Term limits need to be enshrined in The Bahamian constitution...

Term limits needed in The Bahamas
thenassauguardian editorial




The Westminster political system does not call for term limits. Candidates can offer for the job as prime minister as many times as they wish.

There are supposed to be several checks and balances in the system, however, which ensure no one person is able to stay on in the post in perpetuity.

The main check should be competitive democratic political parties. If many candidates have a chance to be leader, it would be difficult for ineffective leaders, or those past their prime, to stay on.

In The Bahamas, and in the democratic developing world in general, we lack this important component of an evolved political culture.

Hubert Ingraham has led the Free National Movement for most of the last two decades. The party has tied its fate to him. Ingraham is the FNM.
Since 1959, the Progressive Liberal Party and the communist regime in Cuba have something in common: Both entities have had only two leaders. Perry Christie and Sir Lynden have been the only two PLP leaders over that period.

Any discussion of term limits in The Bahamas is often perceived as a condemnation of Ingraham who is serving in his third, non-consecutive term in office. This is not. He has done well during his years in public service.

However, no country or business survives and thrives in the long-term if it relies on the leadership of one man.

Founders of businesses eventually cede control to executives and boards. No matter how talented the individual, time and exhaustion catch up with us all.

All leaders, commercial and political, begin to lose touch with the moods, desires and aspirations of the people as time goes by.

It would seem reasonable that the term limit for the post of prime minister be set at two or three terms. This would mean no person could serve as PM for more than 10 or 15 years.

The United States was forced to set limits on holding the office of president after Franklin D. Roosevelt won his fourth term. He died in office. Two terms is now the law in the U.S.

Term limits need to be enshrined in The Bahamian constitution so that no political party could change the rules to the benefit of the party.

11/1/2010

thenassauguardian editorial

Bahamas Blog International

Terry Bain - spokesman for Save The Exuma Park (STEP) committee has criticised the Bahamas National Trust for not opposing dredging and excavation at Bell Island in the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park...

Call for ban on development in national parks
By MEGAN REYNOLDS
Tribune Staff Reporter
mreynolds@tribunemedia.net

AN EXUMA activist has criticised The Bahamas National Trust for not opposing dredging and excavation at Bell Island in the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park as he calls for development in all national parks to be banned.

Terry Bain, spokesman for Save The Exuma Park (STEP) committee, is outraged at the granting of permission to dredge and excavate more than 13 acres of land and seabed around Bell Island in the Exuma park and the apparent compliance of the Bahamas National Trust (BNT).

Mr Bain spoke out on behalf of STEP's 180 members at a public meeting called by the BNT in Great Exuma last Thursday to discuss the Bell Island development with members of the community.

He said it was not made clear at the meeting that the Department of Physical Planning had already granted permission to excavate 4.32 acres of upland area for a yacht basin, 2.56 acres of seabed for an outer channel, 4.28 acres of marine area for a barge landing and a further 1.9 acres of seabed for the outer area of the barge landing on September 21.

Local tour boat operators spoke out at the meeting claiming dredging is already being done at Bell Island; claims flatly denied at the meeting by BNT executive director Eric Carey.

Conditions of the permit state an Environmental Management Plan (EMP) and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) must be approved by the Bahamas Environment, Science and Technology (BEST) Commission before work can begin, and the EMP is expected by Mr Carey this week.

Plans were submitted by Islands of Discovery Ltd after Islamic spiritual leader and billionaire Prince Karim Aga Khan IV bought the island last year.

Details of the development emerged as Environment Minister Earl Deveaux confirmed he had accepted the offer of free transportation in the Aga Khan's helicopter to travel to Abaco with his wife and two friends to attend a public event before going on to Bell Island to conduct a land assessment the next day. In answer to his critics, Minister Deveaux said that in no way did this courtesy by the Aga Khan to make it possible for him to attend the two meetings -- one in Abaco, the other in Bell Island -- influence his decision on the Bell Island application.

It was also alleged by Tribune sources that the Aga Khan donated $1 million to the BNT after he purchased the island.

