Dr. Rodney Smith Alleges that The Council of The College of The Bahamas Forced Him to Resign as President of COB

Mr. Franklyn Wilson, Chairman of the Council of the College of The Bahamas Refuses to Confirm Whether the Council had Asked Dr. Rodney Smith to Resign 

COB Council Shocked

By Candia Dames

candiadames@hotmail.com

Nassau, The Bahamas

31 August 2005

Chairman of the Council of the College of The Bahamas Franklyn Wilson yesterday said the actions of former C.O.B. President Dr. Rodney Smith a day earlier were “shocking” and unbecoming of someone who has led such an important institution.

But Mr. Wilson declined to speak directly to the content of Dr. Smith’s statement in which he alleges that the Council forced him to resign even though it had already been proven that his use of material in a speech without proper attribution was not a violation of intellectual property rights.

Dr. Smith also showed up at the College on Monday to tell his side of the story.  But Mr. Wilson said what he did was out of line.

"I regard it as inappropriate, unfortunate, shocking, sad, whatever one wants to call it, that Dr. Smith saw fit to go about this matter in the way he did without the courtesy of letting the acting president of the institution, the secretary to the council, the chairman, or somebody know what was happening," he said.

"I just do not think that this is appropriate conduct for someone who has been the president of the College of The Bahamas."

Dr. Smith indicated in his statement that the Council did not show him support during the firestorm that surrounded the speech he gave at the college’s Honours Convocation in May.

He also intimated that Mr. Wilson went back on his word after implying that he was going to give him a copy of a report that had been completed by a special panel appointed to look into the matter and make recommendations for the way forward.

Mr. Wilson responded to this saying, "If it was his intention to accuse me of having lied I deny that and the truth is at all times I was very candid with him.  He did not say I lied to him, but this thing that I implied [that I would give it to him], I’d prefer if he were more precise in his choice of words [since] he’s such a scholar."

He said when he looks at the substance of what Dr. Smith had to say beyond his claims about the advisory panel’s reports, the only thing he could add is, "Dr. Rodney Smith has my prayers because when you read that very carefully I think, to me, there is evidence of the value of prayer."

Mr. Wilson refused to confirm whether the Council had asked Dr. Smith to resign.  He said the Council will first address this whole matter before it makes a formal statement in response to Dr. Smith.

"There is a whole lot of things [in that statement and] since he has chosen to go on the record, Council has an obligation to correct the record and we will do that," he said.  "I don’t wish to characterize [his statement] in any particularly way.  All I would wish to say is that it is not a balanced record of the circumstances."

The Council Chairman said he doubted the statement would negatively impact the college community.

He again assured Bahamians that the College of The Bahamas is not void of leadership.

"There are a lot of good things happening and it’s unfortunate that these personality things keep overshadowing that.  I also draw to the public’s attention the fact that Dr. Smith in his letter to the college community upon his resignation pointed to the fact that the College of The Bahamas has a plan," Mr. Wilson said.

"We are not without a plan; we are not adrift.  I strongly believe that if you take plan and passion which we definitely have, those two things would put you a long way on the road to progress."

In his statement, Dr. Smith informed that the Council had agreed to pay him $296,000 to buy out his contract.

Mr. Wilson confirmed that Dr. Smith has been paid all of the money already.

Dr. Smith said that he had given all of the facts on the whole matter involving his resignation.

"Others might refute what I say, but I know beyond any doubt that this is precisely what happened," he said.

The former college president also questioned whether he landed in a "political quagmire" and became just another victim.

Asked whether the Council regretted hiring Dr. Smith in the first place, Mr. Wilson said it did not because he was the right man for the job when he was chosen.

Mr. Wilson was also asked what Dr. Smith’s legacy has been as college president.

"It was different 24 hours ago than it is today," he said yesterday morning.  "The actions of [Monday] have coloured it, but the fact is that yes, he came and brought some energy.  He brought some enthusiasm.  He reflected the fact that he had the experience and that showed in terms of the way in which we were able to get some projects moving.

"In the long run, I believe he showed others another way that the job can be done and I think that whoever succeeds him would likely learn from that."

