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 23, 2021
Monday, January 18, 2021
The History of Majority Rule in The Bahamas
THE ROAD TO MAJORITY RULE (1942 –1967)
This singular event in Bahamian history played a significant role in shaping the modern Bahamas we experience today. The significant events leading up and emanating from Majority Rule must become permanently etched in the Bahamian historical landscape as these events define us as a people, reveal what we believe in as Bahamians, and serve as a constant reminder of our vision and values.
Following is a cursory account of the significant events surrounding and leading up to Majority Rule, the meaning of Majority Rule, and homage will be duly paid to the freedom fighters that fought this epic battle in the name of freedom and justice.
The Burma Road Riots
Many local political historians believe that June 1, 1942 marked the beginning of the modern political history of the Bahamas. The events of the Burma Road Riots came as a result of the agitation by labourers for equal pay for equal work, regardless of colour or nationality.
As you know, a satellite airfield was being constructed in western New Providence for use by the American armed forces. A labour dispute ensued over equal pay and this dispute took on a life of its own and became intimately interwoven with the overall movement for freedom and social justice. Today that site is the Lynden Pindling International Airport.
So it is clear that from the first stirrings of political activity in the country, labour has been an integral part of the struggle.
The Suffrage Movement in The Bahamas
The Movement really started with a conversation between Mrs. Mary Ingraham and her husband following his defeat in the 1949 general elections. The defeated candidate opined that his political fortunes could have been very different had women voted in that election. Other significant national events that fueled the Suffrage Movement were the Burma Road Riots of 1942, the General Strike of 1958, and the Labour Movement of the 1950s. The civil rights movement in the United States with Dr. Martin Luther King was an international event that also fanned the flames that burned for social justice and equality in The Bahamas.
Mary Ingraham formed alliances with kindred spirits from across the political divide as Bahamian women and men worked tirelessly together to fight racial, political and economic injustice in The Bahamas. This alliance included freedom fighters such as Georgiana Symonette, Eugenia Lockhart, Althea Mortimer, Albertha M. Isaacs, Doris Johnson, Grace Wilson, Mildred Moxey, Ethel Kemp, Gladys Bailey, Una Prosper Heastie, Veronica Lotmore, Nora Hannah and Madge Brown.
Mary Ingraham was elected as President of the Suffrage Movement in 1957. Georgiana Symonette was the Vice-president and Eugenia Lockhart was the Treasurer. In 1958, Dr. Doris Johnson returned home from studying abroad and joined the Suffrage Movement.
During the years 1959 and 1960, the Movement gained considerable ground advancing petitions and demonstrating publicly for the right to vote. In November 1960, Eugenia Lockhart and Dr. Doris Johnson accompanied Henry M. Taylor, Chairman of the PLP, to London to present a Petition to the Secretary of State for the Colonies. In January 1961 a Select Committee of the House of Assembly gave a Report in favour of the right to vote for women but with effect from January 1963. The PLP and the Independents in the House of Assembly opposed the report. An appeal was made to the House of Commons in England again. On February 23, 1961 a Bill to enable women to vote was enacted with effect from June 30, 1962. Bahamian women voted for the first time on November 26, 1962.
The Birth of the PLP
The PLP was born out of a movement that embodied the hopes, aspirations, and feelings of a generation of Bahamians who were demanding equal work, majority rule, and freedom to pursue any hopes and wishes they dared conceive. The man who generally credited with conceiving the Progressive Liberal Party was William Cartwright, a publisher, real estate broker, and Member of the House of Assembly for Cat Island. In August of 1953, Mr. Cartwright reportedly invited to the first meeting on Bay and Frederick Streets, the following men: The Hon. Charles Rodriquez, Mr. Henry Milton Taylor, Mr. Cyril Saint John Stevenson, Mr. Samuel Carey, Mr. Holly Brown, Mr. Clement Pinder, Mr. F.W. Russell and others.
Many black businessmen and lawyers were invited to join, but for reasons of their own, decided not to be identified with the new movement. But the party’s course was clear from the beginning; the PLP was designed to represent all that was opposed to unfair privilege and the wealth and power this afforded the Bay Street Boys.
General Strike of 1958
In support of 1957’s protests, a 16-day General Strike brought Nassau to a screeching halt. Unionized or not, just about every worker participated, and the strike was quite peaceful. The result was the Trade Union and Industrial Conciliation Act and the setting up of a Labor Department. The General Strike took place in January 1958.
Later that year in June, Allan Lennox Boyd, Secretary of State for the Colonies ordered that the first constitutional steps be taken toward Majority Rule. The voting franchise was extended to all males whether they were land owners or not; the once ubiquitous unlimited plural vote was ordered to be reduced to two and the abolition of the company vote was ordered.
