A political blog about Bahamian politics in The Bahamas, Bahamian Politicans - and the entire Bahamas political lot. Bahamian Blogger Dennis Dames keeps you updated on the political news and views throughout the islands of The Bahamas without fear or favor. Bahamian Politicians and the Bahamian Political Arena: Updates one Post at a time on Bahamas Politics and Bahamas Politicans; and their local, regional and international policies and perspectives.
Monday, June 10, 2013
The Criminals in The Bahamas are Feasting on Our Disunity, Selfishness and Indifference
Sunday, June 9, 2013
The Bahamas' War Against Crime
Losing The War On Crime
By PACO NUNEZ
THE Bahamas will never win this war against crime – never.
Friday, June 7, 2013
July 10, 1973 to Now: ...The Bahamas Independence Generation... ...and the story of Majority Rule and Independence... ...The 40th Anniversary
Independence Generation Should Tell Of The Struggle
By Llonella Gilbert - BIS:
NASSAU, The Bahamas -- Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Perry G. Christie said as a proud member of the generation that ushered in The Bahamas’ Independence on July 10, 1973, he feels that while Bahamians cross the bridge to the future, they must see the bridge as a connection to those of the Independence Generation.
The Prime Minister was speaking at the Official 40-Day Countdown Launch Ceremony in Celebration of the 40th Anniversary of the Independence of The Bahamas in Rawson Square, June 4, 2013.
“Truly, the significance of celebrating the 40th Anniversary is that this is the last time that both generations will be able to work side by side in marking this pivotal event in our country’s history,” he said.
“This is the last time that we will be able to hear the voices of the Independence Generation and I implore you to listen.”
Prime Minister Christie said the Independence Generation must tell their stories to those who have come afterward.
“We must have them tell us their stories. It may simply be a retelling of a grandmother’s Independence morning experience; it may be the airing of the complete Portraits series; it may be an interview with a member of the Women’s Suffragette Movement, however we do it, it must be done.”
The Prime Minister added that he believes that part of what is right for the country, on this Independence journey, is to record, preserve and honour The Bahamas’ history and culture.
“We have been, in many respects, negligent of our heroes and our history.
“It is vital that every Bahamian, of every background know their history. “Every Bahamian student should be able to tell the story of Majority Rule and Independence.
He said proper attention must be given to these things.
“Our Bahamian heroes must have permanence in the Bahamian Story. We must write it well, so that even after death they live.”
Prime Minister Christie also explained that during his last term as prime minister, he appointed the National Cultural Development Commission with the mission to organise and formulate a wide range of policies and positions on cultural matters.
He said the framework for a National Honours system was passed and this year, deserving Bahamians will receive the country’s own award.
“This public honouring will not only draw the necessary attention to these individuals, it will be the best way that a grateful nation can say thank you.”
The Prime Minister said the National Independence Committee is also working with The College of The Bahamas on hosting the 40th Anniversary Independence Conference.
The conference, which will be held June 12 – 14, 2013 and is open to the public, will do much to help further educate and examine what the future of The Bahamas can be.
“The aim of the conference is to examine the context and construction of the Bahamian nation; investigate the challenges emerging in the post-independence period; discuss contemporary social, cultural, economic and political issues that have emerged since 1973; and explore future prospects for nation building and development.”
Prime Minister Christie said in planning the celebrations for the Anniversary, the committee felt it was critical to host events that will showcase Bahamian arts and culture.
“I have said before that it is important to the development of our national identity and to the deepening of our Bahamian culture that our artists have a high level of support.
“We often enjoy and celebrate what other nations in the world have offered us and we forget that we have produced many cultural icons who have influenced them.”
June 05, 2013
Bahamas.Gov.Bs
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
...protection of our borders against illegal immigration, poachers, gun and drug running, human smuggling... and Trafficking in Persons
The Democratic National Alliance (DNA) says, We need 21st Century Protection of our Borders
The Prime Minister’s 2012/2013 budget communication has allocated a tremendous amount of money for the purchase of vessels for the defense force. No doubt the rationale for this is for the protection of our borders against illegal immigration, illegal poachers, gun and drug running and human smuggling and trafficking.
Illegal immigration has been one of the critical issues our country has been facing for many years and if it is not arrested, we will lose our country. Illegal immigration has strained our country’s resources in health care, education, social services and national security. Illegal Immigration has infiltrated our country so much so that we now have many different subcultures.
Illegal poaching has now become a common occurrence. Other nationalities are raping our waters every day. They do it because they realize that our leaders do not have the answers to this concern. They have our leaders figured out because they know that our leaders will come up with the same type of plan they have used in the past in anticipation that it will work this time.
Many of the crimes committed today are because of illegal drugs and the availability of guns on our streets. These guns and drugs infiltrate our beloved country from other countries and have wreck havoc on our once peaceful society.
