The Bahama Journal Editorial
We wish we could – at the evocation of the word – get Bahamians to shop at home. From at least one perspective, shopping at home might and could be equated and totted up as if it was akin to a genuine civic virtue.
While we here at JCN are obliged to comment on what is happening in the economy; we too are obliged to note that, there are things we – as Bahamians – can and should do in order to keep this country’s economy afloat.
Each Bahamian and each resident can and should do their utmost to shop at home; remembering as they do that a dollar spent at home by each and every one of them translates into jobs retained or new jobs created.
Things –as they say – are still tight in the United States as that great nation struggles to get up from the direst of ravages caused by what some pundits have described as the Great Recession.
One indicator of just how tight things are can be gleaned from statistics showing that, tens of millions of Americans who are out of work will remain so for at least the next five years.
But for sure, the greatest indicator of all are those statistics that suggest that a Bahamian economy that is tethered to do that of the United States is in need of some new boost.
Here we can and will cite, some of what Mr. Khaalis Rolle has had to say on the matter at hand; this with many Bahamian companies in the private sector "on the brink" of failure, and many others holding on in the hope of a Christmas boost.
With sales down as regards consumer demand in some instances between 20-30 percent; Rolle asks rhetorically and plaintively: "From a sales standpoint, if you take 30 per cent of gross revenues away, this 20-30 per cent from off the top line, and calculate the average net return of around 12-15 per cent, it's extremely difficult to see where companies can remain profitable.
And for sure, here debt servicing becomes a very difficult proposition; it becomes very difficult to service debt.
In addition and as we understand some of what he had to say, the record suggests that, [Mr. Rolle - without mentioning the $2.6 billion Baha Mar project by name] again questioned whether MPs and policymakers "fully understand" the urgent need for a "catalyst" to revive the economy.
Here we go a step further, and note that, things are bad and now we hear say that they may go from bad to worse.
In this regard, it is quite interesting to note and take to heart some of what Rolle as president of the Chamber of Commerce suggests as he indicates that, “The consumer demand slump has made it "extremely difficult" for most Bahamian companies, whose net returns on investment average 12-15 per cent per annum, to remain profitable…”
We also hear what the Chamber president has to say when he notes that, this nation might be "five years away from beginning to see meaningful economic recovery".
In addition, Rolle describes this recession as "infinitely worse" that the post-September 11, 2001, 'short, sharp shock' to the Bahamian economy…” And yet again, we note that the same Khaalis Rolle recently told one major paper that, “…that using the 36-48 months that it took this nation to completely recover from those events as a benchmark, it seemed that the rebound from current events might take up to five years…]
This is an inordinately long time.
And for sure, with Christmas in the air –as the old saying puts it – Bahamians are doing whatever they can in order to enjoy themselves in the days and weeks ahead.
And as some of them are wont to do, some of the time they have will be spent in sprucing up their homes, buying presents and otherwise, making themselves ready for the arrival [so to speak] of a long-awaited king.
Indeed, such is the largeness of the upcoming season - in terms of what it means not only in the realm of our shared Christian faith; but for the men and women who happen to be businessmen and women.
These business types are the ones who can be expected to hire more labor in festive times like these; and for sure, they can be relied upon to help stimulate allied areas of the economy.
It is this aspect of the matter as it relates to consumer spending and what such expenditure means for the rest of the society.
In short, as money is circulated, it stimulates demand in other areas; with the result that a dollar spent in one area can and does spark results elsewhere in the system.
In the ultimate analysis, then, shopping at home makes good economic and social sense for all Bahamians; that is why today, we encourage it to the maximum degree possible.
December 7th, 2010
The Bahama Journal Editorial
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.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Monday, December 6, 2010
The essential differences between Messrs Hubert Ingraham and Perry Christie revealed
We Have No Choice?
by Simon
The House of Assembly debated a resolution on the Baha Mar deal recently. Unfortunately for the Perry Christie-led PLP, it has already lost the broader national debate on the proposed mega project.
This includes a haemorrhaging of goodwill from the PLP by many professionals and even many within the party who are flabbergasted and frustrated by Mr. Christie’s dissembling and series of incoherent statements on Baha Mar since its inception. Curiously, part of the story concerns – the BlackBerry.
Some weeks ago, Mr. Christie attempted to mock the Prime Minister for regularly checking his BlackBerry at a dinner attended by both leaders. Mr. Ingraham was monitoring any news of a settlement between Baha Mar and Scotiabank on an outstanding loan between the two entities.
The story reveals the essential differences between Messrs. Ingraham and Christie. Hubert Ingraham is a part of the Smartphone generation while his former law partner is a throwback to a bygone era, wedded to a model of economic development that is being assigned to the proverbial ash heap of history.
Mr. Ingraham’s use of the BlackBerry represents a forward-looking, tech-savvy style of leadership marked by a hands-on approach, timeliness and engagement. This is in marked contrast to Mr. Christie’s cavalier, late-again and disengaged style. The device that perhaps best represents his decision-making style is the telegraph, which in today’s world would be slow-moving, clunky and out-of-date.
But, the more defining difference between the men was revealed in one of the more shocking statements ever made by a Bahamian leader on a project as large and as involved as Baha Mar.
WE HAVE NO CHOICE?
On the eve of Mr. Ingraham’s departure for China, the Leader of the Opposition counselled the Prime Minister to take the Baha Mar deal as it was. His reckless advice: We have no choice! We have no choice?
One would have expected this to be the view of officials at Baha Mar, not of a former Prime Minister. Life is filled with choices, even in the most difficult circumstances.
It is clear that Mr. Christie would have headed to China on bended knee, as an agent for Baha Mar, representing narrow special interests rather than the broader Bahamian national interest.
