Compiled, edited and constructed by Russell Dames Updated every Sunday at 2 p.m.
Volume 5 © BahamasUncensored.Com 2007
| 4th
March, 2007
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UBP = Race Card Ideas from Anna Nicole? Political connections question Help This Baby Before She's The Third Body Anna Nicole American Sensationalism The FNM's Unanswered Questions |
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COMMENT OF THE WEEK
CHRISTIE NOT INGRAHAM
Wicked, insidious, rude, evil and spiteful. These are all
adjectives that can describe the actions of Hubert Ingraham. Our
purpose here today is simply to say that he is not a fit and proper person
to ever be Prime Minister of this country again, and he must be beaten,
beaten badly and beaten soundly. His unfortunate followers must take
their licks and try to rebuild their party without this man who personifies
so much that is wrong with The Bahamas today.
The contest is now almost here. The Progressive Liberal Party, too tardy for us, but has at last ratified all of its candidates in the Family Islands with the process for the New Providence candidates to be completed by next week. The Constituencies Commission is likely to report to the House of Assembly on the new boundaries on Wednesday 7th March or soon thereafter. Once they are approved by the House then the Parliamentary Commissioner will have approximately one month to get the new voter’s cards done and issued to the people of the country so that they can get to the polls to vote on Election Day. If the Prime Minister expects to stick by his original declared date of on or before the 2nd May, then it is going to be a tight fit for the officials to get it all done.
Nevertheless it is going to get done. We expect this campaign to be amongst the nastiest in the history for the country. We have a man with a history for nasty and wicked actions behind him and he knows no other playbook. We have to be prepared to fight fire with fire.
Last year there was a poll taken by an independent agency to determine what the strengths and relative weaknesses of the parties and the leaders of the parties were in The Bahamas. Minister of Foreign Affairs Fred Mitchell revealed some of the results in his address to the Pinewood Rally on Tuesday 20th February.
What it showed in part was that despite all the talk around town about how the Prime Minister can’t make a decision, there was no significant statistical difference between Perry Christie and Hubert Ingraham on the question of decision making. But more importantly what it showed is that the significant strength of Perry Christie was that he listened to people, he did not force things down the throats of others, and he did not set decisions in stone and refuse to review them. Compare and contrast that to the biggetty, hardheaded Hubert Ingraham whose word you can’t trust and who seems to have a nasty streak in him against people who do not agree with what he says.
The other important point that the poll revealed is that when comparing the Progressive Liberal Party team with the Free National Movement’s team, the PLP’s team came out way ahead. In other words, the people polled believed that pound for pound, the PLP had a better team of leaders and much more to depend on if there were problems with the main leader. The PLP has a deep bench. The FNM’s team seems to be concentrated around one man and that a man is Hubert Ingraham. It appears to the public that with the coming election, Mr. Ingraham further reinforced that fact by dismissing any candidate that had the remotest chance of opposing him, and embracing all the candidates that would simply say yes to him. So the FNM has a fundamental weakness. Their leader is too bull headed and mean, and perceived to be so, and their team is weak and ineffectual.
What has Perry Christie done in five years? He and his team have reversed the fortunes of the country. When Hubert Ingraham left office, unemployment was 11.1 per cent. This has been reduced within five years to 7.3 per cent nationwide and 6.6 per cent in New Providence. The economy has grown by leaps and bounds and the economic opportunities for Bahamians have increased. The policies are just beginning to set in. It is not time now to leave those polices in midstream for a mean and vindictive man to take over.
Then you have to remember all the things that Hubert Ingraham has said over the years. First he said that he would only serve two terms or ten years and that would be it as Prime Minister. We now know that this was not true and he plotted and schemed to ensure that he could come back and instead simply broke up his party and ended up losing office in 2002. He is now plotting and scheming to come back, and the public is well aware that this is a plotter and a schemer who simply wants power at any cost.
Remember that he said he was ashamed of the Bahamian people after they expressed their sovereign will to reject his ideas on the referendum in 2002. That is a quote that can never be forgotten.
Who can forget paying the police on the day before they went to the polls and then telling them on the night before the poll took place that when they went to the polls, they should remember the money. That comes pretty close to you know what. It should not be forgotten. It shows how far any scruples and ethics will be dispensed with in order to get power.
Quite frankly, Hubert Ingraham is a man we should be deathly afraid of. He should not be allowed under any circumstances to get back to office. He should not be allowed to influence public policy in The Bahamas. He should be made to lose his seat in Abaco and eliminated from the body politic and forced to go into retirement. He is a man who is taking both salary and pension and yet seeking to say that he isn’t when everyone knows that he is. He is a man who does not like it when people disagree with him. He is man who will spitefully go after his enemies and perceived enemies.
Hubert Ingraham must be stopped. He must be stopped. Nuff said.
Number of hits for the week ending Saturday 3rd March 2007 at midnight:
195,316.
ARE YOU TIRED OF ANNA NICOLE SMITH?
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POLICE
CHANGES TO COME
The press has been speculating over the past weeks
about changes that are coming in the Royal Bahamas Police Force.
It is about time and not a moment too soon. The talk is that Assistant
Commissioner of Police Reginald Ferguson is to leave the crime beat and
to move to the Police College. It is also said that Ellison Greenslade
who is an Assistant Commissioner of Police in Freeport for the last six
years is to move to Nassau to take over the crime beat.
What is remarkable is that this matter has been
unfolding so long that the drama is actually unfolding in the press.
It appears that friends of Mr. Ferguson in the Free National Movement do
not want him to move, and are mounting a campaign in the press for him
to stay where he is. The Free National Movement ought to be extremely
careful how they seek to politicize what is happening in the police force.
The Deputy Prime Minister has confirmed that there will be a restructuring
of the Force, but does anyone imagine that such a restructuring can be
done without the Commissioner of Police being the progenitor of the changes?
The Force is one that he has to manage.
No PLP government will interfere in the management
of the police force No government should. But it is clear that
should the FNM administration be in charge that they will interfere with
its management. One only has to see the campaign they are running
now, and remember that when they were last in office it was they who summarily
fired police officers, told them to pack up and go home without due process.
Clearly there will be a compelling case for change.
The country’s economy has grown by leaps and bounds. It is more dynamic
and fast moving than it was five years ago. There are new and growing
population centres in the country. This means that the police have
to spread themselves out farther and farther afield. Things should
not and cannot remain the same. We look forward to the changes to
come, to make the Force more relevant and competent as it faces the challenges
of this country well into the future. Let’s get it going.
Sign Of The Times
One of the many signs of the approaching election is that election
signage is beginning to appear. Above is a preview of the poster
to be erected in Fox Hill for the PLP's candidate there, Fred Mitchell.
Leslie Miller’s Pain
Leslie Miller has been struggling with the death of his son, murdered
brutally in 2002 and how the system has been treating that event.
He has been chomping at the bit over it for some time and on Wednesday
28th February, the emotions spilled over into Parliament. He said
that he had reached the point where he didn’t care anymore and that he
wanted justice for his son. Prime Minister Perry Christie and Cat
Island MP (PLP) Philip Davis cautioned the Minister that it was against
the rules of the House to discuss a matter that was before the court but
Mr. Miller insisted that he wanted justice and it was being denied his
son who could not speak for himself. The trial of his son’s alleged
murderer is scheduled to begin on Monday 5th March.
The PLP Rally In Sound And Light
We thought that you might want to see PLP 2007 in action at the Pinewood
Rally in live and in living colour. Click
here for a look.
Philip Smith and Lana Munnings Daughter Wed
Patrice Smith and Marcus Laing have wed. The new Mrs. Laing is
the daughter of former Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs Philip Smith, now High Commissioner and the former Lana Smith nee
Munnings. The wedding took place at Bethel Baptist Church, Meeting
Street Nassau on Saturday 24th February. The bride is a doctor and
the groom is an architect and former police officer. Congratulations
to this happy couple!
The Transatlantic Slave Trade
Last week on Sunday 25th February, Foreign Minister Fred Mitchell,
Director of Culture Nicolette Bethel and College of The Bahamas lecturer
Thaddeus McDonald spoke at the Africa Day celebrations at the New Covenant
Baptist Church at the invitation of Pastor Bishop Simeon Hall. The
service is an annual one at New Covenant and this year it was meant to
commemorate the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the transatlantic
slave trade in the British Empire. Minister Mitchell traced the settlement
of African communities in The Bahamas one of which is the Fox Hill Village,
in the constituency that he represents. You may click
here for his full address to the church. The Bahamas Information
Services photo is by Patrick Hanna.
The Faker Of Fox Hill Is Back
Last week on the radio about the time that we were uploading this site,
the Faker of Fox Hill aka Doctor! Doctor! took to the airwaves to talk
about her leader and why she supports him. The interview really revealed
why she supports him. She is a yes, yes, woman and that’s the way
he likes it. But what was also interesting was when asked what she
made of the attacks on the half truths she told when she spoke on the FNM’s
platform in Fox Hill, her reply was incredulous. She said that she
would not go into mudslinging. Praise God and pass the ammunition.
She is the one who started slinging the mud, couldn’t take it and now is
all about town with her family crying like babies that she was injured.
What the response from the PLP in Fox Hill caused was to put her on notice
that the FNM’s campaign of nastiness would not work in Fox Hill.
Fire would be met with fire. Now that she says no mudslinging, we
think that is the first decent thing she has said all the time she has
been a would be candidate and then a candidate. We will continue
to watch because we don’t believe a word she said.
Bradley Roberts On The Move
During the past week, the Minister of Works Bradley Roberts has been
moving with all deliberate speed and dispatch to complete his agenda for
the infrastructure of the country. The Heritage Junior High School
in Grand Bahama is to be built at a cost of 9 million dollars. That
was signed on Thursday 1st March. On Monday 26th February, he commissioned
the brand new asphalt plant which will speed up road construction in the
island. On Tuesday 27th February, he signed a contract for the newest
slice of the road improvement project, the extension of the Sir Milo Butler
Highway going south. A man with a mission and a man on the move as
he prepares to leave public office. Please click here for links to
Minister Roberts' addresses at the various events Heritage
School, Asphalt Plant,
Road
Improvement.
PLP Nominations
All Family Island Candidates for the Progressive Liberal Party have
now been officially ratified by the Party’s National General Council.
The candidates for New Providence are expected to be finalized during the
coming week.
RACE JUDICATA
The Eugene Dupuch Law School Students Association
staged a Fun Run, Power Walk on Saturday, 3rd March 3 at COB which they
called 'Race Judicata'. Above, Minister of Sports Neville Wisdom,
Attorney General Allyson Maynard Gibson and Senator Philip Galanis after
the run. Some other participants below, including Minister of Education
and former Attorney General Alfred Sears. The photographs are by
Derek Smith.
RED CROSS
FAIR
The Bahamas Red Cross Society held its annual fair
this past Saturday, 3rd March, under the perennial patronage of the Governor
General. The event, staged in the lower gardens of Government House
has been a staple of Bahamian society for generations. Bahamas Information
Services Peter Ramsay attended and took this fun loving group photograph
of Dame Marguerite Pindling, longtime patron of the Society and Governor
General Arthur Hanna.
LETTERS
TO THE EDITOR
It appears from this week’s crop of letters that
the foreign readers of this site were fascinated by the events in the country
to do with Anna Nicole Smith. We have even shortened our regular
line-up to make space. Thus the letters below. We begin, however,
with an erudite treatise on the real meaning of the ‘Race Card’. --Editor
UBP = Race Card
It was interesting to read Brent Symonette’s
reaction in several of the local dailies to comments made by the Hon. Fred
Mitchell, the member of parliament for Fox Hill and by the Prime Minister
when both, in their address to the PLP Pinewood Rally, warned that a vote
for the FNM would be a vote to the return to UBP politics in the country.
Neither man was inflaming the racial sensibilities of our people but they
were in fact stating an incontrovertible truth. All well thinking Bahamians
who know and understand the politics of The Bahamas up to the 1970’s would
understand what their statements meant in political terms.
A return to UBPism has little to do with a culture
of race --although this was a feature of the UBP style of governance as
Brent Symonette believes. It refers, instead, to a philosophy of
governance and a style of politics. UBPism would seek to re-introduce
a style of government and a governing philosophy that would be to the benefit
of and enrich a small sliver of Bahamian society. It is the practice
of using the machinery of government for the benefit of a small minority
whose interests are inimical to that of the overwhelming majority of the
Bahamians. It is a return to a limit on the hopes and dreams of all Bahamians.
This is the raw political philosophy of the UBPs and is not based solely
on racism although racism follows not far behind. It is very telling
that the movers and shakers behind such a philosophy were and might yet
turn out in the majority to be White Bahamians and their minions.
But it would be wrong to equate UBPism with a return to White minority
governance.
