Former MP Strongly Backs Capital Punishment
By Macushla N. Pinder:
A former cabinet minister and victim of crime is strongly backing the call for capital punishment to resume in The Bahamas in the face of a "severe crisis" in the country.
According to businessman and former Blue Hills MP, Leslie Miller, Bahamians are being terrorised in their own country and something has to be done about it.
"The police do a fabulous job, so the problem isn’t the police, it’s the court system and those persons who are unafraid of the law…We must implement capital punishment and the cat o’nine tail and whatever other action is necessary to stem the flow of crime" Mr. Miller suggested when he appeared as a guest on Love 97’s daily talk show "Issues of the Day" with host Algernon Allen.
"…. It bothers me that we can allow 12 men to sit in London and decide the fate of people who are grappling with situations beyond the realm of what they face. A government is elected for and on behalf the people. So, if you cannot or are not prepared to do your job, you should resign as a Member of Parliament. I don’t see the Members of Parliament on both sides speaking out against crime or calling a special session of parliament to say we are going to deal with this once and for all."
Mr. Miller’s son Mario was found dead in a bushy area near Super Value Food Store in the Winton area on June 2002.
According to reports, he was stabbed 18 times about the body.
Evidence coming out of the case revealed that the official cause of death was a stab wound to the lungs and a chop to the neck, resulting in acute blood loss.
The Crown alleged that brothers Ricardo Miller, 30, also known as Tamar Lee, and his younger brother Ryan, 24, intentionally caused Miller’s death.
However, the first and second trials ended in a retrial.
Yet another retrial has been ordered.
So far this year, the country has recorded 55 homicides. The last two occurred over the holiday weekend.
On Friday, Slyvannus Williams, 45, was reportedly in an altercation with a woman believed to be his wife when she allegedly stabbed him in the parking lot of Green Parrot Restaurant and Bar on East Bay Street.
Just over 24 hours later, Exuma resident Cely Smith was killed.
According to police, four dreadlocked gunmen shot the 45-year-old Stuart Manor resident around 7:30 a.m. Sunday.
It is crimes like these that have made the call for the death penalty almost deafening at times.
"He who feels it, knows it. When you have to go to the hospital to identify your loved one or see them in the street murdered, then have someone talk foolishness around your head about hanging or any lethal injection, what about that person who would never take another breath? You would never see them get married. They would never have a grandson or granddaughter," he said.
"God gave us life and he is the one who is supposed to take us home. Anyone who interferes must be prepared to give their own [life]….This foolishness of going up to Fox Hill [Her Majesty’s Prison] and getting fat at the expense of the state is utter garbage."
But not everyone believes the death penalty is the solution. In fact, many argue that executing a convicted murderer would not cause crime to decrease.
But, Mr. Miller said the offender who kills would not kill again.
The country’s unabated crime wave has also driven up the cost of doing business.
In fact, Bahamas Chamber of Commerce President Khaalis Rolle recently told a local daily "many companies are scared to do business after dark."
Mr. Miller agreed.
"We have 10 police officers (at Mario’s Bowling and Entertainment Palace) on the weekends because we saw situations arising," he said.
"…This costs us between $8,000 and $10,000 per month….This is one of the drawbacks of operating in a society where crime is so prevalent... The criminals are getting bolder."
Earlier this year, Mr. Miller was robbed at gunpoint in broad daylight.
Two men reportedly exited a gold Chevy Impala, put two guns to his head and told him to hand over the money or he would be killed.
The two men reportedly got away with nearly $30,000.
"When a man has a gun pointed at you, you are not in charge. Don’t act as if you are in charge. You can make the money back. Think about your life, your loved ones, those who depend on you," he said.
"You can’t be the hero. In every movie, the hero normally dies at the end. I’m not trying to be the hero."
August 4th, 2010
jonesbahamas
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.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
James Smith - former minister of state for finance says: Any news about the US economy slowing down is really not good news for The Bahamas
More economic woes for The Bahamas predicted
By ALISON LOWE
Tribune Staff Reporter
alowe@tribunemedia.net:
A FORMER minister of state for finance and local business people yesterday expressed concern about the possibility of a “double dip” recession in the United States further prolonging the economic woes of The Bahamas.