Women’s Right To Vote
In November of 1960 Sir Henry Taylor led a delegation to London to champion the right of women to vote in The Bahamas. Accompanying Sir Henry were notables like Dame Doris Johnson and Eugenia Lockhart. Shortly after their return, women received their right to vote and exercised those rights during the November 26, 1962 general elections.
This new women’s right brought a force and element into the history of The Bahamas that affected the country’s social, economic and political development. To this day, the effect of women exercising their right to vote has impacted all aspects of national life as women from all sides of the political divide have, and continue to make their contribution to the country, holding key positions in many offices throughout our country.
Black Tuesday
On this day, the governing United Bahamian Party sought the approval for a Boundaries Draft Order, which established the boundaries for the various constituencies of New Providence and the Family Islands, under the provisions of the 1964 Constitution. During a sitting of the House of Assembly, the PLP proposed two amendments to the revision of the Boundaries Draft Order which the UBP had presented. The amendments were designed to get a fairer idea of the number of voters and their distribution, but both proposed amendments were rejected.
It was at that point that Sir Lynden walked over to the Speakers’ table and lifted the 165-year-old mace, the symbol of the Speaker’s authority, and said, "This is the symbol of authority, and authority on this island belongs to the people and the people are outside."
With that he raised the mace and hurled it through the open window of the House of Assembly.
The Progressive Liberal Party describes this event as "an act of deviance in the pursuit of liberty and fairness." So Tuesday 27, April 1965 was destined to go down in Bahamian history as Black Tuesday.
Majority Rule Day
Some have argued that the great significance of Majority Rule was that after years of struggle by many freedom and justice loving people, the back of the old oligarchy was finally broken. More importantly, Majority Rule presented the opportunity for real democracy to come to The Bahamas, underpinned by equality, tolerance, economic justice, social justice, all important elements in the creation of a free, modern, democratic state.
All Bahamians benefited, in one way or another, from the historic event that took place on January 10, 1967, a day that now wears the rather inelegant appellation of Majority Rule Day.
Majority Rule ushered in the opportunity for all Bahamians to have constitutional, political, social, cultural and economic rights. Where these rights were not readily accessible, the Government of the day created laws and implemented policies to enable these entitlements.
January 10th is a day in the national calendar that belongs to all Bahamians – not just PLP’s but to all Bahamians, black and white, rich and poor, young and old, city dweller and Family Islander, and, yes, PLP and FNM alike. January 10th needs to be commemorated and celebrated by all of us because it represents one of the truly great and defining moments in our evolution as a people.
With the exception of Emancipation from Slavery in 1834 and the attainment of Independence in 1973, there is no event of more consequence and historical importance than the attainment of Majority Rule on January 10th, 1967. January 10th, 1967 represents the transition from the old Bahamas to a New Bahamas; the point of transition from minority government to Majority Rule; the point of transition to a modern democracy.
It also represents, however, one of the highest pinnacles in the historic – and still ongoing – struggle of the Bahamian people for economic empowerment, for equality of opportunity, and for social justice.
January 10th, 1967, to be sure, was neither an end nor even a beginning. Instead, it was an important milestone in a journey that was begun centuries ago when some anonymous slave struck a blow for freedom for the first time. We pause to pay homage to the personalities and players in this epic struggle. In a hard fought and competitive election in 1967, the PLP delivered the following 18 members to a 38-member House of Assembly. They were: Lynden Pindling, Preston Albury, Clarence Bain, Milo Butler, Clifford Darling, Elwood Donaldson, Arthur Foulkes, Carlton Francis, Arthur Hanna, Warren Levarity, Curtis MacMillan, Uriah McPhee, Maurice Moore, Edmund Moxey, Jimmy Shepherd, George Thompson, Jeffrey Thompson and Cecil Wallace Whitfield. Randol Fawkes who successfully ran as Labour in 1962 and 1967 with the support of the PLP threw his support behind the PLP and became a member of the first Majority Rule cabinet. He figured prominently in the movement toward Majority Rule.
Successful Independent candidate Sir Alvin Braynen threw in his lot with the PLP and accepted the post of Speaker of the House.
These two warriors for justice and freedom tipped the proverbial scale in favor of the PLP and the first Majority Rule cabinet was formed: This distinguished group consisted of Cecil Wallace-Whitfield, Milo Butler, Arthur Hanna, Clarence Bain, Jeffrey Thompson, Carlton Francis, Randol Fawkes, Warren Levarity, Curtis McMillan, Clement T. Maynard and Lynden Pindling.
