Concerns over Bahamian participation in Baha Mar raised at BCA meeting
By TANEKA THOMPSON
Tribune Staff Reporter
tthompson@tribunemedia.net:
CONSTRUCTION industry stakeholders yesterday questioned how the Bahamas Contractors' Association would ensure that small operators get a fair share of work on the proposed $2.6 billion Baha Mar development and similar projects.
These concerns were raised yesterday at a luncheon held by the BCA at the Wyndham Crystal Palace Resort and Casino in Cable Beach to inform the industry of impending changes the local construction sector must adopt to qualify for work on massive foreign investment projects such as Baha Mar.
Baha Mar's developers will introduce $60 million worth of contracts to begin the first phase of the project, which will only be awarded to Bahamian contractors, in the coming weeks.
BCA President Stephen Wrinkle assured the crowd of construction workers, contractors and tradesmen that his organisation would find ways to help create the "maximum Bahamian participation" in the development.
"The reason we're here today is to try to get the little man onboard with these projects. Let's face it – the big fellas, they fight their battles too but they're going to be here whether Baha Mar goes (forward) or not but the little man needs a lil' leg up right now to get along with this project and that's all we're trying to do," he said in a response to a question from the crowd.
The changes, which will allow the local construction sector to meet the expectations of the international market are separated into three parts: Creating a jobs skills bank for the sector; adopting an internationally recognised system of identifying classifications for division contractors; and launching a construction seminar series to help contractors meet the pre-qualification, tendering and administrative requirements of large scale developers.
Courses will then be held at the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI) to certify these workers, and allow them to received advanced certification.
The skills bank will be of use to contractors and sub-contractors, allowing them to draw from a pool of qualified workers. It also will establish, for the first time according to Mr Wrinkle, national standards for those in the industry, "So that when a carpenter comes looking for work and he shows the certificate you will have some assurance that they have attained the basic, minimum skills required for each level.”
The crowd was also briefed on the most recent developments in the progress of Baha Mar's proposed transformation of the Cable Beach strip, which got a boost this week after the government of the People's Republic of China formally approved the joint venture.
The first phase requires the removal of government and other buildings adjacent to the Sheraton Nassau Beach and Wyndham Crystal Palace hotels, as well as the rerouting of West Bay Street for one and a half miles to skirt Baha Mar’s build site.
Vice president of construction for the project, Tom Dunlap, said the first phase could take 9-18 months.
The development is expected to create 11,000 jobs for Bahamians and add $1 billion to the local economy in the first year after completion. However the future of the project faces another hurdle – final approval from the Bahamas government.
July 29, 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.
Friday, July 30, 2010
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Bahamian workers must have the right to remove themselves from harm’s way in the workplace and not suffer consequences that threaten their employment
Employers chief: Workers must get rights to escape from 'harm's way'
By NEIL HARTNELL
Tribune Business Editor
BAHAMIAN workers must have the right to remove themselves from “harm’s way” in the workplace and not suffer consequences that threaten their employment, the Bahamas Employers Confederation’s (BECon) president said yesterday, something employees currently enjoy no protection on.
Brian Nutt, speaking to Tribune Business in the wake of the report on the Freeport Container Port tornado incident being released, said he agreed with the recommendations made by its author on reforming Bahamian occupational health and safety laws, including the provision of statutory protection for workers wanting to remove themselves from life-threatening workplace situations.
The report by Jacques Obadia, a former International Labour Organisation (ILO) executive, said the Bahamas needed to amend the Health and Safety at Work Act 2002 - its main workplace safety statute - “in a number of areas” to bring it into line with key ILO conventions on the issue.
A key reform, the report said, was to address “the protection of workers removing themselves from a work situation presenting an imminent danger to their life or health”.
Backing this recommendation, Mr Nutt told Tribune Business: “I guess right now that it would be the employer who would determine whether it’s a life or death situation, and it could be that someone is dealt with unjustly.
“There has to be a right for an individual to get themselves out of harm’s way.”
Mr Nutt confirmed to Tribune Business that the Health and Safety at Work Act had effectively been a toothless piece of legislation during the eight years since it had been passed in 2002, as it had lacked the standards, codes of practice and regulations to give it enforcement teeth.
This was confirmed by the Freeport Container Port report, which hinted that this state of affairs could potentially have left Bahamian workers dangerously exposed.
“The Act has been in force since 2002, but without the regulations and codes of practice, nobody knows what they are supposed to do,” Mr Nutt said. “Other than making people more aware of health and safety, and the fact the Act does require any business with more than 20 employees to form a Health and Safety Committee, there’s nothing else in the Act. The Act provides for these committees, but it’s the regulations and codes of practice that give them an agenda as to what meetings should be like.
“All the Act is is a framework. It’s similar to the National Health Insurance Act passed by the PLP. That’s enacted; that’s a law, but no regulations under it, so there’s nothing happening with it.”
Mr Nutt said that while he had not been on the committee, formed from trade union, government and employer representatives, that had been asked by the second Ingraham administration to draft the Act’s regulations, he knew it had “put a lot of work into it” and passed its draft on to the Government, where it had been “for some time”.
