Chinese Factory in The Bahamas?

Chinese Manufacturing Company Commits to Building a Factory in The Bahamas

Chinese To Build Factory in The Bahamas

By Candia Dames

candiadames@hotmail.com

Nassau, The Bahamas

20/08/2004

The Chinese manufacturing company, Jndeli, has committed to building a factory in The Bahamas, Minister of Financial Services and Investments Allyson Maynard Gibson revealed Thursday.

Jndeli, which manufactures luxurious Swarovski silver and crystal products already sold in The Bahamas, intends to create jobs for a significant number of Bahamians, according to the Minister, who spoke to the Journal from Shanghai.

She said the economic benefits to be derived will be tremendous.

“If we just think about the almost five million tourists we are going to have this year, if each of them spends just $20 or more, that’s $100 million more pumped into our economy,” she said.

“So imagine that impact on the economy, in terms of jobs.  Obviously setting up a factory is going to mean jobs.”

Government officials expect that the presence of Jndeli in The Bahamas will fuel widespread entrepreneurship as well.

“You’re talking about serious, serious entrepreneurship,” Minister Gibson said.

She added, “When you’re talking about souvenir production, you’re not just talking about persons creating and copyrighting their products, buy you’re talking also about people having to work to assemble them, making them.”

Prime Minister Perry Christie, who is on a state visit to China, has long talked about the need for there to be stronger linkages between tourism and manufacturing.  Mr. Christie has said that it cannot be acceptable for most of the dollars earned on tourism to leave the country to pay for imports.

It’s precisely the reason why government officials in China are elated that they have been able to lock down such deals like the one with Jndeli.

Minister Gibson termed it an “incredible success.”

 

Company officials, who have visited The Bahamas in the past, are expected to return in October to locate a site for their factory.  There has been no indication of which island they are likely to target, the Minister said.

She said the Chinese have also committed to sending master carvers to The Bahamas to pass on their technical know-how and have also agreed to send persons to The Bahamas to help train Bahamians in packaging fruit, vegetables and seafood.

“So we are moving toward the goals that the prime minister has set for us which is to enhance our souvenir industry, to tap into the significant tourism market that we already have and also in finding ways to do what Jamaica does and that is to maintain as much of the dollar as possible and re-invest it into our economy,” Minister Gibson said.

“This souvenir thing is very exciting,” she pointed out, adding that executives of Jndeli are all set to go.  “We’re looking at really unleashing the creativity of our souvenir producers.”

Chinese Investments in The Bahamas

Optimism About Chinese Investments in The Bahamas and Their Significant Impact on Jobs For Bahamians

Chinese Investments Pour In to The Bahamas

By Candia Dames

candiadames@hotmail.com

19/08/2004

Bahamians will feel the benefits of Prime Minister Perry Christie’s visit to The People’s Republic of China for decades to come, according to Minister of Financial Services and Investments Allyson Maynard Gibson.

Minister Gibson also told the Bahama Journal Tuesday night that Chinese President Hu Jintao has accepted an invitation from Prime Minister Christie to make a state visit to The Bahamas, although she did not indicate when.

She said the benefits that will result from Mr. Christie’s visit to China will extend well beyond the $30 million stadium Chinese officials have committed to funding in The Bahamas.

Minister Gibson added that the COSCO Shipping Company, which intends to be the largest shipping company in the world by 2010, has recently registered three of its ships under the Bahamian flag.

The company’s president has also proposed the expansion of the dry dock ship repair facility in Freeport, which would enable that operation to accommodate the largest cruise ships in the world, the Minister reported.

This would create a significant number of jobs for Bahamians, she said.

“We have every confidence that with Hutchison Whampoa, COSCO and CITIC in The Bahamas, more Chinese companies and investments will follow because of the confidence indicated by those companies in the government and people of the Bahamas,” Minister Gibson said.

The Bahamas is also expected to benefit in the area of tourism from stronger relations with the Chinese government.

Both the president and premier have committed to encouraging more Chinese companies to invest in The Bahamas and establish joint ventures with Bahamians, according to Minister Gibson.

She also said that the Chinese premier intends to designate The Bahamas a preferred travel destination for Chinese people.

As a result, Prime Minister Perry Christie is reportedly encouraging direct flights between China and The Bahamas.

