The Decline of The Bahamas

The Steady Decline of The Bahamian Nation - The Bahamas

By Dennis Dames
Nassau, The Bahamas

The public's perception of the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) is at an all time crying low - in my view. Recent bad news about the Force and some of its Officers has added unfavourably to how the Bahamian people see the Police, and their organization.

The Coroners Court has concluded lately that a number of Police Officers have committed manslaughter in the excution of their duties. This has left a totally bad taste in the mouths of many citizens and residents generally - and has widen the distrust between the Police and the general public - which has eroded further the national security of The Bahamas.

To make matters horribly worse, a senior Officer of the Force - who occupied a high position of trust and responsibility - is accused of engaging in serious criminal activities with a high profile, highly and politically connected, potentially rogue and criminal-minded attorney, and street gangsters; some of whom have been murdered on the streets of Nassau in recent times. This has created a public scandal of monumental proportions.

The leadership of the Police Force along with the government of the day - seem to be taking the matter very lightly - in my opinion. Thus, the Bahamian community's view of the Police and the government - is one of complete disgrace. The handling of such a serious situation to date has left one to wonder if the powers that be have decided that they will gamble politically and just pretend that all's well.

Well, all is not well in The Bahamas under the political and immoral leadership of the status quo and its devoted facilitators. The Bahamian public feels as if endemic wholesale corruption, incompetence and criminality in high places throughout the Commonwealth of The Bahamas - is the order of the day which the shamelessly corrupt leadership of the nation holds so dearly close to their demonic hearts and souls.

The fruit of such diabolical corruption in high places will continue to rip apart the Bahamian nation. The wickedly corrupt political and otherwise leaders in The Bahamas do not care about the future welfare of their own friggin children! So, the future of The Bahamas will be more and more of the much sought after devilish corruption in high places - while powerful criminals and blood-thirsty bosses have their way with impunity!

How very sad - as many so called good Bahamian men and women remained silent! It looks like every Bahamian citizen are standing on the sidlines just watching The Bahamas descend in to the pits of hell.

CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) Raging Debate in The Bahamas Dies A Sudden Death

CSME Shelved

By Candia Dames

candiadames@hotmail.com

Nassau, The Bahamas

14th June 2005

Seeking to bring an end to the raging national debate on the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), Minister of Foreign Affairs Fred Mitchell on Monday announced that the government will not be signing the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas anytime soon.

In fact, Minister Mitchell said that it does not appear that the government will sign the Treaty, which establishes CSME, during this present term in office, which expires in 2007.

"There is a clear disconnect between the government and the wider community on this matter," said the Minister, who used the entire two hours allocated to him to contribute to the budget debate to address the CSME and other foreign affairs matters.

This meant that there was no room to address public service related issues or matters concerning his Fox Hill constituents.

Minister Mitchell said as it relates to the CSME, The Bahamas has reached the point where it must stop and review.

"The Bahamian people or more properly those who have created the din on the radio and in the press now have their wish," he announced.

"But they must know that it is not to me that they will have to answer for this, but to the future of this country."

Minister Mitchell said he was not panicked by the level of debate that led the government to decide to hold off on signing the Revised Treaty.

"The Bahamas has not signed the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas and cannot now sign in these present circumstances," he said.  "What we are now engaged in is a programme of public education and discussion on the issue.

"This has become a matter on which people are attacking me personally on a policy which is the decision of the government.  I told both the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister that I believe that my truthfulness has been called into question and my integrity challenged.  No Minister has to seek to ask permission of anyone to seek redress for attacks on his or her personal integrity."

He said what is particularly regrettable is that the forces who opposed the independence of The Bahamas in 1972 now seek to impugn his character by suggesting that he would compromise the sovereignty of The Bahamas.

Minister Mitchell said, "They are false prophets and crying crocodile tears because we know that they did not want The Bahamas to be free in the first place.  There is not a possible chance that this Minister, this individual, would compromise the sovereignty of The Bahamas."

Seeking to clarify what he called misinformation associated with the CSME debate, Minister Mitchell said, "It is clear that this matter of our participation in the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas will not be decided within this present term.

There is too much misinformation, disinformation and emotion; too much political dishonesty.  There is simply too much politics.  Accordingly, the Minister of Trade kindly agreed for me to speak to The Bahamas Commission on Trade.

"The Trade Commission's co-chair, Raymond Winder, has indicated by letter that subject to certain clarifications, they are ready and willing to work on the issues...The politics will hopefully then be out of the matter, the Commission will be free to review all the issues arising from the current debate, without a deadline, and the Ministry can now continue with other valuable projects in our Foreign Affairs.

