Cell Therapy in the country.

NEW HIGH COMMISSIONER IN LONDON

His Excellency Eldred Bethel, High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, pays a courtesy call on Davey Rolle, Director and CEO of The Bahamas Maritime Authority (BMA) at their office in London on December 19. High Commissioner Bethel will also serve as The Bahamas' Permanent Representative to the International Maritime Organisation (the UN Agency with responsibility for Maritime Affairs) which is head-quartered in London.

His Excellency Eldred Bethel, High Commissioner of The Bahamas and Permanent Representative to the IMO, meets the staff of The Bahamas Maritime Authority (BMA) at their office in London on December 19.

REMEMBER THE 2OTH DECEMBER

The Hon. Lynden O. Pindling, Prime Minister, is shown above centre signing the Report on the final day of the Constitutional Conference which took place at Marlborough House in London from 12 to 20 December 1972. Looking on are the Hon. Arthur D Hanna, Deputy Prime Minister and Lord Balniel, Minister of State for Great Britain. Standing from left to right are the Hon. Paul L. Adderley, Minister of State, the Hon. Carlton E. Francis, Minister of Development, Inspector Minus, the Hon. A. Loftus Roker, Minister of Health and Mr. George A. Smith, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister.
Photo courtesy of the Commonwealth Secretariat Archives.

The following statement was issued by the Bahamas Information Services to mark the day that the independence talks in London concluded in 1972 on 20th December 2002.
December 28, 2012
London, United Kingdom – 20 December 2012.

Today marks the 40thAnniversary of the conclusion of The Bahamas Independence Conference which was held at Marlborough House in London from 12 to 20 December 1972.

It was on this date that Her Majesty's Government indicated that it would be prepared to recommend to Parliament the passage of the necessary legislation to provide for the independence of The Bahamas on the desired date of 10 July 1973.

Sir Alec Douglas-Home, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs made the following Statement to the House of Commons on the conclusion of The Bahamas Independence Conference on 21 December 1972.

“The Bahamas independence conference was successfully concluded yesterday at Marlborough House having been opened by myself on 12th December. The plenary sessions were under the chairmanship of my right hon. Friend the Minister of State and my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs. A White Paper containing the report of the conference will be laid before Parliament as soon as possible.

After full discussions in which all sides had opportunity to explain their views, the conference agreed on the substance of a constitution appropriate to the Commonwealth of The Bahamas as an independent sovereign state.

Throughout their deliberations the conference had in mind their responsibility for ensuring that decisions were taken in the best interests of all the people of The Bahamas, whatever their race, colour or creed. Particular attention was paid to the need to provide constitutional safeguards ensuring the rule of law, protection of the rights and freedoms of the individual, the independence of the judiciary, the impartiality of the public service and the maintenance of the constitution itself.
The Bahamas delegation to the conference expressed the wish that on independence the country should remain a monarchy and indicated that the Government of The Bahamas would apply for membership of the Commonwealth. Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom has undertaken to sponsor The Bahamas application for Commonwealth membership and to use their best endeavours to facilitate applications by The Bahamas for membership of the United Nations and other international bodies.

The Bahamas Government agreed that on independence diplomatic relations would be established between our two countries by the setting up of High Commissions in London and Nassau.

469W

The present bicameral form of legislature will be retained.

The life of a Parliament will be limited to five years from the date of its first sitting after any dissolution.

The Prime Minister will preside over a Cabinet consisting of not less than eight other Ministers of whom one will be the Attorney-General. In his responsibility for public prosecutions the Attorney-General will act entirely on his own responsibility and not be subject to the direction or control of any other person or authority.

There will be a Supreme Court presided over by the Chief Justice and also a Court of Appeal. Provision will be made in the constitution for appeals to the Judicial Committee of Her Majesty's Privy Council, or to such other courts as may be prescribed by the Bahamas Parliament.

Responsibility for the public service, police and judicial service will lie with independent executive commissions as at present.

Provisions were also agreed to safeguard the position of past and present members of Her Majesty's Overseas Civil Service in The Bahamas in respect of pensions and other matters.