Bahamian Voters Call for Answers and Updates on Issues of National Importance in The Bahamas

Even Supporters of The Ruling Progressive Liberal Party - PLP are Also Conceding that The PLP Government of Prime Minister, Perry Christie has to Do More to Improve its PR

Bahamas: Voters Want Answers 

 

 

By Candia Dames

Nassau, The Bahamas

25 August 2005

 

Many Bahamians are anxious to hear from Prime Minister Perry Christie on a number of issues of concern, including the much discussed Petrocaribe oil deal, the liquefied natural gas proposals, the decision to remove Sir Stafford Sands from the $10 bill, and the government’s progress in establishing a national health insurance scheme.

But his illness, which struck back in May, coupled with the traditionally slow summer period means that the Prime Minister has been off the front pages for weeks.

In January 2004, Mr. Christie started what he promised would be a quarterly ‘meet the press’ event where reporters could pose questions to him on a variety of issues.  But it was an initiative that was short lived.  In fact, nearly six quarters have passed without the event taking place again.

Mr. Christie also has made no national addresses for the year.

The Prime Minister had promised after returning to work nearly two months after his slight stroke that he would hold a press conference soon to address a number of issues of national importance that arose during his illness.  But that too has not happened as yet.

There are other issues that some people want an update on.  For instance, after much talk about the redevelopment of Bay Street, the transformation has still not started, leaving some merchants asking why.

Speaking about the planned downtown overhaul at his party’s last convention in November 2003, the Prime Minister said, "We have to change and we have to do so without delay."

But that was nearly two years ago.

At that same convention, he also announced that work on the Heads of Agreement for the $2.5 billion Ginn investment project for West Grand Bahama was being finalized.

"I have assured the Ginn group that my government is committed to bringing the project on line as speedily as possible," Prime Minister Christie said at the time.  "We have therefore agreed to complete a Heads of Agreement as quickly as possible so that this project can be underway early in the New Year."

But the New Year of 2004 came and left, but there has still not been any Ginn deal sealed.

The need for better public relations on such matters is something some Bahamians pointed to on Wednesday.

PLP’s are also conceding that the government has to do more to improve its PR.

 

Only recently PLP Chairman Raynard Rigby said that it’s a shortcoming the government needs to address.

For Bahamians waiting to hear from the Prime Minister, the concerns are varied.

"I would like to see [the Prime Minister] report on the Petrocaribe oil deal because I am not getting sufficient information from [Minister of Trade and Industry] Leslie Miller," said Jacob Rolle, a teacher at Central Andros High School who was on Bay Street on Wednesday.

"Another point is I am very apprehensive about the dealing with the president of Venezuela and his connection with Cuba.  I don’t think the U.S. would like us to be involved with those two dictators so we have to be very careful how we move ahead with friendly relations with those two countries."

Ricardo Mackey, who also teaches at the Central Andros High School, said rising oil prices continue to be a major concern and he too would like to hear what the Prime Minister has to say about Venezuela’s plan to sell fuel to the region at significantly lower costs.

"Right now there’s a concern about gas prices in Nassau…something needs to be done about that because gas only goes up in the Family Islands, it never goes down whereas gas fluctuates in New Providence," Mr. Mackey said.

He added that civil servants also want to hear specifics from the Prime Minister on planned salary increases given that the cost of living continues to increase.

"I think we need to find out what’s going on," he said.

If he could hear from the Prime Minister, Mr. Mackey said he would also like him to report on the status of the national health insurance scheme, something that was a part of the PLP’s platform when it was elected to office in 2002.

"I think it would be good if we have this kind of medical plan," the Andros schoolteacher added.

Darnell Finlayson, a straw vendor, has something closer to home on her mind.  She said that she would like the Prime Minister to speak directly to straw vendors about when a new straw market will be built on Bay Street.

The old market was destroyed by fire in September 2001, nearly four years ago.

"We need our straw market back because [the makeshift one] is in a bad condition," Ms. Finlayson said as the rain poured around her.

"The floors are flooding.  The tourists can’t walk inside.  They’re getting all wet.  It needs to be in a better position for the tourists.

Four years is enough time to build our market and I don’t know why we don’t have our market back, but Prime Minister, we really need a market back for our guests."

Across the street, Anthony Gibson, a manager at Diamonds International, said he too would like to hear from the Prime Minister as it relates to a timetable for a new straw market.

