Hubert Minnis jumps again - before he was pushed!

Statement by the Leader of the Free National Movement (FNM) Party - The Hon. Dr. Hubert Minnis

Minnis has declared he will not run for the FNM leadership, nor will he allow his name to be placed in nomination!

At the end of November, the Free National Movement will hold a one-day convention to elect the Leader of the Party.  I will not nominate for the leadership nor will I allow my name to be placed in nomination.  I wish those who will contest for the leadership the very best.  

I will continue to serve in the House of Assembly as the Member of Parliament for Killarney.  I again thank the constituents of Killarney for their support since 2007 and during the recent general election.

As a former prime minister and in whatever role is assigned to me, I will support the work of the Official Opposition to advocate on behalf of the Bahamian people and to hold the Government accountable.

We remain in a deadly global pandemic.  I will continue to promote measures to save and to protect the lives and livelihoods of Bahamians, utilizing my experience in office and as a medical doctor.  I will never tire in advocating for the needs of the poor, the disadvantaged and the more vulnerable in our society.

It has been an extraordinary privilege to serve our country as prime minister and as a member of parliament.  I thank the Bahamian people and the members of the FNM for their support and encouragement.  I also thank the many well-wishers for their advice, prayers and assistance.

The Free National Movement has an extraordinary legacy, guided by the values of freedom, equality and opportunity for all.  At our 50th anniversary, there is much to celebrate as we renew our mission and embrace the future.

I have often spoken of the God of New Beginnings.  May God bless the FNM with wisdom, discernment and fortitude.  

And may God bless our Bahamas.

Hubert Minnis is the most incompetent and incapable opposition leader

The horrendous disaster of Dr. Hubert Minnis

By SIMON

In the estimation of a veteran political observer, echoing a chorus of public outrage, “The country is going to hell.” To many, if not most, the Christie administration is a basket case of wheeling and dealing and questionable contracts; gross incompetence, woeful neglect of basic issues; massive borrowing and spending with little tangible to show for it; and a plethora of nausea-inducing misdeeds aside inaction, delay and outright failure.

The sticker shock of VAT continues to trouble consumers and businesses, with growing alarm that the government will go on a spending spree rather than seriously address matters of debt and deficit.

The government has failed to reduce the murder rate despite having repeatedly promised to do so. There is dissension in the police force and the minister of national security is blaming the force for the government’s failures.

There is chronic unemployment, with unemployment having risen again under the PLP and the unemployment rate higher now than in May 2012 when the PLP returned to office.

From BAMSI to the BEC bidding process to all manner of untendered contracts, there are questions of how, where and why certain public funds are being spent, alongside an arrogant disregard for transparency and accountability. Various ministers have mastered the arts of cupidity and conflicts of interest.

Meanwhile much of the state is poorly or non-functioning with many public amenities unkempt; abysmal service from various agencies because of a lack of oversight; and a general malaise in much of the public sector. Things are going from very bad to much worse. The ill-conceived Junkanoo Carnival festival seems in disarray, haunted by all manner of pitfalls, a potentially expensive fete of dubious cultural or economic value.

Atop all this is an out-of-control Cabinet, giving new meaning to the “all for me baby” philosophy of misrule, farcically led by a globe-trotting prime minister too weak to control his Cabinet but who sees himself, incredibly, as “a defining prime minister”.

It is so bad that some audiences are mocking the prime minister, snickering when he speaks, unable to contain their contempt for and incredulity at his empty and stagnant rhetoric full of bluster and boisterousness signifying precious little to nothing.

It should be a field day for the official opposition. It is not. The opposition should have gained tremendous traction. It has not. This should be a banner year for the FNM. It likely will not.

Perry Christie is the most incompetent and incapable prime minister since the advent of Cabinet government. His saving grace: Hubert Minnis is the most incompetent and incapable opposition leader.

 

Narrative

In his bid to be elected FNM leader last November, Minnis and his forces spun a self-serving narrative that served him well. It was the whining narrative of the victim, a plea of self-pity that he hadn’t really been given a chance despite the obvious fact that he had been handed the leadership without a contest.

Despite the goodwill and help of many FNMs when he was chosen in 2012, a deeply insecure Minnis systematically alienated many who came to his aid. He had a convenient bogeyman, Hubert Ingraham, and bogeywoman, Loretta Butler-Turner, both of whom he demonized and conveniently used as excuses for his litany of failures which primarily account for the failure of the FNM to gain traction.