Efforts are also being made to form a partnership with the Chinese so that more souvenirs can be produced in The Bahamas, said Minister Gibson, who added that the intention is to ensure that at least 50 cents of each dollar earned from tourism remains in the country.

“We already have four million visitors from the United States and Europe to support a significant souvenir and handicraft industry originated by Bahamians,” she pointed out.

“But now add to that the potential growth in the tourism sector from the Chinese market which we know will be coming on stream.  Imagine what that would mean, not only in jobs, directly in the tourism industry, but also growth in entrepreneurship and jobs created from that as well.”

She said a Chinese firm, known as NUTEC, is also working with the government to provide equipment that would be used in the scanning of containers.  Minister Gibson said this equipment would improve revenue collection.

She added that it would also help in the fight against illegal drugs and weapons as well as other banned goods.

In addition, Minister Gibson reported that government officials are in discussion with the Chinese to form partnerships between them and the College of The Bahamas in the areas of math, science and technology. 

Mohammed Harajchi is Unsuitable to be a Permanent Resident of The Bahamas

DPM Wants Harajchi Out

Calls to Have Mohammed Harajchi’s Permanent Residency Status in The Bahamas Revoked...

Candia Dames

candiadames@hotmail.com

Nassau, The Bahamas

16/08/2004

Stressing that it was not her intention to speak behind the prime minister on the matter, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security Cynthia Pratt said Sunday she would fully support any effort to revoke the permanent residency of Mohammed Harajchi.

The Iranian businessman started a firestorm last week when he personally attacked members of the Cabinet during a press conference at his Paradise Island home.

“I would support [the revocation of the permanent residency of] any person, anyone who attacks a government in the manner in which he is doing,” said Minister Pratt, who responded to a Bahama Journal question on the matter.

“I do not see him as an asset to the country.  That’s not just [during the tenure of] this government.  He was attacking the former government.  Any foreigner who comes into this country ought to have respect for the country.”

Minister Pratt said she is in full support of the prime minister’s comments on the matter late last week and did not want to appear out of step with the nation’s leader.

But she agreed to respond to questions on the issue.

“The government has to make a decision on this,” said Minister Pratt, shortly after returning from vacation in North Carolina.

“The government has to do what it has to do.  The government must also show it is in control of this county.  [Mr. Harajchi’s] intention is to destroy this government because he didn’t get his license (for Suisse Security Bank which was revoked three years ago).  That is the gist of the whole thing.  I am so disappointed that I have to feel this way because I held him in high esteem.”

Asked how she would respond to persons who may not support the revocation of Mr. Harajchi’s permanent residency, the deputy prime minister said, “I can’t worry about persons who would say it’s victimization.

“There are also persons who would say it is time for the government to do something about it.  It would show a sign of weakness if the government is afraid to address a problem.  You cannot attack a government in the manner in which he has done.  No foreigner is going to try to degrade me to my own people.  These are my people.  They know me.”

Asked whether the government will address the issue of Mr. Harajchi’s permanent residency directly, Minister Pratt said, “Certainly I expect it to.”

But she made it clear that it is an issue the government would have to deal with as a whole and she stressed that she did not want her personal views to interfere with whatever decisions Prime Minister Perry Christie and his government make on the matter.

The deputy prime minister said she believes that Mr. Harajchi is unsuitable to be a permanent resident of The Bahamas.

“Anytime you are going to get to the place where you’re going to go out there and try to discredit the government of the day, you don’t deserve to have permanent residence,” she added.

Her reaction was prompted by claims made by Mr. Harajchi last Wednesday that he gave her money to put security bars on her constituency windows.

It was a claim Minister Pratt vehemently denied.

 

“I don’t know what Mr. Harajchi’s problem is, but all I have to say is a lie can be proven.  The truth will always be the truth.  Nobody in this country has ever questioned my integrity.  Never,” Minister Pratt said in her initial response on the matter Thursday evening.

“Obviously it seems that he is on a mission to try to smear the leaders of the government.  That is clear to me and so being a part of the government, he is trying to get the people of this country to discredit me, but let me tell you, he is barking up the wrong tree.  God forbid.  My Bible tells me that a lying tongue shall be stopped.”

The deputy prime minister added that this is not the first time Mr. Harajchi has attempted to destroy her good name.

