Scientists to investigate suspected oil sightings in Bahamian waters
By NATARIO McKENZIE
Tribune Staff Reporter
nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net:
SCIENTISTS and volunteers are expected to set out today on a five-day expedition to Cay Sal and Bimini to investigate sightings of suspected oil in the seas around the Bahamas from the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) scientists and volunteers will take sediment samples and test them on the Defence Force vessel HMS Bahamas to confirm or deny the presence of oil in Bahamian waters.
The scientists include leading marine ecologist Dr Ethan Freid and marine biologist Kathleen Sealy from the IMO.
Environment Minister Earl Deveaux said: "The group going to Cay Sal will continue any pre-impact assessment. This group will do a more detailed assessment than the first group.
"We are doing it to ensure that we have documented proof of the conditions that existed prior to the impact of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
"The likelihood of fresh oil coming to the Bahamas is indeed remote. The oil is approaching 60 days old from the first spill. We are, according to all the best scientific information, likely to get oil that is weathered in the form of tar balls. What we do not know about is the expanse of the dispersense and what impact they would have and that's why we want to document the conditions in advance of any impact from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill so we can measure it going forward."
According to Mr Deveaux, all the initial expenses for the pre-impact assessment is being handled through NEMA.
"The companies in Grand Bahama have in stock more than 30 per cent of any necessary equipment that we would use if we were required to respond to say, Cay Sal, Bimini, Freeport Harbor or West End. These are the proximate areas where the likelihood of land fall would first occur," Mr Deveaux said.
More than 1,000 people have volunteered to assist in the oil spill clean-up effort, said Mr Deveaux.
"I think the issue we would have would not be the number of persons willing to assist but how we would coordinate the level of preparedness to assist to make it most effective," Mr Deveaux said.
The Attorney General's office is exploring all legal options in the event the government has to seek recompense from any impact the BP oil disaster has on the Bahamas.
"We have taken the information we have to date, and the Attorney General's office is exploring all of legal options with respects to British Petroleum and the United Kingdom in the event we seek recompose from any disaster that hits the Bahamas. We hope that none does," the Minister added.
June 21, 2010
tribune242
A political blog about Bahamian politics in The Bahamas, Bahamian Politicans - and the entire Bahamas political lot. Bahamian Blogger Dennis Dames keeps you updated on the political news and views throughout the islands of The Bahamas without fear or favor. Bahamian Politicians and the Bahamian Political Arena: Updates one Post at a time on Bahamas Politics and Bahamas Politicans; and their local, regional and international policies and perspectives.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Pray That The Baha Mar Deal Is Sealed
“We Better Pray Baha Mar Deal Is Sealed”
By ROGAN SMITH:
As the verbal tug of war rages over the multi-billion dollar Baha Mar project and whether to allow 5,000 Chinese workers to enter the country - one leading contractor says Bahamians better pray that The Bahamas gets the deal, if not the entire island’s tourism product will be resting "solely on the shoulders of Sol Kerzner and Atlantis."
Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham sent tongues wagging when he announced earlier this week that he would not have approved the Baha Mar deal if his administration were in office in 2005.
Former Prime Minister and Opposition Leader Perry Christie approved the Cable Beach project.
Since Mr. Ingraham’s announcement, Mr. Christie has expressed serious concerns about the way Mr. Ingraham "politicises" the investment sector in the country and he warned him to desist his "irresponsible" approach to potential investors.
Two years ago gaming giant, Harrah’s Entertainment – Baha Mar’s former strategic partner – pulled out of the deal reportedly in response to comments Mr. Ingraham made in the House of Assembly.
At the time Mr. Ingraham expressed reservations about the financial viability of the Baha Mar developers, indicating that he had more confidence in Harrah’s ability to finance the project.
But, Bahamian Contractors Association (BCA) President Stephen Wrinkle said it is crucial that the Baha Mar project comes on stream as it would help to significantly grow the economy.
The $2.6 billion project promises to create thousands of temporary and full-time jobs and transform the drab Cable Beach area into a glitzy tourist mecca.
"I think he has [Mr. Kerzner] carried the load magnificently for several years, but can you imagine 8,000 new jobs and 5,000 new rooms? The room tax alone from that is [huge]. Phenomenal income streams are going to be available for that mega project," Mr. Wrinkle said during a recent Bahama Journal interview.
"I would like to see as much support given by to the government to Mr. (Sarkis) Izmirlian [Baha Mar Chairman and CEO] and his team. I think they’ve done a fantastic job of holding on. They went through a terrible experience with their Nevada group and a huge failure. They’ve incurred serious carrying costs. I think at the end of the day it’s going to be a better project than it would’ve been because you always learn more from your losses than you do your gains. But, they’ve stood the test of time and quite frankly I think we can see a renewed Cable Beach."
