Drug war has escalated in inner city, say police
By STAFF WRITER ~ Guardian News Desk:
A drug turf war has escalated within the inner city following the death of a notorious drug dealer, according to police sources.
Police have witnessed an upsurge in murders following the drug dealer's death in 2007, as members of his gang have carried out retaliatory killings and the battle for control of the murdered man's turf has waged on in communities off East Street. A significant number of the 87 murders recorded last year were attributed to this turf war, police said, adding that murders outside of the east Street community are also linked to the war.
Some of those murders remain unsolved as law-abiding citizens fear reprisals for cooperating with police. The fear is real with police acknowledging that witnesses have been killed to prevent them from testifying.
However, this year murders related to the inner city have decreased in part because some of the alleged perpetrators are in prison or are dead, sources allege. Police Commissioner Ellison Greenslade promised to focus on the 'drug war' when he took office in December 2009.
With 48 murders recorded as of yesterday, the country could record its third murder record in four years.
National Security Minister Tommy Turnquest told the House of Assembly recently that more people who are charged with murder are on bail than on remand at Her Majesty's Prison.
Up to April 30, 130 people charged with murder were on bail and an additional 127 were on remand, according to Turnquest. In total, there are 257 outstanding murder cases.
July 5, 2010
thenassauguardian
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, July 5, 2010
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Bahamas Government 2010/2011 Budget: Bahamians Under Pressure
Bahamians Under Pressure
By IANTHIA SMITH:
From as little as shelling out more money at an Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) to as high as coughing up additional thousands of dollars in stamp taxes on a dwelling home or property, beginning today, Bahamians will have to put a tighter squeeze on their wallets to keep their heads above water.
Today marks the start of the 2010/2011 fiscal period, a 12-month roadmap that ushers in a rash of budget cuts, higher taxes, a freeze on hiring and promotions and in some cases, salary decreases.
But despite the firestorm of criticism that has followed the $1.8 billion budget since its introduction in Parliament several weeks ago, Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham has maintained that it is the best the government could have done under the present economic climate.
However, the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) would tell you an entirely different story.
The Opposition argues that a part from the global economic downturn, the government’s poor fiscal management has much to do with what the country is now up against – mounting expenses and little revenue.
"This is one of the worse (budgets) for all Bahamians. The budget communication does nothing to critically address this critical and urgent need which continues to have far reaching economic, social behavioural consequences for the people of The Bahamas," Opposition Leader Perry Christie told members of the media at the time.
"This is a tax and pain budget. It is the prime minister singing a sad story as he describes the problems, but without any ideas about how to grow us out of this crisis and without accepting any responsibility for the state we are in under his stewardship."
But according to Prime Minister Ingraham, in order to bring relief to the country, the government had to make some tough decisions and the majority of those decisions come into play today.
These include stamp tax on realty transactions that have been increased by two percentage points. Stamp tax on bank transactions have been hiked by 15 cents and the air and sea departure taxes have jumped by $5.
In the case of cruise ships, the increase takes effect October 1.
Starting today, hotel room taxes will jump by 10 per cent of the room rate, while the annual fees payable by retail banks have increased by a whopping 50 per cent.
Car licensing fees, the rates on spirit and beer manufacturing and fees under the International Business Companies Act also went up.
If all went as planned, New Providence residents would have also had to shell out money for garbage collection services beginning today.
However, negotiations for the privatisation of solid waste management stalled.
With the increase in taxes, came dips in salaries and ministerial portfolios.
Freezes were even placed on hiring and promotions in the public sector, except for essential services, like police and defence force officers, teachers and nurses.
Budget allocations for the majority of ministries and departments took a nosedive.
The government has allocated some $1.55 billion for recurrent expenditure and more than $265 million for capital expenditure.
But as bad as it might seem, the Ingraham administration is not alone in trying to restore the country’s ravaged public finances over the next 12 months.
Countries like the United States, Germany and Britain have also made drastic cuts across the board.
In an "emergency budget" Britain’s Treasury chief George Osbourne unveiled "the toughest cuts to public spending in decades, which saw welfare payments and spending programmes slashed.
Mr. Osbourne said the austerity package was necessary to make "quick cuts to crippling national debts racked up during the global financial crisis.
July 1st, 2010
jonesbahamas
By IANTHIA SMITH:
From as little as shelling out more money at an Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) to as high as coughing up additional thousands of dollars in stamp taxes on a dwelling home or property, beginning today, Bahamians will have to put a tighter squeeze on their wallets to keep their heads above water.
Today marks the start of the 2010/2011 fiscal period, a 12-month roadmap that ushers in a rash of budget cuts, higher taxes, a freeze on hiring and promotions and in some cases, salary decreases.
But despite the firestorm of criticism that has followed the $1.8 billion budget since its introduction in Parliament several weeks ago, Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham has maintained that it is the best the government could have done under the present economic climate.
However, the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) would tell you an entirely different story.
The Opposition argues that a part from the global economic downturn, the government’s poor fiscal management has much to do with what the country is now up against – mounting expenses and little revenue.
"This is one of the worse (budgets) for all Bahamians. The budget communication does nothing to critically address this critical and urgent need which continues to have far reaching economic, social behavioural consequences for the people of The Bahamas," Opposition Leader Perry Christie told members of the media at the time.
"This is a tax and pain budget. It is the prime minister singing a sad story as he describes the problems, but without any ideas about how to grow us out of this crisis and without accepting any responsibility for the state we are in under his stewardship."