Satisfactory arrangements were also agreed for safeguarding the constitution. The more important provisions of the constitution may be amended only if there have been affirmative votes carried by each House of the legislature by a three-quarters majority followed by approval of the amendments by simple majority in a referendum. Certain other provisions may be amended by a similar process, except that the majority required in the legislature will be two-thirds.

The Bahamas Government proposed, and it was agreed, that citizenship of The Bahamas should be automatically acquired at the time of independence by:

• (a) Every person who, having been born in The Bahamas, is a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies.
• (b) Every person born outside The Bahamas who, on the day of independence, is a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies, if his father, having been born in The Bahamas, becomes or would, but for his death, have become a citizen of The Bahamas; and that after independence citizenship should be automatically available to:
470
• (c) Every person born in The Bahamas of a Bahamian parent.
• (d) Every person born outside The Bahamas after independence whose father was born in, and is a citizen of, The Bahamas.

Particular consideration was given to the position of persons who immediately before the independence of The Bahamas are citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies solely by reason of their connection with The Bahamas as compared with citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies who have qualifying ancestral connections with the United Kingdom or a remaining United Kingdom dependency at the time of Bahamas independence.

It was agreed that at the time of independence Bahamas citizenship would be extended automatically to all citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies who acquired that status by naturalisation or registration in The Bahamas, with the exception of:

• (a) persons who have duel nationality;
• (b) those registered persons who are not ordinarily resident in The Bahamas at the end of 1972;
• (c) persons registering after the end of 1972;
• (d) naturalised persons who indicate that they do not wish to accept Bahamas citizenship.

The Government of The Bahamas indicated that they would assume all treaty obligations and rights previously undertaken by Her Majesty's Government on their behalf, on the understanding that within a reasonable time the new State would review in detail such treaty obligations with a view to their continuation or termination.
Her Majesty's Government indicated that it would be prepared to recommend to Parliament the passage of the necessary legislation to provide for the independence of The Bahamas on the desired date of 10 July 1973. The British Government undertook that before that date they would be ready to discuss with The Bahamas Government future defence and financial arrangements.”

NEWRY GETS INSTRUMENTS OF APPOINTMENT

Dr. Eugene Newry was presented with his instruments of appointment as the Ambassador to the United Nations by the Governor General on Thursday 27th December at Government House. He will take up a post as Deputy Chief of Mission on 1st January and then as Permanent Representative on 1st February. The photos of the event are by Derek Smith of the Bahamas Information Services.

PM’S VIDEO ADDRESS FOR CHRISTMAS

PHOTO ESSAY VALLEY AT JUNKANOO BY PETER RAMSAY

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Forrester Carroll writes from Freeport this week with a look at the inability of the Leader of the Free National Movement to accept that the policies implemented by the FNM from 2007 to 2012 are responsible for the financial mess within the country today. He says that it is a view of life that infects the entire FNM.

With each passing day it is becoming more and more obvious that the leader of the minority party, in the country, lacks the political maturity and honesty to admit truth (when confronted with facts) with respect to his party’s policies employed during its period of governance (and their policies’ adverse effects on the country’s population) 2007-2012.

