tribune242 editorial
BAHAMAS Communications and Public Officers Union leader Bernard Evans might not have got his "little Egypt," or a last minute miracle to block the sale of BTC to Cable & Wireless, but he has a champion in Opposition Leader Perry Christie.
Mr Christie has put Cable and Wireless on notice that should his government be returned to power, he will deliver BTC back to the Bahamian people. He has promised that the "bad deal" entered into with the Ingraham government for the sale of the Bahamas' telecommunications system will be dismantled.
"Bad deal" -- these words are echoes from the past about another deal that the PLP also threatened to dismantle should its party become the government. But, when the PLP was returned to power in 2007 and had its opportunity for the dismantling operation, the bad deal had proven such a sweet deal for the Bahamas that grinning up and currying favour by the new leaders was the order of the day -- the promised dismantling and renegotiation of the deal was forgotten. The threats made 11 years before were quickly abandoned -- it was as though they were never spoken.
On the floor of the House in 1996 then St Michael's MP Paul Adderley had threatened Sol Kerzner that if the agreement that his Sun International had with the Bahamas government were not renegotiated, when the PLP became the government it would do it for him. "The terms of this deal, so far as the Bahamas is concerned, is a bad deal," shouted Mr Adderley.
History has proven that Kerzner's Paradise Island -- the country's largest private employer -- is what has saved the Bahamas' economic bacon for the past 15 years. The Kerzners arrived when the Bahamas was flat on its back -- failing tourist industry, empty Treasury, tarnished international reputation. Bahamians will remember that in those days we were an "island for sale" laid waste by a careless government and a greedy drug cartel. A disgusted electorate voted the PLP government of 25 years out of office and put the Ingraham government in.
The PLP government had secretly tried to sell the failed hotels on the international market. The Ingraham government came to power in 1992 and the following year entered into an agreement with the Kerzners for the development of Paradise Island. Atlantis became the catalyst that revitalised the country's tourist industry, and emboldened investors to take a second look at a country that was trying under a new government to clean up its act.
It was only then that the Bahamas started to move forward.
But the empty threats coming from the PLP benches in 1996 - are being repeated today against the sale of BTC to Cable and Wireless. So far it is the only bone that the PLP has found on which to chew for the 2012 election.
Fred Mitchell, a PLP senator in 1996, seemed on a mission at that time to cast doubt on the Atlantis operation - attacking everything from the Kerzners' South African roots, their hiring policies suggesting that Bahamians were being shut out of the project, to the belief that the Bahamianisation policy was being undermined. And, of course, Mr Mitchell even raised the alarm that the newly constructed bridge to Paradise was sinking. All wishful thoughts that had no base.
Dr Bernard Nottage complained at the time that the Ingraham government was giving Atlantis "improved infrastructure, roads, transportation and telecommunications facilities."
"But what are the Bahamian people getting?" he asked. The Bahamian people knew what they were getting, even though they were paying for it -- good jobs, improved infrastructure, good roads on which they travelled daily and much more. By now Dr Nottage should have the answers to his foolish questions of that era. Any improvement in infrastructure always benefits the whole country and everyone in it -- regardless of for whom it was intended.
The PLP poured scorn on the fact that Atlantis and its shareholders would earn good money. They forgot that when business flourishes so do the people. It is, therefore, good news for a country when it can report that its commercial establishments are strong. It is when they are weak that a country suffers high unemployment. To scoff at profits shows a lack of business sense, which is a serious failure in a country's leaders.
In our opinion Mr Christie's "buyer beware! cease and desist! do not proceed!" warning to Cable and Wireless is just so much political balderdash. What the future held for the Kerzner operation it also holds for the Cable & Wireless transaction. The main beneficiaries will be the Bahamas and its people.
It would be more than Mr Christie dare do with the Bahamas facing a $3.8 billion national debt to add to that debt by trying to dismantle the BTC/C&WC deal. If these are his plans it is up to the Bahamian people to make certain that his party is not returned to power.
Mr Christie, a procrastinator, who finds it difficult to make decisions at the best of times, would have nightmares over such an impossible exercise.
To Bahamians we say: Beware! This is silly season when the politicians seem to lose their mental balance -- so don't believe everything you hear in the marketplace.
April 04, 2011
tribune242 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.
Monday, April 4, 2011
Sunday, April 3, 2011
The likelihood of Branville McCartney surviving this political slaughter is slim...
“McCartney’s New Party Unlikely”
By ROGAN SMITH
It seems Branville McCartney is going to have a tough job convincing candidates to join the political party he’s trying to form as some of the people he’s attempting to court think of it as "a joke" and not a viable alternative to the two major political parties.
Some of the people who attended Mr. McCartney’s meeting Tuesday night said the Bamboo Town MP is clearly "out of his element."
According to a well-placed source close to discussions, Mr. McCartney, who invited 100 people to his home to discuss the new party, just does not seem to know what he is doing.
"The likelihood of him surviving this political slaughter is slim," the source said.
Mr. McCartney reportedly wants the leaders of two third parties – the Bahamas Democratic Movement (BDM) and the National Development Party (NDP) – to dissolve their organisations and choose a leader democratically.
According the source, those leaders are not even considering such a request.
The Journal understands that the NDP took exception to the request and it remains a "sore spot."