But according to Prime Minister Ingraham, in order to bring relief to the country, the government had to make some tough decisions and the majority of those decisions come into play today.
These include stamp tax on realty transactions that have been increased by two percentage points. Stamp tax on bank transactions have been hiked by 15 cents and the air and sea departure taxes have jumped by $5.
In the case of cruise ships, the increase takes effect October 1.
Starting today, hotel room taxes will jump by 10 per cent of the room rate, while the annual fees payable by retail banks have increased by a whopping 50 per cent.
Car licensing fees, the rates on spirit and beer manufacturing and fees under the International Business Companies Act also went up.
If all went as planned, New Providence residents would have also had to shell out money for garbage collection services beginning today.
However, negotiations for the privatisation of solid waste management stalled.
With the increase in taxes, came dips in salaries and ministerial portfolios.
Freezes were even placed on hiring and promotions in the public sector, except for essential services, like police and defence force officers, teachers and nurses.
Budget allocations for the majority of ministries and departments took a nosedive.
The government has allocated some $1.55 billion for recurrent expenditure and more than $265 million for capital expenditure.
But as bad as it might seem, the Ingraham administration is not alone in trying to restore the country’s ravaged public finances over the next 12 months.
Countries like the United States, Germany and Britain have also made drastic cuts across the board.
In an "emergency budget" Britain’s Treasury chief George Osbourne unveiled "the toughest cuts to public spending in decades, which saw welfare payments and spending programmes slashed.
Mr. Osbourne said the austerity package was necessary to make "quick cuts to crippling national debts racked up during the global financial crisis.
July 1st, 2010
jonesbahamas
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Bahamian Courts need better administration
Courts need better administration
tribune242 editorial:
A RETIRED police officer is concerned that no matter how many judges are brought in to strengthen the Bench, nor how many court buildings are constructed or renovated in which more cases can be heard, nothing is going to reduce the court's logjam until the judicial system is better administered.
Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham himself recognises this. In his budget address to the House in which he outlined government's proposals to improve the system, he acknowledged that "notwithstanding efforts made in the past we have not been nearly as effective as The Bahamas deserves in the administration of the judicial and legal system."
A new director of public prosecutions is arriving in August to take up the post with two persons already in the Attorney General's office elevated to the positions of deputy prosecutors. Mr Ingraham said that there has been "a serious problem with the management of criminal cases -- a problem of untold magnitude."
That problem is reflected in the community causing Police Commissioner Ellison Greenslade to acknowledge that on the crime scene today most victims and those committing murders have previously been arrested and charged in connection with other serious crimes. Often, said the Commissioner, they have been arraigned in a Magistrate's court on charges of murder, or illegal firearms, drug possession, armed robbery or other violent crimes and released on bail.
Once they have been freed they return to their communities and continue committing crimes, allowing violence to permeate the neighbourhoods, he said. In other words the revolving door syndrome has suffocated our courts, because cases are not being dealt with efficiently. The root cause? Adjournments.
Mr Paul Thompson, retired deputy commissioner of police, said that recently a person accused of a minor offence wanted to visit Miami, but a court date was interfering with his plans. His lawyer told him not to worry, to go ahead as he would arrange an adjournment.
"That," said Mr Thompson, "would have never happened under Magistrate Wilton Hercules. In the old days you had to appear in person before the magistrate and request an adjournment." Magistrate Hercules, feared by the criminal class, would have probably refused the request -- particularly if it was frivolous. He would have proceeded with the case. No one did foolishness in his court, and everything moved on time. But today there is adjournment after adjournment -- many stretching into years -- is the order of the day. No wonder the cases are stacking up and gathering dust and witnesses are either losing their memories or disappearing.
Another problem, said Mr Thompson, is that an accused person has a constitutional right to choose his own lawyer. Suppose, said Mr Thompson, you have a hundred accused asking for the same lawyer, then immediately cases start backing up until the overbooked lawyer is available to take each case in turn. This, said Mr Thompson, is a major problem that has to be solved if the court calendar is to move smoothly.
Mr Thompson referred to a case that was due in court on Wednesday for final judgment. The case involved the possession of 2,500 rounds of ammunition, hidden in baby clothing. It was discovered by Customs when it arrived by boat at Kelly's dock in early 2008. For two years there was adjournment after adjournment. On Wednesday -- which was supposed to be the final day -- the case was again adjourned, this time to September 16.
"Imagine," exclaimed Mr Thompson, "a simple case of possession that should have taken the court an half hour to an hour has now taken two years and is not yet finished!"
Another case in which he was interested was also set down for Wednesday. It was a case of the arrest of a sole occupant of a car that contained several guns -- Ruger, Remington and Maverick - and several rounds of ammunition. That arrest was made on October 23, 2006 -- nearly four years ago. It was set down for hearing on the prosecutor's list for this Wednesday. However, when Mr Thompson arrived at court on Wednesday, he was told that it was not on the prosecutor's list for that day or any other day for that matter. So what has happened? Is it just going to slide over the edge and get lost?
Mr Thompson named many other simple cases that should have occupied very little time on the calendar, yet they have been dragged over the years. While he was at the court on Wednesday a case for firearm possession came up. "It was a simple possession case," said Mr Thompson, "where only three police witness were needed -- the two officers to tell the magistrate what they found and a third officer from the Armoury to testify that the firearm being held was listed under the Firearms Act. Yet this case was adjourned to March next year."