Mr. Wrinkle said the project would also provide huge benefits for The Bahamas.
"We’re going to have double the marketing that we have now; double the amount of people arriving at the airport now and double all the numbers that Kerzner has," he said.
"Remember what an impact we had when they built phase three of Atlantis. What they’re doing with Baha Mar is equal to all of the phases they did at Atlantis and they’re doing it one phase. This is a big deal," he said.
Regarding the Chinese workers that the government plans to bring in, Mr. Wrinkle said they are needed.
"They are calling for 8,000 workers out there; 4,000 workers have got to be found; we can’t provide 4,000 workers. We’d be hard pressed to provide half of that. On these big international projects it’s just a fact of life. We’ve sat at the table; the BCA has tried to represent the interests of Bahamian contractors and workers and we’ve had some success with Baha Mar; they’ve been receptive," he said.
"They have a commitment with the government to hire Bahamians. It’s in their Head of Agreement. It is in the contract with China State Construction and China Finance Bank. There is language in there that mandates that they make the effort and employ Bahamians where possible."
He continued: "The problem in the past is it’s never been fully implemented. So, we’ve been very active in trying to make sure that we have a seat at the table and that wherever and whenever we can gain access to work that it’s offered. These projects are so enormous that when you think in terms of $2 billion in a build-up that they say is going to take five years, every day, whether they hit a lick or not, is going to cost them several million dollars. So, the productivity has to be there. Imagine trying to run 8,000 people on a construction site. This is a huge endeavour and after that we’re going to have 8,000 permanent jobs."
June 17th, 2010
jonesbahamas
By ROGAN SMITH:
As the verbal tug of war rages over the multi-billion dollar Baha Mar project and whether to allow 5,000 Chinese workers to enter the country - one leading contractor says Bahamians better pray that The Bahamas gets the deal, if not the entire island’s tourism product will be resting "solely on the shoulders of Sol Kerzner and Atlantis."
Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham sent tongues wagging when he announced earlier this week that he would not have approved the Baha Mar deal if his administration were in office in 2005.
Former Prime Minister and Opposition Leader Perry Christie approved the Cable Beach project.
Since Mr. Ingraham’s announcement, Mr. Christie has expressed serious concerns about the way Mr. Ingraham "politicises" the investment sector in the country and he warned him to desist his "irresponsible" approach to potential investors.
Two years ago gaming giant, Harrah’s Entertainment – Baha Mar’s former strategic partner – pulled out of the deal reportedly in response to comments Mr. Ingraham made in the House of Assembly.
At the time Mr. Ingraham expressed reservations about the financial viability of the Baha Mar developers, indicating that he had more confidence in Harrah’s ability to finance the project.
But, Bahamian Contractors Association (BCA) President Stephen Wrinkle said it is crucial that the Baha Mar project comes on stream as it would help to significantly grow the economy.
The $2.6 billion project promises to create thousands of temporary and full-time jobs and transform the drab Cable Beach area into a glitzy tourist mecca.
"I think he has [Mr. Kerzner] carried the load magnificently for several years, but can you imagine 8,000 new jobs and 5,000 new rooms? The room tax alone from that is [huge]. Phenomenal income streams are going to be available for that mega project," Mr. Wrinkle said during a recent Bahama Journal interview.
"I would like to see as much support given by to the government to Mr. (Sarkis) Izmirlian [Baha Mar Chairman and CEO] and his team. I think they’ve done a fantastic job of holding on. They went through a terrible experience with their Nevada group and a huge failure. They’ve incurred serious carrying costs. I think at the end of the day it’s going to be a better project than it would’ve been because you always learn more from your losses than you do your gains. But, they’ve stood the test of time and quite frankly I think we can see a renewed Cable Beach."
Mr. Wrinkle said the project would also provide huge benefits for The Bahamas.
"We’re going to have double the marketing that we have now; double the amount of people arriving at the airport now and double all the numbers that Kerzner has," he said.
"Remember what an impact we had when they built phase three of Atlantis. What they’re doing with Baha Mar is equal to all of the phases they did at Atlantis and they’re doing it one phase. This is a big deal," he said.
Regarding the Chinese workers that the government plans to bring in, Mr. Wrinkle said they are needed.
"They are calling for 8,000 workers out there; 4,000 workers have got to be found; we can’t provide 4,000 workers. We’d be hard pressed to provide half of that. On these big international projects it’s just a fact of life. We’ve sat at the table; the BCA has tried to represent the interests of Bahamian contractors and workers and we’ve had some success with Baha Mar; they’ve been receptive," he said.
"They have a commitment with the government to hire Bahamians. It’s in their Head of Agreement. It is in the contract with China State Construction and China Finance Bank. There is language in there that mandates that they make the effort and employ Bahamians where possible."