In this 40th year of nationhood, we come together as one people to mark a critically important milestone in our progress as a people – and to re-commit ourselves to a struggle that never ends.
As The Bahamas looks to the future, it must be that the average man, making the average salary, with children to educate to university level; that they see not a glass ceiling but opportunities that give rise to hope as we work to build the best little country in the world.
Sunday, December 27, 2020
Here is how a Bahamian Resident is able to Purchase Cryptocurrencies in The Bahamas
IslandBit sought persistently to acquire cryptocurrencies in BSD
Dear Clients,
Thank you for you overwhelming support, encouragement and concern during this time.
There has been much discussion about our notice dated Wednesday December 23rd, 2020 that prompts us to clarify a few points.
IslandBit was developed during a time of economic recovery efforts. We are strong supporters of economic development and realise the importance of healthy foreign reserves.
As such, we built our business with the Bahamas and Bahamians in mind. We sought persistently to acquire cryptocurrencies in BSD- and only in BSD- so that the impact on foreign reserves were lessened to the point of negation.
Our business was resultantly allowed to operate by the Central Bank and The Securities Commission allowing us to make crypto more accessible and more affordable to Bahamians than most methods.
In our previous notice, it was never our intimation that the Central Bank does not allow Bahamians to own cryptocurrencies. Instead, our notice intended to inform our clients that, at this time, purchases of crypto for Bahamian residents who did not acquire investment dollars through the ICM prior to its suspension on 1st May 2020 is prohibited.
We were expressly informed that the suspension of ICM transactions “would not permit residents to acquire foreign currency assets such as crypto currencies at this time.”
To avoid any further confusion, here is how a Bahamian Resident is able to purchase cryptocurrencies based on our communications with the Central Bank:
1. Cryptocurrencies have been deemed a “foreign currency denominated asset” and must be purchased in a currency other than Bahamian dollars
2. If you are a Bahamian resident (Citizen or foreigner with the right to earn Bahamian dollars) you require permission from the investment currency market (ICM) to purchase crytpocurrencies. If you have prior approval from the ICM you may purchase cryptocurrencies with previously approved investment dollars.
3. If you do not have prior approval from the ICM, you must apply to purchase cryptocurrencies. (Note: The ICM has been suspended since May 2020 and no date has been scheduled for resumption.)
4. The purchase of cryptocurrencies via credit and debit cards also requires approval of the ICM because of the intervening foreign currency access.
IslandBit remains in contact with regulators and is actively pursuing the appropriate pivot that allows the country to benefit from our business model which has the least impact on foreign reserves while addressing the concerns of the Central Bank.
Wednesday, December 23, 2020
Oil, Oil Drilling, Oil Royalty, Oil Royalties and Oil Madness with the Grimpen Reprobates and Greed-lusting Lunatics in The Bahamas
PROFESSOR GILBERT MORRIS ON BAHAMAS’ POOR CONCEPT OF NEGOTIATION:
IN TODAY’S PAPER, the Attorney General of the Bahamas intones that “if they find oil” we’ll negotiate a royalty!
Every hedge fund manager, investment banker, every bond investor, and investment grade insurance broker spilled his coffee at those petulant words. Every first year student in finance or graduate student in a negotiation or mediation seminar knows this statement goes against every basic rule of negotiation or even business strategy.
Here is the context any strategist sees immediately:
1. You (THE BAHAMAS) allows a no name company that’s no where near the best-of-brand to travel around the world flogging the name of the Bahamas in some ‘hustle and flow’, selling their eyelashes and toenails to raise money for what purpose? TO DRILL in the Bahamas...HEAR ME NOW: THE BAHAMAS!
2. This name (BAHAMAS) that evokes natural wonder GLOBALLY; a luxury brand that the world saves-it’s-money in hopes to enter and engage...you allow this BRAND to be flogged in every slopbucket across the globe...altering IMMEDIATELY 120 years of branding.
3. Just to emphasise: It’s not as if this company moved around saying “Hey man, this process is like we are exhibiting at the Louvre or in the Vatican. THEY ARE NOT HAVING TO SAY: this is the Bahamas. We have strict rules on who can participate in this deal, even stricter rules on how we mention the Bahamas’ name and still stricter rules on the methods: in fact, we have to work with the best engineers in the world and the leading environmental scientists...basically inventing a new concept and method for even preliminary exploration and it has to go before a global panel of experts and the science has to show a “Saudi Reserve level motherload” of potential oil”, with forward contracts for sales of $100 billion in 10 years”.