"I know there have been many promises made to the [vendors].  I have been in [the market] and I have seen the conditions these people have worked under.  Right now, this is the rainy season, only God one knows how they make it in there," Mr. Gibson said.

Mr. Gibson also raised the issue of Petrocaribe.

"What I really think we need to look at right now is this gas situation," he said.  "What I think is that we need to go full force ahead and get this thing on the run."

Allan Whyley, a retired Bahamian, also has Petrocaribe on his mind.  He said that it’s one issue he too would like to hear the Prime Minister speak about.

"The Petrocaribe accord has been so politicized.  To comment on it intelligently, you have to know more about it and we don’t have that," Mr. Whyley said.

He also noted that the Prime Minister earlier in the year announced that the government would have approved one of the liquefied natural gas projects before the end of January.  But that never happened.

Mr. Whyley said Bahamians want to know from the government what it intends to do about the proposals on the table.  He hopes that the Christie Administration rejects them.

"I really don’t want the government to approve LNG," he said. "I think [Mr. Christie] needs to make a statement about LNG.  These are issues that need to be addressed, but there are more immediate things happening with the small man that need to address. The government needs to say exactly what is reserved for Bahamians in this economy because I see foreigners coming in here and doing everything."

Lionel Carey, who said he was one of the chairmen of the former Vanguard party, said he like many Bahamians would like to hear an update on LNG.

"In the U.S. if they don’t want that in their own country, I think that’s a lesson for us.  We have tourism and we have to be sensitive about anything that could affect it in a negative way," said Mr. Carey, who now works in the Ministry of Housing.

Mr. Whyley, meanwhile, said that the immigration issue is also one that many people are concerned about.

"That’s something that really needs to be addressed seriously," he noted.  "What is happening?  Don’t the people deserve to be brought up to date?"

But not everyone thinks the Prime Minister is being too quiet on issues of national importance.

Mark Symonette, a law student, said various Ministers have been doing a good job at reporting on what has been going on in their individual portfolios.

"There are a number of issues that are outstanding," Mr. Symonette said.  "But I feel that the Prime Minister is doing an excellent job given the economic and social climate that we are in.  I think we must remember that the Ministers of the government are appointed to handle their portfolios and I think they are doing an excellent job also.

"They are reporting on their particular portfolios so I don’t see a need for the Prime Minister to get involved in every issue."

While a guest on the Love 97 Programme "Jones and Company" nearly two weeks ago, former Deputy Prime Minister Sir Clement Maynard said that the government appeared to be falling down in reporting to the public on what it is doing.

It’s something he indicated needed to be addressed.

The Bahamas National Debt Increases

Fiscal experts have warned repeatedly that government debt exceeding 40 percent would signal danger as The Bahamas government may be forced into a mode of borrowing that could be fiscally unhealthy 

Bahamas: $2.54 Billion In National Debt

By Candia Dames

candiadames@hotmail.com

Nassau, The Bahamas

24 August 2005

The National Debt rose from $2.54 billion to $2.63 billion in the second quarter of 2005, the Central Bank of The Bahamas says in its newly released statistical digest.

In the second quarter of 2004, the National Debt stood at $2.39 billion, but has continued to see a steady rise, according to the figures.

The report reveals that the government’s contingent liabilities continued to grow, jumping from $438.4 million in the first quarter of 2005 to $454.13 million in the second quarter of the year.

The National Debt takes into consideration the government guaranteed borrowings of public corporations and other public entities.

These contingent liabilities include the $24 million in bonds issued by the Clifton Heritage Authority; $40.7 million in loans taken up by the Education Loan Authority; and $111.7 million in Bahamas Mortgage Corporation loans.

At the end of this fiscal year, government debt as a percentage of GDP is projected to be 37.5 or $2.330 billion.

Fiscal experts have warned repeatedly that government debt exceeding 40 percent would signal danger as the government may be forced into a mode of borrowing that could be fiscally unhealthy.

In the notes attached to the 2004/2005-budget communication, the government explains that growth in the debt is justified if it supports increases in the productive capacity within the economy, and if the servicing burden from principal repayment and interest costs does not unduly constrain the economy’s access to foreign exchange for other beneficial purposes.

