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.
Saturday, January 11, 2020
The Bahamas is in Need of Knowledge-Intensive Services... Education System has to Change
By
Kevin J. Alcena, Ph.D. (Developing Economics)
“Deo adjuvante, non timendum.”
“With God as My Helper, I have nothing to fear”
For the Bahamas to have a strategical paradigm shift of this economy, as that of a Silicon Valley, the entire educational system has to change. “Among the key strengths of the Singapore education system are the bilingual policy, emphasis on broad-based and holistic learning, focus on teacher quality and integration of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) into the classroom. It is also believed that the schools should work closely with parents and the community.
In Singapore, they are constantly working to enrich and transform the learning environments of their students and to equip them with the critical competencies to succeed in a knowledge economy. A key thrust is the integration of ICT into lessons to enhance students’ learning. Additional funding and resources enable schools to seed innovative teaching methods. A group of ‘future schools’ are partnering industry players to use state-of-the-art technology to pilot new teaching and learning experiences.
Parents’ involvement in Singapore is valued, and support for school programmes actively encourage parents and the community to work together with schools to help the children learn better.”
“Education is the inculcation of the incomprehensible into the indifferent by the incompetent.” (John Maynard Keynes)
“No society can surely be flourishing and happy of which by far the greater part of the numbers are poor and miserable. ” (Adam Smith)
In an article “Comparing U.S. and Chinese Public School Systems” by the University of Michigan:
“Both U.S. and Chinese school systems have strengths and weaknesses. This website proposes that there are three core strengths of Chinese schools over American schools:
1.Teachers in China are given more respect than teachers in the U.S. [12]. For example, teachers do not [pay] taxes on their salary, and they receive their own national holiday, Teachers Day, on September 29th [12].
2. Chinese schools have a hard work ethic, resulting in student success.
3. Chinese schools do not segregate high achieving students from lower achieving students through tracking levels, like in the U.S. This is mostly due to the belief that all students can succeed if they put in the effort.”
The article further stated that “the U.S. education system has one core strength over the Chinese education system including U.S. institutions of higher learning. U.S. universities and colleges are the best in the world. Students from all over the world come to receive a high quality education in American universities.”
“The ideas of economists and political philosophers, both when they are right and when they are wrong, are more powerful than is commonly understood. Indeed the world is ruled by little else. Practical men, who believe themselves to be quite exempt from any intellectual influence, are usually the slaves of some defunct economist.” (John Maynard Keynes)
One can huff and puff to the ends of time but the most critical component in diversifying the Bahamian economy is not intellectualizing or articulating but literally having a systematic approach to innovative system-thinking in regards to education and eliminating the draconic system that we inherited since post-independence. It is not working and we need to change it by introducing innovation and creativity in our educational system in order to have the paradigm shift in our emerging economy.
Silicon Valley is a success story because of the surrounding universities, particularly Stanford University, that compliments the system-thinking phenomena known as the geek world. Therefore, we need a system in the Bahamas that compliments thinking out of the box. That is how Facebook, Nanotechnology, Google and many others were discovered. Basically, government does not create jobs, but innovation creates jobs. Governments compliments the environment; that is what China did and that is what the U.S is doing now.
In an article dated May 12, 2011, entitled “Irrational exuberance has returned to the internet world: Investors should beware”:
“Facebook and Twitter are not listed, but secondary-market trades value them at some $76 billion (more than Boeing or Ford) and $7.7 billion respectively. This week LinkedIn, a social network for professionals, said it hopes to be valued at up to $3.3 billion in an initial public offering (IPO). The next day Microsoft announced its purchase of Skype, an internet calling and video service, for a frothy-looking $8.5 billion—ten times its sales last year and 400 times its operating income. And those are all big-brand companies with customers around the world. Prices look even more excessive for fledgling firms in the private market (Color, a photo-sharing social network, was recently said to be worth $100m, even though it has an untested service) or for anything involving China. There has been a stampede for shares in Renren, hailed as “China’s Facebook”, and other Chinese web giants listed on American exchanges.”
An article written by Charles R. Geisst and published in The Washington Post noted that “Facebook’s Friday IPO, which opened with a staggering $104 billion valuation for the company...”
The Bahamas needs to adapt the New York State model. There must be a systematic process to growth. The same old will not do. The Government must be innovative enough to put together a think-tank group to come up with innovative ideas. There has to be a total paradigm shift in order to adapt this model. We have the brain power and know-how but we need the collective effort.
“Every man lives by exchanging.” (Adam Smith)
In an article by Sonia K. Guimares, entitled “International Entrepreneurship in an Emerging Economy” that was published on March 14, 2012 it is stated that:
“The economic development of a country depends today on qualified integration into the world economy. In the past, internationalization tended to be restricted to large companies. Today, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) have become involved in the global market in a variety of ways. The growing internationalization of the small and medium size firms has stimulated the creation of a field of studies aimed at understanding this new phenomenon, the so-called “international new ventures”, “born global”, “global start-ups” or “international entrepreneurship”. The internationalization of these firms is based on singular features: their operations and strategies are not the same as the large firms, as they are not the same as the firms that remain on the home market. Internationalization requires small and medium size firms to mobilize different kinds of resources (economic and social) that uniquely impose greater degrees of risks and indeterminacy. In the past, small and medium size firms tended to be seen as victims; at present, they are seen as ‘players in the game’ (Ruzzier et al., 2006).