On Monday we shall tell how this problem was nipped in the bud in 1980 when no-show witnesses -- particularly police officers -- never turned up to give evidence.
When Pericles Maillis acted for a time as magistrate he issued a warrant for the immediate arrest of a police constable who had not shown up to give his testimony. The constable, brought to court under arrest, was made to wait in the prisoner's dock until the case was called. He complained of being "embarrassed."
If this non-appearance continues, said Mr Maillis at the time, there "is going to be a breakdown in law and order in the Bahamas."
And that is exactly what has happened -- it continued and it broke down. Until the individual courts are better managed, cases will continue to take up unnecessary space.
July 02, 2010
tribune242 editorial
tribune242 editorial:
A RETIRED police officer is concerned that no matter how many judges are brought in to strengthen the Bench, nor how many court buildings are constructed or renovated in which more cases can be heard, nothing is going to reduce the court's logjam until the judicial system is better administered.
Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham himself recognises this. In his budget address to the House in which he outlined government's proposals to improve the system, he acknowledged that "notwithstanding efforts made in the past we have not been nearly as effective as The Bahamas deserves in the administration of the judicial and legal system."
A new director of public prosecutions is arriving in August to take up the post with two persons already in the Attorney General's office elevated to the positions of deputy prosecutors. Mr Ingraham said that there has been "a serious problem with the management of criminal cases -- a problem of untold magnitude."
That problem is reflected in the community causing Police Commissioner Ellison Greenslade to acknowledge that on the crime scene today most victims and those committing murders have previously been arrested and charged in connection with other serious crimes. Often, said the Commissioner, they have been arraigned in a Magistrate's court on charges of murder, or illegal firearms, drug possession, armed robbery or other violent crimes and released on bail.
Once they have been freed they return to their communities and continue committing crimes, allowing violence to permeate the neighbourhoods, he said. In other words the revolving door syndrome has suffocated our courts, because cases are not being dealt with efficiently. The root cause? Adjournments.
Mr Paul Thompson, retired deputy commissioner of police, said that recently a person accused of a minor offence wanted to visit Miami, but a court date was interfering with his plans. His lawyer told him not to worry, to go ahead as he would arrange an adjournment.
"That," said Mr Thompson, "would have never happened under Magistrate Wilton Hercules. In the old days you had to appear in person before the magistrate and request an adjournment." Magistrate Hercules, feared by the criminal class, would have probably refused the request -- particularly if it was frivolous. He would have proceeded with the case. No one did foolishness in his court, and everything moved on time. But today there is adjournment after adjournment -- many stretching into years -- is the order of the day. No wonder the cases are stacking up and gathering dust and witnesses are either losing their memories or disappearing.
Another problem, said Mr Thompson, is that an accused person has a constitutional right to choose his own lawyer. Suppose, said Mr Thompson, you have a hundred accused asking for the same lawyer, then immediately cases start backing up until the overbooked lawyer is available to take each case in turn. This, said Mr Thompson, is a major problem that has to be solved if the court calendar is to move smoothly.
Mr Thompson referred to a case that was due in court on Wednesday for final judgment. The case involved the possession of 2,500 rounds of ammunition, hidden in baby clothing. It was discovered by Customs when it arrived by boat at Kelly's dock in early 2008. For two years there was adjournment after adjournment. On Wednesday -- which was supposed to be the final day -- the case was again adjourned, this time to September 16.
"Imagine," exclaimed Mr Thompson, "a simple case of possession that should have taken the court an half hour to an hour has now taken two years and is not yet finished!"
Another case in which he was interested was also set down for Wednesday. It was a case of the arrest of a sole occupant of a car that contained several guns -- Ruger, Remington and Maverick - and several rounds of ammunition. That arrest was made on October 23, 2006 -- nearly four years ago. It was set down for hearing on the prosecutor's list for this Wednesday. However, when Mr Thompson arrived at court on Wednesday, he was told that it was not on the prosecutor's list for that day or any other day for that matter. So what has happened? Is it just going to slide over the edge and get lost?
Mr Thompson named many other simple cases that should have occupied very little time on the calendar, yet they have been dragged over the years. While he was at the court on Wednesday a case for firearm possession came up. "It was a simple possession case," said Mr Thompson, "where only three police witness were needed -- the two officers to tell the magistrate what they found and a third officer from the Armoury to testify that the firearm being held was listed under the Firearms Act. Yet this case was adjourned to March next year."
On Monday we shall tell how this problem was nipped in the bud in 1980 when no-show witnesses -- particularly police officers -- never turned up to give evidence.
When Pericles Maillis acted for a time as magistrate he issued a warrant for the immediate arrest of a police constable who had not shown up to give his testimony. The constable, brought to court under arrest, was made to wait in the prisoner's dock until the case was called. He complained of being "embarrassed."
If this non-appearance continues, said Mr Maillis at the time, there "is going to be a breakdown in law and order in the Bahamas."
And that is exactly what has happened -- it continued and it broke down. Until the individual courts are better managed, cases will continue to take up unnecessary space.