Their comments came on the heels of the latest report on Gross Domestic Product, the output of goods and services that indicates the performance of an economy, in The Bahamas’ main tourist market, the United States.
The report showed that the US economic recovery is losing steam, with GDP growth slowing quite markedly in the second quarter of the year, to 2.4 per cent, in comparison to the average 4.4 per cent rate recorded over the past six months, and the greater 3.7 per cent pace recorded for the first quarter of the year.
The slowdown was attributed to what former minister of state for finance James Smith called a key factor for The Bahamas - a fall in the rate of growth in spending by US consumers, from 1.9 per cent in the first quarter to 1.6 per cent in the March to June period.
Even as people in the US continue to suffer from higher unemployment, lower household wealth linked to a decline in the value of stocks and housing, tighter credit lending conditions and the need to reduce debt and bolster savings, many US commentators expressed surprise at the consumer spending figures.
While some international economists said they did not believe the new economic figures suggested the likelihood of a further outright contraction in the US economy - a “double dip recession” - some see this on the horizon. Others suggest that if not a further recession, there remains the potential for an even greater slowdown in the economic growth rate in the United States as the year continues, with all of the implications that will have for The Bahamas in terms of a stagnation or even a further drop off in the visitor arrivals that feed the local economy.
Mr Smith said: “Any news about the US economy slowing down is really not good news for us because it prolongs our recovery but the really important numbers in there relate to consumer spending and consumer confidence. Those really affect The Bahamas and so if they are down that is really not good news for us.
“We need not to hope not just for a recovery in the US but in terms of how the US consumer perceives himself against the economy,” said Mr Smith, also chairman of investment and financial services company, CFAL.
He said that even if the growth rate does not drop any further, the decline that has been registered in the US in this quarter will be felt in The Bahamas.
“I think it does have very serious implications for us,” said Mr Smith. “It would be a delayed affect because one begins to make travel plans three, six months in advance, so someone who intends to come here this winter may cancel that or forego it even if you have fourth quarter (economic) growth.”
Meanwhile, Mr Smith noted that The Bahamian economy is facing its own issues going forward as local businesses deal with the widely-publicised increases in a number of taxes within the 2010/2011 budget.
“The budget was crafted against certain realities like growing debt and unemployment and an attempt to reduce the deficit. That would be in right direction except in my view it was too much ... I think a lower dose over longer period of time might have been the better option,” said Mr Smith of the budgetary measures introduced by the Government in July and their potential impact on Bahamian economic activity.
Chamber of Commerce President Khaalis Rolle told The Tribune that he views the latest figures coming out of the US as a “real concern” for The Bahamas.
“I keep saying you need almost simultaneously both consumer confidence and investor confidence to come back to get this economy back on track. Investor confidence fuels jobs, consumer confidence is fuelled by the prospect of employment and there hasn’t been any major indicator to suggest they were coming back strongly,” said Mr Rolle.
Given that the majority of The Bahamas visitors from the US are “middle class Americans” who usually save or borrow to go on vacation, Mr Rolle said he sees the potential for “our (tourism) numbers to begin to be impacted again” based on the latest economic indicators coming out of the US - yet another reason, he added, to diversify the Bahamian economy away from its dependence on the US tourist market.
Meanwhile, speaking of a potential double dip recession, Mr Rolle said: “The second time round usually isn’t as bad because people won’t react with level of panic they did when crisis first hit.
“We saw at the beginning of the crisis how all of major resorts started to lay off people so if there is a double dip recession it may not be as hard as initial hit can guarantee you there will be some impact.”
A Government economic source, speaking off the record, said that in his opinion the figures do not likely herald another recession but just another indicator that the US economic recovery, and hence The Bahamas, is going to be slow and protracted in comparison to others historically.
He added that it may be too early to say if the economic figures presage a further recession, as they only represent economic activity in one quarter of the year.
“On the path to recovery there are many ups and downs. The key thing to realise is the reality is what you had is a financial collapse. In 2001 the recession lasted six or nine months, so you’re looking at least a year or two longer than that,” he suggested.
Asked whether in his view the 2010/2011 Budget was crafted with the potential for a double dip recession in the US in mind, the source said: “I think the budget reflects fact that the recovery period is uncertain, it’s a move towards fiscal consolidation.”