Indeed, as a result of shifts in technology manufacturing and knowledge-intensive services, a worldwide restructuring is taking place. This can be demonstrated by comparing data on world trade for the periods spanning 1980-1993 and 1994-2008. Data show a significant increase in the annual average of global export – from 3.6 percent to 7.8 percent (International Monetary Fund, IMF, as cited in Nonnenberg, 2011) – as well as a change in the kind of goods and services exported: there has been expressive growth of high technological goods and knowledge intensive services while labor intensive goods have suffered a reduction (from 40 percent of the total, in 1980, to approximately 29 percent, in 2008). A shift in the flux of world trade can also be observed, with export of medium and high-tech goods and services increasing at higher rates in the emerging economies (resulting primarily from Chinese and Korean performances) than in the developed economies. The nature of international operations has also changed: in addition to export and/or commercial activities, these operations now include partnerships and contracts with other enterprises for manufacturing or assembling processes, for distribution, maintenance, after-sale support, and for brand transfer and franchises abroad.”
In another article by the New York State's High Tech Economy: Empire State Development, it is noted that “New York State has rapidly become a world class technology center that fosters innovative ideas and pioneers programs focused on bringing the most advanced cutting edge technological products to market.
New York State has pursued the following innovative initiatives to foster technology growth:
Invested $117 million in the development and commercialization of high-technology and biotechnology innovations;
Allocated $280 million to increase the availability of venture capital for emerging businesses;
Assigned $1.7 million to the newly created Empire State Technology Employment Incentive Program to help employers attract highly-trained technical workers;
Created financial incentives for businesses, such as the Qualified Emerging Technology Employment Credit and Qualified Emerging Technology Company Capital Tax Credit.”
“Wherever there is great property there is great inequality. For one very rich man there must be at least five hundred poor, and the affluence of the few supposes the indigence of the many. The affluence of the rich excites the indignation of the poor, who are often both driven by want, and prompted by envy, to invade his possessions.” (Adam Smith, The Wealth of Nations)
“All of the great leaders have had one characteristic in common: it was the willingness to confront unequivocally the major anxiety of their people in their time. This, and not much else, is the essence of leadership.” (John Kenneth Galbraith)
To be continued…
Source
Tuesday, July 2, 2019
The Plunder of Bank of Bahamas (BOB)
By Dennis Dames:
I am always saddened and angered when I think, hear, or talk about our beloved Bank of Bahamas (BOB). It has become the self-inflicted scorned legacy of the last three administrations; inclusive of the present regime – while the bank continues on life support.
It is a true reflection and revelation of the overt black misrule and political corruption in The Bahamas - in our lifetime. The Hubert Ingraham and Perry Christie governments of 2007 and 2012 respectively, are where the most damage was done to the looted Bahamian bank, and Bahamian pride.
The credit policy was simply reduced to plunder: Lend to our lovers, family and friends at all costs. The Bahamian people are now left holding the bag while the hemorrhaging of BOB continues.
Absent and prudent political and financial leadership on the part of Ingraham, and Christie have resulted in a Bank of Bahamas which shames us all today. The lost is too great to ignore.
A significant lot of the VAT money to date has gone into keeping the raped Bank of Bahamas afloat, and a great lot more will be used to purchase hundreds of millions of dollars of more toxic loans from the frail bank – by the Minnis leadership. To add insult to the ongoing injury, the present Prime Minister-Minnis, has offered his two predecessors national hero status and recognition.
Bank of Bahamas (BOB) continues to be gravely ill. All because of the tradition of inept black and arrogant political leadership in The Bahamas.
God help us.
I am always saddened and angered when I think, hear, or talk about our beloved Bank of Bahamas (BOB). It has become the self-inflicted scorned legacy of the last three administrations; inclusive of the present regime – while the bank continues on life support.
It is a true reflection and revelation of the overt black misrule and political corruption in The Bahamas - in our lifetime. The Hubert Ingraham and Perry Christie governments of 2007 and 2012 respectively, are where the most damage was done to the looted Bahamian bank, and Bahamian pride.
The credit policy was simply reduced to plunder: Lend to our lovers, family and friends at all costs. The Bahamian people are now left holding the bag while the hemorrhaging of BOB continues.
Absent and prudent political and financial leadership on the part of Ingraham, and Christie have resulted in a Bank of Bahamas which shames us all today. The lost is too great to ignore.
A significant lot of the VAT money to date has gone into keeping the raped Bank of Bahamas afloat, and a great lot more will be used to purchase hundreds of millions of dollars of more toxic loans from the frail bank – by the Minnis leadership. To add insult to the ongoing injury, the present Prime Minister-Minnis, has offered his two predecessors national hero status and recognition.
Bank of Bahamas (BOB) continues to be gravely ill. All because of the tradition of inept black and arrogant political leadership in The Bahamas.
God help us.