A local newspaper recently reported that Mr. McCartney had raised as much as $25 million to fund his new party. However, the source says that is "pure nonsense."
"Bran has no funding. He says people have agreed to help him if he is able to get commitments. They’re telling him ‘if you form this party we’ll give you the money.’ Bran says he wants to raise $25 million, which is a long stretch. The other parties aren’t even raising that amount," said the source, who agreed to the Journal’s interview on condition of anonymity.
"Branville doesn’t have the money. The major issue at the meeting was fundraising. There were also a lot of arguments going back and forth with people pontificating during the meeting. There was a lot of flowery talk, but nothing of substance. The meeting was full of chaos and confusion. It really just became a social hangout."
The source said to make matters worse, Mr. McCartney is courting a lot of "reject people."
"He is flocking towards candidates who I’m sure even the third parties would reject. Some of these people have very little chance of making a mark on the political scenery," he said.
Even more frustrating, the source says, is the fact that the former cabinet minister is expecting potential candidates to follow him, even though he does not have much political experience.
"Why should these people leave the parties they are with to join up with Bran? He’s someone who has never articulated any vision for the country. What has he done? The only thing he did was resign from Hubert Ingraham’s cabinet and later Hubert Ingraham’s party," he said.
"Mr. McCartney could not even complete his full term as a junior minister. Why would anyone follow his lead? He’s great at marketing himself. He’s great at public relations, but leadership, I don’t think so."
The source said many people turned up to the meeting simply to see what Mr. McCartney is up to.
"A lot of them are going to war during this election. They wanted to know what he’s doing and who the key players are. But, it’s a joke," he said.
"Bran believes that because he’s in the House [of Assembly] and is a sitting MP that he has the upper hand. I’ll give him this; he’s very calculating. But, what he’s attempting now has been done before. I can’t follow a man who [isn’t] smarter than me."
He continued, "Mr. McCartney need only tap the shoulders of Dr. Bernard Nottage [Bain and Grants Town MP] and ask him how it worked out for him when he left the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) to form his own party. The Coalition for Democratic Reform didn’t fare well, and that’s with a leader who was a political heavyweight."
The Journal understands that a union president, a former talk show host and several other politicians attended Mr. McCartney’s meeting.
"When you’re putting together a party, you have to dissect the candidates and decide who to run. When you pick just anyone the quality of your party deteriorates. Ask any fisherman fishing with a net, when you cast your net, you not only pull up grouper, you also pull up goggle eye fish, seaweed and some rocks – things you can’t use. The point I’m seeking to make is that Bran is courting candidates he can’t use politically," the source said.
Another well-placed source, who requested anonymity, said he does not think that Mr. McCartney will hold on to his constituency. He said he believes the majority of voters will elect a PLP or Free National Movement (FNM) candidate.
"Some people are excited about Bran, but quite frankly he’s going to get demolished at the polls. I’m concerned whether his party will survive after this upcoming election. If he loses tomorrow, I can guarantee you that he’s not going to stick in there. He has no stickability, his quitting as state minister and later the FNM, proved that. When things aren’t going his way, he’s out of there and he lacks courage," he said.
"Look at what he did in the House when the first vote on BTC came up. He was nowhere to be found. A true leader would’ve sat behind Mr. Ingraham and voted ‘no’ on the issue. Be a man. Then, he’s too wishy-washy. He says he respects Mr. Ingraham’s leadership, but felt stifled, then he comes up with some other excuse to try and preserve his political career. Which is it?"
The source said the true test will be what happens after the election.
March 31st, 2011
jonesbahamas
By ROGAN SMITH
It seems Branville McCartney is going to have a tough job convincing candidates to join the political party he’s trying to form as some of the people he’s attempting to court think of it as "a joke" and not a viable alternative to the two major political parties.
Some of the people who attended Mr. McCartney’s meeting Tuesday night said the Bamboo Town MP is clearly "out of his element."
According to a well-placed source close to discussions, Mr. McCartney, who invited 100 people to his home to discuss the new party, just does not seem to know what he is doing.
"The likelihood of him surviving this political slaughter is slim," the source said.
Mr. McCartney reportedly wants the leaders of two third parties – the Bahamas Democratic Movement (BDM) and the National Development Party (NDP) – to dissolve their organisations and choose a leader democratically.
According the source, those leaders are not even considering such a request.
The Journal understands that the NDP took exception to the request and it remains a "sore spot."
A local newspaper recently reported that Mr. McCartney had raised as much as $25 million to fund his new party. However, the source says that is "pure nonsense."
"Bran has no funding. He says people have agreed to help him if he is able to get commitments. They’re telling him ‘if you form this party we’ll give you the money.’ Bran says he wants to raise $25 million, which is a long stretch. The other parties aren’t even raising that amount," said the source, who agreed to the Journal’s interview on condition of anonymity.
"Branville doesn’t have the money. The major issue at the meeting was fundraising. There were also a lot of arguments going back and forth with people pontificating during the meeting. There was a lot of flowery talk, but nothing of substance. The meeting was full of chaos and confusion. It really just became a social hangout."
The source said to make matters worse, Mr. McCartney is courting a lot of "reject people."
"He is flocking towards candidates who I’m sure even the third parties would reject. Some of these people have very little chance of making a mark on the political scenery," he said.