Mr Carey has issued no comment on the donation claim, however a BNT statement on the development maintains: "Every landowner in the park has contributed generously to the funding of the BNT."

Mr Bain said: "The Trust has gone along with every development in the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park, and I have been trying to save the Trust from themselves by trying to keep development out of the parks."

STEP has been lobbying for an amendment in the BNT Act to prevent development in the Exuma park and all national parks across the Bahamas since the group was founded 17 years ago.

But recent amendments passed in Parliament do not include such changes, and STEP now continues to fight a battle Mr Bain says the BNT should fight for itself.

The activist of Farmer's Cay, Exuma, further stated how locals and fishermen find development in the 176 square mile park hard to accept as they are prohibited from taking anything within its boundaries.

In an editorial column published in The Exuma Breeze this month, Mr Bain called on all Bahamians to speak out against development in the Exuma park and all national parks.

October 29, 2010

tribune242

Whitney Bastian confirmed that he intends to run as an Independent in the next general election and regain his South Andros seat in the House of Assembly

WHITNEY BASTIAN SET TO RUN AS INDEPENDENT
By PAUL G TURNQUEST
Tribune Staff Reporter
pturnquest@tribunemedia.net



FORMER MP for South Andros, Whitney Bastian, confirmed with The Tribune last night that he intends to run as an Independent in the next general election and regain his seat in the House of Assembly.

Lambasting the area's current MP Picewell Forbes, Mr Bastian claimed that Mr Forbes is "not representing" the people in the area.

Mr Bastian says Mr Forbes is losing significant support in the Mangrove Cay area, and if the South Andros seat is cut the way he thinks it will be, he will win the seat "hands down."

"When you look at it, everytime a PLP MP gets up to speak, Picewell is sitting behind them. He is the only floating MP in the House," said Mr Bastian.

Claiming to have more support in the area now than he even had when he was elected to Parliament in 2002, Mr Bastian added that Mr Forbes cannot continue to cry "poor mouth" when it comes to being able to at least visit his people.

"I would have thought that since he doesn't have a headquarters that if the government is paying him $18,000 a year (to manage it), he should have some money somewhere because he never created an office. So if you look at his MP's salary of $28,000 and then he gets a travel allowance to visit his constituency - they even give him a per diem. So he can't find no excuse."

And when it comes to campaigning for the next general election, Mr Bastian said he will in no way be spending the amounts of money that he has spent in the past on the last two general elections.

"I don't have intentions of spending the money I spent before. If the people want me they will vote for me. If they vote for me, I will serve to the best of my ability. In terms of spending what I spent in the last two elections you don't have to worry about that ever again.

"We have to break that habit in South Andros. Because people who do things like that feel like they don't owe the people anything. But people on the Family Islands only need assistance. They only want you to point them in the right direction to get things done. They don't need you to put ya hand in your pocket. But the only way to understand the needs of the people is to sit down an' talk with them."

October 29, 2010

tribune242

Bahamas Blog International

Picewell Forbes is reportedly beginning to lose considerable ground in his South Andros constituency

PICEWELL FORBES 'LOSING GROUND IN CONSTITUENCY'
tribune242



ALTHOUGH winning his seat by the largest margin out of any candidate in the 2007 general election, Picewell Forbes, the PLP's Member of Parliament for South Andros, is reportedly beginning to lose considerable ground in his constituency.

As a first time MP for the area, Mr Forbes's financial woes have been known for some time - and with a general election less than two years away it appears as if this factor is not being overlooked by his competitors.

Reports suggest that the former MP for the area, Whitney Bastian, still wants to represent the constituency, and with his financial prowess, he could prove to be a considerable obstacle for Mr Forbes.

Political sources claim that Andros - more so than any other seat in the Bahamas - is one area where a candidate without substantial amounts of money cannot be expected to win.

The Tribune source said: "Let me tell you, in Andros you have to dig in your pocket from the time you land until you fly out of there.

"It's like that mindset was established years ago when Sir Lynden (Pindling) was representing them, so it's hard to break that - no matter who you are.

"And it doesn't matter if your MP is doing a good job or not.