Though he was the major cause of disunity because of his secretiveness, insecurity bordering on paranoia, autocratic nature and non-collegial form of leadership, he convinced many that the source of disunity lay elsewhere. He excels at the politics of victimhood.

In order to seize greater control of the party he called a snap convention, ignoring certain constitutional procedures. Having won a convincing victory and with much of his slate in place, Minnis now had no more excuses. Curiously, soon after the convention one of his reputed supporters, veteran FNM Frank Watson, said something that surprised many. Watson warned that Minnis had six months to perform or there would be consequences.

After the November victory and the December lull has come the January disaster, with Minnis seemingly making a major blunder each week. If he’s this bad at the beginning of the year, the party will be in desperate straits as the months march on.

If many delegates believed that they elected a winner, they have been gravely disappointed. Some said that Minnis’ New Year’s address was one of his best. If that is the case, no wonder the party is in deep trouble.

During the convention campaign Minnis sought to make a virtue of his inability to master even the basics of the English language and grammar and to speak with some fluency.

 

Requirements

We are being asked to believe that one of the basic requirements of political leadership, to be nominally articulate and to speak coherently, are irrelevant. Dr. Minnis is not merely a disaster in terms of speaking. He is also clearly incompetent when it comes to thinking through the most basic policy ideas. Speaking is not his only problem. He’s not much of a thinker.

The New Year’s address was painful for many Bahamians to watch. It was clumsy, lacklustre and devoid of passion. It failed to inspire, an essential task for leaders.

To quote one senior media figure, “Not only did he seem incapable of reading much of the text, there were also questions of how much he understood what he was reading.” His bumbling address was the least of his problems.

Next came the disastrous march on the Bank of the Bahamas (BOB) and Christie’s subsequent assault on Minnis in the House of Assembly, both of which have been painful for FNMs.

Any view that an inarticulate leader who can’t think on his feet will easily be elected because of supposed other qualities was dismantled as Minnis sat helplessly and haplessly glued to his seat.

Minnis was warned not to have the ill-advised march, the failure of which, given his modus operandi, he might try to blame on others. The rationale for the march was questionable, especially given the more pressing issues over which the FNM may have marched including crime and the cost of living.

The numbers looked awful and FNMs were embarrassed. The new leadership of the party failed to organize a healthy crowd. What is, and should have been projected as, an effective issue against the government turned into a colossal blunder. Then came Christie’s withering assault on the opposition.

FNMs were embarrassed and horrified as Minnis sat shell-shocked and deflated, absolutely incapable of mounting a defense or countering Christie.

What makes this even more egregious is the reality that Minnis does not now nor will he ever have what it takes to be effective in the House of Assembly. No matter how many cue cards a leader is given, that leader has to be able to think on his feet in parliamentary debates. Minnis is barely able to get through a prepared text much less perform in debate.

 

Unavoidable

With several pieces of legislation having been debated in the House recently Minnis has been absent or has not spoken. If the idea is to avoid his risking exposure in terms of poor speaking ability, the opposition is courting disaster, as the necessity of his speaking on various matters is unavoidable. If he cannot speak without making a major blunder, there will be multiple disasters.

It is no wonder that a highly vulnerable Christie continues to deride Minnis, thanking his lucky charms that the latter is his main opponent, continually distracting from the PLP’s blunders.

Still in January Minnis created another seemingly monumental blunder in asking the politically attractive Heather Hunt to resign from the Senate. It may be a part of a brilliant move of which others are unaware, though, at the moment, this seems not to be the case, especially as Hunt is a rising star in the FNM and a high-profile female in the party.

Did Minnis inform all of his House colleagues about Hunt’s departure or were most of them blindsided, learning about the matter from other reports? Given his rationale for Hunt’s departure why was Senator Kwasi Thompson not also asked to resign? Was it a vindictive move and payback to Hunt who reportedly supported Long Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner in the leadership race?

Given his resounding victory in November and with his team in place, Minnis had an extraordinary opportunity to unify and reinvigorate the FNM going into a new year, especially given the state of the country and the depressing record of the PLP.

In the event, he called a conclave, an extraordinary meeting of the party, with a rich history in Bahamian politics. The party was to meet in special session to discuss critical issues relevant to the extraordinary times in which we are living.