The BECon president added that the regulations’ drafting had also been interrupted by the 2002 change of government, the Health and Safety at Work Act being one of three Bills passed into statute by the first FNM government just prior to that year’s general election.
“The PLP came into power and did not do anything to put in regulations and codes of practice,” Mr Nutt told Tribune Business, adding that the FNM had to pick up the thread once it returned to power in 2007.
The BECon chief questioned whether the “price tag” that would come from enforcing the Health and Safety at Work Act may had caused the Government to hesitate, given the state of the Bahamian economy and fears about imposing additional costs on business, and suggested the administration could have “stripped it down a bit to get something out there”.
Mr Nutt said that when the first Ingraham administration passed the Health and Safety at Work Act, along with the Employment Act and Minimum Wage Act, it had viewed this legislation as bringing the Bahamas into compliance with the ILO’s “core conventions”.
Yet the Freeport Container Port report confirms that the Bahamas is still not in compliance with all these conventions, as it urges this nation to “initiate the formal process leading to the ratification of the main ILO occupational health and safety standards”.
These include the ILO’s Convention 155 of 1981, and its Protocol 2002 relating to the recording and notification of occupational accidents and diseases.
July 27, 2010
tribune242
By NEIL HARTNELL
Tribune Business Editor
BAHAMIAN workers must have the right to remove themselves from “harm’s way” in the workplace and not suffer consequences that threaten their employment, the Bahamas Employers Confederation’s (BECon) president said yesterday, something employees currently enjoy no protection on.
Brian Nutt, speaking to Tribune Business in the wake of the report on the Freeport Container Port tornado incident being released, said he agreed with the recommendations made by its author on reforming Bahamian occupational health and safety laws, including the provision of statutory protection for workers wanting to remove themselves from life-threatening workplace situations.
The report by Jacques Obadia, a former International Labour Organisation (ILO) executive, said the Bahamas needed to amend the Health and Safety at Work Act 2002 - its main workplace safety statute - “in a number of areas” to bring it into line with key ILO conventions on the issue.
A key reform, the report said, was to address “the protection of workers removing themselves from a work situation presenting an imminent danger to their life or health”.
Backing this recommendation, Mr Nutt told Tribune Business: “I guess right now that it would be the employer who would determine whether it’s a life or death situation, and it could be that someone is dealt with unjustly.
“There has to be a right for an individual to get themselves out of harm’s way.”
Mr Nutt confirmed to Tribune Business that the Health and Safety at Work Act had effectively been a toothless piece of legislation during the eight years since it had been passed in 2002, as it had lacked the standards, codes of practice and regulations to give it enforcement teeth.
This was confirmed by the Freeport Container Port report, which hinted that this state of affairs could potentially have left Bahamian workers dangerously exposed.
“The Act has been in force since 2002, but without the regulations and codes of practice, nobody knows what they are supposed to do,” Mr Nutt said. “Other than making people more aware of health and safety, and the fact the Act does require any business with more than 20 employees to form a Health and Safety Committee, there’s nothing else in the Act. The Act provides for these committees, but it’s the regulations and codes of practice that give them an agenda as to what meetings should be like.
“All the Act is is a framework. It’s similar to the National Health Insurance Act passed by the PLP. That’s enacted; that’s a law, but no regulations under it, so there’s nothing happening with it.”
Mr Nutt said that while he had not been on the committee, formed from trade union, government and employer representatives, that had been asked by the second Ingraham administration to draft the Act’s regulations, he knew it had “put a lot of work into it” and passed its draft on to the Government, where it had been “for some time”.
The BECon president added that the regulations’ drafting had also been interrupted by the 2002 change of government, the Health and Safety at Work Act being one of three Bills passed into statute by the first FNM government just prior to that year’s general election.
“The PLP came into power and did not do anything to put in regulations and codes of practice,” Mr Nutt told Tribune Business, adding that the FNM had to pick up the thread once it returned to power in 2007.
The BECon chief questioned whether the “price tag” that would come from enforcing the Health and Safety at Work Act may had caused the Government to hesitate, given the state of the Bahamian economy and fears about imposing additional costs on business, and suggested the administration could have “stripped it down a bit to get something out there”.
Mr Nutt said that when the first Ingraham administration passed the Health and Safety at Work Act, along with the Employment Act and Minimum Wage Act, it had viewed this legislation as bringing the Bahamas into compliance with the ILO’s “core conventions”.
Yet the Freeport Container Port report confirms that the Bahamas is still not in compliance with all these conventions, as it urges this nation to “initiate the formal process leading to the ratification of the main ILO occupational health and safety standards”.
These include the ILO’s Convention 155 of 1981, and its Protocol 2002 relating to the recording and notification of occupational accidents and diseases.
July 27, 2010
tribune242
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Bahamas Economy Is In A Depression says Veteran Banker Al Jarrett
Economy In Depression
By Kendea Jones:
Veteran banker Al Jarrett said yesterday that the country is really in a depression rather than in a recession because there has been no positive growth in the country for two consecutive years.
What’s worse, according to Mr. Jarrett is that the country’s may not recover next year.