Even more frustrating, the source says, is the fact that the former cabinet minister is expecting potential candidates to follow him, even though he does not have much political experience.
"Why should these people leave the parties they are with to join up with Bran? He’s someone who has never articulated any vision for the country. What has he done? The only thing he did was resign from Hubert Ingraham’s cabinet and later Hubert Ingraham’s party," he said.
"Mr. McCartney could not even complete his full term as a junior minister. Why would anyone follow his lead? He’s great at marketing himself. He’s great at public relations, but leadership, I don’t think so."
The source said many people turned up to the meeting simply to see what Mr. McCartney is up to.
"A lot of them are going to war during this election. They wanted to know what he’s doing and who the key players are. But, it’s a joke," he said.
"Bran believes that because he’s in the House [of Assembly] and is a sitting MP that he has the upper hand. I’ll give him this; he’s very calculating. But, what he’s attempting now has been done before. I can’t follow a man who [isn’t] smarter than me."
He continued, "Mr. McCartney need only tap the shoulders of Dr. Bernard Nottage [Bain and Grants Town MP] and ask him how it worked out for him when he left the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) to form his own party. The Coalition for Democratic Reform didn’t fare well, and that’s with a leader who was a political heavyweight."
The Journal understands that a union president, a former talk show host and several other politicians attended Mr. McCartney’s meeting.
"When you’re putting together a party, you have to dissect the candidates and decide who to run. When you pick just anyone the quality of your party deteriorates. Ask any fisherman fishing with a net, when you cast your net, you not only pull up grouper, you also pull up goggle eye fish, seaweed and some rocks – things you can’t use. The point I’m seeking to make is that Bran is courting candidates he can’t use politically," the source said.
Another well-placed source, who requested anonymity, said he does not think that Mr. McCartney will hold on to his constituency. He said he believes the majority of voters will elect a PLP or Free National Movement (FNM) candidate.
"Some people are excited about Bran, but quite frankly he’s going to get demolished at the polls. I’m concerned whether his party will survive after this upcoming election. If he loses tomorrow, I can guarantee you that he’s not going to stick in there. He has no stickability, his quitting as state minister and later the FNM, proved that. When things aren’t going his way, he’s out of there and he lacks courage," he said.
"Look at what he did in the House when the first vote on BTC came up. He was nowhere to be found. A true leader would’ve sat behind Mr. Ingraham and voted ‘no’ on the issue. Be a man. Then, he’s too wishy-washy. He says he respects Mr. Ingraham’s leadership, but felt stifled, then he comes up with some other excuse to try and preserve his political career. Which is it?"
The source said the true test will be what happens after the election.
March 31st, 2011
jonesbahamas
Saturday, April 2, 2011
What is Bahamianisation?
What does Bahamianisation really mean?
tribune242 editorial
IN THE Senate this week Senator Dion Foulkes, leader of government business in the Senate, asked the question: What is Bahamianisation?
And answered: "Bahamianisation is a policy that promotes the economic, educational, cultural and social advancement of all Bahamians -- black Bahamians and white Bahamians."
That is what it was intended to be, but under the PLP -- the Pindling administration that is -- it was the most effective instrument of torture. It was effective because it quietly got results behind the scenes and out of the public eye.
In the early days Bahamianisation was concentrated on employment -- the promotion of Bahamians to jobs that were not open to them before. The concept was admirable. However, its application did great damage to the country because many Bahamians were appointed to positions for which they were not qualified. Their only qualification was having a friend in high places, and being committed to cast their vote for the right party -- the PLP.
"Who started Bahamianisation?" Senator Foulkes asked.
"In my view," he said, "Bahamianisation was promulgated and introduced in the House of Assembly in 1956 by the late Sir Etienne Dupuch.
"Prior to this," he said, "several black Bahamians like, but not limited to, L Walton Young, Dr C R Walker, Leon McKinney, A F Adderley, Sir Clifford Darling, Sir Randol Fawkes and Sir Milo Butler were also pioneers in the Bahamianisation movement even though at the time it was not called Bahamianisation."
"Later in the mid-1950's and 60's," he said, "many other Bahamians would join the fight for the economic, educational and social advancement of black Bahamians.
"Men like Sir Lynden Pindling, Sir Cecil Wallace Whitfield, Sir Arthur Foulkes, Arthur Hanna, Sir Clement Maynard, Sir Kendal Isaacs, Paul Adderley and Sir Orville Turnquest continued the Bahamianisation movement up to 1967 and beyond.
"Our Prime Minister, the Right Honourable Hubert Ingraham and former Prime Minister Perry Christie are both advocates of Bahamianisation," he said.
The concept that Bahamians should be first in their own country was always advocated by The Tribune, going back almost to its founding.
During the premiership of the late Sir Roland Symonette there was a lose form of screening before a foreigner could be employed by a local firm.
There were no foreigners on the staff of The Tribune in the early days. However, as The Tribune developed it outgrew the abilities of its local staff and a foreigner had to be brought in for advanced training, especially when new printing equipment came on the market. We recall during Sir Roland's administration having to get clearance from Mr Stuart Hall, who headed Immigration at the time. We were required to justify the need for our request.
And then came the PLP under Lynden Pindling and the idea of Bahamianisation became institutionalised with strict rules, and many prejudices.
