Politicians Dismiss DNA
By ROGAN SMITH
jonesbahamas
After Bamboo Town MP Branville McCartney quit the Free National Movement (FNM) he had one goal in mind – forming a party to challenge both the FNM and the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP), but according to a politician whose organisation declined an invitation to join Mr. McCartney’s new party, he was not "equipped" to do so.
Omar Smith, along with Cassius Stuart, recently dissolved their party, the Bahamas Democratic Movement (BDM) to join the FNM. They took their members along with them.
The men, who served as deputy leader and leader respectively, had been in talks with Mr. McCartney after he quit the FNM several months ago to become an independent MP.
Mr. McCartney was also in talks with the leaders of several other third parties trying to woo them to join his party.
However, the Bahama Journal recently reported that many of those leaders did not take his party seriously.
Mr. Smith explained why he chose not to team up with Mr. McCartney.
"When Mr. McCartney asked to speak with us – and we were more than willing to speak to anyone who was interested in national development – at that time he came to us and he said that he wanted us to join him. At that time I don’t think he was equipped, he didn’t have an organisation and he hasn’t put out a philosophy of what he wants to do," Mr. Smith said.
"I was curious to find out. I asked him and he didn’t have [a philosophy]. All he represented to me is that he wanted to challenge the PLP and the FNM and that wasn’t enough information. So, I wish him well, as I wish any young person who wants to do what he believes in. I think I have a little bit more experience in third parties than he has, but I wish him well and I wish him luck."
Mr. Smith was a guest on the Love 97 talk show, Issues of the Day with host, Algernon Allen yesterday.
When the BDM set out more than a decade ago, it sought to become a viable alternative to the two major political parties. But, the party failed to make waves on the political scene.
In fact, it has contested three elections since it was formed, but has failed to win any seat.
"After we were unsuccessful in three elections [2002, 2007 and the 2010 by-election] and after going door to door in so many constituencies and having people say that they supported what we were doing . . . [we realised that] there’s a different dynamic at work here. Bahamians want to make sure that their vote counts," he said.
"If they are under the impression that your organisation does not have the possibility of winning, or they don’t think you have the possibility of winning that particular seat, they will make sure that their second option gets there."
He continued, "I can still remember going up to these houses where I know these families were once PLP or FNM and they [said they] supported what we were doing. But, when they got to the poll they would say ‘Omar, listen I support what you’re doing, believe me, we support you, but we got to make sure that they don’t come in, we’ve got to keep them out’."
Mr. McCartney and his party will have a lot of competition this election season as there are several other third parties vying for a chance to become the government.
Attorney Paul Moss, activist Rodney Moncur and former journalist Ali McIntosh all have their own political parties.
"I want to encourage all of those people who believe in a cause and believe in certain principles that they’d like see come to fruition to go out there and advocate and push, however, when you look at the lay of the land and look at the reality of Bahamian politics you will come to realise that it is very very difficult to make those inroads," Mr. Smith said.
"There are certain resources that must come to bear for you to have an opportunity to make that leap into parliament. While I wish them well, I think the reality is going to be something different."
During his talk show appearance, Mr. Smith was berated by a number of callers, who suggested he was a hypocrite for becoming a part of an organisation that he had heavily criticised for more than a decade.
The callers noted that Mr. Smith and the BDM were especially tough on FNM Leader and Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham.
But, he said, "If I’m in opposition to you it’s not my job to point out your strengths even though sometimes I did give credit where credit was due. It is not my position to build you up. It’s not my position to say the things that you are doing [well] for the most part. It is my position to critique you and say what you are doing wrong and say how they should be done. That is the way the process works," he said.
Mr. Smith said the FNM has given him and several of the new members assurances that they would be considered for seats and positions within the party.
"There are members outside of Mr. Stuart and myself who are frontrunners for constituencies for the next election. There’s a process within the organisation and I’m familiarising myself with the process and the members of our organisation have been received so well by the FNM and the branches," he said.
Mr. Smith says he is already campaigning.
May 4th, 2011
jonesbahamas
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.
Showing posts with label Cassius Stuart. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cassius Stuart. Show all posts
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Friday, April 22, 2011
Bahamian politics, politicians, pundits, pollsters, strange bedfellows and the next general election in The Bahamas
Politicians, pundits and pollsters
By Philip C. Galanis
With slightly more than one year, at most, before the general election must be called, the political temperature is already rising. In February this year, Dr. Andre Rollins resigned from the NDP, the political party he helped to create, and joined the PLP. He was quickly nominated to be the latter's standard bearer in the Fort Charlotte constituency.
In March, Branville McCartney, the FNM Member of Parliament for Bamboo Town, resigned from the governing Party and announced that his newly formed Democratic National Alliance (DNA) will contest the next elections with a full slate of candidates.
Not to be outdone or upstaged by Christie's PLP or Bran's DNA, last week Prime Minister Ingraham, with great fanfare and flanked by fellow-ministers and followers, welcomed Cassius Stuart, the Leader of the Bahamas Democratic Party, along with virtually his entire disbanded decade-old organization, into the Free National Movement. And let us not forget that one of the dailies predicted the imminent demise of the National Democratic Party, given the dissatisfaction with several of its leaders and disaffection from its ranks.
Meanwhile some Bahamian political spectators are virtually salivating in exuberant excitement and eager expectation to see which other veteran and wannabe politicians will be co-opted and who will defect from their current positions as this political ballet is choreographed and performed on the political stage. Perhaps as never before will the adage that "politics makes strange bedfellows" be corroborated as a truism in Bahamian politics — for the next few months, in any event.
Therefore this week, we would like to Consider This...what are we to make of the recent developments that have evoked such excitement on the domestic political landscape and what part do the pundits and pollsters play in this ever-growing drama we call Bahamian politics?
Politicians
It has become very clear that some of the recent novices and veterans in the political arena have now realized that they will continue to be marginalized by remaining on the periphery of the real political stage, outside the organizational mainstream of the two behemoths that are the PLP and the FNM. Accordingly, Dr. Andre Rollins and Cassius Stuart — along with almost his entire party — have determined to hitch their political fortunes to the major parties.
A frequently asked question regarding such political vacillations is whether those persons are really interested in improving the things that they have articulated to be wrong with both the country and the major political parties that up to one year ago they vehemently opposed, or are they more interested in their own political elevation and personal aggrandizement? Although Bran McCartney has taken a very different course, some will put the same question to him. Just how true they remain to their principles and fundamental positions will become more apparent in the fullness of time.
Pundits
The term "pundit" normally refers to one who regards himself as an expert in a particular subject and who offers his opinion or commentary to the public on that subject. Punditry has been applied to political analysis, the social sciences and sports. Traditionally, political pundits would include radio and television talk show hosts and their guests who are generally knowledgeable in such matters. Pundits also include newspaper and magazine columnists, most of whom, with the exception of the Scribe and Front Porch by Simon (both pseudonyms), have the courage of their convictions to identify themselves and stand by their positions, whether the public perceives their positions to be right, wrong or indifferent.
Pundits are often not necessarily scientific in their approach to political analysis, relying more on their intuition, a sixth sense, if you will, a historical frame of reference and even on their personal experience to explain the vicissitude of politics.
In a general sense, however, many Bahamians think of themselves as political pundits and equally possessed of the qualities that characterize those who more traditionally fit the definition. Virtually every Bahamian has a political opinion. Because Bahamians are generally well-informed on partisan and national issues, extremely interested in the body politic and politically astute, they are as eager to express their views as they are prepared to criticize or support government and opposition policies and decisions. And that is very healthy for our polity.
Pollsters
Pollsters on the other hand, as compared to pundits, attempt to provide a degree of scientific sophistry to political developments and issues of the day. An effective pollster will have a good understanding of mathematical and statistical methods to analyze and interpret events and to forecast outcomes. In short, pollsters have mastered the art that many politicians so often fail at. They actually ask people what they think about an issue, a policy or a national decision. Then they summarize the answers to the questions that they ask and present their findings based on what people actually think.
Some people are skeptical of pollsters, often objecting to the validity of the answers garnered from the poll, because the "doubting Thomases" question the veracity of persons whom they poll. It has often been suggested that Bahamians will provide the answers that they think the pollster is seeking rather than the truth of how the person polled actually feels.
However, there are techniques for pollsters to filter answers in order to arrive at a consensus position of persons who are polled. Furthermore, although polling in The Bahamas is a relatively new discipline, the politician who prefers to rely exclusively on his intuition or the “expertise” of the pundits do so at their peril. The fact of the matter is that politics has become more scientific in assessing public opinion and sentiment and polling has proven to be a very useful tool to accomplish that task.
Just this past week, the relatively new Bahamian market research firm, Public Domain, headed by Mwale Rahming, released the results of a poll that his firm conducted between February 16 and March 11, 2011. Public Domain indicated that 402 persons were polled, weighted by region, age and gender, in order to ensure that the population represented a good cross-section of the Bahamian adult population. The poll represented a five percent margin of error which is quite acceptable for such an exercise.
To the question: "If the election was held today, which party would you vote for?" the results were reminiscent of the Elizabeth bye-election. The respondents indicated that 28 percent would vote for the PLP and 25 percent for the FNM. What is even more revealing about that poll is that 21 percent indicated that they would vote for a third, unbranded party and 26 percent were undecided. The conclusion of that poll is that 47 percent, nearly one-half of the respondents, did not have an appetite for either the PLP or the FNM. The conclusion can be drawn from this is that there is a very large percentage of disaffected voters who are not happy with the two major parties. This confirms the perceptions of many political pundits.
Secondly, the respondents were asked "How satisfied are you with the current government led by Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham?" The response was that 14 percent were very satisfied, 35 percent were somewhat satisfied for a total of 49 percent who were generally satisfied with the current government. Equally revealing was the conclusion that 21 percent were somewhat dissatisfied and another 25 percent were very dissatisfied for a total dissatisfaction rating of 46 percent. The remaining four percent did not know. This is very interesting when one considers how close today’s figures are to the percentage of voters who actually voted FNM in the last general election, nearly 49.82 percent, as compared to those who didn’t vote FNM but voted PLP, which was 46.98 percent.
Finally, to the question: "If a third political party presented a full slate of andidates with a mix of veteran and new candidates, how likely would you be to vote for this third party?" the responses were astounding. The response was that 32 percent were very likely to do so, 25 percent were somewhat likely to do so, for a total of 57 percent who said that they were likely to vote for a third party. In addition, 11 percent were not very likely to do so, while another 21 percent were not likely at all to vote for a third party, rendering a total of 32 percent who would not likely to vote for a third party. The remaining 11 percent did not know.
These poll results should give both the PLP and the FNM reason to be concerned about voter sentiment at this particular point in time and should also be very encouraging to Branville McCartney who, when this poll was conducted, had not yet announced that he would form a political party and that he would present a full slate of candidates in the upcoming elections.
Conclusion
We have always maintained that the next general election will be a close, fiercely contested and combative conflict. It is clear that politicians must fully understand the political landscape. The pundits will have much to talk and write about as the "silly season" unfolds, sharing their considered opinions and gut feelings with all and sundry. Finally, the pollsters will have an increasingly important role to play as they investigate and measure the actual feelings of voters, unraveling the variables and vicissitudes that will contribute to the success of the victor and failure of the vanquished in the next general election, whenever it is called.
Philip C. Galanis is the managing partner of HLB Galanis & Co., Chartered Accountants, Forensic & Litigation Support Services. He served 15 years in Parliament. Please send your comments to pgalanis@gmail.com.
4/17/2011
thenassauguardian
By Philip C. Galanis
With slightly more than one year, at most, before the general election must be called, the political temperature is already rising. In February this year, Dr. Andre Rollins resigned from the NDP, the political party he helped to create, and joined the PLP. He was quickly nominated to be the latter's standard bearer in the Fort Charlotte constituency.
In March, Branville McCartney, the FNM Member of Parliament for Bamboo Town, resigned from the governing Party and announced that his newly formed Democratic National Alliance (DNA) will contest the next elections with a full slate of candidates.
Not to be outdone or upstaged by Christie's PLP or Bran's DNA, last week Prime Minister Ingraham, with great fanfare and flanked by fellow-ministers and followers, welcomed Cassius Stuart, the Leader of the Bahamas Democratic Party, along with virtually his entire disbanded decade-old organization, into the Free National Movement. And let us not forget that one of the dailies predicted the imminent demise of the National Democratic Party, given the dissatisfaction with several of its leaders and disaffection from its ranks.
Meanwhile some Bahamian political spectators are virtually salivating in exuberant excitement and eager expectation to see which other veteran and wannabe politicians will be co-opted and who will defect from their current positions as this political ballet is choreographed and performed on the political stage. Perhaps as never before will the adage that "politics makes strange bedfellows" be corroborated as a truism in Bahamian politics — for the next few months, in any event.
Therefore this week, we would like to Consider This...what are we to make of the recent developments that have evoked such excitement on the domestic political landscape and what part do the pundits and pollsters play in this ever-growing drama we call Bahamian politics?
Politicians
It has become very clear that some of the recent novices and veterans in the political arena have now realized that they will continue to be marginalized by remaining on the periphery of the real political stage, outside the organizational mainstream of the two behemoths that are the PLP and the FNM. Accordingly, Dr. Andre Rollins and Cassius Stuart — along with almost his entire party — have determined to hitch their political fortunes to the major parties.
A frequently asked question regarding such political vacillations is whether those persons are really interested in improving the things that they have articulated to be wrong with both the country and the major political parties that up to one year ago they vehemently opposed, or are they more interested in their own political elevation and personal aggrandizement? Although Bran McCartney has taken a very different course, some will put the same question to him. Just how true they remain to their principles and fundamental positions will become more apparent in the fullness of time.
Pundits
The term "pundit" normally refers to one who regards himself as an expert in a particular subject and who offers his opinion or commentary to the public on that subject. Punditry has been applied to political analysis, the social sciences and sports. Traditionally, political pundits would include radio and television talk show hosts and their guests who are generally knowledgeable in such matters. Pundits also include newspaper and magazine columnists, most of whom, with the exception of the Scribe and Front Porch by Simon (both pseudonyms), have the courage of their convictions to identify themselves and stand by their positions, whether the public perceives their positions to be right, wrong or indifferent.
Pundits are often not necessarily scientific in their approach to political analysis, relying more on their intuition, a sixth sense, if you will, a historical frame of reference and even on their personal experience to explain the vicissitude of politics.