"A recession is a down swing but it comes back in at 12 months. It started in 2008 and 2011 is headed in that direction. The government has yet to give you what the negative growth is in 2010 and this year is just as bad as last year in terms of the deficits and debts," he said while appearing on the Love97/JCN programme "Jones and Company".
Mr. Jarrett said he has been following financial reports from the government closely and that he is convinced that the deficit is higher than has been reported by the government.
"Based on the government’s numbers as I see them we are looking at 4 per cent GDP. I deal with the facts that come out of the government agencies themselves. The problem is the government has been [misrepresenting] the figures. Last year, they showed the wrong debt structure when they did the budget and this year they showed the wrong GDP. Moody’s Credit Rating just corrected the government the other day. When the agency saw that, it put (government) on notice that the national debt is going to be 64 per cent."
To prove his point Mr. Jarrett said most countries use one formula to calculate their GDP.
"If you have a declining GDP that comes from the existing GDP and it is deducted. If the GDP is increasing it is added. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) says the GDP is 5 per cent, the government says its 4.3 per cent Moody’s says its 4.5 per cent, the Central Bank says its 5 and that’s in 2009," he explained.
"Now in 2010, the figures aren’t even out yet and the government is saying it is 0.5 per cent and Moody’s is saying it is 1 per cent. I am saying it is three per cent based upon on what they are saying," Mr. Jarrett said. "They have not produced a number that was correct in three years because they put the wrong numbers in from the beginning."
Government debt at the end of June 2011 is projected to stand at 49.2 per cent of GDP, up from 47.3 per cent a year earlier, according to officials.
When asked by host Wendall Jones if political affiliation to the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) had anything to do with his findings, Mr. Jarrett quickly dismissed that assertion.
"It’s sad when Bahamians get to the point when they cannot engage you intellectually. I can’t deal with people who make statements like that because I deal with facts. I can’t respond to that. I am one of the freest Bahamians in this country. I never lied to the Bahamian public in television or radio. If I have to lie on the behalf of a political party then that party does not deserve to be in office," he said.
Mr. Jarrett also said it is clear that the government did not present a budget that was in the best interest of Bahamians.
"I think that the government made a mistake or it was too lazy to produce a budget that was all encompassing and affecting the country and its people. They were concerned about the offset budget to impress the IMF that they were doing something about the mounting debts of $1 billion plus dollars and they were told they had to stop borrowing," Mr. Jarrett said.
"Now they have to offset projects. The government has put itself in a position where the international agencies are now looking at them very closely because they came close to the edge with the over-borrowing and record deficits and debts."
The veteran banker said he believes that international agencies dictate the government’s budget.
"They are following the dictates of the international agencies and the IMF because they are saying to the government that ‘if you don’t stop what you are doing we are going to downgrade you,’" Mr. Jarrett said.
"The agencies are also saying that ‘you are going to be downgraded unless you start putting out realistic budgets that makes sense and can be achievable. You are overstating your revenues and you are increasing your expenditure based on false revenues."
Mr. Jarrett said if he were minister of finance, international financial watchdogs would have no need to make these kinds of statements.
"I would not have gone on a borrowing binge unless I had a real stimulus. I would have made sure that if I produced a budget, on the revenue side it would have been more conservative and more realistic to reflect the times we are in," he said.
"Once you have the experience and the knowledge to understand the financial market and microeconomics you would know these things."
State Minister for Finance Zhivargo Laing was quick to shoot down Mr. Jarrett’s assertion by saying the veteran banker is the one who is mistaken.
"That is just utter nonsense," he said when contacted by the Journal. "The problem with what Al Jarrett says is that he is speaking to GDP over a calendar year from January to December but the fiscal year runs from July to June. So what happens is that you have to do an average of the GDP over two halves of a calendar year to capture what the GDP would be over a fiscal period."
"When he suggest that we did not include the contraction of last year and this year, he has no clue that in a fiscal period you have to calculate over the 12 -month period in the fiscal year."
The minister also expressed confidence that the economy will begin to rebound next year.
"What we are forecasting and what the IMF is forecasting is that there will be some improvement next year over this year" Minister Laing said.
The government’s $1.8 billion came into effect on July 1.
The budget allocates some $1.55 billion for recurrent expenditure and more than $265 million for capital expenditure.
The government is however determined to tighten the rein on revenue collection.
Getting its fiscal house in order has also forced the government to roll out tough cuts to public spending and a raft of tax increases.
Immediately after doing so, the Opposition slammed the new fiscal plan as a "tax and pain budget" that would only put more pressure on the backs of Bahamians.
But Minister Laing insists that the government is doing what it can to cut the deficit.
"It is in the interest for the people of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas and generations of Bahamians to be able to have our deficit reduced and borrowing reduced because it helps us to position ourselves in the event that something else should happen in the future," he said. "Al Jarrett’s comments are often laced with his own political agenda."
July 26th, 2010
jonesbahamas
Monday, July 26, 2010
Perry Christie Should be Given a Second Chance to become Bahamas Prime Minister - Says Unscientific Poll Results
Poll Results Say Christie Should Get Second Chance
By IANTHIA SMITH:
It seems Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Leader Perry Christie is the man most Bahamians want as their prime minister.
On Wednesday the same unscientific poll was taken and callers were asked the very same question about Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham, but 31 out of 44 of them said Mr. Ingraham should "bow out gracefully" at the end of this current term.
