So what developments have we witnessed in our national symbols since that first Independence government? ... Unfortunately and shamefully few!

Our national symbols

By Philip C. Galanis

“We are symbols, and inhabit symbols.”  Ralph Waldo Emerson

The Bahamas attained its independence from Great Britain 38 years ago, a very short time by any measure.   During that period, much has been accomplished as a nation, but much more work remains if we are to advance as a mature democracy.   One of the obvious manifestations of nationhood can be observed in the national symbols that we erect around us.   Therefore, this week we would like to Consider This… what about our national symbols?  Have we distinguished ourselves in developing our national symbols or in like so many other ways, have we failed to rise to the occasion?

Generally, national symbols are supposed to help to uniquely define who we are and what our values are.   These symbols are considered to be a manifestation of a people, embodiments of a nation’s unique culture, history and values.   They are intended to unite a people by creating visual, verbal, or iconic representations of national pride and goals that would make them stand out among other nations.   For example, when we see the “stars and stripes” or the “hammer and the sickle” we immediately and automatically recognize which nations are being represented.

The most common national symbols are the flag of a nation, its coat of arms, its motto, national colors, and most importantly, its national anthem.   These symbols are often rallied around as part of celebrations of patriotism or aspiring nationalism such as independence, autonomy or separation movements and are designed to be inclusive and representative of all the peoples of that community.   National symbols are essential to the development of patriotism and national pride.

The Bahamas has its own national symbols, most of which were adopted with the attainment of national Independence in 1973. Prior to our liberation from the British, our coat of arms bore the Latin insignia “Expulsis Piratis, Restituta Commercia" which every pre-Independence Bahamian student knew translated that once we expelled the pirates, trade was restored to The Bahamas.   We replaced both with the coat of arms and the motto for a new Bahamas with “Forward, Upward, Onward Together”.   Our Founding Fathers also liberated us from the pre-colonial national anthem of “God Save the Queen” to a far more indigenous “March on Bahamaland”.

So what developments have we witnessed in our national symbols since that first Independence government?   Unfortunately and shamefully few!   With the exception of recognizing a few of our national heroes on our Bahamian currency, all of whom, incidentally, were male political luminaries, woefully little progress has been made in this regard.   And that is a real tragedy.

To make it a bit clearer, just think about the major countries around the world and how you can almost learn their history and their values by walking the streets of their cities where you are greeted by statues of their heroes and patriots, those individuals whose contributions are inextricably intertwined with the patrimony of that country.   Now cast your eyes on our Bahamas.

With a lengthy history that spans over 500 years on the world stage, the most prominent statues commemorate the contributions of foreigners to the Bahamian story.   First we have an Italian, by way of Spain, Admiral Christopher Columbus, a controversial figure but one whose name and that of The Bahamas are forever joined.   The statue itself, designed by world famous author Washington Irving, very out of place in its rather inappropriate location on the steps of Government House, was a gift in the 1830s from Governor James Carmichael Smith, a man whose dedication to the idea of abolition made him very popular with the enslaved people he championed and reviled by slave owners.

Then we have the statue of Woodes Rogers, former privateer and the first Royal Governor of The Bahamas Islands, which stands commandingly outside of the British Colonial Hilton, built on the site of Fort Nassau, reminding everyone of how he earned his fame as the scourge of the pirates by hanging nearly a dozen at one time at that Fort.   Finally, there is the statue of Queen Victoria, seated since the early 1900s in her marble glory in Parliament Square, in front of our Houses of Parliament.

Indisputably, these three individuals made contributions to The Bahamas.   But so did many others who, other than Sir Milo Butler, whose bust presides over Rawson Square, are uncommemorated and uncelebrated by tangible bronze or marble representations that would stand forever to remind Bahamians and visitors alike of who was responsible for the creation of the modern Bahamas.   The only other statue that graces our downtown hub was created by the same person who created the bust of Sir Milo, Randolph Johnston.   Ironically, it is a bronze statue that stands on Prince George Dock, nicknamed “Bahamian Madonna”, depicting a nameless Bahamian woman carrying a child.   She is a strong national symbol of how Bahamian mothers have stood strong over the centuries, often in the face of adversity, raising generations of children whose contributions are unknown and, like the “Madonna’s” name, long forgotten.

Our public spaces need to be filled with the figures of those Bahamian men and women who fought alongside Sir Milo to make The Bahamas a stable, prosperous and independent nation.   We need to see statues everywhere of not only our political leaders but also those who led us in other areas.   On the grounds of our hospital, how about a statue of one of our leading doctors or nurses or midwives?   And then, if ever we have a proper arts center, why not a statue of one or more of the Bahamian giants in the field of the arts?   Outside of our Ministry of Education, why not have a statue of one of our great educators?   In fact, each of our Ministries should have its own statue of someone whose contributions helped to advance that field.   Our children should be able to point with pride at these statues that symbolize national excellence and tell their stories instead of merely knowing their names in connection with schools or roads or airports.

Moreover, our Houses of Parliament should be adorned not just with paintings of British personalities who had little, if anything, to do with The Bahamas.   We should commission artists – Bahamian artists – to paint glorious portraits of those whose voices reverberated in vigorous debate through those chambers and whose ideas shaped and produced our modern age.   Those are the familiar Bahamian faces that our current and future parliamentarians should see as they go about conducting the business of the nation, not those of strangers to our islands.

