There is even a way that Perry Christie can confront the claims of his weakness when compared to Hubert Ingraham... and that is by challenging Ingraham to a debate and beating him

Christie’s keys to success, Part 2

Dr Ian G. Strachan

Last week we looked at the challenge facing Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Leader Perry Christie in 2012, a challenge he can certainly meet, if he plays his cards right.  Let’s go a bit deeper.

First, let’s look at the people who will join him on the PLP ticket. Christie knows he will do well to enlist as many young, new faces as possible. His challenge is to keep the old guard happy while he does it. This has proven to be a challenge.

The infamous May 5, 2011 letter, penned by George Smith, Philip Galanis and Raynard Rigby, attests to this.  I suppose some would say that before Christie can ask others to step aside he should volunteer to do so himself.  Well, we all know that's not happening.

Given that some of the sitting MPs in the PLP are a liability in terms of swing voters, it may seem ironic but I think Christie should try to move the discussion away from the head to head comparisons with Ingraham and focus on the PLP’s team instead.

If he can’t dump the undesirables, his best bet is to hide them, the way Ingraham hid Symonette during the 2007 campaign.  The FNM knows he can win his seat but they also know he hurts you on the national campaign trail.

The PLP should also not be afraid to let new team members do a lot of the talking during this campaign, to avoid the Christie-fatigue voters are feeling.

The PLP still has BJ Nottage, Glenys Hanna-Martin, Alfred Sears, Fred Mitchell, Ryan Pinder, Michael Halkitis, James Smith, Philip Galanis, Raynard Rigby, Danny Johnson, Jerome Fitzgerald, Damian Gomez, Andre Rollins, Renward Wells, Romauld Ferreira, and many other young professionals who are articulate and smart.

The PLP attracts skilled communicators, who can appeal to the working and middle class and who have the potential to become inspirational leaders.  There are many whose names are not known to the general public whom Christie should quickly call off the bench.

The party practically owns the working class constituencies, so it can flood the campaign with empathetic tales of woe.  The sympathetic approach, so familiar to the PLP, which always promises “help and hope,” should go over well in a country low on confidence and uncertain (scared even) about its future.

Christie should also use his reputation as someone who consults to his advantage.  He may listen, where Ingraham may not.  He may draw on the talents of others and collaborate, not dictate. This kind of message will make sense to those swing voters who, for the life of them, can’t understand Ingraham’s approaches to our problems. It worked in 2002; maybe it can work in 2012.

There is even a way that Christie can confront the claims of his weakness when compared to Ingraham and that is by challenging Ingraham to a debate and beating him.

If Ingraham refuses, Christie still wins. The nation wants to see these men debate crime, the economy, education, health care, foreign direct investment, local investment, BTC, Bahamasair, immigration and land reform. These two men, who have been the giants of our politics for the last 25 years, owe us no less.  Some people close to Christie say he is scared of taking Ingraham on in a debate.  Perhaps he can win without taking the risk.

The PLPs must paint a picture of what might have been if they had the reins during this recession and what will be when they take over again.  Their message will have to make more sense and be more concrete than perhaps it ever has been.  Swing voters don’t want pie in the sky promises (like you will double the education budget).  What are you going to do about teacher quality?  About parental neglect?  About the weak Math scores?

Ingraham has many blind spots.  I have said many times that the FNM seemed out of touch with what the people felt were the real priorities in the country.  Christie must rip apart the FNM’s action plan of the last four years, showing all the missed opportunities.  (But they must be careful since many of the FNM’s blind spots have been theirs as well).

Ingraham’s government has ignored many progressive alternatives to our national development challenges.  The PLP needs to prove it knows how to be progressive again.

The real X factor in all this, is of course the DNA. This group will steal votes from both parties (eroding their bases) and make many races almost impossible to predict, particularly in southern New Providence. One school of thought is that the DNA will steal FNM votes since DNA Leader Branville McCartney is a disgruntled FNM.  Another is that swing voters, unhappy with Ingraham, but who can’t stomach Christie, will go green.

In the end, the PLP has to guarantee its base support and work hard to lure some of the swing vote its way.