Dr. Hubert Minnis recently responded to the Hon. Bradley Roberts, chairman of the PLP, when he sought to dismiss Mr. Roberts’ claim that Moody’s’ recent downgrade of the country, from an A3 rating to that of a Baa1, is totally and unequivocally due to the FNM’s bad management of the country’s fiscal affairs during the said period. Dr. Minnis knows very well that the time period for which this report was given is, in fact, the period when his party governed. He knows, as the Hon. Bradley Roberts charged, that the report was based (and reflects) on what his government did, and or failed to have done, resulting in the report’s negative conclusions yet he bare-facedly denied that his party’s actions, or lack thereof, created the mess the PLP inherited on May 7th 2012. As a matter of fact the newspaper story claims that Minnis insisted that his government “committed no policy errors and made no policy missteps; that they did nothing wrong and therefore accept no responsibility for the state-of-affairs of the Bahamas’ bad economic conditions and its lingering negative effects on the population.” On the contrary, Mr. Leader, the effects of your party’s bad policies and its former leader’s bullheadedness during 2007-2012 will linger on, I submit, for at least the next ten years, in one form or the other.
Dion Foulkes was remiss when he didn’t take this ass (Minnis) in that back room (as he said he would when he threatened him) and cut his behind until he bled profusely; how can this so-called leader be so bold and brassy (and stupid) as to sit in front of a newspaper reporter, in this country, and spew out such rubbish from his lame brain; intentionally lying to cover up the truth? Here’s a man who was a cabinet minister (May 2007 to May 2012) no less, one who sat around the cabinet table every Tuesday, for five solid years, looking into Hubert Ingraham’s face in agreement with every damn thing he had to say and sanctioning the very policies which have contributed, for the most part, to the wreckage which this country has become in recent years; unquestionably the FNM’s policies, within the years 2007-2012, have wrecked our country, financially, but now this lying negro could sit there looking into that reporter’s face and publicly disavow any responsibility for the resulting state-of-affairs? When you have nothing to say, mister, which makes sense you should keep your damn trap shut and stay away from the press. You do, indeed, live in a world detached from reality as the Hon. Former minister of works, in the Christie Administration and Chairman of the PLP, opined in his press statement in response to Moody’s most damaging and adverse report.

Moody’s was as specific as they could be (without crossing the off limits internal political lines) in accusing the FNM Administration for the mess-up of our economy. They claimed, in their findings in effect, that a clear reason for the country’s lack of growth problems is that “The entire stimulus package implemented by the FNM Administration has produced NO appreciable growth, resulting in unemployment remaining stagnant at around 16% nationally” unquote. If the economy is not stimulated to the degree where it produces some growth it would be expected then that the need for additional employment would be non-existent and if businesses are not employing more and more persons, and the schools are graduating (they say) at least 5000 kids per year, then unemployment stats, as a consequence, would definitely worsen. This is what happened under your government (Mr. FNM leader) and these negative affects cannot be expected to dissipate in six months (and will not for some time to come) even if foreign investment inflows roll into the country as quickly as it did during the last half of Christie’s first term in office. Am sorry to say, fellow Bahamians, but even with the new PLP government’s concentration, and focus, on attracting investments as quickly as possible it will still take at least another two years to affect the status quo left by the Ingraham and Minnis’ Administration; we shouldn’t expect miracles because we just cannot wish away the adverse effects, of five years of bad FNM policies and treatment, in six month.

Minnis, if he is dead serious, is being simply foolish if he honestly thinks that he can honestly ignore away the FNM’s responsibility for the mess in which they left our country; just saying you have no responsibility for the mess doesn’t cut it, you must back up what you say with facts and the facts are against you and your Administration Mr. Leader.

Minnis’ government increased taxes by an estimated 25% across the board, during the five-year term, yet the country’s revenue grew only by about 11% while the Debt to GDP ratio advanced to a staggering 53%--10% more than the allowable 43% maximum--and Minnis has the gall-the gumption if you will-to disavow responsibility for the long term lingering negative effects on our economy? With all their shocking and jiving the record is there for all to see that we have had nil growth during the five years (2007-2012) of FNM governance; no growth whatsoever.

It is quite typical of this FNM bunch to deny fault for any backlash emanating from their time in office. Hubert Ingraham (the other day as well) denied that anything went wrong on his watch involving Algernon Cargill and the hefty bonuses paid him during his tenure; he was quoted by a newspaper reporter that he left NIB in good shape and anything found wrong at this point (implying whether it happened on his watch or not) is the responsibility of actions, or the lack thereof, of the Christie Administration. How can so-called responsible leaders be so irresponsible in denying what we (and they) know to be the truth; the situational facts, of this downgrade, puts the blame right smack at the doorsteps of the 2007-2012 Ingraham, Laing’s and Minnis’ Administration and there’s no denying it. The Bible does give us answers to all the questions which may arise during our lifetimes and it does have something to say about how fools (like these two leaders of the opposition) think; it says in Proverbs chapter 12 and verse 15 that “The way of a Fool to him seems to be right, but a wise man listens to advice” and to that I can only add a big “Amen.”
Get a life, Dr. Hubert Minnis, and stop being a donkey; the handwriting is on the wall for you-you unwise foolish man.