Tuesday, June 25, 2019
The Fusion Superplex Delusion
By Dennis Dames:
The Fusion Superplex complex complains about BPL and its power outages impact on their business. It's a 42 million dollars investment with no obvious thought about reliable power in light of BPL's ongoing power cuts.
I cannot sympathize with their plight, as I find it totally foolish and imprudent to construct a 42 million dollars entertainment complex without reliable backup power. The IMAX centered entertainment destination should be among the last places on New Providence Island to be victims of BPL load shedding – in my opinion.
I thought that a concept of the FUSION enterprise was to capitalized on power outages on New Providence Island, and offer a port in the storm to residents who are in search of an environment where they could forget about lights off, the agonizing heat and humidity. Instead they are simply another complaining consumer of BPL. What a shame!
What will FUSION do if a major hurricane hits the island and power if off for weeks? Complain like everyone else or prepare to take advantage of the opportunity? Get it right FUSION!
The Fusion Superplex complex complains about BPL and its power outages impact on their business. It's a 42 million dollars investment with no obvious thought about reliable power in light of BPL's ongoing power cuts.
I cannot sympathize with their plight, as I find it totally foolish and imprudent to construct a 42 million dollars entertainment complex without reliable backup power. The IMAX centered entertainment destination should be among the last places on New Providence Island to be victims of BPL load shedding – in my opinion.
I thought that a concept of the FUSION enterprise was to capitalized on power outages on New Providence Island, and offer a port in the storm to residents who are in search of an environment where they could forget about lights off, the agonizing heat and humidity. Instead they are simply another complaining consumer of BPL. What a shame!
What will FUSION do if a major hurricane hits the island and power if off for weeks? Complain like everyone else or prepare to take advantage of the opportunity? Get it right FUSION!
Wednesday, April 24, 2019
...part and parcel of developing a Green Economy in The Bahamas
The Bahamas must police its own waters
STATEMENT
By Frederick Smith, QC
• Cruise dumping highlights urgent need for Environmental Protection Act
• Penalties imposed on Carnival demonstrate way forward in maritime oversight
• Hefty fine shows potential to raise substantial funds for environmental protection
Revelations of the dumping of sewage and food waste by cruise ships within our maritime borders is a clear sign of the urgent need for the Bahamas to police its own waters. We can no longer leave it up to the United States or international bodies to ensure that our environment is protected. In order to do this, however, the government must immediately pass a comprehensive Environmental Protection Act applicable to all marine and terrestrial operations, ventures, developments etc. that take place within this jurisdiction. This was a promise made by the FNM while in opposition, which they seem to have conveniently forgotten in the two years since coming to office.
I again emphasize that under the Hawksbill Creek Agreement and under the Freeport Act, the Grand Bahama Port Authority has been begging the government to implement environmental bylaws for Freeport since the 1993 as they were required to do.
While I absolutely share the grave concerns of other environmentalists over the 2017 dumping incidents, I believe it is also important to highlight the appropriacy of the response by the US courts and the opportunity it reveals for the Bahamas in our own efforts to protect the marine environment from pollution and other major environmental pressures. The courts found that the dumping was the result of individual cases of human error, not any plan or policy on the part of Carnival, and imposed a $40 million, which the company has paid. The incidents came to light because in 2016, the courts had ordered that Carnival assign, at their own cost, environmental compliance officers to each and every ship who would report to the court on a regular basis.
Here, we have what I believe is a perfect model for our own legislative regime of cruise ship oversight – continuous monitoring with hefty fines and penalties. In fact, if the government had moved swiftly on its promise to pass an Environmental Protection Act, we could have already had our own environmental officers on each and every ship that passes through our waters, funded by the cruise companies, and the $40 million paid by Carnival to the US courts could have been collected into our own special fund for use in environmental protection initiatives.
This is part and parcel of developing a Green Economy. Just imagine how many jobs would be created for Bahamian environmental compliance regulators and officers. Indeed Carnival have emphasized repeatedly in their public meetings on the Carnival Grand Cruise Port Project that they have gone from “compliance“ to “commitment“ and intend to exceed regulatory standards. This event creates an ideal opportunity for the Bahamas to urgently develop respect and protection for our environmental resources.
If we respect ourselves, then all of our investment guests will also respect our home. We have huge land and sea projects that are on the table over the coming years in the Bahamas, and particularly in Freeport. It is time that the government brought into force, the environmental bylaws which the Grand Bahama Port Authority prepared nearly 20 years ago and has been begging the government to implement so that protecting the environment can have regulatory teeth within Freeport for all residents and licensees. The Bahamas must stop being “reactive” and become regulatory “proactive” on the environment and development.
We have had thousands of cruise ships plowing the Bahamian waters Over the years. Why must we wait until there is a maritime crisis and or an American court polices issue before we react.
We can no longer sit back and hope that cruise ships will police themselves or that some outside authority will act in our best interests. We must take hold of the reins when it comes to protecting our own natural resources, think outside the box, act boldly and remember that every crisis contains the seeds of an opportunity.