It is only left for the government to provide a formal remit.  It is my hope that this effectively brings an end to this matter."

The Minister also said there has been "considerable misinformation and deliberate disinformation" about the matter or reservations to the Treaty.

The government has said repeatedly that if it signs the Revised Treaty, it would seek reservations on the free movement of people; the monetary union; the Caribbean Court of Justice at the appellate level; and the common external tariff.

Addressing the confusion surrounding whether the reservations would have an expiration date, the Minister said, "The reservations that are proposed are without end.

With regard to this treaty; once you sign a treaty with a reservation, the provisions of the treaty against which there are reservations do not apply to The Bahamas, neither can they be questioned in any court.  These are sovereign decisions of a sovereign government."

Minister Mitchell said that the CCJ reservation has been the cause of "considerable confusion."

"The confusion has been engendered by unintelligent ‐ at the very least disingenuous ‐ commentary by attorneys who ought to know better," he said.

Minister Mitchell announced that he will be representing Prime Minister Perry Christie at the next Heads of Government meeting set for St. Lucia early next month.

"The process of public education on this matter is nowhere near complete and so the question of signing anything in July does not arise," the Minister added.

He also spent much of his time lashing out at detractors whom he said have been spreading half-truths.

Minister Mitchell pointed to former Minister of Finance Sir William Allen, and former Minister of Economic Development Zhivargo Laing, saying, "They have been fudging, half truths and shades of deception, confused the public on this issue...This is the political season and no matter what the truth is, the response will be fudging, misinformation and mix up."

While he gave no attention to the public service in his address, Minister Mitchell, under whose portfolio the public service falls, also took a stab at John Pinder, president of The Bahamas Public Services Union.

"He is involved now in a campaign for reelection," the Minister pointed out.  "I can only imagine that anything will be said for headlines.  I have accused him before of always wanting to engage in the politics of rowing.  I did not believe for one moment that he would resort to a deliberate untruth which should be clear to him and clear, as the lawyers say, on the face of the record."

Minister Mitchell said it is "nonsense" for Mr. Pinder to say that the government signed the Revised Treaty on December 21, 2004.

The Minister also slammed Chairman of The Bahamas Financial Services Consultative Forum Brian Moree, who has criticized the government for its handling of the whole debate, and has urged the Christie Administration not to sign the new Treaty.

Mr. Moree has said that it makes no sense to sign such a treaty and opt out of four of its major provisions.

But Minister Mitchell indicated that he's baffled that Mr. Moree is vehemently opposed to the free movement of people under the CSME, when only a few months ago, he, as chairman of the Forum, released a controversial report strongly asking the government to liberalize its immigration laws.

"There are other critics," Minister Mitchell said.  "They have said some pretty appalling things about me personally and about the government.  One group that comes with the unfortunate acronym of BARF seems especially personally motivated...I only say this to the public: one should always look to see why a comment is being made and what interest is being served by that comment."

He said that it is clear that the detractors of his government on the CSME issue have one motto, and that is not to let the truth get in the way of a good story. 

They Backstabbed Tommy Turnquest!

Tommy 'Backstabbed'

By Candia Dames

candiadames@hotmail.com

Nassau, The Bahamas

26th April 2005

A move afoot to get rid of Senator Tommy Turnquest as the leader of the Free National Movement to pave the way for former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham's return amounts to an act of treachery, two former FNM Cabinet Ministers indicated yesterday.

Algernon Allen and Tennyson Wells both made a bid to lead the party in 2000, but lost to Mr. Turnquest who had the endorsement of Mr. Ingraham.

Mr. Wells said that Mr. Turnquest is now being "backstabbed" by the same group of people who supported him as leader, while Mr. Allen said, "As one who knows this party intimately, I see all the hallmarks of treachery afoot."

Their comments came following an exclusive report in The Bahama Journal that revealed that an advisory committee headed by former Deputy Prime Minister Frank Watson has indicated to Mr. Turnquest that many FNM's are concerned that the party would have no chance of winning the next general election with him as leader.

The committee, which was appointed by the FNM leader, reported to him last week.

Mr. Allen, who called into the Love 97 talk show "Issues of The Day," said the pursuit of power at all cost manifested itself in the 2000 FNM convention.

"They got rid of most of those who cared about country, who cared about the direction of the party," he said.

Mr. Allen said that the very people who several years ago "drove Mr. Turnquest's agenda" are now those seeking to cut his political legs and arms off "and they'd stop no short of drinking his blood."

"Here we have this scenario: Mr. Ingraham and others put Mr. Turnquest in position.  They heralded him as almost the second coming.  They went from island to island, from place to place and they told the public emphatically that he was the only one who could lead the party.