However, on Friday, the majority of callers had a completely opposite opinion about Mr. Christie.
"I fully endorse him as prime minister again," one caller said. "I just want to make the point that in this day and time it’s all about the economy and these rough times. Under his administration I had two jobs, now I only have one."
"Yes, I do believe Mr. Christie should have a second term," another caller said.
A third caller to the show said, "This country should give Mr. Christie a second chance because we need a gentleman of calm character so that that can resonate down in our society to our young men and women."
"I think he deserves a second chance," another Christie supporter said. "What we need more than ever now is national healing particularly in view of the headlines steaming today. (We) need someone who is not divisive."
Some other callers to the show who think Mr. Christie deserves a second chance said: "I think he’s a better leader than Hubert Alexander Ingraham. He wouldn’t have put all those taxes on our back like Ingraham did."
"I think Mr. Christie is a caring person, so give him a second chance."
"I think Mr. Christie did a good job when he was in office."
"Definitely he deserves a second chance. He is the best leader at this time."
He should be given a second chance because of his historic record in terms of wealth created for Bahamians; his performance was second to none."
"He’s fair, nice and sincere."
"It’s not even debatable. Mr. Christie should be given a second chance."
But not everyone was of this view.
Some callers said Mr. Christie should not be given a second chance to lead the country as he does not have the backbone to do so.
The callers who were against Mr. Christie’s running again said they do not believe he is the right man to deal with the many challenges facing the country now.
They said taking into consideration crime, unemployment, the economy and the youth, they believe Mr. Christie is not prepared to tackle these issues.
"I don’t think he would be able to lead the PLP in this upcoming election," one female caller said. "He shouldn’t be given a second chance."
"He couldn’t control the people on his cabinet," a male caller added. "So no, he doesn’t deserve a second chance."
"He is too afraid to make a decision," another caller said.
"I don’t think he should get a second chance, he doesn’t deserve it."
"I don’t think so; his constituency is one of the most depressed in the whole Bahamas."
"I don’t think Mr. Christie should be given another term to govern this country."
"I don’t think that he would be the best person at this time."
"Mr. Christie didn’t come through for a lot of Bahamians," a female caller added. "He does not deserve a second chance."
"No, he doesn’t deserve a second chance," another said. "Serious times call for serious leaders at the helm."
July 26th, 2010
jonesbahamas
By IANTHIA SMITH:
It seems Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Leader Perry Christie is the man most Bahamians want as their prime minister.
On Friday a whopping 60 per cent of callers into Love 97’s talk show "Issues of the Day" said they believe Mr. Christie should be given a second chance to become prime minister.
On Wednesday the same unscientific poll was taken and callers were asked the very same question about Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham, but 31 out of 44 of them said Mr. Ingraham should "bow out gracefully" at the end of this current term.
However, on Friday, the majority of callers had a completely opposite opinion about Mr. Christie.
"I fully endorse him as prime minister again," one caller said. "I just want to make the point that in this day and time it’s all about the economy and these rough times. Under his administration I had two jobs, now I only have one."
"Yes, I do believe Mr. Christie should have a second term," another caller said.
A third caller to the show said, "This country should give Mr. Christie a second chance because we need a gentleman of calm character so that that can resonate down in our society to our young men and women."
"I think he deserves a second chance," another Christie supporter said. "What we need more than ever now is national healing particularly in view of the headlines steaming today. (We) need someone who is not divisive."
Some other callers to the show who think Mr. Christie deserves a second chance said: "I think he’s a better leader than Hubert Alexander Ingraham. He wouldn’t have put all those taxes on our back like Ingraham did."
"I think Mr. Christie is a caring person, so give him a second chance."
"I think Mr. Christie did a good job when he was in office."
"Definitely he deserves a second chance. He is the best leader at this time."
He should be given a second chance because of his historic record in terms of wealth created for Bahamians; his performance was second to none."
"He’s fair, nice and sincere."
"It’s not even debatable. Mr. Christie should be given a second chance."
But not everyone was of this view.
Some callers said Mr. Christie should not be given a second chance to lead the country as he does not have the backbone to do so.
The callers who were against Mr. Christie’s running again said they do not believe he is the right man to deal with the many challenges facing the country now.
They said taking into consideration crime, unemployment, the economy and the youth, they believe Mr. Christie is not prepared to tackle these issues.
"I don’t think he would be able to lead the PLP in this upcoming election," one female caller said. "He shouldn’t be given a second chance."
"He couldn’t control the people on his cabinet," a male caller added. "So no, he doesn’t deserve a second chance."
"He is too afraid to make a decision," another caller said.
"I don’t think he should get a second chance, he doesn’t deserve it."
"I don’t think so; his constituency is one of the most depressed in the whole Bahamas."
"I don’t think Mr. Christie should be given another term to govern this country."
"I don’t think that he would be the best person at this time."
"Mr. Christie didn’t come through for a lot of Bahamians," a female caller added. "He does not deserve a second chance."
"No, he doesn’t deserve a second chance," another said. "Serious times call for serious leaders at the helm."