• I say the preceding in my capacity as an environmental advocate of long standing and not in any way as a spokesperson for Carnival Cruise Lines or Carnival Corporation. Though my firm does act for Carnival in other areas, we have not been asked to represent them in relation to the dumping matter or the government’s subsequent investigation.
source
STATEMENT
By Frederick Smith, QC
• Cruise dumping highlights urgent need for Environmental Protection Act
• Penalties imposed on Carnival demonstrate way forward in maritime oversight
• Hefty fine shows potential to raise substantial funds for environmental protection
Revelations of the dumping of sewage and food waste by cruise ships within our maritime borders is a clear sign of the urgent need for the Bahamas to police its own waters. We can no longer leave it up to the United States or international bodies to ensure that our environment is protected. In order to do this, however, the government must immediately pass a comprehensive Environmental Protection Act applicable to all marine and terrestrial operations, ventures, developments etc. that take place within this jurisdiction. This was a promise made by the FNM while in opposition, which they seem to have conveniently forgotten in the two years since coming to office.
I again emphasize that under the Hawksbill Creek Agreement and under the Freeport Act, the Grand Bahama Port Authority has been begging the government to implement environmental bylaws for Freeport since the 1993 as they were required to do.
While I absolutely share the grave concerns of other environmentalists over the 2017 dumping incidents, I believe it is also important to highlight the appropriacy of the response by the US courts and the opportunity it reveals for the Bahamas in our own efforts to protect the marine environment from pollution and other major environmental pressures. The courts found that the dumping was the result of individual cases of human error, not any plan or policy on the part of Carnival, and imposed a $40 million, which the company has paid. The incidents came to light because in 2016, the courts had ordered that Carnival assign, at their own cost, environmental compliance officers to each and every ship who would report to the court on a regular basis.
Here, we have what I believe is a perfect model for our own legislative regime of cruise ship oversight – continuous monitoring with hefty fines and penalties. In fact, if the government had moved swiftly on its promise to pass an Environmental Protection Act, we could have already had our own environmental officers on each and every ship that passes through our waters, funded by the cruise companies, and the $40 million paid by Carnival to the US courts could have been collected into our own special fund for use in environmental protection initiatives.
This is part and parcel of developing a Green Economy. Just imagine how many jobs would be created for Bahamian environmental compliance regulators and officers. Indeed Carnival have emphasized repeatedly in their public meetings on the Carnival Grand Cruise Port Project that they have gone from “compliance“ to “commitment“ and intend to exceed regulatory standards. This event creates an ideal opportunity for the Bahamas to urgently develop respect and protection for our environmental resources.
If we respect ourselves, then all of our investment guests will also respect our home. We have huge land and sea projects that are on the table over the coming years in the Bahamas, and particularly in Freeport. It is time that the government brought into force, the environmental bylaws which the Grand Bahama Port Authority prepared nearly 20 years ago and has been begging the government to implement so that protecting the environment can have regulatory teeth within Freeport for all residents and licensees. The Bahamas must stop being “reactive” and become regulatory “proactive” on the environment and development.
We have had thousands of cruise ships plowing the Bahamian waters Over the years. Why must we wait until there is a maritime crisis and or an American court polices issue before we react.
We can no longer sit back and hope that cruise ships will police themselves or that some outside authority will act in our best interests. We must take hold of the reins when it comes to protecting our own natural resources, think outside the box, act boldly and remember that every crisis contains the seeds of an opportunity.
• I say the preceding in my capacity as an environmental advocate of long standing and not in any way as a spokesperson for Carnival Cruise Lines or Carnival Corporation. Though my firm does act for Carnival in other areas, we have not been asked to represent them in relation to the dumping matter or the government’s subsequent investigation.
source
Thursday, April 4, 2019
Local Government Trends in The Bahamas
Senator Ranard Eric Henfield on Local Government
at a Freetown Constituency Meeting:
Thank you and Good Evening. I would like to take a moment to acknowledge the MP for Freetown and the organizers for this evening and express my gratitude for being invited to learn from and share with you on this issue of empowering residents in communities to be in a position to improve their quality of life. The mere fact that those of you present saw it fit to come out reaffirms my belief that there are persons in the various communities that have something to contribute to the development of our communities and island.
--- With that said, I wish to speak with you tonight on four topics that have formed the framework for the Advisory Committee’s proposal on a strong local government system.
But first, I’ll address why we are even considering local government, then the following:
1. Local Government Theories and Trends
2. Effects of the information revolution on Local Government
3. Characteristics of a well-functioning local government system
4. A new vision for local governance and empowering residents to make decisions and implement them.
One of the tests for great leaders is to see if they set out to continue to increase their followers or if they set out to inspire new leaders. We have national leaders that we elect every five years to address the bigger picture and not the community canvass.
When we travel to the US, we experience local government, state government and federal government – which are the different layers of government. Each has a purpose and function.
The president and his Cabinet are not focused on or bothered with the collection of garbage on 103rd Street MIAMI. They are not focused on or bothered with the issuance of traffic tickets in Richmond Heights or along Sunrise Boulevard. They are not focused on or bothered with repairing potholes, loud and obscene music after hours, groups of young men sitting on the blocks etc. They are not concerned with whether the parks have exercise programs, functioning toilets, if the lawn was cut on Sunday evening. WHY, BECAUSE THESE OFFICIALS ARE ELECTED OR APPOINTED TO ADDRESS NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL ISSUES – NOT COMMUNITY ISSUES.