July 02, 2010
tribune242 editorial
Friday, July 2, 2010
Crime in The Bahamas 'scaring away investors'
Crime 'scaring away investors'
By BRENT DEAN ~ Guardian Senior Reporter ~ brentldean@nasguard.com:
Co-owner of the Grand Bahama Port Authority Sir Jack Hayward has warned that the Government of The Bahamas must find solutions to the escalating crime problem in the country before countries such as the United States issue travel advisories warning their citizens not to come to this jurisdiction.
"Any moment now the American Embassy could be advising American citizens that this is an unsafe country to travel (to)," said Sir Jack yesterday in an interview with The Nassau Guardian.
He also noted that the worrisome situation is scaring some potential investors.
At the end of the first half of 2010, there were 47 homicides in The Bahamas. The country appears on pace to near 100 homicides for the year.
The Bahamas set homicide records in both 2007 and 2009. The current homicide record from last year is 87.
The current homicide count puts the country on pace to record its third homicide record in four years.
Sir Jack said that the disturbing crime trend in the country could threaten both tourism to, and investment in, the country.
"When a potential investor or a potential visitor sees the headline, Up to record levels – More than last year, and so on, they are obviously going to say, 'Hey is this a safe place to travel?'," said Sir Jack.
"I mean the government has got to do something about the crime rate."
The government acknowledges that the Bahamian criminal justice system is facing significant challenges.
Two weeks ago in the House of Assembly National Security Minister Tommy Turnquest revealed that more people who are charged with murder are on bail than on remand at Her Majesty's Prison.
Up to April 30, 130 people charged with murder were on bail and an additional 127 were on remand, according to Turnquest. In total, there were 257 outstanding murder cases.
The government has attempted, in terms of personnel changes and infrastructure investments, to address the crime problem, which has worsened in recent years.
Since the Free National Movement (FNM) came to office in 2007, there have been three commissioners of police; three attorneys general; two chief justices; and the second director of the Department of Public Prosecutions is soon to take office.
The government has bought the police a new fleet of vehicles and it is spending more than $20 million upgrading the court system.
The new Magistrates Court complex at Nassau Street is expected to be completed within the next few months.
Sir Jack expressed concern about the high number of accused murderers on bail.
"God knows what they are doing? The whole thing is out of control," he said.
As recently as 1991, the homicide count in The Bahamas was as low as 28, according to police records.
The international homicide standard countries seek to be at or under is five murders per 100,000 persons. Ideally, The Bahamas would have around 18 homicides per year if it was near this mark.
The projected population count for The Bahamas this year by the Department of Statistics is 346,900.
If the homicide rate continues on the same pace in the second half of 2010, The Bahamas would have a homicide rate of around 27.17 per 100,000 population.
The Bahamas is moving towards a homicide rate comparable with countries in the region that have serious crime problems.
In 2008 the homicide rate for Jamaica was 59.5 per 100,000 population; it was 39.7 per 100,000 population the same year in Trinidad and Tobago, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
July 1, 2010
thenassauguardian
By BRENT DEAN ~ Guardian Senior Reporter ~ brentldean@nasguard.com:
Co-owner of the Grand Bahama Port Authority Sir Jack Hayward has warned that the Government of The Bahamas must find solutions to the escalating crime problem in the country before countries such as the United States issue travel advisories warning their citizens not to come to this jurisdiction.
"Any moment now the American Embassy could be advising American citizens that this is an unsafe country to travel (to)," said Sir Jack yesterday in an interview with The Nassau Guardian.
He also noted that the worrisome situation is scaring some potential investors.
At the end of the first half of 2010, there were 47 homicides in The Bahamas. The country appears on pace to near 100 homicides for the year.
The Bahamas set homicide records in both 2007 and 2009. The current homicide record from last year is 87.
The current homicide count puts the country on pace to record its third homicide record in four years.
Sir Jack said that the disturbing crime trend in the country could threaten both tourism to, and investment in, the country.
"When a potential investor or a potential visitor sees the headline, Up to record levels – More than last year, and so on, they are obviously going to say, 'Hey is this a safe place to travel?'," said Sir Jack.
"I mean the government has got to do something about the crime rate."
The government acknowledges that the Bahamian criminal justice system is facing significant challenges.
Two weeks ago in the House of Assembly National Security Minister Tommy Turnquest revealed that more people who are charged with murder are on bail than on remand at Her Majesty's Prison.
Up to April 30, 130 people charged with murder were on bail and an additional 127 were on remand, according to Turnquest. In total, there were 257 outstanding murder cases.
The government has attempted, in terms of personnel changes and infrastructure investments, to address the crime problem, which has worsened in recent years.
Since the Free National Movement (FNM) came to office in 2007, there have been three commissioners of police; three attorneys general; two chief justices; and the second director of the Department of Public Prosecutions is soon to take office.
The government has bought the police a new fleet of vehicles and it is spending more than $20 million upgrading the court system.
The new Magistrates Court complex at Nassau Street is expected to be completed within the next few months.
Sir Jack expressed concern about the high number of accused murderers on bail.
"God knows what they are doing? The whole thing is out of control," he said.
As recently as 1991, the homicide count in The Bahamas was as low as 28, according to police records.
The international homicide standard countries seek to be at or under is five murders per 100,000 persons. Ideally, The Bahamas would have around 18 homicides per year if it was near this mark.
The projected population count for The Bahamas this year by the Department of Statistics is 346,900.
If the homicide rate continues on the same pace in the second half of 2010, The Bahamas would have a homicide rate of around 27.17 per 100,000 population.