In a general sense, however, many Bahamians think of themselves as political pundits and equally possessed of the qualities that characterize those who more traditionally fit the definition. Virtually every Bahamian has a political opinion. Because Bahamians are generally well-informed on partisan and national issues, extremely interested in the body politic and politically astute, they are as eager to express their views as they are prepared to criticize or support government and opposition policies and decisions. And that is very healthy for our polity.
Pollsters
Pollsters on the other hand, as compared to pundits, attempt to provide a degree of scientific sophistry to political developments and issues of the day. An effective pollster will have a good understanding of mathematical and statistical methods to analyze and interpret events and to forecast outcomes. In short, pollsters have mastered the art that many politicians so often fail at. They actually ask people what they think about an issue, a policy or a national decision. Then they summarize the answers to the questions that they ask and present their findings based on what people actually think.
Some people are skeptical of pollsters, often objecting to the validity of the answers garnered from the poll, because the "doubting Thomases" question the veracity of persons whom they poll. It has often been suggested that Bahamians will provide the answers that they think the pollster is seeking rather than the truth of how the person polled actually feels.
However, there are techniques for pollsters to filter answers in order to arrive at a consensus position of persons who are polled. Furthermore, although polling in The Bahamas is a relatively new discipline, the politician who prefers to rely exclusively on his intuition or the “expertise” of the pundits do so at their peril. The fact of the matter is that politics has become more scientific in assessing public opinion and sentiment and polling has proven to be a very useful tool to accomplish that task.
Just this past week, the relatively new Bahamian market research firm, Public Domain, headed by Mwale Rahming, released the results of a poll that his firm conducted between February 16 and March 11, 2011. Public Domain indicated that 402 persons were polled, weighted by region, age and gender, in order to ensure that the population represented a good cross-section of the Bahamian adult population. The poll represented a five percent margin of error which is quite acceptable for such an exercise.
To the question: "If the election was held today, which party would you vote for?" the results were reminiscent of the Elizabeth bye-election. The respondents indicated that 28 percent would vote for the PLP and 25 percent for the FNM. What is even more revealing about that poll is that 21 percent indicated that they would vote for a third, unbranded party and 26 percent were undecided. The conclusion of that poll is that 47 percent, nearly one-half of the respondents, did not have an appetite for either the PLP or the FNM. The conclusion can be drawn from this is that there is a very large percentage of disaffected voters who are not happy with the two major parties. This confirms the perceptions of many political pundits.
Secondly, the respondents were asked "How satisfied are you with the current government led by Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham?" The response was that 14 percent were very satisfied, 35 percent were somewhat satisfied for a total of 49 percent who were generally satisfied with the current government. Equally revealing was the conclusion that 21 percent were somewhat dissatisfied and another 25 percent were very dissatisfied for a total dissatisfaction rating of 46 percent. The remaining four percent did not know. This is very interesting when one considers how close today’s figures are to the percentage of voters who actually voted FNM in the last general election, nearly 49.82 percent, as compared to those who didn’t vote FNM but voted PLP, which was 46.98 percent.
Finally, to the question: "If a third political party presented a full slate of andidates with a mix of veteran and new candidates, how likely would you be to vote for this third party?" the responses were astounding. The response was that 32 percent were very likely to do so, 25 percent were somewhat likely to do so, for a total of 57 percent who said that they were likely to vote for a third party. In addition, 11 percent were not very likely to do so, while another 21 percent were not likely at all to vote for a third party, rendering a total of 32 percent who would not likely to vote for a third party. The remaining 11 percent did not know.
These poll results should give both the PLP and the FNM reason to be concerned about voter sentiment at this particular point in time and should also be very encouraging to Branville McCartney who, when this poll was conducted, had not yet announced that he would form a political party and that he would present a full slate of candidates in the upcoming elections.
Conclusion
We have always maintained that the next general election will be a close, fiercely contested and combative conflict. It is clear that politicians must fully understand the political landscape. The pundits will have much to talk and write about as the "silly season" unfolds, sharing their considered opinions and gut feelings with all and sundry. Finally, the pollsters will have an increasingly important role to play as they investigate and measure the actual feelings of voters, unraveling the variables and vicissitudes that will contribute to the success of the victor and failure of the vanquished in the next general election, whenever it is called.
Philip C. Galanis is the managing partner of HLB Galanis & Co., Chartered Accountants, Forensic & Litigation Support Services. He served 15 years in Parliament. Please send your comments to pgalanis@gmail.com.
4/17/2011
thenassauguardian
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Who is this man Fred Mitchell?
Would the real Fred Mitchell please stand up?
tribune242 edtorial
AS SOON as he arrived at the office yesterday morning a Tribune staff member went to this newspaper's "morgue" in search of a certain file. The night before he had heard a comment over channel 14 by Fox Hill MP Fred Mitchell that -- in view of Mr Mitchell's political past-- startled him. He wondered if his memory were playing tricks with him. The files, he was certain, would set him straight.
He said he did not listen to the full show, but just heard a comment by Mr Mitchell on the defection of BDM Cassius Stuart to the FNM.
This week after 13 years of trying to break through on the political scene, the Bahamas Democratic Movement was officially dissolved by its leader Cassius Stuart and merged with the FNM. Under Mr Stuart's leadership, the BDM was a harsh critic of both Prime Minister Ingraham and Opposition Leader Christie.
"It is safe to conclude," Mr Stuart had once said, "that both the PLP and the FNM are major failures." He listed those failures to include education, crime, defence, immigration and the environment. In fact, in his opinion, they had failed at everything.
Over the years Mr Stuart and his party did everything possible to drive a wedge between the two major parties to attract public attention to his third party. Mr Stuart and a colleague went so far as to barge into the House of Assembly while in session and handcuff themselves to the Speaker's mace to protest the "unfair gerrymandering of the constituency boundaries by the FNM administration." The House was suspended. Mr Stuart and his colleague were jailed for two days, then released without being charged.
This week Mr Stuart and six of his members, threw in the towel and joined the FNM, convinced that a third party in the context of Bahamian politics was not viable. He, and his followers, had finally decided to make their public contribution through the ranks of the governing party.
Commenting on their decision, Mr Mitchell had said that as a result of Mr Stuart joining the FNM, he would have a lot of explaining to do with the public, because of his severe criticism over the years of the FNM. All of a sudden, he then ups and joins the FNM. Mr Mitchell wondered why?
In Thursday's edition of The Tribune Mr Mitchell reiterated that Mr Stuart had much explaining to do because only a few weeks ago he was "bashing the government over BIC." The whole affair seemed odd to Mr Mitchell.
We would now like the real Fred Mitchell -- one time PLP member, PDF founder and leader, Senator occupying an FNM seat, PLP Minister, later PLP in opposition -- to please stand up. Are we dealing with the pre-1992 Mitchell, who by then had worn many faces, or the Fred Mitchell, who had rejoined the PLP, became a Minister of that government and is now a PLP in Opposition? Who in fact is Fred Mitchell?
He was called an opportunist as he veered from one party to the next in his search for the right path to become prime minister.
In his previous life he held his traditional ceremony under the fig tree when he burned the Bahamas Constitution and sent its ashes to then Prime Minister Lynden Pindling "as a reminder of how our country is being destroyed." At the time of this act of bravado when he warned that he would "smite every enemy that dares to launch out against" him, he was leader of the People's Democratic Party (PDP). When he launched his "Third Force" in 1989, he wanted then Cooper's Town MP Hubert Ingraham (Independent) -- now Prime Minister -- to become a part of his organisation.
Mr Mitchell's ambition was to inflict a resounding defeat on the PLP. In December, 1990, he declared that Sir Lynden, the so-called "Father of the Nation" was irrelevant to the Bahamas. "It is time," he said, "that the Bahamian people consign him to the scrap heap of history."
Of course, Mr Christie, then the Independent member for Centreville, who was on the verge of rejoining the PLP, did not escape Mr Mitchell's sarcastic tongue. "He ought to be ashamed of himself walking around with his head high, calling himself Mr Centreville," Mr Mitchell commented.
"We find tremendous resentment on the part of young and old because, without so much as by your leave, he ends up back in the PLP," said Mr Mitchell.
The very same place Mr Mitchell himself ended a short time later when the FNM refused to run him as an FNM candidate.
But before they again embraced him into the fold, the PLP had dismissed him as a "political upstart and troublemaker ... a spoilt brat who deserves a serious spanking."
And so, as Mr Mitchell, wonders why Mr Stuart joined the FNM, we would like the real Fred Mitchell to stand up. Who is this man Fred Mitchell?
All we know for certain is that his one burning ambition was to become Prime Minister of the Bahamas. Has that flame gone out, or does that ambition still burn strong? It would be good to have the answers. Maybe Mr Mitchell would now oblige.
April 15, 2011
tribune242 edtorial
tribune242 edtorial
AS SOON as he arrived at the office yesterday morning a Tribune staff member went to this newspaper's "morgue" in search of a certain file. The night before he had heard a comment over channel 14 by Fox Hill MP Fred Mitchell that -- in view of Mr Mitchell's political past-- startled him. He wondered if his memory were playing tricks with him. The files, he was certain, would set him straight.
He said he did not listen to the full show, but just heard a comment by Mr Mitchell on the defection of BDM Cassius Stuart to the FNM.
This week after 13 years of trying to break through on the political scene, the Bahamas Democratic Movement was officially dissolved by its leader Cassius Stuart and merged with the FNM. Under Mr Stuart's leadership, the BDM was a harsh critic of both Prime Minister Ingraham and Opposition Leader Christie.
"It is safe to conclude," Mr Stuart had once said, "that both the PLP and the FNM are major failures." He listed those failures to include education, crime, defence, immigration and the environment. In fact, in his opinion, they had failed at everything.
Over the years Mr Stuart and his party did everything possible to drive a wedge between the two major parties to attract public attention to his third party. Mr Stuart and a colleague went so far as to barge into the House of Assembly while in session and handcuff themselves to the Speaker's mace to protest the "unfair gerrymandering of the constituency boundaries by the FNM administration." The House was suspended. Mr Stuart and his colleague were jailed for two days, then released without being charged.
This week Mr Stuart and six of his members, threw in the towel and joined the FNM, convinced that a third party in the context of Bahamian politics was not viable. He, and his followers, had finally decided to make their public contribution through the ranks of the governing party.
Commenting on their decision, Mr Mitchell had said that as a result of Mr Stuart joining the FNM, he would have a lot of explaining to do with the public, because of his severe criticism over the years of the FNM. All of a sudden, he then ups and joins the FNM. Mr Mitchell wondered why?
In Thursday's edition of The Tribune Mr Mitchell reiterated that Mr Stuart had much explaining to do because only a few weeks ago he was "bashing the government over BIC." The whole affair seemed odd to Mr Mitchell.
We would now like the real Fred Mitchell -- one time PLP member, PDF founder and leader, Senator occupying an FNM seat, PLP Minister, later PLP in opposition -- to please stand up. Are we dealing with the pre-1992 Mitchell, who by then had worn many faces, or the Fred Mitchell, who had rejoined the PLP, became a Minister of that government and is now a PLP in Opposition? Who in fact is Fred Mitchell?
He was called an opportunist as he veered from one party to the next in his search for the right path to become prime minister.
In his previous life he held his traditional ceremony under the fig tree when he burned the Bahamas Constitution and sent its ashes to then Prime Minister Lynden Pindling "as a reminder of how our country is being destroyed." At the time of this act of bravado when he warned that he would "smite every enemy that dares to launch out against" him, he was leader of the People's Democratic Party (PDP). When he launched his "Third Force" in 1989, he wanted then Cooper's Town MP Hubert Ingraham (Independent) -- now Prime Minister -- to become a part of his organisation.
Mr Mitchell's ambition was to inflict a resounding defeat on the PLP. In December, 1990, he declared that Sir Lynden, the so-called "Father of the Nation" was irrelevant to the Bahamas. "It is time," he said, "that the Bahamian people consign him to the scrap heap of history."
Of course, Mr Christie, then the Independent member for Centreville, who was on the verge of rejoining the PLP, did not escape Mr Mitchell's sarcastic tongue. "He ought to be ashamed of himself walking around with his head high, calling himself Mr Centreville," Mr Mitchell commented.
"We find tremendous resentment on the part of young and old because, without so much as by your leave, he ends up back in the PLP," said Mr Mitchell.
The very same place Mr Mitchell himself ended a short time later when the FNM refused to run him as an FNM candidate.
But before they again embraced him into the fold, the PLP had dismissed him as a "political upstart and troublemaker ... a spoilt brat who deserves a serious spanking."
And so, as Mr Mitchell, wonders why Mr Stuart joined the FNM, we would like the real Fred Mitchell to stand up. Who is this man Fred Mitchell?
All we know for certain is that his one burning ambition was to become Prime Minister of the Bahamas. Has that flame gone out, or does that ambition still burn strong? It would be good to have the answers. Maybe Mr Mitchell would now oblige.
April 15, 2011
tribune242 edtorial
Friday, April 15, 2011
Cassius Stuart's Bahamas Democratic Movement (BDM) merges with the governing Free National Movement (FNM) Party
BDM dissolves and merges with FNM
By NOELLE NICOLLS
Tribune Staff Reporter
nnicolls@tribunemedia.net
THE Bahamas Democratic Movement has officially been dissolved after a 13-year political run, announced former party president Cassius Stuart. Party representatives joined members of the Free National Movement yesterday to announce the merger of the two organisations.
Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham, FNM leader, presented Mr Stuart with a membership card and welcomed the new members of the party. He said months of deliberation had led to this decision.
Mr Ingraham said he admired how "tenacious and focused" the BDM has been over the years. He said the party had a "consistent message" and was "doggard and determined."
He took delight in the fact that during the Elizabeth by-election, a BDM canvaser approached him in a barber shop on the campaign trail and tried to convince him to support the party.
The BDM was the most prominent third party in recent times. It contested 12 of the 40 parliamentary seats in the 2002 election. Mr Stuart was one of the founders in 1998. He was the BDM's candidate in the Elizabeth by-election last year.
Mr Stuart said the by-election was a "wake up call" that seriously challenged his views on the viability of a third party. He said the party decided it had to be "practical and pragmatic." He said the party has always wanted to make a contribution and decided to stop sitting on the sidelines.
"We have joined the FNM because we believe that this organization is willing to embrace new leadership, new vision and new energy. While we know that this decision may be troubling for some of our supporters, we want to assure you that we believe this decision is in the best interest of our membership and our country," said Mr Stuart.