One reason for this observation is that the only
formal constitutional UBP Government, that of 1964 to 1967, while racist
in make-up, character and philosophy could not possibly be described as
a “White Government”. It was a polyglot group and few could be described
as “Whites” in a true racial sense. Many of them thought of themselves
as being “White” but the bottom line was that they were simply interested
in serving their personal interests and had no over-arching philosophy
for the nation. It was truly a “trickle down” philosophy of government
and even then those benefiting had also to be of similar inclination. They
were united in their opposition to the empowerment of the majority of Bahamians
and this was inclusive of white and black folk. The empowerment of
the masses to which the PLP Party and Government was and is still committed
did not neither does it now, in any way, form or fashion constitute playing
the racial card.
Let us look closely at the UBP Cabinet of 1964-67
and see who some of them were.
Despite the protestations of his son; Sir Roland
Symonette could never be regarded here or anywhere else as White. The same
could be said about Eugene Dupuch, Foster Clarke, Peter Graham, Geoffrey
Johnstone and several others in the infamous UBP first and only formally
constituted Cabinet. There was Mr. Useph Baker, who was of Lebanese
descent and a few others who would have had to stretch their genealogical
pedigree to prove their whiteness. No it was not about colour.
Essentially, it was about philosophy.
So, please do not allow Brent Symonette to mislead
anyone about the Race Card. Bahamians who voted on January 10th 1967
did not vote in overwhelming numbers for the PLP because of instances of
racism alone. Rather, they voted against what was seen as a stranglehold
on the process of governance by the “Bay Street Boys” and their selfish
interests. This selfish and covetous nature has, alas, after forty
years not gone away. It would like to make comeback. Young
people of today, both White and Black, should not be fooled. The
only persons using the Race Card are the FNMs and their willing cohorts.
The PLP has always advocated a country of balance, equality and opportunity
for all no matter the colour. If you do not believe this, check the record
and see how many Black Bahamians had an opportunity to attend St. Andrew’s
School or to live on the Eastern Road or to own businesses on Bay Street
or in the exclusive commercial sections of our city prior to 1967.
Cable Beach was off limits. It was not possible to drive through
Blair or parts of Montagu Heights after dark. The lists go on and
on. Today, there is no debate on such issues whether one is Black
or White.
This is what Fred Mitchell and Perry Christie,
sensible and prescient individuals that they are, were sounding the alarm
about. It is not about White versus Black it is to ensure that we
as Bahamians do not turn back the hands of time, in any sphere of our national
development, be it housing, education, business opportunities, social or
otherwise. The young lady from 5th Street (the Black Grove) should
feel it her right to have fun in Waterloo on East bay Street and in like
manner, the young lady from Blair should not feel threatened to visit the
‘Turning Point’ in the Grove to dance Rake n Scrape. It should not
matter now. But it did sometime ago and the fault was never that
of the Black Majority.
Brent Symonette in his delusion must not allow
his sense of ‘Whiteness’ to blind him about what the true issues are."
No more UBPs in the modern Bahamas, whether White
or Black.
Jocephus Rolle
Ideas from Anna Nicole?
The ruling Bahamas government must be commended
for taking the path of the resignation of Shane Gibson, the Minister of
Immigration, which ultimately put to rest the United States’ perspective
that the Bahamas being, a third world country is corrupt, as Americans
sometimes blindly perceive of those countries. The issue of guilt
or innocence does not matter, but that the PLP government did the right
thing in accepting the resignation.
Since there is so much talk about The Bahamas
here in the United States with respect to the Anna Nicole Smith situation,
there appears to be some talk about seeking justice against Hubert Ingraham,
the former Prime Minister of The Bahamas and his then Minister of Immigration
for the sexual abuse of two children from two different families by a pedophile
who was permitted to get immigration status in The Bahamas even though
that government was aware of the horrific nature of that foreigner.
It is understood that one of the families has returned to the United States
(their birth place), and the other family still resides in The Bahamas
although not citizens of that country, but are now willing to speak out
and seek redress since looking at the Anna Nicole Smith case.
Can an action or criminal proceedings be brought
against the former prime minister and the then immigration minister?
Sometimes publicity is not all that good because it gives people ideas
of what they could and should have done. Now the publicity may shift
to the known pedophile and the Ingraham government. If this family
pursues action, and they intend to let the American press know about their
intention (CNN included) I am not sure this will be good for The Bahamas.
Stay Tuned.
Anonymous... for now.
Political connections question
I have read your website with much interest and
appreciate the information you have provided many of us who are not residents
of the Bahamas. As we have been led to believe there is/was connection
between Shane Gibson and Anna Nicole Smith, I would be most honored if
you could possibly tell me which political party affiliation US citizens
Gaither Ben Thompson and Ford Shelley have in the Bahamas and if they have
received any special treatment from those affiliations.
While in the grand scheme of things my
question does not have much bearing on anything, I do think it would give
insight into how and why someone was allowed to break into a home in the
Bahamas and steal items from a woman who had not been dead for 24 hours
while there was a court order mandating he stay off the property.
Thank you very much for any information
you can provide.
Marsha Placer
There is no indication on the public record of any affiliation with
any political party but the lawyer Michael Scott is a former FNM candidate
and continues to support the FNM. – Editor
Help This
Baby Before She's The Third Body
After watching the circus in Florida try to decide
who gets Anna's body, and hearing how her son, who does not take drugs,
died of a drug overdose combination, many of us are waiting with prayers
that the principal judges involved in this case will free Anna's baby from
the lawyer, Howard Stern.
We believe Mr. Stern needs to take a lie detector
test about his involvement in the deaths of two people he shared a home
with. Any person who is the least bit observant can see guilt written
all over his face.
He has lured Anna to the Bahamas to keep himself
from the arms of justice. That is an insult to those who live there.
He has set himself up in a location that he believes to be free from real
justice. Only there can he freely impose his devious plans for the
remainder of his life on easy street, paid for, as usual, by Anna Nicole.
What other plans does Mr. Stern have for this young baby besides her being
his cash cow? Pretty scary thought isn't it?
Do the right thing Bahama citizens! Get
this baby to the safety of her natural father and away from someone who
lives off Anna even in her death. Don’t let Howard make an ass out
of the Bahamian people with his implication that they are too stupid to
render real justice. Save this baby from more of the same once Howard
gets his hands on Anna's billions! Look at what this man is up to
and start speaking the truth Nassau!
A.M. Timmothy
Anna Nicole American Sensationalism
To the Bahamian people: After all the sensationalism
in America over the Anna Nicole tragedy, I am relieved that the Bahamian
people have more sense. It is proper that the Bahama courts are keeping
the media outside the courts, where they belong. I hope they also
do not allow the American attorneys, such as Debra Opri, to bully the courts
into handing the baby over to people with ulterior motives.
We ask ourselves why Miss Smith left the USA.
We ask why she died. The estranged ex-boyfriend, Birkhead, is no
paragon of virtue. What kind of man would send angry, evil, and punitive
letters to a woman who just lost her son 3 weeks prior? He made a
disparaging remark by calling her son “that kid”. A trusted bodyguard
stated Birkhead never loved Anna. What threats were made by Birkhead
to drive Miss Smith to The Bahamas in the first place? Did he threaten
to wrench the baby from her arms to gain full custody? Did he threaten
to use her prescribed drug use against her? Was his aim to gain child
support from her? Is that the reason Anna Nicole refused to go to
the hospital? While Birkhead “claims” to be the father, if he is,
does he deserve to be the one? If he threatened Miss Smith with the
full custody of the baby, he is culpable in driving Anna Nicole to her
death. Any man who has not one shred of human compassion, who would
harass a woman just 3 weeks after her son’s death, who would threaten and
hound her to her death, shows me he is “unfit” to parent this baby, whether
or not he is the “biological” father. The old adage, “Blood is thicker
than water....was meant for undeserving relatives” may apply in this drama.
I am grateful the Bahamian people have the laws
they have. I hope this child will remain where she is, with the only
father she has ever known, and with the man who her mother trusted and
loved for over 12 years. The Bahamian people are dignified, and they
will keep these proceedings dignified, unlike the tabloid and sensationalist
journalists here in America.
Laura Barnes
Santa Clara, CA.
The FNM's Unanswered Questions
During the course of this week I picked up THE
NASSAU GUARDIAN dated Thursday, January 13th 2005 and went to a section
of the Guardian written by Mr. E.W. Watkins entitled "Political Dishonesty
and Immaturity" and he writes "Space really does not allow me to name the
long list of abuses and misconduct committed by Members of the former FNM
administration" and he lists ten situations that were never answered as
follows;
1. The nine bounced cheques to the Public Treasury
by a colleague and the controversial manner in which the funds for the
satisfaction of those cheques was obtained.
2. The $135,000.00 Bahamasair Scam
3. The Abaco Crown Land scandal involving some
$70,000.00
4. The impregnation of a teen girl by a high
profile politician
5. The M.O.E. and Ministry of Tourism contracts
in 2002
6. The wet one million dollars hidden by a high
profile FNM MP in a cesspit
7. The Abaco sale of land for $100,000.00 and
stamp duty paid to the Treasury on $10,000.00 by a colleague
8. The propose Hotel and Marina project in Smith
Long Island by a drug dealer who was given the green light and a lease
of 30 acres of Crown Land by the FNM
9. The Cabbage Beach murder when the FNM Leadership
called a press conference to make claims accusing foreigners of committing
the crime
10. The sudden departure of a dedicated efficient
senior police officer for the force during his investigation of a high
profile murder case
These questions were never answered; perhaps
this is the time to get some answers to these questions.
Joseph Green
THIS
WEEK WITH THE PM
Mount Tabor 20th Anniversary
Prime Minister Perry Christie was joined by members
of his Cabinet and backbench on Sunday of this past week to help celebrate
the 20th anniversary of Mount Tabor Full Gospel Church. The Priime
Minister is pictured addressing the congregation.
College of The Bahamas Culture Week
Prime Minister Christie joined in the College of
The Bahamas Campus Life Culture Week observances, which honoured several
prominent Bahamians in the world of culture. Mr. Christie, second
from left, stands with COB officials, 'Campus Life' executives and award
recipients among whom are college president Janyne Hodder, centre; Dr.
Gail Saunders, 5th from right; Desmond Edwards, 3rd from right and Dr.
Nicollette Bethel, 2nd from right.
BIS Photo Raymond A. Bethel
| 11th
March, 2007
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COMMENT OF THE WEEK
THE BATTLE OF THE ADS
There is a new era in Bahamian politics now, feeding the frenzy
of new radio stations that need ads to support them. The advertising
revenue is being spent with great vigour by the political parties in The
Bahamas as the undeclared election campaign continues. Each radio
station is now blanketed with radio advertising from the political parties
trying to sabotage the campaign of the others. There used to be rules
about political advertising and there still are, but as with everything
in The Bahamas, rules go out of the window when the public simply decides
they are not going to follow the rules and there is no regulatory mechanism
to do anything about it anyway.
First out of the gate was the Free National Movement with a campaign based on the slogan “Aint Long Now”. Of course their meaning is that aint long before the FNM will get back into power. The PLP could have and should have answered that it aint long now before the FNM gets a cut you know what. But never mind, the PLP always seems slow to react to these things. When they finally got going, the PLP led with a song So Said So Done, based on the slogan from their last one day Convention in 2006.
The FNM also followed up with a campaign saying that you could not trust the PLP. Blow us down. Hubert Ingraham, who sabotaged his own party, misled his own leaders about whether or not he was running as leader was now saying that you can’t trust the PLP. The Prime Minister spoke about it at the last PLP rally in Pinewood Gardens on Tuesday 20th February. He recalled how Mr. Ingraham told the then FNM Leader Senator Tommy Turnquest that he (Mr. Ingraham) would not be running against him for leader and then the next morning without informing Senator Turnquest, Mr. Ingraham put his hat in the ring and brought about the defeat of Tommy Turnquest and now Mr. Ingraham has the effrontery to talk about trust.
The PLP responded with its ads to counter that, and pretty soon the FNM had to abandon that tack and was onto something else. They were really agitated by the reference made by the Foreign Minister Fred Mitchell to the fact that Hubert Ingraham announced that he intends to stick around for 18 months if he wins and then surrender the Government. Waiting in the wings is Brent Symonette, the heir to the United Bahamian Party. So it stands to reason that the FNM plans to give the UBP their country back. Howls of protests all over the place. The PLP was playing the race card. We quote Errington ‘Bumpy’ Watkins in his newspaper column who said: “race no, history yes.”
Those of you who read this column ought to ask Brent Symonette to explain whether or not he defends the position of a school that he went to as a youngster called St. Andrew’s. That is the same St. Andrews that now exists on the Yamacraw Road. Before 1968 when it accepted the first black student, St. Andrews was a lily white school, created when Queen's College became too racially integrated and became the refuge of the white Bahamians and foreigners whose parents worked in The Bahamas. It was in 1968 that the Government forced its desegregation and a grandson of the first Bahamian Governor General Sir Milo Butler came to be its first black student. Presumably then if Brent Symonette’s father had won the election of 1967, the policies of the United Bahamian Party of maintaining a segregated school would have continued. And we cannot say it would have ended anyway because after all Apartheid, in South Africa did not end until countless lives were lost and sanctions had to be placed against the wicked regime in South Africa and that came about in 1994. Would Brent Symonette have defended that practice in The Bahamas? Does he think it was the right thing for his parents to have done now as he looks back on it in retrospect?