July 26th, 2010
jonesbahamas
Sunday, July 25, 2010
The Bahamas is not the only nation concerned about gambling
The pros and cons of gambling
tribune242 editorial:
A SEVERE crackdown by Chinese police on football betting during the World Cup match after an online gambling ring -- called the world's largest-- was broken up in Hong Kong in June, shows that the Bahamas is not the only nation concerned about gambling.
According to the Xinhua news agency more than $100 million Hong Kong dollars was confiscated in June and 70 people arrested in betting on the World Cup.
In July as the police crackdown intensified on organised criminal gangs more than 5,000 people were arrested.
Although the East is noted -- at least in the movies -- for its gambling dens, betting on football is illegal in Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand because of its ties to the criminal underworld.
In a Financial Times article Jean-Michel Louboutin, Interpol's executive director of police services is quoted as saying: "As well as having clear connections to organised crime gangs, illegal soccer gambling is linked with corruption, money laundering and prostitution, and our operation will have a significant long-term impact on these serious offences as well."
In its July 10-16 edition, The Economist of London had an interesting feature on gambling and the pros and cons for legalising it.
It pointed out that trying to ban online gambling is doomed to failure because anyone with a computer can participate.
It concludes that although many dislike the idea of governments encouraging its citizens to gamble, a fine line can be drawn between encouragement and regulation. "Regulating something is not the same as encouraging it," the Economist argued.
"Better to treat gambling the same way as smoking: legalise it but make the casinos display the often-dismal odds of success (one in 176 million, if you hope to win America's richest lottery) in the same way the cigarette packets warn you about cancer.
"That would favour games of skill over the mindlessness of slot machines. People always will bet.
"Better that they do so in a legal market -- and know the form."
That was one opinion. We recall, while studying law in London, gambling was being discussed among the legal fraternity at the time.
A strong argument then was that it was best to bring it in from the cold and regulate it so that gambling debts could be settled in the courts rather than by criminals with knives drawn down a dark alley.
Those against gambling offered much the same argument as Archbishop Pinder and other churchmen in an attempt to protect citizens against their own destructive human weaknesses.
While the Catholic Church, said the Archbishop, recognizes that "gambling is not inherently evil there is the tendency of human nature to go to excess and to extremes.
"Thus what may be harmless in the beginning can, without proper restraints become quite harmful later on. The wisdom of the law as it now stands seems to understand this reality."
Many other countries in order to protect their citizens, either ban them from the casinos, or if allowed, charge them a heavy entrance fee.
A foreigner pays no fees. Mainland China, for example, keeps its casinos off island on Macau, where the visitor throws the dice, but access by its own citizens is strictly limited. A successful lottery is the only form of gambling on China's mainland.
Singapore welcomes the visitor to its casinos, but charges its own citizens $72. Many Asian governments remain wary of gambling and either ban its citizens, or make it difficult for them to have a little "flutter."
However, as governments need to raise taxes, the debate continues.
The Economist article is well worth reading, particularly as this is a debate that Bahamians will be entering into after the 2012 election.
It gives a balanced view of both sides of the argument.
July 22, 2010
tribune242 editorial
tribune242 editorial:
A SEVERE crackdown by Chinese police on football betting during the World Cup match after an online gambling ring -- called the world's largest-- was broken up in Hong Kong in June, shows that the Bahamas is not the only nation concerned about gambling.
According to the Xinhua news agency more than $100 million Hong Kong dollars was confiscated in June and 70 people arrested in betting on the World Cup.
In July as the police crackdown intensified on organised criminal gangs more than 5,000 people were arrested.
Although the East is noted -- at least in the movies -- for its gambling dens, betting on football is illegal in Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand because of its ties to the criminal underworld.
In a Financial Times article Jean-Michel Louboutin, Interpol's executive director of police services is quoted as saying: "As well as having clear connections to organised crime gangs, illegal soccer gambling is linked with corruption, money laundering and prostitution, and our operation will have a significant long-term impact on these serious offences as well."
In its July 10-16 edition, The Economist of London had an interesting feature on gambling and the pros and cons for legalising it.
It pointed out that trying to ban online gambling is doomed to failure because anyone with a computer can participate.
It concludes that although many dislike the idea of governments encouraging its citizens to gamble, a fine line can be drawn between encouragement and regulation. "Regulating something is not the same as encouraging it," the Economist argued.
"Better to treat gambling the same way as smoking: legalise it but make the casinos display the often-dismal odds of success (one in 176 million, if you hope to win America's richest lottery) in the same way the cigarette packets warn you about cancer.
"That would favour games of skill over the mindlessness of slot machines. People always will bet.
"Better that they do so in a legal market -- and know the form."
That was one opinion. We recall, while studying law in London, gambling was being discussed among the legal fraternity at the time.
A strong argument then was that it was best to bring it in from the cold and regulate it so that gambling debts could be settled in the courts rather than by criminals with knives drawn down a dark alley.
Those against gambling offered much the same argument as Archbishop Pinder and other churchmen in an attempt to protect citizens against their own destructive human weaknesses.
While the Catholic Church, said the Archbishop, recognizes that "gambling is not inherently evil there is the tendency of human nature to go to excess and to extremes.