He continued: "The problem in the past is it’s never been fully implemented. So, we’ve been very active in trying to make sure that we have a seat at the table and that wherever and whenever we can gain access to work that it’s offered. These projects are so enormous that when you think in terms of $2 billion in a build-up that they say is going to take five years, every day, whether they hit a lick or not, is going to cost them several million dollars. So, the productivity has to be there. Imagine trying to run 8,000 people on a construction site. This is a huge endeavour and after that we’re going to have 8,000 permanent jobs."
June 17th, 2010
jonesbahamas
Saturday, June 19, 2010
The National Oil Spill Committee is on alert as concerned citizens have reported sightings of what they believe to be oil sheens in Bahamian waters
Experts to probe oil spill reports
By MEGAN REYNOLDS
Tribune Staff Reporter
mreynolds@tribunemedia.net:
SIGHTINGS of suspected oil in the seas around the Bahamas from the spill in the Gulf of Mexico will be investigated by scientists setting out on a five-day expedition to Cay Sal and Bimini on Monday.
The team of IMO scientists and volunteers will take sediment samples and test them on the Defence Force vessel HMS Bahamas to confirm or deny the presence of oil in Bahamian waters.
The National Oil Spill Committee is on alert as concerned citizens have reported sightings of what they believe to be oil sheens in Bahamian waters.
Director of the Bahamas Environment, Science and Technology Commission (BEST) Philip Weech said the dark patches spotted in the ocean are more likely to be large clumps of dark seaweed drifting in the ocean than the oil slicks in the Gulf of Mexico, which they resemble.
"If there is oil in the Bahamas yet, we don't know," Mr Weech said.
"We have been getting a lot of calls and concerns of that nature and many are coming from the fact that people are seeing what they would normally see when they fly over, which is seaweed, which looks like what you see on the international news, but what we expect to see here would be weathered black tar balls.
"We are almost 800 miles away from the oil head so it's going to be a completely different scenario."
Oil sheens containing thousands of tar balls have hit the south coast of the United States in Mississippi, Louisianna, Alabama and Florida, and some reports claim these sheens have already left the Gulf.
The National Oil Spill Committee will spend five days in Cay Sal Banks, the westernmost point of the Bahamas 145km west of Andros Island, and Bimini, collecting oceanic and terrestrial samples to test on the RBDF vessel and determine whether or not oil has left the Gulf.
They will be assisted by trained volunteers from the College of the Bahamas, the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, the Department of Marine Resources, other government departments and environmental protection agencies who will continue sampling work in the northern Abaco cays and Grand Bahama.
More samples will be taken on the slower, more detailed exercise than the previous two-day expedition to Cay Sal last month which showed no signs of oil from the spill and have been stored in a tamper-free US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) certified laboratory.
Committee spokesman and Bahamas National Trust (BNT) director Eric Carey said: "We are hearing so many conflicting reports, depending what website you look at, so we have spent a lot of time trying to get the best information available to us.
"One source said oil might be exiting the Gulf of Mexico in the form of tar balls already, so we are really anxious to see what the team finds when they get to Cay Sal, because some of the reports suggest tar might already be heading there."
The team of scientists include leading marine ecologist Dr Ethan Freid and marine biologist Kathleen Sealy from the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).
June 19, 2010
tribune242
By MEGAN REYNOLDS
Tribune Staff Reporter
mreynolds@tribunemedia.net:
SIGHTINGS of suspected oil in the seas around the Bahamas from the spill in the Gulf of Mexico will be investigated by scientists setting out on a five-day expedition to Cay Sal and Bimini on Monday.
The team of IMO scientists and volunteers will take sediment samples and test them on the Defence Force vessel HMS Bahamas to confirm or deny the presence of oil in Bahamian waters.
The National Oil Spill Committee is on alert as concerned citizens have reported sightings of what they believe to be oil sheens in Bahamian waters.
Director of the Bahamas Environment, Science and Technology Commission (BEST) Philip Weech said the dark patches spotted in the ocean are more likely to be large clumps of dark seaweed drifting in the ocean than the oil slicks in the Gulf of Mexico, which they resemble.
"If there is oil in the Bahamas yet, we don't know," Mr Weech said.
"We have been getting a lot of calls and concerns of that nature and many are coming from the fact that people are seeing what they would normally see when they fly over, which is seaweed, which looks like what you see on the international news, but what we expect to see here would be weathered black tar balls.
"We are almost 800 miles away from the oil head so it's going to be a completely different scenario."
Oil sheens containing thousands of tar balls have hit the south coast of the United States in Mississippi, Louisianna, Alabama and Florida, and some reports claim these sheens have already left the Gulf.
The National Oil Spill Committee will spend five days in Cay Sal Banks, the westernmost point of the Bahamas 145km west of Andros Island, and Bimini, collecting oceanic and terrestrial samples to test on the RBDF vessel and determine whether or not oil has left the Gulf.