Mr Stuart said the BDM was no longer interested in "talking about the problems." They wanted to engage in "solving the problems," the members of the party believed the FNM was the best party to accomplish that task.
There were "extensive" discussions with the FNM and PLP, said Mr Stuart; however, he said the FNM were more "timely" and presented "better opportunities" to fulfil the vision of the BDM and to "maximise the potential" of its members.
Some ten executive members of the BDM joined Mr Stuart at the FNM headquarters last night to make the announcement. Mr Stuart said all of the BDM, except one member, supported the party's decision.
"The discussions leading up to this decision have in no way been easy for us. After many months of discussions and deliberations and with much prayer and fasting, we find ourselves here today. We believe that the decision to join the FNM is the right one at the right time," said Mr Stuart.
"My message over the past decade has been adding value to the lives of every Bahamian. Moving forward, the Prime Minister has assured us that the next five years will be just that, building lives. Today as we embark on a new horizon, we are confident that this union will bring brighter days for every Bahamian. As a result, we know that The Bahamas will be a safer, cleaner, and better place to live in," he said.
Mr Stuart said the BDM and the FNM have become one organisation with the same vision, purpose and objective.
Under Mr Stuart's leadership, the BDM was a harsh critic of Prime Minister Ingraham and the FNM and former Prime Minister Perry Christie, leader of the Progressive Liberal Party, during successive terms of government.
The party's position on education states that both the FNM and PLP are "clear failures."
"It is safe to conclude that both the PLP and the FNM are major failures. The same problems that afflicted the FNM in education are the PLP's worst nightmare. The question is when will we get it right? From all indications neither Mr Ingraham nor Mr Christie has the answers. These two men must be judge based on their performance record not their political foolishness and the hand writing is clearly on the wall, they both have failed," states the BDM on the issue of education.
The party has similar critiques of the performance of the FNM and PLP on crime, defence, immigration, and the environment.
In 2001, Stuart and then deputy leader Omar Smith handcuffed themselves to the Mace in the House of Assembly in protest against the "unfair gerrymandering of the constituency boundaries by the FNM administration."
They were jailed for almost two days, although no charges were brought against them, according to the party's historical account of its formation.
Over the past 11 years, Mr Stuart said his efforts were guided by a message that is entrenched in the BDM constitution: "No man, woman or child shall ever be slave or bondsman to anyone or their labour exploited or their lives frustrated by deprivation". He said this message has been "embraced" by the FNM.
In the coming days, Mr Stuart said he would file a formal application to the FNM to be nominated as a candidate in the next general election. He said no promises were made for future candidacy, but assurances were given that the former BDM members would be a part of making sure the Bahamas is a better place.
April 14, 2011
tribune242
By NOELLE NICOLLS
Tribune Staff Reporter
nnicolls@tribunemedia.net
THE Bahamas Democratic Movement has officially been dissolved after a 13-year political run, announced former party president Cassius Stuart. Party representatives joined members of the Free National Movement yesterday to announce the merger of the two organisations.
Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham, FNM leader, presented Mr Stuart with a membership card and welcomed the new members of the party. He said months of deliberation had led to this decision.
Mr Ingraham said he admired how "tenacious and focused" the BDM has been over the years. He said the party had a "consistent message" and was "doggard and determined."
He took delight in the fact that during the Elizabeth by-election, a BDM canvaser approached him in a barber shop on the campaign trail and tried to convince him to support the party.
The BDM was the most prominent third party in recent times. It contested 12 of the 40 parliamentary seats in the 2002 election. Mr Stuart was one of the founders in 1998. He was the BDM's candidate in the Elizabeth by-election last year.
Mr Stuart said the by-election was a "wake up call" that seriously challenged his views on the viability of a third party. He said the party decided it had to be "practical and pragmatic." He said the party has always wanted to make a contribution and decided to stop sitting on the sidelines.
"We have joined the FNM because we believe that this organization is willing to embrace new leadership, new vision and new energy. While we know that this decision may be troubling for some of our supporters, we want to assure you that we believe this decision is in the best interest of our membership and our country," said Mr Stuart.
Mr Stuart said the BDM was no longer interested in "talking about the problems." They wanted to engage in "solving the problems," the members of the party believed the FNM was the best party to accomplish that task.
There were "extensive" discussions with the FNM and PLP, said Mr Stuart; however, he said the FNM were more "timely" and presented "better opportunities" to fulfil the vision of the BDM and to "maximise the potential" of its members.
Some ten executive members of the BDM joined Mr Stuart at the FNM headquarters last night to make the announcement. Mr Stuart said all of the BDM, except one member, supported the party's decision.
"The discussions leading up to this decision have in no way been easy for us. After many months of discussions and deliberations and with much prayer and fasting, we find ourselves here today. We believe that the decision to join the FNM is the right one at the right time," said Mr Stuart.
"My message over the past decade has been adding value to the lives of every Bahamian. Moving forward, the Prime Minister has assured us that the next five years will be just that, building lives. Today as we embark on a new horizon, we are confident that this union will bring brighter days for every Bahamian. As a result, we know that The Bahamas will be a safer, cleaner, and better place to live in," he said.
Mr Stuart said the BDM and the FNM have become one organisation with the same vision, purpose and objective.
Under Mr Stuart's leadership, the BDM was a harsh critic of Prime Minister Ingraham and the FNM and former Prime Minister Perry Christie, leader of the Progressive Liberal Party, during successive terms of government.
The party's position on education states that both the FNM and PLP are "clear failures."
"It is safe to conclude that both the PLP and the FNM are major failures. The same problems that afflicted the FNM in education are the PLP's worst nightmare. The question is when will we get it right? From all indications neither Mr Ingraham nor Mr Christie has the answers. These two men must be judge based on their performance record not their political foolishness and the hand writing is clearly on the wall, they both have failed," states the BDM on the issue of education.
The party has similar critiques of the performance of the FNM and PLP on crime, defence, immigration, and the environment.
In 2001, Stuart and then deputy leader Omar Smith handcuffed themselves to the Mace in the House of Assembly in protest against the "unfair gerrymandering of the constituency boundaries by the FNM administration."
They were jailed for almost two days, although no charges were brought against them, according to the party's historical account of its formation.
Over the past 11 years, Mr Stuart said his efforts were guided by a message that is entrenched in the BDM constitution: "No man, woman or child shall ever be slave or bondsman to anyone or their labour exploited or their lives frustrated by deprivation". He said this message has been "embraced" by the FNM.
In the coming days, Mr Stuart said he would file a formal application to the FNM to be nominated as a candidate in the next general election. He said no promises were made for future candidacy, but assurances were given that the former BDM members would be a part of making sure the Bahamas is a better place.
April 14, 2011
tribune242
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Cassius Stuart - Bahamas Democratic Movement (BDM) leader: The Bahamas is in "desperate need" of new leadership in order for significant progress to be made
BDM Leader: Country Needs New Leadership
By Sasha L. Lightbourne
As far as the Bahamas Democratic Movement (BDM) leader sees things, the country is in "desperate need" of new leadership in order for significant progress to be made.
In an interview with the Bahama Journal, Cassius Stuart said he is preparing to head "full steam" into the 2012 general elections as BDM leader.
"We are getting our candidates in order and raising funds to make sure that we are able to compete and properly contest this general election," he said.
"We realise that the Bahamian people are crying and craving something new. I think the leadership of our country needs to be shaken up. Not taking anything away from [Hubert] Ingraham and [Perry] Christie, but you reach to a point where you need to move on because you need an infusion of energy, vision, excitement and that will not come from Ingraham and Christie anymore."
Mr. Stuart believes the problem with black leadership is that no one knows how to step down.
"We don’t know how to transfer authority and power," he said.
"We have to die in office or someone has to pry it from our dead hands and we have to now look at leadership sensibly. Both [Ingraham and Christie] are in their 60s and have done tremendous jobs, been in Parliament for more than 35 years but now we need to move to let the next generation emerge so that a new infusion of ideas can embrace The Bahamas and sadly I don’t see that for the next five years."
The BDM leader explained that people such as himself, need to continue to find ways to say to the Bahamian people that the country needs new leadership.
"Whether the Bahamian people will embrace that, we will find out in 2012 but we are in desperate need of something new," Mr. Stuart said.
"When you look at Grand Bahama, there’s no vision there. The people are suffering because there is no economic activity going on. People are hurting and I am very sad that no government has come up with a solution for them because they deserve attention like we get in New Providence.
He said both governments, the Free National Movement (FNM) and the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP), have been producing "hopelessness and despair" in the nation’s second city.
"We need to encourage entrepreneurship and bring hope back to Grand Bahamians," he said.
As for his aspirations to become prime minister, Mr. Stuart said he never entered politics for that reason.
"My aspirations was to help the country," he said.
"I believe that I have something to lend to my country and that was one of the reasons why we formed the BDM, it was never for me to be prime minister - that was never my goal. My goal is how do we fix the crime problem and social issues?"
He further explained that he has invested "a countless amount of money" into his education so that he is able to lend some of what he has learnt to the country.
"I’ve invested so that I can add value to the country," the BDM leader said.
"My goal is not becoming prime minister, it’s how do we add value to the lives of Bahamians? My philosophy is this, if this ship sinks, it sinks for everybody but if it stays afloat then everybody is happy and if I can help it to stay afloat then that’s where I want to be."
March 7th, 2011
jonesbahamas
By Sasha L. Lightbourne
As far as the Bahamas Democratic Movement (BDM) leader sees things, the country is in "desperate need" of new leadership in order for significant progress to be made.
In an interview with the Bahama Journal, Cassius Stuart said he is preparing to head "full steam" into the 2012 general elections as BDM leader.
"We are getting our candidates in order and raising funds to make sure that we are able to compete and properly contest this general election," he said.
"We realise that the Bahamian people are crying and craving something new. I think the leadership of our country needs to be shaken up. Not taking anything away from [Hubert] Ingraham and [Perry] Christie, but you reach to a point where you need to move on because you need an infusion of energy, vision, excitement and that will not come from Ingraham and Christie anymore."
Mr. Stuart believes the problem with black leadership is that no one knows how to step down.
"We don’t know how to transfer authority and power," he said.
"We have to die in office or someone has to pry it from our dead hands and we have to now look at leadership sensibly. Both [Ingraham and Christie] are in their 60s and have done tremendous jobs, been in Parliament for more than 35 years but now we need to move to let the next generation emerge so that a new infusion of ideas can embrace The Bahamas and sadly I don’t see that for the next five years."
The BDM leader explained that people such as himself, need to continue to find ways to say to the Bahamian people that the country needs new leadership.
"Whether the Bahamian people will embrace that, we will find out in 2012 but we are in desperate need of something new," Mr. Stuart said.
"When you look at Grand Bahama, there’s no vision there. The people are suffering because there is no economic activity going on. People are hurting and I am very sad that no government has come up with a solution for them because they deserve attention like we get in New Providence.
He said both governments, the Free National Movement (FNM) and the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP), have been producing "hopelessness and despair" in the nation’s second city.
"We need to encourage entrepreneurship and bring hope back to Grand Bahamians," he said.
As for his aspirations to become prime minister, Mr. Stuart said he never entered politics for that reason.
"My aspirations was to help the country," he said.
"I believe that I have something to lend to my country and that was one of the reasons why we formed the BDM, it was never for me to be prime minister - that was never my goal. My goal is how do we fix the crime problem and social issues?"
He further explained that he has invested "a countless amount of money" into his education so that he is able to lend some of what he has learnt to the country.
"I’ve invested so that I can add value to the country," the BDM leader said.
"My goal is not becoming prime minister, it’s how do we add value to the lives of Bahamians? My philosophy is this, if this ship sinks, it sinks for everybody but if it stays afloat then everybody is happy and if I can help it to stay afloat then that’s where I want to be."
March 7th, 2011
jonesbahamas
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Bahamas 2010/2011 Budget Under Fire
Budget Backlash
jonesbahamas:
The widely unpopular 2010/2011 Budget came under fire Monday from one of the nation’s most prominent contractors and a political party leader, who both unleashed a perfect storm of criticism against the fiscal plan.
For a nation desperate for an economic lifeline, President of the Bahamian Contractors Association (BCA) President Stephen Wrinkle said this budget offered little solace.
He argued that the proposed budgetary initiatives would in fact send more workers to a growing unemployment line.
"I’m a builder and a developer and in my company, like every other company in The Bahamas today, I think everybody took pencil to paper in this last week and looked at what they can do without and who they can do without and we’re making our cuts," he said.
"The people that we were keeping because they were good staff, maybe we have to let them go now because we don’t have the workload to sustain it. We’ve been sustaining it for a year to a year-and-a-half in our industry anyway and most contractors have reached the point where unless they’ve got work in hand they are cutting back because they just can’t handle those carrying charges any longer."
Perhaps more importantly, Bahamas Democratic Movement (BDM) Leader Cassius Stuart, who is also a business consultant, said the budget had more to do with infrastructure than investing in human capital.
Both men were guests on the Love 97 weekly talk show, On Point, with hosts Rogan Smith and Tosheena Robinson-Blair.
"We are borrowing for capital development. What is frightening, though, is that we are putting the education of our people, the development of our human capital on the altar. We are sacrificing it on the altar of capital development," he said.
"How could we, on the one hand, cut expenditure for education . . . but increase capital developments for roads and other projects? It doesn’t make any sense because the number one engine in an economy is its people. People earn revenue. If the people are not being invested in or developed we’ll find ourselves fighting in the public and private sectors for more productivity from people."
He continued: "The government cut subsidies for the private schools by 20 per cent, which means that private schools will be forced to increase school fees. So now those who have children in private schools who can’t meet those [fee payments] will have to pull their kids out and put them in public schools. The public schools are already overcrowded, so where you currently have 30 or 40 students in a class in the public school, that will be increased to about 50 students."
Mr. Wrinkle said the "ugliest part of this budget" is the fact that the tax burden will continue to be placed on the only economic engine that the country has – the business community.
"We cannot continue to place the yolk of the burden on the business community without providing some incentive for growth," he said. "Our GDP is projected to shrink this year. The entire economy is in a recessionary mode, yet there’s been an increased tax burden on all aspects of business, whether it be an increase in stamp duty on legal transactions or NIB contributions for payrolls or business licence fees."
"The Industries Act was a real incentive that I think most Bahamians assumed would be a continuing incentive that would be available for manufacturing and when that was literally pulled out from underneath us with the stroke of a pen by one individual I think it sent a clear indication of how our country is governed."