Thank you.
Forrester J Carroll J.P
Freeport, Grand Bahama
January 2013.

IN PASSING

New Leader Of The PLP In Bermuda

Marc Bean has been chosen as the new Leader of the Progressive Labour Party in Bermuda, replacing in Opposition former Premier Paula Cox who lost her seat in the last general election in Bermuda on 17th December and with it the government. Congratulations to Mr. Bean in his post as Leader of the Opposition. Photo from Bermuda Sun.

Rodney Moncur Causing Problems Again

The perennial peripatetic jack in the box, political activist is at it again. This time Rodney Moncur has a crusade going against the Attorney General Allyson Gibson saying that there was a writ of nolle prosequi signed by the acting minister when she was out of the country which was to stop a prosecution for a former client of hers. Mr. Moncur was fully clad with photo and documents to show that he had the facts. The Magistrate Carolita Bethel, helped the cause by announcing that the nolle was signed with an illegible signature and she could not identify the Minister nor could did she see a date. She adjourned the case for the matter to be sorted out. In law the Attorney General has an unquestioned right to stop any prosecution.

Who Shouldn’t Be A Justice Of The Court?

The news is coming out that Carolita Bethel, the Magistrate, is to be offered a post as a Judge of the Supreme Court. We remind the public that this matter was broached before under the Ingraham government and was stopped. It would be something else for the PLP to go and do this.

Ingraham Breaks Off Running –Tommy’s Party

The fellows are talking about the courage of Tommy Turnquest, the former MP and Minister, who at a recent party took umbrage at the criticism of his former boss Hubert Ingraham, also a guest at the party. Mr. Ingraham no doubt filled with fire water was busy attacking one person or the next and holding court for the faithful. Amongst those he attacked reportedly were the former members of his party, now defeated, whom he said were not defending his government’s performance while in office with the exception of Loretta Butler Turner MP for Long Island. After Mr. Ingraham had safely moved out of earshot, Tommy Turnquest reportedly said: “You could hear some shit eh, nigga break off running and left us the same night of the election and he talking bout we don’t defend him.” Indeed Mr. Turnquest. Indeed break off running indeed. It’s called cowardice.

Gifts For Underprivileged From McKinney Bancroft and Hughes

We thought we would share this engaging photo of the partners of McKinney Bancroft and Hughes presenting gifts for the less fortunate they said to the Minister of Social Services Melanie Griffin. Now that’s interesting. Must have been the influence of Campbell Cleare III, Diane Stewart and John Wilson, people who came from the bottom. Did the other one in the photo have to be dragged kicking and screaming? The formal write up says this: Hon. Melanie Griffin Minister of Social Services & Community Development the Hon. Melanie Griffin welcomes members of the law firm of McKinney Bancroft & Hughes during a presentation of gifts for underprivileged children Monday, December 24 at the Ministry's office in the Post Office Building. Pictured from left: John Wilson, Campbell Cleare, Brian Moree, Diane Stewart, Minister Griffin, Allan Strachan , Under Secretary; Cherely Kelly and Wrensworty Butler. (BIS Photo / Patrick Hanna).

Agree With BP On Stray Dogs

You may remember during the Ingraham years Parliament passed a new act which would give additional powers for animal control and give greater responsibilities for the authorities and responsibilities for owners. It was supposed to change the face of Nassau with the perennial problem of stray dogs everywhere. Fox Hill has a huge problem with stray dogs that needs addressing. When you are running or walking along roads in the country whether in posh neighbourhoods on the Eastern Road, one never knows whether you will be attacked by a dog. The law says that the dogs are supposed to be tied at all times or confined and unable to get at people walking the streets. It does not happen. That is why we agree with the people at the Bahamas Press website that something must be done about the stray dog problem in The Bahamas. They posted this photo to show the ambit of the problem. Even in the family islands the farming community lives in terror of dogs attacking their livestock. These dogs live wild in the bushes and hang out in packs.