Human smuggling and trafficking is very much alive resulting in persons penetrating our borders.
The PLP administration has decided that more vessels will help with addressing these vexing problems. But this is very much unrealistic. No matter how many vessels are purchased, the problems above will still exist. You ought to remember that vessels have been purchased in the past and we still have the same problems today. It did not work! Illegal immigration, gun and drug running, illegal poaching and human smuggling and trafficking are still on the rise. So what does this administration do…the same thing that was done before…purchase vessels!
The Commonwealth of the Bahamas is made up of 700 islands and Cays covering 150,000 square miles of sea. This tells me, and I would think the average person, that no matter how many vessels are purchased, it would be virtually impossible to man our waters. However, with the use of technology we would be able to monitor our borders and determine what is on and under the sea. This is what the PLP administration should be investing in. By the touch of a button you are able to determine who is trying to enter our country. You would not have to rely on defense force vessels being at the right place and at the right time in order to detect those entering our borders for illegal purposes… all of this can be monitored by way of technology.
I would encourage this administration to go to the Democratic National Alliance’s website at mydnaparty.org and watch our town meeting on immigration. There we discussed the technology that can be used in order to facilitate 21st century protection of our borders.
In order for us to move this country forward, we cannot afford to do the unsuccessful things we have done in the past and anticipate that it would be successful in the future. Let’s start thinking outside the box!
Branville McCartney
DNA Leader
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
From Murder to Murders in The Bahamas
Murder in The Bahamas is becoming a daily occurrence, and is showing signs of graduating to murders every day. We appear to be lost in dealing effectively with the killing crisis on our hands. Are we truly handicapped in solving our murder crisis, or are we collectively - a central and familiar part of the problem?
Monday, June 3, 2013
The Bahamas is facing a crime crisis... but the nation is not in crisis mode
Crime crisis threatens nation
High crime threatens future
BY CANDIA DAMES
Guardian News Editor
candia@nasguard.com
The Bahamas today is facing a crisis, but the country is not in crisis mode.
There is no sense of urgency or direction from government, or any key area of society for that matter to address the alarming rate of violence in the country, and a worsening erosion of our moral fabric.
The crime situation today is like a bucket with a million holes. There is a leak from every direction.
The government has touted the success of its Urban Renewal 2.0 program, but in New Providence the crime problem rages on.
No one is comforted by reports from the national security minister and the police commissioner that there are fewer murders now when compared to last year.
Gunshots are ringing out at a rate that threatens communities on a nightly basis. The bodies are piling up, and there is a sense that the fear of crime is also rising.
Countless young men especially have been carted off our streets in body bags and too many of us appear to be growing numb to reports of more murders.
This past weekend, three more were recorded. There were two on Wednesday and four over the recent Whit Monday holiday weekend.
So between Saturday, May 18 and Saturday, May 25, the country recorded nine murders.
The government says it has increased resources for police and patrols have been beefed up.
But the terror continues.
More than a year after the Progressive Liberal Party erected its famous murder billboards in key areas in New Providence — most notably tourist areas — the government seems paralyzed in presenting solutions.
If ever there were a lesson on why no one should politicize crime, this would be high on the list.
The politicization of crime is not new, however.
In its 1999 report, the Crime Commission headed by Justice Burton Hall observed that politicians, from all sides, have succumbed to the temptation to treat the issue of crime as a target for partisan posturing.
“While we recognize that, in a democracy, any government must be open to criticism over its perceived failure in the area of crime, as with all areas which form the fabric of national life which governments are elected to secure and enhance, we are concerned that in the welter of political rhetoric it tends to be lost that the facet of government responsibility for the social phenomenon of crime is but one of many,” the commission said.
Long after the PLP billboards, many Bahamians are more fearful in their homes, afraid to travel the streets at nights and more cautious about their movements even during the daytime hours.
Parents of young adults find it increasingly difficult to sleep at nights when their children are out of the house. The peace of our beloved Bahamas is threatened.
While we have much to be proud of as it relates to our young people, there is much to worry about.
With some streets in New Providence being turned into war zones, and growing fears that crime could seriously threaten our economy, there is need for national outcry, but more importantly, national action to arrest the problem.
In the face of mounting criticisms that the church has lost its voice after winning the January 28 gambling referendum, the Christian Council intends to announce today that it is planning a national prayer gathering on June 18.
“If you are tired of what is happening to our beloved country you need to be there,” Christian Council President Rev. Dr. Ranford Patterson wrote on his Facebook page.
“The problem we face is not a government alone problem, no matter what is being reported.
“It is a Bahamian problem, so let us take responsibility to solve it. I believe the answer is in God.”
Patterson added that he believes that at the prayer gathering “the power of God will shake this country once and for all”.
There is no doubt that we as a nation need to be shaken up. The church’s role in this fight, however, will need to be more than just praying.