It was still a good concept, but being administered by the wrong hands.
There only had to be a suspicion that you did not vote for the right party to lose your job -- civil servants suffered most in this category. We recall several sad cases involving teachers. And if you happened to work for a foreign company, pressure was brought to bear on that company to get rid of you. The company did not dare balk if it valued its own work permits.
There are many sad tales to be told in Inagua of how families were destroyed when foreign husbands were forced out of their jobs and had to leave town, or in Nassau where Bahamian women, who belonged to the wrong party, could not bring their spouse to the Bahamas because they would not be granted work permits. The Ingraham government introduced the spousal permit to end this iniquity.
As for The Tribune we could write a book about what we had to go through. It seemed a cruel game was being played in which the two top men in the PLP government at the time took great delight.
For many of us "Bahamianisation" was an ugly word, but when administered as intended it saw the advancement of many qualified Bahamians. The advent of the Ingraham government in 1992 opened opportunities to women. During this period women were appointed for the first time to the posts of Chief Justice, Speaker of the House, Attorney General, Governor General and the Appeals Court.
As Senator Foulkes pointed out, the FNM in its first and second and now third term made "significant progress in Bahamianising many institutions and private sector companies. Many banks, hotels and industrial companies were headed by Bahamians for the first time under the FNM."
The implementation, in the words of Senator Foulkes, means that "qualified Bahamians are afforded the first option for employment. A work permit would not be issued to a non-Bahamian where there is a qualified Bahamian who is able and willing to work."
Today party affiliation and friendships should have no place in considering favourably an application for a work permit where there is no qualified Bahamian "who is able and willing to work."
Thursday, March 31, 2011
tribune242 editorial
tribune242 editorial
IN THE Senate this week Senator Dion Foulkes, leader of government business in the Senate, asked the question: What is Bahamianisation?
And answered: "Bahamianisation is a policy that promotes the economic, educational, cultural and social advancement of all Bahamians -- black Bahamians and white Bahamians."
That is what it was intended to be, but under the PLP -- the Pindling administration that is -- it was the most effective instrument of torture. It was effective because it quietly got results behind the scenes and out of the public eye.
In the early days Bahamianisation was concentrated on employment -- the promotion of Bahamians to jobs that were not open to them before. The concept was admirable. However, its application did great damage to the country because many Bahamians were appointed to positions for which they were not qualified. Their only qualification was having a friend in high places, and being committed to cast their vote for the right party -- the PLP.
"Who started Bahamianisation?" Senator Foulkes asked.
"In my view," he said, "Bahamianisation was promulgated and introduced in the House of Assembly in 1956 by the late Sir Etienne Dupuch.
"Prior to this," he said, "several black Bahamians like, but not limited to, L Walton Young, Dr C R Walker, Leon McKinney, A F Adderley, Sir Clifford Darling, Sir Randol Fawkes and Sir Milo Butler were also pioneers in the Bahamianisation movement even though at the time it was not called Bahamianisation."
"Later in the mid-1950's and 60's," he said, "many other Bahamians would join the fight for the economic, educational and social advancement of black Bahamians.
"Men like Sir Lynden Pindling, Sir Cecil Wallace Whitfield, Sir Arthur Foulkes, Arthur Hanna, Sir Clement Maynard, Sir Kendal Isaacs, Paul Adderley and Sir Orville Turnquest continued the Bahamianisation movement up to 1967 and beyond.
"Our Prime Minister, the Right Honourable Hubert Ingraham and former Prime Minister Perry Christie are both advocates of Bahamianisation," he said.
The concept that Bahamians should be first in their own country was always advocated by The Tribune, going back almost to its founding.
During the premiership of the late Sir Roland Symonette there was a lose form of screening before a foreigner could be employed by a local firm.
There were no foreigners on the staff of The Tribune in the early days. However, as The Tribune developed it outgrew the abilities of its local staff and a foreigner had to be brought in for advanced training, especially when new printing equipment came on the market. We recall during Sir Roland's administration having to get clearance from Mr Stuart Hall, who headed Immigration at the time. We were required to justify the need for our request.
And then came the PLP under Lynden Pindling and the idea of Bahamianisation became institutionalised with strict rules, and many prejudices.
It was still a good concept, but being administered by the wrong hands.
There only had to be a suspicion that you did not vote for the right party to lose your job -- civil servants suffered most in this category. We recall several sad cases involving teachers. And if you happened to work for a foreign company, pressure was brought to bear on that company to get rid of you. The company did not dare balk if it valued its own work permits.
There are many sad tales to be told in Inagua of how families were destroyed when foreign husbands were forced out of their jobs and had to leave town, or in Nassau where Bahamian women, who belonged to the wrong party, could not bring their spouse to the Bahamas because they would not be granted work permits. The Ingraham government introduced the spousal permit to end this iniquity.
As for The Tribune we could write a book about what we had to go through. It seemed a cruel game was being played in which the two top men in the PLP government at the time took great delight.
For many of us "Bahamianisation" was an ugly word, but when administered as intended it saw the advancement of many qualified Bahamians. The advent of the Ingraham government in 1992 opened opportunities to women. During this period women were appointed for the first time to the posts of Chief Justice, Speaker of the House, Attorney General, Governor General and the Appeals Court.