“His paper (the Confidential Source) has told lies upon lies against me,” she said, “for absolutely nothing.”

Minister Pratt joined a growing number of people who believe that Mr. Harajchi’s permanent residency should be revoked.

Last week, Chief Executive Officer of Jones Communications Wendall Jones also made his feelings on the matter public after Mr. Harajchi launched a personal attack on him, claiming that he financially supported Mr. Jones in setting up his company.

“He is an unfit person to be a permanent resident of The Bahamas and as far as I am concerned anybody who is prepared to go to the lengths that he is going to destroy the good name and reputation of officials of the Government of the Bahamas should have his permanent residency revoked,” Mr. Jones said.

While the idea is said to have growing support in the government, one inside government source told the Journal that it is unlikely.  The source noted that the right way to address any potential defamatory statements is before the courts. 

Mohammed Harajchi Makes Serious Allegations Against The Bahamas Government of Prime Minister Perry Christie

Harajchi’s Accounts Face Scrutiny

Candia Dames

candiadames@hotmail.com

Nassau, The Bahamas

13/08/2004

Iranian businessman Mohammed Harajchi could be called upon to produce his bank accounts after making serious allegations against the government of Prime Minister Perry Christie.

In a statement issued yesterday, Mr. Christie said, “Unless Mr. Harajchi publicly denies that he contributed money towards the renovation of my home, I reserve the option to bring about a forensic examination of Mr. Harajchi’s accounts and records so that his nasty, baseless insinuation can be exposed for the complete fabrication that it is.”

Mr. Christie said it distresses him that when asked at a press conference at his Paradise Island home on Wednesday whether he had donated $500,000 towards the renovation of his (the prime minister’s) residence, Mr. Harajchi, rather than denying that he had, said that the press should “go and ask me”.

“Well, let me say without being asked that Mr. Harajchi did not contribute so much as a single cent toward the renovation of my house,” Mr. Christie said.

“The renovations were financed entirely from the financial resources of my wife and myself without any contribution from Mr. Harajchi whatsoever.  As the public is aware, integrity in public life is the cornerstone of my personal and political ethos.  I have been in public life for more than 30 years and in the whole of that time there has never been, until now, even so much as a whisper or impropriety against me.”

He said, “Mr. Harajchi has never given any financial assistance of any kind to me or my family at any time whatsoever and no such assistance has every been sought.

Mr. Christie also said it is an “absolute lie” that Mr. Harajchi contributed $10 million to the Progressive Liberal Party during the 2002 general election campaign.

“I note that Mr. Mohammed Harajchi has referred to me as an honorable man,” the prime minister said in the two-page statement issued to the media.  “I regret that I cannot say the same of him.

“It is clear that he expected my government to pervert the course of justice and give him back his bank licence.  That my government did not do so it is the single, solitary reason [why] Mr. Harajchi has been on a relentless campaign of vengeance against my government for all but the first month or two of my administration.”

The prime minister, who was reportedly irate over Mr. Harajchi’s allegations, also defended the integrity of his Cabinet Ministers.

At a press conference on Wednesday, Mr. Harajchi personally attacked several ministers, including the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security Cynthia Pratt and Minister of Works and Utilities Bradley Roberts.

Mr. Christie said in his statement, “I have complete confidence in the integrity of all my ministers.  I am satisfied that no minister of my Government has sought or received any illegal or improper financial assistance from Mr. Harajchi either before or after the 2002 General Election.

“I reject, without qualification, Mr. Harajchi’s attempt to smear the good name and reputation of my ministers all of whom, I am satisfied, serve our nation with integrity and honour.”

In addition, the prime minister said, “At no time, either before the 2002 General Election or after, did I ever promise Mr. Harajchi that steps would be taken to restore his bank licence, that is to say, the licence of Suisse Security Bank that had been revoked by the former administration nor did I ever say anything to Mr. Harajchi that could have led him to draw any inference that I would do so.”

He added, “On the contrary, I told Mr. Harajchi that no responsible government would ever seek to interfere in a matter before the courts as that was the forum in which the dispute over the revocation of his licence had come to rest- that is where the matter would have to be resolved.”