"Now here comes these same persons who surrounded Mr. Ingraham, who carried that message with a passion and who did so in ways which further ruptured and destroyed the organization.  But now they say 'Here we are at this point in time.  This man can no longer lead us.  He is not fitting.' Mind you, they failed to say that in 2002 really Mr. Turnquest was only leader in name because the public voted undoubtedly on the record of the FNM over the past five years."

In his usual impassioned tone, Mr. Allen added, "We have been rendered literally with an ineffective opposition because all are content now with cutting off the fledgling legs of Mr. Tommy Turnquest.  I sympathize with him because I know what is happening.  Unfortunately, he is in an incestuous group, a group that enjoys carnal knowledge with their own, so to speak.  [It's] an incestuous group that seeks now to destroy him because they seek now to forward another agenda."

Mr. Allen said he seriously doubts that Mr. Ingraham wants to return to the leadership of the FNM, saying the matter is not now even in question.

"I cannot see Mr. Ingraham leaving his pensions and emoluments which are a quarter of a million dollars a year ‐ [he's] given a salary, maid, chauffeur, gardener, medical insurance and all the rest ‐ to return to the fray of politics and I do believe that it would not be in his interest.  It would not be in accordance with his stated philosophy.  It would not be in accordance with the overall advancement of good governance in the country," Mr. Allen declared.

"I think now that the Free National Movement ought to sit and now focus and undoubtedly there is a very strong probability that they will not win 2007, but political parties do not focus on the immediate.  They structure toward the inevitability that in 2012 there is an election, God willing if Christ does not come."

Independent Member of Parliament Tennyson Wells, who also served in Mr. Ingraham's government, said the fact that Mr. Turnquest had to appoint a fact-finding committee tells that the party is in "disarray."

He said that while Mr. Ingraham may be able to win the leadership of the FNM, he would not be able to win a general election.

"He has been a divider," Mr. Wells said of the former prime minister.  "I would not support him if he comes back.  At least 30 percent of the base support that the FNM needs to win the election would not support Mr. Ingraham if he comes back."

He said that it is highly unlikely that the FNM could win the election under Mr. Turnquest, adding that he would need "grooming" and much greater support than he has now.

"I never thought that Tommy was a person to be leader of the FNM in the first place," Mr. Wells said.  "[He's a nice person] and has a role to play in the organization, but at that level, no.  He is not the person for that."

Mr. Wells said he always thought that the Member of Parliament for Lucaya Neko Grant, and FNM Chairman Carl Bethel "who has a problem with his personality" could lead the FNM to victory in a general election.

He also suggested that former MP Lester Turnquest has what it takes to lead the FNM.

Mr. Wells also told The Bahama Journal that he is still interested in leading the FNM.

"I never really left the FNM," he said.  "But most of them are so bitter against me that I've resigned myself to my position.  I will make my judgment within the next nine months to a year...but if you ask me whether or not I believe I could win the next election, I think if I was leader of the FNM, I could win the election.  But I'm not going to go out and fight over anything.  It has to be a consensus.  I'm not going to get involved in any friction...I'm finished with that."

Mr. Ingraham has declined to comment on the matter of his possible return as leader of the FNM.

But Mr. Wells believes that Mr. Ingraham should tell the Bahamian people definitively that he does not plan to return if that is in fact the case.

He said the former prime minister's refusal to comment has created confusion.

Meanwhile, former DPM Watson, who headed the advisory council, said on Monday that it would be inappropriate for him to comment on the group's work unless the party's leader allowed the release of the report. 

Sidney Stubbs can Only Hold On to His Holy Cross seat in the House of Assembly as long as He has An Appeal outstanding in His Bankruptcy Matter

Chief Justice Sir Burton Hall indicated that if there is an appeal before the Privy Council, Mr. Sidney Stubbs needs to pursue that before he can ask the Supreme Court to annul the bankruptcy order issued against him in March

Stubbs Appeal In Doubt

 

 

 

By Candia Dames

Nassau, The Bahamas

29th November 2004

 

 

Nearly one week after Chief Justice Sir Burton Hall adjourned the Sidney Stubbs bankruptcy matter, officials of the Progressive Liberal Party say they have still not been able to confirm whether the Holy Cross Member of Parliament has an appeal before the Privy Council.

His attorneys could not say last Tuesday whether there was in fact an appeal and have not yet given an indication that there is one.

While the legal team filed a notice to appeal to the Privy Council in September, it still remains unclear whether it moved ahead with that intent.

A PLP official told the Bahama Journal that the uncertainty surrounding the alleged appeal is creating frustrations for the party, which is seeking to speed up the legal matter.