Local governments are elected to ensure that communities are clean, safe, prosperous, services are delivered pursuant to the needs of the residents by councils made up of the residents. In 1996, former Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Hubert Alexander Ingraham, introduced local government in the Family Islands.
The family island residents elect their MPs to come to Nassau and address National and International issues while the Local Government Council and the Family Island Administrators are concerned with community matters like garbage collection, upkeep of schools and clinics, parks, the weekly roadside landscaping, libraries etc.
Obviously, Family Island MPs get to focus on and debate national issues in Parliament and steer Ministries while their Local Governments address community issues that affect the day to day quality of life of the residents. WHY DO WE NEED LOCAL GOVERNMENT?
Because it creates an avenue for those of you that are community minded and passionate about your communities to get involved in the decision-making process and the implementation of the ideas you have rather than waiting for me in the Senate or Minister D’Aguilar to raise the community issue on the national stage.
Surely you don’t believe that the 55 parliamentarians are the only ones with ideas. Surely the thousands of you that live here, know your communities better than 55 of us.
Local Government also introduces community coordination and cooperation with a view to return us to the ‘village concept’ that worked so well. ---
Local Government Theories & Trends:
I would like to begin this topic by sharing the oath of office required of local government facilitators in the ancient city of Athens. “we will strive increasingly to quicken the public sense of public duty… we will transmit this city not only not less, but greater, better and more beautiful than it was transmitted to us”.
Local government is as ancient as King Hammer and Hatchet – AS IS the expected commitment to constantly improve local government. --- Several accepted theories provide a strong rational for decentralized decision making and a strong role for local governments on the grounds of efficiency, accountability, manageability and autonomy.
One theorist, Stigler 1957, proposed that the closer a representative government is to the people, the better it works. In essence, the decisions for a region or community should be made at the lowest level of government.
Another theorist, Oates 1972, pushed the Decentralization Theorem. According to Oates, local governments understand the concern of residents. It enhances interjurisdictional competition and innovation.
Another theorist, a Pope actually, as far back as 1891, addressed the subsidiarity principle. According to this view, taxing, spending and regulating functions should be exercised by the lower levels of government unless a convincing case can be made for assigning them to higher levels of government. ---
Let’s turn to the Local Government Trends Firstly, legal the basis of local governments:
In many jurisdictions, Local Governments have been entrenched in the national constitution – as in France, Italy, Denmark, Japan, Sweden and India. I would point out here that Jamaica’s advisory Committee has proposed that Jamaica’s parliament entrench local government in their constitution.
In other jurisdictions, its merely in an Act of Parliament with its full capabilities limited by the government of the day. Rather than unleashing the residents to address their vexing community issues.
In other jurisdictions, it’s in a state’s or province’s constitution – like the US and Australia [New South Wales has an impressive model for LG which the AC placed a lot of emphasis on].
SUBSTANTIVE MINISTRY:
In most jurisdictions, Local Government is itself, a substantive ministry which enjoys constant attention of the Cabinet and respect from the citizenry. In other jurisdictions, its barely hitched on to passing Ministries as governments of the day change and their lack of appreciation for your sacrifice and passion is passed around.
SUSTAINABILITY:
In most jurisdictions, it raises and retains a percentage of revenue thus increasing central government’s collection of revenue as many citizens would pay their fair share of taxes and fees if they could see where their hard-earned dollars are being spent to improve/develop their communities.
In other jurisdictions, Local Governments are still waiting for an allowance that’s already allocated before it even arrives. Central government already allocates money for garbage collection, parks, road repairs, social services etc. Those funds can be re-allocated to the local government level to administer.
We can do more and spend less because when service providers know that request for proposals is coming from central government the price goes up. If the contract for maintaining the parks ‘must go to a resident of the community’ the price will be less and the park will be cleaner – consistently. ---
ELECTION OF QUALITY CANDIDATES:
In many jurisdictions, emphasis has been placed on electing quality practitioners, educating the residents on community development and ensuring that candidates have a passion for communities, an ability to inspire and bring people together and a track record of resolving local issues or at least being innovative in community organization.
These jurisdictions have campaign finance reform, recall systems and debates leading up to elections. In other jurisdictions, candidates tom, dick and harry just want the title of Local Government practitioner - and they are able to spend as much money as they want to secure that title. ---
THAT BRINGS ME TO - KNOWLEDGEABLE STAKEHOLDERS:
In many jurisdictions, all stakeholders are well-versed in the Local Government Act or their Constitution as it relates to Local Government. The stakeholders are following the best practices from around the world. They are attending capacity building workshops and conferences abroad [Canada, New South Wales, UK, Trinidad and Jamaica.
In other jurisdictions, the stakeholders are left to fend for themselves or to phone a friend.
Effects of the information revolution:
I invite you now, to consider the effect of the information revolution.
An ever-growing number of our citizenry have begun travelling since 1996 not to mention utilizing the internet. They have travelled to Canada, the US, Europe, throughout the Caribbean and the Latin Americas and they’re experiencing cities and communities with high-performing Local Governments.