"He or she could be in there every other week, walking up and down, shaking hands, kissing babies, attending every funeral, wedding, and pastoral anointing, and yet be voted out because they are unable to provide a contract for their generals."

Attempts to reach Mr Forbes for comment were unsuccessful.

October 27, 2010

tribune242

Bahamas Blog International

The truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth about gangs and gangsters in The Bahamas

“...scary stuff...”
By Felix F. Bethel
Rough Cut
jonesbahamas


"Most of the youth gangs will mess with you just because they see you walking by yourself and you might have something on you that they want: watch, chain, shoes…" Pastor Carlos Reid.

Next year this time, I might be dead; long gone – and thereafter on sweet way to oblivion; and so today I must now pray: Lord God Almighty – maker of heaven and earth - deliver me now from the snares of the Evil One; and in Your mercy show me the way to paradise.

As I pray for you, - my brothers and sisters – so I implore that, you also pray for me; and since I have within me an ever rising fountain of tears for my beloved Bahamas, my prayers today are also for Pastor Carlos Reid, a beautiful brother who brings us so much scary news from the bleeding heart of the whirlwind.

I am told that, “Pastor Reid is certified in gang prevention and intervention skills by the National Gang and Crime Research Centre of the United States of America.”

While I am told this stuff about Reid, I know it for a fact that, Halloween is on its scary way to The Bahamas.

I am really scared.

Pastor Reid tells us all that, “Bahamian gangs are not constituted in the same way as American gangs, or Jamaican gangs. Pastor Reid said American gangs are "more organized crime gangs", and Jamaican gangs are "political gangs".

“Organized crime gangs are often underground organizations that run the entire community, including housing projects, businesses and politicians.

"It doesn't mean we don't have gangs. We basically have youth gangs. The problem is, America started off just as we did and we don't want to get where America is," said Pastor Reid.

"We are seeing the formation of these groups really to protect themselves. To be honest, in The Bahamas, just being by yourself is a risk.

This is a scary thought.

But seriously now, to hear this brother speak about peace in the streets, the curative power of basketball and about the gang phenomenon, you know that you are in the presence of a certified and surely expert, Gangologist.

The man tells me that, “The Blue Hills’ playing fields is known as the "killing fields", according to Pastor Reid, who said, "every day there is a fight going on out there".

"Let us look at Government High School. When you have to walk through Yellow Elder, where the Hornets are, if you are a Rebellion they know and you are getting it," said Pastor Reid.

“Once a student lives in a certain area, they are automatically assumed to be in a "particular clique". A GHS student said there was a fight in school yesterday because of gangs. The fight was sparked because a student from the Grove "trespassed" in Rebellion territory.

As Reid notes, "Now think about this. If you know someone wants to chap you up and kill you, do you really think you can focus on your school work? The only thing you are thinking about is: how am I going to get out of here after school?"

{Well, gadjammit! If I had such certified intelligence driven information, I would demand that my idiot parents go to school in my stead.

{But yet, that is how a fool like me would react to the specter of gun and gang-violence at school. What a calamity for us all when information like the scary stuff being peddled by this pastor and others becomes the commonsense of people who should know better.}

But not to worry, Reid is all over this story concerning gangs; since he is –after all- an expert. As the newspaper reports, “Having had intimate knowledge of the how the groups operate, Reid said the war is far from over.”Soon we're going to see violence all over the place, because no one wants to take 'the last'. If you attack someone belonging to my gang, then I'm going to take my vengeance out on someone in your gang. That's just the way it is," Reid said.

“Asked why there were so many school boys joining gangs, Reid explained that the students crave to feel like they are a part of something. He added that it is hard not to get involved in a gang because one of the alternatives is to become a target of the gangs.

"They have to protect themselves," he said.

According to him, there are about 50 youth gangs in the Bahamas with the "Rebellions" who have about 14 different sections representing the largest group...”

Mommy, Mommy, I am now scared, scared-scared; this stuff is really scary. Indeed, some of this stuff is so scary that, I now feel obliged – in a very public kind of way – to send out kudos to Pastor Carlos Reid for the yeoman’s work he has been doing in this beloved land of conch slop, pomp, pageantry and on occasion, some of the purest bull the law would allow.