After the Friday night opening session, Minnis arrogantly and dismissively absented himself from the conclave for all of Saturday, heading instead to Eleuthera to don a pharaoh’s crown and rush in a Junior Junkanoo evening parade leaving behind many in shock, including many who unwisely gave him a second chance to make even worse blunders. And we are only in January.

 

• frontporchguardian@gmail.com, www.bahamapundit.com.

January 29, 2015

thenassauguardian

Hubert Minnis and the Long Knives of the Free National Movement (FNM)

For the FNM, a familiar place

By Candia Dames
Guardian News Editor
candia@nasguard.com

In some respects, the Free National Movement (FNM) is back in a very familiar place.

After its election defeat in 2002, it was in near shambles.

Hubert Ingraham, who led the party to victory in 1992 and 1997, had gone into retirement, and the party’s new leader, Tommy Turnquest, not only found himself in opposition, but was also without a seat in the House of Assembly.

In that election, many former Cabinet ministers were sent into political retirement.

Turnquest’s dream of becoming prime minister in 2002 was shattered, along with the party’s efforts for a third consecutive victory at the polls.

Turnquest learnt quickly that the post-Ingraham era was a difficult place to be.

A diligent and focused worker, he kept the party together, attempted to chip away at the credibility and popularity of the new Christie administration, and tried to re-oil the FNM machinery to do battle again in 2007.

But by 2004, many in the party had accepted that Turnquest did not have what it would take to lead the FNM once again to victory. He was a difficult sell in 2002 and they felt it was likely he would be a difficult sell in the future.

Turnquest himself accepted that he needed help in determining what the FNM would have to do to return to the glory days and the seat of power.

The then FNM leader appointed an advisory council of the party, headed by former Deputy Prime Minister Frank Watson, to consider the steps the FNM needed to take to be considered a formidable force at the next election.

That council advised Turnquest that there are many FNMs who wanted him out and Ingraham back as leader.

Seemingly in denial at the course the FNM was on, Turnquest declared not long after that, “We in the FNM will not allow our political opponents to capitalize on make-believe issues in our party.”

Those “make believe” issues eventually led to another leadership change in the FNM in 2005. Hubert Ingraham was back and FNMs had renewed hope.

With the Christie administration already suffering from multiple blunders and scandals, Ingraham’s forceful leadership was the icing for a newly energized and freshly minted FNM, which set its sights on a return to government.

HUMILIATION

Today, the FNM is suffering from the same kind of lethargy and lack of focus it suffered under Tommy Turnquest.

Added to this is the fact that the party has lost the last three elections: The 2010 Elizabeth by-election, the 2012 general election and the 2012 North Abaco by-election.

Each was a humiliating defeat for the party. Elizabeth was the first dogfight that signaled major trouble for the FNM.

Though the PLP’s candidate Ryan Pinder only managed to edge out the FNM’s Dr. Duane Sands after going to Election Court, it was a major victory for the then opposition that remained ferocious and unrelenting in its assaults on the government throughout the FNM’s last term in office.

Unlike the PLP, the FNM does not now have the same kind of strength as an opposition force. Half of its team in the House is new to politics and its leader is still feeling his way.

Still reeling from the 2012 election blow delivered by Christie and his gold rush team, the FNM was unable to hold on to Ingraham’s former seat when a by-election was held last October.

The party’s candidate — Greg Gomez — became a laughing stock in some circles and caused major embarrassment for the FNM.

But some pundits opined that even with a stronger candidate, the opposition party would not have been able to convince enough North Abaco voters that there was anything substantial the FNM could do for them, no matter how much Ingraham urged them to stay red.

It was a throwback to 1997, when Sir Lynden Pindling’s former South Andros seat went with the governing party in the September 5 by-election.

It was after the North Abaco by-election defeat when Minnis declared, “The Ingraham era is over”.

It was a watershed moment for the FNM as Minnis dug his heels in and renewed his commitment to a new course for the party.

He has been off to a wobbly, lackluster start, but appears determined to stay the course even in the face of piercing criticisms from within and outside his party.

What Minnis has going for him at this point is there is no clear competitor for the leadership of the party.

And although some have become nostalgic and long for Ingraham’s return, there is no evidence that it is likely to happen or that it is even in the party’s best interest.

But it is early still.

Although Minnis won his seat in the House in 2012, the parallels between his leadership and Turnquest’s are striking.

Minnis was a standout MP between 2007 and 2012 in terms of his work and presence in his constituency. But he was also lucky to be in an area traditionally considered a “safe seat”, the boundary cuts notwithstanding.