August 03, 2010
tribune242
By ALISON LOWE
Tribune Staff Reporter
alowe@tribunemedia.net:
A FORMER minister of state for finance and local business people yesterday expressed concern about the possibility of a “double dip” recession in the United States further prolonging the economic woes of The Bahamas.
Their comments came on the heels of the latest report on Gross Domestic Product, the output of goods and services that indicates the performance of an economy, in The Bahamas’ main tourist market, the United States.
The report showed that the US economic recovery is losing steam, with GDP growth slowing quite markedly in the second quarter of the year, to 2.4 per cent, in comparison to the average 4.4 per cent rate recorded over the past six months, and the greater 3.7 per cent pace recorded for the first quarter of the year.
The slowdown was attributed to what former minister of state for finance James Smith called a key factor for The Bahamas - a fall in the rate of growth in spending by US consumers, from 1.9 per cent in the first quarter to 1.6 per cent in the March to June period.
Even as people in the US continue to suffer from higher unemployment, lower household wealth linked to a decline in the value of stocks and housing, tighter credit lending conditions and the need to reduce debt and bolster savings, many US commentators expressed surprise at the consumer spending figures.
While some international economists said they did not believe the new economic figures suggested the likelihood of a further outright contraction in the US economy - a “double dip recession” - some see this on the horizon. Others suggest that if not a further recession, there remains the potential for an even greater slowdown in the economic growth rate in the United States as the year continues, with all of the implications that will have for The Bahamas in terms of a stagnation or even a further drop off in the visitor arrivals that feed the local economy.
Mr Smith said: “Any news about the US economy slowing down is really not good news for us because it prolongs our recovery but the really important numbers in there relate to consumer spending and consumer confidence. Those really affect The Bahamas and so if they are down that is really not good news for us.
“We need not to hope not just for a recovery in the US but in terms of how the US consumer perceives himself against the economy,” said Mr Smith, also chairman of investment and financial services company, CFAL.
He said that even if the growth rate does not drop any further, the decline that has been registered in the US in this quarter will be felt in The Bahamas.
“I think it does have very serious implications for us,” said Mr Smith. “It would be a delayed affect because one begins to make travel plans three, six months in advance, so someone who intends to come here this winter may cancel that or forego it even if you have fourth quarter (economic) growth.”
Meanwhile, Mr Smith noted that The Bahamian economy is facing its own issues going forward as local businesses deal with the widely-publicised increases in a number of taxes within the 2010/2011 budget.
“The budget was crafted against certain realities like growing debt and unemployment and an attempt to reduce the deficit. That would be in right direction except in my view it was too much ... I think a lower dose over longer period of time might have been the better option,” said Mr Smith of the budgetary measures introduced by the Government in July and their potential impact on Bahamian economic activity.
Chamber of Commerce President Khaalis Rolle told The Tribune that he views the latest figures coming out of the US as a “real concern” for The Bahamas.
“I keep saying you need almost simultaneously both consumer confidence and investor confidence to come back to get this economy back on track. Investor confidence fuels jobs, consumer confidence is fuelled by the prospect of employment and there hasn’t been any major indicator to suggest they were coming back strongly,” said Mr Rolle.
Given that the majority of The Bahamas visitors from the US are “middle class Americans” who usually save or borrow to go on vacation, Mr Rolle said he sees the potential for “our (tourism) numbers to begin to be impacted again” based on the latest economic indicators coming out of the US - yet another reason, he added, to diversify the Bahamian economy away from its dependence on the US tourist market.
Meanwhile, speaking of a potential double dip recession, Mr Rolle said: “The second time round usually isn’t as bad because people won’t react with level of panic they did when crisis first hit.
“We saw at the beginning of the crisis how all of major resorts started to lay off people so if there is a double dip recession it may not be as hard as initial hit can guarantee you there will be some impact.”
A Government economic source, speaking off the record, said that in his opinion the figures do not likely herald another recession but just another indicator that the US economic recovery, and hence The Bahamas, is going to be slow and protracted in comparison to others historically.
He added that it may be too early to say if the economic figures presage a further recession, as they only represent economic activity in one quarter of the year.