Thriving economies, clean, orderly, safe and innovative cities. They are experiencing the results of how high-performance local governments work. They see the:
- commitment and passion of local government practitioners in other jurisdictions
- citizen-centered governance approach by the local governments
- that the central governments respect this second layer and has gladly assigned responsibility to it for any number of things.
- How local governments have embraced partnerships with the private sector, MPs, Ministers and CSOs.
Some of these Bahamians that have been exposed to other local governments are practitioners and government officials and they, actually we, share the view that our 1996 system needs some serious attention and strengthening. As such, some are agitating for a reevaluation of the roles and structure of various levels of government.
Characteristics of a well-functioning local government system:
Some of the characteristics of well-functioning local government systems are:
- A system with clearly defined roles [for not only Councilors, but Administrators and Members of Parliament]
- A system where stakeholders are familiar with or well-versed in public administration and their governing Act and procedures
- A system with checks and balances at every level for all stakeholders
- A system that embraces technology to ascertain the needs, wishes and recommendations of the residents
- A system that has the authority to raise, collect, retain and spend revenue pursuant to its budgetary priorities which are consistent with its residents’ needs
- A system that adheres to the principle of subsidiarity [decisions on taxation and spending are made by the people to be affected by those decisions]
- A system with a focus on service delivery that is consistent with citizen preferences
- A system that promotes responsive governance [works to provide a better quality of life for residents] - Has libraries and internet access [like our committee saw in North Eleuthera] - Has park and recreational programs - Has noise-free and preserved environments
- A system that promotes responsible governance [works better and costs less] follows due process fiscally prudent innovative earns trust [professional stakeholders, integrity of staff, participatory budgeting
- A system that promotes accountable governance [service above self] budgetary proposals and quarterly reports posted online and/or printed open information [to show value for money] all decisions posted online and/or printed if necessary provisions for popular initiatives and recall of public officials
All of these lend to the citizen-centered governance model according to ANDREWS & SHAH 2005 – which is, in my humble opinion, the future of democracy!
A new vision of local governance:
Finally, the way forward. As I’ve eluded to in the three previous topics, good local government systems have at the core:
- innovation, productivity and accountability clearly defined roles
- an emphasis on quality candidates wide citizen participation/engagement
- is responsive
– improves quality of life
- is responsible
– works better with less wastage
- is comprised of accountable practitioners at all levels
– who put service above self
- has constant or mandatory capacity building opportunities
- consists of practitioners who exude commitment and passion for communities.
Ranard Eric Henfield
at a Freetown Constituency Meeting:
Thank you and Good Evening. I would like to take a moment to acknowledge the MP for Freetown and the organizers for this evening and express my gratitude for being invited to learn from and share with you on this issue of empowering residents in communities to be in a position to improve their quality of life. The mere fact that those of you present saw it fit to come out reaffirms my belief that there are persons in the various communities that have something to contribute to the development of our communities and island.
--- With that said, I wish to speak with you tonight on four topics that have formed the framework for the Advisory Committee’s proposal on a strong local government system.
But first, I’ll address why we are even considering local government, then the following:
1. Local Government Theories and Trends
2. Effects of the information revolution on Local Government
3. Characteristics of a well-functioning local government system
4. A new vision for local governance and empowering residents to make decisions and implement them.
One of the tests for great leaders is to see if they set out to continue to increase their followers or if they set out to inspire new leaders. We have national leaders that we elect every five years to address the bigger picture and not the community canvass.
When we travel to the US, we experience local government, state government and federal government – which are the different layers of government. Each has a purpose and function.
The president and his Cabinet are not focused on or bothered with the collection of garbage on 103rd Street MIAMI. They are not focused on or bothered with the issuance of traffic tickets in Richmond Heights or along Sunrise Boulevard. They are not focused on or bothered with repairing potholes, loud and obscene music after hours, groups of young men sitting on the blocks etc. They are not concerned with whether the parks have exercise programs, functioning toilets, if the lawn was cut on Sunday evening. WHY, BECAUSE THESE OFFICIALS ARE ELECTED OR APPOINTED TO ADDRESS NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL ISSUES – NOT COMMUNITY ISSUES.
Local governments are elected to ensure that communities are clean, safe, prosperous, services are delivered pursuant to the needs of the residents by councils made up of the residents. In 1996, former Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Hubert Alexander Ingraham, introduced local government in the Family Islands.
The family island residents elect their MPs to come to Nassau and address National and International issues while the Local Government Council and the Family Island Administrators are concerned with community matters like garbage collection, upkeep of schools and clinics, parks, the weekly roadside landscaping, libraries etc.
Obviously, Family Island MPs get to focus on and debate national issues in Parliament and steer Ministries while their Local Governments address community issues that affect the day to day quality of life of the residents. WHY DO WE NEED LOCAL GOVERNMENT?
Because it creates an avenue for those of you that are community minded and passionate about your communities to get involved in the decision-making process and the implementation of the ideas you have rather than waiting for me in the Senate or Minister D’Aguilar to raise the community issue on the national stage.
Surely you don’t believe that the 55 parliamentarians are the only ones with ideas. Surely the thousands of you that live here, know your communities better than 55 of us.