Mr. Wrinkle said the business community now finds itself in a very difficult situation in very trying times.
"We’re now going to have to look at ways in which we can change our approach to not only make ends meet, but to make progress. With a shrinking economy, shrinking productivity, a shrinking market, we’ve got to offer some more growth incentive. Otherwise, all we’re doing is putting more plough on the horses and pulling it and at some point the horse is going to get tired and fall down," he said.
"I appreciate that there are only so many revenue streams that we have at the moment from which to draw. But, I am deeply disturbed that we are digging deeply at the crucial aspects of survival for our economic engine – the tourism sector: the room taxes have been increased; the departure taxes have been increased."
Mr. Wrinkle also expressed disappointment that the government does not consult the private industry.
"I think that is a tremendous loss, because you have experts in virtually every field of the budget readily available and willing to contribute to the management of the government, but we’ve got a government that holds its cards closer than Kenny Rogers did in Five Card Stud and they just don’t share information; they don’t share responsibilities or anything that they don’t have to share," he said.
Mr. Stuart agreed. He said the government should have consulted more with the relevant stakeholders.
Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham, during his budget communication, announced a number of budget cuts and tax hikes. He immediately raised the duty rates on car imports – a move that immediately sparked backlash from car dealers in the country. Many feared that their businesses would go belly up in the coming months.
A week later, after consulting with the dealers, the prime minister made several adjustments to the tax rates.
"The prime minister now finds himself, after the fact, coming to the car dealers after he discovers exactly what they are experiencing. Then he makes decisions based on what he finds. He should have just consulted with them in the first place, and by extension consulted with the mail boat operators and all of the stakeholders in society to find out what shortfalls they are experiencing" Mr. Stuart said.
The BDM leader called the budget "scary" and said for years he has been calling on the government to tighten up on spending.
"In the good times our government refused to do that. We have to be fiscally responsible and economically prudent. When things were good we were spending a lot, almost as if we were never going to reach this day. Now that we’re here the government has been forced to cut back on a lot of things and it’s needed. We now find ourselves in a place where we’re trying to figure out how we’re going to cover our costs and cover the overhead that the government has," he said.
Mr. Stuart said The Bahamas has not experienced any new growth in its industries, but has experienced a "significant" decline.
"Many small businesses, particularly in the manufacturing sector, have either shut down or downsized due to overhead costs. One of the many overhead costs that small businesses have been affected by is the increase in BEC (Bahamas Electricity Corporation) utility rates. It’s killing them," he said.
"There is a plan on the table to again increase that rate. On top of that we’re saying we want to increase National Insurance contribution rates by one per cent. Most companies are now looking through their books to see who they can let go because of the increase in overhead."
Mr. Wrinkle agreed.
He said the government has again "missed an opportunity to provide incentives for growth because without growth in the business sector, we’re not really going to climb out of this; we’re just making more demands."
"When you take away the concessions that manufacturers have, like the people that make the windows, the doors, the hurricane shutters and a myriad of consumable items, we’ve got chemical companies that make soaps – all of these things that are consumed here that save us from exporting our U.S. dollars and employ people keep people employed – it affects them," he said.
"It isn’t like the construction sector where I may have 130 employees this month, but next month I may have 50 because when our job is finished I have to let them go. When you’re building a manufacturing company and you start off with four employees, next year you’ve got six and then eight and then 12 and it’s long term. I really think this one is going to come back to bite [the government] because you can’t tell people that you want to produce Bahamian entrepreneurs and businessmen and then in a stroke of a pen you pull the rug out underneath them."
Mr. Wrinkle said he believes there is a serious disconnect between the politicians and businessmen in the country. He said while incentives for growth d not necessarily have to be tied to a budget, they should have been included.
"The fact that we don’t have adequate incentives in place is reflected in the way they address the budget. They have not looked outside the envelope of revenue stream. It appears that they had a list of the revenues and they went down with a pencil and ticked off which ones they thought they could increase and generate more revenue stream from the taxes," he said.
June 9, 2010
jonesbahamas
jonesbahamas:
The widely unpopular 2010/2011 Budget came under fire Monday from one of the nation’s most prominent contractors and a political party leader, who both unleashed a perfect storm of criticism against the fiscal plan.
For a nation desperate for an economic lifeline, President of the Bahamian Contractors Association (BCA) President Stephen Wrinkle said this budget offered little solace.
He argued that the proposed budgetary initiatives would in fact send more workers to a growing unemployment line.
"I’m a builder and a developer and in my company, like every other company in The Bahamas today, I think everybody took pencil to paper in this last week and looked at what they can do without and who they can do without and we’re making our cuts," he said.
"The people that we were keeping because they were good staff, maybe we have to let them go now because we don’t have the workload to sustain it. We’ve been sustaining it for a year to a year-and-a-half in our industry anyway and most contractors have reached the point where unless they’ve got work in hand they are cutting back because they just can’t handle those carrying charges any longer."
Perhaps more importantly, Bahamas Democratic Movement (BDM) Leader Cassius Stuart, who is also a business consultant, said the budget had more to do with infrastructure than investing in human capital.
Both men were guests on the Love 97 weekly talk show, On Point, with hosts Rogan Smith and Tosheena Robinson-Blair.
"We are borrowing for capital development. What is frightening, though, is that we are putting the education of our people, the development of our human capital on the altar. We are sacrificing it on the altar of capital development," he said.
"How could we, on the one hand, cut expenditure for education . . . but increase capital developments for roads and other projects? It doesn’t make any sense because the number one engine in an economy is its people. People earn revenue. If the people are not being invested in or developed we’ll find ourselves fighting in the public and private sectors for more productivity from people."
He continued: "The government cut subsidies for the private schools by 20 per cent, which means that private schools will be forced to increase school fees. So now those who have children in private schools who can’t meet those [fee payments] will have to pull their kids out and put them in public schools. The public schools are already overcrowded, so where you currently have 30 or 40 students in a class in the public school, that will be increased to about 50 students."
Mr. Wrinkle said the "ugliest part of this budget" is the fact that the tax burden will continue to be placed on the only economic engine that the country has – the business community.
"We cannot continue to place the yolk of the burden on the business community without providing some incentive for growth," he said. "Our GDP is projected to shrink this year. The entire economy is in a recessionary mode, yet there’s been an increased tax burden on all aspects of business, whether it be an increase in stamp duty on legal transactions or NIB contributions for payrolls or business licence fees."
"The Industries Act was a real incentive that I think most Bahamians assumed would be a continuing incentive that would be available for manufacturing and when that was literally pulled out from underneath us with the stroke of a pen by one individual I think it sent a clear indication of how our country is governed."
Mr. Wrinkle said the business community now finds itself in a very difficult situation in very trying times.
"We’re now going to have to look at ways in which we can change our approach to not only make ends meet, but to make progress. With a shrinking economy, shrinking productivity, a shrinking market, we’ve got to offer some more growth incentive. Otherwise, all we’re doing is putting more plough on the horses and pulling it and at some point the horse is going to get tired and fall down," he said.
"I appreciate that there are only so many revenue streams that we have at the moment from which to draw. But, I am deeply disturbed that we are digging deeply at the crucial aspects of survival for our economic engine – the tourism sector: the room taxes have been increased; the departure taxes have been increased."
Mr. Wrinkle also expressed disappointment that the government does not consult the private industry.
"I think that is a tremendous loss, because you have experts in virtually every field of the budget readily available and willing to contribute to the management of the government, but we’ve got a government that holds its cards closer than Kenny Rogers did in Five Card Stud and they just don’t share information; they don’t share responsibilities or anything that they don’t have to share," he said.
Mr. Stuart agreed. He said the government should have consulted more with the relevant stakeholders.
Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham, during his budget communication, announced a number of budget cuts and tax hikes. He immediately raised the duty rates on car imports – a move that immediately sparked backlash from car dealers in the country. Many feared that their businesses would go belly up in the coming months.
A week later, after consulting with the dealers, the prime minister made several adjustments to the tax rates.
"The prime minister now finds himself, after the fact, coming to the car dealers after he discovers exactly what they are experiencing. Then he makes decisions based on what he finds. He should have just consulted with them in the first place, and by extension consulted with the mail boat operators and all of the stakeholders in society to find out what shortfalls they are experiencing" Mr. Stuart said.
The BDM leader called the budget "scary" and said for years he has been calling on the government to tighten up on spending.
"In the good times our government refused to do that. We have to be fiscally responsible and economically prudent. When things were good we were spending a lot, almost as if we were never going to reach this day. Now that we’re here the government has been forced to cut back on a lot of things and it’s needed. We now find ourselves in a place where we’re trying to figure out how we’re going to cover our costs and cover the overhead that the government has," he said.
Mr. Stuart said The Bahamas has not experienced any new growth in its industries, but has experienced a "significant" decline.
"Many small businesses, particularly in the manufacturing sector, have either shut down or downsized due to overhead costs. One of the many overhead costs that small businesses have been affected by is the increase in BEC (Bahamas Electricity Corporation) utility rates. It’s killing them," he said.
"There is a plan on the table to again increase that rate. On top of that we’re saying we want to increase National Insurance contribution rates by one per cent. Most companies are now looking through their books to see who they can let go because of the increase in overhead."
Mr. Wrinkle agreed.
He said the government has again "missed an opportunity to provide incentives for growth because without growth in the business sector, we’re not really going to climb out of this; we’re just making more demands."
"When you take away the concessions that manufacturers have, like the people that make the windows, the doors, the hurricane shutters and a myriad of consumable items, we’ve got chemical companies that make soaps – all of these things that are consumed here that save us from exporting our U.S. dollars and employ people keep people employed – it affects them," he said.
"It isn’t like the construction sector where I may have 130 employees this month, but next month I may have 50 because when our job is finished I have to let them go. When you’re building a manufacturing company and you start off with four employees, next year you’ve got six and then eight and then 12 and it’s long term. I really think this one is going to come back to bite [the government] because you can’t tell people that you want to produce Bahamian entrepreneurs and businessmen and then in a stroke of a pen you pull the rug out underneath them."
Mr. Wrinkle said he believes there is a serious disconnect between the politicians and businessmen in the country. He said while incentives for growth d not necessarily have to be tied to a budget, they should have been included.
"The fact that we don’t have adequate incentives in place is reflected in the way they address the budget. They have not looked outside the envelope of revenue stream. It appears that they had a list of the revenues and they went down with a pencil and ticked off which ones they thought they could increase and generate more revenue stream from the taxes," he said.
June 9, 2010
jonesbahamas
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Elizabeth by-election: Message sent by high number of absent Elizabeth voters
By Brent Dean ~ Guardian Senior Reporter ~ brentldean@nasguard.com:
The decision by more than 1,700 registered voters not to participate in the Elizabeth by-election may indicate that a significant block of Bahamians either rejected, or are not interested in, the message being offered by either the Free National Movement or the Progressive Liberal Party.
When the recount is over, the winner of the by-election would have received just over 30 percent of the registered votes in the area.
With the PLP and the FNM having national base support somewhere between 30 and 40 percent each, it appears that not even all of the faithful showed up to vote on Tuesday.
The Bahamas is going through one of its worse economic periods since Independence. As a result of the global recession thousands of Bahamians are out of work. The level of violent crime in the country has also hit record levels.
In this context, an opposition party should be able to defeat the governing party in a by-election, in a classic swing seat.
The Christie-led PLP could not do this.
Conversely, it could be argued that the FNM should have done better. The PLP has moved from controversy to controversy since the last general election.
One PLP member of Parliament (Kenyatta Gibson) crossed the floor of the House of Assembly and joined the FNM; another (Malcolm Adderley) resigned, criticizing Christie; and former party senator (Pleasant Bridgewater) is about to face retrial on attempted extortion charges.
Neither party could use the strong negatives against the other to distance itself in this race. The voters in this swing seat have perceived little to no difference between the major parties.
The Elizabeth vote should force both leaders back to the drawing board to find new messages, policies and platforms if they are serious about running in 2012.
The results show that the Elizabeth campaign did not inspire.
However, what the results also show is that no matter how dissatisfied Bahamians may be with the PLP and the FNM, they will not support a third party.
The youthful enthusiasm of Cassius Stuart and Dr. Andre Rollins should be applauded. But if either man wants to ever sit in the House, he must put on either a yellow or red shirt.
This deep conservatism - Bahamians not being willing to try a third force - has a consequence. If Bahamians will not vote for others, then there is no pressure on either the PLP or FNM to reform their message; and there is also no pressure on the major parties to change the faces that lead the organization.
In this equation the major parties only need to defeat each other rather than seek to court voters.
Some observers argue that the number of voters who did not show up on Tuesday is likely less that 1,700. It is true that some people on the 2007 register may have moved or died since then.
This, though, would only reduce the number of non-voters by a few hundred.
The PLP and FNM must now face the reality that the degree of voter apathy in Elizabeth may exist in swing seats across the country.
The parties must determine if their message (or messengers) no longer appeal to voters.
Now, a saving grace for the major parties may be that many Elizabeth voters stayed at home waiting for the next general election, as they know that Tuesday's result will not change the overall balance of power in Parliament.
February 18, 2010
thenassauguardian
The decision by more than 1,700 registered voters not to participate in the Elizabeth by-election may indicate that a significant block of Bahamians either rejected, or are not interested in, the message being offered by either the Free National Movement or the Progressive Liberal Party.
When the recount is over, the winner of the by-election would have received just over 30 percent of the registered votes in the area.
With the PLP and the FNM having national base support somewhere between 30 and 40 percent each, it appears that not even all of the faithful showed up to vote on Tuesday.
The Bahamas is going through one of its worse economic periods since Independence. As a result of the global recession thousands of Bahamians are out of work. The level of violent crime in the country has also hit record levels.
In this context, an opposition party should be able to defeat the governing party in a by-election, in a classic swing seat.
The Christie-led PLP could not do this.
Conversely, it could be argued that the FNM should have done better. The PLP has moved from controversy to controversy since the last general election.
One PLP member of Parliament (Kenyatta Gibson) crossed the floor of the House of Assembly and joined the FNM; another (Malcolm Adderley) resigned, criticizing Christie; and former party senator (Pleasant Bridgewater) is about to face retrial on attempted extortion charges.
Neither party could use the strong negatives against the other to distance itself in this race. The voters in this swing seat have perceived little to no difference between the major parties.
The Elizabeth vote should force both leaders back to the drawing board to find new messages, policies and platforms if they are serious about running in 2012.
The results show that the Elizabeth campaign did not inspire.