Christie and his team can do this most effectively by leaning heavily on the NDP’s “Bahamians first” messaging, which struck a chord with the nation. They must also give their new faces heavy play at the rallies.

In the end, if the 68-year-old Christie loses this election he has no one to blame but himself.  Almost all the cards are in his hands. If he fails, it would prove two things: He was indeed ineffectual and out of touch and the PLP has learned absolutely nothing since 1997, when another old man who should have been forced to step down, drove them right into the ground.

Sep 12, 2011

thenassauguardian

Caribbean Blog International

What does the Bahamian electorate really think of Perry Christie? ... Is he more popular and more respected than Hubert Ingraham? ... Than Bran McCartney?

Christie’s keys to success (Pt. 1)

By Dr. Ian Strachan

Logic would seem to dictate that in this long season of discontent, in this season of record unemployment, in this season of record bloodshed, in this interminable season of frustrating, confusing, infuriating “road works”, in this season of collapse for many homegrown businesses, in this time of rising fuel and food prices, logic would seem to dictate that the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP), under Perry Gladstone Christie, will be swept into office and the Free National Movement (FNM) will be ingloriously swept out.

Logic would seem to dictate that the FNM will be hard pressed to secure seats in New Providence other than those held by Brent Symonette, Dr. Hubert Minnis and Loretta Butler-Turner.

But there are some problems with this assessment.  There are some very big questions looming like storm clouds over the PLP.  The first is whether enough people feel comfortable returning Perry Christie to power.  The second is whether the PLP has changed sufficiently or has a strong enough message to persuade crucial swing voters that the PLP is still the best alternative, despite how they feel about Leslie Miller, Bradley Roberts, Picewell Forbes, V. Alfred Gray, Shane Gibson, Allyson Maynard-Gibson and company.

It might seem reasonable to assume that the PLP hasn’t really lost much of its base since 2007.  In fact, that base should have grown over the last four years given all the suffering and fear in the country.  But the fact is, most Bahamians want to see a change in leadership in both established political parties, and they’re not going to get it.  So interest in this election might be lower than normal.  Even some traditional PLPs may register but stay away on election day.

It’s also reasonable to assume that some of the swing vote that was attracted to the National Democratic Party’s “Bahamians-first” message might gravitate toward the PLP, now that Dr. Andre Rollins and Renward Wells have joined and the NDP has fizzled.  Their inclusion bodes well for Christie, particularly if they both get nominations.  They will appeal to young change-minded voters.

But what do people really think of Perry Christie?  Is he more popular and more respected than Hubert Ingraham?  Than Bran McCartney?  Without the national affection and regard felt for former PLP deputy leader Cynthia ‘Mother’ Pratt to buoy him, can Christie gain the confidence and trust of the majority of voters?  The Christian community (which is mostly Baptist and Pentecostal) and the working poor identified strongly with ‘Mother’ Pratt. Where will the PLP get that kind of credibility from now?  Is Deputy Leader Brave Davis a help or a hindrance?  What about Chairman Bradley Roberts?  Should Christie have persuaded Dr. Bernard Nottage, a man highly regarded by swing voters and Bahamians generally, to go for deputyship?  Will the ghost of Lynden Pindling or the dignity and grace of Dame Marguerite be enough this time around?

Christie’s Achilles’ heel is the perception that he is a less decisive and results oriented, and a less effective manager than Ingraham.  This is a big sticking point for the swing vote and the professional class.  But Christie is not without advantages in this fight.  For one, he is the warmer of the two men in interviews and more of an inspirational leader than Ingraham.  The people may be tired of Ingraham’s short, dry-eyed approach and may want someone they perceive as more sympathetic and approachable at the helm.

Christie also has the luxury of sitting back and poking holes in all the FNM’s efforts to address the troubled justice and educational systems and the sputtering economy.  Christie knows most voters have short memories and don’t care about what the PLP did or didn’t do five to 10 years ago.  This is why he can say he supports hanging and not get laughed out of town.