The Bahamas is moving towards a homicide rate comparable with countries in the region that have serious crime problems.
In 2008 the homicide rate for Jamaica was 59.5 per 100,000 population; it was 39.7 per 100,000 population the same year in Trinidad and Tobago, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
July 1, 2010
thenassauguardian
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Kenyatta Gibson tells the Carlton Francis' anti-gambling beliefs story
Gibson tells the Carlton Francis story
tribune242 editorial:
DURING the Budget debate, Kennedy MP Kenyatta Gibson, in putting the case for legalising gambling, told the tragic story of the political churchman who sacrificed himself to support his church's anti-gambling beliefs.
The irony was that the church never assisted him or protested his fall. Instead it became a firm supporter of the very government that had condemned their brother. It was the government that had introduced the evil that Baptists claimed they abhorred. Baptist churchmen took the position that neither they, nor their members, would ever support a government that depended on gambling as a source of national income.
Mr Gibson was, of course, referring to the late Carlton Francis, once Minister of Finance in the Pindling government, who was also a lay preacher in the Baptist church. Although Mr Gibson did not name the denomination to which he referred, he was talking of the Baptists. Because of the large vote the church controls at election time, all governments have been loath to take them on over one of the strictest tenants of their faith. Gambling is a capital sin which the church claims it will not tolerate, nor permit the indulgence of its members.
We recall the election of '67 when the PLP came to power for the first time. Just days before Bahamians were to go to the polls, the PLP sent in a release for publication. If the UBP were returned to power, it said, it would mean the extension of casino gambling. This was not true. As a matter of fact it was an unfair lie, because Sir Roland Symonette, this country's first premier, who was a staunch Methodist, was personally opposed to gambling. No such plan was on his party's agenda.
However, it spooked the Baptist community and, of course, churchmen stepped up their political opposition. There was hardly time to deny the story because Bahamians were getting ready to go to the polls. It was only with a PLP government, said the release, that Bahamians could be assured that gambling would be kept out of this country.
The PLP, of course, won the day, but it was not long afterwards that casino gambling was introduced and flourished in the Bahamas. And it was only six years after the PLP came to power that Mr Francis was put in the awkward position of having to choose between his government and his conscience. The issue was gambling. Here the politician had to give way to the conscience of the Baptist preacher. He voted against his government on the gambling issue and in 1973 had to resign from the Pindling cabinet.
That was bad enough, but a vindictive prime minister never forgave him his mortal sin. Thrown on the political trash heap, Mr Francis was hounded from pillar to post. A respected teacher before he entered politics, he could not get a job at the College of the Bahamas. As a matter of fact, he found it difficult after that to make a living.
As he crossed the street at one of Sir Lynden's political meetings, the "Chief" looked down from his lofty dais, spotted his former finance minister and sneered that there went Carlton Francis, but all he could see was a three-piece suit. It was true, Mr Francis then dying of cancer, was a shell of his former self and all one could see was a baggy suit. The crowd jeered. It was cruel.
But where was his church, which had declared that it would never support a government that got its revenue from gambling? Mr Gibson said that in his research, he could not find that Mr Francis' church came to his support when, having been abandoned by his party, he decided to run for parliament from the South Beach constituency. Of course, with his party against him and no help from his church, he lost the contest.
Mr Gibson said that "the record will show that they abandoned him and quickly realigned themselves with the same political party which he had abandoned on their behalf."
And, said Mr Gibson, "to complicate this issue many leading Churchmen of the day then accepted positions of significance from the same political party which had expanded casino gambling. These princes and princesses now piously sat as secretary generals and parliamentarians in the political organization which had ushered in the very same expansion, which they previously had vociferously argued against...
"And so the question begs an answer," said Mr Gibson, "what did they do for the Prince of their Church, Carlton Elisha Francis who sided with his Church on the gambling issue and gave up his cabinet portfolio? Absolutely nothing. The man could not even get the pastorship of a recognizable Church in this denomination."
Mr Gibson revived this bit of history to advise Bahamians to hold their own counsel in what they believed was best for them and their families and not be guided by special interest groups.
In the debate on whether gambling -- the numbers game -- should be made legal, he said the "people have the inalienable right to choose for themselves."
Mr Gibson ended his presentation in the House with a quote from Mr Francis: "They who stand on the sand banks of history trying to hold back the tide will be swept up in the flood gates of insurrection."
tribune242 editorial
tribune242 editorial:
DURING the Budget debate, Kennedy MP Kenyatta Gibson, in putting the case for legalising gambling, told the tragic story of the political churchman who sacrificed himself to support his church's anti-gambling beliefs.
The irony was that the church never assisted him or protested his fall. Instead it became a firm supporter of the very government that had condemned their brother. It was the government that had introduced the evil that Baptists claimed they abhorred. Baptist churchmen took the position that neither they, nor their members, would ever support a government that depended on gambling as a source of national income.
Mr Gibson was, of course, referring to the late Carlton Francis, once Minister of Finance in the Pindling government, who was also a lay preacher in the Baptist church. Although Mr Gibson did not name the denomination to which he referred, he was talking of the Baptists. Because of the large vote the church controls at election time, all governments have been loath to take them on over one of the strictest tenants of their faith. Gambling is a capital sin which the church claims it will not tolerate, nor permit the indulgence of its members.