Controversial Bahamar tree

Well this tree that it appears was put up by Bahamar, the Cable Beach hotel developers as a representation of a Bahamianized Christmas tree caused quite a fright and stir in some quarters. The tree reminds you of those trees with fruit in the old days when people used to put strange looking bottles to hang in the tree and the talk was it was an obeah sign to ward off thieves. The picture is attracting some negative talk on Facebook.

Rick Ross’ Arrival Causes A Stir

The Airport Authority and the airport management company NAD should apologise to Paul Turnquest The Tribune reporter who was returning home last week on Friday 28th December following his Christmas holidays in the mountains of Colorado. He thought the crowds were there to greet him but alas not so he lamented on his Facebook page. They were there to greet William Leonard Roberts II aka Rick Ross, the rapper. This is shameful.

Telephone System Breaks Down To Nassau Again

All day Thursday 27th and Friday 28th, you had problems reaching Nassau from overseas. The message came back that all circuits were busy or you simply got a busy signal. Again we say BTC and Cable and Wireless- a lousy company. How long will the government take before it gets this company back?
From Sharon Turner The FNM Mouthpiece.

Read her posting below. This is the woman who claims that she is “unbossed” and educated. She is widely believed to be the special friend of former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham and certainly his amanuensis and mouthpiece in the present times. She is the main defender of the Ingraham FNM years and the main attacker of Dr. Hubert Minnis as Leader of the FNM. She claims below that no one ever instructed her to lie when she worked as a writer for the government. Yeah right. They didn’t have to. She knew what lies to make up without being told.

Well the one thing I can say regarding the dissemination of government information to the public is that I am proud as a young Bahamian to have served under an administration whose leader never once dealt dirty with the Bahamian people in that regard. I have written many a press release and speech and never have I been instructed to lie to, mislead or twist the facts to the Bahamian people - and indeed I would not have done so anyway. But the fact that I never had to is a credit to the previous administration.

Happy Birthday Ian Mitchell

He was born on 29th December 2012 to Lilla and Fred Mitchell Sr. He is 15 months younger than his older brother Fred, the MP. He is born on the same day as his first cousin once removed Althea Isaacs, the oldest child of the late Dame Albertha Isaacs who turned 90 on 29th December. Congratulations to them all

John Martin Dies

Yesterday 29th December, the Chair of the Progressive Liberal Party Bradley Roberts announced the passing and death of John Martin Stalwart Councillor of the PLP. Mr. Martin had been ailing from prostate canceer for a long time and finally succumbed peacefully to the disease with his wife and dear friend West End and Bimini MP Obie Wilchcombe at his side. Rest In Peace brother.


Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Works and Urban Development the Hon. Philip Davis (right) speaks, on December 13, 2012, at a press conference on the New Providence Road Improvement Project, as Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Works and Urban Development the Hon. Renward Wells looks on. (BIS Photo / Eric Rose)	Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Works and Urban Development the Hon. Philip Davis (left) speaks with Superintendent Kenneth Strachan of the Road Traffic Division of the Royal Bahamas Police Force, on December 13, 2012, during a tour of the New Providence Road Improvement Project. (BIS Photo / Eric Rose)

Constable 132 Evans directs traffic on Corridor 16, December 13, 2012, during Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Works and Urban Development the Hon. Philip Davis' tour of the New Providence Road Improvement Project. (BIS Photo / Eric Rose)	Constable 132 Evans directs traffic at the junction of Village, Wulff, Bernard and Soldier Roads, on December 13, 2012, during Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Works and Urban Development the Hon. Philip Davis' tour of the New Providence Road Improvement Project. (BIS Photo / Eric Rose)