It’s a point Minister of State for Finance James Smith – who is presently in the U.S. convalescing after what was termed a successful surgery – has made repeatedly.

He has also noted that the economy is projected to grow by 3.5 percent this year and the foreign component of the National Debt is "extremely low."

In an earlier interview, Minister Smith explained that, "If the $2 billion were held by a foreign bank, at anytime [that bank] could demand payment and you’re virtually bankrupt.  You can’t even go and negotiate with them for whatever reason.  So that means your risk is much higher."

The government has also noted that international observers closely monitor the total foreign currency debt of the government and public corporations, as on the repayment side it represents a required use of foreign exchange earnings.

The International Monetary Fund recommended in its June 2005 report on The Bahamas "a further strengthening of the 2005/2006 fiscal stance relative to the budget proposal and closer monitoring of budgetary developments to help ensure that the more stringent objective [of government debt-to-GDP ratio of 30 percent] is achieved."

In the upcoming fiscal year, the government intends to spend $1.214 billion, an increase of $39 million, or three percent over the 2004/2005 budget.

The government projects it will collect $1.145 billion, an increase of $93 million, or nine percent in revenues.

College of The Bahamas COB President, Dr. Rodney Smith Hospitalized Amid A Plagiarism Controversy at The Institution Concerning Him

College of The Bahamas COB Officials were Quiet on the Circumstances Surrounding the Hospitalization of the President, Dr. Rodney Smith

COB President Hospitalized

By Candia Dames

candiadames@hotmail.com

Nassau, The Bahamas

22nd July 2005

The Council of The College of The Bahamas has decided against releasing the recommendations of a special panel appointed to review the plagiarism controversy involving COB President Dr. Rodney Smith because the president has been hospitalized, Council Chairman Franklyn Wilson said yesterday.

But College officials were quiet on the circumstances surrounding the hospitalization of the president, who turned 53 one week ago.

COB Vice President Dr. Pandora Johnson told The Bahama Journal late in the afternoon that any statement from the College would have to come through the public relation’s office, but no official there was available.

Mr. Wilson, however, informed that Dr. Smith is now in hospital in Jacksonville, Fla.

"He spent the last several days at hospital here in Nassau," he said.  "He has now been transferred to a hospital in north Florida.  Of course we’re praying for his speedy recovery.  The good news is as far as we can tell - it’s not life threatening, but anytime one’s in the hospital that’s a matter for concern."

Asked how Dr. Smith’s hospitalization would impact the release of the report by the special panel appointed by the Council, Mr. Wilson said, "It means that all matters relevant to those things are suspended.  Our total thoughts and prayers are with the president at a personal level and we have no other aspect of this under consideration at this moment."

He confirmed that the Council received the panel’s report over the weekend and stressed that it would be inappropriate to even give a hint of what the committee has recommended.

Amid calls for Dr. Smith to resign as president, Mr. Wilson announced on June 20 that a special panel had been appointed to help chart the way forward.

The panel members included Anglican Archbishop Drexel Gomez; Bahamas Ambassador to the United Nations Dr. Paulette Bethel; Vice Chancellor Emeritus of the University of the West Indies, Professor Rex Nettleford; President-elect of John Carroll University of Cleveland, Ohio and former Vice Provost of the University of San Francisco, Father Robert Niehoff; and Retired Justice Joseph Strachan.

Last month, Dr. Smith said at a press conference that he made a mistake when he failed to provide attribution for a portion of his Honours Convocation speech that were the words of his friend, New York University President John Sexton.

But what followed were strong calls for him to step down, although some of the faculty and staff members of the College soon called a rally to voice their support for Dr. Smith.

One faculty member reiterated yesterday that Dr. Smith has done great things for the College since he was appointed a year ago.

The main campus in Oakes Field continues to undergo a marked physical transformation.  Dr. Smith has said that the aim is to transform COB into the University of The Bahamas by 2007.

But if detractors have their way, he would no longer be a part of the kind of change he has already helped to shape.

In announcing the panel last month, Mr. Wilson had said, "It would be irresponsible to take any action without due examination and reflection.