However, what the results also show is that no matter how dissatisfied Bahamians may be with the PLP and the FNM, they will not support a third party.
The youthful enthusiasm of Cassius Stuart and Dr. Andre Rollins should be applauded. But if either man wants to ever sit in the House, he must put on either a yellow or red shirt.
This deep conservatism - Bahamians not being willing to try a third force - has a consequence. If Bahamians will not vote for others, then there is no pressure on either the PLP or FNM to reform their message; and there is also no pressure on the major parties to change the faces that lead the organization.
In this equation the major parties only need to defeat each other rather than seek to court voters.
Some observers argue that the number of voters who did not show up on Tuesday is likely less that 1,700. It is true that some people on the 2007 register may have moved or died since then.
This, though, would only reduce the number of non-voters by a few hundred.
The PLP and FNM must now face the reality that the degree of voter apathy in Elizabeth may exist in swing seats across the country.
The parties must determine if their message (or messengers) no longer appeal to voters.
Now, a saving grace for the major parties may be that many Elizabeth voters stayed at home waiting for the next general election, as they know that Tuesday's result will not change the overall balance of power in Parliament.
February 18, 2010
thenassauguardian
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Elizabeth by-election: 1,700 voters a no-show
By Krystel Rolle ~ Guardian Staff Reporter ~ krystel@nasguard.com:
More than 1,700 people registered to vote in yesterday's historic by-election were a no-show.
There are 4,943 people on the register. However, according to the unofficial figures only 3,210 people cast their votes yesterday.
In addition to the Progressive Liberal Party's Ryan Pinder and the Free National Movement's Dr. Duane Sands, candidates in the by-election included Bahamas Democratic Movement leader Cassius Stuart, Workers Party leader Rodney Moncur and National Development Party chairman Dr. Andre Rollins.
The unofficial results show that Sands received 1,501 votes, Pinder got 1,500 votes, Stuart got 115 votes, Rollins received 73 votes and Moncur got 21 votes.
The Elizabeth seat became vacant last month when former PLP MP Malcolm Adderley resigned from the House of Assembly. He also resigned from the party.
In polling division number one, Sands received 108 votes; Pinder got 91 votes; Stuart got nine votes; Rollins received four votes and Moncur got two votes.
In polling division number two, Pinder received 145 votes; Sands got 111 votes; Stuart received five votes; Rollins got three votes while Moncur did not get any votes.
In polling division number three, Pinder got 141 votes; Sands received 134 votes; Stuart got 14 votes; Rollins got eight votes and Moncur got three votes.
In polling division number four, Sands received 188 votes; Pinder got 164 votes; Rollins got nine votes; Stuart got six votes, and Moncur received three votes.
In polling division number five, Sands got 106 votes; Pinder received 62 votes; Stuart received 16 votes; Rollins received six votes and Moncur got one vote.
In polling division number six, Sands got 157 votes; Pinder received 121 votes; Rollins got 11 votes; Stuart got nine votes and Moncur received one vote.
In polling division number seven, Pinder received 129 votes; Sands got 123 votes; Stuart and Rollins got two votes each, and Moncur got one vote.
In polling division number eight, Sands got 129 votes; Pinder received 106 votes; Stuart got nine votes; Rollins got five votes and Moncur got three votes.
In polling division number nine, Pinder got 86 votes; Sands got 85 votes; Stuart received 11 votes; Rollins received six votes and Moncur got two votes.
In polling division number 10, Pinder got 168 votes; Sands got 130 votes; Rollins got 12 votes; Stuart received 10 votes and Moncur got four votes.
In polling division number 11, Pinder got 164 votes; Sands received 122 votes; Stuart got 13 votes; Rollins got six votes while Moncur didn't get any votes.
In polling division number 12, Pinder received 123 votes; Sands got 108 votes; Stuart got 11 votes and Moncur and Rollins got one vote each.
Returning Officer Jack Thompson said five of Pinder's votes were challenged and were not counted last night.
Thompson added that one of Stuart's votes was also challenged.
Election officials will recount the ballots today.
February 17, 2010
thenassauguardian
More than 1,700 people registered to vote in yesterday's historic by-election were a no-show.
There are 4,943 people on the register. However, according to the unofficial figures only 3,210 people cast their votes yesterday.
In addition to the Progressive Liberal Party's Ryan Pinder and the Free National Movement's Dr. Duane Sands, candidates in the by-election included Bahamas Democratic Movement leader Cassius Stuart, Workers Party leader Rodney Moncur and National Development Party chairman Dr. Andre Rollins.
The unofficial results show that Sands received 1,501 votes, Pinder got 1,500 votes, Stuart got 115 votes, Rollins received 73 votes and Moncur got 21 votes.
The Elizabeth seat became vacant last month when former PLP MP Malcolm Adderley resigned from the House of Assembly. He also resigned from the party.
In polling division number one, Sands received 108 votes; Pinder got 91 votes; Stuart got nine votes; Rollins received four votes and Moncur got two votes.
In polling division number two, Pinder received 145 votes; Sands got 111 votes; Stuart received five votes; Rollins got three votes while Moncur did not get any votes.
In polling division number three, Pinder got 141 votes; Sands received 134 votes; Stuart got 14 votes; Rollins got eight votes and Moncur got three votes.
In polling division number four, Sands received 188 votes; Pinder got 164 votes; Rollins got nine votes; Stuart got six votes, and Moncur received three votes.
In polling division number five, Sands got 106 votes; Pinder received 62 votes; Stuart received 16 votes; Rollins received six votes and Moncur got one vote.
In polling division number six, Sands got 157 votes; Pinder received 121 votes; Rollins got 11 votes; Stuart got nine votes and Moncur received one vote.
In polling division number seven, Pinder received 129 votes; Sands got 123 votes; Stuart and Rollins got two votes each, and Moncur got one vote.
In polling division number eight, Sands got 129 votes; Pinder received 106 votes; Stuart got nine votes; Rollins got five votes and Moncur got three votes.
In polling division number nine, Pinder got 86 votes; Sands got 85 votes; Stuart received 11 votes; Rollins received six votes and Moncur got two votes.
In polling division number 10, Pinder got 168 votes; Sands got 130 votes; Rollins got 12 votes; Stuart received 10 votes and Moncur got four votes.
In polling division number 11, Pinder got 164 votes; Sands received 122 votes; Stuart got 13 votes; Rollins got six votes while Moncur didn't get any votes.
In polling division number 12, Pinder received 123 votes; Sands got 108 votes; Stuart got 11 votes and Moncur and Rollins got one vote each.
Returning Officer Jack Thompson said five of Pinder's votes were challenged and were not counted last night.
Thompson added that one of Stuart's votes was also challenged.
Election officials will recount the ballots today.
February 17, 2010
thenassauguardian
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Elizabeth by-election candidates declare assets
By Juan Mccartney ~ Guardian Senior Reporter ~ juan@nasguard.com:
Two of the five men vying for the Elizabeth seat in the February 16 by-election are millionaires, while one is in arrears with at least two government agencies, according to their declarations of assets that were gazetted in yesterday's edition of The Nassau Guardian.
The wealthiest of the five candidates running is Dr. Duane Sands, who is running on the Free National Movement ticket. Dr. Sands, a heart surgeon who is chief of surgery at the Princess Margaret Hospital, declared a net worth of $6.785 million.
Dr. Sands reportedly earns $455,000 per year and has extensive real estate holdings, as well as more than $3 million in equity in his medical practice.
The second wealthiest man on the list of candidates is Bahamas Democratic Movement (BDM) leader and business consultant Cassius Stuart. His net worth is listed at around $1.16 million dollars.
Stuart claimed to have more than $500,000 in real estate holdings, and about the same in the cash value of his life insurance policy. Stuart claimed an annual income of about $140,000.
Not too far behind Stuart is Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) candidate and tax attorney Ryan Pinder.
The 34-year-old's net worth is listed at just under $750,000.
Pinder, who claimed to bring in $220,000 per year, has about $900,000 in real estate holdings, but claimed mortgages on those holdings in excess of $725,000.
National Development Party (NDP) candidate and orthodontist Dr. Andre Rollins claimed a net worth of about $142,000.
That amount should put Rollins at the bottom of the list.
However, Rollins claimed nearly $1 million in assets, but it appears that hefty mortgages are affecting his bottom line.
Rollins claimed that he brings in about $80,000 a year.
Workers party leader and taxi driver Rodney Moncur, whose net worth is reportedly $152,000, should actually place him fourth on the list.
But Moncur's assets are nowhere near those of the other candidates.
In terms of income, Moncur claimed that he brings in about $615 per year.
And unlike his counterparts, Moncur also listed the individual value of his personal property.
Among that property is a dictionary he claims is worth five hundred dollars, as well as assorted fruit trees valued at $386 dollars. Moncur also claims to be in arrears with the Bahamas Mortgage Corporation and the Bahamas Electricity Corporation (BEC) to the tune of $1,200 each.
Parliamentary Commissioner Errol Bethel said the asset declarations are necessary so as to ensure that nominees who are participating in the race disclose everything about their financial lives to the public.
"We want to make sure that the nominees who are running are people who we can look up to as honorable persons," Bethel said yesterday. "And they are required by law to make a declaration as to what their assets are when they nominate for Parliament. The important thing is that people should be honest with these declarations. That's the most important thing."
Bethel admitted yesterday that the system of disclosure is not foolproof. He said there is no mechanism in place for the Parliamentary Registration Department to find out if a person is bankrupt, which would automatically disqualify them from being a member of Parliament.
"Nobody is bankrupt as far as we're concerned," he said. "Unless the person has actually been declared bankrupt. So when the person presents himself to us, the requirement of the law is that he presents certain documents and once those documents are in order and he presents the nomination fee ($400), then he is accepted as a candidate. And once the returning officer accepts these documents, then the person stands nominated as a candidate for the election."
As far as the validity of the declaration is concerned, Bethel said, "We don't do anything to verify that."
"There is a commission of public disclosure and if anybody is to check into that, it would be that body," he said. "But definitely not us."
February 2, 2010
thenassauguardian
Two of the five men vying for the Elizabeth seat in the February 16 by-election are millionaires, while one is in arrears with at least two government agencies, according to their declarations of assets that were gazetted in yesterday's edition of The Nassau Guardian.
The wealthiest of the five candidates running is Dr. Duane Sands, who is running on the Free National Movement ticket. Dr. Sands, a heart surgeon who is chief of surgery at the Princess Margaret Hospital, declared a net worth of $6.785 million.
Dr. Sands reportedly earns $455,000 per year and has extensive real estate holdings, as well as more than $3 million in equity in his medical practice.
The second wealthiest man on the list of candidates is Bahamas Democratic Movement (BDM) leader and business consultant Cassius Stuart. His net worth is listed at around $1.16 million dollars.
Stuart claimed to have more than $500,000 in real estate holdings, and about the same in the cash value of his life insurance policy. Stuart claimed an annual income of about $140,000.
Not too far behind Stuart is Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) candidate and tax attorney Ryan Pinder.
The 34-year-old's net worth is listed at just under $750,000.
Pinder, who claimed to bring in $220,000 per year, has about $900,000 in real estate holdings, but claimed mortgages on those holdings in excess of $725,000.
National Development Party (NDP) candidate and orthodontist Dr. Andre Rollins claimed a net worth of about $142,000.
That amount should put Rollins at the bottom of the list.
However, Rollins claimed nearly $1 million in assets, but it appears that hefty mortgages are affecting his bottom line.
Rollins claimed that he brings in about $80,000 a year.
Workers party leader and taxi driver Rodney Moncur, whose net worth is reportedly $152,000, should actually place him fourth on the list.
But Moncur's assets are nowhere near those of the other candidates.
In terms of income, Moncur claimed that he brings in about $615 per year.
And unlike his counterparts, Moncur also listed the individual value of his personal property.
Among that property is a dictionary he claims is worth five hundred dollars, as well as assorted fruit trees valued at $386 dollars. Moncur also claims to be in arrears with the Bahamas Mortgage Corporation and the Bahamas Electricity Corporation (BEC) to the tune of $1,200 each.
Parliamentary Commissioner Errol Bethel said the asset declarations are necessary so as to ensure that nominees who are participating in the race disclose everything about their financial lives to the public.
"We want to make sure that the nominees who are running are people who we can look up to as honorable persons," Bethel said yesterday. "And they are required by law to make a declaration as to what their assets are when they nominate for Parliament. The important thing is that people should be honest with these declarations. That's the most important thing."
Bethel admitted yesterday that the system of disclosure is not foolproof. He said there is no mechanism in place for the Parliamentary Registration Department to find out if a person is bankrupt, which would automatically disqualify them from being a member of Parliament.
"Nobody is bankrupt as far as we're concerned," he said. "Unless the person has actually been declared bankrupt. So when the person presents himself to us, the requirement of the law is that he presents certain documents and once those documents are in order and he presents the nomination fee ($400), then he is accepted as a candidate. And once the returning officer accepts these documents, then the person stands nominated as a candidate for the election."
As far as the validity of the declaration is concerned, Bethel said, "We don't do anything to verify that."
"There is a commission of public disclosure and if anybody is to check into that, it would be that body," he said. "But definitely not us."
February 2, 2010
thenassauguardian
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Five out of six to bid for Elizabeth by-election
By MEGAN REYNOLDS
Tribune Staff Reporter
mreynolds@tribunemedia.net:
FIVE of the six expected parliamentary candidates successfully submitted their nominations yesterday for the Elizabeth by-election -- but United Christian Love Revolution Movement hopeful Godfrey "Pro" Pinder missed out on the race.
Mr Pinder arrived just a minute before the nomination office at Thelma Gibson Primary School in Commonwealth Drive, Elizabeth Estates, closed at noon.
The nomination office opened at 9am with the Free National Movement (FNM) being the first to submit the nomination papers for their candidate, Dr Duane Sands, flanked by his brother Robert "Sandy" Sands, vice president of external affairs for Baha Mar, and government ministers Earl Deveaux, Tommy Turnquest and Dion Foulkes as well as FNM party chairman Carl Bethel. A throng of supporters dressed in bright red FNM t-shirts gathered at the Believers Gospel Chapel on Prince Charles Drive where they danced to music blasting from a nearby party truck decorated with giant posters of Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham and red, white and blue flags.
They walked in procession before the truck and were the first party to submit their candidate's nomination papers shortly after 10am.
