BTC has new owners. Time to move on
tribune242 editorial
AFTER 14 long years of starts, stops, demonstrations and a few hiccups, Bahamas Telecommunications Company is now a private company.
The much disputed sale agreement was finally signed in the Cabinet office yesterday with a prediction by the new owners that a "new era" in the Bahamas telecommunications sector is on the horizon.
Cable and Wireless Communications, a London-based worldwide communications company, now owns 51 per cent of BTC for which it paid Government $210 million in full and $14.3 million in kind and cash completion dividends from BTC.
Early this year Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham, who had said that the money was earmarked for construction of the new hospital, announced that because of the economic downturn the payment would now have to go directly to the reduction of the national debt. The new owners will be protected from predators for the next three years in which time they will prepare the company with a more efficient staff and upgraded technology to face competition -- the first in its long history.
Only three years after Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone in 1876, telephonic communications arrived in New Providence on a limited scale. It was from this invention that Cable Beach got its name when in 1892 an undersea cable was laid from Jupiter, Florida, to New Providence, surfacing at what is now Goodman's Bay. The small police barracks was constructed nearby in 1894 and had telephone contact with its stations in Grants Town and the Eastern District.
In 1924 the Nassau Telephone directory -- measuring 8" by 41/2", less than a quarter of an inch thick with 11 pages -- had 584 subscribers. It looked like a gentleman's brown leather wallet.
In case of a fire, Bahamians called 45, the Governor's office at Government House was 1, the Attorney General's chambers were 7, the Treasury 139 and The Tribune 260.
The little book advised constant practice of eight specified rules to receive good telephone service. The final rule was to "let the telephone reflect your personality in as pleasing a manner as though you were talking face to face." The booklet closed with the warning: "Do not use the telephone during lightning storms." The directory was printed by the City Press.
Look at the Bahamas' telephone directory today with its separate edition for the yellow pages for advertising and appreciate how far we have progressed from 1924 in the world of telecommunications.
In 1938 many changes were made to the department, chief of which was the switch over from the manual dial to the automated dial system. At this time it was known as the Telecommunications Department or Telecoms.
Later it became The Bahamas Telecommunications Corporation and most recently, in preparation for privatisation, it was transformed from a corporation to a company -- The Bahamas Telecommunications Company. Over the years BTC has done well. However, the Bahamas with its limited resources has developed the company as far as it can. It now needs a strong strategic partner to give it a global footprint.
The new technology is mind-boggling with the ability to switch to cellular towers from mobile phones. These cell sites are able to transmit vast amounts of data over the airwaves -- now almost too fast for man to assimilate. It provides instant communication, the results of which one can see daily on TV as the youth of backward nations demand that their governments move into the modern age. Instant telecommunications -- Blackberrys, iPods, Facebook and Twitter -- have informed them of how the rest of the world lives, and they want to join the band.
"BTC has posted strong revenues and profits in the past largely as a result of the very lack of competition that has led to the high fees that have kept Bahamians at the mercy of a monopoly, allowing BTC to generate strong profits despite its very high operating expenses," Mr Ingraham told the House in a Communication as the privatisation debate opened. "If BTC were exposed to competition tomorrow in mobile services, it would likely not survive. There is no way it could compete with a lean and aggressive competitor entering this market with a low cost base and aggressive marketing budget.
"We need," he said, "to give Bahamians competitive communications, but at the same time we want BTC to survive and prosper as a company preserving as many jobs as we can, to be a company that Bahamians can be proud to work for, to buy from and to have an ownership stake in."
It's now time to put down the placards and help build a telecommunications network of which all Bahamians can be proud.
April 07, 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.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Political interference has resulted in "low operating efficiency" and "misuse" of the Bahamas Electricity Corporation (BEC) - says Consultant's Report
BEC 'misused' from political interference
By NEIL HARTNELL
Tribune Business Editor
Political interference has resulted in "low operating efficiency" and "misuse" of the Bahamas Electricity Corporation (BEC), a consultant's report has confirmed, urging that it be allowed to operate as a commercial, profit-driven business supervised by an independent regulator.
Fichtner, the German consultants hired to perform an overview of the Bahamian energy sector's ownership and regulatory structure as part of an Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) funded project, recommended that there be "a basic change in the institutional set-up and the existing framework of the regulatory sector".
Noting that BEC was currently under government control, with the administration and BEC effectively regulating itself, the Fichtner report concluded: "The existing direct relationship between the Government of the Bahamas and BEC.... creates direct political influence on the provision of services, which very often results in the misuse of the Corporation for political targets, low operating efficiency due to missing efficiency incentives and low accountability of the utility."
Consultants:
As a result, the consultants urged that going forward the Government had to confine itself to setting policy and strategies for BEC and the energy sector, overseeing their implementation.
An independent regulator, likely the Utilities Regulation & Competition Authority (URCA), was also recommended for the Bahamian energy sector, with BEC charged to "operate as a profitable, commercial enterprise" regardless of whether it is publicly or privately owned.