"However, the issue of plagiarism is a serious one.  Intellectual property is one of the most important products of an educational institution and the foundation of its evolution and growth.  Breaching the associated protocols brings into question all that the institution has contributed to this society, all that it stands for and all it must represent and contribute in the future.

"One thing has been clear almost from the beginning: Dr. Smith has already acknowledged to the College community and the wider public that he has breached the protocols of intellectual property."

The Council Chairman said yesterday that he has informed the College community of the latest development as it relates to Dr. Smith.

The Bahamas Minister of Trade and Industry, Leslie Miller says His Focus is On The Establishment of a National Energy Corporation (NEC)

The National Energy Corporation, NEC is essential to The Bahamas government’s plan to ensure that cheaper fuel reaches consumers through the PetroCaribe initiative

Miller: Nat’l Energy Corp. By September

By Candia Dames

candiadames@hotmail.com

Nassau, The Bahamas

21st July 2005

Minister of Trade and Industry Leslie Miller yesterday again dismissed claims that he did not have the full support of Cabinet in signing the regional PetroCaribe oil agreement and indicated that he was focused on seeing to it that a National Energy Corporation (NEC) is up and running by September.

The NEC is essential to the government’s plan to ensure that cheaper fuel reaches consumers through the PetroCaribe initiative, he reiterated.

The Minister said that before the NEC can get off the ground, the government must first receive a report from the fuel usage committee it established several months ago.  The committee is co-chaired by Vincent Coleby, a long-time petroleum industry executive, and Independent Member of Parliament for St. Margaret Pierre Dupuch.

Minister Miller said he plans to meet today with the committee, which is looking into all aspects of PetroCaribe and fuel usage in the country.

Mr. Dupuch hinted in an interview with The Bahama Journal yesterday that the committee intends to fully back the PetroCaribe initiative, clearing the way for the NEC to be established.

"This would mean for The Bahamas extremely low oil prices," he said. "It would translate into lower electricity costs and it could translate into lower costs for the people on the road driving cars."

Minister Miller said, "I would expect that the National Energy Corporation would be incorporated as early as September to enable BEC to be the first recipient of getting cheaper fuel from Venezuela through PDVSA (that country’s national energy company) and Curacao, which is the same entity that provides the same importers in The Bahamas with 85 percent of their fuel as we speak."

He claimed again that BEC would immediately realize an annual savings of $10 million to $15 million.

The Minister said despite fears, the new arrangement should not force the three major oil companies in The Bahamas – Shell, Esso, and Texaco – to face any dramatic changes.

"What will happen because we are lifting the fuel ourselves, we would then on-sell the fuel to Shell, Esso and Texaco," he explained.  "[We’ll] give everyone a reasonable margin upon which to work in and the Bahamian people will see the benefits."

According to Minister Miller, the National Energy Corporation would not be an elaborate set-up and could easily be managed by about four people from his Ministry.

"It’s just the movement of paper," he said.  "This will not be a regular government corporation.  It could in fact be just a National Energy Agency."

Asked how Venezuela will benefit from the agreement, Minister Miller said Venezuela is not going out on a limb in this deal.

"It is simply trying to assist the countries in this region by lowering the cost of fuel to their citizens.  It’s no different from what other countries have done and continue to do."

He was also asked to respond to ongoing speculation that he signed the PetroCaribe agreement without the full backing of the Cabinet.

Minister Miller suggested that this was all part of a conspiracy to keep poor Bahamians from progressing.

"Generally, the people who are against this project are basically the same people who have been against any progressive action that was taken by any relevant government since the PLP came to power in 1967 to work on behalf of the majority of the Bahamian people, especially the small man," he said.

"They’ve been against majority rule; they’ve been against independence - and they will be against anything that benefits the majority of Bahamians and I pay no attention to them whatsoever."

In signing the PetroCaribe agreement, The Bahamas and other signatories acknowledged that, "Within the context of an unfair economic order inherited from colonialism, and imposed by the wealthy developed - and rich countries, the current global energy-related trends marked by the enormous waste of consumer societies, by the reduced availability of production capacities and by speculation leading to the rise in hydrocarbon prices, have all continuously exerted a negative impact on both the economic performance of, and the social conditions in the countries of the Caribbean."

The agreement also states that the countries of the Caribbean need to possess reliable sources of energy and must be assured that prices will not represent an obstacle to their development.