We recall the election of '67 when the PLP came to power for the first time. Just days before Bahamians were to go to the polls, the PLP sent in a release for publication. If the UBP were returned to power, it said, it would mean the extension of casino gambling. This was not true. As a matter of fact it was an unfair lie, because Sir Roland Symonette, this country's first premier, who was a staunch Methodist, was personally opposed to gambling. No such plan was on his party's agenda.
However, it spooked the Baptist community and, of course, churchmen stepped up their political opposition. There was hardly time to deny the story because Bahamians were getting ready to go to the polls. It was only with a PLP government, said the release, that Bahamians could be assured that gambling would be kept out of this country.
The PLP, of course, won the day, but it was not long afterwards that casino gambling was introduced and flourished in the Bahamas. And it was only six years after the PLP came to power that Mr Francis was put in the awkward position of having to choose between his government and his conscience. The issue was gambling. Here the politician had to give way to the conscience of the Baptist preacher. He voted against his government on the gambling issue and in 1973 had to resign from the Pindling cabinet.
That was bad enough, but a vindictive prime minister never forgave him his mortal sin. Thrown on the political trash heap, Mr Francis was hounded from pillar to post. A respected teacher before he entered politics, he could not get a job at the College of the Bahamas. As a matter of fact, he found it difficult after that to make a living.
As he crossed the street at one of Sir Lynden's political meetings, the "Chief" looked down from his lofty dais, spotted his former finance minister and sneered that there went Carlton Francis, but all he could see was a three-piece suit. It was true, Mr Francis then dying of cancer, was a shell of his former self and all one could see was a baggy suit. The crowd jeered. It was cruel.
But where was his church, which had declared that it would never support a government that got its revenue from gambling? Mr Gibson said that in his research, he could not find that Mr Francis' church came to his support when, having been abandoned by his party, he decided to run for parliament from the South Beach constituency. Of course, with his party against him and no help from his church, he lost the contest.
Mr Gibson said that "the record will show that they abandoned him and quickly realigned themselves with the same political party which he had abandoned on their behalf."
And, said Mr Gibson, "to complicate this issue many leading Churchmen of the day then accepted positions of significance from the same political party which had expanded casino gambling. These princes and princesses now piously sat as secretary generals and parliamentarians in the political organization which had ushered in the very same expansion, which they previously had vociferously argued against...
"And so the question begs an answer," said Mr Gibson, "what did they do for the Prince of their Church, Carlton Elisha Francis who sided with his Church on the gambling issue and gave up his cabinet portfolio? Absolutely nothing. The man could not even get the pastorship of a recognizable Church in this denomination."
Mr Gibson revived this bit of history to advise Bahamians to hold their own counsel in what they believed was best for them and their families and not be guided by special interest groups.
In the debate on whether gambling -- the numbers game -- should be made legal, he said the "people have the inalienable right to choose for themselves."
Mr Gibson ended his presentation in the House with a quote from Mr Francis: "They who stand on the sand banks of history trying to hold back the tide will be swept up in the flood gates of insurrection."
tribune242 editorial
Zhivargo Laing - State Minister for Finance says the government presented a budget (2010/2011) that's designed to cope with a crisis if it occurs
Laing: Budget Prepares For The Future
By Kendea Jones:
More than a month after the Ingraham administration presented its 2010/2011 Budget, State Minister for Finance Zhivargo Laing is still fighting off a firestorm of criticisms, claiming that the government made the best move for the country. The new fiscal plan, which takes effect on Thursday, has a rash of cuts and tax increases.
For instance, come July 1, the government will introduce a 65 per cent rate for cars that are 2,000 ccs or fewer, a 75 per cent rate for cars between 2,000 and 2,500 and an 85 per cent rate for all other cars, except hybrids, which face the lower duty of 25 per cent.
According to Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham, this allows many fuel-efficient, four-cylinder vehicles to be covered under a rate of duty that is mid-way between the low and high rates.
"I think there were some adjustments made for the timing of when the cars will come in and some provisions made for persons who would have imported vehicles between the 26th June and July 1 when those rates take effect," Minister Laing explained.
"Commercial credits will be granted to auto dealers and a refund to individuals who would have imported vehicles during that period."
But according to the state minister, not only did the government present a budget that would sustain the country for the next 12 months but beyond that timeframe.
"The reality is that we presented the budget we did so that we could put ourselves in a position where we could cope with a crisis if it occurs," he said.
"We didn’t want to grow the debt in the midst of the crisis. So, we are looking to claw back some of the damage and put ourselves in the position that if a hurricane damages The Bahamas, we would be able to respond. If there is a crisis we would be able to do what is necessary to respond to it."
Minister Laing also again dispelled the notion that the government is broke as "ludicrous."
"The government couldn’t pay salaries if it did not have money. This is a question of putting the fiscal house in the position that you are able to operate in a sustainable manner; meaning that you are not doing something that is going to cause you to be unable to maneuver," he said.
"We are not doing something that is going to cause such a heavy load on future generations. The government is not going to spend widely today, as if there is no tomorrow. Anything can happen tomorrow."
The 2010/2011 Budget allocates some $1.55 billion for recurrent expenditure and more than $265 million for capital expenditure.
Government debt at the end of June 2011 is projected to stand at 49.2 percent of GDP, up from 47.3 percent a year earlier.
June 30th, 2010
jonesbahamas
By Kendea Jones:
More than a month after the Ingraham administration presented its 2010/2011 Budget, State Minister for Finance Zhivargo Laing is still fighting off a firestorm of criticisms, claiming that the government made the best move for the country. The new fiscal plan, which takes effect on Thursday, has a rash of cuts and tax increases.