As Senator Foulkes pointed out, the FNM in its first and second and now third term made "significant progress in Bahamianising many institutions and private sector companies. Many banks, hotels and industrial companies were headed by Bahamians for the first time under the FNM."
The implementation, in the words of Senator Foulkes, means that "qualified Bahamians are afforded the first option for employment. A work permit would not be issued to a non-Bahamian where there is a qualified Bahamian who is able and willing to work."
Today party affiliation and friendships should have no place in considering favourably an application for a work permit where there is no qualified Bahamian "who is able and willing to work."
Thursday, March 31, 2011
tribune242 editorial
Friday, April 1, 2011
Voting is an important part of the democratic process... However, voting should not be confused with democracy
Does it matter if you vote?
thenassauguardian editorial
Interesting debates always emerge when the question is posed as to whether or not citizens living in democracies should feel obligated to vote.
Most democracies were fought for. People who campaigned for freedom, self-governance and civil rights were jailed, some were murdered, some were beaten and many others were victimized. Some of these fights were actual wars.
In this context, we all should take the vote seriously. It is not a right, but a gift fought for by those who came before us.
As we all sit and evaluate the political parties and independent candidates who will offer for public office in the run-up to the next general election, we should make every effort to determine if there is someone on the ballot good enough to vote for.
Those who do not think there is anyone good enough to vote for should consider entering the race or the political process.
But if the ballot is filled with poor candidates, what should a voter do? Should voters feel compelled to vote?
No, they should not. Voting is an important part of the democratic process. However, voting should not be confused with democracy. Democracy is about self-governance. As citizens, we have a responsibility to do this everyday – not just every five years.
By working at a charity, providing assistance to the homeless, democracy is at work; by volunteering as a mentor at a school, democracy is at work; by raising an educated, hardworking law-abiding citizen, democracy is at work.
So for those who think there is no reasonable offering to vote for at the next general election, you should rest assured that there are many other ways to participate in the advancement and governance of The Bahamas.
A group of residents in a community can easily come together, approach their public school, and start an after school literacy program for the children falling behind, for example.
Simple initiatives such as these, if done by many individuals or by many groups, can do much to change the lives of the disadvantaged and the soon-to-be lost.
Elections are important; voting is important. But if you think the mainstream political parties are pathetic and the independents are incompetent, do not distress. You can exercise your democratic power everyday by doing something to help build the community.
3/30/2011
thenassauguardian editorial
thenassauguardian editorial
Interesting debates always emerge when the question is posed as to whether or not citizens living in democracies should feel obligated to vote.
Most democracies were fought for. People who campaigned for freedom, self-governance and civil rights were jailed, some were murdered, some were beaten and many others were victimized. Some of these fights were actual wars.
In this context, we all should take the vote seriously. It is not a right, but a gift fought for by those who came before us.
As we all sit and evaluate the political parties and independent candidates who will offer for public office in the run-up to the next general election, we should make every effort to determine if there is someone on the ballot good enough to vote for.
Those who do not think there is anyone good enough to vote for should consider entering the race or the political process.
But if the ballot is filled with poor candidates, what should a voter do? Should voters feel compelled to vote?
No, they should not. Voting is an important part of the democratic process. However, voting should not be confused with democracy. Democracy is about self-governance. As citizens, we have a responsibility to do this everyday – not just every five years.
By working at a charity, providing assistance to the homeless, democracy is at work; by volunteering as a mentor at a school, democracy is at work; by raising an educated, hardworking law-abiding citizen, democracy is at work.
So for those who think there is no reasonable offering to vote for at the next general election, you should rest assured that there are many other ways to participate in the advancement and governance of The Bahamas.
A group of residents in a community can easily come together, approach their public school, and start an after school literacy program for the children falling behind, for example.
Simple initiatives such as these, if done by many individuals or by many groups, can do much to change the lives of the disadvantaged and the soon-to-be lost.
Elections are important; voting is important. But if you think the mainstream political parties are pathetic and the independents are incompetent, do not distress. You can exercise your democratic power everyday by doing something to help build the community.
3/30/2011
thenassauguardian editorial
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Renward Wells - National Development Party (NDP) leader: ...now is the time for a third party to really make a difference in the political landscape of The Bahamas
NDP leader: it's time for a third party in Bahamas
By PAUL G. TURNQUEST
Tribune Staff Reporter
pturnquest@tribunemedia.net
HEADING into their discussions last night with Independent MP Branville McCartney, NDP leader Renward Wells said that he feels now is the time for a third party to really make a difference in the political landscape of the Bahamas.
Hoping to either court the Bamboo Town MP into joining the NDP or have their party make some type of alliance with whatever movement Mr McCartney will form, Mr Wells said they hope to be "the alternative" to both the PLP and the FNM at the polls.
"We believe that it is high time for another party, other than the PLP or the FNM. It is absolutely the right time to do it," he said.
At the meeting, which was scheduled to be held at Mr McCartney's home on John F Kennedy Drive, Mr Wells said that the NDP will have 14 persons present, including himself, as representative from the Bahamas Democratic Movement. Other notable young politicians are reported to be attending.
Mr Wells said that his party has decided to send such a large contingent because they represent the heads of a number of their internal committees and must relate what transpired with first hand knowledge.