They will be assisted by trained volunteers from the College of the Bahamas, the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, the Department of Marine Resources, other government departments and environmental protection agencies who will continue sampling work in the northern Abaco cays and Grand Bahama.
More samples will be taken on the slower, more detailed exercise than the previous two-day expedition to Cay Sal last month which showed no signs of oil from the spill and have been stored in a tamper-free US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) certified laboratory.
Committee spokesman and Bahamas National Trust (BNT) director Eric Carey said: "We are hearing so many conflicting reports, depending what website you look at, so we have spent a lot of time trying to get the best information available to us.
"One source said oil might be exiting the Gulf of Mexico in the form of tar balls already, so we are really anxious to see what the team finds when they get to Cay Sal, because some of the reports suggest tar might already be heading there."
The team of scientists include leading marine ecologist Dr Ethan Freid and marine biologist Kathleen Sealy from the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).
June 19, 2010
tribune242
Friday, June 18, 2010
Clogged Courts... Clogged Justice
Confusion around the courts
tribune242editorial:
NATIONAL Security Minister Tommy Turnquest told Parliament Wednesday that at least 252 persons charged with murder are still awaiting trial. Of that number about 130 are out on bail.
It would be interesting to know how many of those on bail have been charged with a second murder, or have themselves become the victim of another criminal's drive-by shooting. Up to April 30, 130 murder accused were still out on the streets waiting to be called in to face justice.
Lawyer Philip Davis told the House that a murder trial usually takes a month. He estimated that it would take more than 20 years to clear those now waiting for their cases to be heard. "A near impossible" task to deal with, he observed.
The courts are not only clogged with too many cases, but also cases cannot move smoothly and swiftly through the system because of constant delays, either for lack of witnesses, summonses that have not been served, or lawyers who need adjournments because of a conflict in their own calendars.
A businessman, who was to testify this week for a theft at his office, after waiting four hours outside court for the case to be called, vowed that in future unless death were involved, he would never again call in the police to get entangled in the judicial system. "It is ridiculous what happens at the court," he said.
He said his case was set down for Tuesday and Wednesday this week. He arrived at the court at 9.30am on Tuesday. There were so many prisoners already there that everyone was asked to leave the court to make room for them.
He waited with the crowd under the almond tree in front of Café Matisse to find some shelter from the blistering sun. Later he hurried under an awning to be protected from the rain. "I am a middle aged man in good health, but can you imagine what would happen to an older person, not in good health, under these conditions?" he asked. He battled with the sun and rain for four hours before his case was called. When he entered the court room at 1.30pm he was told: "Come back tomorrow."
The next day, he went even earlier to secure a seat at the back of the court. He said that a sympathetic policeman who knew what he had gone through the day before helped him find the seat. His case was the second to be called on Wednesday. He gave his evidence, but believes that there will be at least two more adjournments in the magistrate's court before the case can make it to the Supreme Court.
In the two days that he was there only two cases went ahead. About 40 had to be adjourned because either witnesses had not shown up, or summonses had not been served.
On Tuesday he said in one case alone 15 witnesses were called. Not one was present. Of the 30 cases that day, no one had shown up to give evidence. Each case had to be set down for a new date.
Even a prisoner complained about the non-functioning system. He told the court that that day was the fifth time that he had been brought before the court, but each time his case had been adjourned because no one was there. "This is ridiculous!" he exclaimed.
Also at no time did the businessman feel secure. He said there should be somewhere for witnesses to wait so that they do not have to be so near to the prisoners.
He said all the staff and the police at the court were friendly. However, it was obvious that the court was under staffed.
"It was a total eye opener for me to our criminal justice system," he said as he vowed never again to willingly expose himself to such an experience.
As for murder cases, Mr Turnquest told the House, government will specify an amendment to a bill now before parliament that three years is a reasonable time to hold murder accused in prison to await trial. In our own experience, we know of a case that involved the brutal murder in 2006 of one of our own staff members. The man accused of her murder was back on the streets after only 14 months. He is still a free man and no more has been heard of her case.
Under the constitution, said Mr Turnquest, a person accused of murder has a right to bail if they are not brought to trial in a reasonable time. With the slow pace at which many matters proceed before the courts this has allowed many charged with serious offences to be released on bail, sometimes coercing witnesses or committing other heinous crimes, he said.
"There's no question that the granting of bail to persons charged with murder is particularly controversial and emotive in our country. The public is concerned and rightly so that persons charged with murder are given bail and remain free to coerce, compel, and influence others and tragically to kill again," said Mr Turnquest.
"It is critical that more persons charged with murder have their cases decided by the courts and we believe that this Bill is a step in the right direction," he said.