Mr. Christie’s view that the country had no choice but to accept the Baha Mar deal as is, is the clearest insight yet into why he essentially gave away Bahamian treasure and land at Cable Beach which no Bahamian leader from the UBP, PLP or FNM ever did.
It explains the Great Mayaguana Land Give-Away in which beachfront property equivalent of the distance from the eastern end of New Providence to Lyford Cay was alienated to foreign interests.
It reveals why his party’s land policy has been disastrous for The Bahamas and why his talk of Bahamianization is mostly talk. It further demonstrates why Mr. Christie and the PLP are content to sell cheaply our national ambitions and dreams to foreign interests, often to the cheapest bidder, rather than genuinely empower Bahamians.
Thankfully, Mr. Ingraham disregarded Mr. Christie’s monstrously bad advice in his negotiations with the Chinese. He did so because he knows that The Bahamas indeed has a choice, indeed a number of choices, as we slowly recover from a global economic crisis.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Rather than bended-knee, Mr. Ingraham went head-to-head with Chinese officials. Whereas Mr. Christie felt there was no choice than to accept $200 million dollars worth of contracts for Bahamians, Mr. Ingraham got that number doubled to $400 million. Those contracts will now include work on the Core Project which was not in the original deal.
In his Sunday press conference Mr. Ingraham noted that contracts will be awarded to large, medium, small scale and individual contractors. This is broad economic empowerment in fact, rather than just in talk.
Mr. Ingraham insisted on and got a sizable expansion of training opportunities for Bahamian workers and professionals. This dovetails with his administration’s revamping of the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute under revised legislation passed this year. It may also build on the National Retraining initiative launched last year.
The Prime Minister also suggested that there may have been some movement on phasing in the number of rooms at Baha Mar over a designated period of time.
Whatever the final outcome on this matter, it is clear that Mr. Ingraham went to China to negotiate a better deal for the country, as opposed to Mr. Christie who it appears may have gone simply for a signing ceremony and pomp in circumstances that would not have been as advantageous to The Bahamas.
WATERSHED
As noted previously in this column, the Baha Mar deal has been a watershed in terms of the vision and quality of governance demonstrated by Mr. Ingraham and the FNM in stark contrast to that of Mr. Christie and the PLP.
It must be a source of considerable angst for the latter, that the project they initiated has been re-negotiated on better terms and will be launched by an Ingraham-led FNM Government. History eclipses those who are irresolute, procrastinating and dithering when decisiveness is required.
The Bahamas deserves better than political, business or civic leaders telling us that we have no choice in charting our national destiny, despite the rough seas we are facing. This is the talk of those who are dragged along hopelessly by the stream events, rather than tacking and turning to navigate those events to one’s better advantage.
On Baha Mar and other foreign investment projects, Mr. Christie has shown that he is mastered and sidelined by events. Through painstaking negotiations Mr. Ingraham has shown that he knows how to shape events, even when presented with as problematic a deal as the initial one placed on the table by Baha Mar.
Mr. Christie’s declaration that the country had no choice on Baha Mar proved stunningly incorrect. It will prove to be one of the more disastrous pronouncements he has made in his long political career. It is a mistake the Bahamian people will clearly take into account as they make their choice at the next general election.
bahamapundit
by Simon
The House of Assembly debated a resolution on the Baha Mar deal recently. Unfortunately for the Perry Christie-led PLP, it has already lost the broader national debate on the proposed mega project.
This includes a haemorrhaging of goodwill from the PLP by many professionals and even many within the party who are flabbergasted and frustrated by Mr. Christie’s dissembling and series of incoherent statements on Baha Mar since its inception. Curiously, part of the story concerns – the BlackBerry.
Some weeks ago, Mr. Christie attempted to mock the Prime Minister for regularly checking his BlackBerry at a dinner attended by both leaders. Mr. Ingraham was monitoring any news of a settlement between Baha Mar and Scotiabank on an outstanding loan between the two entities.
The story reveals the essential differences between Messrs. Ingraham and Christie. Hubert Ingraham is a part of the Smartphone generation while his former law partner is a throwback to a bygone era, wedded to a model of economic development that is being assigned to the proverbial ash heap of history.
Mr. Ingraham’s use of the BlackBerry represents a forward-looking, tech-savvy style of leadership marked by a hands-on approach, timeliness and engagement. This is in marked contrast to Mr. Christie’s cavalier, late-again and disengaged style. The device that perhaps best represents his decision-making style is the telegraph, which in today’s world would be slow-moving, clunky and out-of-date.
But, the more defining difference between the men was revealed in one of the more shocking statements ever made by a Bahamian leader on a project as large and as involved as Baha Mar.
WE HAVE NO CHOICE?
On the eve of Mr. Ingraham’s departure for China, the Leader of the Opposition counselled the Prime Minister to take the Baha Mar deal as it was. His reckless advice: We have no choice! We have no choice?
One would have expected this to be the view of officials at Baha Mar, not of a former Prime Minister. Life is filled with choices, even in the most difficult circumstances.
It is clear that Mr. Christie would have headed to China on bended knee, as an agent for Baha Mar, representing narrow special interests rather than the broader Bahamian national interest.
Mr. Christie’s view that the country had no choice but to accept the Baha Mar deal as is, is the clearest insight yet into why he essentially gave away Bahamian treasure and land at Cable Beach which no Bahamian leader from the UBP, PLP or FNM ever did.
It explains the Great Mayaguana Land Give-Away in which beachfront property equivalent of the distance from the eastern end of New Providence to Lyford Cay was alienated to foreign interests.
It reveals why his party’s land policy has been disastrous for The Bahamas and why his talk of Bahamianization is mostly talk. It further demonstrates why Mr. Christie and the PLP are content to sell cheaply our national ambitions and dreams to foreign interests, often to the cheapest bidder, rather than genuinely empower Bahamians.