"Actually I am taking a lot of people who support Mr McCartney so they can hear from him as to what is what, and then they can make up their minds based on what they currently believe and are willing to accept. Because at the end of the day, the others have made their position quite known, this is what it is, he must come to the NDP and they are not changing from that at all.
"And they have said they don't want to go. This is our position and we are not changing that," he said.
Mr Wells said that based on what happens at the meeting last night he may have to "work" on these party members if the NDP intends to move in the direction of aligning itself with Mr McCartney.
If the Bamboo Town MP were to join with the NDP and lead the organization, Mr Wells said that they will hold a convention within 30 days so that this decision can be made by their entire organization.
"There are even people in the NDP already who would want him (Mr McCartney) for leadership; most certainly. I believe that at the end of the day, those persons not only support Bran being the leader of the party, they support it being done the right way.
"I don't want people to believe that Renward Wells is a megalomaniac. I am willing of Bran being the leader in the House of Assembly because he is the only one there. Undoubtedly I can tell you that if I run against him (for the leadership) he will more than likely win. But this isn't about me. This is about the Bahamian people. If they believe that Bran is the best man to make that change, I will grab my shield and follow him into battle," he said.
As a relatively new political organization, Mr Wells said that the NDP has already faced its share of challenges - namely the departure of its former national chairman Dr Andre Rollins. However, he said that because their party is grounded in its message and "principles", they have survived.
"A political party must not be about a man, it must be about the message. It can't be about the person, it must be about the principle. You cannot have an idol, you must have an ideology. Men and women will come and go, but the truth and the message will remain. When you create parties around men, they fail; look at the CDR (Coalition for Democratic Reform). The NDP will and cannot join any institution that is built around a man," he said.
March 30, 2011
tribune242
By PAUL G. TURNQUEST
Tribune Staff Reporter
pturnquest@tribunemedia.net
HEADING into their discussions last night with Independent MP Branville McCartney, NDP leader Renward Wells said that he feels now is the time for a third party to really make a difference in the political landscape of the Bahamas.
Hoping to either court the Bamboo Town MP into joining the NDP or have their party make some type of alliance with whatever movement Mr McCartney will form, Mr Wells said they hope to be "the alternative" to both the PLP and the FNM at the polls.
"We believe that it is high time for another party, other than the PLP or the FNM. It is absolutely the right time to do it," he said.
At the meeting, which was scheduled to be held at Mr McCartney's home on John F Kennedy Drive, Mr Wells said that the NDP will have 14 persons present, including himself, as representative from the Bahamas Democratic Movement. Other notable young politicians are reported to be attending.
Mr Wells said that his party has decided to send such a large contingent because they represent the heads of a number of their internal committees and must relate what transpired with first hand knowledge.
"Actually I am taking a lot of people who support Mr McCartney so they can hear from him as to what is what, and then they can make up their minds based on what they currently believe and are willing to accept. Because at the end of the day, the others have made their position quite known, this is what it is, he must come to the NDP and they are not changing from that at all.
"And they have said they don't want to go. This is our position and we are not changing that," he said.
Mr Wells said that based on what happens at the meeting last night he may have to "work" on these party members if the NDP intends to move in the direction of aligning itself with Mr McCartney.
If the Bamboo Town MP were to join with the NDP and lead the organization, Mr Wells said that they will hold a convention within 30 days so that this decision can be made by their entire organization.
"There are even people in the NDP already who would want him (Mr McCartney) for leadership; most certainly. I believe that at the end of the day, those persons not only support Bran being the leader of the party, they support it being done the right way.
"I don't want people to believe that Renward Wells is a megalomaniac. I am willing of Bran being the leader in the House of Assembly because he is the only one there. Undoubtedly I can tell you that if I run against him (for the leadership) he will more than likely win. But this isn't about me. This is about the Bahamian people. If they believe that Bran is the best man to make that change, I will grab my shield and follow him into battle," he said.
As a relatively new political organization, Mr Wells said that the NDP has already faced its share of challenges - namely the departure of its former national chairman Dr Andre Rollins. However, he said that because their party is grounded in its message and "principles", they have survived.
"A political party must not be about a man, it must be about the message. It can't be about the person, it must be about the principle. You cannot have an idol, you must have an ideology. Men and women will come and go, but the truth and the message will remain. When you create parties around men, they fail; look at the CDR (Coalition for Democratic Reform). The NDP will and cannot join any institution that is built around a man," he said.
March 30, 2011
tribune242
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Our education system is failing... It is particularly failing our boys
Education system failing our boys
thenassauguardian editorial
Last week new College of The Bahamas (COB) President Dr. Betsy Vogel-Boze told the Zonta Club that only 14 percent of COB graduates are male.
“It is not a problem that happens once they get to us. They are not graduating at the same rates, they are not applying for college at the same rates and that gap continues to widen,” she said.
The newly-landed foreign head of COB is right. Each year the results of the Bahamas General Certificate of Secondary Education (BGCSE) reveal the problem with boys in the education system.
In 2010, girls received 16,233 grades; boys received 10,683 grades. Boys are only receiving 39.7 percent of the grades issued at the senior exams.
The boys receive fewer grades because fewer of them are there at graduation. Our boys are dropping out in large numbers.
What is even sadder is that the boys who stay in school long enough to do their final exams are doing poorly.