As they left the building, the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) supporters had gathered outside, more than 100 people wearing yellow PLP t-shirts and waving pom-poms danced to the music blaring from loudspeakers on two trucks parked outside the school gates.
The supporters rushed into the school with candidate Ryan Pinder, who was accompanied by his wife and children, his mother and father, former Malcolm Creek MP Marvin Pinder, and party leader Perry Christie, chairman Bradley Roberts and MPs Brave Davis and Shane Gibson.
As Mr Thompson presented him with a receipt for the $400 fee and nomination forms with a list of five people in the constituency who had nominated him, Mr Pinder jumped up from the table and raised his arm in the air. The crowd of around two dozen supporters in the room cheered as he hugged and kissed his wife, mother and daughter, before giving the peace sign to the cameras and quickly changing it to the PLP "OK" hand signal.
Cheering
Mr Pinder was greeted by a cheering crowd in the school courtyard and National Development Party (NDP) candidate Andre Rollins -- who had been waiting to submit his nomination before the PLP went in-- asked Mr Pinder if he would engage in a live debate.
Mr Pinder backed away quietly without answering the NDP candidate, who walked into the nomination room with a plastic bag containing 1,600 quarters -- his nomination fee -- which Dr Rollins said represented the 1,600 votes he needs to win the seat.
The fourth candidate to nominate was Bahamas Democratic Movement leader Cassius Stuart who kept his entrance low-key with just 10 supporters wearing purple party t-shirts and calling for change.
Rodney Moncur from the Workers' Party was the final candidate to successfully submit his nomination at around 11am with six supporters at his side. Mr Moncur, sporting sunglasses and a suit, gave a speech outside the school gates slamming the FNM and PLP, and arguing how he is the right man to represent the people of Elizabeth as an activist and supporter of capital punishment.
United Christian Love Revolution Movement leader Godfrey "Pro" Pinder pulled into the school parking lot at 11.59am, and after asking Tribune reporters for directions to the nomination office ran to submit his nomination before the office closed at noon.
Although Mr Thompson kept the office open for Mr Pinder to return to his car and retrieve his nomination papers and his cheque book, he could not accept the personal cheque as legislation requires the payment be made in cash or by certified cheque. The attorney and parliamentary hopeful dressed in a suit, pink shirt and tie, solemnly returned to his car, declining to speak to the press any more than to say he had been in court that morning which was the reason for his delay.
January 30, 2010
tribune242
Tribune Staff Reporter
mreynolds@tribunemedia.net:
FIVE of the six expected parliamentary candidates successfully submitted their nominations yesterday for the Elizabeth by-election -- but United Christian Love Revolution Movement hopeful Godfrey "Pro" Pinder missed out on the race.
Mr Pinder arrived just a minute before the nomination office at Thelma Gibson Primary School in Commonwealth Drive, Elizabeth Estates, closed at noon.
The nomination office opened at 9am with the Free National Movement (FNM) being the first to submit the nomination papers for their candidate, Dr Duane Sands, flanked by his brother Robert "Sandy" Sands, vice president of external affairs for Baha Mar, and government ministers Earl Deveaux, Tommy Turnquest and Dion Foulkes as well as FNM party chairman Carl Bethel. A throng of supporters dressed in bright red FNM t-shirts gathered at the Believers Gospel Chapel on Prince Charles Drive where they danced to music blasting from a nearby party truck decorated with giant posters of Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham and red, white and blue flags.
They walked in procession before the truck and were the first party to submit their candidate's nomination papers shortly after 10am.
As they left the building, the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) supporters had gathered outside, more than 100 people wearing yellow PLP t-shirts and waving pom-poms danced to the music blaring from loudspeakers on two trucks parked outside the school gates.
The supporters rushed into the school with candidate Ryan Pinder, who was accompanied by his wife and children, his mother and father, former Malcolm Creek MP Marvin Pinder, and party leader Perry Christie, chairman Bradley Roberts and MPs Brave Davis and Shane Gibson.
As Mr Thompson presented him with a receipt for the $400 fee and nomination forms with a list of five people in the constituency who had nominated him, Mr Pinder jumped up from the table and raised his arm in the air. The crowd of around two dozen supporters in the room cheered as he hugged and kissed his wife, mother and daughter, before giving the peace sign to the cameras and quickly changing it to the PLP "OK" hand signal.
Cheering
Mr Pinder was greeted by a cheering crowd in the school courtyard and National Development Party (NDP) candidate Andre Rollins -- who had been waiting to submit his nomination before the PLP went in-- asked Mr Pinder if he would engage in a live debate.
Mr Pinder backed away quietly without answering the NDP candidate, who walked into the nomination room with a plastic bag containing 1,600 quarters -- his nomination fee -- which Dr Rollins said represented the 1,600 votes he needs to win the seat.
The fourth candidate to nominate was Bahamas Democratic Movement leader Cassius Stuart who kept his entrance low-key with just 10 supporters wearing purple party t-shirts and calling for change.
Rodney Moncur from the Workers' Party was the final candidate to successfully submit his nomination at around 11am with six supporters at his side. Mr Moncur, sporting sunglasses and a suit, gave a speech outside the school gates slamming the FNM and PLP, and arguing how he is the right man to represent the people of Elizabeth as an activist and supporter of capital punishment.
United Christian Love Revolution Movement leader Godfrey "Pro" Pinder pulled into the school parking lot at 11.59am, and after asking Tribune reporters for directions to the nomination office ran to submit his nomination before the office closed at noon.
Although Mr Thompson kept the office open for Mr Pinder to return to his car and retrieve his nomination papers and his cheque book, he could not accept the personal cheque as legislation requires the payment be made in cash or by certified cheque. The attorney and parliamentary hopeful dressed in a suit, pink shirt and tie, solemnly returned to his car, declining to speak to the press any more than to say he had been in court that morning which was the reason for his delay.
January 30, 2010
tribune242
Friday, January 29, 2010
Bahamas: Elizabeth by-election candidates
DR DUANE SANDS
FREE NATIONAL MOVEMENT
FOR the next 19 days the FNM candidate in the Elizabeth by-election plans to canvas the constituency to convince voters that he is the best man for the job.
In the meantime, Dr Duane Sands told The Tribune, the FNM "has a lot more work to do" to weed out ineligible voters who may be able to vote in the by-election although they no longer live in the area.
On the campaign trail, Dr Sands said he has been surprised by how many Bahamians are barely making ends meet. He has also been put off by a small number of greedy voters who demand money or goods in return for their support.
Dr Sands said the topmost concern of constituents -- aside from crime and unemployment -- is fair and accountable representation.
He said his time in the area revealed that many constituents have low expectations from a representative, something he feels is due to the representation the constituency had over the past six years.
"We're going to go out and talk to every single registered voter that we can get to and hear what their concerns are," Dr Sands said, ahead of the FNM's rally last night and nomination day today.
"Our strategy is to demonstrate to people that the FNM and Duane Sands would be a much better alternative and that we could offer better governance."
"(Voters') expectations have been diminished in part because they've been let down. Many of the constituents are not demanding a pound of flesh. They have a reasonable expectation that their concerns are listened to, and want accountability, availability, and access to government," he said.
His party is also still focusing on limiting possible ballot tainting due to a loophole in the voter registry which may allow residents who no longer live in the Elizabeth constituency to vote.
"Even the Registrar General has alluded to the fact that this is a huge challenge even for them and we are obviously trying to make sure that there is a proper correlation between the register and what we find on the ground. I expect that as we get closer to February 16 we would have made some headway in identifying some of the people who ought not be eligible, but I doubt that it's going to be perfect," he said.
Campaigning in Elizabeth, Dr Sands, a noted heart surgeon, said he has been struck by how many Bahamians have to endure financial hardship.
"While I happen to see people at their worst in the hospital, Bahamians are really struggling, and as you enter their homes and see them as they are it (adds to) the immediate need of restoring hope," he said.
The Elizabeth seat was held by Malcolm Adderley, who resigned from Parliament and the PLP last month. Although the PLP won the constituency two terms in a row, their last win was a narrow one of only 45 votes over the FNM.
More than 4,000 voters are expected to cast their votes in the by-election on February 16.
RYAN PINDER
PROGRESSIVE LIBERAL PARTY
Mr Pinder said the response to the "hectic and fast" campaign the PLP has so far mounted ahead of the February 16 by-election has been "extremely positive".
The tax attorney said he will move in a motorcade with PLP supporters and leaders from the party's Elizabeth Headquarters at around 9.30am tomorrow, making it to Thelma Gibson Primary School by around 10.30am to nominate.
"It's very encouraging. I'm in the area every day meeting with residents. I've certainly been able to speak with a lot of the constituents and the response has been very positive and encouraging," he said.
"We had a mass rally (Wednesday) night, thousands and thousands of people were there. At the opening of the Prince Charles (party) headquarters we had in excess of 1,000 people show up. The energy level in the area is very high."
He added: "Elizabeth's concerns revolve around the difficulty with the Bahamian economic situation, there's a high level of unemployment in Elizabeth just like throughout country. There's a real concern that there's not an opportunity to succeed in business and there's a real entrepreneurial spirit but many feel they don't have the right opportunities and programmes and platforms to succeed. They are also concerned about the crime rate in the country and particularly in the constituency," said the candidate.
With regards to the concerns that some people who were registered to vote in the constituency in the last election have since moved out of the area but still appear on the register - making it possible they could vote despite not living in the constituency - Mr Pinder said the party has been "on the ground meeting with constituents night after night seven days a week" and he is confident that by election day, February 16, the party will have a strong handle on who is and is not entitled to vote.
CASSIUS STUART
BAHAMAS DEMOCRATIC MOVEMENT
Mr Stuart said the BDM's effort to win over the Elizabeth constituency has "been going very well" but complained that the party encountered some "disturbing issues" as went around the constituency knocking on doors.
"These guys (FNM and PLP campaigners) have been playing extremely nasty. FNMs and PLPs have been telling constituents I dropped out of the race. What they are finding out is that more and more people are tired of the PLP and the FNM and so they are telling them I dropped out. I want to let people know I'm still in the race and I'll be nominating (today)," said Mr Stuart.
In speaking with the "hundreds" of residents he has thus far been able to encounter on the campaign trail, Mr Stuart said he's found that they are concerned primarily about crime.
Other issues raised include the two "shanty towns" within the constituency's borders and infrastructural problems such as a lack of speed bumps and street signs. Flooding and traffic congestion in the area are also concerns.
Mr Stuart called out the FNM for allegedly "using government resources to aid their candidate".
"If you go in Kool Acres Drive, the Ministry of Works has equipment out there now paving roads, so we want to make that known.
"It is very unfair, you're using power of government against other candidates," he claimed.
GODFREY PINDER
UNITED CHRISTIAN LOVE REVOLUTION MOVEMENT
Despite recent professional tribulations (Pinder was suspended from practicing law by the Bahamas Bar Council earlier this month following a complaint from a former client, but has appealed the suspension), Mr Pinder said he is ready to "ask Lizzie to be my valentine" in the February 16 by-election.
The colourful candidate said that thus far his campaign, launched after he announced the formation of his Love Revolution Movement earlier this month, has been "going marvellously."
"Basically I'm love in action," said Mr Pinder, whose manifesto states his desire to set up "Love Universities."
The would-be candidate claims he plans to send a love poem to "the lady of every household" in the constituency in his bid to woo Elizabeth into his camp.
"I'm going to touch everyone in a very, very nice way," he stated.
Yesterday Parliamentary Registrar Errol Bethel said that "as far as he knows" Mr Pinder's recent professional issues should not affect his ability to nominate.
RODNEY MONCUR
WORKERS' PARTY
DESPITE meagre campaign funding, Workers' Party candidate Rodney Moncur thinks he will overcome the political heavyweights in next month's by-election in the Elizabeth constituency.
He launched his campaign on January 7, a day after former MP Malcolm Adderley resigned from Parliament.
Without the money to hold mass rallies, run ads or blanket the area with posters, Mr Moncur gets up before sunrise every day to knock on doors and lobby for precious votes.
His group of about a dozen supporters spends most of the day in people's living rooms and on porches getting to the core of residents' concerns.
Chief among these complaints are high unemployment levels, rising crime levels, while the government's recent suspension of its education loan programme came in third place on their list of concerns.
While he tries to sway voters with minimal resources, Mr Moncur accused operatives of the two major political parties of running dirty campaigns.
He charged that the PLP and FNM are "exploiting" constituents with money woes by offering them liquor and jobs.
"The PLP and FNM have resorted to some of the most unethical forms of campaigning that I have ever seen. They are keeping the men drunk, that kind of thing," said Mr Moncur.
"I think the FNM and PLP in a very ungodly manner are exploiting the poor -- they call it campaigning, I call it gangsterism."
Like FNM candidate Dr Duane Sands, Mr Moncur has also been moved by the disparity between the "haves and have-nots" in the Elizabeth constituency.
"As you move through certain areas of the constituency you can see the economic desperation and the hardship," he said.
"I went to a Haitian community off Joe Farrington Road and they are living in abject poverty. And these persons are supporters of the PLP and FNM but they are living in squalor."
If he wins, the activist is prepared to sacrifice his time to be a man for the people, working out of an office in Elizabeth every day and foregoing other employment.
"I will go to work at my office in Elizabeth every day, they would be my employers, as opposed to the other candidates who will return to their law practice, medical practice or other profession. The candidate who is elected as a representative should report to his constituency office every day and if the salary is not sufficient he should not seek office."
Up to press time, Mr Moncur said he had raised most of the nomination fee with a final donation of $80 expected to arrive last night.
DR ANDRE ROLLINS
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PARTY
THE newly formed National Development Party and its candidate Dr Andre Rollins are hoping to finally part the sea of red and yellow - colours of the FNM and PLP respectively - at the upcoming Elizabeth by-election.
The NDP hopes that voter frustration with the established parties will sweep Dr Rollins into the House of Assembly.
Although in its infancy, the NDP believes that its message and policy platform will sway many voters.
Dr Rollins was elected as the party's candidate in the Elizabeth by-election after a public political debate and primary election - trials which other political parties shied away from.
A newcomer to politics, the 34-year-old dentist feels Bahamians are ready for a change, starting with their political representatives.
His party's approach to the race has been to offer more accountability.
Without the money for rallies or other election gimmicks, Dr Rollins hopes that each candidate's message, not campaign funding, will be the deciding factor in the hotly contested race.
Whether he wins or loses, Dr Rollins plans to continue to hold both major parties to account, criticising them when appropriate.