Christie also has at his disposal the collective disenchantment, anger and fear that permeates the society.  He is likely to milk this for all it’s worth and it’s worth a lot.  Many of the angry and disenchanted will abstain from voting or vote DNA, but at least they won’t vote FNM.   If the PLP can get its base out to the polls and woo even half or a third of the angry voters out there, it stands a good chance of coming out on top--even if “on top” means heading a minority or coalition government.

Sep 05, 2011

thenassauguardian

Caribbean Blog International

Dionisio D'Aguilar blasted Bahamian commercial banks for imposing "astronomical and outrageous" hidden fees... Calls for greater government and regulatory oversight of the banks... and described the Central Bank of the Bahamas as "useless"

'Outrageous' bank fees slammed


By NEIL HARTNELL
Tribune Business Editor


A FORMER Chamber of Commerce president yesterday blasted Bahamian commercial banks for imposing "astronomical and outrageous" hidden fees that he took four months to pick up on, and urged the Government and regulators to implement greater oversight of an industry he described as "a cartel".

Dionisio D'Aguilar, president of the Superwash laundromat chain, told Tribune Business that he was "outraged" by the 2 per cent 'excess penalty fee' CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank (Bahamas) had begun imposing on clients who went into overdraft - even for one day a month - and had established no such facilities with the bank.

This fee, Mr D'Aguilar said, was on top of the normal 17 per cent that he as a businessman had to pay on an overdraft, and amounted to an effective annual rate of 730 per cent per year if funds were borrowed for one day. He questioned whether its CIBC parent had such fees in Canada.

Calling for greater government and regulatory oversight of commercial banks, Mr D'Aguilar described the Central Bank of the Bahamas as "useless" when it came to supervising the fees they charged.

He called on the Government to create a new regulatory agency, if necessary, and ensure there was "some sort of approval process" for commercial bank fee increases - focusing on whether they were fair and reasonable.

"The banks, having taken a killing on their bad loans, are implementing outrageous and astronomical fees to try and recoup some of the losses they've incurred on those loans," Mr D'Aguilar charged.

"For example, CIBC FirstCaribbean have decided to impose a 2 per cent fee on a one-day loan. If you happen to go into overdraft, and let's say you go into overdraft for $30,000 for one day, they will charge you $600 for that one day. That equates to an annualised rate of 730 per cent.

"They don't call it interest, and on top of that they charge you the 17 per cent interest they normally charge you for an overdraft if you don't have an overdraft facility fee in place. This is when they impose this fee. Why would you charge such an outrageous fee."

Mr D'Aguilar said that while CIBC FirstCaribbean ultimately reversed the 'excess penalty fees' it had levied on Superwash, totalling $955 during one month, this only happened after he vehemently complained about it.

"I'm a large and reputable customer, and I'm not sure they're doing it for everyone," he added. "I had to complain, and now they're trying to drive me to set up an overdraft facility with them.

"My concern is that I don't know whether they've contacted all their customers about this, and if people know they're being charged these fees. It took me four months to pick this up."

The former Chamber president said that by charging the 2 per cent in the form of a 'fee', and FirstCaribbean applying it in the manner it was, there was no link with the traditional determinants of interest - perceived risk, plus duration and size of the loan.

He explained that if a client without an overdraft fee went into this position for more than one day in a given month, FirstCaribbean would levy the 2 per cent 'excess penalty fee' based on the maximum overdraft amount on the account statement.

"What they do, in the course of a month, is they look at the highest negative balance you have and multiply it by 2 per cent," charged Mr D'Aguilar. "They pick the highest negative number, and multiply it by 2 per cent for the month. I think that's absolutely outrageous."

Mr D'Aguilar said he was charged $955 in 'excess penalty fees' for July as a result of two different accounts going into overdraft for two and three days respectively.

In a letter to FirstCaribbean executives, he wrote: "The excess penalty charge is 2 per cent per day, which equates to an effective annual rate of 730 per cent per year if you borrow money for one day, or 384 per cent per year if you borrow for two days, or 243 per cent per year if you borrow money for three days or 24 per cent per year if your borrow for 30 days. This is, of course, on top of the regular interest rate of 17 per cent that I already have to pay on an overdraft."