"Thus what may be harmless in the beginning can, without proper restraints become quite harmful later on. The wisdom of the law as it now stands seems to understand this reality."
Many other countries in order to protect their citizens, either ban them from the casinos, or if allowed, charge them a heavy entrance fee.
A foreigner pays no fees. Mainland China, for example, keeps its casinos off island on Macau, where the visitor throws the dice, but access by its own citizens is strictly limited. A successful lottery is the only form of gambling on China's mainland.
Singapore welcomes the visitor to its casinos, but charges its own citizens $72. Many Asian governments remain wary of gambling and either ban its citizens, or make it difficult for them to have a little "flutter."
However, as governments need to raise taxes, the debate continues.
The Economist article is well worth reading, particularly as this is a debate that Bahamians will be entering into after the 2012 election.
It gives a balanced view of both sides of the argument.
July 22, 2010
tribune242 editorial
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Dr Bernard Nottage - Former Health Minister raises concerns over the National Prescription Drug Plan
Former Health Minister raises concerns over prescription plan
By ALISON LOWE
Tribune Staff Reporter
alowe@tribunemedia.net:
FORMER Health Minister Dr Bernard Nottage expressed concern yesterday that despite seeking to expand access to medications, the National Prescription Drug Plan may fail to address the long-standing problem of certain drugs being unavailable at community clinics for those who need them.
Dr Nottage told Parliament he believes Bahamians are on a "collision course with premature death" as a consequence of the high prevalence of chronic non-communicable diseases (CNCDs) like diabetes, hypertension and heart disease that are often preventable through lifestyle and dietary changes. Sixty per cent of deaths in The Bahamas are said to be CNCD-related at present.
The MP's comments came after Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham, in his contribution to Parliament on the NPDP regulations as Minister responsible for the National Insurance Board, said he believes many Bahamians die unnecessarily because of lack of access to medications for chronic non-communicable diseases.
The NPDP is intended to, in its first phase, make medications for 11 CNCDs available free of cost to certain categories of Bahamians, including those over 65, NIB-registered invalids, children under 18 years of age and up to 25 years of age if still in full time education.
Mr Ingraham said: "I'm no doctor but I honestly suspect that many people who are required to take medication like high blood pressure pills or diabetes etcetera end up dying because they don't have it. They don't have the means to get it or a public health facility was out of it."
"It is my hope and expectation that (as a result of the implementation of the drug plan on August 1) people of any constituency will no longer have to go to the clinic to find out there there's no diabetes pills or high blood pressure pills. That everybody will have their supply, and that they will pick it up and take it."
The Prime Minister explained during his contribution how 11 private pharmacy companies with 16 locations have at present been voluntarily contracted to dispense the medication free-of-cost to patients on behalf of the Government, and in places where such private pharmacies do not exist, such as in many family islands, public clinics will play this role.
He admitted that governments "have not done a good job all of these years" of ensuring the necessary medications required by local populations have been available in some of the family island clinics.
"Even if we have to contract services outside of National Insurance, we have to make sure that all of these clinics have medications," said Mr Ingraham.
Dr Nottage said this is an area that will "require a lot of attention" if the NPDP is to work successfully.
"Will these clinics be adequately supplied at all times? It may well be that this contract about which he spoke to enable drugs to be transported to these clinics will do the trick, but I doubt it seriously," said the former health minister. He also noted that the 115 public clinics also suffer from a shortage of qualified pharmacists to dispense medications. There is a recognised shortage of Bahamians with pharmacy qualifications at present.
Dr Nottage further noted the fact that only 11 private pharmacy companies have at present entered into contracts with the National Insurance Board to dispense medications under the NPDP, out of a total of over 30.
He said that his inquiries on the matter have revealed that many are concerned about receiving payment promptly from the government for their services, and the possibility of ending up at a financial loss through their participation in the plan.
"One of the problems for private pharmacies is that they will have to carry two different inventories, one for general patients and one for plan patients and that could be very expensive. They are concerned that they will purchase plan medications and if they are not sold that it will be at their loss and they will need help to cover any loss. They are concerned that they will only cover those plan items that will move quickly and therefore people may find they have some but not others. I think these are very real concerns that have to be looked at," said Dr Nottage.
In his contribution, Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham said he is "not satisfied" with the number of pharmacies that have agreed to participate in the plan and called on more to do so. He suggested they would see increased profits as more people will be attracted to make purchases at their pharmacies and outlined how claims for payment would be made within a week.
Former minister Dr Nottage noted that overall the PLP supports the NPDP "a little bit of something good is better than nothing," but considers it "limited" and something that they would have preferred to see come into effect along with the full comprehensive health coverage they pushed for during their last term in office.
The present government is of the view that their comprehensive plan was "unsustainable" in the form that was proposed.
July 23, 2010
tribune242
By ALISON LOWE
Tribune Staff Reporter
alowe@tribunemedia.net:
FORMER Health Minister Dr Bernard Nottage expressed concern yesterday that despite seeking to expand access to medications, the National Prescription Drug Plan may fail to address the long-standing problem of certain drugs being unavailable at community clinics for those who need them.