Let us pray for God’s guidance, but let us also be serious about acting to change our communities.
The Christian Council must show leadership on issues outside gambling if it is to be taken seriously.
Losing hope
On the eve of the 40th anniversary of our independence, we have a Bahamas that is ‘drifting’, according to retired Anglican Archbishop Drexel Gomez, who 20 years ago chaired the Consultative Commission on National Youth Development.
In 1993, he called for a national youth development policy, saying a successful policy “would be one that addresses the real needs of the nation’s youth”.
“What has happened over the last 20 years is that social pressures have increased from several different directions,” Gomez told The Nassau Guardian when contacted for comment.
“And so, the impact on the society generally has been a negative one in that the whole drug scenario hasn’t left us. In fact, in many instances it has become worse. It has certainly become more violent now.
“There is evidence to indicate there is definitely some kind of warfare going on among gangs and retaliation and armed conflicts.
“I firmly believe that if as a society we had stopped 20 years ago and really made some decisions to get serious about what we do about our neighborhoods and what we do about creating community, that we would have made some headway, but I think we’ve gone in a negative direction and the other pressures in society have increased.
“I hope we can come to terms with it, but it certainly must be a community exercise. One or two groupings cannot do it.”
Gomez said the findings of the youth commission were not sufficiently appreciated by the general public at the time they were presented.
“In fact, some of the findings were highly questioned because there were many people who preferred to remain ignorant than to face up to the truth,” he said.
What has transpired in the two decades since has been a worsening situation, he observed.
Gomez said many young people today are lost.
“So many are unemployed,” he noted. “So many don’t see much of a future and they aren’t encouraged to even look for things because many have reconciled themselves to the fact that life is going to be difficult.
“Among the people I talk to, I detect a strong sense of hopelessness and the economic situation is only making that worse.
“So I really pray hard that we can get employment for our people because the unemployment is a serious problem that has negative effects from several perspectives.”
Asked what he sees as the general state of the nation at this time, Gomez said, “I think we’re drifting really.
“Right now it seems to me that the present government is trying to address the economic situation and they are trying to work in terms of increasing the social welfare products and trying to find resources at a time when the financial resources are extremely limited.
“And it is lack of financial resources that is crippling the situation. We have to find ways of increasing the revenue.”
Gomez said the nation’s moral compass is going in the wrong direction.
“There is too much of an emphasis on individualism,” he said. “There are too many people who take life happy go lucky, with no morals and no interest in standards where whatever happens, happens.”
Moral re-armament
It is this erosion of morality that is fueling social ills, Gomez noted.
What to do about the nation’s crime problem has been aired on many levels over the last two decades.
In 1998, Justice Burton Hall was named chairman of a high-powered National Commission on Crime.
When it reported in 1999, that commission observed that crime is, at bottom, a moral failing, both of individuals and of the society and, consequently, the ultimate solutions lie in programs of what used to be described in a less cynical age as “moral re-armament”.
Commissioners said, “We are convinced that Bahamian society is more threatened by a pervasive culture of dishonesty, greed and a casual disregard for social norms and formal regulation, than it is by crimes in the narrow sense…”
They also wrote that while the fear of crime in the restricted sense has reached such a level in New Providence as to suggest a state of near social collapse, when the reality of reported criminal activity is examined in its national, regional and global context, we should not be alarmed into a state of hysteria.
Nearly 15 years after that report, much of what the commissioners observed is still relevant.
There have been other crime committees and commissions since.
What is clear is that we know what the problem is. We have had numerous experts suggest solutions.
But we continue to drift.
Our country and its future are suffering as a result.
I have heard at least two of my friends with young children say they are educating and raising them with a view to living outside The Bahamas.
This is a tragic sign that too many people are losing hope in our country.
While the situation is bad, all is not lost, however.
I believe that we are at a critical juncture in our national development.
We are not completely without hope, but we are at a point where strong leadership is needed on all levels to make tough choices before we descend into chaos — before our economy is ruined by crime; before thousands more of our young people get to a place where there is no turning back from despair and destruction.
As former Parliamentarian George Smith opined in a chat with Guardian National Review, societies can be transformed.
“But the political and civil leadership, spiritual leaders of all denominations, they have to recognize that we need to transform this society, but they have to take the lead in doing it,” he said.
“We live in a society where people wake up and say ‘I wonder how many it was last night’.
“The political directorate in this country is not providing the leadership for the society to get this country out of this malaise.
“Civil society is not doing it and the most responsible spiritual leaders, their silence is deafening. I call on my bishop (Patrick Pinder). I want to hear from him about these things.”
So, while we pray, we indeed must act for the sake of us all.
As Bishop Gomez puts it: “We have to shock this nation into facing up to reality and coming together to work together for the common good.”
May 27, 2013