Thankfully, Mr. Ingraham disregarded Mr. Christie’s monstrously bad advice in his negotiations with the Chinese. He did so because he knows that The Bahamas indeed has a choice, indeed a number of choices, as we slowly recover from a global economic crisis.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Rather than bended-knee, Mr. Ingraham went head-to-head with Chinese officials. Whereas Mr. Christie felt there was no choice than to accept $200 million dollars worth of contracts for Bahamians, Mr. Ingraham got that number doubled to $400 million. Those contracts will now include work on the Core Project which was not in the original deal.
In his Sunday press conference Mr. Ingraham noted that contracts will be awarded to large, medium, small scale and individual contractors. This is broad economic empowerment in fact, rather than just in talk.
Mr. Ingraham insisted on and got a sizable expansion of training opportunities for Bahamian workers and professionals. This dovetails with his administration’s revamping of the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute under revised legislation passed this year. It may also build on the National Retraining initiative launched last year.
The Prime Minister also suggested that there may have been some movement on phasing in the number of rooms at Baha Mar over a designated period of time.
Whatever the final outcome on this matter, it is clear that Mr. Ingraham went to China to negotiate a better deal for the country, as opposed to Mr. Christie who it appears may have gone simply for a signing ceremony and pomp in circumstances that would not have been as advantageous to The Bahamas.
WATERSHED
As noted previously in this column, the Baha Mar deal has been a watershed in terms of the vision and quality of governance demonstrated by Mr. Ingraham and the FNM in stark contrast to that of Mr. Christie and the PLP.
It must be a source of considerable angst for the latter, that the project they initiated has been re-negotiated on better terms and will be launched by an Ingraham-led FNM Government. History eclipses those who are irresolute, procrastinating and dithering when decisiveness is required.
The Bahamas deserves better than political, business or civic leaders telling us that we have no choice in charting our national destiny, despite the rough seas we are facing. This is the talk of those who are dragged along hopelessly by the stream events, rather than tacking and turning to navigate those events to one’s better advantage.
On Baha Mar and other foreign investment projects, Mr. Christie has shown that he is mastered and sidelined by events. Through painstaking negotiations Mr. Ingraham has shown that he knows how to shape events, even when presented with as problematic a deal as the initial one placed on the table by Baha Mar.
Mr. Christie’s declaration that the country had no choice on Baha Mar proved stunningly incorrect. It will prove to be one of the more disastrous pronouncements he has made in his long political career. It is a mistake the Bahamian people will clearly take into account as they make their choice at the next general election.
bahamapundit
Chronicling an Untimely Death
The Bahama Journal Editorial
Death, crime and despair now pervade areas like, Bain Town, Grant’s Town, Pinewood Gardens and other heartland communities in our land.
In those once thriving communities, we now have a situation where the common denominator has to do with young men and women who are seemingly prepared to do whatever is necessary in order to get over in this consumer-drenched society.
As a consequence, the trade in guns, drugs and sex continues apace; with boys, girls, men and women all engage in the brutality and carnality that comes whenever a society is put on the track to debauchery, idol worship and paganism.
In this regard, we cite but one untimely death of one young man – namely Sharmoco Newbold - to help us illuminate the point we make.
Here we are today quite certain that, in the fullness of time, Sharmoco Newbold will only leave behind the barest trace of the fact that he once lived; this due to the shortness of the life that was his.
Had it not been for his violent death and the riot that followed in Bain Town, his name would not –as it were- ring a bell.
He was allegedly felled by a police man.
This young man’s funeral was one of many that took place over the weekend; and so as we note it for our own reasons; we note also that, over the weekend, some of our nation’s Church families got together in solemn praise and worship to bid their farewells to this or that neighbor, family member or friend who had died.
This is as it should be as the living affirm both their connection with their dead and assert their faith that though we all must walk the road that leads from womb to tomb – yet shall we all be raised again in the glorious Resurrection.
But even as these commemorations are routine in this so-called and self-styled Christianity suffused land; there is also one other matter that is today especially poignant – this being the nauseating extent to which this community or that is called upon to bid adieu to this or that young man cut down on the cusp of manhood and civic responsibility.
Herein we find the beating heart of what is a terrifyingly nasty statistic; this being the high extent to which young men are killing each other.
And for sure – at the cankered core of this dread phenomenon we find young men confused to no end about what it means to be a real man; and thus their dread demeanor; their alcohol and drugs laced braggadocio and for sure – in at least some cases- the guns and the knives and the idea that they must get rich quick or die trying.
Tragically, very many of these youth – for no fault of their own making – sometimes grew up in homes where they were for all intents and purposes fatherless and motherless.
And since the rot goes so very deep, practically none of them would have had even the semblance of a praying grandmother; and so, by default, very many of these errant youth were dragged into adolescence and fury by the street and by this or that other malign force.
And while we are at it, the point must be made that there are so very many youth who are being born to men and women who copulate as if they were animals in heat – creatures that could care less about their young.
This is not to say that the rhetoric about how this or that ‘bouncing baby boy or girl’ was born to this or that woman on whatever day, invariably the fact remains that, this child is loved as if it was some kind animated doll – and soon thereafter once it reaches its rag-doll state, it is abandoned.
The child grows, goes to school, trudges along the dusty mean streets in its decaying neighborhood where it quickly learns the ways of that world; itself a place where hustling for money is the order of the day and a human market-place where the human person is itself merely one other commodity up for barter or sale.
And thus and thereafter, we come across children ailing with venereal diseases; youth being introduced to alcohol and drugs; youth in savage mimicry of their elders fighting like dogs and dying like them.
On occasion, some are shot dead by the police; on other occasions, this or that young man or woman is stabbed where it hurts most – in the heart.