Fichtner's report also noted that BEC had a "quasi monopoly" under the existing Electricity Act, as no other person could produce power exceeding 250 kilowatts (kWh) without prior approval from the relevant minister. The only exceptions to this were back-up generators.
"The Electricity Act, as the major piece of sector legislation, does not address the relevant issues that are required to implement the objectives of the Government of the Bahamas as set out in the National Energy Policy," the report said. "In fact, the Electricity Act adversely affects the implementation of such policy, and is therefore suggested to be replaced."
Wednesday, April 06, 2011
tribune242
By NEIL HARTNELL
Tribune Business Editor
Political interference has resulted in "low operating efficiency" and "misuse" of the Bahamas Electricity Corporation (BEC), a consultant's report has confirmed, urging that it be allowed to operate as a commercial, profit-driven business supervised by an independent regulator.
Fichtner, the German consultants hired to perform an overview of the Bahamian energy sector's ownership and regulatory structure as part of an Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) funded project, recommended that there be "a basic change in the institutional set-up and the existing framework of the regulatory sector".
Noting that BEC was currently under government control, with the administration and BEC effectively regulating itself, the Fichtner report concluded: "The existing direct relationship between the Government of the Bahamas and BEC.... creates direct political influence on the provision of services, which very often results in the misuse of the Corporation for political targets, low operating efficiency due to missing efficiency incentives and low accountability of the utility."
Consultants:
As a result, the consultants urged that going forward the Government had to confine itself to setting policy and strategies for BEC and the energy sector, overseeing their implementation.
An independent regulator, likely the Utilities Regulation & Competition Authority (URCA), was also recommended for the Bahamian energy sector, with BEC charged to "operate as a profitable, commercial enterprise" regardless of whether it is publicly or privately owned.
Fichtner's report also noted that BEC had a "quasi monopoly" under the existing Electricity Act, as no other person could produce power exceeding 250 kilowatts (kWh) without prior approval from the relevant minister. The only exceptions to this were back-up generators.
"The Electricity Act, as the major piece of sector legislation, does not address the relevant issues that are required to implement the objectives of the Government of the Bahamas as set out in the National Energy Policy," the report said. "In fact, the Electricity Act adversely affects the implementation of such policy, and is therefore suggested to be replaced."
Wednesday, April 06, 2011
tribune242
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Bahamians want to know what more can be done legally and constitutionally to address the bail crisis
The bail crisis
thenassauguardian editorial
With the release of the recent murder statistics showing alarming increases, Bahamians are growing increasingly frightened for themselves, their loved ones, their property — and our way of life.
This must be a sobering moment for the Government. It should also be a sober moment for the Opposition, as they too, were unable to arrest the rise in serious crime.
This is not a moment for the Government to lose its nerve or for the Opposition to attempt to score political points on what is arguably the number one issue for most citizens.
One area which most Bahamians feel some headway can be made in the fight against crime is in regards to bail for serious criminals.
The government and Minister of National Security Tommy Turnquest should be commended for implementing the electronic monitoring bracelet system, which it is hoped will go a long way in preventing suspects from re-offending.
But it is still hard for Bahamians to understand why so many dangerous criminals are out on bail, mocking our system of justice and terrorizing us in our homes and in our businesses.
Our murder rate would have been lower over the past several years if a number of the persons on bail were still in custody. We have had three record-breaking murder counts in four years. We are on pace to have another record breaking year when it comes to murders.
Rulings by the Privy Council on how long an individual can be held on remand before being released on bail were intended to protect the innocent and various civil liberties. The ruling has had unintended consequences, mostly arising from how unprepared our national leadership was to deal with such a momentous ruling.
Bahamians want to understand what is going on. And they want action.
So far, the political leadership of the country, FNM and PLP, has failed to adequately explain and effectively communicate the details of the Privy Council ruling, which inadvertently helped to fuel the current crisis.
More urgently, Bahamians want to know what more can be done legally and constitutionally to address the bail crisis.
The government has said that it will amend the Bail Act to limit the circumstances under which bail may be granted. From what we understand, there has been some concern surrounding the constitutionality of such a move.
Are there constitutional changes that can be made in this area? If there are, they should be explored, if that is not already being done. If not, it should be explained to the public.
Crime knows no boundaries or person, property or politics.
Bahamians do not want finger-pointing and the casting of blame. There is plenty of blame to go around, including of those citizens who tolerate or turn a blind eye to certain crimes when it is convenient.
Bahamians want and deserve a better explanation in terms of the various issues surrounding the matter of bail. But, more importantly, they are demanding action, arising out of fear for their very lives and livelihoods.
4/5/2011
thenassauguardian editorial
thenassauguardian editorial
With the release of the recent murder statistics showing alarming increases, Bahamians are growing increasingly frightened for themselves, their loved ones, their property — and our way of life.
This must be a sobering moment for the Government. It should also be a sober moment for the Opposition, as they too, were unable to arrest the rise in serious crime.
This is not a moment for the Government to lose its nerve or for the Opposition to attempt to score political points on what is arguably the number one issue for most citizens.
One area which most Bahamians feel some headway can be made in the fight against crime is in regards to bail for serious criminals.
