Carlton Francis was right when he said gambling was no way to develop a new nation... ...previous political, community and church leaders have failed Bahamians by introducing gambling in The Bahamas... says Bishop Cedric Moss - senior pastor at the Kingdom Life Church

Pastors Calling For All Gambling To Be Outlawed

By KHRISNA VIRGIL and  RASHAD ROLLE
Tribune Staff Reporters
kvirgil@tribunemedia.net



AS the Bahamas Christian Council hits out at the government for rushing a gambling referendum, some local pastors are taking it one step further and calling for all gambling participation – including the participation of tourists in casinos – to be outlawed.

Bishop Cedric Moss, senior pastor at the Kingdom Life Church, has joined the debate on the legalisation of gambling and given it a new twist.

Speaking to The Big T, Bishop Moss said that civic and religious leaders failed the country when they allowed casino gambling to be introduced in 1973.

“Carlton Francis was right when he said gambling was no way to develop a new nation,” he said, adding that he believed “previous leaders and church leaders failed us by introducing gambling in our country.”

Bishop Moss said: “Bahamians are not hurt by gambling. Tourists are hurt by gambling. They are financially raped by casinos. I am saddened that we loose casinos on them to harm them and their families.”

Speaking about the effects of gambling, he said: “You just have to Google and see the negative effects gambling has on cities like Atlantic City which allow gambling. Bahamians gambling has a different affect on the Bahamas than tourists gambling in the Bahamas. What Bahamians don’t realise is that many tourists who gamble in our casinos don’t want casinos in their cities.”

“The government has ignored the church on this issue since 1973. We are opposed to all forms of gambling, including numbers and casino gambling. I think we should think thoughtfully on how we could legally bring casino gambling to a close. It was a bad decision in the beginning. To let Bahamians gamble in casinos would be another bad decision.”

Another pastor, Rev Rex Major, said casino gambling is undesirable for the country.

“The remarks by Carlton Francis during the voting on the Opposition’s resolution in condemning the government’s casino policy should set the tone for our national priorities,” he said.

“At that time, Mr Francis reminded the Parliamentarians and the nation that he thought that as a new nation, the country should first aspire for certain other qualities rather than dollars and cents value. Gambling encourages a reckless parasitic approach to life—in which one human fleeces another with no genuine personal regard for his neighbour’s welfare.”

Rev Matthew Allen, senior pastor at the Kingdom Minded Fellowship Centre International, said that while he is against gambling, he also disapproves of the hypocrisy religious leaders have exhibited.

“It’s pathetic, nauseating listening to the religious leaders of today trying to scripturally justify their opposition to gambling, whereas it’s some of these very same religious leaders who are called upon to say the opening prayer and pronounce blessing upon various resorts and casinos. How hypocritical could one be?”

Meanwhile, the Bahamas Christian Council (BCC) is hitting out at the government for focusing on gambling legislation at a time when the country is facing so many pressing national issues.

BCC president Rev Ranford Patterson said yesterday that reducing crime and focusing on the country’s economy should be priorities for the Christie administration, and not seeking to expedite a gambling vote which would cost taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars.

His words came amid public speculation about the driving force behind the government’s urgency to see referendum plans through to completion. Controversy has also surrounded the level of its thoroughness, as Bahamians having the right to gamble in casinos has been dismissed.

“We are opposed to gambling in this country in any capacity. I believe there are so many more pressing issues that need our attention along with social ills. I always hear people speak about this $40 million to be gained by the numbers business, but I am of the firm belief that we would need to spend more on law enforcement to police this thing properly.

“Do you know how many people would spend all they had to gamble? Social Services would need more resources to help people. The Christian Council is here to present the fact and people should be made aware of implications as a result of making this thing legal,” Rev Patterson said.

Two weeks ago, a Baha Mar executive told The Tribune that in his view Bahamians have not matured enough to be permitted to gamble in local casinos.

Robert “Sandy” Sands, senior vice-president of external and governmental affairs at Baha Mar, said that while he supports regularising number houses, he is not an advocate of Bahamians being allowed to gamble in casinos.

“I am a strong advocate of limited relaxation for Bahamians gambling in casinos. I believe the government should examine the opportunity for high net worth for persons who can verify their ability to sustain gambling for limited periods like over a month or something like that.

“I support gambling for persons who come on short-term work permits, especially in the entertainment business.

“I also support gambling for persons of high net worth who have permanent residency in the country and people with second homes,” he said.