When he adjourned the case last week, Sir Burton indicated that if there is an appeal before the Privy Council, Mr. Stubbs needs to pursue that before he can ask the Supreme Court to annul the bankruptcy order issued against him in March.

When asked on Sunday whether he has an appeal before the Privy Council, Mr. Stubbs told the Bahama Journal that he does not speak to the press and any statement in this regard would have to come from his attorneys.

Up to last week, attorney Wayne Munroe, who represents Mr. Stubbs’s former creditor, said he had received no notice from the MP’s counsel that an appeal was indeed active.

The hierarchy of the PLP is reportedly concerned that the matter may be dragging on too long and was considering whether to indicate to Mr. Stubbs formally that the party needed to start preparing for the eventuality of a bye-election.

Mr. Stubbs can only hold on to his seat in the House of Assembly as long as he has an appeal outstanding in his bankruptcy matter.

It could be why he and his legal team are for now keeping quiet on whether they actually have an appeal active.

In September, the House of Assembly approved a resolution granting him an additional six months to pursue an appeal.

Last Tuesday, Sir Burton made it clear to the court that there was no appeal presently before him as it relates to Mr. Stubbs’s bankruptcy matter.

The Free National Movement has insisted that the Holy Cross-seat became vacant the moment Supreme Court Justice Jeannie Thompson declared the MP bankrupt in March.

When contacted on Sunday, the FNM’s candidate for Holy Cross Carl Bethel told the Bahama Journal that he wanted to steer clear of making too many public comments at this time on the matter which is still before the courts.

But he reiterated the position of his party as it relates to the latest debacle involving Mr. Stubbs.

“The government really has to decide whether they are going to honour and uphold the constitution or whether they’re going to play politics with it,” said Mr. Bethel, who is also the party’s chairman.

“They know that Sidney Stubbs has no appeal to the Privy Council.  His seat is vacant under the constitution and it is really an abuse of the constitution…the fact of the matter is if there is an appeal, the other side ought to have received concrete evidence of such a thing.”

Tommy Turnquest says He Does Not Consider Hubert Ingraham to be a Threat to His Leadership of the Free National Movement (FNM)

Turnquest: Ingraham No Threat

By Candia Dames

candiadames@hotmail.com

Nassau, The Bahamas

10/05/2004

Free National Movement Leader Tommy Turnquest said on the Love 97 Radio Programme 'Jones and Company' Sunday that former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham is no threat to him.

While addressing a group of administrative professions in Freeport, Grand Bahama last month, Mr. Ingraham referred to his departure from frontline politics as a "hiatus" and said it could stay that way as long as those who are now in office advance The Bahamas and its people.

Mr. Turnquest said, "I did not consider it to be a threat against me.  I do not consider Mr. Ingraham to be a threat to my leadership.  Mr. Ingraham is a former leader, a former prime minister.  He remains a sitting MP as an FNM MP in our parliament.

"He is very supportive of me and my leadership and I don't in the slightest way feel threatened by him or by his remarks.  He said that people said when I was prime minister that I talked too much and I didn't listen enough.  Now they're saying I'm not saying enough, perhaps I'll get it right one day."

Mr. Turnquest said a lot of people try to pit him against Mr. Ingraham, but he said, "I'm not going there".

"I'm comfortable with my leadership, I'm comfortable with his position," he added.  "There are persons in the FNM who have tried to get Mr. Ingraham to come back.  I believe that those persons are not prepared to work as hard as we have to work in order for us to gain the government.

"They see Mr. Ingraham as a person who did it before and feel that if he came back we would just automatically win.  Well, that's not going to happen.

When asked by the show's host, Wendall Jones, whether Mr. Ingraham was a cloud over his leadership, Mr. Turnquest said, "Mr. Ingraham is a very dominating personality in terms of Bahamian politics.  Lots of persons either love him or hate him, but Mr. Ingraham in my view, and I believe in the view of the majority of FNM's, will not become leader of the FNM again."

Mr. Jones then asked, "Wouldn't it be better for you as leader of the FNM for him to retire from frontline politics and give you advice rather than being, as some people say, meddlesome?"

Mr. Turnquest responded, "I don't consider Mr. Ingraham meddlesome in my leadership.  Some people believe that Mr. Ingraham is going to come back or wants to come back as leader of the FNM and prime minister of The Bahamas.  I do not share that view.  I believe that Mr. Ingraham has a passion for the political scene in The Bahamas.  He's in the parliament.

"Mr. Ingraham didn't want to run in the last election in North Abaco, but he ran and won his seat and thankfully so...I'm not sure that we can win a bye election in North Abaco at this time and until I'm sure about that, I don't see any reason to ask Mr. Ingraham to step down."