It says that PetroCaribe is a body aimed at facilitating the development of energy policies and plans for the integration of the nations of the Caribbean through the sovereign use of natural energy resources to directly benefit their peoples.

Following the signing of the agreement, some local executives of the three major oil companies in The Bahamas said that they would like to see more consultation on the whole plan as they did not have specifics on how PetroCaribe will actually work.

Minister Miller said that consultation would swing into high gear after he receives the report of the fuel usage committee.

Leadenhall Bank and Trust Company Limited Licence Suspended

Craig A. Gomez has been appointed as receiver of Leadenhall Bank and Trust Company Limited, and is authorized to assume control of Leadenhall’s affairs in the interest of its creditors - and to exercise all the powers of a receiver under the Companies Act, 1992 

Bank Licence Suspended

 

By Candia Dames

Nassau, The Bahamas

19th July 2005

 

 

 

 

The Central Bank of The Bahamas announced late yesterday that it has suspended the bank and trust licence of Leadenhall Bank and Trust Company Limited to protect the interests of depositors of the bank.

In addition, Craig A. Gomez has been appointed as receiver of the bank and is authorized to assume control of Leadenhall’s affairs in the interest of its creditors and to exercise all the powers of a receiver under the Companies Act, 1992.

The Central Bank did not go into specifics regarding why it took this action.

But Leadenhall in recent years has been plagued with legal troubles.

In 2003, federal authorities in the United States filed petitions in seven federal courts in an attempt to secure the records from MasterCard accounts at Leadenhall.

The U.S. government has been targeting persons it believes used credit and debit cards issued by offshore banks to hide income from U.S. tax collectors.

The Internal Revenue Service has already announced that more than 1,200 people have admitted that they used offshore accounts or credit cards to avoid paying over $100 million in taxes.

U.S. authorities believe these cards allowed tax evaders and fraudsters to access their offshore funds by using the card in the United States for cash withdrawals and purchases.

In 2004, a New York doctor pleaded guilty to money laundering charges.  It is alleged that he ran more than $200,000 of taxable income through Leadenhall accounts and other accounts.

Earlier that year, Leadenhall had been thrust at the centre of a major fraud case in which a U.S court appointed receiver had been seeking to recover millions of dollars allegedly owed to creditors and investors in an elaborate scheme involving the channeling of funds into Bahamas-based accounts.

Leadenhall Bank provided credit card and other financial services to residents in the United States and provided a broad array of services to and engaged in nefarious activities with an entity in the Cayman Islands called Morningstar Ltd., a suit had alleged.

The Bahamian bank was also the partner of AXXESS INTERNATIONAL, which provided credit and debit card services around the world.

Liquidators and receivers had been seeking to hold Leadenhall and AXXESS INTERNATIONAL accountable for being a part of "a conspiracy to defraud."

It was alleged that the U.S-based operators of a business enterprise called "Cash 4 Titles" developed a multi tier marketing enterprise, which eventually involved the use of the Cayman Islands, Bahamas and United States entities - and individuals in a joint venture to defraud investors in the scheme.

It was further alleged that between 1993 and December 1994, the Cash 4 Titles made loans of up to $1,000 to consumers with poor credit histories, and charged interest rates as high as 25 percent per month.

Liquidators at the time had insisted that certain clients were being bilked in the process.  It was a claim William Jenings, managing director of Leadenhall, had dismissed as "totally spurious".

Executives of The Bahamas-based bank could not be reached last night to respond to the Central Bank’s decision to suspend their licence.

The Central Bank announced that the suspension became effective yesterday and will last for a period of 90 days or such shorter period as shall be determined.

In the past, the Central Bank has taken action to suspend a bank’s licence before revoking it, but there has been no indication that that will be the case in this particular instance.

The Government of The Bahamas has been fighting to avoid the kind of publicity that has surrounding certain alleged transactions of Leadenhall, seeking to protect the reputation of The Bahamas as a well-regulated financial services jurisdiction with a zero tolerance approach to money laundering and other financial crimes.

It’s why the parliament of The Bahamas passed a controversial package of financial bills in 2000 after being blacklisted by the Financial Action Task Force.