“However, I do not support opening the floodgates totally. We are not a disciplined enough community. I understand rights, but there are some rights we have to take away from individuals for their own benefit. We have to find the balance and even with the liberalisation of the number houses there might be an opportunity where numbers may be able to be purchased through a window at the casino. But no, I do not support Bahamians gambling in the casino.”

On Thursday, former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham criticised the government for not giving Bahamians the opportunity to decide whether they should participate in casino gambling.

“The public of the Bahamas ought to have a right to decide whether they want to gamble in the casino or not,” he said.

July 20, 2012

Tribune242 

Caribbean Blog International

Bahamians Decide Their Future On Monday May 07, 2012... ...We will choose between a decisive leader, who will achieve much for the country... or an indecisive leader who will let others take the lead... ...The Bahamian people hold their destiny in their own hands... ...Choose wisely...

Bahamians Decide Their Future On Monday

tribune242 

LAST WEEK, a young Bahamian came to see us. He wanted to talk. It was about the election, but, according to him, it was mainly about his future, which the outcome of the election would determine.

He loved the Bahamas. To him it was home -- a place he never thought he could leave. But Monday's election, and the attitude of many Bahamians, discouraged him.

"If," he said, "after all that Mr Ingraham and his government have done for the Bahamian people, especially during a world recession, they can't understand and appreciate, what is the future for this country? We are just starting to move out of our economic decline. Do you know what would happen if the PLP returned -- everything would stop, and it you think things are bad now, it will be a disaster should they get in on Monday."

"I have been thinking," he said, "if the FNM lose this election, why should I dedicate the rest of my life in trying to help build a country in which a people are so blind and unappreciative."

All Bahamians had to do, he said, was look around them, make comparisons with the PLP's five years of treading water to see the dynamic progress -- despite the hard times -- during the Ingraham years.

His words reminded us of the epithet to Sir Christopher Wren engraved on the walls of St Paul's Cathedral: "Reader, if you want to see my monument, look around you."

After the Great Fire of London in 1666, Sir Christopher was commissioned to rebuild the city. St Paul's was his masterpiece.

The young Bahamian was particularly annoyed at the attitude of the civil service unions. During the world's economic collapse, civil servants were among the first to be fired to reduce each government's costs -- even in the great United States. Not so the Bahamas. Prime Minister Ingraham made certain that no civil servant lost his or her job. Yet, while fellow Bahamians were losing their homes, and their private sector jobs, unionists, secure in their posts, were selfishly bleating for more.

The PLP, smug in its belief of entitlement, was so shocked at losing the 2007 election that it commissioned a research company to find out why.

The first recommendation was that the PLP had to expand its support base. Greenberg Quinlan Rosher found that the PLP won the majority of its votes among the 60 and over age group. It also attracted a socio-economic group with less than a high school education. Over the years the PLP have successfully played on this group's ignorance. But obviously, time is eroding that base.

Also, the report said, the party had to cleanse itself of its scandal-ridden reputation. The party had to take "concrete actions that convey its seriousness about purging corruption from the party and state." The perception among voters, it said, was that the PLP was "more focused on doing things that benefit its own politicians than for people."

Another crucial point was Mr Perry Christie's leadership qualities. There is no disputing that Mr Christie is personally popular, but, said the report, "voters equate his leadership style with weakness." This had to change. To succeed Mr Christie had to be seen as a "forceful, decisive leader."

While prime minister, he appeared too weak and forgiving -- a man completely unable to purge his government of those causing the scandal. How much has he changed? On Monday he is offering the Bahamian people much of the same crew that caused him his problems from 2002 to 2007. Among the new faces are at least two, who if reports can be believed, could cause him future credibility problems.

Obviously, he has shown no strength here, and watching him on the campaign trail one gets the distinct impression that it is his deputy -- "Brave" Davis and not Perry Christie - who is the man in charge. This, again, if what we hear is true, could spell problems in the not too distant future. Many Bahamians are uneasy about the possibility of such a leadership switch.

And so "scandal" is a word that the PLP should quietly tip-toe around -- the day is coming when it will turn to bite them.

On Monday, voters have a choice between two men -- one a strong, leader who accomplishes much, the other, a man who has difficulty making decisions.