With the party still demoralized from the 2012 loss to Perry Christie and the PLP, he is attempting to blaze his own path as leader while battling the forces within the FNM still loyal to Ingraham.

The political sport has thus far proven a struggle for him.

Minnis is having a difficult time commanding the respect of many within his party. Though a seemingly hardworking and organized leader, he is not a career politician, he suffers from grave political insecurity and he lacks a natural charismatic flair and style important for successful political leadership.

Many within and outside the FNM just don’t think Minnis has what it takes to be a strong leader.

One political observer recently quipped: “You can’t go to a dilly tree looking for juju.”

Another pointed out however that political victories are more often shaped by the mistakes of the governing party and its leader, than by the strengths of oppositions.

Minnis has sought to stamp himself as a strong and effective leader although his multiple positions on the gambling issue worked against this effort.

His big moment was his very public spat with House Speaker Dr. Kendal Major last month, which led to Minnis being suspended for two house sittings.

Minnis also played the role of whistleblower in the Cuban ‘abuse’ fiasco. Although he initially took a public whipping on the issue, he sought to maximize his political score after a report was leaked in which Defence Force marines admitted severely beating detainees at the Carmichael Road Detention Centre.

The leader’s new focus is finding someone to lead his party’s Senate team after the resignation of Desmond Bannister from the Upper Chamber.

Although Bannister and Minnis have both said the move was no surprise, some party insiders indicated that it was further evidence that confidence in Minnis’ leadership was eroding.

Bannister resigned with gracious tones, and even characterized Minnis’ leadership thus far as “outstanding” — a declaration some observers saw as laughable.

Bannister is the second senior FNM to resign from the Senate in under a year. Former Minister of State for Finance Zhivargo Laing did so last year, citing personal reasons.

Days after having Bannister’s resignation letter in hand, Minnis had still not made it public. The announcement was made in The Nassau Guardian as a result of a leak last Tuesday.

The letter was dated September 1, although it is understood that Minnis got it several days later as he was out of town.

Minnis said he had planned to make the announcement today and he said a new senator will be named by the beginning of October.

Given that Bannister’s resignation was no surprise to the FNM leader, one assumes he had a new senator in mind a while ago. The choice will undoubtedly be another former minister as the other members of the FNM’s Senate team are junior members of the party in terms of political experience.

LEADERSHIP

After his resignation was made public, Bannister urged FNMs against infighting, saying they have an opportunity to win the next election with Minnis as leader if they pull together.

“If the Free National Movement is to be the next government, people in the FNM have to understand that we can only have one leader at a time. We can only have one deputy leader at a time, and if you aspire to be leader, support them, make the organization stronger and then challenge them when the opportunity comes,” Bannister told The Nassau Guardian last Wednesday.

“But don’t continue to undermine them as some members have done and that is very, very important for an organization.

“Some of this undermining that I have seen and some of these attacks have been unwarranted. We need to support leadership. We need to be team players and as the church continues to tell you, you cannot be a leader unless you have been a follower at some stage.”

Minnis no doubt recognizes that for him the knives are out. And so he has had to try to balance his fight for his political life against his need to be an inclusive leader who listens to the views of all within his party, even those against him — and there are many.

Fortunately for the FNM, it has time to work on its leadership challenges.

Frank Watson, the former deputy prime minister, was instrumental in Ingraham’s 2005 return to party leadership.

Watson told National Review that Minnis should be given more time to prove his leadership abilities.

He recognized that the party’s leadership has a lot of work to do.

“The leadership is not projecting itself in a way that is attracting the attention of the general public and it is therefore not generating the kind of support that we are going to need if we are going to become a challenge to the PLP at the next opportunity,” Watson said.

“I think that those in leadership position first have to bring some cohesion to the leadership, that they’re all on the same page, singing the same song at the same time and that there’s a clear direction that the party is going in with respect to the issues that they are going to promote and a policy position of the party that they are developing to attract the attention of the voters.

“I have determined that Minnis should be given a clear shot and that clear shot should be between now and next year maybe this time to prove that he is capable of doing so.

“He’s not a natural politician, but I have seen any number of instances where if you have the drive, which he has, if you have the desire, which he has, and you reach out to those who can see more clearly the political landscape, you can do the job. The job can get done.”

But Watson thinks it would be a bad idea for FNMs to reach out to Ingraham for yet another return.