For A through C grades at the 2010 BGCSE’s, girls received about double the number of these grades than boys. However, as you move down the grade spectrum, grades D to U, the fewer boys in the system nearly match the girls in poor performance – 554 girls received the U grade and 448 boys did the same.
Our education system is failing. It is particularly failing our boys.
There is without question a correlation between education systems that fail boys and high crime rates. Young men unable to function in a modern economy will not simple sit down and starve to death.
The Bahamas has set three homicide records in four years and it is on pace to shatter last years dubious record. Police have also been battling a surge in recent years in armed robberies and property crimes such as house-breaking.
Our crisis is not just a crime crisis. It is a crisis of integrating young men into the legal economy and into civil society. A national effort is required to help our boys. One part of the strategy to help them may be to separate the genders in the public education system.
Environments need to be created helping young men, collectively, to equate masculinity with honest work, achievement and struggle. As we fail our boys in the current education system they go off into the underworld economy of drugs and violence.
The reformatory schools also need to be expanded. Those who cannot behave should not be allowed to remain in regular schools disrupting the peace. Those parents who cannot, or do not wish to, control their disruptive children should lose custody of those children to the state.
Just as the reformatory schools would exist for the disruptive, a new juvenile prison is needed at Her Majesty’s Prisons. This would be different from the reformatory schools, which would be schools for troubled children. Juvenile jail would be jail for young criminals.
These few suggestions should be a part of a wider national discussion on the failing Bahamian boy and man. We spend hundreds of millions of dollars on education in The Bahamas and we have the problems we have. Simply throwing more money at the education system is not necessarily the solution.
There was a time a few decades ago when women were discriminated against in the workplace and by law. We fortunately have evolved beyond those times. Today, however, as women rise and take on leadership positions in the country, men are falling.
The 14 percent figure at COB is dangerous. If we cannot reach our boys and encourage them to embrace education, more and more of them will be before our courts lost, confused and charged with all manner of violent offenses.
3/28/2011
thenassauguardian editorial
thenassauguardian editorial
Last week new College of The Bahamas (COB) President Dr. Betsy Vogel-Boze told the Zonta Club that only 14 percent of COB graduates are male.
“It is not a problem that happens once they get to us. They are not graduating at the same rates, they are not applying for college at the same rates and that gap continues to widen,” she said.
The newly-landed foreign head of COB is right. Each year the results of the Bahamas General Certificate of Secondary Education (BGCSE) reveal the problem with boys in the education system.
In 2010, girls received 16,233 grades; boys received 10,683 grades. Boys are only receiving 39.7 percent of the grades issued at the senior exams.
The boys receive fewer grades because fewer of them are there at graduation. Our boys are dropping out in large numbers.
What is even sadder is that the boys who stay in school long enough to do their final exams are doing poorly.
For A through C grades at the 2010 BGCSE’s, girls received about double the number of these grades than boys. However, as you move down the grade spectrum, grades D to U, the fewer boys in the system nearly match the girls in poor performance – 554 girls received the U grade and 448 boys did the same.
Our education system is failing. It is particularly failing our boys.
There is without question a correlation between education systems that fail boys and high crime rates. Young men unable to function in a modern economy will not simple sit down and starve to death.
The Bahamas has set three homicide records in four years and it is on pace to shatter last years dubious record. Police have also been battling a surge in recent years in armed robberies and property crimes such as house-breaking.
Our crisis is not just a crime crisis. It is a crisis of integrating young men into the legal economy and into civil society. A national effort is required to help our boys. One part of the strategy to help them may be to separate the genders in the public education system.
Environments need to be created helping young men, collectively, to equate masculinity with honest work, achievement and struggle. As we fail our boys in the current education system they go off into the underworld economy of drugs and violence.
The reformatory schools also need to be expanded. Those who cannot behave should not be allowed to remain in regular schools disrupting the peace. Those parents who cannot, or do not wish to, control their disruptive children should lose custody of those children to the state.
Just as the reformatory schools would exist for the disruptive, a new juvenile prison is needed at Her Majesty’s Prisons. This would be different from the reformatory schools, which would be schools for troubled children. Juvenile jail would be jail for young criminals.
These few suggestions should be a part of a wider national discussion on the failing Bahamian boy and man. We spend hundreds of millions of dollars on education in The Bahamas and we have the problems we have. Simply throwing more money at the education system is not necessarily the solution.
There was a time a few decades ago when women were discriminated against in the workplace and by law. We fortunately have evolved beyond those times. Today, however, as women rise and take on leadership positions in the country, men are falling.
The 14 percent figure at COB is dangerous. If we cannot reach our boys and encourage them to embrace education, more and more of them will be before our courts lost, confused and charged with all manner of violent offenses.
3/28/2011
thenassauguardian editorial
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Bahamians are registering to vote in greater numbers for the next general election...
Bahamian Voters Eager
By IANTHIA SMITH
It seemed to be just what the parliamentary registration needed; something to boost the low registration numbers in the country and according to Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Parliamentary Registration Department Sherlyn Hall an announcement by Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham on Friday did just that.
It was just three days ago the prime minister told reporters at a press conference that the voter register will be closed by July, an announcement that apparently put fire to many Bahamians who are now rushing to the registration booths.
Since that announcement, Mr. Hall said workers in his department have seen a massive increase in the numbers of Bahamians who have registered.
