...disappointed by the Government's decision not to legalise gambling for Bahamians

'Good has come' from $6m Numbers Houses
By CHESTER ROBARDS
Business Reporter
crobards@tribunemedia.net:

Numbers Houses employ up to 3,000 Bahamians directly with an annual payroll of $6 million, and make $1.2 million in per annum charitable donations, a senior executive told Tribune Business yesterday, adding that the sector could become an $80-$100 million industry if legalised.

Making his case for legalising local gambling or playing numbers, Dicrius Ramsey, general manager of Island Luck, said numbers houses have come to employ directly 3,000 individuals - and indirectly 2,000 - a workforce just 3,000 less than the Bahamas' largest private sector employer, Atlantis.

And with government funding slashed to many community organisations, the Numbers Houses have taken over the role and inject as much as $100,000 per month into those organizations.

Mr Ramsey said, though, that many organisations are reluctant to receive their money publicly, as they are afraid of what some in the community might say about the origin of the funds.

"Some people take it on top of the table, some people take it under the table," he said.

Island Luck recently donated to Doris Johnson High School some $9,000 worth of new computers - the first in the school's history, according to Mr Ramsey. He has also personally made $5,000 donations to the Bilney Lane Children's Home and to the Unity Home.

Mr Ramsey argued that the Government has missed out on a substantial revenue source by choosing to not legalise gambling for Bahamians. Yet he added that shutting down the industry would mean a spike in unemployment and severe a revenue stream for countless entities.

He said the four leading numbers houses spend up to $50,000 per month on cable TV bills, $90,000 on electricity costs, and $75,000 on National Insurance Board (NIB) contributions, while creating indirect employment for the upkeep of their establishments.

Mr Ramsey said the four large number houses pay collectively more than $100,000 in rent for their locations, and carry a $500,000 per month payroll.

"You are talking about half a million in payroll alone and 3,000 people employed," he said. "We want serious consideration to call it a local gaming industry, and we are looking for some regulations to be put in place, so it is recognised as a viable entity. I don't know who outside of government has a half-million payroll monthly."

And Mr Ramsey's figures do not take into account the many smaller number houses that dot the islands.

He said those in the industry were disappointed by the Government's decision not to legalise gambling for Bahamians. He called the law that prohibits the practice archaic, and compared the choice to spend disposable income on gambling to the choice to spend money on the purchase of alcoholic beverages.

He argued that gambling does not contribute to the decay of the Bahamas' moral and social fabric, but that alcohol consumption does.

"Nobody can say that the gaming industry is wreaking havoc on the moral and social fabric," said Mr Ramsey. "Our position is that the local gaming industry... who does it really offend?

"We want people to understand this is a business and it is growing, and we want it to be here for a long time with a seal of approval."

Arguments have arisen from both sides of the fence, with some claiming legalised gambling would 'breed poverty', while others claim the extra tax revenues could be the answer to the Government's high debt.

"Good has come from these web shops," said Mr Ramsey. "They are contributing to the cultural development, and as profits continue to exist, I am quite sure the local community will see a lot more giving back because everyone will give back once it is profitable."

July 06, 2010

tribune242

Tension in the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) over the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the House of Assembly failure to meet regularly

Senior PLPs butt heads
By JUAN McCARTNEY ~ Guardian Senior Reporter ~ juan@nasguard.com:


Tension has erupted in the Progressive Liberal Party over the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the House of Assembly's failure to meet regularly and shed light on how the Ingraham administration is spending the public's finances, The Nassau Guardian has learned.

The party's national chairman Bradley Roberts has reportedly criticized the party members for not taking the job seriously.

He reportedly believes opposition members — who hold the majority on the committee — are missing key opportunities to hold the government's feet to the fire as it relates to public spending.

The PAC is responsible for auditing government accounts and ensuring that money designated for public spending is being properly managed.

The Nassau Guardian understands that Roberts has threatened to take on this issue at the PLP's National General Council's next meeting.

The Guardian also understands that former chairman Glenys Hanna-Martin has taken exception to the criticism levied by Roberts on this matter.

Chief Clerk Maurice Tynes said the PAC is obligated to report to the House of Assembly at the end of every parliamentary session. He noted that Parliament was prorogued earlier this year, however, the group did not present a report.

PAC, which is chaired by Bain and Grants Town MP Dr. Bernard Nottage, has reportedly not met since the new team was appointed.

Other members of the PAC include Fox Hill MP Fred Mitchell, St. Thomas More MP Frank Smith, South Abaco MP Edison Key and Pineridge MP Kwasi Thompson.