Local Government also introduces community coordination and cooperation with a view to return us to the ‘village concept’ that worked so well. ---
Local Government Theories & Trends:
I would like to begin this topic by sharing the oath of office required of local government facilitators in the ancient city of Athens. “we will strive increasingly to quicken the public sense of public duty… we will transmit this city not only not less, but greater, better and more beautiful than it was transmitted to us”.
Local government is as ancient as King Hammer and Hatchet – AS IS the expected commitment to constantly improve local government. --- Several accepted theories provide a strong rational for decentralized decision making and a strong role for local governments on the grounds of efficiency, accountability, manageability and autonomy.
One theorist, Stigler 1957, proposed that the closer a representative government is to the people, the better it works. In essence, the decisions for a region or community should be made at the lowest level of government.
Another theorist, Oates 1972, pushed the Decentralization Theorem. According to Oates, local governments understand the concern of residents. It enhances interjurisdictional competition and innovation.
Another theorist, a Pope actually, as far back as 1891, addressed the subsidiarity principle. According to this view, taxing, spending and regulating functions should be exercised by the lower levels of government unless a convincing case can be made for assigning them to higher levels of government. ---
Let’s turn to the Local Government Trends Firstly, legal the basis of local governments:
In many jurisdictions, Local Governments have been entrenched in the national constitution – as in France, Italy, Denmark, Japan, Sweden and India. I would point out here that Jamaica’s advisory Committee has proposed that Jamaica’s parliament entrench local government in their constitution.
In other jurisdictions, its merely in an Act of Parliament with its full capabilities limited by the government of the day. Rather than unleashing the residents to address their vexing community issues.
In other jurisdictions, it’s in a state’s or province’s constitution – like the US and Australia [New South Wales has an impressive model for LG which the AC placed a lot of emphasis on].
SUBSTANTIVE MINISTRY:
In most jurisdictions, Local Government is itself, a substantive ministry which enjoys constant attention of the Cabinet and respect from the citizenry. In other jurisdictions, its barely hitched on to passing Ministries as governments of the day change and their lack of appreciation for your sacrifice and passion is passed around.
SUSTAINABILITY:
In most jurisdictions, it raises and retains a percentage of revenue thus increasing central government’s collection of revenue as many citizens would pay their fair share of taxes and fees if they could see where their hard-earned dollars are being spent to improve/develop their communities.
In other jurisdictions, Local Governments are still waiting for an allowance that’s already allocated before it even arrives. Central government already allocates money for garbage collection, parks, road repairs, social services etc. Those funds can be re-allocated to the local government level to administer.
We can do more and spend less because when service providers know that request for proposals is coming from central government the price goes up. If the contract for maintaining the parks ‘must go to a resident of the community’ the price will be less and the park will be cleaner – consistently. ---
ELECTION OF QUALITY CANDIDATES:
In many jurisdictions, emphasis has been placed on electing quality practitioners, educating the residents on community development and ensuring that candidates have a passion for communities, an ability to inspire and bring people together and a track record of resolving local issues or at least being innovative in community organization.
These jurisdictions have campaign finance reform, recall systems and debates leading up to elections. In other jurisdictions, candidates tom, dick and harry just want the title of Local Government practitioner - and they are able to spend as much money as they want to secure that title. ---
THAT BRINGS ME TO - KNOWLEDGEABLE STAKEHOLDERS:
In many jurisdictions, all stakeholders are well-versed in the Local Government Act or their Constitution as it relates to Local Government. The stakeholders are following the best practices from around the world. They are attending capacity building workshops and conferences abroad [Canada, New South Wales, UK, Trinidad and Jamaica.
In other jurisdictions, the stakeholders are left to fend for themselves or to phone a friend.
Effects of the information revolution:
I invite you now, to consider the effect of the information revolution.
An ever-growing number of our citizenry have begun travelling since 1996 not to mention utilizing the internet. They have travelled to Canada, the US, Europe, throughout the Caribbean and the Latin Americas and they’re experiencing cities and communities with high-performing Local Governments.
Thriving economies, clean, orderly, safe and innovative cities. They are experiencing the results of how high-performance local governments work. They see the:
- commitment and passion of local government practitioners in other jurisdictions
- citizen-centered governance approach by the local governments
- that the central governments respect this second layer and has gladly assigned responsibility to it for any number of things.
- How local governments have embraced partnerships with the private sector, MPs, Ministers and CSOs.
Some of these Bahamians that have been exposed to other local governments are practitioners and government officials and they, actually we, share the view that our 1996 system needs some serious attention and strengthening. As such, some are agitating for a reevaluation of the roles and structure of various levels of government.