He added, "Mr. Ingraham serves a very useful purpose for me being in the House of Assembly and the House of Assembly is where the action is.  I do not have a seat in the House of Assembly."

Mr. Jones then asked, "Aren't you upstaged by his presence?"

"I don't feel upstaged," Mr. Turnquest responded.  "I am comfortable as the leader of the FNM."

When asked whether Mr. Ingraham was more responsible that any other politician in the FNM for the defeat of the party in the last general elections, the FNM leader said Mr. Ingraham has to accept a degree of responsibility for the FNM defeat.

But he said, "I believe that the blame game as to who is responsible for us losing is not important in terms of us moving forward.

"I have now done an analysis in terms of the reasons as to why we have lost.  I use that analysis now as the basis of my strategy of us winning the next election and so I don't intend to make or let the FNM make the same mistakes we made in the election campaign of 2002...in fact, I intend to have learnt sufficiently from those mistakes and from any successes we may have had in order for the FNM to be successful in the next general elections."

He then reiterated that he does not feel undermined by Mr. Ingraham.

Prime Minister Perry Christie, who was a guest on the same show a week earlier, was also asked to respond to comments made by Mr. Ingraham in Grand Bahama.

He said, "One of the interesting and intriguing questions for The Bahamas will be whether Hubert Ingraham and a Perry Christie representing both sides of the political spectrum will square up against each other and quite frankly to the real politician in both of us, it is more than intriguing.

"It's one of those things that you have become very curious over.  I don't know though whether that is something that is real for Mr. Ingraham.  He indicated to the country that he wanted to do two terms.  He had two terms.  He's in retirement now and it takes a major set of facts to converge for him, I think, to make a decision to move forward.  But that's neither here nor there, that's an FNM problem."

The prime minister then added, "I quite frankly do not believe and I cannot anticipate from my point of view that the FNM will beat my party in the next election even though we're two and a half years away at least from a general election.

"My job is to ensure that my party complies with its programme that it presented to the Bahamian people and remain relevant to the Bahamian people and I have to be satisfied that if we do those things that we would win, no matter who is the leader of the other side." 

Sidney Stubbs, Embattled Holy Cross MP - Bankruptcy Trial Adjourned

Sidney Stubbs was forced to go back to the Supreme Court after the Court of Appeal rejected his appeal in July on the grounds that it had no jurisdiction to hear his bankruptcy appeal

PLP Member of Parliament - Sidney Stubbs’ Bankruptcy Matter Adjourned Again

 

 

By Candia Dames

Nassau, The Bahamas

September 22, 2004

 

 

  

Supreme Court Judge Jeannie Thompson on Wednesday adjourned the Sidney Stubbs bankruptcy matter to November 9, after the Holy Cross MP’s attorneys indicated that they had aborted the line of argument originally planned.

The amendment to their summons resulted in the judge putting off the matter once again.

Mr. Stubbs was forced to go back to the Supreme Court after the Court of Appeal rejected his appeal in July on the grounds that it had no jurisdiction to hear the appeal.

Attorney Wayne Munroe, who represents Mr. Stubbs’ creditor, Gina Gonzalez, explained that the matter of whether the Supreme Court has jurisdiction to hear the case still has to be clarified.

Members of Mr. Stubbs’ legal team had originally given notice that they intended to argue for the reversal of the bankruptcy order under Section 18 of the Bankruptcy Act, which outlines the circumstances under which a reversal of a bankruptcy order may be made.

But on Tuesday, they changed the summons, giving notice that they intend to argue that the court has an inherent jurisdiction to hear the case.  They plan to assert essentially that there is no Act or rule under which this jurisdiction is specified.

As mentioned, because of the change, the parties have been given more time to prepare their arguments.

Mr. Stubbs has actually hired new attorneys, led by Thomas Evans.  The MP still has as part of his legal team - his parliamentary colleague, attorney Keod Smith, but Charles Mackay is no longer representing him.

Mr. Munroe had indicated during a recent appearance before Justice Thompson that an issue had arisen over whether Mr. Smith, who is also the MP for Mount Moriah, is in contempt of court for comments he made to the press in relation to this matter.

But that issue reportedly did not come up when the parties met in chambers Wednesday.

After coming out of the court, Mr. Smith told reporters, “The issue of jurisdiction will be discussed.  It will be argued before the judge on the 9^th and at that point, the judge will determine whether in fact she has jurisdiction to hear an application from Mr. Stubbs who was adjudicated a bankrupt.”