Since it began last year, the voter registration process was moving at a snail’s pace to the point where Parliamentary Commissioner Errol Bethel made several appeals for Bahamians to get the ball rolling in that regard.
Since Friday, it seems Bahamians have gotten on board and Mr. Hall right now some 30,300 people are on the register.
"Since that time we have had tremendous increase from Friday and Saturday’s figures," Mr. Hall said. "They have not been factored in so we are really looking at a tremendous increase on that 30,300.
"For instance on Friday we took over 413 persons alone at the Urban Renewal Centres throughout New Providence. So we’ve seen a tremendous increase all of last week."
On Friday, Prime Minister Ingraham said, "Sometime after June of this year, I propose to cause the current register of voters to [close] and by that I mean that I want that register to come to an end, which would mean that only persons who are registered on the new register will be eligible to vote," he told reporters on Friday.
"I’m going to give 90 days notice of that. I’m now thinking of giving that notice sometime in April so that sometime towards the end of June or July, I intend to bring the current register to an end. The boundaries commission will be appointed after that."
The deputy permanent secretary added that the Family Islands’ representatives are also reporting an upswing with their registration numbers.
He said up to yesterday alone, the department was expecting that some 500 to 700 more people would have registered to vote in the capital.
"I think (the announcement the prime minister made) helped with these figures," Mr. Hall added. "I think that’s where the boost came from. I think the more we can get people excited and let them know that they can come in early, the better it will be for everyone and we are now seeing them doing that. This is the boost we’ve been waiting on for a long time.
"We are very pleased with how things are going and we are pleased with the numbers that have been coming out but we want to urge the public to continue to come out."
The Bahama Journal was able to speak to some of the new registrants yesterday.
They said after hearing what the prime minister had to say last week, they had no choice but to get out and register.
"It’s good to be prepared," Austin Grant said as he waited for his voter’s card photo to be taken. "The way things are going right now they could call the election any minute and I’d like to be ready. It’s always good to be ready and after today I’ll be ready."
Another registrant said, "The reason why I came out is because they said election is coming soon and I’m trying to get in front of the line. What the prime minister said really made me think so I had to come out."
"I’m out here registering to vote so I can have a say in my country and I’m doing it now before it closes," another registrant said.
While he has not indicated any dates as yet, many are speculating that Prime Minister Ingraham will call an election before the end of the year.
March 29th, 2011
jonesbahamas
By IANTHIA SMITH
It seemed to be just what the parliamentary registration needed; something to boost the low registration numbers in the country and according to Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Parliamentary Registration Department Sherlyn Hall an announcement by Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham on Friday did just that.
It was just three days ago the prime minister told reporters at a press conference that the voter register will be closed by July, an announcement that apparently put fire to many Bahamians who are now rushing to the registration booths.
Since that announcement, Mr. Hall said workers in his department have seen a massive increase in the numbers of Bahamians who have registered.
Since it began last year, the voter registration process was moving at a snail’s pace to the point where Parliamentary Commissioner Errol Bethel made several appeals for Bahamians to get the ball rolling in that regard.
Since Friday, it seems Bahamians have gotten on board and Mr. Hall right now some 30,300 people are on the register.
"Since that time we have had tremendous increase from Friday and Saturday’s figures," Mr. Hall said. "They have not been factored in so we are really looking at a tremendous increase on that 30,300.
"For instance on Friday we took over 413 persons alone at the Urban Renewal Centres throughout New Providence. So we’ve seen a tremendous increase all of last week."
On Friday, Prime Minister Ingraham said, "Sometime after June of this year, I propose to cause the current register of voters to [close] and by that I mean that I want that register to come to an end, which would mean that only persons who are registered on the new register will be eligible to vote," he told reporters on Friday.
"I’m going to give 90 days notice of that. I’m now thinking of giving that notice sometime in April so that sometime towards the end of June or July, I intend to bring the current register to an end. The boundaries commission will be appointed after that."
The deputy permanent secretary added that the Family Islands’ representatives are also reporting an upswing with their registration numbers.
He said up to yesterday alone, the department was expecting that some 500 to 700 more people would have registered to vote in the capital.
"I think (the announcement the prime minister made) helped with these figures," Mr. Hall added. "I think that’s where the boost came from. I think the more we can get people excited and let them know that they can come in early, the better it will be for everyone and we are now seeing them doing that. This is the boost we’ve been waiting on for a long time.
"We are very pleased with how things are going and we are pleased with the numbers that have been coming out but we want to urge the public to continue to come out."
The Bahama Journal was able to speak to some of the new registrants yesterday.
They said after hearing what the prime minister had to say last week, they had no choice but to get out and register.
"It’s good to be prepared," Austin Grant said as he waited for his voter’s card photo to be taken. "The way things are going right now they could call the election any minute and I’d like to be ready. It’s always good to be ready and after today I’ll be ready."
Another registrant said, "The reason why I came out is because they said election is coming soon and I’m trying to get in front of the line. What the prime minister said really made me think so I had to come out."
"I’m out here registering to vote so I can have a say in my country and I’m doing it now before it closes," another registrant said.
While he has not indicated any dates as yet, many are speculating that Prime Minister Ingraham will call an election before the end of the year.
March 29th, 2011
jonesbahamas
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