“On the path to recovery there are many ups and downs. The key thing to realise is the reality is what you had is a financial collapse. In 2001 the recession lasted six or nine months, so you’re looking at least a year or two longer than that,” he suggested.
Asked whether in his view the 2010/2011 Budget was crafted with the potential for a double dip recession in the US in mind, the source said: “I think the budget reflects fact that the recovery period is uncertain, it’s a move towards fiscal consolidation.”
August 03, 2010
tribune242
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Dr. Bernard Nottage has not done anything to better the inner city community say eight of nine constituents polled in the Bain and Grants Town area
Is Your MP Performing
By Kendea Jones:
Eight out of nine constituents polled in the Bain and Grants Town area yesterday said that Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Member of Parliament Dr. Bernard Nottage, who has represented them for the last three years, has not done anything to better the inner city community.
The Journal, which randomly polls constituencies each week, went out into the community yesterday to ask the residents if their MP was performing.
The Journal traveled through Dumping Ground Corner, which is just a stone’s throw away from Dr. Nottage’s constituency office.
The office was closed.
Lonard Davis, a four-year resident in the constituency said for many years he had hoped that sidewalks would be placed on the road to protect pedestrians.
"If you look at it, you can tell for yourself, people are still walking on the side of the street because there is no sidewalk. I have been gone for almost 30 years and when I came back it was still the same," he said.
When asked if Dr. Nottage’s presence is felt throughout the constituency, Mr. Davis said, "I’ve never really seen him."
Damian Poitier says he has been living in Bain and Grants Town all his life.
He said it seems like every Member of Parliament that has represented the constituency over the years has done a "poor job."
"[Dr. Nottage] is not performing at all because summer camps used to be going on in the area for children but that is not going on anymore and neither is the clean-up campaign. It just goes to show that he doesn’t care too much for the community because you can hardly see his face," he said.
Another resident, Kim Rolle, said on May 2, 2007 she proudly elected Dr. Nottage.
It’s a decision she says she now regrets.
"To be totally honest, I don’t see any performance at all," she said. "They say he probably has a handful of people that he deals with, but I have been here for about 19 years and I have not seen any results since he came in. Before him there was Bradley Roberts and it was the same thing – nothing."
Barbra Gibson said she has a particular gripe with Dr. Nottage.
She said that many of the youths are too idle in the community and that has led to a higher level of crime in the area.
"There is very little evidence as to whether or not the MP for this constituency is performing," Ms. Gibson said. "Who ever is seeking public office should make the decision to assist the people with new, creative ideas."
"You have a group of young men who are willing to work in Bain Town, but there is absolutely nothing there for them to do. The children are just roaming the streets now that there is no summer school. I am looking for an MP who will bring new ideas so that these children could get in some positive activities."
Tubby Johnson had similar sentiments.
He said that he only happens to see Dr. Nottage when there is a murder in the community.
"You only see him showing up so that they can be in front of the cameras. He doesn’t do anything for Bain Town. I want to know where is the $100,000 allowance he was given, because we don’t see it being used on this constituency," Mr. Johnson said.
Meanwhile, Jimmy Fisher claimed he barely knows what his MP looks like.
"I have a question, who is my MP? I don’t see him. I may see him on TV. I didn’t vote for him but at this time I feel that CB Moss [former Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) senator] should be the MP for Bain Town because he does more for the community than Dr. Nottage," he said.
But a 44-year resident, who preferred to be called "Johnson" had an entirely different view.
"Dr. Nottage is doing well in my area. He was here last week and there was a good get-together outside of the church. He seems to always be around and he has meetings on Meadow Street," he said.
While many Bain and Grants Town residents say they are not pleased with Dr. Nottage’s performance, they say they will think harder before they decide who will represent them in the House of Assembly in the next general election.
July 29th, 2010
jonesbahamas
By Kendea Jones:
Eight out of nine constituents polled in the Bain and Grants Town area yesterday said that Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Member of Parliament Dr. Bernard Nottage, who has represented them for the last three years, has not done anything to better the inner city community.
The Journal, which randomly polls constituencies each week, went out into the community yesterday to ask the residents if their MP was performing.
The Journal traveled through Dumping Ground Corner, which is just a stone’s throw away from Dr. Nottage’s constituency office.
The office was closed.