Dr Nottage told Parliament he believes Bahamians are on a "collision course with premature death" as a consequence of the high prevalence of chronic non-communicable diseases (CNCDs) like diabetes, hypertension and heart disease that are often preventable through lifestyle and dietary changes. Sixty per cent of deaths in The Bahamas are said to be CNCD-related at present.
The MP's comments came after Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham, in his contribution to Parliament on the NPDP regulations as Minister responsible for the National Insurance Board, said he believes many Bahamians die unnecessarily because of lack of access to medications for chronic non-communicable diseases.
The NPDP is intended to, in its first phase, make medications for 11 CNCDs available free of cost to certain categories of Bahamians, including those over 65, NIB-registered invalids, children under 18 years of age and up to 25 years of age if still in full time education.
Mr Ingraham said: "I'm no doctor but I honestly suspect that many people who are required to take medication like high blood pressure pills or diabetes etcetera end up dying because they don't have it. They don't have the means to get it or a public health facility was out of it."
"It is my hope and expectation that (as a result of the implementation of the drug plan on August 1) people of any constituency will no longer have to go to the clinic to find out there there's no diabetes pills or high blood pressure pills. That everybody will have their supply, and that they will pick it up and take it."
The Prime Minister explained during his contribution how 11 private pharmacy companies with 16 locations have at present been voluntarily contracted to dispense the medication free-of-cost to patients on behalf of the Government, and in places where such private pharmacies do not exist, such as in many family islands, public clinics will play this role.
He admitted that governments "have not done a good job all of these years" of ensuring the necessary medications required by local populations have been available in some of the family island clinics.
"Even if we have to contract services outside of National Insurance, we have to make sure that all of these clinics have medications," said Mr Ingraham.
Dr Nottage said this is an area that will "require a lot of attention" if the NPDP is to work successfully.
"Will these clinics be adequately supplied at all times? It may well be that this contract about which he spoke to enable drugs to be transported to these clinics will do the trick, but I doubt it seriously," said the former health minister. He also noted that the 115 public clinics also suffer from a shortage of qualified pharmacists to dispense medications. There is a recognised shortage of Bahamians with pharmacy qualifications at present.
Dr Nottage further noted the fact that only 11 private pharmacy companies have at present entered into contracts with the National Insurance Board to dispense medications under the NPDP, out of a total of over 30.
He said that his inquiries on the matter have revealed that many are concerned about receiving payment promptly from the government for their services, and the possibility of ending up at a financial loss through their participation in the plan.
"One of the problems for private pharmacies is that they will have to carry two different inventories, one for general patients and one for plan patients and that could be very expensive. They are concerned that they will purchase plan medications and if they are not sold that it will be at their loss and they will need help to cover any loss. They are concerned that they will only cover those plan items that will move quickly and therefore people may find they have some but not others. I think these are very real concerns that have to be looked at," said Dr Nottage.
In his contribution, Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham said he is "not satisfied" with the number of pharmacies that have agreed to participate in the plan and called on more to do so. He suggested they would see increased profits as more people will be attracted to make purchases at their pharmacies and outlined how claims for payment would be made within a week.
Former minister Dr Nottage noted that overall the PLP supports the NPDP "a little bit of something good is better than nothing," but considers it "limited" and something that they would have preferred to see come into effect along with the full comprehensive health coverage they pushed for during their last term in office.
The present government is of the view that their comprehensive plan was "unsustainable" in the form that was proposed.
July 23, 2010
tribune242
Friday, July 23, 2010
How Is Your Member of Parliament Performing: Earl Deveaux - Marathon MP Gets Mixed Reviews
Is Your MP Performing "Marathon MP Gets Mixed Reviews"
BY KENDENO N. P. KNOWLES:
A Free National Movement (FNM) MP is receiving mixed reviews from some of his constituents. While some praised him for his work in the constituency, others who are not so happy, say he needs to do a lot more.
The Bahama Journal canvassed the Marathon constituency yesterday to get feedback from constituents on Dr. Earl Deveaux’s performance.
The first set of people to weigh in on Dr. Deveaux’s performance, said they were not at all pleased with the MP’s efforts.
While they did not have many complaints, the general consensus among residents was that Dr. Deveaux has not been very visible in the area.
They also claimed that there had been little to no improvement in the constituency.
"There have not been any major improvements in this area. I have not even met the MP for this area since I’ve been living here," said Alpheus Bevans, who has lived in the constituency for three years.
Carolmae Pratt echoed similar sentiments. In fact, she didn’t mince words when assessing her MP’s performance.
"I haven’t seen him in this constituency and it has almost been three years since the last election. I only see him on TV. I am waiting until the next election campaign for him and his team to come to my door step. When they come to my house I will tell them that I don’t want to have anything to do with them," Ms. Pratt said.
"When Ron Pinder was the MP for this area, I saw him with my own eyes on the garbage truck helping to collect garbage and to beautify the area."
Another resident who spoke with the Bahama Journal on the condition of anonymity said she is disheartened by the fact that the MP who promised so much to the constituency "failed to deliver."
She said she is a Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) supporter, but voted for Mr. Deveaux in the last election.
She said she now questions whether she made the right decision.