We suggest that a court be designated just for murder cases with its own staff to bring in the witnesses and keep the cases moving through the system.
June 18, 2010
tribune242
tribune242editorial:
NATIONAL Security Minister Tommy Turnquest told Parliament Wednesday that at least 252 persons charged with murder are still awaiting trial. Of that number about 130 are out on bail.
It would be interesting to know how many of those on bail have been charged with a second murder, or have themselves become the victim of another criminal's drive-by shooting. Up to April 30, 130 murder accused were still out on the streets waiting to be called in to face justice.
Lawyer Philip Davis told the House that a murder trial usually takes a month. He estimated that it would take more than 20 years to clear those now waiting for their cases to be heard. "A near impossible" task to deal with, he observed.
The courts are not only clogged with too many cases, but also cases cannot move smoothly and swiftly through the system because of constant delays, either for lack of witnesses, summonses that have not been served, or lawyers who need adjournments because of a conflict in their own calendars.
A businessman, who was to testify this week for a theft at his office, after waiting four hours outside court for the case to be called, vowed that in future unless death were involved, he would never again call in the police to get entangled in the judicial system. "It is ridiculous what happens at the court," he said.
He said his case was set down for Tuesday and Wednesday this week. He arrived at the court at 9.30am on Tuesday. There were so many prisoners already there that everyone was asked to leave the court to make room for them.
He waited with the crowd under the almond tree in front of Café Matisse to find some shelter from the blistering sun. Later he hurried under an awning to be protected from the rain. "I am a middle aged man in good health, but can you imagine what would happen to an older person, not in good health, under these conditions?" he asked. He battled with the sun and rain for four hours before his case was called. When he entered the court room at 1.30pm he was told: "Come back tomorrow."
The next day, he went even earlier to secure a seat at the back of the court. He said that a sympathetic policeman who knew what he had gone through the day before helped him find the seat. His case was the second to be called on Wednesday. He gave his evidence, but believes that there will be at least two more adjournments in the magistrate's court before the case can make it to the Supreme Court.
In the two days that he was there only two cases went ahead. About 40 had to be adjourned because either witnesses had not shown up, or summonses had not been served.
On Tuesday he said in one case alone 15 witnesses were called. Not one was present. Of the 30 cases that day, no one had shown up to give evidence. Each case had to be set down for a new date.
Even a prisoner complained about the non-functioning system. He told the court that that day was the fifth time that he had been brought before the court, but each time his case had been adjourned because no one was there. "This is ridiculous!" he exclaimed.
Also at no time did the businessman feel secure. He said there should be somewhere for witnesses to wait so that they do not have to be so near to the prisoners.
He said all the staff and the police at the court were friendly. However, it was obvious that the court was under staffed.
"It was a total eye opener for me to our criminal justice system," he said as he vowed never again to willingly expose himself to such an experience.
As for murder cases, Mr Turnquest told the House, government will specify an amendment to a bill now before parliament that three years is a reasonable time to hold murder accused in prison to await trial. In our own experience, we know of a case that involved the brutal murder in 2006 of one of our own staff members. The man accused of her murder was back on the streets after only 14 months. He is still a free man and no more has been heard of her case.
Under the constitution, said Mr Turnquest, a person accused of murder has a right to bail if they are not brought to trial in a reasonable time. With the slow pace at which many matters proceed before the courts this has allowed many charged with serious offences to be released on bail, sometimes coercing witnesses or committing other heinous crimes, he said.
"There's no question that the granting of bail to persons charged with murder is particularly controversial and emotive in our country. The public is concerned and rightly so that persons charged with murder are given bail and remain free to coerce, compel, and influence others and tragically to kill again," said Mr Turnquest.
"It is critical that more persons charged with murder have their cases decided by the courts and we believe that this Bill is a step in the right direction," he said.
We suggest that a court be designated just for murder cases with its own staff to bring in the witnesses and keep the cases moving through the system.
June 18, 2010
tribune242
Thursday, June 17, 2010
The Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) to announce three more general election candidates
PLP to announce three more general election candidates
By BRENT DEAN ~ NG Senior Reporter ~ brentldean@nasguard.com:
The Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) is moving closer to announcing its candidates for two Grand Bahama and one New Providence constituency for the next general election, The Nassau Guardian understands.
Sources have confirmed that attorney Greg Moss (former president of the Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce) and Dr. Michael Darville (currently a senator) are the two front-runners for two Grand Bahama nominations, and attorney Arnold Forbes is leading the way for the Mt. Moriah nomination in New Providence.
The PLP's National General Council is scheduled to meet tonight. It is unclear if these potential candidates, or others, will be ratified at this meeting.
Jerome Fitzgerald (Marathon), Michael Halkitis (Golden Isles), Hope Strachan (Sea Breeze) and Dr. Kendal Major (Garden Hills) were the first candidates to be ratified by the party in March.