The latest salvo of the Free National Movement is a pathetic calypso type song in which the singer talks abut “Voting Them Out”. The two themes “Vote Them Out” and “Aint Long Now” are so tiresome because they were used before in 1987. Then it was “Vote The Rascals Out”. The FNM got the shock of their lives in 1987; they went down to flaming defeat. The present set of ads then introduces a new theme, a Hubert cult type chant that Hubert Ingraham is Back and that he is simply best. Wherein they break into the Tina Turner song:” Simply the Best, better than all the rest”. Best our foot!
The PLP has now responded with an ad reminding the Bahamian people of what Hubert Ingraham said when he became Prime Minister about the perks that came to Sir Lynden by virtue of his being Prime Minister. Mr. Ingraham relished the fact that in his then new job as Prime Minister he could take all of those perks away. He is heard saying on the ad: “Car Gone, maid gone...” in that nasty, grating voice that he has. We are told that FNMs were so upset that they were calling up the talk shows and crying foul. Foul indeed! He is a foul minded man, his language is foul. His deeds are foul.
We hope that the radio stations make a lot of money out of this election season. We hope that the PLP gets its act together on the public relations side. We believe that decent, well thinking, sound minds, will vote for the PLP. We think that the young when they reflect on how far we’ve come will vote for the PLP. Let’s see, what else is there? No; that’s it. We think that the country is PLP ALL THE WAY!
Number of hits for the week ending Saturday 10th March 2007 up to midnight: 178,404.
Number of hits for the month of March up to Saturday 10th March 2007
at midnight: 253,610.
U.S.
HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT
Each year, the United States government publishes
various reports on countries around the world. One such report is
a report on the human rights practices of the Governments in the country.
The report is compiled by the staffs of the United States embassies in
the various countries. It is supposed to be used as a tool for the
executive arm of the United States government to develop policies toward
each country. If a country is declared a country that abuses human
rights then certain consequences as far as aid from the United States will
follow as in they threaten to stop it. Similar to the human rights
report is a report on the drug trade and whether or not a country is a
co-operating country with the United States on the war on drugs and as
part of that report there will be a section on money laundering.
Now if you were in France or the United Kingdom, assuming those countries
are aid recipients in any way from the United States, the reports would
probably not get one column inch in their newspapers and if so certainly
not blasted over the front pages of the newspapers of those countries.
But in The Bahamas each year these reports are blasted over the front pages
and as headlines on the radio as if the press of The Bahamas are involved
in an all out effort to discredit their own country.
The Foreign Minister Fred Mitchell called a press
conference on Wednesday 7th March to indicate his annoyance with how these
matters are reported. He said that the press of The Bahamas carries
these reports as if they were the “gospel truth”. They are not of
course. For example, John Marquis and The Tribune together with some
English émigrés who were hired at the Nassau Guardian were
busy during the year setting up a situation where it appeared that the
press was under attack. There was no evidence to support it and there
is no such evidence. But for their own self-serving reasons, anti
Bahamian and anti black, they did it. Such a set of reports can find
their way into the human rights reports of the United States. That
then is used by this same press to say how the US says that there is a
problem with the press freedom in The Bahamas. The Minister said
that the reports are published uncritically and no one bothered to call
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to say: “What do you think about this?”
The answer would probably be not much. The fact is the country has
the ability to correct itself on any of these matters. The society
is free and open. The very fact of a human rights report by the United
States and its wide publication in Bahamian news media demonstrates that
point.
Mr. Mitchell also quoted other points. He
indicated that with regard to money laundering where the United States
notes that The Bahamas is still a country of concern to them for money
laundering that it has been noted that the United States has more money
laundering than any country in the world. They themselves are the
problem and when they get on top of it both drug use and money laundering
then they can expect small players like The Bahamas to get on top of it.
The Minister pointed out on the human rights front the criticisms of Amnesty
International on the treatment of detainees at Gauntanamo and blacks in
US prisons. You can compare and contrast that to the issue of the
prison in The Bahamas. Some time ago Caricom decided that they would
themselves commission a report annually on the human rights record of the
United States but the organization has had neither the ability nor the
willingness to carry out this review of the record of the US. That
is the problem with this matter, it is all one sided and it is all the
more disappointing that those carrying it on for one side are the press
of The Bahamas, denigrating their own side.
Fred Mitchell briefs the media at the House of Assembly in this
Bahamas Information Services photo by Peter Ramsay
CONGRATULATIONS
TO MELANIE GRIFFIN
The Government has now moved another landmark piece
of legislation as part of its social agenda. Minister of Social Services
Melanie Griffin introduced a bill on Wednesday 7th March to allow for protection
orders for people who live within the same household. It is really
a bill designed to protect women and children from abuse but it is generic
in nature and therefore can apply to all the domestic situations where
people find themselves the objects of abuse. The police can enter
the household without a warrant to enforce the protection orders.
The Minister has been quite dynamic during the term
with regard to social legislation. Recently the House passed under
her leadership a bill which will revolutionize the law on custody of children
and young persons. It will change the present position in the Affiliation
Proceedings Act where women can get maintenance for their children born
out of wedlock. Because under the existing law, children born out
of wedlock are deemed to be the children of no one, a mother is exclusively
the legal guardian of the child and the father had no right at common law
to access the child or have custody to the child. The only way that
the father could get access to the child is if the mother went to court
to get a maintenance order. If she refused to do so, then the father
could be effectively banned from seeing the child. This injustice
is eliminated in the new act.
The bill for the protection orders introduced last
Wednesday gives wider coverage than the existing domestic violence legislation
legislation, in that the new act applies to all people not just married
people. It allows for a faster procedure, and it allows a police
officer to go in with the victim and remove them from the situation.
We congratulate Minister Griffin on this landmark piece of legislation.
Once more the PLP shows that it is not just about buildings and roads but
that people come first with the PLP.
CUSTOMS
AND IMMIGRATION ILLEGAL WALKOUT
This past week some members of the Customs and Immigration
Department walked off the job in an illegal strike. The officers
refused to be bound by their contract of employment signed on their behalf
by John Pinder, the President of the Bahamas Public Services Union last
year that came into effect in July 2006. Mr. Pinder sought to get
the workers back to work while the negotiations took place but to no avail.
What transpired is a scene that has become all too familiar with The Bahamas.
You have workers who are supposed to be enforcing the law, breaking the
law themselves. They would not budge. Some of them threatened
to shut down the airport.
A meeting was convened with the leaders of the Immigration
and Customs departments to determine what the issues were. There
were no new issues and the settlement that came did not break any new ground
than what had been agreed originally in the signed industrial agreement.
The bottom line is that they wanted more money because there was a public
promise by the government to give the Royal Bahamas Defence Force and the
Her Majesty’s Prison an interim increase in salary pending completion of
the compensation study. The RBDF and the Prison are not bound by
the contract of the BPSU. As disciplined forces they cannot be a
part of a trade union. The Customs officers and Immigration officers
failed to appreciate the point. Bottom line is that the Government
has agreed to commence the implementation of a shift allowance for them
in accordance with their contract. This is something that is in the
contract and which the Government wanted to implement but was being delayed
by the officers themselves and their representatives. The insurance
coverage that they wanted had earlier been agreed and the government merely
reconfirmed that. Then they agreed to go back to work.
It all seemed rather unnecessary. But it appears
in these times that sometimes as you get closer to the elections, people
start acting in strange ways. The Union leaders ought to be very
concerned about this trend of illegal walkouts. The point is why
should an employer including the Government talk to union leaders who cannot
control their followers.
BAHAMAS
OFFERS CONDOLENCES TO HAITI ON TRAGIC SEA DEATHS
The Minister of Foreign Affairs Hon. Fred Mitchell
met Sunday afternoon with the Ambassador for Haiti to The Bahamas to convey
the condolences of the Government and people of The Bahamas on the tragic
death at sea of ten Haitian nationals in Exuma on Thursday 8th March, 2007.
Nine men and one woman drowned.
The Royal Bahamas Police Force has provided a briefing
on the information now in the possession of the police that led to the
demise of these individuals. The Police report that they were alerted
at the Georgetown police station on Thursday 8th March that persons believed
to be Haitian Nationals were wandering in the bushes on the southern side
of Bahama Sound, which is an area just south of the old Georgetown International
Airport. Seventeen men were apprehended and the remains of ten other
persons were discovered floating in waters nearby.
It is thought that the individuals were all being
smuggled into The Bahamas.
A Coroner’s Inquest was convened at Exuma on Friday
9th March conducted by Deputy Island Administrator Bradley Armbrister with
a jury selected from the community. The local Criminal Detective
Unit (CDU) provided support for the inquest. The inquest concluded that
the deaths were consistent with drowning.
Following the inquest, the remains were interred
in a Christian burial at the Rolletown public cemetery.
At the request of the Haitian Government, the incident
is being reviewed by the Royal Bahamas Police Force, including the interviewing
of seventeen men who survived the incident at sea and are now in custody
in Exuma.
IN PASSING
Twenty Five Years In OAS
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs marked 25 years of The Bahamas participation
in the Organization of American States on Monday 5th March with a flag
raising ceremony and reception at the Ministry. The Minister of Foreign
Affairs Fred Mitchell and the OAS Representative Juliet Mallet Philip raised
the flags of The Bahamas and the OAS respectively on that day. Doris
Johnson Senior High School Head Boy Davario Rahming and Head Girl Lakeisha
Moncur read the Preamble at the Commemorative Ceremony. The photos
are by Tim Aylen of the Bahamas Information Services.
Fox Hill Campaign Kicks Off
A special service to mark the start of the Fox Hill campaign will be
held Monday 12th March at the Faith Mission Church of God on Fox Hill Road
South, Rev. Shirelle Saunders presiding. This is the Church where
it all began for Fred Mitchell as the candidate for the PLP in 1997 and
every campaign has gotten its start from there. The service begins
at 7:30 p.m. and will be carried live on GEMS radio 105.9 FM
The Real Story On John Marquis
He is a strange egg. His work is known for its anti Bahamian
and anti black character as the Managing Editor of The Tribune. Who
is this strange Englishman abroad? His name is John Marquis and he
has a long and checkered history. He is a real joker except that
he has tried to inflict serious damage to The Bahamas and many question
his journalist ethics. Next week, we present a long exposé
on this man who was booted out of The Bahamas once and should be booted
out again but who the Government has not had the courage to tell he ought
to go.
Major Bahamian Investment set for Andros
Eldin A. Ferguson III has been known as number 88,
record-breaking receiver for Jacksonville University football. The
young Bahamian, now graduated is emerging as a potential major player in
the economy of Andros. Ferguson of Hidden Treasure Bahamas Ltd. and
Bahamas Island Hoppers Ltd. has set his eyes on some new goals in The Bahamas.
A project two years in the planning is now set to
blossom in the touristic, agricultural, and aquaculture fields on Andros
coupled with an inter island based catamaran service based in Nassau.
Taken together, the projects would be one of the
largest Bahamian investments for the island of Andros. The former
football standout also intends to ensure a sports element in the project,
with plans for a major sporting facility and various sporting clinics,
including football, basketball, baseball, track and field and tennis.
The aquaculture element of the project is intended to assist the fisheries
industry with the future of conch, lobster, grouper and sponge.
Gilbert Morris Loses His Baby Daughter
She was only an infant, recently born and was joining her mother and
brothers in Grand Bahama for a visit with her Grandmother. The baby
girl Liberte-Adina took ill and died at Freeport’s Rand Memorial Hospital
on Thursday 8th March. She is the daughter of Gilbert Morris, the
economist and social commentator. This a sad event and we offer our
condolences.
Ruth Agnes Mitchell-Granger Dies
Ruth Granger was the widow of Wenzel Granger, a former Acting Commissioner
of Police who could not get the job, because in the colonial days that
was for the English. Mr. Granger then went on to head the Immigration
department. He had served in the British Army during the Second World
War. She was a teacher and a good one. She was honoured by
Her Majesty The Queen with an MBE. She is the aunt of the now Foreign
Minister Fred Mitchell and was the last surviving member of his father’s
generation. She was 94 years old and died in her sleep on Wednesday
7th March. She is survived by her many nephews and nieces but especially
Craig Mitchell who took care of her up to the end. Mrs. Granger was
buried in the Western Cemetery in the grave of her mother and father on
Saturday 10th March, which would have been her 95th birthday.
African Heritage Day In Fox Hill
On 25th March 2007, The Bahamas will mark along with the rest of the
Commonwealth Caribbean, the end of the transatlantic slave trade.
It was on that day that the British Parliament passed legislation outlawing
the slave trade. It would be another year before it came into force
and it would not be until 1834 that the Emancipation Act was passed by
the Imperial Parliament. In Fox Hill, one of the villages in New
Providence where freed Africans were set down by the British, there will
be a special celebration on Saturday 31st March called African Heritage
Day with bands, music, a church service and singing.