Smith said last night the committee has not met "in a little while" and he could not say when it will meet again.

It is reportedly Roberts' contention that the opposition is missing key opportunities to expose any shortcomings that may exist related to the public purse and how money is being disbursed.

Roberts said last night he had no comment on the matter. Nottage could not be reached.

The Guardian understands that several other issues have caused contention among the upper echelon of the party. Recently memos were circulated within the party by its top brass to parliamentary members warning them to bring their public disclosure filings up to date, according to inside sources. The party has also recently expressed internal concern that PLP leader Perry Christie failed to spend the $200,000 allotted for MPs to spend in their constituencies in the 2007/2008 and 2008/2009 budgets.

The tension comes as the PLP seeks to get a jump on the upcoming elections.

The PLP has recently named several candidates that it proposes to run in the upcoming elections.

July 6, 2010

thenassauguardian

Bahamas Blog International

How Perry Christie could have spent that $200k constituency allowance

How Christie could have spent that $200k for his constituency
NOELLE NICOLLS
Tribune Staff Reporter
nnicolls@tribunemedia.net:



RESIDENTS of Farm Road and Centerville - the constituency represented by opposition leader Perry Christie - have many ideas about how $200,000 could be spent in their area.

Some community members were unaware of the funds available to their representative. Others said they had a "big problem" with it.

"I was trying to figure out what he was doing with the money a long time ago. I do have a problem with it. I would like to see them add a playground for the children. Put computers in the community centre; put a building up for the after school programme so the children don't have to work out in the yard," said Janice Farrington, a Farm Road resident.

Between 2007 and 2009, Mr Christie spent only $31,000 of a possible $200,000 worth of funds in his constituency allowance. The accumulated money rolled over three years, but was set to be redistributed when the 2009/2010 budget year ended Wednesday. Minister of State Zhivargo Laing said that due to the government's tight fiscal position, constituency allowances were not being rolled over.

Given the politics of Farm Road and Centerville, a constituency member said the actions of Mr Christie would not affect him politically, because there is a strong allegiance to the Progressive Liberal Party.

One resident said even if the money were spent, community members would still question what the money was spent on. Depending on where it was spent the question of favouritsm might arise. He said unless the residents received direct benefit from the money, they would likely be indifferent or have complaints.

"No one would even worry themselves about that now, unless the opposition makes a flair of it. They are caught up in the hoopla; they don't even know what the man stands for. They go to rallies to drink and have fun, but they don't follow the issues," said Ras Charlie, a resident in the community, whose family lived there from the 1930s.

He said money could be used to train small business owners in the community, to provide computers and training in computer technology. He said the two local Junknaoo groups, One Family and the Music Makers, would welcome access to the funds. He said local parks were in need of refurbishing, and some schools might need resources.

"People in the community have an attachment to the party. He is the face of the party, but really whoever is the party leader it is the party they support. They say he is still a weak leader. They admit that amongst themselves, but they will still support him because they support the party," said Ras Charlie.

Before the cut off date, Mr Christie submitted requests for the funds to be used to purchase interactive whiteboards, desks, projectors and other items to benefit local schools.

Mr Christie said he made a request in 2008 for the funds to be used to purchase a plot of land next to the Joe Billy/Blind Blake Park in Fowler Street, as well as property near the Hay Street Park and the Sunlight Village Park. He did not confirm the status of the request until The Tribune broke the news that his funds were in jeopardy of being reallocated by the government.

Community members said they recalled hearing about Mr Christie trying to purchase land to expand the parks, but that was a "long time ago."

Mr Christie admitted that the did not feel rushed to spend the allowance because "he was assured that the money would be carried over."

"Plenty people are not aware of it. If you tell them now, they would be trying to figure out what you are talking about. I would use the $200,000 to hire small time workers from the ghetto to redo the bathrooms in the park, not big time contractors. Get the people from the ghetto who have skills and put them to work," said Mr Sears, a constituency member.

"I would use the money to fix up people's houses: change boards, fix the roofs, put bathrooms on. Some people still do not have bathrooms on their houses. That is what people want. For years they were supposed to build a concrete concession stand for the park a long time ago. They were supposed to take down the fence and build a wall," said Mr Sears.

July 05, 2010

tribune242

Bahamas Blog International

A drug turf war has escalated within New Providence inner city

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

Bahamas Blog International

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

Bahamas Blog International

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

Bahamas Blog International

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

Bahamas Blog International