For instance, come July 1, the government will introduce a 65 per cent rate for cars that are 2,000 ccs or fewer, a 75 per cent rate for cars between 2,000 and 2,500 and an 85 per cent rate for all other cars, except hybrids, which face the lower duty of 25 per cent.
According to Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham, this allows many fuel-efficient, four-cylinder vehicles to be covered under a rate of duty that is mid-way between the low and high rates.
"I think there were some adjustments made for the timing of when the cars will come in and some provisions made for persons who would have imported vehicles between the 26th June and July 1 when those rates take effect," Minister Laing explained.
"Commercial credits will be granted to auto dealers and a refund to individuals who would have imported vehicles during that period."
But according to the state minister, not only did the government present a budget that would sustain the country for the next 12 months but beyond that timeframe.
"The reality is that we presented the budget we did so that we could put ourselves in a position where we could cope with a crisis if it occurs," he said.
"We didn’t want to grow the debt in the midst of the crisis. So, we are looking to claw back some of the damage and put ourselves in the position that if a hurricane damages The Bahamas, we would be able to respond. If there is a crisis we would be able to do what is necessary to respond to it."
Minister Laing also again dispelled the notion that the government is broke as "ludicrous."
"The government couldn’t pay salaries if it did not have money. This is a question of putting the fiscal house in the position that you are able to operate in a sustainable manner; meaning that you are not doing something that is going to cause you to be unable to maneuver," he said.
"We are not doing something that is going to cause such a heavy load on future generations. The government is not going to spend widely today, as if there is no tomorrow. Anything can happen tomorrow."
The 2010/2011 Budget allocates some $1.55 billion for recurrent expenditure and more than $265 million for capital expenditure.
Government debt at the end of June 2011 is projected to stand at 49.2 percent of GDP, up from 47.3 percent a year earlier.
June 30th, 2010
jonesbahamas
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Kennedy MP Kenyatta Gibson: Bahamians must understand that to save their country they must be prepared to work together and make sacrifices
Not the time to mislead the people
tribune242 editorial:
KENNEDY MP Kenyatta Gibson, who came from the bosom of the PLP almost two years ago, first as an Independent MP, then as a full fledged FNM, had sound advice for his former political colleagues during the recent Budget debate.
"These are times," he said, "in which all Bahamians must understand that to save their country they must be prepared to work together and make sacrifices."
"To mislead the people into thinking that this belt tightening Budget is a result of the FNM Government's inefficiency or incompetence is an insult to the people's intelligence," he told the Opposition who have accused the Prime Minister of not protecting the Bahamas from the present world crisis.
We are all in this together. When Bahamians sit in front of their TV sets at night and see the people of the world losing their jobs and closing their businesses, and countries heading for bankruptcy, they must understand that the Bahamas cannot stop the world and get off -- they are a part of the whole. The biblical seven lean years are here and now.
"The current economic crisis in which we, like other countries in this region are plunged, can best be resolved and remedied where there is a conciliatory atmosphere of understanding and cooperation of all concerned," Mr Gibson said.
"But if we create rancour and doubt and self pity and make people feel that someone did something to them and we know this not to be true, then we are guilty of the sin of omission and falsehood and are not worthy to be called Leaders of the people."
Mr Gibson told the MPs that "we can rise above partisan politics, especially in times of national crisis and danger" and together "lift our country and our people to greater heights."
Today's Bahamians cannot pass today's troubles onto unborn generations, he said. "It is now our watch and together as one Bahamian people we have to fix it."
Mr Gibson pointed out that the FNM government did not cause the recent problems on Wall Street, nor did it dismantle Lehman Brothers, or create the US's sub prime mortgage debate. It didn't even drive up oil prices or cook the books of leading US banking institutions, nor did it defraud the SEC - all of which started the economic ball rolling downhill at an ever increasing pace. No one could stop the roll and so country after country -- the Bahamas included - was caught in its wake as it picked up momentum and dragged each one of them to the bottom. Each nation now has to pick itself up and climb to the top. Politicians who would divide and pull the people down at this time are an unwelcome and useless appendage. It would be best to dismiss them and move on alone.
Mr Gibson said that "these are the easily verifiable facts but some persons true to their form, would prefer not to lead but to mislead and misguide and misinform."
Mr Gibson pointed out that James Smith, the current chairman of CFAL, was the main architect of Opposition Leader Perry Christie's economic policy when Mr Christie was prime minister (2002-2007). He is a man of "impeccable" credentials as an economist, Mr Gibson pointed out. No one would dispute that observation.
"PLP's from Inagua in the south," said Mr Gibson, "to Grand Bahama in the north have heralded his genius in budgetary exercise after budgetary exercise since 2002. After the Progressive Liberal Party's defeat in 2007, 'the word often came down' to the general public that the Progressive Liberal Party was supporting sentiments expressed by former Minister Smith."
Recognised as an expert on his subject, Mr Gibson, wondered why in this instance the PLP did not embrace Mr Smith's comments on the FNM's belt-tightening budget with "its usual eagerness and zeal."
According Mr Smith "both the public and private sectors need to appreciate that for the next few months, maybe even another year, it will be tough and everyone needs to tighten their belts. I think the budget reflected that tone."