"If you don't do the job that you were entrusted to do we are not going to show any fear or favour. We are going to go straight down the middle whether you are FNM or PLP," he told The Tribune recently.
Dr Rollins beat out NDP member C Rashad Amahad at Wednesday's event. Both men took blind questions from the audience and moderator Judy Hamilton.
At the primary, Dr Rollins urged supporters to be optimistic that the underdog can be victorious at the by-election polls.
Dr Rollins served as president of the Bahamas Dental Association from December, 2004 to December, 2009. He is a founding member of the NDP, formed in October 2008.
January 29, 2010
tribune242
FREE NATIONAL MOVEMENT
FOR the next 19 days the FNM candidate in the Elizabeth by-election plans to canvas the constituency to convince voters that he is the best man for the job.
In the meantime, Dr Duane Sands told The Tribune, the FNM "has a lot more work to do" to weed out ineligible voters who may be able to vote in the by-election although they no longer live in the area.
On the campaign trail, Dr Sands said he has been surprised by how many Bahamians are barely making ends meet. He has also been put off by a small number of greedy voters who demand money or goods in return for their support.
Dr Sands said the topmost concern of constituents -- aside from crime and unemployment -- is fair and accountable representation.
He said his time in the area revealed that many constituents have low expectations from a representative, something he feels is due to the representation the constituency had over the past six years.
"We're going to go out and talk to every single registered voter that we can get to and hear what their concerns are," Dr Sands said, ahead of the FNM's rally last night and nomination day today.
"Our strategy is to demonstrate to people that the FNM and Duane Sands would be a much better alternative and that we could offer better governance."
"(Voters') expectations have been diminished in part because they've been let down. Many of the constituents are not demanding a pound of flesh. They have a reasonable expectation that their concerns are listened to, and want accountability, availability, and access to government," he said.
His party is also still focusing on limiting possible ballot tainting due to a loophole in the voter registry which may allow residents who no longer live in the Elizabeth constituency to vote.
"Even the Registrar General has alluded to the fact that this is a huge challenge even for them and we are obviously trying to make sure that there is a proper correlation between the register and what we find on the ground. I expect that as we get closer to February 16 we would have made some headway in identifying some of the people who ought not be eligible, but I doubt that it's going to be perfect," he said.
Campaigning in Elizabeth, Dr Sands, a noted heart surgeon, said he has been struck by how many Bahamians have to endure financial hardship.
"While I happen to see people at their worst in the hospital, Bahamians are really struggling, and as you enter their homes and see them as they are it (adds to) the immediate need of restoring hope," he said.
The Elizabeth seat was held by Malcolm Adderley, who resigned from Parliament and the PLP last month. Although the PLP won the constituency two terms in a row, their last win was a narrow one of only 45 votes over the FNM.
More than 4,000 voters are expected to cast their votes in the by-election on February 16.
RYAN PINDER
PROGRESSIVE LIBERAL PARTY
Mr Pinder said the response to the "hectic and fast" campaign the PLP has so far mounted ahead of the February 16 by-election has been "extremely positive".
The tax attorney said he will move in a motorcade with PLP supporters and leaders from the party's Elizabeth Headquarters at around 9.30am tomorrow, making it to Thelma Gibson Primary School by around 10.30am to nominate.
"It's very encouraging. I'm in the area every day meeting with residents. I've certainly been able to speak with a lot of the constituents and the response has been very positive and encouraging," he said.
"We had a mass rally (Wednesday) night, thousands and thousands of people were there. At the opening of the Prince Charles (party) headquarters we had in excess of 1,000 people show up. The energy level in the area is very high."
He added: "Elizabeth's concerns revolve around the difficulty with the Bahamian economic situation, there's a high level of unemployment in Elizabeth just like throughout country. There's a real concern that there's not an opportunity to succeed in business and there's a real entrepreneurial spirit but many feel they don't have the right opportunities and programmes and platforms to succeed. They are also concerned about the crime rate in the country and particularly in the constituency," said the candidate.
With regards to the concerns that some people who were registered to vote in the constituency in the last election have since moved out of the area but still appear on the register - making it possible they could vote despite not living in the constituency - Mr Pinder said the party has been "on the ground meeting with constituents night after night seven days a week" and he is confident that by election day, February 16, the party will have a strong handle on who is and is not entitled to vote.
CASSIUS STUART
BAHAMAS DEMOCRATIC MOVEMENT
Mr Stuart said the BDM's effort to win over the Elizabeth constituency has "been going very well" but complained that the party encountered some "disturbing issues" as went around the constituency knocking on doors.
"These guys (FNM and PLP campaigners) have been playing extremely nasty. FNMs and PLPs have been telling constituents I dropped out of the race. What they are finding out is that more and more people are tired of the PLP and the FNM and so they are telling them I dropped out. I want to let people know I'm still in the race and I'll be nominating (today)," said Mr Stuart.
In speaking with the "hundreds" of residents he has thus far been able to encounter on the campaign trail, Mr Stuart said he's found that they are concerned primarily about crime.
Other issues raised include the two "shanty towns" within the constituency's borders and infrastructural problems such as a lack of speed bumps and street signs. Flooding and traffic congestion in the area are also concerns.
Mr Stuart called out the FNM for allegedly "using government resources to aid their candidate".
"If you go in Kool Acres Drive, the Ministry of Works has equipment out there now paving roads, so we want to make that known.
"It is very unfair, you're using power of government against other candidates," he claimed.
GODFREY PINDER
UNITED CHRISTIAN LOVE REVOLUTION MOVEMENT
Despite recent professional tribulations (Pinder was suspended from practicing law by the Bahamas Bar Council earlier this month following a complaint from a former client, but has appealed the suspension), Mr Pinder said he is ready to "ask Lizzie to be my valentine" in the February 16 by-election.
The colourful candidate said that thus far his campaign, launched after he announced the formation of his Love Revolution Movement earlier this month, has been "going marvellously."
"Basically I'm love in action," said Mr Pinder, whose manifesto states his desire to set up "Love Universities."
The would-be candidate claims he plans to send a love poem to "the lady of every household" in the constituency in his bid to woo Elizabeth into his camp.
"I'm going to touch everyone in a very, very nice way," he stated.
Yesterday Parliamentary Registrar Errol Bethel said that "as far as he knows" Mr Pinder's recent professional issues should not affect his ability to nominate.
RODNEY MONCUR
WORKERS' PARTY
DESPITE meagre campaign funding, Workers' Party candidate Rodney Moncur thinks he will overcome the political heavyweights in next month's by-election in the Elizabeth constituency.
He launched his campaign on January 7, a day after former MP Malcolm Adderley resigned from Parliament.
Without the money to hold mass rallies, run ads or blanket the area with posters, Mr Moncur gets up before sunrise every day to knock on doors and lobby for precious votes.
His group of about a dozen supporters spends most of the day in people's living rooms and on porches getting to the core of residents' concerns.
Chief among these complaints are high unemployment levels, rising crime levels, while the government's recent suspension of its education loan programme came in third place on their list of concerns.
While he tries to sway voters with minimal resources, Mr Moncur accused operatives of the two major political parties of running dirty campaigns.
He charged that the PLP and FNM are "exploiting" constituents with money woes by offering them liquor and jobs.
"The PLP and FNM have resorted to some of the most unethical forms of campaigning that I have ever seen. They are keeping the men drunk, that kind of thing," said Mr Moncur.
"I think the FNM and PLP in a very ungodly manner are exploiting the poor -- they call it campaigning, I call it gangsterism."
Like FNM candidate Dr Duane Sands, Mr Moncur has also been moved by the disparity between the "haves and have-nots" in the Elizabeth constituency.
"As you move through certain areas of the constituency you can see the economic desperation and the hardship," he said.
"I went to a Haitian community off Joe Farrington Road and they are living in abject poverty. And these persons are supporters of the PLP and FNM but they are living in squalor."
If he wins, the activist is prepared to sacrifice his time to be a man for the people, working out of an office in Elizabeth every day and foregoing other employment.
"I will go to work at my office in Elizabeth every day, they would be my employers, as opposed to the other candidates who will return to their law practice, medical practice or other profession. The candidate who is elected as a representative should report to his constituency office every day and if the salary is not sufficient he should not seek office."
Up to press time, Mr Moncur said he had raised most of the nomination fee with a final donation of $80 expected to arrive last night.
DR ANDRE ROLLINS
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PARTY
THE newly formed National Development Party and its candidate Dr Andre Rollins are hoping to finally part the sea of red and yellow - colours of the FNM and PLP respectively - at the upcoming Elizabeth by-election.
The NDP hopes that voter frustration with the established parties will sweep Dr Rollins into the House of Assembly.
Although in its infancy, the NDP believes that its message and policy platform will sway many voters.
Dr Rollins was elected as the party's candidate in the Elizabeth by-election after a public political debate and primary election - trials which other political parties shied away from.
A newcomer to politics, the 34-year-old dentist feels Bahamians are ready for a change, starting with their political representatives.
His party's approach to the race has been to offer more accountability.
Without the money for rallies or other election gimmicks, Dr Rollins hopes that each candidate's message, not campaign funding, will be the deciding factor in the hotly contested race.
Whether he wins or loses, Dr Rollins plans to continue to hold both major parties to account, criticising them when appropriate.
"If you don't do the job that you were entrusted to do we are not going to show any fear or favour. We are going to go straight down the middle whether you are FNM or PLP," he told The Tribune recently.
Dr Rollins beat out NDP member C Rashad Amahad at Wednesday's event. Both men took blind questions from the audience and moderator Judy Hamilton.
At the primary, Dr Rollins urged supporters to be optimistic that the underdog can be victorious at the by-election polls.
Dr Rollins served as president of the Bahamas Dental Association from December, 2004 to December, 2009. He is a founding member of the NDP, formed in October 2008.
January 29, 2010
tribune242
Thursday, January 21, 2010
The Elizabeth constituency by-election will be held on Tuesday, February 16, 2010
By KRYSTEL ROLLE ~ Guardian Staff Reporter ~ krystel@nasguard.com:
The by-election for the Elizabeth constituency will be held on Tuesday, February 16, Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham announced yesterday.
Speaking in the House of Assembly, Ingraham said the writ for the election will be issued today and nomination day will be Friday, January 29.
"We will come back to Parliament on the 24th day of February, 2010 to swear in a new member," he advised.
The Elizabeth seat became vacant when Progressive Liberal Party MP Malcolm Adderley resigned from the House of Assembly on January 6. He also resigned from the PLP.
Tax attorney Ryan Pinder is running on the PLP's ticket, while Dr. Duane Sands is the Free National Movement (FNM) candidate.
Following Ingraham's announcement yesterday, PLP leader Perry Christie expressed confidence in the opposition party's chances of winning the seat.
"I believe that I have offered an extremely talented and gifted young man in the person of Ryan Pinder," Christie told reporters outside the House of Assembly.
"I believe also that Ryan Pinder will prove to be a good representative if he is elected. So we are very confident on the basis of what we have seen in Elizabeth that this is the seat that we can win. We are going to be very, very aggressive in our campaigning in ensuring that people are able to resist the normal temptations and inducements that are given in a by-election and the pressure of the government when it brings it to bear in a by-election and that's what I spoke of last year."
Both major political parties have already jumped into election mode.
The PLP has held two rallies already in Elizabeth and both parties have started newspaper advertisement and radio commercials.
Christie admitted that the party would be challenged by the FNM.
"A by-election brings in special considerations where a government is able to move in, bring its entire government in and bring in a lot of pressure. We are ready for it and we will resist it and that's why I said, 'no retreat, no surrender.' I feel very, very confident about our chances in the Elizabeth constituency. I believe the people will give our candidate a fair chance."
Ingraham, who is the leader of the FNM, said the party should be the clear choice for Elizabeth constituents. However, he added that he isn't overly confident of the win.
"You're never confident in an election; it is determined by the people who vote. People don't like presumptuousness or arrogance. We are appealing to them to support us because we think we are the better of the two parties to represent them."
Ingraham added that the people of Elizabeth know who he is and who he represents.
"I'm reasonably comfortable that the people of Elizabeth would be responsive to our candidate. We think he is a very good candidate who has some hands that can be trusted," the prime minister said.
The FNM will hold four rallies in that constituency leading up to the by-election, Ingraham said.
Several other people have voiced their intention to run in the by-election.
Workers Party leader Rodney Moncur, United Christian Love Revolution Movement leader Godfrey 'Pro' Pinder, and Bahamas Democratic Movement (BDM) leader Cassius Stuart have confirmed that they will contest the seat.
Christie said he believes the election will define the tone for the general election whenever the prime minister calls it.
January 21, 2010
thenassauguardian
The by-election for the Elizabeth constituency will be held on Tuesday, February 16, Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham announced yesterday.
Speaking in the House of Assembly, Ingraham said the writ for the election will be issued today and nomination day will be Friday, January 29.
"We will come back to Parliament on the 24th day of February, 2010 to swear in a new member," he advised.
The Elizabeth seat became vacant when Progressive Liberal Party MP Malcolm Adderley resigned from the House of Assembly on January 6. He also resigned from the PLP.
Tax attorney Ryan Pinder is running on the PLP's ticket, while Dr. Duane Sands is the Free National Movement (FNM) candidate.
Following Ingraham's announcement yesterday, PLP leader Perry Christie expressed confidence in the opposition party's chances of winning the seat.
"I believe that I have offered an extremely talented and gifted young man in the person of Ryan Pinder," Christie told reporters outside the House of Assembly.
"I believe also that Ryan Pinder will prove to be a good representative if he is elected. So we are very confident on the basis of what we have seen in Elizabeth that this is the seat that we can win. We are going to be very, very aggressive in our campaigning in ensuring that people are able to resist the normal temptations and inducements that are given in a by-election and the pressure of the government when it brings it to bear in a by-election and that's what I spoke of last year."
Both major political parties have already jumped into election mode.
The PLP has held two rallies already in Elizabeth and both parties have started newspaper advertisement and radio commercials.
Christie admitted that the party would be challenged by the FNM.
"A by-election brings in special considerations where a government is able to move in, bring its entire government in and bring in a lot of pressure. We are ready for it and we will resist it and that's why I said, 'no retreat, no surrender.' I feel very, very confident about our chances in the Elizabeth constituency. I believe the people will give our candidate a fair chance."
Ingraham, who is the leader of the FNM, said the party should be the clear choice for Elizabeth constituents. However, he added that he isn't overly confident of the win.