The PLP is active in its candidate selection process.
Last Thursday, during the budget debate a think tank within the party referred to as 'the caucus,' which supports PLP leader Perry Christie, held an informal rally at the party's Farrington Road headquarters that eventually was attended by party parliamentarians who walked out of the House of Assembly that night.
Main speakers at the rally were Fitzgerald, former senator Paulette Zonicle and Dr. Major.
MPs who walked out of the House also addressed the group of supporters.
Party sources have also confirmed that attorney Randol Dorsett is the front-runner for the Pinewood nomination, attorneys Keith Bell and Dion Smith for the Kennedy nomination and attorney Myles Laroda for the South Beach seat.
The party hierarchy is said to be interested in nominating candidates well ahead of the election, to give the PLP a better chance at winning seats that were close in the last general election.
Whether or not any candidates are ratified tonight, it is expected that the next wave of candidates would be announced within the next few weeks.
With the party's leadership and candidates committee having been interviewing candidates for some time, it is possible that a large number of candidates would be named within the next few months.
June 17, 2010
thenassauguardian
By BRENT DEAN ~ NG Senior Reporter ~ brentldean@nasguard.com:
The Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) is moving closer to announcing its candidates for two Grand Bahama and one New Providence constituency for the next general election, The Nassau Guardian understands.
Sources have confirmed that attorney Greg Moss (former president of the Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce) and Dr. Michael Darville (currently a senator) are the two front-runners for two Grand Bahama nominations, and attorney Arnold Forbes is leading the way for the Mt. Moriah nomination in New Providence.
The PLP's National General Council is scheduled to meet tonight. It is unclear if these potential candidates, or others, will be ratified at this meeting.
Jerome Fitzgerald (Marathon), Michael Halkitis (Golden Isles), Hope Strachan (Sea Breeze) and Dr. Kendal Major (Garden Hills) were the first candidates to be ratified by the party in March.
The PLP is active in its candidate selection process.
Last Thursday, during the budget debate a think tank within the party referred to as 'the caucus,' which supports PLP leader Perry Christie, held an informal rally at the party's Farrington Road headquarters that eventually was attended by party parliamentarians who walked out of the House of Assembly that night.
Main speakers at the rally were Fitzgerald, former senator Paulette Zonicle and Dr. Major.
MPs who walked out of the House also addressed the group of supporters.
Party sources have also confirmed that attorney Randol Dorsett is the front-runner for the Pinewood nomination, attorneys Keith Bell and Dion Smith for the Kennedy nomination and attorney Myles Laroda for the South Beach seat.
The party hierarchy is said to be interested in nominating candidates well ahead of the election, to give the PLP a better chance at winning seats that were close in the last general election.
Whether or not any candidates are ratified tonight, it is expected that the next wave of candidates would be announced within the next few weeks.
With the party's leadership and candidates committee having been interviewing candidates for some time, it is possible that a large number of candidates would be named within the next few months.
June 17, 2010
thenassauguardian
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
No illegal Haitian apprehension exercises in six months
Hold on Haitian round-ups
BY JUAN MCCARTNEY ~ Guardian Senior Reporter ~ juan@nasguard.com:
The Department of Immigration has not conducted any illegal Haitian apprehension exercises in six months, The Nassau Guardian has learned.
The department had suspended apprehension exercises following the massive earthquake in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, which destroyed the capital city on January 12.
Following the disaster, the government also ceased Haitian repatriations and released 102 illegal Haitian migrants who were being held at the Carmichael Road Detention Centre.
However, on April 5, the government stated that the apprehension and repatriation of any "new" illegal Haitian migrants had resumed.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Brent Symonette yesterday admitted that no apprehension exercises have been conducted since January.
"If you're wondering if we have gone out on apprehension exercises, no," Symonette said.
Apprehension exercises were commonplace before the earthquake.
Symonette, who has ministerial responsibility for immigration, did not say why the apprehension exercises had not resumed, but earlier this week, he explained that immigration officers are apprehending illegal Haitian migrants as they encounter them.
"In the event (or) in the course of an investigation, if we're out in a neighborhood either doing a review of someone's home or we come across a certain situation, persons have been apprehended (but) not in any great numbers," he said at a press conference at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday.
"If we're advised of or come across any persons that are here illegally, they will be apprehended ... that's been ongoing."
At that press conference, Symonette also revealed that the government does not know the whereabouts of 40 of the 102 migrants who were released from the Detention Centre in January.
The migrants were given six months' temporary status and were asked to return to the department in March.
After the March check-in, they were asked to report back in June.
Symonette said that has not yet happened, but there is no official position on what will happen to those 62 migrants when and if they do report.
"I'll have to consult with my Cabinet colleagues with regard to those," he said, stating that the matter was not a decision he could make unilaterally.