My congratulations go out to this brother for the fine work he has been doing in “alerting” the nation to the rot that is within; with particular reference to what he cites as revealed fact; this being the extent to which Bahamian society is riddled with gangs and gangsters.

My thanks come in floods and torrents to the good pastor for his wisdom and insight when he tells me, the Commissioner of Police, Ellison Greenslade, Marvin Dames, the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Missouri Sherman-Peter, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Security, her minister, the Hon. Orville Alton “Tommy” Turnquest, the Rt. Hon. Hubert Alexander Ingraham, the Rt. Hon. Perry Gladstone Christie – their party members, the Bahamian people and billions of other people around the world, what gang violence is all about in the Bahamas.

As the good pastor learnedly affirms, “…"A lot of the killings we have seen this year are retaliation killings. When someone gets killed, you are not just getting rid of that person, because that person is attached to an immediate family and an extended family, the gang. The mentality is, when you kill one of us, in most cases we have to take one of your own," said Pastor Reid.

Pastor Reid also said that, "Almost every community has a feud going on with a different community. We have not properly addressed the issue of gangs. We have allowed situations to breed, and a lot of the people in the position to make a difference don't have a clue about what is going on," he said.

Pastor Reid also said that, Poinciana Drive is still known as "the Gaza Strip", according to Pastor Reid. It is the meeting ground of four different gang territories (Gun Dogs, Pond Boys, Rebellions and Nike Boys), and four different schools (CC Sweeting, HO Nash, TA Thompson and CR Walker).

Now hear this, “Pastor Carlos Reid is set to release an updated gang list this week, a document produced by the community-based non-profit Youth against Violence, which he leads. The list details the schools and communities that are "contaminated" with gangs.

Evidently, Cynthia “Mother” Pratt agrees with Pastor Carlos Reid. Mother reports that, “Ridgeland Park and the Grove are two communities featured on the list. They are said to have gangs that are involved in "wars" and "cross rivalry."

Allegedly and therefore allegedly - according to the word printed in the newspaper, Mother claims that, both communities are engaged in an endless spree of retaliations that are affecting the community.

And so, pretty please, are you not scared now that you KNOW the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth; the gangsters are here.

But clearly, while you might be scared stiff; I am pretty certain that Pastor Reid is today smiling his very scary-way straight to the bank.

jonesbahamas

Bahamas Upcoming General Election: It’s [Still] the Economy Stupid!

“It’s [Still] the Economy...”
By Felix Bethel
jonesbahamas



Well might it be as true today as it was some years ago in the United States, “...It’s The Economy, Stupid...”

As we now recall – and quite vividly so - "It's the economy, stupid" was a phrase in American politics widely used during Bill Clinton’s successful 1992 campaign against George W. Bush.

[As we recall] For a time, Bush was considered unbeatable because of foreign policy developments such as the end of the Cold War and the Persian Gulf War. The phrase, made popular by Clinton campaign strategist James Carville, refers to the notion that Clinton was a better choice. And so it seemed to be, Clinton was victorious.

While the times might have changed, the principle inherent in slogan remains.

Indeed, as we look at what passes for political debate in our country; particularly as that ‘debate’ is played out in media and in the House of Assembly, the fact remains, that“...It’s The Economy, Stupid...”

Whether the reference made has to do with Baha Mar and its fate; the public debt – or the level of unemployment and its attendant Misery Index, the fact remains that this conversation is all about the economy.

Evidently, therefore, we can and will extrapolate that –as night follows day – the next general elections will be hard fought; that the outcome of the contest in question will necessarily hinge on what is happening in and on the national economy.

Our current surmise is that this contest will take place –as it were – in the very heart of the nation’s political ring – as each and every candidate fights for a space in the heart of the nation’s electorate.
Here we are suggesting that, precisely because the Great Recession will still be a fact of life, the working poor will have one superlative moment to bend reality in their favor.

Evidently, those who come looking for votes need understand –even now – that they had better come looking better and talking better than they have done heretofore.