Mr D'Aguilar told Tribune Business that Bahamian businesses and consumers were "at the mercy" of the six banks - Royal Bank of Canada, CIBC FirstCaribbean, Fidelity Bank (Bahamas), Commonwealth Bank, Scotiabank and Bank of the Bahamas - who had the ability to operate as "a cartel".

As a result, there was very little option for Bahamian consumers, while changing banks overnight was not an option for many businesses given that they often had existing credit lines and properties mortgaged as collateral with one particular lending institution.

"There should be full disclosure of fees. People should see and view them," Mr D'Aguilar added. "A lot of businesses are not aware of what is going on. I was shocked when I saw $500-$600 of fees for one month.

"The Minister of Finance should focus on this issue, and not allow the banks to do what they want to do."

September 14, 2011

tribune242

caribbean Blog International

The Bahamas has acknowledged that its criminal justice system needs help

Adopting organized crime laws in The Bahamas

thenassauguardian editorial

The annual drug report prepared by the United States government usually provides interesting commentary on the state of drug trafficking to and through The Bahamas.

In the 2011 report, the U.S. government again made suggestions to the Bahamian government to reform the criminal justice system in this country.

“However, a need still exists to reduce the long delays in resolving extradition requests and other criminal cases as an existing trend of law enforcement successes have been undermined by an overburdened Bahamian legal system,” said the U.S. State Department in the report.

“As mentioned in previous annual reports, we continue to encourage The Bahamas to increase the resources and manpower available to prosecutors, judges, and magistrates.”

The Bahamas has acknowledged that its criminal justice system needs help. The government has set in motion a series of reforms aimed at reducing the backlog of cases before the court and speeding up the rate of prosecution in the country.

The U.S. made another suggestion in the report that should be considered.

The State Department noted that the country lacks legislation criminalizing participation in an organized criminal group.

The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO Act) is a U.S. federal law that provides for long criminal sentences and civil penalties for actions performed as part of an ongoing criminal organization.

Simply put, those proven to be involved with an organized crime group are jailed for long terms.

The U.S. government has used these laws effectively against the mafia. In The Bahamas, no such law exists.

According to the drug report, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and Operation Bahamas Turks and Caicos estimate that there are 12 to 15 major drug trafficking organizations operating in The Bahamas.

A RICO law in The Bahamas would provide another tool to local law enforcement to take down some of these drug gangs.

However, local police and prosecutors would need to learn to conduct more comprehensive investigations for such a law to work.

Rather than arresting one criminal for one offense, investigators and prosecutors would need to build a case against entire organizations.  Evidence would need to be marshaled chronicling the various crimes it commits. The actors in the criminal activity would then need to be defined and linked to the criminal organization.

Comprehensive indictments would follow and large numbers of criminals would be brought to court at the same time.

These investigations could take years. But when done well, they cripple or dismantle entire criminal organizations.

For such a thing to work, The Bahamas would also need to change its overall prosecutorial response to drug trafficking. Traffickers are currently prosecuted in Magistrates Court where the maximum sentence is five years in jail. Some smugglers have been found in possession of millions of dollars worth of cocaine and they have only faced that five-year sentence, or less if they pleaded guilty.

The law needs to prosecute based on weight. Those found in possession of large quantities of drugs should face trial in the Supreme Court where serious penalties can be issued. RICO prosecutions, if adopted, would also take place in the Supreme Court.

Organized crime is a threat to democracy. Those who do not believe this need only look at Mexico. The cartels there are at war with the state.  And in some jurisdictions in that country, the cartels are winning the war.

Since Mexican President Felipe Calderon launched his war on the cartels in 2006, more than 30,000 people have been killed in drug-related violence.

The Bahamas must consider legislative tools such as the RICO law in the U.S. to assist in the local fight against narco-trafficking. We cannot just continue to hope that the U.S. requests the extradition of our major drug dealers. We must develop the capacity to lock them up for long periods of time in this country.

Sep 13, 2011

thenassauguardian editorial

Caribbean Blog International

The Ministry of Health has confirmed one dengue death... However, doctors are concerned about this figure... Among the medical fraternity the chatter is that there have been at least 30 dengue related deaths

Ban the mosquito from your property

tribune242



GOVERNMENT announced Friday that Pan-American Health Organisation -- PAHO -- personnel have been in the Bahamas for the past two weeks to advise on the control and eventual elimination of the dengue-bearing mosquito.