Mr. Stubbs’ attorneys assert that he can under law bring the case back to court.  But Mr. Munroe argues that only the Registrar of the Supreme Court, who has been appointed trustee in bankruptcy, can move the court to reverse the decision against Mr. Stubbs.

As already reported by the Journal, Mr. Stubbs’ legal woes began on November 28, 1996 when a Supreme Court action was filed requiring him to pay a $55,000 debt with interest to Ms. Gonzalez.

As Mr. Stubbs was preparing to head back to court, notice was being given in the House of Assembly Wednesday that the government intends to bring a resolution seeking to extend the time for him to clear up the bankruptcy matter.

But FNM officials have indicated that they would stage a demonstration in front of the House of Assembly against such a plan.

They pointed out that the Constitution only provides an extension if an MP has avenues for an appeal.  They claim Mr. Stubbs has none.

One PLP official told the Bahama Journal that Mr. Stubbs also plans to appeal before the Privy Council if he is unsuccessful in local courts.

At stake is his seat in the House of Assembly.  He has been absent from the House for the past six months, after Justice Thompson declared him a bankrupt on March 30.

Another six-month extension from the House of Assembly, as is being pushed by the government, could mean his seat on the backbench could be vacant for up to a year.

Raynard Rigby, Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Chairman says Embattled Holy Cross Member of Parliament - Sidney Stubbs still has The Party Support

Raynard Rigby added that talk of a possible bye-election is premature, because Mr. Stubbs has not yet exhausted the time provided under the constitution for him to have his bankruptcy order discharged 

Chairman Says PLP Fully Behind Stubbs

 

 

By Candia Dames

Nassau, The Bahamas

22/07/2004

 

 

 

 

Despite his legal troubles, Holy Cross Member of Parliament Sidney Stubbs still has the full support of the Progressive Liberal Party, PLP Chairman Raynard Rigby said Wednesday.

“Mr. Stubbs lodged his appeal, the matter is still before the courts and so he is still entitled to due process under the constitution,” Mr. Rigby said.

He added that talk of a possible bye-election is premature because Mr. Stubbs has not yet exhausted the time provided under the constitution for him to have his bankruptcy order discharged.

Although Mr. Stubbs has said he has repaid the debt that led to Supreme Court Justice Jeannie Thompson declaring him bankrupt nearly four months ago, he still has to have the order reversed before he can participate in proceedings of the House of Assembly.

His time would expire around the same time that the House comes off its summer recess in late September.

“Our support is in line with the protection given to him under the constitution,” Mr. Rigby told the Bahama Journal.

“I’ve spoken with his attorneys and I have been advised that he still has a number of options available to him, and they are exploring those options with a view to bringing the matter to an end.

“If they are successful in their options then obviously there would not be a bye-election in Holy Cross.”

However, Mr. Rigby said earlier in the week that should a bye-election be called, his party would undoubtedly be victorious.

But Free National Movement supporters say this would be unlikely.

“Having been lost or hiding himself from the many embarrassing moments of his embattled colleague and party, Mr. Rigby appears to have lost touch with reality as to what is going on in New Providence and The Bahamas at this time,” read a statement from the Action Group of The FNM issued Tuesday.

“In its current state of unacceptability, the PLP would be hard-pressed to win a seat in a bye-election or any kind of election in New Providence or elsewhere in The Bahamas.”

Sources within the PLP, meanwhile, have told the Journal that thought is already being given to who the PLP would run should a bye-election be called, with some speculating whether this would be an ideal time for CDR leader Dr. Bernard Nottage to accept what amounted to an invitation from Prime Minister Perry Christie for him to rejoin the PLP.

Last week, Mr. Christie told the Journal, “Everyone knows that I have a great deal of personal affection and a great deal of political admiration for Dr. Nottage, and most certainly look forward to the time when a process can be engaged in - if that is the wish of Dr Nottage - towards his becoming a full fledged member again of the Progressive Liberal Party.  I believe that is where he ought to be.”

For now, PLP officials are saying on the record that they are hopeful that Mr. Stubbs would once again take his place on the backbench when Members of Parliament return from their summer recess in September.

The Bahamas Government Ongoing Deficit Spending - Budget after Budget

The Bahamas Minister of State for Finance, James Smith on reducing the budget deficit: “What we must bear in mind in trying to reach deficit reduction targets is that it is not a one year exercise

Gov’t Facing Growing Deficit

By Candia Dames

candiadames@hotmail.com

Nassau, The Bahamas

06/05/2004

As the fiscal year winds to a close, government officials are working feverishly to bring a new budget to parliament at the end of this month.