We recall a radio talk show many years ago when what sounded like the voice of an elderly Bahamian called the station to relate his experience. The discussion was about Mr Ingraham being a dictator and doing everything himself rather than leaving it up to his ministers. The caller came to the Prime Minister's defence. He said that Mr Ingraham was forced to move in when others failed to do their job. He then told his personal story.

He said he had what to him was a major problem. He took it to his MP, but got no satisfaction. He then went to the heads of several departments that were causing him grief, still nothing was settled. In desperation, he knocked on the door of the prime minister. He found it easier to open the PM's door than that of his own representative.

When he left, he said, he had all his answers. A few telephone calls were made and his problems were solved.

That is the kind of Prime Minister that Bahamians need - and, said my young friend who was concerned about his future under a PLP-led government, all Bahamians have to do is discard their PLP blinkers and see all the accomplishments made on their behalf in the past five years under an FNM government.

It is now up to the Bahamian people.

On Monday they will choose between a decisive leader, who will achieve much for the country, or an indecisive leader who will let others take the lead.

Bahamians hold their destiny in their own hands. We hope that they choose wisely.

May 04, 2012

tribune242

Caribbean Blog International

Dr. Victor Cooper of New Bethany Baptist Cathedral urged the nation’s leaders to put the issue of gambling to a referendum ...and determine ways to tax the dozens of numbers houses that are in business throughout The Bahamas

Pastors urge action on gambling

Numbers houses come under fire

By Taneka Thompson
Guardian Senior Reporter
taneka@nasguard.com

A Baptist pastor yesterday urged the nation’s leaders to put the issue of gambling to a referendum and determine ways to tax the dozens of numbers houses that are in business.

Dr. Victor Cooper of New Bethany Baptist Cathedral made the call at a press conference with other religious leaders held to discuss crime.

“Let the people make a decision because the reality is, and sometimes we overlook this aspect of it, these gambling houses are making a lot of money and not paying any taxes whatsoever,” Cooper said.

“There must be some serious consideration given again to the whole issue of gambling with the electorate making a decision as to whether or not this is the way we want to go and then how does the country benefit in return from all the money being expended.”

Bishop Walter Hanchell, president of Great Commission Ministries, said it is time for the country to stop being politically correct about gambling and tackle the social issue head on.

“We have developed into a gambling culture where it is now almost acceptable to gamble. We say that gambling is illegal except for the casinos, but these gambling houses have licenses to operate and they are operating right in front of the police blatantly,” he said.

“We must address it because drugs and gambling are related; in my opinion they all are criminal acts. We need to stop trying to be politically correct and deal with these social issues in the right way.”

Hanchell added that while he is morally opposed to gambling he sees it as a discriminatory practice to allow foreigners to gamble legally in the country while Bahamian citizens cannot.

“I stopped gambling 30 years ago,” he said.  “I don’t support gambling in any form, but it is wrong to allow a foreigner to have any rights in a country where the citizens don’t have the same right and privilege. That is discrimination against your own people.”

Earlier on in its current term, the Ingraham administration considered the question of legalizing numbers houses, but eventually shelved the idea, promising instead to hold a referendum if it is successful at the next general election.

The issue has been a prickly one for successive governments, which have faced strong objections from the church at any hint of legalizing gambling for Bahamians.

Yesterday, the pastors also decried the current levels of crime and violence in the country and called on their counterparts from other churches to reach out to troubled members of the community.

“Murders are becoming an epidemic. Our leaders, church [and] community must come up with solutions to bring murders to an end,” Hanchell said.

Senior Pastor of New Covenant Baptist Church Bishop Simeon Hall said drugs, gambling, alcoholism and the decay of the family structure are all to blame for the current crime crisis.

So far this year, 31 murders have been recorded in The Bahamas.

Up to this point last year, 37 murders were recorded.

Apr 05, 2012

thenassauguardian

Caribbean Blog International

I believe that what is lacking in our Bahamian society is an ‘all hands on deck’ approach in our communities by our parents, religious leaders, politicians and civic organizations... ...we must invest appropriately in the education of our children to acquire the requisite skill-set... diversifying our economy to provide opportunities for both educated and technical Bahamians... taking the necessary steps to reduce our national debt and deficit... as well as implementing a progressive tax system in order to move our country forward

Where do we go from here? pt. 1

By Arinthia S. Komolafe:

The Bahamas like many other nations around the world in this 21st century is plagued with socio-economic challenges that seem to stifle the progress of our nation towards the path that leads to the desired level of peace, prosperity and security for our people.  The economy is certainly uppermost in the minds of our people as we tread through these turbulent times with many looking to the government for solutions to our economic woes.  However, there is a growing concern over the increased level of social degradation that we are experiencing as evidenced by the myriad social issues that we are confronted with daily.  Unfortunately, it appears that our young people continue to be the major casualties of this degradation.  This impact on our youth raises the fundamental question: Are we failing our youth and will we continue to lose successive generations of Bahamians to issues such as poor economic policies, inadequate education and social ills?