"You're never confident in an election; it is determined by the people who vote. People don't like presumptuousness or arrogance. We are appealing to them to support us because we think we are the better of the two parties to represent them."
Ingraham added that the people of Elizabeth know who he is and who he represents.
"I'm reasonably comfortable that the people of Elizabeth would be responsive to our candidate. We think he is a very good candidate who has some hands that can be trusted," the prime minister said.
The FNM will hold four rallies in that constituency leading up to the by-election, Ingraham said.
Several other people have voiced their intention to run in the by-election.
Workers Party leader Rodney Moncur, United Christian Love Revolution Movement leader Godfrey 'Pro' Pinder, and Bahamas Democratic Movement (BDM) leader Cassius Stuart have confirmed that they will contest the seat.
Christie said he believes the election will define the tone for the general election whenever the prime minister calls it.
January 21, 2010
thenassauguardian
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Opposition Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Deputy Leader Philip ‘Brave’ Davis says the Prime Minister is “Dividing” The Bahamas
By ROGAN SMITH:
Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Deputy Leader Philip ‘Brave’ Davis says at a time when Bahamians should be united the prime minister is doing all in his power to divide The Bahamas.
During the PLP’s rally on Elizabeth Estates Park last night Mr. Davis said the country is in the midst of a serious economic crisis, its social fiber is under attack and its neighbour to the south – Haiti – has suffered a devastating earthquake.
"Brothers and sisters are in mourning. This country is headed in the wrong direction. We have serious issues with regards to our national security and all [Hubert] Ingraham has on his mind is dividing the people of this country," he said.
"[Mr.] Ingraham wants to take the focus off of his failures. He wants us to forget the thousands without jobs, without electricity and some with nothing to eat tonight. He wants you to forget your friends and family suffering tonight with no hope and no health insurance."
Mr. Davis said the Free National Movement (FNM) Government is running the country into the ground and remains clueless on how to deal with most of the country’s social ills.
He said The Bahamas needs PLP candidate Ryan Pinder – a noted tax attorney – in the government.
The Opposition was in the Elizabeth constituency last night drumming up support for Mr. Pinder in advance of next month’s by-election.
Mr. Davis urged Elizabeth constituents to send a message to the government that "enough is enough" and that they are tired with the government’s ineptitude.
Meantime, Mr. Pinder, who will go head-to-head with FNM candidate, Dr. Duane Sands, Bahamas Democratic Movement (BDM) Leader Cassius Stuart, attorney and United Christian Love Revolution Movement (UCLRM) member, Godfrey Pro Pinder and Workers Party Leader Rodney Moncur, suggested that he is not concerned about the competition.
"Some say they’ve got steady hands. Others want to take you in a new direction, but they don’t know where they’re going. Another says he wants to start a love movement. Well I need them all to know that last Tuesday night the PLP gave me the go ahead to continue a love affair with Elizabeth, and I know where we’re going, and together, we’re [going to] go all the way," he said.
"I want to submit tonight that Elizabeth has a clear choice in this by-election. The clear choice is to keep Elizabeth free and return a PLP candidate to the House of Assembly who will resist darkness and all its forms, avoid political temptation and be true and honest to his pledge to the people of Elizabeth."
He also urged constituents not to punish him for former Elizabeth MP Malcolm Adderley’s failures.
"The reception I have been getting on the ground as I move from house to house has been encouraging. As the PLP candidate, moving forward, I just want to appeal to you to please don’t beat me, or the party with Malcolm’s stick. The Progressive Liberal Party and Ryan Pinder are committed to you, and I am anxious to fill that vacant seat on your behalf so that you can have the kind of MP you need," he said.
"I spent my childhood with my dad (former Malcolm Creek MP Marvin Pinder) in Malcolm Creek, now Elizabeth. My parents serve as godparents to many in this constituency. Elizabeth is very much a part of my family. I know these streets. I know these houses. I know the concerns. I know the pains. I know the needs. I have been walking these avenues from when my father began his walk of faith with you almost 25 years ago."
Mr. Pinder said he is committed to small business development and the creation of a skills bank in the constituency.
January 20th, 2010
jonesbahamas
Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Deputy Leader Philip ‘Brave’ Davis says at a time when Bahamians should be united the prime minister is doing all in his power to divide The Bahamas.
During the PLP’s rally on Elizabeth Estates Park last night Mr. Davis said the country is in the midst of a serious economic crisis, its social fiber is under attack and its neighbour to the south – Haiti – has suffered a devastating earthquake.
"Brothers and sisters are in mourning. This country is headed in the wrong direction. We have serious issues with regards to our national security and all [Hubert] Ingraham has on his mind is dividing the people of this country," he said.
"[Mr.] Ingraham wants to take the focus off of his failures. He wants us to forget the thousands without jobs, without electricity and some with nothing to eat tonight. He wants you to forget your friends and family suffering tonight with no hope and no health insurance."
Mr. Davis said the Free National Movement (FNM) Government is running the country into the ground and remains clueless on how to deal with most of the country’s social ills.
He said The Bahamas needs PLP candidate Ryan Pinder – a noted tax attorney – in the government.
The Opposition was in the Elizabeth constituency last night drumming up support for Mr. Pinder in advance of next month’s by-election.
Mr. Davis urged Elizabeth constituents to send a message to the government that "enough is enough" and that they are tired with the government’s ineptitude.
Meantime, Mr. Pinder, who will go head-to-head with FNM candidate, Dr. Duane Sands, Bahamas Democratic Movement (BDM) Leader Cassius Stuart, attorney and United Christian Love Revolution Movement (UCLRM) member, Godfrey Pro Pinder and Workers Party Leader Rodney Moncur, suggested that he is not concerned about the competition.
"Some say they’ve got steady hands. Others want to take you in a new direction, but they don’t know where they’re going. Another says he wants to start a love movement. Well I need them all to know that last Tuesday night the PLP gave me the go ahead to continue a love affair with Elizabeth, and I know where we’re going, and together, we’re [going to] go all the way," he said.
"I want to submit tonight that Elizabeth has a clear choice in this by-election. The clear choice is to keep Elizabeth free and return a PLP candidate to the House of Assembly who will resist darkness and all its forms, avoid political temptation and be true and honest to his pledge to the people of Elizabeth."
He also urged constituents not to punish him for former Elizabeth MP Malcolm Adderley’s failures.
"The reception I have been getting on the ground as I move from house to house has been encouraging. As the PLP candidate, moving forward, I just want to appeal to you to please don’t beat me, or the party with Malcolm’s stick. The Progressive Liberal Party and Ryan Pinder are committed to you, and I am anxious to fill that vacant seat on your behalf so that you can have the kind of MP you need," he said.
"I spent my childhood with my dad (former Malcolm Creek MP Marvin Pinder) in Malcolm Creek, now Elizabeth. My parents serve as godparents to many in this constituency. Elizabeth is very much a part of my family. I know these streets. I know these houses. I know the concerns. I know the pains. I know the needs. I have been walking these avenues from when my father began his walk of faith with you almost 25 years ago."
Mr. Pinder said he is committed to small business development and the creation of a skills bank in the constituency.
January 20th, 2010
jonesbahamas
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Ryan Pinder is ratified as the PLP's Elizabeth nominee
tribune 242:
TAX attorney Ryan Pinder was ratified last night as the PLP's nominee for the Elizabeth constituency, setting the stage for what will be a hotly contested by-election beginning sometime early next month.
Carrying the PLP's banner up against the FNM's Dr Duane Sands, Mr Pinder beat out a number of other contenders within his own party to gain the nomination for the Elizabeth seat.
At 35 years of age, Mr Pinder was humbled last night to learn that he had gained the nomination, vowing that he would do all he could to bring the seat home to the Progressive Liberal Party and provide the representation that "the people" deserve.
Bahamas Democratic leader Cassius Stuart officially announced his intention to run next week.
January 13, 2010
tribune242
TAX attorney Ryan Pinder was ratified last night as the PLP's nominee for the Elizabeth constituency, setting the stage for what will be a hotly contested by-election beginning sometime early next month.
Carrying the PLP's banner up against the FNM's Dr Duane Sands, Mr Pinder beat out a number of other contenders within his own party to gain the nomination for the Elizabeth seat.
At 35 years of age, Mr Pinder was humbled last night to learn that he had gained the nomination, vowing that he would do all he could to bring the seat home to the Progressive Liberal Party and provide the representation that "the people" deserve.
Bahamas Democratic leader Cassius Stuart officially announced his intention to run next week.
January 13, 2010
tribune242
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
FNM hopeful Dr. Duane Sands aims to use Elizabeth as model for new healthcare system
By TANEKA THOMPSON
Tribune Staff Reporter
tthompson@tribunemedia.net:
POLITICAL hopeful Dr Duane Sands has a plan to revolutionise the public healthcare system, using the Elizabeth constituency as a model.
Dr Sands, a noted heart and vascular specialist, hopes to decentralise public healthcare by offering services at the Elizabeth Estates' public clinic comparable to those available at Princess Margaret Hospital.
He feels this initiative, if copied throughout the capital, would help to relieve some of the burden from PMH and allow for earlier detection of chronic diseases.
Healthcare, along with community concerns over unemployment, crime, traffic, and infrastructure issues are some areas Dr Sands hopes to address if he is successful in his bid to secure the Free National Movement's nomination for the Elizabeth constituency and wins the area's by-election race.
He said the people of Elizabeth have a myriad of concerns which he feels can be better addressed by a representative who has the weight and support of the Government behind them.
"With someone who is passionate and has the support of the government that many of these things will get done," he told The Tribune yesterday.
"I think we have an opportunity to make Elizabeth the model of healthcare delivery for the country. The model that exists in healthcare is very PMH centred we have to make healthcare community based. Starting from the model of that clinic (with) adjustments of staffing, equipment, (longer) hours of operation, diagnostics and therapeutic facilities now you have the situation where you can move the fight of disease out of PMH and move it into the community.
"And that is going to be the model needed to take healthcare where it needs to go," said Dr Sands, adding he hopes to work alongside Health Minister Dr Hubert Minnis on the initiative if elected.
The PLP won the Elizabeth constituency for two consecutive terms - albeit by a narrow margin in 2007 of just 45 votes - and Dr Sands sees himself as the "underdog" in the looming by-election race.
A virtual newcomer to the political arena, Dr Sands - who currently serves as Chairman of the Bahamas Medical Council, a Director of the Central Bank of the Bahamas and Chief of Surgery at the Princess Margaret Hospital - said his team plans to speak to every voter and "gain their trust".
Yesterday Speaker of the House Alvin Smith, who returned to the capital on Saturday from a conference in India, told The Tribune he had not yet notified Governor General Arthur Hanna in writing of the vacant seat in the House of Assembly.
Last Wednesday former Elizabeth MP Malcolm Adderley resigned from Parliament and the Progressive Liberal Party - setting the stage a by-election which is expected to take place next month.
By law, Mr Smith must instruct the Governor General of the vacancy after which an order will be made to hold a by-election and a date set.
On Sunday, the FNM announced that Dr Sands was unanimously elected by the Elizabeth Constituency Association as its preferred candidate.
Last night he was scheduled to face the scrutiny of the party's Candidates Committee and later the Executive Committee. If successful, Dr Sands is expected to be ratified as the FNM's official Elizabeth candidate on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the PLP is expected to formally ratify its yet unannounced candidate tonight. Attorney Ryan Pinder is rumoured to be the party's pick, although PLP Treasurer Craig Butler is also vying for the nomination.
Last week Bahamas Democratic Leader Cassius Stuart officially announced his intent to run.
January 12, 2010
tribune242
Tribune Staff Reporter
tthompson@tribunemedia.net:
POLITICAL hopeful Dr Duane Sands has a plan to revolutionise the public healthcare system, using the Elizabeth constituency as a model.
Dr Sands, a noted heart and vascular specialist, hopes to decentralise public healthcare by offering services at the Elizabeth Estates' public clinic comparable to those available at Princess Margaret Hospital.
He feels this initiative, if copied throughout the capital, would help to relieve some of the burden from PMH and allow for earlier detection of chronic diseases.
Healthcare, along with community concerns over unemployment, crime, traffic, and infrastructure issues are some areas Dr Sands hopes to address if he is successful in his bid to secure the Free National Movement's nomination for the Elizabeth constituency and wins the area's by-election race.
He said the people of Elizabeth have a myriad of concerns which he feels can be better addressed by a representative who has the weight and support of the Government behind them.
"With someone who is passionate and has the support of the government that many of these things will get done," he told The Tribune yesterday.
"I think we have an opportunity to make Elizabeth the model of healthcare delivery for the country. The model that exists in healthcare is very PMH centred we have to make healthcare community based. Starting from the model of that clinic (with) adjustments of staffing, equipment, (longer) hours of operation, diagnostics and therapeutic facilities now you have the situation where you can move the fight of disease out of PMH and move it into the community.
"And that is going to be the model needed to take healthcare where it needs to go," said Dr Sands, adding he hopes to work alongside Health Minister Dr Hubert Minnis on the initiative if elected.
The PLP won the Elizabeth constituency for two consecutive terms - albeit by a narrow margin in 2007 of just 45 votes - and Dr Sands sees himself as the "underdog" in the looming by-election race.
A virtual newcomer to the political arena, Dr Sands - who currently serves as Chairman of the Bahamas Medical Council, a Director of the Central Bank of the Bahamas and Chief of Surgery at the Princess Margaret Hospital - said his team plans to speak to every voter and "gain their trust".
Yesterday Speaker of the House Alvin Smith, who returned to the capital on Saturday from a conference in India, told The Tribune he had not yet notified Governor General Arthur Hanna in writing of the vacant seat in the House of Assembly.
Last Wednesday former Elizabeth MP Malcolm Adderley resigned from Parliament and the Progressive Liberal Party - setting the stage a by-election which is expected to take place next month.
By law, Mr Smith must instruct the Governor General of the vacancy after which an order will be made to hold a by-election and a date set.
On Sunday, the FNM announced that Dr Sands was unanimously elected by the Elizabeth Constituency Association as its preferred candidate.
Last night he was scheduled to face the scrutiny of the party's Candidates Committee and later the Executive Committee. If successful, Dr Sands is expected to be ratified as the FNM's official Elizabeth candidate on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the PLP is expected to formally ratify its yet unannounced candidate tonight. Attorney Ryan Pinder is rumoured to be the party's pick, although PLP Treasurer Craig Butler is also vying for the nomination.
Last week Bahamas Democratic Leader Cassius Stuart officially announced his intent to run.
January 12, 2010
tribune242
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