“Mr. Ingraham is my dearest friend, and I think he is one of the great leaders of our time, but everybody’s time comes to an end and the party has to find new blood. You can’t be regurgitating all the time,” Watson said.

“You’ve got to find new people to carry on in this new environment. I don’t encourage him at all. No; not at all. I think he’s done the best with what he had.”

He added, “If Minnis recognizes his political shortcomings and reaches out to find the means by which he could overcome those shortcomings, I think he could possibly lead us into the next election.”

September 16, 2013

thenassauguardian

Caribbean Blog International

Fire Fred Mitchell, says Opposition Leader Hubert Minnis call to Prime Minister Perry Christie

Minnis Calls For Christie To Fire Fred Mitchell Over Issue Of Cuban Detainees

Tribune242


OPPOSITION Leader Hubert Minnis has this afternoon called for Prime Minister Perry Christie to fire Foreign Minister Fred Mitchell from his Cabinet.

 

Speaking at a press conference at FNM Headquarters, Mr Minnis said: “It has become clear that Minister Mitchell has exhausted every ounce of credibility as Minister of Foreign Affairs.”

 

He called on the government to release a ‘full and unedited’ report of all investigations that have been conducted to date into Cuban detainees at the Carmichael Road Detention Centre.

 

He said: “The Minister of Foreign Affairs has not given a full and honest account of what took place at the detention centre on May 20, 2013.

 

“The FNM has been advised that several senior government officials and ministers became aware fairly early that a major instance of abuse had taken place.”

 

August 21, 2013

 

Tribune242

 

Caribbean Blog International

 

Hon. Dr. Hubert A. Minnis - Free National Movement (FNM) leader says that the gambling referendum is a "royal mess"... and that The Bahamas has once again become "A Nation for sale!" ... ...IF YOU DON'T KNOW, VOTE NO!

Free National Movement

Press Conference

Wednesday January 16th, 2013

Final Position on the Gambling Referendum

LISTEN ON YOUTUBE

January 16th, 2013

In a Press Conference held at the FNM Headquarters today, FNM Party Leader, Hon. Dr. Hubert A. Minnis stated that the referendum is a "royal mess" and that The Bahamas has once again become "A Nation for sale!"

Dr. Minnis has charged that the PLP government has made no reasonable efforts to answer the dozens of questions posed by the Free National Movement regarding the referendum, and that despite their stated position of no horse in the race, everything the Prime Minister has said has suggested otherwise. He said that the government has also failed to produce the draft regulations on gambling which were promised, but has instead kept the people in the dark.

Dr. Minnis: "Perry Christie is another Otis Redding, singing DREAMS, DREAMS DREAMS TO REMEMBER! The PLP sold a dream on mortgages, dreams on national health insurance, and dreams of employment. Perry Christie and the PLP, sold Dreams Dreams Dreams to remember!"

Dr. Minnis stated that the referendum process is being rushed and is flawed. In the absence of the necessary information, The Free National Movement party recommends that Bahamians vote NO on BOTH questions on the upcoming referendum.

IF YOU DON'T KNOW, VOTE NO!

LISTEN ON YOUTUBE

Official Opposition Leader - Dr. Hubert Minnis called on Prime Minister Perry Christie to find the “testicular fortitude” ...and make a decision with regards to the licensing of offshore oil drilling ...without having to “pass the buck” to the Bahamian people via a national referendum

Minnis Puts Ball In Plp Court Over Oil


By Tribune242


WITH the Bahamas Petroleum Company fulfilling all its required licence and regulatory obligations for another three year licence, FNM Leader Dr Hubert Minnis called on Prime Minister Perry Christie yesterday to find the “testicular fortitude” and make a decision with regards to the licensing of offshore oil drilling without having to “pass the buck” to the Bahamian people via a national referendum.

Highlighting that nearly 75 per cent of the Bahamian workforce is related to Tourism, Dr Minnis said that his party remains concerned about the prospects of BPC and the possible impact a spill in Bahamian waters would have on the nation’s number one industry.

“We have serious concerns about the environment and where are the regulations that would protect us if an accident were to occur. Where are the regulations with respect to how any proceeds from this venture would be handled? And what are we going to do with the money? That money, and that oil belongs to the people. It should be protected for future generations. And the people should have a say in what is done with it,” Dr Minnis said.

The Free National Movement’s leader also questioned whether or not Mr Christie ever returned the consultancy fees that he admitted receiving from BPC.