Symonette also admitted that those 40 migrants who did not report to the department in January disregarded the terms of their release.
"We have two different categories: one [comprised of those] who've totally ignored the position and one set that have come in," he said.
In total, 15 women, three children, and 84 men were released from the holding facility.
Speaking at a press conference in January on his government's decision to release the Haitian migrants, Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham pointed to a New York Times editorial that said, "Burdening a collapsed country with destitute deportees would be a true crime."
The Bahamas repatriated more than 5,000 undocumented Haitians last year.
In the 2009/2010 fiscal year, the government allocated $1.5 million for repatriation exercises. In the upcoming fiscal year $1 million has been allocated.
Following an emergency meeting in the Dominican Republic several days after the earthquake, Ingraham announced that as part of the temporary immigration policy, undocumented Haitian nationals apprehended in The Bahamas after the disaster would be charged in court so they could be detained for longer periods of time.
That policy has since been abandoned.
June 16, 2010
thenassauguardian
BY JUAN MCCARTNEY ~ Guardian Senior Reporter ~ juan@nasguard.com:
The Department of Immigration has not conducted any illegal Haitian apprehension exercises in six months, The Nassau Guardian has learned.
The department had suspended apprehension exercises following the massive earthquake in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, which destroyed the capital city on January 12.
Following the disaster, the government also ceased Haitian repatriations and released 102 illegal Haitian migrants who were being held at the Carmichael Road Detention Centre.
However, on April 5, the government stated that the apprehension and repatriation of any "new" illegal Haitian migrants had resumed.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Brent Symonette yesterday admitted that no apprehension exercises have been conducted since January.
"If you're wondering if we have gone out on apprehension exercises, no," Symonette said.
Apprehension exercises were commonplace before the earthquake.
Symonette, who has ministerial responsibility for immigration, did not say why the apprehension exercises had not resumed, but earlier this week, he explained that immigration officers are apprehending illegal Haitian migrants as they encounter them.
"In the event (or) in the course of an investigation, if we're out in a neighborhood either doing a review of someone's home or we come across a certain situation, persons have been apprehended (but) not in any great numbers," he said at a press conference at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday.
"If we're advised of or come across any persons that are here illegally, they will be apprehended ... that's been ongoing."
At that press conference, Symonette also revealed that the government does not know the whereabouts of 40 of the 102 migrants who were released from the Detention Centre in January.
The migrants were given six months' temporary status and were asked to return to the department in March.
After the March check-in, they were asked to report back in June.
Symonette said that has not yet happened, but there is no official position on what will happen to those 62 migrants when and if they do report.
"I'll have to consult with my Cabinet colleagues with regard to those," he said, stating that the matter was not a decision he could make unilaterally.
Symonette also admitted that those 40 migrants who did not report to the department in January disregarded the terms of their release.
"We have two different categories: one [comprised of those] who've totally ignored the position and one set that have come in," he said.
In total, 15 women, three children, and 84 men were released from the holding facility.
Speaking at a press conference in January on his government's decision to release the Haitian migrants, Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham pointed to a New York Times editorial that said, "Burdening a collapsed country with destitute deportees would be a true crime."
The Bahamas repatriated more than 5,000 undocumented Haitians last year.
In the 2009/2010 fiscal year, the government allocated $1.5 million for repatriation exercises. In the upcoming fiscal year $1 million has been allocated.
Following an emergency meeting in the Dominican Republic several days after the earthquake, Ingraham announced that as part of the temporary immigration policy, undocumented Haitian nationals apprehended in The Bahamas after the disaster would be charged in court so they could be detained for longer periods of time.
That policy has since been abandoned.
June 16, 2010
thenassauguardian
Brent Symonette - Minister of Immigration: Bahamians "cannot continue to employ non-Bahamian labour and complain at the rate of unemployment."
Deputy PM: we cannot employ non-Bahamian labour and complain about unemployment
By ALISON LOWE
Tribune Staff Reporter
alowe@tribunemedia.net:
BAHAMIANS should take a hard look at the realities behind the immigration of foreigners into their country and accept that their own behaviour and choices sometimes play a part in the situation about which many complain, the Deputy Prime Minister suggested.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Immigration, Brent Symonette, said that Bahamians "cannot continue to employ non-Bahamian labour and complain at the rate of unemployment."
"We either have to accept that there are certain jobs Bahamians are unwilling, unable or are not being suitably paid to do or else we have to move on," he said.
"A Bahamian will work in a hotel, but yet we're importing maids to work in private homes. What's the difference between them? Why are we prepared to do one and not the other?" asked the Minister and MP for St Anne's.