Fidelity Bank's president Gregory Bethel, another respected member of the financial community, echoed Mr Smith's assessment. "These are the right moves," said Mr Bethel, "to get the country's economy back on tract."
Continued Mr Bethel: "The Prime Minister has set the tone. He said that this is a time for sacrifice, service and reform and the Bahamian people must understand that it is not business as usual. Everybody in our society must share in the sacrifice, share in the pain and share in the reform."
Said Mr Gibson: "This is our age, indeed our time, indeed our call to sacrifice for our country."
He pointed to David Cameron, Britain's new prime minister, as an example of how Mr Cameron used the UK's harsh economic environment to explain to the British people why his government had to introduce a similar austere budget as the rest of the world. Mr Cameron said that this was an opportunity to explain to the people the purpose behind the pain.
Mr Gibson told the Opposition that if they "call this a budget of pain, it must be characterised as pain for a noble cause. That cause being the continued viability of the nation."
For the Opposition to move in the opposite direction, especially at this moment of crisis, just means that they are headed towards the void of political oblivion.
June 29, 2010
tribune242 editorial
tribune242 editorial:
KENNEDY MP Kenyatta Gibson, who came from the bosom of the PLP almost two years ago, first as an Independent MP, then as a full fledged FNM, had sound advice for his former political colleagues during the recent Budget debate.
"These are times," he said, "in which all Bahamians must understand that to save their country they must be prepared to work together and make sacrifices."
"To mislead the people into thinking that this belt tightening Budget is a result of the FNM Government's inefficiency or incompetence is an insult to the people's intelligence," he told the Opposition who have accused the Prime Minister of not protecting the Bahamas from the present world crisis.
We are all in this together. When Bahamians sit in front of their TV sets at night and see the people of the world losing their jobs and closing their businesses, and countries heading for bankruptcy, they must understand that the Bahamas cannot stop the world and get off -- they are a part of the whole. The biblical seven lean years are here and now.
"The current economic crisis in which we, like other countries in this region are plunged, can best be resolved and remedied where there is a conciliatory atmosphere of understanding and cooperation of all concerned," Mr Gibson said.
"But if we create rancour and doubt and self pity and make people feel that someone did something to them and we know this not to be true, then we are guilty of the sin of omission and falsehood and are not worthy to be called Leaders of the people."
Mr Gibson told the MPs that "we can rise above partisan politics, especially in times of national crisis and danger" and together "lift our country and our people to greater heights."
Today's Bahamians cannot pass today's troubles onto unborn generations, he said. "It is now our watch and together as one Bahamian people we have to fix it."
Mr Gibson pointed out that the FNM government did not cause the recent problems on Wall Street, nor did it dismantle Lehman Brothers, or create the US's sub prime mortgage debate. It didn't even drive up oil prices or cook the books of leading US banking institutions, nor did it defraud the SEC - all of which started the economic ball rolling downhill at an ever increasing pace. No one could stop the roll and so country after country -- the Bahamas included - was caught in its wake as it picked up momentum and dragged each one of them to the bottom. Each nation now has to pick itself up and climb to the top. Politicians who would divide and pull the people down at this time are an unwelcome and useless appendage. It would be best to dismiss them and move on alone.
Mr Gibson said that "these are the easily verifiable facts but some persons true to their form, would prefer not to lead but to mislead and misguide and misinform."
Mr Gibson pointed out that James Smith, the current chairman of CFAL, was the main architect of Opposition Leader Perry Christie's economic policy when Mr Christie was prime minister (2002-2007). He is a man of "impeccable" credentials as an economist, Mr Gibson pointed out. No one would dispute that observation.
"PLP's from Inagua in the south," said Mr Gibson, "to Grand Bahama in the north have heralded his genius in budgetary exercise after budgetary exercise since 2002. After the Progressive Liberal Party's defeat in 2007, 'the word often came down' to the general public that the Progressive Liberal Party was supporting sentiments expressed by former Minister Smith."
Recognised as an expert on his subject, Mr Gibson, wondered why in this instance the PLP did not embrace Mr Smith's comments on the FNM's belt-tightening budget with "its usual eagerness and zeal."
According Mr Smith "both the public and private sectors need to appreciate that for the next few months, maybe even another year, it will be tough and everyone needs to tighten their belts. I think the budget reflected that tone."
Fidelity Bank's president Gregory Bethel, another respected member of the financial community, echoed Mr Smith's assessment. "These are the right moves," said Mr Bethel, "to get the country's economy back on tract."
Continued Mr Bethel: "The Prime Minister has set the tone. He said that this is a time for sacrifice, service and reform and the Bahamian people must understand that it is not business as usual. Everybody in our society must share in the sacrifice, share in the pain and share in the reform."
Said Mr Gibson: "This is our age, indeed our time, indeed our call to sacrifice for our country."
He pointed to David Cameron, Britain's new prime minister, as an example of how Mr Cameron used the UK's harsh economic environment to explain to the British people why his government had to introduce a similar austere budget as the rest of the world. Mr Cameron said that this was an opportunity to explain to the people the purpose behind the pain.
Mr Gibson told the Opposition that if they "call this a budget of pain, it must be characterised as pain for a noble cause. That cause being the continued viability of the nation."
For the Opposition to move in the opposite direction, especially at this moment of crisis, just means that they are headed towards the void of political oblivion.
June 29, 2010
tribune242 editorial
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