"I believe in giving everyone a chance and that is just what I did with Dr. Deveaux. He has put some pavements in place but that’s all I have seen happening here. Additionally, I don’t even know him that well because he doesn’t even come around to the constituency. I think he needs to come out of the House of Assembly and speak with his constituents," she said.
But, while those constituents were not too happy with Dr. Deveaux’s performance, there were a whole lot more constituents who were more than pleased with his work.
In fact, other residents credited the MP for a beautification programme that has been in place for some time now.
The Journal later visited the Regency Park and Danottage Estates area, which is separated by a few blocks.
Residents there credited Dr. Deveaux for improved roadworks, sidewalks, new water pipelines and a host of other upgrades.
"He repaved the roads, put down new water lines and some other things he’s done are commendable. I think he is doing what is necessary," said Charles Fisher, a Regency Park resident.
"I have been living here for about 11 years now and I think he is best one I have seen for a long time. He makes sure that the streets are cleaned almost every day. The streets were actually just cleaned on Wednesday morning," Jesus Uriz said in support of Dr. Deveaux’s work.
Lloyd Dorsett, a resident of Danottage Estates, said he hopes to see more of Dr. Deveaux. However, he said the MP’s work in the constituency speaks for itself.
"I haven’t seen him for a while, but he seems to be having things in order around here. Everything has been kept tidy and that speaks to Dr. Deveaux’s work in the area," he said.
"I haven’t seen him regularly, but he’s been working. He came around and tried to get the place cleaned up and I think that’s commendable," said Cleveland Knowles.
"He has performed admirably over the last three years and I will definitely support him in the next general election."
And while the country’s next general election is just two years away, those that didn’t think the MP was performing admirably said they would wait to see what the MP will do in that time.
The constituents who said they were pleased with the way Dr. Deveaux has kept the area say they will be sure to re-elect him in 2012.
July 22nd, 2010
jonesbahamas
BY KENDENO N. P. KNOWLES:
A Free National Movement (FNM) MP is receiving mixed reviews from some of his constituents. While some praised him for his work in the constituency, others who are not so happy, say he needs to do a lot more.
The Bahama Journal canvassed the Marathon constituency yesterday to get feedback from constituents on Dr. Earl Deveaux’s performance.
The first set of people to weigh in on Dr. Deveaux’s performance, said they were not at all pleased with the MP’s efforts.
While they did not have many complaints, the general consensus among residents was that Dr. Deveaux has not been very visible in the area.
They also claimed that there had been little to no improvement in the constituency.
"There have not been any major improvements in this area. I have not even met the MP for this area since I’ve been living here," said Alpheus Bevans, who has lived in the constituency for three years.
Carolmae Pratt echoed similar sentiments. In fact, she didn’t mince words when assessing her MP’s performance.
"I haven’t seen him in this constituency and it has almost been three years since the last election. I only see him on TV. I am waiting until the next election campaign for him and his team to come to my door step. When they come to my house I will tell them that I don’t want to have anything to do with them," Ms. Pratt said.
"When Ron Pinder was the MP for this area, I saw him with my own eyes on the garbage truck helping to collect garbage and to beautify the area."
Another resident who spoke with the Bahama Journal on the condition of anonymity said she is disheartened by the fact that the MP who promised so much to the constituency "failed to deliver."
She said she is a Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) supporter, but voted for Mr. Deveaux in the last election.
She said she now questions whether she made the right decision.
"I believe in giving everyone a chance and that is just what I did with Dr. Deveaux. He has put some pavements in place but that’s all I have seen happening here. Additionally, I don’t even know him that well because he doesn’t even come around to the constituency. I think he needs to come out of the House of Assembly and speak with his constituents," she said.
But, while those constituents were not too happy with Dr. Deveaux’s performance, there were a whole lot more constituents who were more than pleased with his work.
In fact, other residents credited the MP for a beautification programme that has been in place for some time now.
The Journal later visited the Regency Park and Danottage Estates area, which is separated by a few blocks.
Residents there credited Dr. Deveaux for improved roadworks, sidewalks, new water pipelines and a host of other upgrades.
"He repaved the roads, put down new water lines and some other things he’s done are commendable. I think he is doing what is necessary," said Charles Fisher, a Regency Park resident.
"I have been living here for about 11 years now and I think he is best one I have seen for a long time. He makes sure that the streets are cleaned almost every day. The streets were actually just cleaned on Wednesday morning," Jesus Uriz said in support of Dr. Deveaux’s work.
Lloyd Dorsett, a resident of Danottage Estates, said he hopes to see more of Dr. Deveaux. However, he said the MP’s work in the constituency speaks for itself.
"I haven’t seen him for a while, but he seems to be having things in order around here. Everything has been kept tidy and that speaks to Dr. Deveaux’s work in the area," he said.
"I haven’t seen him regularly, but he’s been working. He came around and tried to get the place cleaned up and I think that’s commendable," said Cleveland Knowles.
"He has performed admirably over the last three years and I will definitely support him in the next general election."
And while the country’s next general election is just two years away, those that didn’t think the MP was performing admirably said they would wait to see what the MP will do in that time.
The constituents who said they were pleased with the way Dr. Deveaux has kept the area say they will be sure to re-elect him in 2012.
July 22nd, 2010
jonesbahamas
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