It is too soon to tell whether the government will meet its revenue projection of $1.005 billion, but collections are expected to exceed the more than the $900 million collected in the 2002-2003 fiscal year, according to Minister of State for Finance James Smith.

“The deficit is likely to be a little larger than expected,” he told the Journal recently.

The 2003-2004 budget projects an overall funding shortfall of $122 million, which would raise government debt by 2.2 percent to 38.7 percent of GDP.

But Minister Smith has indicated that more than $30 million in unexpected expenditure will increase the deficit, unless the projected revenue is dramatically surpassed.

“As usual and without fail, you have the unexpected events that tend to throw it out of whack,” he said.  “Sometimes it’s favorable, most times it isn’t.  So the challenge is always there.”

The Minister added though that, “What we must bear in mind in trying to reach deficit reduction targets is that it is not a one year exercise.

“We try to do that over several years – three or four years as the case may be – because you really don’t want to choke real development.  If we have a run over the year over the projections that means that in framing the budget for the upcoming year, we take that into account and we might have to introduce revenue measures or additional expenditure controls or a combination of both.”

Prime Minister Perry Christie said Sunday while on the Radio Love 97 Programme “Jones and Company” that the government is “severely challenged” by the increasing expenditure and revenue collections.

But he reported that there were signs of improvements.

“We are very happy that we have now seen the beginnings of the turnaround in revenue,” Mr. Christie said.  “The last three months would suggest that the turnaround is setting in and that is headed toward obviously a better situation.  But even with that, we are going to be severely challenged given the kinds of developments that are taking place on our islands.”

On Wednesday, Minister Smith was unable to reveal specifics regarding collections.

The government is into its final weeks of preparing a new budget, facing a traditional rigidity in expenditure.

Minister Smith has pointed to the difficulties in preparing a budget when such a large portion of expenditure is fixed.  It is a situation he said is not easy to restructure.

“I think it’s going to be very difficult because 55 percent or thereabouts are salaries and wages and it’s a very difficult political decision to reduce the size of the public service, so you almost take the wages and salaries as a given,” he noted.

“Added to that would be another fixture of the budget, debt servicing, and that’s about another 18 percent of your budget.  So already you’re talking about 75 percent of your budget that’s fixed.  No matter how hard you try, unless we were to have some dramatic structural change in the economy, I don’t see that happening.  I know of it happening in no economy in the world, really.”

One way of beginning the reversal of this trend is making conditions conducive to the growth of the private sector, he said.

“If you create the jobs in the private sector then there is likely to be a drain from the public sector into the private sector,” Minister Smith pointed out.

New PLP Senator Chosen to Replace Edison Key

Edison Key, who resigned from the upper chamber months ago - criticized Prime Minister Perry Christie for "poor leadership" and "lack of direction." 

PM Chooses New Senator

By Candia Dames

Nassau, The Bahamas

03/05/2004

 

 

Prime Minister Perry Christie says he has chosen a new senator to replace Edison Key, who resigned from the upper chamber months ago, criticizing the nation's leader for "poor leadership" and "lack of direction."

Mr. Christie made the revelation while a guest on the Radio Love 97 Programme "Jones and Company" Sunday, on a day when the party observed the second anniversary since winning the government in 1992.

But the prime minister did not reveal his choice to fill the seat left vacant in the upper chamber.

"I've made a decision on it," said Mr. Christie, who was responding to a question asked by the show's host, Wendall Jones.  "I can assure you…the announcement will come shortly."

Mr. Key said he resigned on January 10, but the prime minister said he did not become aware of the so-called resignation until he received Mr. Key's letter more than five weeks later after the Journal made public the Abaco senator's surprising move.

Mr. Christie said he did not rush to replace Mr. Key because the former senator's absence from the senate did not create any disruptions or interruptions.

"I have the luxury of also deciding whether or not I make another major decision which will impact the development of this country with respect to the senate as well," he said, although not going into further details.

The senate has met several times since Mr. Key's resignation, dealing with several key pieces of proposed legislation.

When he spoke with the Journal in mid February about his resignation, Mr. Key said he thought the senate was useless.  But a number of his former colleagues have disagreed with him.

Opposition senators, meanwhile, including Free National Movement Leader Tommy Turnquest, have criticized Mr. Christie's delay in appointing a senator.  Mr. Turnquest said the delay was indicative of the way the Christie Administration operates.

On Sunday, Mr. Christie said, "Please forgive me. I take full responsibility for the delay."

The Role of The Government and Opposition in Trade Unions & Industrial Disputes in The Bahamas

The Politics of Trade Unions & Industrial Disputes in The Bahamas 

Trade Unions & Industrial Disputes – Part 2

By Apostle Cedric Moss
Nassau, The Bahamas

It was my intent to conclude my commentary on this subject today.  However, having decided to say more than I initially intended, the Lord willing, I will conclude next week.