Chinese Acrobats
Minister of Foreign Affairs Fred Mitchell was the guest of honour as
members of the Shandong Acrobatic Troupe performed on Saturday, March 10
at the Kendal G. L. Isaacs Gymnasium for charitable organizations.
The Bahamas is the first stop on the award-winning troupe’s ‘Friendship
Tour’and exhibition. Bahamas Information Services photos by Derek
Smith.
The Usual Suspects
The Tribune has become such a propaganda rag, such an anti black and
anti Bahamian paper that its sales are falling. These days people
report that they are silently boycotting The Tribune’s biased reporting
by not buying it and many simply don’t read what its columnists are writing.
You have Adrian Gibson, a public servant who may be in violation of his
rules of employment by writing the column, you have Zhivargo Laing, a former
Minister of the Government in the FNM, we call him the Minister of un economic
development, and then there is John Marquis. Each week, they spew
out anti PLP propaganda to satisfy the diet of the vicious anti PLP haters
in the country, led by Hubert Ingraham. As one reader said, “not
buying The Tribune is the least I can do.”
All Eyes on The Police Changes
Commissioner of Police Paul Farqhuarson read from a script at the official
opening of the Police Headquarters on Friday 9th March. As he ended
his address, he quoted some words that he said inspired him and he wanted
to share it with the police. One of the bits he said was good advice
for those who say they don’t want to move from their present post to go
onto new responsibilities. All eyes went to Reginald Ferguson, the
Assistant Commissioner of Police, for whom the Free National Movement and
others have been running a campaign in the press in the face of reports
of a restructuring and transfer to new responsibilities of a number of
senior officers to have Mr. Ferguson stay on as Assistant Commissioner
responsible for Crime. The Commissioner said that instead of clenching
the fist and resisting, new opportunities should be embraced. Other
commentators have a different way of putting it, since when in a military
organization do you have say over where you are transferred. The
Commissioner told the men that the Secretary of the Cabinet had informed
him that the changes in the Force were soon to come and with it the promotions
would follow shortly. You are hearing it from the horse’s mouth,
he said.
Bahamas Information Services photo by Peter Ramsay
Roberts Not to Run
Prime Minister Perry Christie on Thursday 8th March officially commissioned
a new reverse osmosis plant to provide fresh water for New Providence.
The plant was ordered during the tenure of Bradley Roberts as Minister
for Works and Utilities. That part of his portfolio has now passed to Minister
for the Environment Marcus Bethel. But in the course of his statements
the Prime Minister said: “The Minister (Roberts) is demitting office from
elected politics, and I would like to thank him for what has been an extraordinary,
illustrious career.” This confirms what we have said before that
Mr. Roberts does not intend to stand at the next general election.
He is the second generation of his family to serve as an elected member
of the House and he has served continuously since 1982. Prime Minister
Christie is shown on a tour of the new reverse osmosis facility in this
BIS photo by Peter Ramsay.
Steve McKinney Mourns
Talk show host and journalist Steve McKinney is mourning the death
of daughter Trevonne McKinney aged 22. She was murdered on Monday
5th March. Michael Byron Simmons has been charged with the offence.
Ms. McKinney was buried on Saturday 10th March. Our condolences to
Mr. McKinney.
Miller Case
The anguish of Minister of Agriculture Leslie Miller over the death
of his son Mario continues. The trial of those accused of his murder
was postponed again from its 5th March start at the request of Defence
Counsel who was engaged in another case.
LETTERS
TO THE EDITOR
The Noble Role of The British Commonwealth
As the Bahamas pauses to celebrate Commonwealth
Day, it is fitting for us to pause and reflect on the nobility, heritage,
and global importance of the British Commonwealth. I encourage all Bahamians
to take note of the key Commonwealth Declarations and make a determination
as to our level of compliance with the spirit and letter of these tenets
that are so fundamental to our democracy. Commonwealth Day is celebrated
on the second Monday in March every year. The aim of commemorating Commonwealth
Day is to promote understanding on global issues, international co-operation
and the work of the Commonwealth to improve the lives of its 2 billion
citizens.
The Commonwealth is an association of 53 independent
states consulting and co-operating in the common interests of their peoples
and in the promotion of international understanding and world peace. The
Commonwealth's 2 billion citizens, about 30 per cent of the world's population,
are drawn from the broadest range of faiths, races, cultures and traditions.
The Bahamas became a member of the British Commonwealth in 1973, the year
of our independence.
The association does not have a written constitution,
but it does have a series of agreements setting out its beliefs and objectives.
These Declarations or Statements were issued at various Commonwealth Heads
of Government Meetings. The first, fundamental statement of core beliefs
is the Declaration of Commonwealth Principles which was issued at the 1971
summit in Singapore. Among other things, it stresses the need to foster
international peace and security; democracy; liberty of the individual
and equal rights for all; the importance of eradicating poverty, ignorance
and disease; and it opposes all forms of racial discrimination.
For your further edification, I wish to list
thirteen of the key Commonwealth Declarations.
* Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation
and Code of Conduct for International Election Observers
* Malta Declaration on Networking the Commonwealth for Development
* Declaration on Strengthening Co-operation In International Humanitarian
Law
* Commonwealth (Latimer House) Principles on the Three Branches
of Government
* Gozo Outcomes
* Harare Commonwealth Declaration
* Aso Rock Commonwealth Declaration on Development and Democracy
* Coolum Declaration
* Fancourt Commonwealth Declaration on Globalisation and People-Centred
Development
* Declaration of Commonwealth Principles 1971
* Millbrook Commonwealth Action Plan on the Harare Declaration
* The Victoria Falls Declaration of Principles for the Promotion
of the Human Rights of Women, 1994
* Lusaka Declaration on Racism and Racial Prejudice
As Bahamian civil society continues to develop
this great country, it is my sincere hope that we allow our public policies,
procedures, processes, and national sensibilities to be guided by these
core values and beliefs. I am convinced and satisfied that this commitment
is certain to strengthen and deepen our democracy.
May God continue to bless the Commonwealth of the Bahamas.
Elcott Coleby
A Bahamian youth who’s frustrated and fed up
I am a Bahamian student studying abroad and I
didn’t vote in the last election because I am soured by the blind faith
we put into the colors of yellow and red - rather than putting informed
support behind the actual people and what they stand for. However,
I’m thinking of making a decision this year and casting my vote where I
see fit, IF I see fit.
I am neither FNM (n)or PLP and if I were to vote
I am planning on attending both parties’ rallies and speaking to the candidates
from both parties and independents for my area if there be any. I
am mailing because it is your website and that of the FNM where I get the
current information from both sides. From the FNM website I can see
who is running for my constituency, but I am quite upset to see that there
is no information on who is running in my area for the PLP.
I honestly couldn't care less about what’s going
on with Anna Nicole Smith. It is irking everything in my soul to
see people spend so much time talking about her when we have an election
to prepare for. She has already made millions whichever way she saw
fit and we as a country are still trying to stand on our own two feet.
I am still in school and have yet to make any money or a name for myself.
Therefore the issues that I am interested in don’t lie with her or any
situation having to do with her! I think the Bahamian people need
to keep these things in mind while they're standing around the graveyard
where she's buried.
We as a people need to start demanding much more
than we do from the people who want to take up office and run our country.
There is no way it is ok for one party to not make known who the candidates
are for the next general election less than 2 months before the projected
election day. There is no way it is ok for both parties to not release
Manifestos or whatever else for the upcoming election which is projected
to be less than 2 months away! These are the things we need to equip
ourselves with to make the right choices! I think this is as a result of
the fact that everyone knows our people just vote for whatever color they
prefer and not what the parties stand for, which results in both parties
not putting their best foot forward year after year.
There is too much he say she say and I don't
know about the rest of the youth, but it doesn't impress me. It is not
just a matter of voting because it’s your right and then voting blindly.
It is a matter of making an informed decision on who we allow to take our
country from this year to 2012 and beyond. I honestly don’t know
what the answer is, but I don’t see anyone with it so far. I hope
I do by the time Election Day comes.
NAR
This is not the official site of the Progressive Liberal Party.
For official PLP information, visit www.myplp.com
However, we agree with you that you should not vote blindly. We feel
the PLP has done its work and the work of the country in the term and deserve
another term to continue the economic transformation of The Bahamas in
the best interest of the majority of the Bahamian people. Regarding
the lists of named candidates, Opposition parties have to put their candidates
in the field early. The boundaries are being redrawn so that your
MP may no longer be the PLP candidate for that area. You can usually assume
that he or she will be the candidate if he or she is the incumbent.
When the boundaries are fixed, then the PLP will announce the actual candidates.
- Editor
THIS
WEEK WITH THE PM
PM In Bimini
Prime Minister Perry Christie visited the island
of Bimini this past week and took the time to address members of his Progressive
Liberal Party at a banquet. Mr. Christie is shown in animated passion
as he exhorts the faithful to prepare for the upcoming General Election.
| 18th
March, 2007
Welcome to bahamasuncensored.com |
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| WHAT IS BAHAMAR TRYING TO PULL?... | THE BOUNDARIES COMMISSION REPORTS... |
| PICTURES FROM THE LAUNCH... | THE FNM FORGETS ON BAHAMIAN LAND... |
| IN PASSING... | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR... |
| THIS WEEK WITH THE PM... | |
| The Official Site of the Progressive
Liberal Party... |
The Official Site of the Free National Movement... |
| PLPs On The Web... | Interesting Places... |
| Bradley Roberts / PLP Grants Town | Bahamas Government Website |
| Neville Wisdom / PLP Delaporte | Reg & Kit's Bahamas Links |
| Alfred Sears / PLP Fort Charlotte | Bahamians On The Web |
| Melanie Griffin / PLP Yamacraw | Bahamian Cycling News |
| John Carey / PLP Carmichael | FredMitchellUncensored.Com ARCHIVES... |
| Grand Bahama PLP | |
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| PHOTO OF THE WEEK: On Friday 16th March 2007, the Progressive Liberal Party nominated its remaining candidates and it looks like so far only Sidney Stubbs has lost the nomination. Bradley Roberts and Agatha Marcelle have decided not to stand again. So with that done, we can look back on the propitious start of the campaign of Fred Mitchell PLP Fox Hill and the Foreign Minister. The Minister officially launched his campaign on Monday 12th March at the Faith Mission Church of God, Rev. Shirelle Saunders presiding. The pastor is the successor to her father the late Bishop Austin Saunders who was a staunch supporter of the PLP and in whose church Mr. Mitchell’s campaigns have always started. The pastors of Fox Hill gathered and laid hands on Mr. Mitchell as a sign of their prayers for the future of Mr. Mitchell and the constituency. And so our photo of the week is that of the start of the campaign of Fred Mitchell for reelection for Fox Hill taken by C. J. Miller. |
COMMENT OF THE WEEK
A VERY MIXED UP YOUNG WOMAN
Sometimes a party is so desperate for a candidate for a constituency
that they simply do not bother to check whether or not the choice they
ultimately make, makes sense. The dearth of quality candidates is
a particularly difficult problem that faces an opposition party, particularly
in the face of a substantial win the previous time by the incumbent party.
That certainly seems to be the case in the Fox Hill constituency as it
faced the Free National Movement. Their candidate appeared on the
radio talk show hosted by Wendall Jones of Love 97 on Tuesday 13th March
and in a word she embarrassed herself, she embarrassed her party.
At the end, after a thorough roasting by the callers on the station, Mr.
Jones appeared to pull back because it appeared that she was a lost soul.
Only this woman has a political hide as thick as a rhinoceros and a thinking
process that is as thick as a concrete block so she probably thinks that
she did a good job on the show.
Then again, most political parties have to make a choice about where they are going to spend resources. The party only spends resources and sends good candidates where they think that they have a chance of success and can win. If they do not think they can win, they then put the canon fodder to face the other side. Their resources can be better spent in other constituencies where they have a chance of winning. That again appears to be the decision of the Free National Movement in Fox Hill.
The difficulty that the FNM party faces in Fox Hill is that the level of aggression of their candidate stretches so far that it borders on nonsensical. The candidate is a mish mash of bitterness, untruths and half truths, self aggrandizement (every other word out of her mouth is that she has a doctorate in education), and she is unable to say what precisely she will do for the Fox Hill constituency that is not already being done or that is not about to be done.
For example, during her disastrous foray on the radio with Wendall Jones her main response to the question of what she is going to do is that she wants to start asues in Fox Hill and she wants to get burial societies going. A caller pointed out that these were instruments of the 1950s and 1940s and that the people of Fox Hill were much more ambitious and were trying to get mortgages and homes.
Then she was concerned about bathrooms on the park which she said the incumbent had not put there. Completely false. The bathrooms on the park predated the coming of the present PLP representative, but each year during the tenure of Fred Mitchell, the bathrooms on the park have been repaired for use during the annual festival. They are now completely refurbished with new fixtures, tiling and under the secure lock and key of the Urban Renewal programmes. Done by Fred Mitchell. The park itself has been transformed, newly paved and new bleachers all completed by the present representative for the Progressive Liberal Party.