 

The current circumstance

At the government level, it appears that little progress has been made in improving both our economy and the educational system in our nation.  The inability of the government to diversify our economy to provide more job opportunities for its people is accelerating the increase in our poverty levels.  The recent global economic downturn has highlighted the inefficiencies of our economic model that is based primarily on the service industry with dependence on financial services and tourism.  It also stresses the regressive nature of our tax code and inefficient methods of collecting government revenue.  Most importantly, it reinforces the harsh reality of our gross dependency on the prosperity of the American and European economies.  The more we witness events unfold in The Bahamas, one can’t help but wonder whether we are regressing rather than progressing.

Over the last five years alone, our national debt has risen to an astounding $4.5 billion, our debt-to-GDP ratio has increased from some 30 percent to approximately 60 percent.  Our deficit currently stands at more than eight percent and the unemployment rate has doubled during the last few years, contributing to the tremendous amount of foreclosures in our nation.  The government has justified its borrowing as the only alternative course of action to prevent a collapse in the Bahamian economy.  However, one wonders whether this was in fact the only option available and if agreed, if the borrowed funds were invested in a manner that benefitted a wide cross-section of Bahamians or just a select few.  The aforementioned statistics suggest that the funds were arguably mismanaged and invested heavily in infrastructural projects that benefitted a small percentage of contractors and companies while the country witnessed and continues to witness increased social degradation.

Being in a position where it was strapped for cash and with revenues down, the government has made minimal investment in social programs comparative to its investment in infrastructural projects and has significantly increased the tax burden on its people in addition to raising the national debt.  It is common knowledge that investment in key social programs is important for the sustenance of our nation and will help minimize the rising social issues that plague our nation.  Focusing on education, it is a given that an educated Bahamas will position itself to play a more vital role on the global stage.  The general consensus still exists that education in various forms including academic, athletic, social and culture among others, provides an individual with an opportunity to pursue a better way of life.  In The Bahamas, it appears that there are classes of Bahamian children who are being denied adequate education, particularly in the public school system.

 

The need for a better education system

The Department of Statistics’ labor force report reveals that two percent of our labor force has had no schooling and six percent has stopped short of a primary education while nine percent of our total work force has not completed secondary education.  The aforesaid percentages suggest that approximately 20 percent of our working population is inadequately equipped academically to compete on a national level, let alone a global level.  There is further evidence that shows that approximately 20 percent of our work force receives a university level education while 10 percent attend some other form of tertiary education.  As a result, 53 percent of our work force attain at the most an education at the secondary level.

Combined with the aforementioned startling statistics is the fact that the national grade average based upon national examination results in 2011 sits at a discontented D average.  Even more disturbing is the fact that the D average includes the private schooling system, which if removed, will probably significantly decrease the national average.  It is reported that the recent examination results evidence that approximately 34 percent of 5,000 plus students sitting the English examination received C or above while some 24 percent who took math received a C or above.  Consequently, 65 percent of our children received an English grade of D or lower while some 75 percent of our children received a grade of D or lower.  The lack of sufficient teachers to teach key subjects such as math, physics, chemistry and other technical courses, has been blamed for these unimpressive statistics.  It is important to ascertain whether sufficient measures are being put in place to encourage more Bahamians to become educators.

In the absence of an aggressive recruitment process, are we exhausting all avenues to engage qualified teachers that will produce the desired results?  Further, what measures are being taken to reduce the overcrowding in our public system to provide for more favorable teacher-student ratios?  If we are serious about preparing the next generation for the future, greater emphasis must be placed upon adequate and quality education of our children.  We must see to it that more of the 53 percent mentioned above have the opportunity to receive tertiary level education and greater opportunities to obtain the same locally.  Of particular note is the long overdue upgrade of The College of The Bahamas to university status.