The government and Minister of National Security Tommy Turnquest should be commended for implementing the electronic monitoring bracelet system, which it is hoped will go a long way in preventing suspects from re-offending.
But it is still hard for Bahamians to understand why so many dangerous criminals are out on bail, mocking our system of justice and terrorizing us in our homes and in our businesses.
Our murder rate would have been lower over the past several years if a number of the persons on bail were still in custody. We have had three record-breaking murder counts in four years. We are on pace to have another record breaking year when it comes to murders.
Rulings by the Privy Council on how long an individual can be held on remand before being released on bail were intended to protect the innocent and various civil liberties. The ruling has had unintended consequences, mostly arising from how unprepared our national leadership was to deal with such a momentous ruling.
Bahamians want to understand what is going on. And they want action.
So far, the political leadership of the country, FNM and PLP, has failed to adequately explain and effectively communicate the details of the Privy Council ruling, which inadvertently helped to fuel the current crisis.
More urgently, Bahamians want to know what more can be done legally and constitutionally to address the bail crisis.
The government has said that it will amend the Bail Act to limit the circumstances under which bail may be granted. From what we understand, there has been some concern surrounding the constitutionality of such a move.
Are there constitutional changes that can be made in this area? If there are, they should be explored, if that is not already being done. If not, it should be explained to the public.
Crime knows no boundaries or person, property or politics.
Bahamians do not want finger-pointing and the casting of blame. There is plenty of blame to go around, including of those citizens who tolerate or turn a blind eye to certain crimes when it is convenient.
Bahamians want and deserve a better explanation in terms of the various issues surrounding the matter of bail. But, more importantly, they are demanding action, arising out of fear for their very lives and livelihoods.
4/5/2011
thenassauguardian editorial
Monday, April 4, 2011
Dr. Andre Rollins and double standards
Dr. Andre Rollins and compromise. Or are we witnessing double standards?
By Rick Lowe
I think I can refer to Dr. Rollins as an acquaintance. He used to visit Nassau Institute events where we would exchange thoughts/ideas.
But as we pointed out in this post... in politics, Mr. Obama included, appears to force a double standard or compromise when it comes to his deciding when to send troops off to "war" for example.
We also have reports of a recently elected Republican in the US receiving farm subsides and when pressed would not offer to give his subsidy up. Saying something like, farm subsidies need to be rationalised. Go figure.
Now let's look a little closer to home, where we have a political figure stating that foreign investment is both good and bad.
According to a story in The Nassau Guardian on April 1, 2011 by Chester Robards, recently nominated PLP candidate Dr. Andre Rollins chastised the current government for not attracting foreign investors to The Bahamas.
He was quoted as saying; "We need to cause businesses to come here that are outside of the scope of our current economic model."
While he is correct that The Bahamas needs foreign direct investment he does not appear to have indicated what those foreign businesses are that should be asked to come in and invest.
But what's the double standard or compromise then?
Well Dr. Rollins party just came off a heated campaign against allowing a foreign company into the country to buy BTC the government monopoly phone company and now he says we need foreign investment.
I sometimes wonder how we say these things with a straight face. And to our College of The Bahamas students no less.
I must paraphrase Mencken yet again for a little respite from this:
I dislike double standards and the compromise of politics forces on values, common sense, common honesty. It seems this makes me forever ineligible for public office.
Oh, you might find this article on Politics as the Art of Confined Comprises interesting.
Monday, April 04, 2011
weblogbahamas
By Rick Lowe
I think I can refer to Dr. Rollins as an acquaintance. He used to visit Nassau Institute events where we would exchange thoughts/ideas.
But as we pointed out in this post... in politics, Mr. Obama included, appears to force a double standard or compromise when it comes to his deciding when to send troops off to "war" for example.
We also have reports of a recently elected Republican in the US receiving farm subsides and when pressed would not offer to give his subsidy up. Saying something like, farm subsidies need to be rationalised. Go figure.
Now let's look a little closer to home, where we have a political figure stating that foreign investment is both good and bad.
According to a story in The Nassau Guardian on April 1, 2011 by Chester Robards, recently nominated PLP candidate Dr. Andre Rollins chastised the current government for not attracting foreign investors to The Bahamas.
He was quoted as saying; "We need to cause businesses to come here that are outside of the scope of our current economic model."
While he is correct that The Bahamas needs foreign direct investment he does not appear to have indicated what those foreign businesses are that should be asked to come in and invest.
But what's the double standard or compromise then?
Well Dr. Rollins party just came off a heated campaign against allowing a foreign company into the country to buy BTC the government monopoly phone company and now he says we need foreign investment.
I sometimes wonder how we say these things with a straight face. And to our College of The Bahamas students no less.
I must paraphrase Mencken yet again for a little respite from this:
I dislike double standards and the compromise of politics forces on values, common sense, common honesty. It seems this makes me forever ineligible for public office.
Oh, you might find this article on Politics as the Art of Confined Comprises interesting.
Monday, April 04, 2011
weblogbahamas
To Bahamians we say: Beware! This is silly season when the politicians seem to lose their mental balance...
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
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
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
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