This is similar to another untruth that the lady has been spinning in her campaign about the lack of computers in Fox Hill when she did not realize or more properly failed to give credit for the fact that a brand new computer room was donated by Fred Mitchell to the Sandilands Primary School for the entire school without a penny of money from the education system.
But this idea that a representative has to go into his pocket to make contributions to a cause is not what a representative is supposed to be doing anyway. She has brought the ways of her party, the UBP, way of doing things. She and her husband have become fat and rich as a result of the contracts that Fred Mitchell helped to get her husband at Paradise Island and now she is using the money by promising to and actually giving it away as a typical UBP means of getting votes in Fox Hill.
Her most egregious problem however is the Fox Hill Community Centre, a two million dollar building that was started by Fred Mitchell and is now almost complete. The corner stone laying will take place on the 12th April and it will be a great day for Fox Hill. The building has already transformed the corner in Fox Hill. The Building will house an 800 seat auditorium, catering facilities and a kitchen and will have a computer room, permanent offices for the Fox Hill Festival Committee and a facility to assist with day care and with the senior citizens. Wendall Jones quizzed her on this but she came up with another piece of fiction that the foundation of the old structure left by George Mackey the former MP was somehow taken up without a need to do so. And that this caused consternation in the community. Untruth again. Fiction. The foundation was full of trees and the structure had to be dug up in 2002. It had been sitting there for ten years without any attention to it at all. The new building that has gone up in its place is three times the size of the old proposed structure.
When questioned as to whether or not she would give credit to Fred Mitchell on that issue, she said that she would not because that was George Mackey's vision. Of course only two sentences before she said that in digging up the foundation, Mr. Mitchell had ruined George Mackey’s vision.
A political party really has to be more responsible than this to unleash someone who is so aggressive that it blinds her to reality and it blinds her to common sense. Each day she acts, each day that she makes a statement she digs a deeper and deeper hole for herself and people question her abilities. It is sad that the kind of campaign that she seeks to launch shows that she is a very mixed up young woman indeed. She is bitter. She does not seem to know fact from fiction. She is ambitious to the point of foolhardiness and we think she has probably misled her party as to her abilities.
The FNM’s candidate for Fox Hill is a walking contradiction. On the one hand she preaches family values and Christianity but she makes nasty, sneering and untrue comments that are not very family valued or Christian in nature. You just have to remember what was reported on this site about her snubbing Mr. Mitchell in the middle of a church service.
We think that in the General Election of 2007, the choice is clear in Fox Hill. PLP ALL THE WAY!
Number of hits for the week ending Saturday 17th March 2007 at midnight: 209,022.
Number of hits for the month of March up to Saturday 17th March 2007
at midnight: 472,562.
WHAT
IS BAHAMAR TRYING TO PULL?
On Friday 16th March all of the newspapers in the
country led with doom and gloom about the Bahamar project that is supposed
to be the saviour of the Cable Beach strip in New Providence as a kind
of second tourist Mecca. The Bahamar project is not popular with
Bahamians. The project does not have a good image. What it
has is an image of a large set of numbers, now said to be a two billion
dollars investment, but too many demands, few actual deliveries, and a
demand for more concessions that border on greed.
The deal which is to mean the rerouting and closure
of some existing roads on Cable Beach, will mean the implosion of some
of the hotels out west and also the implosion of the Government buildings
out west including the Prime Minister’s office and the police station,
the implosion of the privately owned banks out west, and the rebuilding
of all of those facilities. Bahamar likes to compare what they are
getting in Cable Beach to what the Kerzner organization has gotten at Paradise
Island. There is a big difference. Kerzner is a tried and true
product that has actually delivered jobs and prosperity to the economy
of The Bahamas. The Bahamar people have not gotten off first base.
They have done one project since buying the Crystal Palace and at least
are keeping it open. They have begun the refurbishing of the Radisson
Hotel but the investors have not followed through on their commitment to
the Government not to lay off any workers. There are some people
at Radisson who are getting two days work a week and taking home less than
thirty dollars a week. The staff is all trying to leave. Some
are being offered packages of $5,000 to leave. That is the reputation
that Bahamar has.
It is not just about public relations either.
Something just doesn’t smell right. There is no public face to the
project, and it seems as though some faceless nameless men are simply trying
to manipulate the Government of The Bahamas for profit. The Government
issued
a statement responding to the latest foray into the press by Bahamar.
Friday’s statement that Bahamar is "concerned that an agreement has not
been reached in a timely manner" was typical of how Bahamar conducts their
negotiations. They are trying to force the Government to make a decision
by going into the public domain and seeking to blackmail the Government
into doing something that is not in the country’s best interest.
There is no doubt about the fact that the Bahamar project will be good
for The Bahamas once it gets off the ground, but it appears that there
is still some way to go before we actually see a project that is worth
it for the investors and for The Bahamas.
THE
BOUNDARIES COMMISSION REPORTS
The press has reported in The Bahamas that the Constituencies
Commission appointed pursuant to the constitution has now reported to the
Governor General as prescribed in the constitution. The next step
is a boundaries order is to be presented to Parliament on Monday 19th March.
The Prime Minister has the power under the constitution to make further
adjustments to the boundaries. Under the law, the constituencies
are supposed to be more or less equal within each island, and in the case
of the Family Islands they are to take into account the issues of transportation,
geographical boundaries and communications and the needs of small and remote
communities.
In New Providence, it appears that the average size
of the constituencies will remain at about 3500. There appears to
be an increase in seats from 40 to 41. This is to avoid a similar
situation that occurred in Trinidad and Tobago when the elections there
produced an 18 to 18 tie. The sides could not agree and there had
to be another election called within a year’s time. The Family Island
seats will remain the same, with no changes in names. There have
been some minor adjustments in the lines from one settlement to the next
but the names remain the same.
The changes have come in New Providence. Delaporte,
the constituency that Dr. Hubert Minnis, the friend of Hubert Ingraham,
FNM Leader, was nursing is no longer a seat. The name is consigned
to history. Adelaide has also gone as a name. Instead, with the population
in the west of New Providence having increased dramatically, there are
three new seats: Killarney, a name from the past (Elwood Donaldson
used to be the PLP representative for the Killarney constituency in 1968),
Clifton, and Golden Isles. It looks like Neville Wisdom will be the
PLP’s nominee in Killarney but the talk is that Hubert Minnis and Tommy
Turnquest may be fighting over Clifton for the FNM. Tommy Turnquest
who was unceremoniously dumped by Hubert Ingraham two years ago as Leader
of the FNM does not think he can make it in the reconfigured Mt. Moriah
and wants to go into Clifton. It will be interesting to see if Hubert
Ingraham will choose him or will choose his friend Dr. Minnis. Our
bet is that Tommy Turnquest will again get the shaft.
Out east in New Providence Brent Symonette has a
similar dilemma. There is a new seat called St. Anne’s which splits
up the Montagu constituency, and the name St. Margaret’s disappears into
history. Mr. Symonette, the Deputy Leader of Mr. Ingraham will have
to choose either Montagu that he has been working and spent all his
money in and produced paraphernalia on or start afresh in St. Anne’s.
Same problem as Dr. Minnis; all the money on paraphernalia for Delaporte
and now he has to get rid of it. But back to out east, Loretta Butler
has been working Blair, part of the old St. Margaret’s so she should get
a chance to go there but Mr. Symonette may want to stay there. It
couldn’t have happened to a finer group of people. The nastiness,
the misplaced sense of superiority.
PICTURES
FROM THE LAUNCH
Our photo of the week came from the launch of the
campaign of Foreign Minister Fred Mitchell. The theme of the service
conducted by Rev. Shirelle Saunders (at microphone, above right) was: “I’ve
Got The Victory”. She was brilliant. The service was Monday
12th March. We thought you would like to see the
pictures of who was there.
THE
FNM FORGETS ON BAHAMIAN LAND
The Free National Movement has been trying to turn
the tables on the PLP on the question of access by foreigners to Bahamian
land. They have been arguing that the PLP has given away Bahamian
land. Blow us down. This is the same party that scrapped the
Immovable Properties Act in order to make it easier for foreigners to buy
land. The FNM is the party that scrapped the double stamp tax for
foreigners on the sale of land.
The Progressive Liberal Party Sunday issued a news
release on the matter, saying that "The FNM has shown that they do not
understand the strategy being employed by the PLP government and that they
place less value on PEOPLE and the opportunities that have been created
for the Bahamian people by the expanding of the national economy to centers
other than Nassau, Freeport and Marsh Harbour.
"In fact it is the public record that it was the
decision of the FNM to repeal the Immovable Properties Act and replace
it with the International Persons Landholding Act (IPLA) which allowed
the floodgates to open wide.
The passage of the IPLA was central to the FNM’s
economic and land use policies, but it failed to empower Bahamians in any
meaningful way. Under the International Persons Landholding Act (IPLA),
non-Bahamians are able to purchase up to 5 acres of land for residential
purposes, without seeking the prior approval of the Government. In addition,
the IPLA removed the statutory authority that existed under the Immovable
Properties Act for the Government to impose conditions, such as the requirement
for non-Bahamians to construct an edifice or develop the land within a
specified period of time and to levy penalties for non-compliance."
Please click here for the full PLP statement.
There has been no give away of Bahamian land by
the PLP. All of the investments by the PLP have been carefully prescribed
by joint ventures to keep the interests of the Bahamian people uppermost
if crown land was involved. Alternatively, the concessions have been
carefully calibrated to protect the interests of Bahamians. The noise
in the market is only the sound of the FNM’s guilty conscience.
IN PASSING
Hubert Wants His Parking Space
It was the most incredible thing. The government provides a parking
space and office for the Leader of the Opposition just opposite the House
of Assembly on Parliament Street. Must be quite valuable real estate.
On Parliament day Wednesday 14th March, the driver of the Minister for
Public Works parked the Minister’s car it appears in the Leader of the
Opposition's parking spot. This earth shattering problem had already
been brought to the attention of the police and the driver. To everyone’s
shock, there was a knock on the door of the Committee Room of the House
for the Government; it was the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Ingraham in
the flesh himself. “Mr. Roberts” he said, “Can I have my parking
space back? Please move your car.” Incredible!
Sister Maria Rahming Dies; Her Brother Is Buried
She dedicated her life to God. She was born in 1919. She
was the daughter of Josiah Rahming an icon in the Fox Hill community who
is the ‘Josiah the JP’ in Ronnie Butler’s song. She served as a Catholic
nun; one of three who joined the convent in 1937 and lasted to the end.
Sister Maria Rahming died last week after a long illness, shortly after
her brother Thomas, another famous name in Fox Hill. He was born
in 1926. He was buried in St. Anselm’s Church, where he worshipped
all his life on Saturday 17th March. The representative for the Fox
Hill constituency Fred Mitchell expressed his condolences and that of the
PLP branch to the families of the late Rahming siblings in a paid advertisement.
He also attended the funeral of Mr. Rahming at St. Anselm’s.
Commonwealth Day
Commonwealth Day was observed across the Commonwealth of nations on
Monday 12th March. Minister of Foreign Affairs Fred Mitchell addressed
the students of the Dame Doris Johnson High School on the occasion and
called on them not to forget their history. Please click
here for the Minister's full address.
Foreign Minister Off To Jamaica
Fred Mitchell, the Foreign Minister will travel to Kingston Jamaica
for one night on Sunday 18th March to speak to the annual programme of
the Bahamas Students Association in Jamaica at their Bahamas week festivities.
He will return on Monday 19th March.
Hijacking Shane Gibson
The sleazy press in the United States must have nothing else to do.
After having unfairly hounded Shane Gibson, the PLP MP and former Minister
from office, because of a friendship with Anna Nicole Smith, the press
in the states can’t seem to let the issue go. Now during the past
week they got copies of the voice mail of Anna Nicole Smith and it shows
that Shane Gibson had called Ms. Smith and left voice mail messages.
The messages were simply stuff like “Shane called”, “Please Call Shane”.
They put two and two together to make five. They claim that this
means that there was a sexual relationship between Shane and Ms. Smith.
What a load of nonsense. Ms. Smith came to The Bahamas pregnant.
When she met Mr. Gibson, she was pregnant and near to term. Shortly
after obtaining permanent residence in The Bahamas she had a child in The
Bahamas by caesarian section. When the photos were taken in
November 2006 that are being used to say there was something untoward,
Ms. Smith was recovering from the caesarian, was in bed, at a baby shower
and the photos were taken by her boyfriend with his entire family in the
room. What gives here? Let it go sleazy US press and you in
The Bahamas ought to know better.
Judges To Get A Raise
The House of Assembly has followed the
recommendation of Attorney General Allyson Maynard Gibson and passed
a resolution confirming the report of the Commission appointed in law to
recommend raises for the salaries of Judges of the Courts in The Bahamas.