Investment in infrastructure is absolutely necessary to any society, but a lack of investment in a nation’s citizens and, more importantly, the education of its youth will minimize or eradicate any lasting effect of infrastructural development due to a lack of qualified citizens in society with a propensity to increase social ills.  In this regard, it is welcomed news to hear that the Progressive Liberal Party has committed to doubling the budget allocation to education if it wins the next general election; however, such allotment must be dispensed in an effective manner that will produce favorable results in education.

Many believe that our leaders are bankrupt of ideas to address our failing education system.  The curriculum itself is widely believed to be deficient and outdated.  The lack of adequate education among our youth will inevitably lead to a further increase in social issues and will inevitably increase youth engagement in illegal activities such as the drug trade, guns and arms trafficking and anti-social behavior such as gang violence.

A lie has been sold to our children that the perceived rewards of these activities afford them a lifestyle that may otherwise be unattainable by securing an honest job and obtaining a better way of life through conventional norms.  The level of violence among our youth had increased to such an alarming rate that a school-based policing program was initiated by the Christie administration of 2002-2007.  It is worth noting that the current administration canceled the program in 2007.  However, their subsequent realization of the wisdom of the program in the midst of escalating levels of violence in our schools prompted the re-implementation of the program in 2011.  In today’s Bahamas, our young people should not be faced with the challenge of having a fear of attending school due to violence among their peers; neither should teachers be afraid to carry out their functions as nation builders in fear of a potential violent backlash.

I believe that what is lacking in our society is an ‘all hands on deck’ approach in our society by our parents, religious leaders, politicians and civic organizations.  However, we must invest appropriately in the education of our children to acquire the requisite skill-set, diversifying our economy to provide opportunities for both educated and technical Bahamians, taking the necessary steps to reduce our national debt and deficit as well as implementing a progressive tax system in order to move our country forward.

Failure to implement the necessary policies looking at the current environment in which we live begs the questions: Is there light at the end of the tunnel?  Should we hope again?  Will the Bahamian dream be preserved for future generations?  Where do we go from here?

 

•Arinthia S.Komolafe is an attorney-at-law.  Comments can be directed to: arinthia.komolafe@Komolafelaw.com

Feb 02, 2012

thenassauguardian

Where do we go from here? Pt. 2

Caribbean Blog International

Today's union leaders in The Bahamas are a different breed... they have no interest in nation building

UNIONISTS WANT RIGHT TO BE LATE FOR WORK

tribune242 editorial



UNIONS seem to follow a pattern, they rattle their sabres at tourism's busiest time of the year, or when an election is nearing. The reasoning seems to be that these are the times when the boss is most vulnerable, so they toss him to the ground and pick his pockets.

True or false, that is the perception.

For several days now, there has been discontent at the airport. A strike for the busy new year's weekend was threatened. Although a strike did not materialise there was chaos at the airport yesterday. We know that at least one businessman cancelled plans to travel to the US over the weekend because of strike talk - union leaders refused to confirm or deny whether the strike was on or off. The businessman feared that if he left the country he might not be able to return for early morning meetings on Tuesday. There were probably others in the same situation. Of course, no one knows how many weekend visitors coming into the country might also have cancelled because of the uncertainty.

As one businessman close to the tourist industry commented yesterday: "Today's union leaders are a different breed, they have no interest in nation building."

It seems unconscionable that anyone would try to destroy new business coming into a country that has suffered such a long economic downturn. But that is just what all this "work-to-rule" and "strike" at the airport did over a weekend that promised good business for the country.

It is interesting to note that the union making the most noise, is a breakaway union, which as yet has no contract with the government. Union leaders are to meet with Labour Minister Dion Foulkes next week -- Tuesday, January 10 -- to negotiate their first contract.

When a Tribune reporter tried to get information on Friday as to whether the newly-formed Bahamas Customs, Immigration and Allied Workers Union (BCIAWU) intended to go through with its strike threat, all union vice-president Sloane Smith would say was: "I offer no information today on what may possibly be going on at the airport. I will not say there is a strike or there isn't a strike. Things are unfolding the way they should. That is all I am prepared to say."

In other words, the travelling public can go you-know-where as far as unionists are concerned. They forget that these are the tourists who put bread on their tables and when the tourists are gone so is the bread.

Members of the BCIAWU were once a part of John Pinder's Bahamas Public Services Union (BPSU), which does have a government contract. The BCIAWU is negotiating a contract for the first time.