Lonard Davis, a four-year resident in the constituency said for many years he had hoped that sidewalks would be placed on the road to protect pedestrians.
"If you look at it, you can tell for yourself, people are still walking on the side of the street because there is no sidewalk. I have been gone for almost 30 years and when I came back it was still the same," he said.
When asked if Dr. Nottage’s presence is felt throughout the constituency, Mr. Davis said, "I’ve never really seen him."
Damian Poitier says he has been living in Bain and Grants Town all his life.
He said it seems like every Member of Parliament that has represented the constituency over the years has done a "poor job."
"[Dr. Nottage] is not performing at all because summer camps used to be going on in the area for children but that is not going on anymore and neither is the clean-up campaign. It just goes to show that he doesn’t care too much for the community because you can hardly see his face," he said.
Another resident, Kim Rolle, said on May 2, 2007 she proudly elected Dr. Nottage.
It’s a decision she says she now regrets.
"To be totally honest, I don’t see any performance at all," she said. "They say he probably has a handful of people that he deals with, but I have been here for about 19 years and I have not seen any results since he came in. Before him there was Bradley Roberts and it was the same thing – nothing."
Barbra Gibson said she has a particular gripe with Dr. Nottage.
She said that many of the youths are too idle in the community and that has led to a higher level of crime in the area.
"There is very little evidence as to whether or not the MP for this constituency is performing," Ms. Gibson said. "Who ever is seeking public office should make the decision to assist the people with new, creative ideas."
"You have a group of young men who are willing to work in Bain Town, but there is absolutely nothing there for them to do. The children are just roaming the streets now that there is no summer school. I am looking for an MP who will bring new ideas so that these children could get in some positive activities."
Tubby Johnson had similar sentiments.
He said that he only happens to see Dr. Nottage when there is a murder in the community.
"You only see him showing up so that they can be in front of the cameras. He doesn’t do anything for Bain Town. I want to know where is the $100,000 allowance he was given, because we don’t see it being used on this constituency," Mr. Johnson said.
Meanwhile, Jimmy Fisher claimed he barely knows what his MP looks like.
"I have a question, who is my MP? I don’t see him. I may see him on TV. I didn’t vote for him but at this time I feel that CB Moss [former Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) senator] should be the MP for Bain Town because he does more for the community than Dr. Nottage," he said.
But a 44-year resident, who preferred to be called "Johnson" had an entirely different view.
"Dr. Nottage is doing well in my area. He was here last week and there was a good get-together outside of the church. He seems to always be around and he has meetings on Meadow Street," he said.
While many Bain and Grants Town residents say they are not pleased with Dr. Nottage’s performance, they say they will think harder before they decide who will represent them in the House of Assembly in the next general election.
July 29th, 2010
jonesbahamas
Friday, July 30, 2010
Bahamas’ Haitian population is the largest at-risk group for communicable diseases
Health chiefs target 'at-risk' Haitians
By AVA TURNQUEST
Tribune Staff Reporter
aturnquest@tribunemedia.net:
HEALTH officials are targeting the Bahamas’ Haitian population as the largest at-risk group for communicable diseases.
Public health sectors are now focusing more attention on “bridging the gap” between health personnel and the largest migrant population in the country.
The lack of communication between the Creole-speaking communities and the healthcare system greatly reduces their chances for prevention and early detection of diseases, according to Christine Campbell, managing director of the HIV/AIDS Centre.
She emphasized the need to establish and maintain contact with non-English speaking communities to gain greater understanding of patients and their cultural norms.
Ms Campbell said: “If we can get more persons in the medical field trained in the language, in the very least it will ensure confidentiality and ensure whatever is being said medically is translated in its true form.
“I think it will help bridge a gap culturally and in terms of sensitisation, I think we all know there is a need for that. There still remains a lot of misunderstandings regarding this most at-risk grouping.”
The centre’s first step was taken last week Tuesday when representatives from the AIDS centre met with religious and community leaders of Creole-speaking communities. Also present at the meeting, voluntarily, were members from the Department of Public Service.
Ms Campbell said: “There were over 60 persons in attendance, it was good to see the faces of persons who would interface with this group. They had a lot of questions and this is the first step. This is very important to reduce risk and further spreading but it is also the rekindling of alliances and we hope that this is something that will continue and be sustained and bear fruit in so many different ways for all aspects of healthcare in the future.”