But no matter how they die, the fact remains that the untimely and violent demise of even one human person in our land is a chronicle of a death that should not have been.
December 6th, 2010
The Bahama Journal Editorial
Death, crime and despair now pervade areas like, Bain Town, Grant’s Town, Pinewood Gardens and other heartland communities in our land.
In those once thriving communities, we now have a situation where the common denominator has to do with young men and women who are seemingly prepared to do whatever is necessary in order to get over in this consumer-drenched society.
As a consequence, the trade in guns, drugs and sex continues apace; with boys, girls, men and women all engage in the brutality and carnality that comes whenever a society is put on the track to debauchery, idol worship and paganism.
In this regard, we cite but one untimely death of one young man – namely Sharmoco Newbold - to help us illuminate the point we make.
Here we are today quite certain that, in the fullness of time, Sharmoco Newbold will only leave behind the barest trace of the fact that he once lived; this due to the shortness of the life that was his.
Had it not been for his violent death and the riot that followed in Bain Town, his name would not –as it were- ring a bell.
He was allegedly felled by a police man.
This young man’s funeral was one of many that took place over the weekend; and so as we note it for our own reasons; we note also that, over the weekend, some of our nation’s Church families got together in solemn praise and worship to bid their farewells to this or that neighbor, family member or friend who had died.
This is as it should be as the living affirm both their connection with their dead and assert their faith that though we all must walk the road that leads from womb to tomb – yet shall we all be raised again in the glorious Resurrection.
But even as these commemorations are routine in this so-called and self-styled Christianity suffused land; there is also one other matter that is today especially poignant – this being the nauseating extent to which this community or that is called upon to bid adieu to this or that young man cut down on the cusp of manhood and civic responsibility.
Herein we find the beating heart of what is a terrifyingly nasty statistic; this being the high extent to which young men are killing each other.
And for sure – at the cankered core of this dread phenomenon we find young men confused to no end about what it means to be a real man; and thus their dread demeanor; their alcohol and drugs laced braggadocio and for sure – in at least some cases- the guns and the knives and the idea that they must get rich quick or die trying.
Tragically, very many of these youth – for no fault of their own making – sometimes grew up in homes where they were for all intents and purposes fatherless and motherless.
And since the rot goes so very deep, practically none of them would have had even the semblance of a praying grandmother; and so, by default, very many of these errant youth were dragged into adolescence and fury by the street and by this or that other malign force.
And while we are at it, the point must be made that there are so very many youth who are being born to men and women who copulate as if they were animals in heat – creatures that could care less about their young.
This is not to say that the rhetoric about how this or that ‘bouncing baby boy or girl’ was born to this or that woman on whatever day, invariably the fact remains that, this child is loved as if it was some kind animated doll – and soon thereafter once it reaches its rag-doll state, it is abandoned.
The child grows, goes to school, trudges along the dusty mean streets in its decaying neighborhood where it quickly learns the ways of that world; itself a place where hustling for money is the order of the day and a human market-place where the human person is itself merely one other commodity up for barter or sale.
And thus and thereafter, we come across children ailing with venereal diseases; youth being introduced to alcohol and drugs; youth in savage mimicry of their elders fighting like dogs and dying like them.
On occasion, some are shot dead by the police; on other occasions, this or that young man or woman is stabbed where it hurts most – in the heart.
But no matter how they die, the fact remains that the untimely and violent demise of even one human person in our land is a chronicle of a death that should not have been.
December 6th, 2010
The Bahama Journal Editorial
Sunday, December 5, 2010
...dredging at Bell Island... in the Exuma Land and Sea Park
Bell Island dredging in the Exuma Land and Sea Park!
By PIERRE DUPUCH
LAST week I appeared on the radio show, Hard Copy, hosted by Steve McKinney on Gems 105.9 FM radio at 5 p.m. The show was all about the recent permission given by the Government to conduct dredging at Bell Island and, in particular, the Exuma Land and Sea Park, which was established by law as a preserve in 1958.
The discussion was lively and interesting. One caller suggested that the purchaser of Bell Island, who was recently given permission by government to dredge a large area of the reserve and who is descended from the Middle East, should be requested to ask the Egyptian Government the following simple question: "What would their answer be if a Bahamian investor promised to make a multi-billion dollar investment in a five star hotel, with all the amenities, theme park, etc, that would create mega employment and foreign investment in the heart of Egypt?"
I am sure they would love the idea. But there would be just one catch, the location of the resort. In order to make the investment, the Egyptian Government would have to allow the investor to demolish one of the Egyptian pyramids to make space for building. The Egyptian Government would ask if the Bahamian investor had taken leave of his senses, and the Aga Khan would be asked politely ... or not so politely ... to leave.
But that's Egypt where they have pride in their history, their environment and themselves. I believe the Bahamian people do also; however, I don't think our leaders do.
Later in the show there was another caller, Mr. Brensil Rolle, advisor to the Prime Minister, Parliamentary Secretary, and Member of Parliament. He seemed to be all bright eyed and bushy tailed, ready to defend his government's position on the granting of permission to dredge in the Exuma Land and Sea Park. I thought he had called to prove us wrong. What he did, however, in my opinion was to demonstrate that he was arrogant and rude.
He reminded me of years gone by when well trained "hecklers" refused to let anyone speak. Every time I tried to get a word in edge-wise his mouth would start running like a Gatling gun, twice as fast as his brain. I recognized the tactic so I said nothing.
Most of what Mr. Rolle said was that he was born in Exuma and that the area had been dredged many times before and that there were examples of this everywhere and he couldn't see why we were objecting now.