This is the language and pressure ANYONE WHO GAINS THE CONCESSION TO DRILL IN THE EARTH’s MOST PRISTINE ENVIRONMENT SHOULD SPEAK AND FEEL. This raises a question: WHERE IS THE SCIENCE? The science and engineering methodology that allows a company to DRILL IN THE BAHAMAS should be of a quality to win the Nobel Prize! It should have tongues wagging about a NEW BAHAMIAN SCIENTIFIC STANDARD! Where is the science?
4. The fact that the company does NOT have to speak in this manner and the fact that they NOW KNOW, gaining a concession to drill in the Bahamas is little different from selling fake hair, IT IS THEY who gained confidence in this affair?
THEY GREW FROM NOTHING TO SOMETHING!
THE BAHAMAS GAINED NOTHING: we didn’t set a new deal standard, we didn’t layout new green criteria...NOTHING! Instead this process shows any hustler can gain access to the world’s most pristine environment because we, to whom God granted stewardship, are low-information fools, who would sell our children’s tongues for disposable shiny objects!
5. Negotiations depend on leverage: so if this company knows we are so clueless, backward and morally vulgar toward our birthright, that we put them under ZERO PRESSURE to violate a 120 year old hospitality brand, under zero pressure to INVENT some new process for this privilege to drill in our environment, then we’ve lost already! UTTERLY!
6. What the AG’s apocalyptically dissonant statement says is this: WE permitted a nothing company a concession to VIOLATE the tranquility of our NATURAL LANDSCAPE THAT WE DIDNT CREATE AND CANT REPLACE, which the entire world envies, and now that they have this concession and USED THE NAME AND PRESTIGE OF THE BAHAMAS to gain notice in the world - FOR NOTHING - we will wait until they discover the two cups of dirty dishwater under OUR PRISTINE OCEAN FLOOR...then when that company goes from nothing to making an oil find in THE BAHAMAS...and once they HAVE ALL THE POWER AND LEVERAGE in the deal structure...we, THE BAHAMAS will negotiate a royalty!!!!!!
Are we smoking the hair of our armpits?
7. This telegraphs to the entire world that we are not just clueless to have allowed this TREASONOUS ASSAULT ON OUR ENVIRONMENT, but we have not even a basic clue how deal-structure functions. This leads to another question: WHERE IS THE DEAL STRUCTURE, BENCHMARKS, HURDLE PROPOSITIONS AND SPILL INSURANCE EQUAL TO THE RARE ENVIRONMENT THAT’s BEING PUT AT RISK? WHERE IS IT?
9. But here is the ‘coup d’ grace’, any deal specialist knows already the investment begging company can’t monetise any oil find. As such, they likely would have to flip it to a major oil company if they find anything. Given that the world is awash in cheap oil, and with major new oils finds in Russia, Brazil and with Iran set to come online forcing global prices lower, they would cap those wells in the Bahamas and we get NOTHING! NOTHING! NOTHING....as usual!
10. BUT the world knows now that we are grimpen reprobates and greed-lusting lunatics, who would sell a priceless irreplaceable environment - with a 120 year global profile - for NOTHING, ignoring our competitive advantages in new hospitality models, for a dying industry in which we have zero and would have zero influence!
Friday, November 27, 2020
I no longer have faith in the leadership of the Democratic National Alliance - DNA
DNA Vice chairman for the Youth arm, RESIGNS & SHE drops a bomb saying Komolafe is NOT the one!!!!!
The Democratic National Alliance (DNA) has lost its core.
Letter of Resignation
August 29, 2020
Kellie Rolle - Vice Chairman of Youth Affairs
To: Democratic National Alliance
Please accept this letter as my formal resignation from my position as your Vice Chairman of Youth Affairs effective immediately.
This decision was made because I no longer have faith in the leadership of the Democratic National Alliance. To continue with the DNA, would go against my morals as a human being and as a citizen of this beautiful country I call home, The Bahamas.
To stay with the DNA, would be like sacrificing pieces of my soul, the core of my being and who I am as a person. The Bahamas is supposed to be a democratic country, and I have personally seen situations where democracy was thrown out the window.
The Democratic National Alliance portrays characteristics that are more in line of a dictatorship. I have seen where a person can be crucified for standing up for their morals and for what they believe to be right because it is not in line with the beliefs of particular individuals within the leadership of the party.
The Democratic National Alliance is spiteful, and I will not stand behind a party where persons cannot decipher between personal and professional or cannot stand up for what is right when they know something is wrong. A party that will stand with the wrong, knowing it is wrong, but will stick with it because what is right is the unpopular belief.