A PAHO representative also confirmed that in the past few weeks there has been a decline in the number of dengue reported cases.

The Ministry of Health has also confirmed one dengue death. A spokesman said it is now awaiting the results of two other cases before it can say with certainty whether a mosquito bite was the cause.

However, doctors are concerned about these figures. Among the medical fraternity the chatter is that there have been at least 30 dengue related deaths. Many doctors are satisfied that dengue is either the direct cause of these deaths, or the underlying spark that triggered a flare up in a pre-existing illness, resulting in death.

We were told of a recent case of a woman, who was reported to have either died in her doctor's office or become very ill there. She was so ill that resuscitation was necessary. When examined it was discovered that her blood pressure was not only very low, but her platelet count was nearing zero. A normal platelet count is 150 and above. Several doctors are satisfied that dengue caused her death.

Dr Delon Brennen, deputy chief medical officer, said last week that 10 confirmed dengue haemorrhagic fever cases have been reported in the Bahamas. This is by far the most serious strain of the disease and can be fatal. It is accompanied by massive internal bleeding and usually occurs after a person, who has been previously infected by one strain of the virus, is bitten again, becoming infected by another strain. This is serious and can cause death. This is the first time that the Bahamas has had a dengue outbreak of epidemic proportions. However, it is common in other Caribbean countries. Presently there are about 10 Caribbean countries fighting the outbreak.

A couple who lived in Trinidad for a number of years said that twice weekly every year a large truck drove slowly down their road spraying -- they did not know what for, but now presume it was for dengue. A couple of times a year, a crop duster fogged the whole island from the air.

It has been suggested that aerial spraying should be done over the lakes and all the wooded mangrove areas on the western end of New Providence. A Bahamian reported that there is a lot of stagnant water in the Sandyport area that could be a threat to residents.

PAHO also advised government to increase fogging to twice a day.

However, it was the belief of someone from another dengue-plague Caribbean country that spraying is just a psychological band-aid that makes people feel that something is being done. He hadn't much faith in spraying alone, believing the only way to eliminate the mosquito was for every resident in the Bahamas to remove all breeding areas on their property. Bahamians have to take responsibility for their own area and if each person did that the whole island would be clean. For a start all standing water, no matter how small, must be removed. All property has to be regularly maintained to cut down all tall grass, undergrowth and shrubbery. On the Eastern Road yesterday morning -- Sunday, no less, although a government minister declared last week that no one works on Sunday -- several men were hard at work raking up the debris from Hurricane Irene, bagging the leaves and branches, ready for pick-up by garbage collectors.

Derelict vehicles, old car tyres and anything that can collect water has to be removed. Unused swimming pools have to be emptied and any water that collects, for example in tanks, should be treated with chlorine/bleach. Government inspectors will have to make certain that slum areas are cleaned and all water removed.

Education is also important and government has already started a "Fight the Bite" campaign, which will be taken to the schools and into the communities. In other words, Bahamians have to clean up their island if they want to rid themselves of the deadly bite. They have to make certain that no mosquito is multiplying in their yard.

"In the long run," said Dr Robert Lee, health disease adviser, "government has to ensure a continuous water supply to all houses to prevent people from collecting water in their backyards."

Heath Minister Dr Hubert Minnis said that the "Fight the Bite" campaign will "inform people on how they can best assist the government in this fight.

"We cannot do this alone," he said. "We need the public's support. Fogging will only help if people do what they are supposed to around their homes. It only takes seven days for an egg to hatch into a full breeding adult. So we are working along with the Department of Environment, Bahamas Waste and Rotary to pass out leaflets and hold seminars so the public can be best informed on how they can help."

September 12, 2011

tribune242

Caribbean Blog International

The Democratic National Alliance (DNA) good approach to politics

A good approach to politics

thenassauguardian editorial

The Democratic National Alliance (DNA), or the green party as it is called by some, is hosting yet another town hall meeting Wednesday.  This one will be on the topic of education.  The party has previously held town hall meetings on crime and immigration.