The salary raises are substantial. However, the critics of the matter
are still not satisfied. Having now clearly followed the law, they
now say the raises are an insult and not enough. The former Senator
Damien Gomez for the PLP who had delayed accepting an appointment on the
bench so he could take advantage of an opportunity to make some money,
has now said that as a result of this report it is clear that the Government
does not support the independence of the Judiciary and he can no longer
serve on the bench. He also says that he is not sure that he is supporting
the PLP in the next election. It is always interesting. We
say again, the complaint was that the law was not followed. Now the
law has been followed, there is a report but the Government now gets blamed
for what’s in the report. Incredible!
Farewell To Tony Carroll
 |
The John Marquis Story
Most well thinking Bahamians consider his work the scum of the earth
and he continues to prove his reputation as a sleazy journalist who hates
black people and Bahamians. We are still accumulating all the low
down on this sleazy, snake in the grass journalism that he practices.
Stay tuned next week for the expose on John Marquis. Learn why he
was kicked out of the Bahamas the first time and how the political deal
between Hubert Ingraham and The Tribune to bring in the John Marquis’ special
brand of racism was the greatest act of political prostitution in the history
of our country.
Junkanoo Results Confirmed
The 2007 New Year's Day Junkanoo results for Nassau have been reaffirmed
by a Committee appointed to investigate the points totals. The Committee,
led by former Attorney General and éminence grise Paul Adderley
has determined that the Saxons remain the winners.
LETTERS
TO THE EDITOR
The Fox Hill Community Centre - Setting The Record Straight
There is a report in The Tribune dated Friday
16th March attributed to the FNM’s candidate for Fox Hill Mrs. Jacinta
Higgs with regard to the Fox Hill Community Centre, a project spearheaded
by the Member of Parliament for the Fox Hill Constituency Fred Mitchell.
The FNM's candidate made certain assertions about the conduct of Mr. Mitchell
with regard to the project that are false in every material way, and clearly
demonstrate that she does not know what in the world she is talking about.
It is unfortunate that in a desperate effort at a losing bid for office,
she would seek to try to rewrite history. This appears to be the
characteristic of the party to which she belongs.
The Fox Hill Community centre was the dream of
the previous PLP representative for the Fox Hill Constituency the late
George Mackey. Mr. Mackey had a community development association
that came closest to realizing the dream of this centre when under his
leadership land was acquired by the Ministry of Housing for the public
purpose of providing housing for the people of Fox Hill was then assigned
by the Ministry of Housing for the community centre.
Mr. Mackey’s Committee was well on the way with
the project and a foundation was built, the plumbing roughing was installed.
The PLP lost office in 1992 and the project stopped there. No further
work was able to be continued due it is believed to a lack of funding.
Mr. Mackey demitted office in 1997. The foundation was untouched
from the time the PLP lost office up to the time of Mr. Mitchell’s election
in 2002.
Mr. Mitchell campaigned during the 2002 campaign
that he would seek to complete Mr. Mackey’s dream of a community centre
for Fox Hill. He was elected in 2002. It transpired during
the first year that the land was not owned by the Development Association
formed by Mr. Mackey but was in fact owned by the Ministry of Housing.
The new minister then Shane Gibson determined that he wanted to revert
to the earlier purpose and build government affordable housing on the land.
Mr. Mitchell asked the Minister Shane Gibson not to proceed until he had
checked with the community on the matter. Several community meetings
were held on the matter at the St. Mark’s Baptist Church throughout 2002.
At the community meetings, a comprehensive report was given as to what
the legal position was and the community was asked what it wanted to be
done. It was decided that there should be a community centre.
So said so done! So it is clear for all to see that Mr. Mitchell
has sought to complete Mr. Mackey’s idea of a Community Centre in Fox Hill.
A Community Centre Board was subsequently formed
with Benjamin Rahming and Rev. Carrington Pinder as its Co Chairs.
The other members are Charles Johnson (ex officio as Head of the Fox Hill
Festival Committee); Edgar Moxey (Honorary Treasurer); Rev. J Carl Rahming,
Mr. Mitchell; Calvin Brown, Danny Ferguson, Jacinta White and Al Dillette.
Sheldon Maycock, who is from Fox Hill, was contracted to draw a new plan
because the Committee was advised that the foundation on the property was
not useable. Trees were growing through the foundation and it could
not be salvaged. For the FNM’s candidate to suggest that the foundation
was dug up willy nilly is simply false and she ought to know better.
The need for the new facility was also influenced
by the fact that the Sandilands Primary School does not have a facility
in which to hold its assemblies. The architect was asked to design
a structure that could hold the entire Sandilands School and he has done
that with an 800 seat auditorium. There are also in addition to bathroom
facilities, banquet facilities, a kitchen for catering and a permanent
office for the Fox Hill Festival Committee and a Computer Room and Reading
Room upstairs.
The facility will allow for natural ventilation
and will be fully air conditioned and also feature day care facilities
for children and facilities for senior citizens. The facility will
also have a generator and serve as a hurricane shelter.
The estimated cost of the building is two million
dollars. The value of the construction so far approaches one million
dollars. The building is almost finished and the cornerstone will
be laid during April by the Rt. Honourable Prime Minister.
The donations to this matter were started by
a dinner sponsored by friends on Mr. Mitchell on his 50th birthday.
That raised some $8000 at the time and other contributions have followed
from friends of the Fox Hill Member of Parliament. Woslee Dominion
headed by Ashley Glinton is the contractor and he has done a yeoman's work
in bringing the structure to where it is. Mr. Mitchell nor the Committee
have a relationship with any other contractor. All the work has been
done through Woslee Dominion and his associates. When the work is
completed the Honorary Treasurer will have a full report for the public
as to the fundraising. Various churches in Fox Hill have pledged
donations. Of great note is a contribution of $1500 from the staff and
students of Sandilands Primary School in Fox Hill. The previous Committee
started by George Mackey and headed by Bertram Knowles contributed the
balance of the funds in their trust to this present project for which the
Minister is extremely grateful. They were satisfied that the objectives
of Mr. Mackey were being carried out.
It is often said that untruths told long enough
become the truth. We do not propose for this to be the case in this
matter and we applaud the exemplary leadership of Fred Mitchell.
Please help us to set the record straight.
Philip Mortimer
Constituency Coordinator
Fox Hill
Our birthright for a bowl of porridge
Member of Parliament Neko C. Grant, so quick
to pursue headlines on matters not specific to his constituency, and invariably
on matters for which he has limited knowledge, re his remarks in the media
March 9th and 13th about the “delay” in the signing of the contract for
the new junior high school in the Heritage community, Freeport.
Mr. Grant’s remarks about “plans” left behind
for this school by his government are laughable to say the least, and implicit
in them is a strong indication of how the FNM thinks and “plan”.
We ask Mr. Grant and the FNM’s the following:
If in fact you left plans, did these plans take into consideration.
1. Provisions for funding?
2. Population dynamics especially that coming out of the development of
a new subdivision?
3. Possible calamities arising out of natural disasters such as hurricanes?
4. The site which is most suitable in a population shift?
5. Minimizing the need for bussing while maximizing the potential for the
school as a community facility?
6. Appropriate facilities for the infrastructure in light of the realities
of a rapidly emerging modern city with ever expanding demands from industry,
commerce and government?
These are only some of the matters which come
into focus when planning a school anywhere in The Bahamas today, and they
come into shaper focus in Grand Bahama where in short order the island
will resume its role as the trendsetter for industrial, commercial, and
social development in the country.
Mr. Grant conveniently ignores the fact that
this government inherited over one hundred million dollars in unpaid bills
left behind by the FNM, together with a large fiscal deficit and an economy
in shambles. The PLP government also had to deal with major ravages
left behind by 3 catastrophic hurricanes, which resulted in direct restoration
cost for Grand Bahama alone in excess of twelve million dollars (conservative
estimate); unlike the FNM, the PLP puts people first, so for us it was
a matter of first priority to respond expeditiously to their calamities
and restore normalcy, as best we could, to the lives of our affected beloved
brothers and sisters throughout our nation.
By the way, we also ask Mr. Grant, where was
his voice after Floyd devastated huge areas of Grand Bahama, including
areas of his constituency?
He knows that real plans, with provision for
funding, were left behind by the PLP government in 1992, for the school
built by the FNM in Freeport. In fact, the sites were already chosen
and Hugh Campbell’s name was already chosen for the school that now bears
his name.
In an effort to sell out the interest of Bahamians
for generations to come, however, the FNM leader (with MPs
like Neko Grant in tow to the Port Authority), sold our birthright for
a bowl of porridge by giving hundreds of millions of concessions to the
Port Authority in exchange for a joint funding agreement for the schools.
This together with the Lucayan strip give-away was among the most scandalous
affairs ever in the history of this fair city.
The school will be built and we are confident
that it will be delivered for occupancy on time. We also know that as it
has done so many times in the past, the PLP government will spare no effort
to make whatever provisions necessary to deliver quality construction in
a comfortable learning environment to all of our students throughout our
beloved nation.
Perhaps, in an effort to make amends for his
shortcomings as an MP, Mr. Grant will consider giving a portion of his
Parliamentary pension to a special fund for student activities at the new
school. “it ain’t long now” before his political sunset greets him.
PLP Grand Bahama Public Affairs Committee
THIS
WEEK WITH THE PM
PM At Church of God of Prophecy
The Church of God of Prophecy held its 86th annual
convention in The Bahamas this past week and on Monday evening Prime Minister
Perry Christie visited with the Convention being held at the Church in
his Farm Road constituency. Mr. Christie is pictured at the podium.
COMMENT OF THE WEEK
THE REAL JOHN MARQUIS
It
is really laughable, the pathetic stupidity of John Marquis and his UBP
friends at The Tribune. They can’t help themselves. They have
such a visceral and all out hatred of the Progressive Liberal Party and
black people that they simply can’t help themselves. It reminds you
of those old movies in black and white with the Englishman sitting in his
home in the midst the jungle, with the fire burning and sipping his gin
and quinine, and he hears the drums thumping in the distance, and his eyes
open wide as he asks his manservant what do the drums mean. It strikes
fear right into their very hearts and souls. Thus it is with John Marquis
and The Tribune: they have only to hear the word PLP, read the word Black,
or see any one supporting the history of black people, and their fear drives
them to go insane and ballistic.
It appears that the words Fred Mitchell strike that same atavistic fear in them. Two weeks ago just as a lark, the editors of this column decided that they would carry under the sub head ‘In Passing’, a kicker that suggested that we would have an expose on John Marquis. It meant nothing. It was just a throwaway. What it seemed to do was just like those drums thumping in the jungle, it struck fear into the heart of John Marquis, and he tried to strike back. Not unexpectedly, it was against Fred Mitchell to whom he continues to try to link to this column over and over again. We are proud to support Fred Mitchell of course but that’s another story. The result was an attempt at a vicious rewriting of history, complete with racially laced polemics, salacious innuendoes and the nastiness that has been his stock in trade at The Tribune. If Eileen Carron, while caring for her ill mother, needed a better person to drive The Tribune down in the market to compete with the sleazy Punch, then no better person to get to do it than John Marquis.
The story appeared two Saturdays ago with a kicker on the front panel that the Foreign Minister Fred Mitchell had been uncovered. Some lies about his being an FNM Senator. Then there was the bit about burning the constitution, true enough; and on and on and on about what he said and what he did. The only problem for them was that they did not have enough readers see the thing on the Saturday so in an attempt to add insult to injury they ran the thing again on the Monday following, not a change, the whole thing. Shades of what they did with Shane Gibson and Anna Nicole Smith.
The only other problem for The Tribune is who cares what Fred Mitchell did ten years ago? The fact is he is a good public servant today, and his history is one of activism. Some things he did right, some things he did wrong. There is certainly nothing that he did for which he ought to be ashamed and his public record like any other public figure is simply his public record. Much to their chagrin, we’re sure, the whole piece turned out to be an advertisement for Fred Mitchell.
The thing that incensed many of the readers of this column was how does an Englishman, living on the largesse of the Bahamian people have the right to tell the people of Fox Hill who they must vote for as their representative in the House of Assembly. What stock does he have in it, when after he has profited from his work at The Triune and things get uncomfortable, he simply jumps on the next British Airways flight to live under the comfort and protection of Her Britannic Majesty the Queen.
John Marquis is not new to The Bahamas. He worked here before and he was kicked out of The Bahamas because he was the same kind of nuisance that he now is. We have pictures of him then and now. He wrote sleaze then and he writes sleaze now.
In August 1968 this same John Marquis who is supposed to be training Tribune reporters wrote a story under his byline in a foreign periodical in which he said that Bahamian politicians feared that Cuban revolutionaries were seeking to take over The Bahamas. He then went on to quote the late Senator Reginald Lobosky speaking in the Senate. The story was so embarrassing to his employers at the time The Nassau Guardian that they wrote a special editorial about it. We thought that you would find the quotes interesting from their editorial of Saturday 30th August 1968:
“It is with great reluctance that we at The Guardian have come to the conclusion that there is a person engaged in the profession of journalism in The Bahamas for whom we must apologize.