There is one other national symbol that we are lacking – and its lack is becoming a national embarrassment.  Just before Independence, a committee was formed by the House to identify a location for an official residence for the Prime Minister of The Bahamas, a place where he could welcome those dignitaries who would be coming to help celebrate our new nationhood.   A place was identified and everything was in place until an inadvertent and ill-advised slip of the tongue in a Cabinet meeting derailed the entire project.   But that is long past and today we are still without an official place where our Prime Minister can have his offices, his residence and show the proper respect to distinguished visitors by having state dinners in a place established by the state.

There is no reason why we have to take our visiting dignitaries to a hotel – and one not even owned by a Bahamian – to dine with our leaders on state occasions.   We are world famous as hospitable people, a nation that welcomes visitors from all over into our homes and our hearts.   Why is it, then, that our leaders don’t have a national “home” that would symbolize all of our homes into which to welcome those most important visitors who really merit the very best in Bahamian hospitality, not the cold impersonal welcome of a hotel?

It is time, then, that we develop these national symbols and surround ourselves and our visitors with commemorations of Bahamian pride, displaying for all the world to see those men and women of whom we are most proud.   And it is past time that we have a house that symbolizes the Bahamian House and is the home of our leaders and the place where quintessential Bahamian hospitality can be displayed.   It is time to rise to this occasion and, as we near our fourth decade of independence, start to develop true national symbols that will endure and celebrate all we believe in and all that make us unique for centuries to come.

Philip C. Galanis is the managing partner of HLB Galanis & Co., Chartered Accountants, Forensic & Litigation Support Services.

He served 15 years in Parliament.  Please send your comments to:pgalanis@gmail.com

Sep 19, 2011

thenassauguardian

The PLPs believe that their Urban Renewal policy, which is still in existence in a new form, is the answer to all prayers... They are fooling themselves... The social deterioration in this society is so deep that it will take more than urban renewal to bring it back to health

Crime should not be used by politicians

tribune242 editorial



IT would be a tragedy if this country's escalating crime were to become an election football.

Crime in the Bahamas has been steadily building from the politically violent sixties into the drug violent seventies and eighties until it is now hitting a crescendo in our time.

The PLP believe that their Urban Renewal policy, which is still in existence in a new form, is the answer to all prayers. They are fooling themselves. The social deterioration in this society is so deep that it will take more than urban renewal to bring it back to health.

"The government must send a clear and strong message to criminals that they will be swiftly caught and swiftly punished and I am not satisfied that this is being done under this present government," Opposition Leader Perry Christie told a press conference, called yesterday to discuss the escalating crime.

Maybe justice under this government is not swift enough for Mr Christie, but nor was it swift enough during Mr Christie's administration when the backlog of court cases grew out of all manageable proportions.

Under both governments -- PLP and FNM-- we have been complaining about the justice system. In our opinion it needs a complete overhaul.

So on this score, no fingerpointing can be justified.

The problem on our streets is obvious - most crimes are being committed by criminals killing criminals, all out on bail when they should be behind prison walls. And as the Commissioner of Police has often commented, the police can't be blamed. They do their part by arresting and taking the offenders to the bar of the court, where the lawyers with their crocodile tears bleat for their release, and the courts send them on their merry way to terrorise society. Witnesses could not be killed, if those who threaten them were in jail.

We hope that when the House reconvenes after the summer recess legislation will be introduced to curb the courts in its release of persons who could be a danger to society. When that debate takes place there shouldn't be a squeak from the Opposition about interfering with a judge's discretion.

The only way to cut down on many of these murders is to keep these persons with long criminal records in prison until trial -- not only for society's sake, but, as has already been shown by the number of their bodies in the morgue, for their own sakes.

And if judges will not exercise their discretion with this objective in mind, then legislation is the only solution. Society cannot have it both ways.

The same analogy can be drawn by the rules that now have to be followed when one travels by air. No one likes to be searched -- it is demeaning and interferes with a person's rights and freedoms. However, for the sake of safety, travellers are willing to relinquish some of their freedoms.

It is the same with the judiciary when one has to make a choice between the exercise of a magistrate's discretion and the mayhem on the streets. We can't have criminals laughing at the courts.

They must understand that if they do wrong they will be punished -- swiftly and severely. And until their date in court, they will be incarcerated, not out on the streets pushing up the murder count.

In the meantime, this society has to be analysed as to what has gone wrong, what has caused us to move from a once courteous, decent people to what we see today.

To find a cure, we need parents, teachers, psychiatrists and a whole gamut of professionals to work together to try to save the next generation.

Persons complain that no one respects our institutions. That is true, and the reason is that many of the people who head them do not understand that in their positions they have to lead by example -- if they do not respect themselves, or their organisation, they cannot expect anyone else to have respect. Members of the House of Assembly should take note.

The breakdown of family life is our greatest tragedy - no father in the home, the mother out to work and the children left at home to join the village gang. In the old days when the mother was at work, the grandparents took care of the children.

Today children are having illegitimate children, so that when the young mother is at work, the grandmother is still young enough to hold down a job and so is the great grandmother.

As a result no one is at home to guide and correct little Suzy and Johnny. A great burden is put on the schools, not only to teach these little ones their ABC's, but also their manners, to point out what is right and wrong, and to make them understand that for every right there is a corresponding duty, and when they break the code, there are consequences, and those consequences can be serious.

Instead of pointing the finger of blame, these politicians should get back to basics. They should start with an examination of themselves, determined to lead by example, and then move on to helping society get back on course.

September 16, 2011

tribune242 editorial

Caribbean Blog International

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

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

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