Mr. Rolle said that pictures that Mr. McKinney had taken recently were "old." If they were "old," as Mr. Rolle claims, what happened to the rock and fill that had been mined "long ago." The Prime Minister said the rock and fill would be "adequately disposed of." Maybe Mr. Rolle, or the Prime Minister, would care to tell us what "adequately disposed of" really means? Does it happen to mean, "sold on the international market?" If so, by whom? Has this been a part of the "strip mining" operation reported to be going on in The Bahamas? Just asking.
Recognizing his tactic, I backed off and let Mr. McKinney handle, what appeared to be, a raving idiot. Mr. McKinney rightly told him that we were discussing the recent approval for land to be dredged in a reserved area, and that what had happened in the past had nothing to do with the discussion.
And Mr. McKinney was correct. Just because people have fished in the park, does it mean that they should not be arrested if found fishing there illegally? According to Mr. Rolle's logic, anyone should be able to fish in the park and not worry because, after all, people have fished there illegally before.
Should the bank robber not be arrested for robbing a bank? After all, banks have been robbed before.
Mr. Rolle's logic was incredible. And he's one of the Prime Minister's advisors?
Now back to the discussion. It is said that a man has to be given reasonable access to his property. This is correct. In fact, I don't think you're able to sell a property unless you can guarantee reasonable access to it. But reasonable access means just what it says, "reasonable." It does not mean that, having bought an island which is surrounded on at least two sides by shallow water and is in a Land and Sea Park, the purchaser is able to buy the Queen Mary and expect to use "reasonable access" as a reason to dredge in one of our most important marine reserves.
Bell Island, as I understand it, is on the edge of the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park with deep water on one side. But this is on the ocean side, they say. Well isn't this an ocean going yacht he proposes to bring here?
But, of course there's the famous helicopter. Or is it too busy flying our leaders around?
The Prime Minister says that the Aga Khan is a nice man. I am sure he is. The Prime Minister says that his grandchildren play with the Aga Khan's children.
Great. So what's that got to do with the price of tea in China? Am I hearing some kind of complex coming with such a statement?
The Prime Minister says that he has taken the advice of "advisors" and agrees with their advice regarding Bell Island. Maybe the public would like to know the names of these "advisors."
After all, a man is often judged by the company he keeps ... and so are his decisions.
The Prime Minister says that the objection to dredging in the Exuma Land and Sea Park is just "noise." Maybe.
Maybe the riot in Bain town was just "noise" too?
Maybe the town that has recently gone crazy with killings everywhere, is just "noise" too?
Maybe the cries of twelve year olds being raped by paedophiles are just "noise" too?
Maybe the recent "Tea Party" in the U.S. was just "noise" too.
We'll see. I have faith in the Bahamian people.
December 02, 2010
tribune242
By PIERRE DUPUCH
LAST week I appeared on the radio show, Hard Copy, hosted by Steve McKinney on Gems 105.9 FM radio at 5 p.m. The show was all about the recent permission given by the Government to conduct dredging at Bell Island and, in particular, the Exuma Land and Sea Park, which was established by law as a preserve in 1958.
The discussion was lively and interesting. One caller suggested that the purchaser of Bell Island, who was recently given permission by government to dredge a large area of the reserve and who is descended from the Middle East, should be requested to ask the Egyptian Government the following simple question: "What would their answer be if a Bahamian investor promised to make a multi-billion dollar investment in a five star hotel, with all the amenities, theme park, etc, that would create mega employment and foreign investment in the heart of Egypt?"
I am sure they would love the idea. But there would be just one catch, the location of the resort. In order to make the investment, the Egyptian Government would have to allow the investor to demolish one of the Egyptian pyramids to make space for building. The Egyptian Government would ask if the Bahamian investor had taken leave of his senses, and the Aga Khan would be asked politely ... or not so politely ... to leave.
But that's Egypt where they have pride in their history, their environment and themselves. I believe the Bahamian people do also; however, I don't think our leaders do.
Later in the show there was another caller, Mr. Brensil Rolle, advisor to the Prime Minister, Parliamentary Secretary, and Member of Parliament. He seemed to be all bright eyed and bushy tailed, ready to defend his government's position on the granting of permission to dredge in the Exuma Land and Sea Park. I thought he had called to prove us wrong. What he did, however, in my opinion was to demonstrate that he was arrogant and rude.
He reminded me of years gone by when well trained "hecklers" refused to let anyone speak. Every time I tried to get a word in edge-wise his mouth would start running like a Gatling gun, twice as fast as his brain. I recognized the tactic so I said nothing.
Most of what Mr. Rolle said was that he was born in Exuma and that the area had been dredged many times before and that there were examples of this everywhere and he couldn't see why we were objecting now.
Mr. Rolle said that pictures that Mr. McKinney had taken recently were "old." If they were "old," as Mr. Rolle claims, what happened to the rock and fill that had been mined "long ago." The Prime Minister said the rock and fill would be "adequately disposed of." Maybe Mr. Rolle, or the Prime Minister, would care to tell us what "adequately disposed of" really means? Does it happen to mean, "sold on the international market?" If so, by whom? Has this been a part of the "strip mining" operation reported to be going on in The Bahamas? Just asking.
Recognizing his tactic, I backed off and let Mr. McKinney handle, what appeared to be, a raving idiot. Mr. McKinney rightly told him that we were discussing the recent approval for land to be dredged in a reserved area, and that what had happened in the past had nothing to do with the discussion.
And Mr. McKinney was correct. Just because people have fished in the park, does it mean that they should not be arrested if found fishing there illegally? According to Mr. Rolle's logic, anyone should be able to fish in the park and not worry because, after all, people have fished there illegally before.
Should the bank robber not be arrested for robbing a bank? After all, banks have been robbed before.
Mr. Rolle's logic was incredible. And he's one of the Prime Minister's advisors?