Under Bahamian immigration law, a foreign person can get a work permit from the Department of Immigration to fill a job in the Bahamas if no suitably qualified Bahamian can be found to do the job. In some cases, this may mean those who apply for the job are not necessarily holding the skills or qualifications the position demands, and in others, foreigners are able to gain legal authorisation to work in The Bahamas when no Bahamians actually apply for certain jobs when they are advertised.
He suggested that not only does the level of foreigners employed to do these jobs in The Bahamas mean some Bahamians remain unemployed while jobs exist that they could do, but "you have to ask the question what other burdens do (immigrants) put on the system."
Meanwhile, Mr Symonette said there has been a "gradually growing" number of cases of suspected sham marriages between Bahamians and foreigners seeking "papers" in The Bahamas - primarily Haitians and Jamaicans.
"A number of persons of non-Bahamian citizenship come to the Bahamas, overstay their welcome, when caught get deported and coincidentally marry a Bahamian the next day in a country south of us then come back as the spouse of a Bahamian. The cases are far too common to be real. And that's an issue we all have to face. There are a number of marriages that we question," said Mr Symonette.
He said that where the Immigration Department suspects that a marriage is one of "convenience", lacking authenticity, it has denied the right to the usual work and residency related benefits that extend to the spouses of Bahamians and some fraudulent cases have been prosecuted. However, he added that the situation is a tricky one as the government must extend these benefits to the spouses of Bahamians or else face the likelihood that Bahamians who go abroad and marry will not return home. Referring to the employment of foreigners, mainly Haitians and Jamaicans, in relatively unskilled jobs such as housekeeping and gardening -- thousands of permits are approved each year for foreigners to work in posts like these when Bahamians cannot be found to do the work -- and the fact that there is "on a daily basis a demand for skilled labour at the Department of Labour." Mr Symonette said the Bahamas needs to "start looking at the whole immigration policy in this country."
"Do we have enough skilled labour in the Bahamas or don't we have enough? Are people applying for work permits with job descriptions that don't necessarily fit the job in hand? These are issues I think we need to get out for public discussion," said Mr Symonette.
June 16, 2010
tribune242
By ALISON LOWE
Tribune Staff Reporter
alowe@tribunemedia.net:
BAHAMIANS should take a hard look at the realities behind the immigration of foreigners into their country and accept that their own behaviour and choices sometimes play a part in the situation about which many complain, the Deputy Prime Minister suggested.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Immigration, Brent Symonette, said that Bahamians "cannot continue to employ non-Bahamian labour and complain at the rate of unemployment."
"We either have to accept that there are certain jobs Bahamians are unwilling, unable or are not being suitably paid to do or else we have to move on," he said.
"A Bahamian will work in a hotel, but yet we're importing maids to work in private homes. What's the difference between them? Why are we prepared to do one and not the other?" asked the Minister and MP for St Anne's.
Under Bahamian immigration law, a foreign person can get a work permit from the Department of Immigration to fill a job in the Bahamas if no suitably qualified Bahamian can be found to do the job. In some cases, this may mean those who apply for the job are not necessarily holding the skills or qualifications the position demands, and in others, foreigners are able to gain legal authorisation to work in The Bahamas when no Bahamians actually apply for certain jobs when they are advertised.
He suggested that not only does the level of foreigners employed to do these jobs in The Bahamas mean some Bahamians remain unemployed while jobs exist that they could do, but "you have to ask the question what other burdens do (immigrants) put on the system."
Meanwhile, Mr Symonette said there has been a "gradually growing" number of cases of suspected sham marriages between Bahamians and foreigners seeking "papers" in The Bahamas - primarily Haitians and Jamaicans.
"A number of persons of non-Bahamian citizenship come to the Bahamas, overstay their welcome, when caught get deported and coincidentally marry a Bahamian the next day in a country south of us then come back as the spouse of a Bahamian. The cases are far too common to be real. And that's an issue we all have to face. There are a number of marriages that we question," said Mr Symonette.
He said that where the Immigration Department suspects that a marriage is one of "convenience", lacking authenticity, it has denied the right to the usual work and residency related benefits that extend to the spouses of Bahamians and some fraudulent cases have been prosecuted. However, he added that the situation is a tricky one as the government must extend these benefits to the spouses of Bahamians or else face the likelihood that Bahamians who go abroad and marry will not return home. Referring to the employment of foreigners, mainly Haitians and Jamaicans, in relatively unskilled jobs such as housekeeping and gardening -- thousands of permits are approved each year for foreigners to work in posts like these when Bahamians cannot be found to do the work -- and the fact that there is "on a daily basis a demand for skilled labour at the Department of Labour." Mr Symonette said the Bahamas needs to "start looking at the whole immigration policy in this country."
"Do we have enough skilled labour in the Bahamas or don't we have enough? Are people applying for work permits with job descriptions that don't necessarily fit the job in hand? These are issues I think we need to get out for public discussion," said Mr Symonette.
June 16, 2010
tribune242
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