Characteristics of a well-functioning local government system:
Some of the characteristics of well-functioning local government systems are:
- A system with clearly defined roles [for not only Councilors, but Administrators and Members of Parliament]
- A system where stakeholders are familiar with or well-versed in public administration and their governing Act and procedures
- A system with checks and balances at every level for all stakeholders
- A system that embraces technology to ascertain the needs, wishes and recommendations of the residents
- A system that has the authority to raise, collect, retain and spend revenue pursuant to its budgetary priorities which are consistent with its residents’ needs
- A system that adheres to the principle of subsidiarity [decisions on taxation and spending are made by the people to be affected by those decisions]
- A system with a focus on service delivery that is consistent with citizen preferences
- A system that promotes responsive governance [works to provide a better quality of life for residents] - Has libraries and internet access [like our committee saw in North Eleuthera] - Has park and recreational programs - Has noise-free and preserved environments
- A system that promotes responsible governance [works better and costs less] follows due process fiscally prudent innovative earns trust [professional stakeholders, integrity of staff, participatory budgeting
- A system that promotes accountable governance [service above self] budgetary proposals and quarterly reports posted online and/or printed open information [to show value for money] all decisions posted online and/or printed if necessary provisions for popular initiatives and recall of public officials
All of these lend to the citizen-centered governance model according to ANDREWS & SHAH 2005 – which is, in my humble opinion, the future of democracy!
A new vision of local governance:
Finally, the way forward. As I’ve eluded to in the three previous topics, good local government systems have at the core:
- innovation, productivity and accountability clearly defined roles
- an emphasis on quality candidates wide citizen participation/engagement
- is responsive
– improves quality of life
- is responsible
– works better with less wastage
- is comprised of accountable practitioners at all levels
– who put service above self
- has constant or mandatory capacity building opportunities
- consists of practitioners who exude commitment and passion for communities.
Ranard Eric Henfield
Tuesday, February 26, 2019
The political corruption of Philip Brave Davis - PLP Leader
The PLP politically corrupt leader, Brave Davis looks like a real clown these days. He was in full support of his disgracefully reckless and corrupt colleague, Jerome Fitzgerald – who solicited an investor for multi-million dollars in business for his family enterprise - while a member of the last PLP cabinet.
Mr. Davis apparently had no problems with the nomination of Mr. Fitzgerald for reelection in the Marathon constituency in the 2017 general election.
Yes, Mr. Brave Davis supported his absolutely corrupt and shitty colleague to the end; while seeing no need for his resignation as a result of his profoundly corrupt deeds. He could open his big mouth now and call for the resignation of FNM cabinet ministers for what he views as misdeeds on their behalf. Mr. Davis’ tongue must be bitten right up. How shameless could a political leader be?
Brave Davis should resign right away as he is clearly willing to let PLPs slide in the face of corruption while they rule us with arrogance and disrespect. There is a divine saying: He who goes to equity, must come with clean hands. Brave Davis should stop, and turn around with his dirty and filthy hands.
Mr. Davis apparently had no problems with the nomination of Mr. Fitzgerald for reelection in the Marathon constituency in the 2017 general election.
Yes, Mr. Brave Davis supported his absolutely corrupt and shitty colleague to the end; while seeing no need for his resignation as a result of his profoundly corrupt deeds. He could open his big mouth now and call for the resignation of FNM cabinet ministers for what he views as misdeeds on their behalf. Mr. Davis’ tongue must be bitten right up. How shameless could a political leader be?
Brave Davis should resign right away as he is clearly willing to let PLPs slide in the face of corruption while they rule us with arrogance and disrespect. There is a divine saying: He who goes to equity, must come with clean hands. Brave Davis should stop, and turn around with his dirty and filthy hands.
Friday, January 25, 2019
The death penalty in The Bahamas is dead
By Dennis Dames:
Let’s face it. When one is sentenced to death in The Bahamas, these days it really means life in prison. The condemned prisoner knows that all he has to do is appeal and wait on the commutation call, or total freedom in some cases.
The death penalty in the Americas has been corrupted for centuries and used as a brutal tool of racism; especially against the black man and other minority groups. After the advent of DNA, the death penalty was found guilty of the murder or false imprisonment of countless innocent victims – and new ones are added almost daily – after further review.
Only heaven knows the millions of convicted and innocent death penalty victims throughout the ages – whose names will never be vindicated, as there is no available DNA evidence to clear them accordingly.
The death penalty will always be corrupt because innocent people are also victims of it. The death penalty is simply a legal bully in The Bahamas because it is truly shameful and scandalous to have such a deadly thing hanging over one’s head. Maybe that’s why hanging is still on our law books.
In the meantime, the death penalty in The Bahamas is enjoying the publicity, knowing full well that it will die on the unemployment line.
Let’s face it. When one is sentenced to death in The Bahamas, these days it really means life in prison. The condemned prisoner knows that all he has to do is appeal and wait on the commutation call, or total freedom in some cases.
The death penalty in the Americas has been corrupted for centuries and used as a brutal tool of racism; especially against the black man and other minority groups. After the advent of DNA, the death penalty was found guilty of the murder or false imprisonment of countless innocent victims – and new ones are added almost daily – after further review.
Only heaven knows the millions of convicted and innocent death penalty victims throughout the ages – whose names will never be vindicated, as there is no available DNA evidence to clear them accordingly.
The death penalty will always be corrupt because innocent people are also victims of it. The death penalty is simply a legal bully in The Bahamas because it is truly shameful and scandalous to have such a deadly thing hanging over one’s head. Maybe that’s why hanging is still on our law books.
In the meantime, the death penalty in The Bahamas is enjoying the publicity, knowing full well that it will die on the unemployment line.
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