They have listed several items that they want clarified and incorporated into their contract. "Employees are repeatedly being disciplined for lateness, although the contract states this should not occur more than four times per month," is one of their complaints. Obviously, they are referring to the BPSU contract, which the BCIAWU abandoned on breaking away from the BPSU. At the moment, they have no contract as a reference point.

We had to read this "lateness" demand several times, and still we cannot believe that persons interested in holding down a job are trying to negotiate slackness into their contract. It's an absolutely preposterous demand, which should be tossed out before any negotiations begin. Anyone interested in giving an honest day's work has no right to demand the right to be late for work.

Just imagine everyone in a department deciding to have a lie in on a Monday morning. There would be chaos in that department. The taxpayers of this country have the right to demand more. What man or woman in the private sector can arrive late on the job without a valid excuse, and when that so-called "valid excuse" starts to form a pattern, the man or woman is eventually written up, and if there is no improvement, he or she is fired.

That is the general problem with the public service -- there are many exceptions, of course-- but as a general rule too many are not serious. They are not serious about work and they are not serious about serving the public. However, they are very serious about their days off, their overtime, and being allowed to be late for work one day in every week of the year.

Four late days a month, translates into 48 late days a year. What private company would tolerate this? What taxpayer would expect to get away with such dumb shenanigans at his own place of business, yet he is expected to foot the bill for a public servant to have the right to do so. It's now time for the public to have a say in some of these contracts, after all they are the ones footing these bills.

We hope that the right to be late for work is removed completely from all contracts. The main trouble with the public service is that it lacks discipline. What we have found in our years in business is that what is granted as a generous consideration when built into a contract suddenly becomes a right. One can be certain that every week of each month a staff member will be late because it is now his right-- no reasons are needed for the lateness. How can a department head manage a department efficiently if he/she has to work with staff who have such "rights."

We still can't believe that union leaders would insult the public's intelligence by threatening to strike for such nonsense.

January 03, 2012

tribune242 editorial

Caribbean Blog International

When Social Institutions Fail

The Bahama Journal Editorial



For want of a more comprehensive understanding of what national development should be about; the Bahamian people and their leaders now wallow in a mire of despond.

And as they wallow, we have a situation on the ground where the hard men and women with guns in hand and murder in their hearts, are doing their thing.

And in a sense – as if they were so very many lambs on the way to slaughter, tens of thousands of this nation’s youth routinely trudge to schools where they are patted down, searched and treated as if they were thugs in the making.

And then, there are all those other persons – with most of them being mature women – who spend the bulk of their time in the precincts of this or that Church-house in search of salvation.

As the killing continues; and as the stealing and marauding runs amok; there are those Bahamians who might be tempted to think that these phenomena are – for whatever reason- grounded in an economy that is struggling to get up from under the ravages of a truly Great Recession.

This is not the case.

Indeed, any examination of the record would show that, Bahamians have been killing each other in the best of times and in the worst of times; and so have they been known to steal from and otherwise rip each other off – this they have also done in good and in so-called bad times.

The explanation is far simpler: Bahamians have consistently failed themselves by clinging to the belief that it is money that matters most of all – thus their collective failure to cultivate things of the spirit; and thus the incipient failure of some of this society’s most basic institutions.

Here we would suggest that, the question is: when social institutions fail; then, so what?

Here the answer is simple enough: when institutions fail, people are left to fend for themselves; and as they fend for themselves, life –invariably- becomes harsher and harsher.

And as life becomes harsher and harsher, respect for the human person and for life itself is left in the balances. Thereafter anarchy and brutishness are seeded and in short order, they spawn a canker of distress.

In time, the law of the jungle takes root.

One of the more interesting aspects of this matter as it relates to breakdown and decay; the collapse of law, order and even the simplest of inter-personal decencies happens to be the fact that, as institutions crumble; those of the counterfeit ilk sometimes sprout.

Indeed, we see this phenomenon of the fake running rampant in a number of crucially important areas of our shared social life: we see it in our churches; our homes; in our schools; on our streets; at the work-place; and in our neighborhoods.

As regards the home and the degradation of a vitally important social institution; the evidence is clear that very many of this nation’s so-called homes are little more than domestic battle-fields where men and women routinely abuse each other; often to the despair and distress of their children.

Homes are failing men, women and children.

Sadly, this failure migrates from home to school; where –as the evidence reveals- very many students arrive armed to the teeth; with some of them as drunk as hell; and with the vast majority left to bide their time.
And so, school as an institution is failing the Bahamian people.