The new party should keep it up.  Town hall meetings are a bit more intellectually involved than Bahamian political rallies.  At these meetings there is a topic, the audience is more sober and seated and there is a speaker.  The audience then gets to ask questions – not all of which are friendly.

The give and take of the town hall meeting means that politicians have to be prepared for challenges. Rally goers are different as compared to those who would prefer to go to a town hall meeting.

Rallies are glorified parties in The Bahamas these days.  A good part of the audience is intoxicated and waiting to be entertained by speakers who provide much noise and little substance.  And as those rally speakers deliver their empty lines, loud music is usually played.  This makes it clear to those assembled that the main purpose of the event is not to listen, but to have a good time.

The Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) and the Free National Movement (FNM) love rallies.  The new party would do well to continue to appeal to the mind.  The Bahamas has serious problems.

Our largest private sector employer, Atlantis, is in debt restructuring negotiations in order to avoid default and foreclosure; there will be a fourth homicide record in five years this year; our economy has been weak and unemployment high since the financial crisis of 2008; the roadwork on New Providence is causing serious movement problems; and several islands are recovering from being directly hit by Hurricane Irene.

In this context, we do not need ‘rally talk’.  We do not need to hear about who did what to his sweetheart or who is weak and who is strong.  We need policy, dialogue and solutions.

At this stage in the history of The Bahamas, we need leaders who are sober and like to think.  We do not need dancers or entertainers who are masters at using rally stages to waste the time of the people.

Bahamians should always engage with politicians when they seek to analyze and discuss issues for the purpose of coming up with good policies.  We should also ignore the frivolous and the silly.  People change dysfunctional culture.

We are nearing the peak of election season in serious times and as a people we must mature politically.  By doing so, we will force the parties to organize more sensible fora such as town hall meetings and debates and fewer drunken parties at the forts and public parks.

Sep 12, 2011

thenassauguardian editorial

Caribbean Blog International

John Delaney - Attorney General says: ...proposed changes to The Bahamas' insolvency laws and procedures were "long overdue"...

INSOLVENCY REFORM 'LONG OVERDUE'



By NATARIO McKENZIE
Tribune Business Reporter
nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net


ATTORNEY General John Delaney told Tribune Business yesterday that proposed changes to the Bahamas' insolvency laws and procedures were "long overdue", acknowledging that this nation had fallen "a bit behind" on the issue.

Mr Delaney said the revised legislation was still a work in progress, and the Government was still getting feedback on the draft Insolvency Act.

"That's still a work in progress. Hopefully we finalise it over the next month. It will be clear and more reformed, and hopefully it goes to thes consideration of Cabinet," Mr Delaney told Tribune Business while not wanting to go in-depth on the specifics of the proposed legislation until it becomes finalised.

He added: "It's designed to provide modern provisions. Our insolvency regime is very old. We haven't touched ours for more than 50 years. It's long overdue.

"The proposed changes are meant to bring it current with what you would expect in a modern jurisdiction such as ours, which has companies that are used all over the world for all manner of things. People today expect to have a very modern insolvency regime with the kind of provisions that are more universal. Our laws have fallen a bit behind. Our laws go back many decades. It's still a work in progress. Right now its just being molded in certain regards."

Mr Delaney said the draft has been circulated among accountants, attorneys and the private sector since earlier in the year.

"It has been circulated industry-wide since the first part of this year," the Attorney General added.

"I have specifically asked for the accountants now to weigh in directly, even though they would have they would have gotten it through the industry.

"But because the accountants tend to play such an important role in relation to the administration of companies when they are being wound up, I had specifically asked them to meet with me and make sure that I am left with no doubt that they have considered it line by line.

"All the feedback has been positive. I've already had a meeting with the accountants and I am going to meet with them again next week."

The proposed laws and procedures may have a dramatic impact on insolvency procedures and who can participate in the field. Several insolvency practitioners contacted by Tribune Business decline to comment on the proposed Act as it is still in the drafting stages.

September 08, 2011

tribune242

Caribbean Blog International