The Democratic National Alliance claims to be a party that is inclusive of the youths, but they truly are not.
They include us without really including us. We are just there for show, so that they can sell the fairytale that they are for the youths of this country to the public eye.
I will never be a person that will sacrifice my morals for the betterment of ANY PARTY and will always stand with my PEOPLE. I am loyal to the PEOPLE.
The Democratic National Alliance has lost its core.
Wednesday, November 18, 2020
The Lincoln Bain of division, hate and entertainment
Lincoln Bain coalition real political motives are division, hate and entertainment
By: :
What have we here...
Response to Lincoln Bain response:
1. The is a moratorium on aragonite mining. Curling license is to mine SAND only. He never said that he was mining aragonite.
2. You claim that they are mining from ships. How come no one has ever spotted them. The entire Bahamas is covered by both satellite and radar. There is a record of every ship in our waters. Where is the evidence. Scroll over the arrows and click to see the names of the ships and detail information. https://www.marinetraffic.com/.../centetony:24.5/zoom:7
3. Marcona Ocean Industries is a company registered in Florida. Tony Myer name is not in the records.
4. A simple check with customs would confirm that customs, police and immigration were on the cay.
5. In Michelle Malcolm interview, you said that the Symonettes been mining aragonite for 40 years. Aragonite mining did not start until 1971. Pop Symonette and the UBP were long out of power. Dillingham was a US company listed on the NY Stock Exchange.
6. Tony Myers said that he sold everything. You said that he held on to the mining license. Still no proof.
7. Tony Myers has a company in Alabama but sand and aragonite can easily be sourced from the US wholesale market with less hassle than mining here.
8. The Aragonite Bill was specific to Ocean Cay which is just one location. That does not mean that no Bahamians could get involved in the business at that location or any other location.
9. So you know how to write bills better than the AG office.
10. Curling does not have an aragonite license. The witness said that they were involved in illegal operations well that doesn't count and should be investigated.
11. You do not seem capable of understanding that the processed value is not the same as the mining value. It does not matter what your aggregate is used for. You can only charge what it is worth in your possession which is $50 per ton.
12. Everyone involved in mining also is involved in the end product business also. The money is not in mining. Most just breakeven for the returns at the end. Therefore there is nothing wrong with owning companies in other countries.
13. The Central Bank reports show that he paid all his local taxes in full and on time. Taxes are paid on volume at extraction, not at export. You are very confused. See exhibit A
14. The witnesses testimony can not stand up in court. Completely circumstantial about ownership and value.
16. You do an audit first and then say corruption it is the other way around.
17. You admit to tapping Manny Alexio phone and should be arrested for that. You even threaten to do the same to those around you. What type of Pastor are you?
18. Everything that you have produced is totally irrelevant.
19. Your real motives are division, hate and entertainment.
20. All of your videos are circumstantial, hearsay and exaggerated.
Wednesday, August 12, 2020
Covid-19 Madness in The Bahamas
By Dennis Dames:
So, we are on lockdown until September 30, 2020. Let’s pray that everything works out by then. We are really a lockdown-weary people right now. Life cannot continue on this road beyond September – in my opinion.
One of the dirty secrets about COVID-19 in our country, is an ill-prepared and Ill-equipped healthcare infrastructure. We did not reach here in 2017. We know that our healthcare system is in critical condition, and we knew it for decades now.
It looks like many of us will die, or become wounded from COVID-19 for life. Thanks to a half century of inept, incompetent and plain old visionless black governance.
So, if things do not improve on the Corona Virus front by September 30, 2020 – we will have lots more weeping and wailing to do for our love ones and country, as life must go on – for all that it’s worth.
The first order of business should be to: Break the culture of the pervasive government dependency in The Bahamas, and move full steam ahead with the implementation of local government on New Providence Island. There is an unacceptable and unsustainable level of dependency on the national government – by the people; even in the good times.
Next, let move to build a healthcare system that’s wholly wholesome for our people and nation; but progressive vision will be required.
That’s where 2022 come in folks. Let’s get to know every Tom, Dick, and Harry; and Mary, Sue and Jane – and all the others who will come our way to seek the majority support. Let’s ask them about their plans to fix our healthcare system. Let’s ask them about their vision for local government on New Providence Island. Let’s ask them about their plans to correct the unproductive culture of government dependency.
Yes, let’s ask them about their national vision for the country. It cannot be just tax, borrow and spend – as usual. It cannot be a broken centralized bureaucracy for five more years. It simply cannot be the same old-same old political jive and madness, like locking-down the country in hopes that the Corona Virus disappears by the end of the lockdown period.
God knows it.
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