Caricom Accepts The Bahamas' Position On CSME

Caricom Accepts Bahamas' Position On CSME

By Candia Dames

candiadames@hotmail.com

Nassau, The Bahamas

8th July 2005

Leaders of the Caribbean Community have accepted the position The Bahamas has taken not to sign onto the Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME) within the next two years and have agreed that this country will continue to play an active role in the regional grouping.

The Bahamas reported on the state of the public debate regarding the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, which establishes the CSME, according to a communique`, issued yesterday following the 26th meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community.

"Member states agreed that in the circumstances of the particular position of The Bahamas, the status quo of its present relationship and involvement in Caricom institutions should be maintained," the communique` also said.

When he had been pushing the case for The Bahamas to join the CSME with certain reservations, Minister of Foreign Affairs Fred Mitchell had insisted that the signing would have maintained the status quo as it relates to The Bahamas' participation in Caricom.

He told The Associated Press in St. Lucia that the debate in The Bahamas over CSME has effectively ended because of the decision taken by the Government of The Bahamas not to sign the Revised Treaty.

It was also something Minister Mitchell reiterated when he spoke with The Bahama Journal yesterday.

"I really don't propose to get into any further debate about this matter," he said.  "It is not an issue which is a live issue for The Bahamas government.  The Bahamian people said they want no further debate on the matter so the debate is over and I won't engage in it."

During the debate, there had been questions regarding what role the country would play in Caricom if it did not sign onto CSME.

Bahamas High Commissioner to Caricom A. Leonard Archer had even suggested at one point that The Bahamas may in fact have to resign from the bloc.  But he had said that that would have depended on the reaction of the heads to this country's decision not to join CSME.

Heads of Government indicated that they understood why the country could not now join the agreement.

According to the communique`, the heads welcomed the fast-track steps taken by Barbados, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago to become Single Market compliant since March 2005, and took note of the "strenuous efforts" being made by all the remaining member states to achieve Single Market treaty-compliance and overall readiness.

"They reflected the constraints which member states faced and the challenges of accelerated integration among states of differing capabilities and competitive strengths, and reaffirmed their commitment to the long-held community principle of special- and differential treatment for the disadvantaged among the member states," the communique` added.

Even though the government has stressed repeatedly that it had planned to secure certain reservations, including the free movement of people, there continued to be widespread fears that The Bahamas would have been flooded with foreign nationals had it signed the agreement.

These kinds of "misconceptions" as they were termed by Minister Mitchell were a part of the reason why the drive to CSME was abandoned.

However, heads addressed the free movement of skilled nationals during this week's summit.

They agreed that Caricom nationals who are entering the Free Movement Regime with a skills certificate issued by a member state other than the receiving state should be allowed to work immediately while their qualifications are verified by the receiving state.

The conference also agreed that the review of proposals for the expansion of the eligible categories of skilled nationals would be completed in time for consideration at the next meeting of the conference.

There were other matters of importance addressed in the final document from the heads meeting.

Regional leaders reviewed developments in the various external trade negotiations in which the region is involved.

"They noted that the rapidly changing international environment was less accommodating of preferential arrangements, such as those that traditionally characterized the region's trade relations," the communique` noted.

"They reiterated the region's commitment to, and active participation in ongoing external trade negotiations, but observed that the current challenges including tardy progress on special and differential treatment for small, vulnerable economies and the general push for reciprocity were beginning to raise uncertainty about the costs and the benefits involved."

Heads also noted that St. Vincent and the Grenadines now joins Suriname, the first member state to issue national passports using the common Caricom format.

Several other member states are expected to introduce the new passport format in 2005 and 2006.  December 2007 has been identified as the timeframe for completing the introduction of the new passport format by all member states.

When he returned from the summit yesterday, Minister Mitchell indicated that this is not a concern for The Bahamas, as it does not intend to follow this same move.

During the summit, heads of government also received a presentation on developments relating to security in the region, according to the communique', which says it was recognized that the issue of security needed to be frontally addressed and effectively tackled in order to maintain sustainable development.

In this regard, they endorsed the Management Framework for Crime and Security, which makes provision for a Council of Ministers responsible for National Security and Law Enforcement to superintend policy direction; a Security Policy Advisory Committee; and an Implementation Agency for Crime and Security.