Prime Minister of The Bahamas, The Rt. Hon. Perry Christie and U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary Liliana Ayalde flanked by senior U.S. and Bahamian officials taking part in Partnership Dialogue meetings on December 17-18, 2012. (Courtesy of The Bahamas Information Service (BIS))	PM Christie opens the U.S. Partnership Dialogue on the morning of Monday December 17 with National Security Ministry PS Carl Smith and U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary Ayalde looking on. (Courtesy of BIS)

PM Christie welcomes U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary Ayalde and her senior team to The Bahamas at a reception in her honor held at the Ambassador’s “Liberty Overlook” residence the evening of Monday December 17, 2012. (Courtesy of BIS)	Senior Bahamian and U.S. officials at the opening of the U.S.-Bahamas Partnership Dialogue on Monday December 17. (Courtesy of BIS)

Compiled, edited and constructed by Russell Dames... Updated every Sunday at 2 p.m.

Volume 9 © BahamasUncensored.com 2011

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16th December , 2012 *Welcome to bahamasuncensored.com* *How do you do today? It's great to have you as a reader. We have the most incisive political news about and from The Bahamas!* *Please tell all your friends about us.*
CHANGING THE NARRATIVE	LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION’S PARALLEL UNIVERSE
DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER’S PRESS CONFERENCE ON ROADS	MITCHELL IN MARAKESH
BRADLEY ON THE MOODY’S DOWN GRADE	STATEMENT FROM THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE
ROAD MAP TO UNIVERSITY	THE PRIME MINISTER AT THE CHRISTMAS LUNCH
DION CUNNINGHAM CONCERT	PMH FOUNDATION BOARD VISIT
PREMIER OF THE TURKS SENDS CONDOLENCES TO U.S.	CROSBY STILLS NASH AND YOUNG MARAKESCH EXPRESS


LETTERS TO THE EDITOR...	IN PASSING...




Fred Mitchell Launches 3^rdEdition of 'Great Moments In PLP History...	Fred Mitchell's 56th Birthday Party In Support of the 'Mission Fund'...
The Official Site of the Progressive Liberal Party...	The Official Site of the Free National Movement...
PhilipBraveDavis.com...	Interesting Places...
JeromeFiztgerald.org	Bahamas Government Website
KendredDorsett.com	Reg & Kit's Bahamas Links
FredMitchellUncensored.Com ARCHIVES...	Bahamians On The Web
How & Why The PLP Lost in 2007 - The Greenberg Report...	BahamasIssues.com
	BradleybRoberts.com

23rd December , 2012 *Welcome to bahamasuncensored.com* *How do you do today? It's great to have you as a reader. We have the most incisive political news about and from The Bahamas!* *Please tell all your friends about us.*
A MERRY CHRISTMAS	THE AMERICANS COME CALLING
THE KENNEDY MEMORIAL	WHY YA THINK THIS FELLOW DON’T GO SIT DOWN?
MITCHELL REPORTS ON MOROCCO TRIP	ED BETHEL OFF TO LONDON
FOX HILL URBAN RENEWAL PARTY	THE PRIME MINISTER AT THE CHRISTMAS LUNCH
PRESENTING ALEX 242, THE PM'S DAUGHTER LAUNCHES	CONGOES SAY THANKS TO CAMPBELL SHIPPING



LETTERS TO THE EDITOR...	IN PASSING...




Fred Mitchell Launches 3^rdEdition of 'Great Moments In PLP History...	Fred Mitchell's 56th Birthday Party In Support of the 'Mission Fund'...
The Official Site of the Progressive Liberal Party...	The Official Site of the Free National Movement...
PhilipBraveDavis.com...	Interesting Places...
JeromeFiztgerald.org	Bahamas Government Website
KendredDorsett.com	Reg & Kit's Bahamas Links
FredMitchellUncensored.Com ARCHIVES...	Bahamians On The Web
How & Why The PLP Lost in 2007 - The Greenberg Report...	BahamasIssues.com
	BradleybRoberts.com