Now back to the discussion. It is said that a man has to be given reasonable access to his property. This is correct. In fact, I don't think you're able to sell a property unless you can guarantee reasonable access to it. But reasonable access means just what it says, "reasonable." It does not mean that, having bought an island which is surrounded on at least two sides by shallow water and is in a Land and Sea Park, the purchaser is able to buy the Queen Mary and expect to use "reasonable access" as a reason to dredge in one of our most important marine reserves.
Bell Island, as I understand it, is on the edge of the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park with deep water on one side. But this is on the ocean side, they say. Well isn't this an ocean going yacht he proposes to bring here?
But, of course there's the famous helicopter. Or is it too busy flying our leaders around?
The Prime Minister says that the Aga Khan is a nice man. I am sure he is. The Prime Minister says that his grandchildren play with the Aga Khan's children.
Great. So what's that got to do with the price of tea in China? Am I hearing some kind of complex coming with such a statement?
The Prime Minister says that he has taken the advice of "advisors" and agrees with their advice regarding Bell Island. Maybe the public would like to know the names of these "advisors."
After all, a man is often judged by the company he keeps ... and so are his decisions.
The Prime Minister says that the objection to dredging in the Exuma Land and Sea Park is just "noise." Maybe.
Maybe the riot in Bain town was just "noise" too?
Maybe the town that has recently gone crazy with killings everywhere, is just "noise" too?
Maybe the cries of twelve year olds being raped by paedophiles are just "noise" too?
Maybe the recent "Tea Party" in the U.S. was just "noise" too.
We'll see. I have faith in the Bahamian people.
December 02, 2010
tribune242
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Lottery in The Bahamas... games of chance...
The lottery and the church
thenassauguardian editorial
It seems that at least once a year the issue concerning a lottery in The Bahamas raises its head. Each time the subject comes up, it raises arguments among members of the public and puts up the dividing wall between the church and government. Yet, each year the subject comes up, the same arguments prevail and the same results are experienced.
Nothing happens and the subject dies down.
Of course the Christian Council continues to stand against the formation of a lottery, claiming that it would further sink this country into a mire of immorality.
With a high crime rate, an increase in sexually transmitted diseases, a high rate of high school drop outs, an ever increasing turn by many to alternative lifestyles and the constant Bahamian past time of “sweet hearting” one can only wonder if the country has not reached the bottom of the barrel of immorality.
In decades past, the church’s view was highly respected, which explains why every time the subject of a lottery came up and the church protested, it was pushed aside, without another thought.
Now, with some consideration being given to the idea, it proves that the respect which the church in The Bahamas once held is waning. With so much of its own dirty laundry being placed into the public light, the church no doubt has issues of its own.
But have we reached that point in our nation’s history where the voice of reason, justice and fair play is no longer being adhered to? If that is the case, then God help us.
Some claim that the reason many pastors are against the formation of a lottery is because they fear losing tithes and offerings to a gambling practice. But pastors, in taking their stand against the lottery, say they fear that it would destroy households, as husbands would then use their money to play the lottery in hopes of winning.
If the ratio of men to homes in this country is correct, then no doubt this argument is moot. To think that single mothers would take hard earned money to play the lottery instead of feeding and clothing their families goes beyond reason.
But it can certainly happen.
However, the truth is, those parents who are responsible without a lottery would continue to be responsible with a lottery.
After all, games of chance can be bought on just about every corner in the country.
Yet, only those who are willing to take that risk with those games of chance continue to do so.
Those who are not interested are not moved.
12/3/2010
thenassauguardian editorial
thenassauguardian editorial
It seems that at least once a year the issue concerning a lottery in The Bahamas raises its head. Each time the subject comes up, it raises arguments among members of the public and puts up the dividing wall between the church and government. Yet, each year the subject comes up, the same arguments prevail and the same results are experienced.
Nothing happens and the subject dies down.
Of course the Christian Council continues to stand against the formation of a lottery, claiming that it would further sink this country into a mire of immorality.
With a high crime rate, an increase in sexually transmitted diseases, a high rate of high school drop outs, an ever increasing turn by many to alternative lifestyles and the constant Bahamian past time of “sweet hearting” one can only wonder if the country has not reached the bottom of the barrel of immorality.
In decades past, the church’s view was highly respected, which explains why every time the subject of a lottery came up and the church protested, it was pushed aside, without another thought.
Now, with some consideration being given to the idea, it proves that the respect which the church in The Bahamas once held is waning. With so much of its own dirty laundry being placed into the public light, the church no doubt has issues of its own.
But have we reached that point in our nation’s history where the voice of reason, justice and fair play is no longer being adhered to? If that is the case, then God help us.
Some claim that the reason many pastors are against the formation of a lottery is because they fear losing tithes and offerings to a gambling practice. But pastors, in taking their stand against the lottery, say they fear that it would destroy households, as husbands would then use their money to play the lottery in hopes of winning.
If the ratio of men to homes in this country is correct, then no doubt this argument is moot. To think that single mothers would take hard earned money to play the lottery instead of feeding and clothing their families goes beyond reason.
But it can certainly happen.
However, the truth is, those parents who are responsible without a lottery would continue to be responsible with a lottery.
After all, games of chance can be bought on just about every corner in the country.
Yet, only those who are willing to take that risk with those games of chance continue to do so.
Those who are not interested are not moved.
12/3/2010
thenassauguardian editorial
Friday, December 3, 2010
When Social Institutions Fail
The Bahama Journal Editorial
For want of a more comprehensive understanding of what national development should be about; the Bahamian people and their leaders now wallow in a mire of despond.
And as they wallow, we have a situation on the ground where the hard men and women with guns in hand and murder in their hearts, are doing their thing.
And in a sense – as if they were so very many lambs on the way to slaughter, tens of thousands of this nation’s youth routinely trudge to schools where they are patted down, searched and treated as if they were thugs in the making.