The prime minister also said, “I am abundantly satisfied that the financial contributions made to the PLP’s election campaign by Mr. Harajchi were completely proper and lawful in all respects and that no promises of any advantage or preferential consideration of any kind were made to him in exchange for those contributions or as a result of those contributions.

“My party is presently conducting an accounting of monies received from Mr. Harajchi but I can state with complete confidence that Mr. Harajchi’s claim that it was $10 million is an absolute lie.  It was nowhere near this amount.  It was but a fraction of this amount.  Details of our accounting will be made public once completed.  Ordinarily we would not disclose the source of campaign contributions, but as Mr. Harajchi has made this a public issue we are obliged to present the detailed facts concerning his contributions as indeed we will do as soon as possible.”

Mohamed Harajchi is Disgusting

Iranian businessman Mohamed Harajchi: “A Disgusting Little Man”

By Candia Dames

Nassau, The Bahamas

candiadames@hotmail.com

12/08/2004

Calling controversial Iranian businessman Mohamed Harajchi “a disgusting, little man”, CEO of Jones Communications Wendall Jones on Wednesday denied claims that Mr. Harajchi helped finance his business in the early 1990’s or at any other time.

Mr. Jones also said the government should revoke the permanent residency status of Mr. Harajchi.

“He is an unfit person to be a permanent resident of The Bahamas and as far as I am concerned anybody who is prepared to go to the lengths that he is going to destroy the good name and reputation of officials of the Government of The Bahamas should have his permanent residency revoked.

“Now, I don’t know whether or not the Government of The Bahamas is minded to do that, but as far as I’m concerned, I’ve never come across a foreigner in The Bahamas who was more disgusting than this little man on Paradise Island.”

Mr. Harajchi at a press conference earlier in the day lashed out at Mr. Jones over an editorial published in The Bahama Journal on June 23, 2004 in which the paper questioned the truthfulness of his claims that he donated many millions of dollars to the Progressive Liberal Party for its election campaign in 2002.

The editorial said, “We are absolutely flabbergasted at suggestions that Mr. Harajchi –directly or indirectly - funneled some $10 million into that party’s coffers.  We simply do not believe that is true. While we know that donations were made, it is absurd for anyone to suggest or believe that Mr. Harajchi would give any organization in this country $10 million.  We do not believe that he is that generous.”

PLP National Chairman Raynard Rigby also denied that Mr. Harajchi had given the party anywhere near that much money.  Mr. Harajchi did not produce documents to prove his claim, giving reporters only copies of a cheque where he made a $100,000 contribution.

At the press conference called primarily to discuss his contributions to the PLP, Mr. Harajchi sidetracked, telling reporters that he gave Mr. Jones money to help support his communications business.

He also distributed copies of a cheque in the amount of $3,000 dated April 27, 1991- that was made out to Mr. Jones, who heads radio Love 97 and the Bahama Journal.

“Mr. Wendall Jones asked ex-Minister of Sports Norman Gay to come and see me and I said no problem- and Mr. Jones came with Mr. Norman Gay and he told me how hard the newspaper life [is] and if I can assist him in the financial side,” Mr. Harajchi claimed.

“I said no problem and I helped him twice, once in the form of cash and once in the form of cheque…[A few weeks ago] I was reading his paper [which] said: Harajchi put up or shut up.  I was disappointed.  I said how [could] Mr. Jones tell such a thing?  He came 10 years ago to my home, asked for assistance, I did and now today he is putting such a thing against me.”

In response to the statement, Mr. Jones said, “Mr. Harajchi knows that what he told the Bahamian public or the media was an untruth.  Mr. Harajchi never, ever contributed to the funding of my business.  What Mr. Harajchi did in 1991 was to pay my communications company $3,000 for services rendered.  At the time, he was seeking to purchase Resorts International, which later became Sun International.”

Mr. Jones said Mr. Harajchi failed in that bid because the then PLP government felt that he was not the fit and proper person to be granted a casino license.

“Mr. Harajchi needed public relations services which we provided and indeed we used The Bahama Journal to print a number of stories on his businesses, both here as well as in Europe,” Mr. Jones said.  “Mr. Harajchi as far as I am concerned is a disgusting, little man who has been going about this country impugning the reputation of businesspeople as well as government officials, making scurrilous and malicious remarks that he knows are untrue.