At the meeting, community leaders responded to concerns of health officials towards conducting follow-ups for patients from migrant communities. It was said that the underground lifestyle of some migrants posed considerable challenges for preventative healthcare. Those present suggested possible amendments to medical forms that would provide for contact information of church or community affiliations.
Ms Campbell added: “We want to ensure that not only do these persons receive healthcare that we’re mandated to give, but also as a country we’re doing our humanitarian part – in terms of agreements that we would have signed on to.”
She said that by strengthening ties with community leaders, the centre hoped to attract volunteers for training with an intent to improve outreach efforts.
“They would be able to go out and present factual information to many of their various groups. To have them fully engaged and involved so there is better understanding and communication – sometimes simple misunderstandings can really have a detrimental affect.”
Efforts realised this year include the enrolment of personnel from various public health sectors into entry-level Creole language classes.
Future goals of this initiative include implementing a standard medical handbook which doctors, medical staff and patients would be able to reference, and – specific to the AIDS centre – the establishment of a mobile outreach unit with the aim of increasing outreach throughout the Family Islands.
Ms Campbell said: “We’re expanding as a community, a global village. We’re getting out of our 7 x 21 mentalities and understanding the need to grow and move forward, and that’s the way to a better Bahamas.”
July 30, 2010
By AVA TURNQUEST
Tribune Staff Reporter
aturnquest@tribunemedia.net:
HEALTH officials are targeting the Bahamas’ Haitian population as the largest at-risk group for communicable diseases.
Public health sectors are now focusing more attention on “bridging the gap” between health personnel and the largest migrant population in the country.
The lack of communication between the Creole-speaking communities and the healthcare system greatly reduces their chances for prevention and early detection of diseases, according to Christine Campbell, managing director of the HIV/AIDS Centre.
She emphasized the need to establish and maintain contact with non-English speaking communities to gain greater understanding of patients and their cultural norms.
Ms Campbell said: “If we can get more persons in the medical field trained in the language, in the very least it will ensure confidentiality and ensure whatever is being said medically is translated in its true form.
“I think it will help bridge a gap culturally and in terms of sensitisation, I think we all know there is a need for that. There still remains a lot of misunderstandings regarding this most at-risk grouping.”
The centre’s first step was taken last week Tuesday when representatives from the AIDS centre met with religious and community leaders of Creole-speaking communities. Also present at the meeting, voluntarily, were members from the Department of Public Service.
Ms Campbell said: “There were over 60 persons in attendance, it was good to see the faces of persons who would interface with this group. They had a lot of questions and this is the first step. This is very important to reduce risk and further spreading but it is also the rekindling of alliances and we hope that this is something that will continue and be sustained and bear fruit in so many different ways for all aspects of healthcare in the future.”
At the meeting, community leaders responded to concerns of health officials towards conducting follow-ups for patients from migrant communities. It was said that the underground lifestyle of some migrants posed considerable challenges for preventative healthcare. Those present suggested possible amendments to medical forms that would provide for contact information of church or community affiliations.
Ms Campbell added: “We want to ensure that not only do these persons receive healthcare that we’re mandated to give, but also as a country we’re doing our humanitarian part – in terms of agreements that we would have signed on to.”
She said that by strengthening ties with community leaders, the centre hoped to attract volunteers for training with an intent to improve outreach efforts.
“They would be able to go out and present factual information to many of their various groups. To have them fully engaged and involved so there is better understanding and communication – sometimes simple misunderstandings can really have a detrimental affect.”
Efforts realised this year include the enrolment of personnel from various public health sectors into entry-level Creole language classes.
Future goals of this initiative include implementing a standard medical handbook which doctors, medical staff and patients would be able to reference, and – specific to the AIDS centre – the establishment of a mobile outreach unit with the aim of increasing outreach throughout the Family Islands.
Ms Campbell said: “We’re expanding as a community, a global village. We’re getting out of our 7 x 21 mentalities and understanding the need to grow and move forward, and that’s the way to a better Bahamas.”
July 30, 2010
Concerns over Bahamian participation in the proposed $2.6 billion Baha Mar development
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
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
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
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