And whether this or that preacher-man, self-styled apostle or other religious believes it or not; very many of our nation’s churches have come to be seen as being simply irrelevant.

Were it otherwise, we would surely have less of the hate; less of the spite and less of the anger and rage that currently pervades the minds of so very many seemingly Godless people in a consumer-driven small island developing state such as ours just happens to be in this space and in this time.

And so, in a substantial kind of way, very many of our churches have already failed.

Evidently, therefore, this neatly explains how it now arises that our streets are spaces where one Bahamian or the other runs the risk of dying on the spot were he to somehow or the other offend another road-user.

And as we have noted on numerous occasions; failure is sometimes rooted in neighborhoods where this or that neighbor just so happens to [be] the thief who rips of all and sundry; this as he plays an infernal game of catch-me-if-you- can.

In addition, if reference is made to the work place; what we have – as opposed to teams pulling together – happens to be this or that clique working to undermine another.

Taken together, these failures illuminate what happens when the blind lead the blind; and so it remains, for the want of vision our people perish.

December 3rd, 2010

The Bahama Journal Editorial

Bahamas Blog International

Chickens Coming Home to Roost

The Bahama Journal Editorial


Something is dreadfully wrong in this small nation of ours.

Sadly, much of that new information has to do with one bloody report after another concerning this or that person who has been victimized.

We who remain standing tally the number of our neighbors, family and friends who make up that number that is to be given those who have been left terrified, injured, maimed or dead.

This is no way to live.

We have begged and we have prayed in order to find out what – if anything – is to be done.

To date, no one has come up with adequate answers to any of our persistent queries; and here our leaders seemed to have lost their way in a miasma of lies, half-truths and placeboes.

And for sure, we look askance at the argument that, this kind of feral excess can and should be expected as part of the so-called modern way of living in an urban center.

We also say no to that infernal strategy that calls on those who lead to blame those who follow when all hell breaks out.

Here take note that, one of the more interesting facets of what it means to be human has to do with the fact that people will – for the sake of their own sanity – routinely concoct stories that purportedly explain the presence of evil in their midst.

Hardly ever do they blame themselves.

Indeed, there is always around some ready scapegoat on which we just as often dump much that troubles us.

And so, it currently arises that some of people –particularly the police- believe that they can somehow or the other pacify angry citizens by way of this or that pleasant walk-about.

Interestingly, when word first got out concerning this Saturday past’s street-level melee; there was apparently a concerted effort to paint a picture that would depict Bain Town people in a most positive light; inclusive of the life story of the dead youth, Sharmoco Newbold.

Here some who spoke out would have the public believe that this youth-man’s persona was somewhere to be located between that of an officer and a gentleman.

While this person might have indeed been such; this fact in and of itself must take second place to whatever is found to be the case once all the facts are in.

Idle speculation whether it takes the guise of lies told in order to cover up this or that; narratives and other species of conjured up stories aimed at ‘explaining’ how things might have happened; or sweet talk designed to make people feel good.

However you take it, none of this can help in a situation where what is needed is the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help me God.

Indeed, nothing really matters.

By way of timely reminder, some three years ago, information came our way to the effect that, a 47-year-old woman was shot in the face during a daring daytime robbery.

As we recall, she was put on life support.

But surely, what matters today as it surely mattered then, was still the need for the public to know that while crime hurts; denial might hurt just as much.

“…This horrible incident indicated that no one is safe in the country and the quality of life is in decline. "Someone unknown left the victim where she had been hit. A bullet remains lodged in her neck.

“Police said Ms. Lori Francis had just exited the Royal Bank of Canada on John F. Kennedy Drive and entered a truck when the incident occurred…”

And for sure as we vividly recall, “According to Andrea Francis, her sister was conscious and had undergone surgery, but was on life support because she was having trouble breathing on her own.

“Today we grieve with these victimized people…”

Paradoxically, we also grieve for those who allegedly did the deed that left this woman washed and drenched in her own blood.

We do so because these two men are of this land and are striving in these times. That they may also be lunatics who are armed and dangerous attests to the fact that they too are enmeshed in a feral culture that glorifies greed and violence.

These men were not born criminal.

They were made such.

It is this fact of life that explains so how we are where we are as a people. Equally so, it suggests a way out of the mess; that way being the one that begs us to put more money into social services like health and education.

Because we have not done near enough; the proverbial chickens are coming home to roost.

November 25th, 2010

The Bahama Journal Editorial

Bahamas Blog International