“The average Bahamian must see just how ridiculous his claims are. Mr. Harajchi and people of his ilk must know by now that I am un-bought and un-bossed.”

He added, “Mr. Harajchi has never, ever had to give me money for anything other than professional services.  Indeed, Mr. Harajchi called me wanting me to support his position with the governor of the Central Bank in his ridiculous claims against the governor of the Central Bank and invited me to a dinner in Europe, which I refused to attend.

“He gave me his number saying where he was going to be in Paris at the time I traveled to Europe- and I refused to use the number or to attend any dinner with Mr. Harajchi because I know the kind of individual that he is.”

Mr. Harajchi maintains that Governor Julian Francis revoked his license for Suisse Security Bank & Trust three years ago after he declined to do a favour for the governor. It is a claim Mr. Francis has vehemently denied.

Fox Hill Prison in The Bahamas is Inhumane, Uncivilized and Disgraceful!

Fox Hill Prison, The Bahamas...Again

Yes, the conditions at Fox Hill Prison in The Bahamas are shameful! 

By Apostle Cedric Moss
August 06, 2004

Russian novelist and prisoner Fyodor Dostoevsky said, "the degree of civilization in a society can be judged by entering its prisons.  I agree with Dostoevsky and using our civilization yardstick, Fox Hill Prison, we must honestly conclude that we are a very, very uncivilized society.  Yes, the conditions at Fox Hill Prison tell a truer story of our degree of civilization than the other cosmetic factors we use to try to convince ourselves otherwise.

Another Adjective

Approximately one year ago, I wrote an article in this column on Fox Hill Prison and lamented about the inhumane, uncivilized and disgraceful conditions under which inmates are incarcerated and prison officers work.  While there have been some commendable improvements under the ministerial administration of The Hon. Cynthia 'Mother' Pratt, the adjectives I used back then to describe the conditions at Fox Hill Prison are still applicable: inhumane, uncivilized and disgraceful.  Today I add another: shameful.  Yes, the conditions at Fox Hill prison are shameful...shameful for the inmates housed there (regardless of their crime or charge), the officers who work there and the general public who visit there (especially family members).

Indirect Punishment

On a recent occasion while visiting in the Maximum Security section of the prison, human waste was being taken out in large garbage bags (a daily routine), some of which leaked on the floor, a few feet away from where I was.  The odor was so unbearable that a conscientious officer offered me a nose and mouth dust mask but I declined, since it was not being offered to others present.  Instead, I elected to endure the stubborn stench that resisted generous applications of raw disinfectants poured on the floor.  I reasoned that if inmates and officers could endure this daily punishment (some for more than 2 decades), I could endure it for one hour.

The tragedy about this is that far too many in our society, members of the government and opposition included, are indifferent about it.  They see the conditions at Fox Hill Prison as normal and just punishment for inmates (even those not yet convicted of any crime).  Sadly, in their aim to punish prison inmates, they also punish prison officers who have to work under such conditions.  In my view, prison officers at Fox Hill Prison deserve 'true hardship allowance pay' because of the indirect punishment they endure each day.  This is especially true for those officers whose lot it is to work in the Maximum Security section.

Logical Questions

Normally when the topic of prison reform is raised, the first excuse offered is "we don't have the money".  But is this true?  Is this the real reason for Fox Hill Prison being what former Member of Parliament Norman Solomon rightly called "our Black Calcutta"?  The answer to both questions is a resounding no!  First of all, many reforms needed at Fox Hill prison require no money to be spent so why are they not implemented?  To my mind, the refusal to make reforms that do not require money is proof that the "we don't have the money" excuse is exactly that...an excuse, and a poor one at that.

How much money does it take to adopt the attitude that the men and women at Fox Hill Prison (regardless of their crime or charge) are human beings created in God's image and likeness, and to begin treating them as such?

In addition to reforms that require no money, there are those that require little money.  For example, how much does it cost to fix or replace the motor on the main gate at Fox Hill Prison?  If it were not so serious, it would be laughable to watch prison officers walk up to an automatic gate and manually open and close it every time a vehicle arrives and departs.  I have personally observed officers braving the pouring rain and sweltering heat to pull that heavy 'automatic' gate that shouts its own message about the lack of resolve to better the conditions at Fox Hill Prison.  That message is: "Look at how we treat prison officers- so just imagine how we treat inmates!"  Is it that we can't do better or we refuse to do better?