At the time of this writing, January 12, 2004, negotiations between The Bahamas Hotel Catering & Allied Workers Union (BHC) and The Bahamas Hotel Employers Association (BHEA) continue and we continue to pray that they are concluded soon in a just manner for all.

About Sickouts

I recall several weeks ago listening to the news reports covering the Bahamasair sickout, the resulting pay cuts and the protests by the union regarding those pay cuts.  I listened in sheer amazement as I heard a union official admit they staged a sickout and at the same time complained that their pay should not have been cut.  That does not add up!  Clearly, companies have the right to cut the salaries of employees who stay off from work when they (or dependents, if allowed) are not sick, even if it is one or two days for which they are not required to produce a doctors certificate evidencing their sickness.  This right to cut is especially evident when they or their representatives publicly acknowledge that a sickout was staged.

Sick days are for the specific purpose for which they are earmarked…sickness, and not for making a point to management in union negotiations or for any other purpose.  The tragedy of such actions is that workers are paid for work they did not do, adding to the company’s actual losses suffered and future losses coming from disgruntled customers as a result of the sick out.  Hopefully, that correct and courageous action of the Board of Bahamasair (to cut the pay of those involved in the sickout) will go a long way in discouraging this practice in our nation.

Sadly, many employees feel as though sick days are their entitlement, whether they are sick or not, and some ensure that they “use up” their sick days in a given year, sometimes to do things sick people can’t or shouldn’t do.

Christians & Industrial Disputes

It is reasonable to conclude that in a nation like The Bahamas, many Christians are involved in industrial disputes, on both the union and management sides.  However, whether on the side of union or management, Christians have to ensure that their allegiance is first to Christ and His Kingdom, and not the union or management constituency they are a part of or represent.  For example, Christians ought not to condone or participate in go slows, sickouts and similar practices because they misrepresent the values of the Kingdom of God.  Likewise, those who follow Christ and serve in management or on management negotiation teams should not victimize and intimidate workers or unjustly withhold fair compensation because such actions misrepresent the values of the Kingdom of God to which they owe their primary citizenship.  Christians on both sides must abstain from practices that are contrary to the Kingdom way.

Role of Government

When negotiations in some high profile industrial disputes stalemate, governments generally intervene as we are seeing in the case of BHC and BHEA.  While it is important for them to intervene, it is also important for them to speak candidly to both sides.  If in the government’s view one side is being unreasonable or unfair or if both are, it should be pointed out clearly and candidly.  Please note: I am not implying that the government is not doing this in the present dispute…I don’t know.  I state it generally because the unfortunate reality is that far too many governments wrongly pander towards workers for votes or towards powerful investors for jobs - and at times lack the courage to take the right position for fear of political fall out.

Governments are elected to lead in the country’s best interest and not their party’s best interest, even if it means offending large amounts of voters in powerful trade unions or large investor cartels.  One thing is certain: opting for the easy political road in disputes does not solve problems.  It merely defers and compounds the problem, which will have to be dealt with eventually at a higher cost.  So our prayers are with the government to lead in this matter in our national best interest.

Role of the Opposition

Clearly, this industrial dispute between BHC and BHEA is a prime example of an issue which the government and opposition should be able be bipartisan about and visibly work together on.  Sadly, this does not seem to be the case as was evidenced in the FNM’s objection to Prime Minister Christie’s public apology to President Thabo Embeki and their call for him to now apologize to the workers.  While they may be sincerely convicted about their position, it seems to me they were playing politics and seeking to curry favour with workers for obvious reasons.  That, in my view, was not helpful, especially considering the gravity of this situation.

First of all, President Embeki was in a sense the guest of all Bahamian citizens and residents, and the apology ought to have been public because the inconvenience and embarrassment were public.  I wonder if those objecting to the Prime Minister’s public apology would feel the same way if they had invited a guest to their home for a few days and one of two family members involved in a domestic dispute acted in a manner that unnecessarily inconvenienced their guest and embarrassed them.  I know I’m speculating but I think they would promptly apologize to the guest in front of those present (and further discipline the family member when the guest leaves).  Doing so would honour the guest, enable all present to know such conduct is unacceptable and hopefully ensure it does not happen again.

So, I urge the Opposition to take a bipartisan approach to the BHC and BHEA negotiations and other issues that are not political but national.

Apostle Cedric Moss serves as Senior Pastor at Kingdom Life World Outreach Centre. Commentary and feedback may be directed to: apostle@kingdom-life.org.