“That person is John Marquis, a reporter for the Nassau Tribune who apparently fancies himself something of an authority on the political affairs of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, if not the world. In truth, the young vain-glorious Mr. Marquis is little more than a trainee reporter who seems bent on doing harm to The Bahamas with a zeal bordering on abnormal…
“We can only speculate about Marquis’ motivation. But we can offer some insight into his thinking since he was once employed on the news staff of The Guardian. At one point, for example, Marquis decided to write a weekly column but gave it up after a couple of pathetic tries because as he put it, “I am having trouble finding a new controversy every week.”
“Arriving in The Bahamas fresh from apprenticeship in England, Marquis has apparently yet to learn that more than controversy is required to produce a good newspaper. Indeed, the press has an obligation to help build rather than indiscriminately tear down the community from which it draws sustenance.
“It is sufficient to say that no tears were shed when Marquis decided to leave The Guardian and give The Tribune the dubious benefit of his rather limited experience.
“We herewith apologize to the people of The Bahamas on behalf of Marquis for the travesty displayed at the top of this Column (The story said Castro Eyeing Bahamas)
“The only bright spot in the picture is the recent announcement by Marquis that he is leaving The Bahamas and returning to England. And that is Britannia’s problem”
That was 1968. What was said then, is still true today. Always looking for controversy where there is none, writing in a sleazy manner.
John Marquis truly crossed the line in the book that he put together from press clippings and old printed material about the case of the death of Sir Harry Oakes in 1943, promoting it as if it had some stunning revelations. Those stunning revelations were based on an interview with a man who was not then in his full mind but that did not stop John Marquis from using or rather abusing his sources.
Last week, as the photo of the week shows, there was a demonstration against him by the members of the ad hoc Concerned Citizens of The Bahamas. The placards reflect our sentiments. He hates black people, hates The Bahamas. So in those circumstances, it is time that he is given his walking ticket home. We cannot understand why The Bahamas government has this man still in The Bahamas.
Number of hits for the week ending Saturday 24th March 2007 at midnight: 196,350.
Number of hits for the month of March up to Saturday 24th March 2007
at midnight: 687,620.
PLP
SET TO GO WITH 39 CANDIDATES
The Progressive Liberal Party is ever more ready
to face the general election which the Prime Minister has said is to come
on or before the 2nd May. The five year term of the Government runs
out on 21st May 2007. If the House is not dissolved sooner then it
stands dissolved on that day.
The Party has ratified all of its candidates for
the 39 constituencies that it will contest in the next election. There
are 41 constituencies. The PLP has not so far ratified any candidate
against incumbent independent for Bamboo Town Tennyson Wells and for the
Long Island and Ragged Island seat held by Larry Cartwright. It appears
that Mr. Wells will face the FNM’s candidate Bran McCartney alone and in
Long island that Larry Cartwright who was elected as an independent and
later joined the FNM will face former FNM candidate James Miller, who will
run as an independent.
Here is the list of candidates that are thought
to be ratified by the PLP. All the nominees are expected to attend
a church service at Bishop Neil Ellis’ Mt. Tabor today and on Tuesday 27th
March; they will be officially announced on live television to the Bahamian
public from the Crystal Palace. This is the PLP’s winning team for
the year 2007. God bless them all and have a great campaign.
Prime Minister Christie and Deputy Prime Minister Pratt leading
the Party's candidates on a visit to Mount Tabor Full Gospel Church Sunday
25th March, 2007. Photo by Peter Ramsay
|
2. Cynthia Pratt - St Cecilia 3. Vincent Peet - North Andros and the Berry Islands 4. Obie Wilchcombe - West End and Bimini 5. Fred Mitchell - Fox Hill 6. Alfred Sears - Ft. Charlotte 7. Alfred Gray - Mayaguana Inagua Crooked Island and Long Cay 8. Leslie Miller - Blue Hills 9. Melanie Griffin - Yamacraw 10. Bernard Nottage - Bain and Grants Town 11. Neville Wisdom - Killarney 12. Allyson Gibson - Pinewood 13. Glenys Hanna Martin - Englerston 14. Oswald Ingraham South - Eleuthera 15. Shane Gibson - Golden Gates 16. John Carey - Carmichael 17. Veronica Owen - Garden Hills 18. Ann Percentie - Pineridge 19. Ron Pinder - Marathon 20. Michael Halkitis - Golden Isles 21. Frank Smith - St. Thomas More 22. Philip ‘Brave’ Davis - Cat Island, Rum Cay and San Salvador 23. Yvette Turnquest - Montagu 24. Hope Strachan - Sea Breeze 25. Malcolm Adderley - Elizabeth 26. Ricardo Treco - St. Anne’s 27. Keod Smith - Mt. Moriah 28. Jackson Ritchie - Clifton 29. Pleasant Bridgewater - Marco City 30. Constance McDonald - Lucaya 31. Doswell Coakley - High Rock 32. Caleb Outten - Eight Mile Rock 33. Gary Sawyer - South Abaco 34. Fritz Bootle - North Abaco 35. Anthony Moss - Exuma 36. Picewell Forbes - South Andros 37. Wallace Rolle - South Beach 38. Chrisfield Johnson - North Eleuthera 39. Kenyatta Gibson - Kennedy |
BOUNDARIES
COMMISSION REPORT APPROVED
Hubert Ingraham has lost interest in the campaign and lost interest in
the House of Assembly. He has complained of being tired. It
shows on his face and in the inner circles of the Free National Movement;
he has reportedly become ever more irascible. He has Tennyson Wells
and Pierre Dupuch, former colleagues in the Free National Movement, on
his case very week in the House. Mr. Dupuch called him untrustworthy
in the House on Wednesday 21st March. Mr. Dupuch said that he simply
told too many lies.
The two now Independent MPs have been joined by
other colleagues Anthony Miller former FNM MP; Ashley Cargill former FNM
candidate; Algernon Allen, former FNM Minister; Lester Turnquest, former
FNM MP. The list seems to grow every week. Michael Edwards,
another FNM stalwart from Grand Bahama has savaged him and is running as
an Independent. All of it has been on his demeanour as a politician
and on his personality.
This column has learned that Mr. Ingraham has become
more peremptory than ever. For example, he was invited to mark the
occasion of the passing of the late Sir Cecil Wallace Whitfield at the
Christ the King Church on Monday 19th March. He said that he could
not come because he was tired. The only thing is that he was spotted
in his favourite watering hole in Grand Bahama while the church service
as going on.
The other thing is Mr. Ingraham is preparing now
to pull FNM candidates out of the field in two important areas. Marjorie
Johnson is to be moved from campaigning against Picewell Forbes in South
Andros to come to run against Neville Wisdom in Nassau in the Killarney
seat. The talk is that Mr. Ingraham has made a deal with Independent
MP Whitney Bastian not to oppose him. This is something that he swore
that he would never do. Then in Nassau after having sent David Jordine,
a newcomer, into Bain and Grants Town to get his feet wet, with the campaign
of Mr. Jordine is in full swing, Mr. Ingraham is preparing now it is reported
to cut a deal with Rev. C.B. Moss. Rev. Moss is the disgruntled PLP,
who left in a huff last week after not getting the PLP's nomination for
Bain and Grants Town. No doubt, the younger wing of the FNM party
will be incensed by this move if it comes to be. Mr. Jordine should
stand his ground.
In the House for Assembly, Mr. Ingraham says nothing,
except seeking to intimidate or throwing sarcastic barbs from his chair.
His latest comment on Wednesday last was that the PLP should do whatever
it wants to do, go right ahead he said, up until 21st May. Then he
added, “After that you will be gone.” We have one bit of advice for
this sage: when you dig one grave, try digging two.
Prime Minister Perry Christie closes the debate on the Constituencies
Commission report in the House of Assembly - Bahamas Information Services
photo: Peter Ramsay
HOW
THE FNM BEHAVE IN THE HOUSE
The FNM has been a drop out crew in the House of
Assembly for the past three months. They appear to have lost all
interest in the people’s business. Their attitude is they want to
get to elections and they believe they will win a wipeout and be able to
reverse all that has happened over the last five years. It does not
occur to them that they might just be dreaming.
The attitude of the FNM is seen front and centre
in the position that Brent Symonette, their Deputy Leader took to the report
of the Constituencies Commission. He refused to append his signature
to the document so it went to the Governor General without it. Yet,
he did not vote against the boundary changes in the House and said nary
a word about it when he spoke. He simply complained that the changes
were made at the last moment. The Prime Minister had to remind them
how they made his own seat Centreville disappear in the 2002 general election
without so much as a by your leave. He said that Mr. Ingraham and
his colleagues could not come crying since the report represented a fair
distribution of boundaries according to law (click
here for last week's story).
The Constituencies Commission report was signed
by all the politicians except Mr. Symonette. It was also signed by
the Justice of the Supreme Court. The Prime Minister said that there
would be free and fair elections and this is the constitutional point.
Of course, the Attorney General in waiting Michael Barnett has a different
tack. In a letter to the press, he opined that the report was out
of time because the boundaries had to be reviewed very five years and the
time for the last review ran out in November of last year. The Prime
Minister asked whether the FNM was then arguing that this meant that the
general election could not take place. He said that what the constitution
envisaged was simply that there be free and fair elections and this would
happen. There could be no argument against that. Mr. Barnett’s point
then appears to be moot.
The interesting thing is that all the while the
FNM believed the matter was out of time but they still participated in
the process, even voting for the boundaries in the House last week. What
a strange crew!
Prime Minister Perry Christie and leader of the Opposition Hubert
Ingraham with Parliamentary Registrar Errol Bethel after the laying of
the Boundaries Commission Report in the House of Assembly. Bahamas
Information Services photo by Peter Ramsay
TWO PERSPECTIVES
There are two ways that you can approach something
that hurts you in public life. You can rail and rant against the
wind or you can accept your fate sanguinely and start to regroup.
Sidney Stubbs lost his bid to get be renominated
as the PLP’s candidate for the Holy Cross constituency. Indeed, the
constituency has disappeared from history. A new seat has been created
called Sea Breeze and newcomer Hope Strachan, Attorney at Law has gotten
the nod.
C.B. Moss, a Minister of the Gospel lost in his
bid to get the nomination for Bain and Grants Town. Dr. Bernard Nottage
got the nomination for the PLP. The response from both is a study
in contrasts.
Sidney Stubbs accepted his fate and reaffirmed his
commitment to the PLP. Rev. C.B. Moss, spit into the wind, burnt
his bridges, scorched the earth – whatever metaphors you want to use but
he said some pretty unfortunate and unkind things.
Everyone would do well to remember that when you
are leaving, just leave and if you are disappointed then you can say so;
but in a small country, scorching the earth and burning bridges will not
work. The elections will be over in six weeks. We will all
know then who survives. One thing is sure, most of us will still
be here seeking to make our way in this small country in or out of Parliament.
Rev. Moss as a minister of religion should really do better and know better.
Here is some of what Sidney Stubbs and Rev. C.N.
Moss both said in their own words:
Sidney Stubbs
“Well you know it’s politics. That is the life of a politician.
You win some, you lose some, then you move on, but personally I look at
it as taking a sabbatical, going away and coming back at some future date.
I’m still young, I’ll be back… I am not running as an independent.
I know a lot of people are saying that I am but I’m not. I will continue
to uphold the principles of the PLP. I am working with my colleagues
like Bernard Nottage, Vincent Peet and the PM in the upcoming election
campaign, and we will win the next government.”
(Reported in the Nassau Guardian of Tuesday 20th March 2007)
Rev. C.B. Moss
“Indeed it was the same Bernard Nottage who again seeking greener
pastures abandoned the CDR in the wilderness. And now the same Nottage
once again seeking greener pastures, hopes to ease through the back door
of Bain and Grants Town which they describe as a safe seat. A move
which he hopes will propel him to the front lines of power once again.
“This is most unacceptable from those who aspire to provide national leadership. It is perhaps now easy to see why the entire social morality of The Bahamas continues to slide to the depths where leaders now feel comfortable with this level of distrust and deceit.
“Not only does this action by the PLP send a message that their word
cannot be trusted, it also shows the determination of the PLP in fostering
favouritism and nepotism. It is obvious that they want to maintain
a clique of family members and their offspring as the ruling class while
everyone else is placed in the servant class.”
(As reported in the Nassau Guardian Wednesday 21st March 2007)
THE
PM’S STATEMENT ON C.B. MOSS
Prime Minister Perry Christie was unusually direct
in his response to the comments of the disappointed candidate Rev.
C.B. Moss who when the announcement was made that he had not obtained the
PLP’s nomination for Bain and Grants Town went to the press in a determined
effort to hurt the PLP. He called the personalities and the party
untrustworthy. He said that there had been a deal to give him the
nomination once the incumbent Bradley Roberts stepped down. He said
that the party did not live up to the deal. The Prime Minister pointed
out that while he did say he would support Rev. Moss, he did not have it
within his gift to give a nomination anyone. There was a process
that had to be followed. He said that the process was followed and
during the process Rev. Moss was unable to get a seconder for his nomination
at the branch meeting of the PLP to deal with candidacies. Following
is the full statement of the Prime Minister.