The Greatest Tragedy

Perhaps the greatest tragedy about Fox Hill Prison is we have allowed its subnormal conditions to become normal for us.  Having become medicated to its sub normality, lawyers and pastors visit there without alarm.  Parliamentarians and politicians likewise generally show no concern.  For them and us as a society, we see it as normal for 3 men to be crammed into a one-man cell that simultaneously serves as a bedroom (with some sleeping on cardboard), a bathroom (with one shared 'slop bucket'), a dining room and living room.  I've been told that it is not unusual for one person to be eating his meal when nature calls his cell mate to use the 'slop bucket' that has been already been used repeatedly and will not be emptied until the next day.

Can't we do better than having our brothers and sisters treated worse than some of us treat our animals?  While I would agree that some of the individuals being so treated have done much worse to the victims of their crimes, it is no justification for their sub-human treatment at Fox Hill Prison.  If as a society we feel that such ill treatment is justified then, in my view, we are criminals of another kind.

So while our government globetrots to international events and forums and splurge tax dollars to impress ourselves- and the rest of the world, Fox Hill Prison mocks us and reminds us of our true degree of civilization.  And the longer we ignore it the more it mocks us.

Cedric Moss serves as Senior Pastor at Kingdom Life World Outreach Centre. Commentary and feedback may be directed to: apostle@kingdom-life.org

Raynard Rigby, Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Chairman says Embattled Holy Cross Member of Parliament - Sidney Stubbs still has The Party Support

Raynard Rigby added that talk of a possible bye-election is premature, because Mr. Stubbs has not yet exhausted the time provided under the constitution for him to have his bankruptcy order discharged 

Chairman Says PLP Fully Behind Stubbs

 

 

By Candia Dames

Nassau, The Bahamas

22/07/2004

 

 

 

 

Despite his legal troubles, Holy Cross Member of Parliament Sidney Stubbs still has the full support of the Progressive Liberal Party, PLP Chairman Raynard Rigby said Wednesday.

“Mr. Stubbs lodged his appeal, the matter is still before the courts and so he is still entitled to due process under the constitution,” Mr. Rigby said.

He added that talk of a possible bye-election is premature because Mr. Stubbs has not yet exhausted the time provided under the constitution for him to have his bankruptcy order discharged.

Although Mr. Stubbs has said he has repaid the debt that led to Supreme Court Justice Jeannie Thompson declaring him bankrupt nearly four months ago, he still has to have the order reversed before he can participate in proceedings of the House of Assembly.

His time would expire around the same time that the House comes off its summer recess in late September.

“Our support is in line with the protection given to him under the constitution,” Mr. Rigby told the Bahama Journal.

“I’ve spoken with his attorneys and I have been advised that he still has a number of options available to him, and they are exploring those options with a view to bringing the matter to an end.

“If they are successful in their options then obviously there would not be a bye-election in Holy Cross.”

However, Mr. Rigby said earlier in the week that should a bye-election be called, his party would undoubtedly be victorious.

But Free National Movement supporters say this would be unlikely.

“Having been lost or hiding himself from the many embarrassing moments of his embattled colleague and party, Mr. Rigby appears to have lost touch with reality as to what is going on in New Providence and The Bahamas at this time,” read a statement from the Action Group of The FNM issued Tuesday.

“In its current state of unacceptability, the PLP would be hard-pressed to win a seat in a bye-election or any kind of election in New Providence or elsewhere in The Bahamas.”

Sources within the PLP, meanwhile, have told the Journal that thought is already being given to who the PLP would run should a bye-election be called, with some speculating whether this would be an ideal time for CDR leader Dr. Bernard Nottage to accept what amounted to an invitation from Prime Minister Perry Christie for him to rejoin the PLP.

Last week, Mr. Christie told the Journal, “Everyone knows that I have a great deal of personal affection and a great deal of political admiration for Dr. Nottage, and most certainly look forward to the time when a process can be engaged in - if that is the wish of Dr Nottage - towards his becoming a full fledged member again of the Progressive Liberal Party.  I believe that is where he ought to be.”

For now, PLP officials are saying on the record that they are hopeful that Mr. Stubbs would once again take his place on the backbench when Members of Parliament return from their summer recess in September.