We would also suggest that, no matter the name or fame of the party that ultimately prevails; those who come to office in the aftermath of the next general elections should understand that, they will face an unprecedented set of challenges.

As such, therefore, they should know and respect as fact that the road ahead will be especially hard for any and all Bahamians who are not prepared to do more for themselves.

In addition, no matter the name or fame of the party that ultimately prevails in the aftermath of the next general elections; the public is today thoroughly disenchanted with a politics where tribalism and cronyism are seen to pervade things.

And so, while we take it for granted that, the most important sources of economic growth over the medium to long term are likely to be the tourism industry, financial services sector, transshipment services, and other services; we are also persuaded that Bahamians should be actively encouraged and supported when they seek to play large roles in these industries.

Yet again, this principle is grounded in the notion that, "It's the economy, stupid."

Take note that when we recite this pithy piece of political wisdom; we note that reference to the economy and its myriad of implications for the well-being of the Bahamian people, the notion ‘economy’ must be so re-configured that the term “economy” is used to cover the relationships the Bahamas has with its neighbors, the United States of America – and the world far away as in the case of Brazil, Russia, India and China; among other such rising powers.

But, indeed, as America goes, so goes the Bahamas.

So today, it is a fact that, as one order of things ends; and as another is set to be birthed; the Bahamian people and their Caribbean counterparts are set to be called upon to revise some of their accustomed ways of making money.

They may well have no choice but to venture further and further from home, sweet home.

Evidently, these prospects reflect some of the realities of their current relations with a United States where the world-spanning capitalist system is itself currently mired in one of its periodic crises; thus much of the distress now being experienced at all levels in our Bahamas and throughout the region.

By necessary extrapolation and on the basis of sheer logic [and no matter how the proverbial cookie crumbles; it turns out to be quite true that, "It's [still] the economy, stupid."

While we seem to be citing the obvious, there is every reason to believe that, there are still some Bahamians who need to be disabused of the notion that, money can somehow or the other conjure itself up.

When all is said and done; it is only purposeful work that can make any real difference in the life of a people concerned with nation-building.

jonesbahamas

Bahamas Blog International

PLP insiders fear an FNM operative may have been planted inside their party to disrupt the party's public relations machinery - and possibility re-ignite a leadership battle before the next general election

PLPs fear 'FNM operative' may be within party
tribune242


PLP insiders fear an FNM operative may have been planted inside their organisation with intent to disrupt the party's public relations machinery and possibility re-ignite a leadership battle before the next general election.

As a political organisation that prides itself on having a "large tent" and being open to new talent, a number of PLP insiders have expressed their deep seated concerns over the motives of a number of persons who have skyrocketed to "influential" positions within the party overnight.

Seeking access to the party's decision-making process on key political matters, and even trying to gain management of the PLP's website by some of these persons has rubbed some PLPs "the wrong way".

One party insider told The Tribune yesterday they fear with the multitude of persons "offering" assistance - especially in the upkeep of their online campaigns on Facebook, Twitter, and Myspace - it is becoming harder and harder for the organisation to ensure its security.

"In this day and age, every politician, every party must maintain an online presence. It is required. Before it was a luxury, but no more. These websites and pages require maintenance, and depending on who has access to them, the damage to the party could be significant.

"So if you have an MP's Facebook page, for instance, being managed by someone whose sole job it is to keep it updated suddenly decide to go off on a tangent, that could affect the party's image or standing on a particular issue. He or she could have 5,000 followers online and if an update goes out saying that they despise the leader and he should be removed from office, you see what kind of drama could unfold," the source explained.

This kind of online "guerilla warfare" as it was described, is said to be happening every day on social websites.

"Today you might have five or six profiles on Facebook being used by the same FNM operative leaving messages on someone's page. There was the practice where someone would make up a fake profile of politicians and leave ignorant or embarrassing comments, but now it appears a more sinister practice has emerged. And if history has taught us anything, there isn't a better weapon against a well defended force than a Trojan horse," she said.

October 26, 2010

tribune242

Bahamas Blog International