And then, there are all those other persons – with most of them being mature women – who spend the bulk of their time in the precincts of this or that Church-house in search of salvation.
As the killing continues; and as the stealing and marauding runs amok; there are those Bahamians who might be tempted to think that these phenomena are – for whatever reason- grounded in an economy that is struggling to get up from under the ravages of a truly Great Recession.
This is not the case.
Indeed, any examination of the record would show that, Bahamians have been killing each other in the best of times and in the worst of times; and so have they been known to steal from and otherwise rip each other off – this they have also done in good and in so-called bad times.
The explanation is far simpler: Bahamians have consistently failed themselves by clinging to the belief that it is money that matters most of all – thus their collective failure to cultivate things of the spirit; and thus the incipient failure of some of this society’s most basic institutions.
Here we would suggest that, the question is: when social institutions fail; then, so what?
Here the answer is simple enough: when institutions fail, people are left to fend for themselves; and as they fend for themselves, life –invariably- becomes harsher and harsher.
And as life becomes harsher and harsher, respect for the human person and for life itself is left in the balances. Thereafter anarchy and brutishness are seeded and in short order, they spawn a canker of distress.
In time, the law of the jungle takes root.
One of the more interesting aspects of this matter as it relates to breakdown and decay; the collapse of law, order and even the simplest of inter-personal decencies happens to be the fact that, as institutions crumble; those of the counterfeit ilk sometimes sprout.
Indeed, we see this phenomenon of the fake running rampant in a number of crucially important areas of our shared social life: we see it in our churches; our homes; in our schools; on our streets; at the work-place; and in our neighborhoods.
As regards the home and the degradation of a vitally important social institution; the evidence is clear that very many of this nation’s so-called homes are little more than domestic battle-fields where men and women routinely abuse each other; often to the despair and distress of their children.
Homes are failing men, women and children.
Sadly, this failure migrates from home to school; where –as the evidence reveals- very many students arrive armed to the teeth; with some of them as drunk as hell; and with the vast majority left to bide their time.
And so, school as an institution is failing the Bahamian people.
And whether this or that preacher-man, self-styled apostle or other religious believes it or not; very many of our nation’s churches have come to be seen as being simply irrelevant.
Were it otherwise, we would surely have less of the hate; less of the spite and less of the anger and rage that currently pervades the minds of so very many seemingly Godless people in a consumer-driven small island developing state such as ours just happens to be in this space and in this time.
And so, in a substantial kind of way, very many of our churches have already failed.
Evidently, therefore, this neatly explains how it now arises that our streets are spaces where one Bahamian or the other runs the risk of dying on the spot were he to somehow or the other offend another road-user.
And as we have noted on numerous occasions; failure is sometimes rooted in neighborhoods where this or that neighbor just so happens to [be] the thief who rips of all and sundry; this as he plays an infernal game of catch-me-if-you- can.
In addition, if reference is made to the work place; what we have – as opposed to teams pulling together – happens to be this or that clique working to undermine another.
Taken together, these failures illuminate what happens when the blind lead the blind; and so it remains, for the want of vision our people perish.
December 3rd, 2010
The Bahama Journal Editorial
For want of a more comprehensive understanding of what national development should be about; the Bahamian people and their leaders now wallow in a mire of despond.
And as they wallow, we have a situation on the ground where the hard men and women with guns in hand and murder in their hearts, are doing their thing.
And in a sense – as if they were so very many lambs on the way to slaughter, tens of thousands of this nation’s youth routinely trudge to schools where they are patted down, searched and treated as if they were thugs in the making.
And then, there are all those other persons – with most of them being mature women – who spend the bulk of their time in the precincts of this or that Church-house in search of salvation.
As the killing continues; and as the stealing and marauding runs amok; there are those Bahamians who might be tempted to think that these phenomena are – for whatever reason- grounded in an economy that is struggling to get up from under the ravages of a truly Great Recession.
This is not the case.
Indeed, any examination of the record would show that, Bahamians have been killing each other in the best of times and in the worst of times; and so have they been known to steal from and otherwise rip each other off – this they have also done in good and in so-called bad times.
The explanation is far simpler: Bahamians have consistently failed themselves by clinging to the belief that it is money that matters most of all – thus their collective failure to cultivate things of the spirit; and thus the incipient failure of some of this society’s most basic institutions.
Here we would suggest that, the question is: when social institutions fail; then, so what?
Here the answer is simple enough: when institutions fail, people are left to fend for themselves; and as they fend for themselves, life –invariably- becomes harsher and harsher.
And as life becomes harsher and harsher, respect for the human person and for life itself is left in the balances. Thereafter anarchy and brutishness are seeded and in short order, they spawn a canker of distress.
In time, the law of the jungle takes root.
One of the more interesting aspects of this matter as it relates to breakdown and decay; the collapse of law, order and even the simplest of inter-personal decencies happens to be the fact that, as institutions crumble; those of the counterfeit ilk sometimes sprout.
Indeed, we see this phenomenon of the fake running rampant in a number of crucially important areas of our shared social life: we see it in our churches; our homes; in our schools; on our streets; at the work-place; and in our neighborhoods.
As regards the home and the degradation of a vitally important social institution; the evidence is clear that very many of this nation’s so-called homes are little more than domestic battle-fields where men and women routinely abuse each other; often to the despair and distress of their children.
Homes are failing men, women and children.
Sadly, this failure migrates from home to school; where –as the evidence reveals- very many students arrive armed to the teeth; with some of them as drunk as hell; and with the vast majority left to bide their time.
And so, school as an institution is failing the Bahamian people.
And whether this or that preacher-man, self-styled apostle or other religious believes it or not; very many of our nation’s churches have come to be seen as being simply irrelevant.