News Statement by |
BRADLEY
ROBERTS SPEAKS ON C.B. MOSS
You would expect that Bradley Roberts the outgoing
MP for Bain and Grants Town who is not standing again for Parliament would
not mince his words when it comes to responding to an attack on his character.
What Rev. C. B. Moss gave, he got. Rev. Moss
accused Mr. Roberts of not living up to his word to pass the seat on to
him after he stepped down. Mr. Roberts reminded Rev. Moss that the
nomination for the PLP was not in the gift of anyone to give. He
said that Rev. Moss was a cry baby and thought only of himself. You
may click here for the
full statement by Bradley Roberts on the matter.
AFRICAN
HERITAGE TO BE CELEBRATED
Today 25th March 2007 is the day the United Nations
has set aside to commemorate the end of the transatlantic slave trade.
It marks the 200th anniversary since the adoption by the British Parliament
of an act to abolish the trade. It is an important milestone and
observances will be held throughout The Bahamas and the Caribbean to mark
the event. A communication will be given to Parliament by the Foreign
Minister Fred Mitchell to mark the occasion. There will be a lecture
by the noted writer and Caribbean intellectual George Lamming, author of
In the Castle Of My Skin on the evening of Friday 30th March and the British
Colonial Hilton beginning at 6:30 p.m. That morning there will be
the launch of the new television learning channel for the Ministry of Education
at Choices restaurant at the Hotel Training School at the College of The
Bahamas; this will be followed by a panel discussion by noted Bahamian
historians Dr. Thaddeus McDonald and Dr Gail Saunders; there will then
be a luncheon for visiting Minister of Education for South Africa Naledi
Pandor.
There will be on Saturday 31st March an all day
event in Fox Hill. It will start with a march from Adderley Street
led by the Royal Bahamas Defence Force at 3 p.m. The public is
invited to join in. This will then be followed by a service on
the Fox Hill Parade beginning at 4 p.m. and then followed by a cultural
show, the plaiting of the maypole, the climbing of the greasy pole
and Visage will end the night with their performance and that of
Gino
D, Elon Moxey, Terez and K. B.
The observance is an important milestone and it
is one in which all Bahamians should participate. The resolution
of the General Assembly reads as follows adopted on 25th November 2006
unanimously:
| The General Assembly,
Reaffirming the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which proclaimed that no one shall be held in slavery or servitude and that slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms, Recalling that the transatlantic slave trade, which operated between the fifteenth and late nineteenth centuries, involved the forced transportation of millions of Africans as slaves, mostly from West Africa to the Americas, thereby enriching the imperial powers of the time, Honouring the memory of those who died as a result of slavery, including through exposure to the horrors of the middle passage and in revolt against and resistance to enslavement, Recognizing that the slave trade and slavery are among the worst violations of human rights in the history of humanity, bearing in mind particularly their scale and duration, Deeply concerned that it has taken the international community almost two hundred years to acknowledge that slavery and the slave trade are a crime against humanity and should always have been so, Recalling that slavery and the slave trade were declared a crime against humanity by the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, held in Durban, South Africa, from 31 August to 8 September 2001, Acknowledging that the slave trade and the legacy of slavery are at the heart of situations of profound social and economic inequality, hatred, bigotry, racism and prejudice, which continue to affect people of African descent today, Recalling paragraphs 98 to 106 of the Durban Declaration, and emphasizing, in particular, the importance of the “provision of effective remedies, recourse, redress, and compensatory and other measures at the national, regional and international levels”, aimed at countering the continued impact of slavery and the slave trade, Recognizing the knowledge gap that exists with regard to the consequences created by the slave trade and slavery, and on the interactions, past and present, generated among the peoples of Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas, including the Caribbean, Welcoming the work of the International Scientific Committee for the Slave Route Project of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, which aims to correct this knowledge gap, and looks forward to its report in due course, Recalling resolution 28 adopted by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization at its thirty-first session, Proclaiming 2004 the International Year to Commemorate the Struggle against Slavery and its Abolition, and recalling also that 23 August is that Organization’s International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition, Noting that 2007 will mark the two-hundredth anniversary of the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade, which contributed significantly to the abolition of slavery, the Assembly: 1. Decides to designate 25 March 2007 as the International Day for the Commemoration of the Two-hundredth Anniversary of the Abolition of the Transatlantic Slave Trade; 2. Urges Member States that have not already done so to develop educational programmes, including through school curricula, designed to educate and inculcate in future generations an understanding of the lessons, history and consequences of slavery and the slave trade; 3. Decides to convene, on 26 March 2007, a special commemorative meeting of the General Assembly on the two-hundredth anniversary of the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to establish a programme of outreach, with the involvement of Member States and civil society, including on-governmental organizations, to appropriately commemorate the two-hundredth anniversary of the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade; 5. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session a special report on initiatives taken by States to implement paragraphs 101 and 102 of the Durban Declaration aimed at countering the legacy of slavery and contributing to the restoration of the dignity of the victims of slavery and the slave trade. 59th plenary meeting
|
A
VISIT TO LONDON TO SEE THE QUEEN
Dame Marguerite Pindling, widow of the founding
Prime Minister of The Bahamas Sir Lynden Pindling, Sir Baltron Bethel,
first Bahamian Director General of Tourism and Sir Garret Finlayson, Bahamian
businessman, have formally received their awards from Her Majesty The Queen
at Buckingham Palace. The investiture for the knighthoods took place
in London on Wednesday 21st March. The photo of the three was taken
outside Buckingham palace shortly after the ceremony. From left are Sir
Baltron, Dame Marguerite and Sir Garrett. The photo is by Caribbean Investment
Profiles Ltd.
IN PASSING
Whitney Bastian To Run Again
Independent Member of Parliament Whitney Bastian has announced that
he will run again as an independent in the next general election for the
South Andros constituency. The latest political talk is that Hubert
Ingraham and Mr. Bastian have struck a deal to pull the FNM’s candidate
so that he can face the PLP’s candidate alone.
Disabilities Bill Won’t Make This Session, But Next
Melanie Griffin, the Minister for Social Services wanted to bring a
new bill to Parliament for the protection of the disabled. This will
be landmark legislation when it comes imposing certain duties on the Minister
of Education for school buildings and for the Ministry of Works to amend
the building codes for The Bahamas to make buildings disabled friendly.
It promises a phased approach. The Minister said in the House on
Wednesday 21st March that important stakeholders wanted more input to the
legislation and that it would have to await the next session of the Parliament
following the elections.
Sister Maria Rahming Is Buried
She served as a nun for 70 years, joining the newly formed Benedictine
order in The Bahamas when she was 17 years old in 1937. It was a
lifetime commitment to chastity, poverty and obedience. She was a
heroin of Fox Hill, one of the original Catholics of St. Anselm’s church.
She was an educator and social worker. She was a role model to women.
The Catholic Archbishop Patrick Pinder led a solemn service for her on
Thursday 22nd March and she was buried in the cemetery for the convent
in Nassau. May you rest in peace Sister Maria.
Who Cares About Anna Nicole Smith?
The American press is still here in Nassau trying to beat the Anna
Nicole Smith story to death (don’t pardon the pun). You will member
that the B movie actress died in a swirl of publicity and controversy last
month in Florida. Since then there have been hearings in the Bahamian
courts about the paternity of her daughter. The judge in the case
Stephen Isaacs has now ordered a DNA test to determine who is the true
biological father. The press has been following the story’s every
move. The problem they don’t realize is that no one gives a hoot
in The Bahamas about who is the father of the child. It’s all good
business for tourism; the more they stay here, the more they spend and
promote the country abroad.
Diplomats Pay Courtesy Calls
His Excellency Denis Kingsley, High Commissioner Designate of Canada,
presented his Letters of Introduction to Minister of Foreign Affairs and
the Public Service the Hon. Fred Mitchell at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
on Tuesday, March 20, 2007. Shown in an official portrait from left
are Blair Bobyk, counsellor of the High Commission; Marilyn Zonicle, acting
permanent secretary Ministry of Foreign Affairs; His Excellency Denis
Kingsley; Minister Mitchell; Roselyn Horton, deputy permanent secretary
Ministry of Foreign Affairs; and Andrew McKinney, Chief of Protocol.
(BIS Photo: Tim Aylen)
His Excellency Dag Mork Ulnes, second from left, Ambassador Designate
of the Kingdom of Norway, presented his Letters of Introduction to the
Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Public Service the Hon. Fred Mitchell,
centre, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday, March 21, 2007.
Shown from left are Berlin Key, honorary consul to Norway; His Excellency
Dag Mork Ulnes; Minister Mitchell; Marilyn Zonicle, acting permanent
secretary Ministry of Foreign Affairs; and Andrew McKinney, Chief of Protocol.
(BIS Photo: Tim Aylen)
Objection To More Tribune Sleaze
A story appeared in Saturday’s Tribune 24th March about former ZNS
radio and television executive now in the private sector and some cases
of complaints against him being investigated by the police. The rules
have now all gone out of the window. Clearly, no report of this nature
should be published until there is a formal charge before the courts.
That is the way it has always worked. Since John Marquis has come
to The Tribune that has gone out of the window. One more reason why
he has to go.
LETTERS
TO THE EDITOR
The Other Side of Freedom of Speech
I find it necessary to once again disagree with
Oswald Brown regarding the premise of his opinion piece that appeared in
the March 24 2007 edition of the Nassau Guardian. Mr. Brown continues to
vigorously defend the rights and journalistic freedom of one John Marquis,
“even if vengeance was the adrenaline that lubricated his (Marguis) thoughts”
in his writings. Correspondingly, Mr. Brown (who is a Bahamian, by the
way) condemns Bahamians for reserving the right and exercising the freedom
to disagree with the tone and tenor of Mr. Marquis’ writings, even when
they believe that the Tribune’s Managing Editor offended their sensibilities
and by extension, that of the nation. As a Bahamian, I can safely say that
any person, local and foreign, who suggests and implies that the Bahamian
economy is being held together by foreign labour and if the foreign labor
leaves, Bahamians, by and large, are only capable of picking coconuts and
catching conchs would have offended the national sensibility of the Bahamas.
John Marquis is guilty of this suggestion. Further, referring to our national
leaders as aces and jokers is simply intolerable, unacceptable, condescending,
disrespectful, and it does have some racial overtones; Ricardo Smith and
his group of concerned citizens are justified in their protest and their
complaints are not without merit. To defend Mr. Marguis on this point is
to defend the indefensible. I applaud local talk show hosts such as Darryl
Miller, Jeff Lloyd, Mike Smith, and Wendell Jones for insisting that callers
to their respective shows address our political leaders as either “Mister”
or “Honourable” for it is decent and respectful to do so. Those callers
who fail to do so are chastised by the hosts, and rightly so. If our own
are holding us as Bahamians to these lofty standards of decency and respect,
then why is this guest in our country in the name of John Marquis not being
held to this same standard? Many Bahamians perceive his style as gutter
journalism.
Mr. Brown also opined that the protest was an
act of intimidation and “another attempt to stifle freedom of the press”,
but what about members of the fourth estate using the power and influence
of the media to intimidate the government as John Marquis has when his
work permit was up for review and renewal. This was clearly a labour and
immigration issue that was spun by Mr. Marquis into a national debate on
freedom of speech to deflect from the issue at hand: the Tribune’s compliance,
or lack thereof, with the government’s Bahamianization policy. Instead
of The Tribune obeying the law by presenting some training plan to the
government to assist the government with the fair execution of its immigration
policies, John Marquis accused the government of stifling freedom of speech
and intimidation; this was irresponsible journalism and Mr. Marquis was
aided and abetted by other journalists. Dozens of companies presented their
training program to the government and this has assisted the government
in its review of work permits and overall enforcement of its immigration
and labour policies, so why should the Tribune be exempted as Mr. Brown
seem to believe? Is this government's policy position of fixed time periods
to allow for the adequate transfer of knowledge and technology to Bahamian
workers odious in nature? Most Bahamians believe this to be a good policy,
the policy is more than 30 years old, and therefore the policy is relevant
to Bahamians.
The fourth estate expects to occupy a privileged
and special position in civil society without any responsibility to be
consistently objective and disinterested in the subject matter on which
they are reporting. My understanding (of their role of the fourth estate)
is that the fourth estate should be committed to informing and educating
and let the chips fall where they may. This, however, cannot be done selectively
and cannot be motivated by vengeance lest the journalistic integrity and
credibility of the fourth estate be called into question.
Elcott Coleby
THIS
WEEK WITH THE PM
PLP Prayer Breakfast
The Progressive Liberal Party gathered to give thanks
to God last Sunday 18th March at a prayer breakfast at the Radisson hotel
in Cable Beach, Nassau. The leadership of the Party is pictured in
the front row enjoying the event.