Were it otherwise, we would surely have less of the hate; less of the spite and less of the anger and rage that currently pervades the minds of so very many seemingly Godless people in a consumer-driven small island developing state such as ours just happens to be in this space and in this time.
And so, in a substantial kind of way, very many of our churches have already failed.
Evidently, therefore, this neatly explains how it now arises that our streets are spaces where one Bahamian or the other runs the risk of dying on the spot were he to somehow or the other offend another road-user.
And as we have noted on numerous occasions; failure is sometimes rooted in neighborhoods where this or that neighbor just so happens to [be] the thief who rips of all and sundry; this as he plays an infernal game of catch-me-if-you- can.
In addition, if reference is made to the work place; what we have – as opposed to teams pulling together – happens to be this or that clique working to undermine another.
Taken together, these failures illuminate what happens when the blind lead the blind; and so it remains, for the want of vision our people perish.
December 3rd, 2010
The Bahama Journal Editorial
HIV/AIDS Education and Prevention
Education and prevention
thenassauguardian editorial
It was interesting to hear an official from the Bahamas AIDS Foundation during a talk radio show say that AIDS has been downgraded to a communicable disease from a killer disease.
She went on to explain that because of the advancement in medicine, it is now possible for people to live with the disease longer and stronger.
While that is good news, it makes one wonder if such information would only add to the nonchalant attitude that many people currently have towards AIDS - especially young people.
The fact that AIDS can be downgraded may cause some to let down their guard about their sexual responsibility. There is the fear that now that new medicines are being made available to not just manage the disease, but allow people to live longer, some may no longer take the risk of contracting the disease as serious as they would have in the past.
But the truth is, even in the face of medical advancement AIDS is still a silent killer in The Bahamas.
Usually, that characteristic was given to hypertension, which has no warning signs, but able to strike at any minute.
Over the past few years, since the initial all out campaigns to try and stop the spread of AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) it has gone on to kill millions every year.
Here are some facts – 33.4 million people are living with AIDS worldwide.
Of that number close to 300,000 of those people reside within the Caribbean. Further, since the end of 2008, 12,000 people within the Caribbean have died from AIDS related illnesses.
It was good to see the focus return to the AIDS epidemic during World AIDS Day on December 1, because for the past few years people seemed to have forgotten about the killer disease.
Some how, as the world got crazier and as the world turned its attention to terrorism, it seemed as if the focus on AIDS education had waned. AIDS had become yesterday’s news. But the truth is, AIDS is still out there and it is still affecting millions of people everyday.
The sexual promiscuity among our young people and adults is an indication that the necessary sex education and discussions about AIDS had dwindled greatly. We must return to spreading the word that AIDS is still a killer disease.
Yes, even in the face of the most modern of medicines, we must continue to warn people about the importance of being sexually responsible. Casual sex is no longer a trend that has no consequences.
We have reached a point now where a stigma has been attached to people infected with AIDS. But times have changed.
It is that same stigma which has caused many affected Bahamians not to step forward and seek medical help. They are afraid of the tag that would be attached to them.
However, in our educational revamp of AIDS and HIV, removing such a stigma associated with this disease must also take place.
Unlike other sexually transmitted diseases in the past which may have gone away with time, or treated effectively, AIDS has not gone away. It continues to take lives on a daily basis. We must turn our attention again to education and prevention.
12/2/2010
thenassauguardian editorial
thenassauguardian editorial
It was interesting to hear an official from the Bahamas AIDS Foundation during a talk radio show say that AIDS has been downgraded to a communicable disease from a killer disease.
She went on to explain that because of the advancement in medicine, it is now possible for people to live with the disease longer and stronger.
While that is good news, it makes one wonder if such information would only add to the nonchalant attitude that many people currently have towards AIDS - especially young people.
The fact that AIDS can be downgraded may cause some to let down their guard about their sexual responsibility. There is the fear that now that new medicines are being made available to not just manage the disease, but allow people to live longer, some may no longer take the risk of contracting the disease as serious as they would have in the past.
But the truth is, even in the face of medical advancement AIDS is still a silent killer in The Bahamas.
Usually, that characteristic was given to hypertension, which has no warning signs, but able to strike at any minute.
Over the past few years, since the initial all out campaigns to try and stop the spread of AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) it has gone on to kill millions every year.
Here are some facts – 33.4 million people are living with AIDS worldwide.
Of that number close to 300,000 of those people reside within the Caribbean. Further, since the end of 2008, 12,000 people within the Caribbean have died from AIDS related illnesses.
It was good to see the focus return to the AIDS epidemic during World AIDS Day on December 1, because for the past few years people seemed to have forgotten about the killer disease.
Some how, as the world got crazier and as the world turned its attention to terrorism, it seemed as if the focus on AIDS education had waned. AIDS had become yesterday’s news. But the truth is, AIDS is still out there and it is still affecting millions of people everyday.
The sexual promiscuity among our young people and adults is an indication that the necessary sex education and discussions about AIDS had dwindled greatly. We must return to spreading the word that AIDS is still a killer disease.
Yes, even in the face of the most modern of medicines, we must continue to warn people about the importance of being sexually responsible. Casual sex is no longer a trend that has no consequences.
We have reached a point now where a stigma has been attached to people infected with AIDS. But times have changed.
It is that same stigma which has caused many affected Bahamians not to step forward and seek medical help. They are afraid of the tag that would be attached to them.
However, in our educational revamp of AIDS and HIV, removing such a stigma associated with this disease must also take place.
Unlike other sexually transmitted diseases in the past which may have gone away with time, or treated effectively, AIDS has not gone away. It continues to take lives on a daily basis. We must turn our attention again to education and prevention.
12/2/2010
thenassauguardian editorial
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)