“We demand that the Government immediately disclose whether or not the law firm of Davis & Co. or any other law firm owned by a PLP cabinet minister or parliamentarian (still) acts on behalf of BPC.

“We remind Mr Christie that the most precious resources we have, apart from our people, are marine, touristic and fisheries resources. They should not be recklessly endangered, and the FNM will not permit potentially compromised decision-making, and lax regulatory oversight of oil drilling to compromise and endanger the well-being of Bahamian fishermen, hoteliers and communities,” Dr Minnis said.

With regards to the upcoming referendum on oil drilling, Dr Minnis challenged the Prime Minister to make up his own mind on the issue and act – and not pass the buck to the Bahamian public, as he, and his PLP party were elected to govern.

“Christie is revoking his responsibility to govern and is passing the buck. You were voted in to make a decision. So make a decision. You are vicitimizing people left, right and centre. You didn’t ask me about that. You can’t be a government of referendum. Being in government means you have to make decisions. He is copping out. I wonder if he has the testicular fortitude to make tough decisions,” he asked.

In fact, the FNM said that if Mr Christie and his government were so “frightened to lead” that they should hold a referendum on their governance thus far and allow the Bahamian people to vote on that.

“Have a referendum on whether or not we made a mistake in putting you there. If we vote ‘Yes’, then go,” he exclaimed.

September 11, 2012

Tribune 242

Caribbean Blog International

The Official Opposition Leader - Dr. Hubert Minnis on Prime Minister Perry Christie’s claim ...that the highly anticipated referendum on gambling hinges on a North Abaco by-election

Minnis Criticses Referendum Delay



By DANA SMITH
Tribune Staff Reporter
dsmith@tribunemedia.net



OPPOSITION leader Hubert Minnis hit back at Prime Minister Perry Christie’s claim that the highly anticipated referendum on gambling hinges on a North Abaco by-election.

Last week, Mr Christie said the referendum would take place before the end of the year but admitted that if former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham resigns his North Abaco seat, a bye-election would take priority over the referendum.

But Dr Minnis pointed out that Mr Christie had known of the impending by-election for some time.

The party leader hinted the Prime Minister could be hoping to use the by-election as an excuse if the government fails to deliver on its promise of a referendum by the end of the year.

“Prime Minister Christie always knew that Ingraham would have eventually resigned, so you could put the pieces together yourself,” Dr Minnis said.

“That’s nothing new to him – he knew that. He made the commitment that the referendum would be done by the end of this year. All I say is that he knew a resignation was coming (and) he also knew the date that it was coming.”

Last month, Mr Christie said the Bahamas can expect a referendum on the legalisation of gambling and a national lottery before the year is out.

He said a referendum is necessary to remove the “contradictions” that have led to gambling continuing to be illegal, yet widely practised and accepted.

He said this week: “If Mr Ingraham resigns it means that a seat is vacant and that at some point there will be a by-election.

“That takes priority over any referendum that I would hold, so in terms of calendar evens for the government we have to see how that calendar of events will be influenced by the declared intention to resign by Mr Hubert Ingraham.”

He added: “(The referendum) it’s on the table and it’s on the table for this year.”

The referendum has been met with criticism from several religious groups, including the Bahamas Christian Council, which reaffirmed its stance against gambling and any attempts to legalise the activity.

In public statements last month, council president Ranford Patterson maintained that the social consequences outweigh potential revenue for the government.

Meanwhile, in anticipation of the public vote, several number house owners have banded together to launch an educational campaign.

With reports of at least 16 independent number houses in new Providence alone, another six in Grand Bahama and a few spread throughout the Family Islands, it has been estimated that a national lottery could pump more than $190 million into the Bahamas’ economy annually.

July 16, 2012

Tribune242

Caribbean Blog International

Opposition Leader - Dr Hubert Minnis says: ...senior police officers are alarmed at the appointment of newly sworn in State Minister for National Security Keith Bell and fear operational interference

Police Alarm Over Bell Appointment



By KHRISNA VIRGIL

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

A NUMBER of senior police officers are alarmed at the appointment of newly sworn in State Minister for National Security Keith Bell and fear operational interference, Opposition Leader Dr Hubert Minnis said yesterday.

Dr Minnis made the remarks during his House of Assembly contribution.

The session not only rehashed the previous Ingraham administration's work while in office, but continued with proposals for the 2012/2013 budget.

Speaking of the reform brought to the Royal Bahamas Police Force by the FNM, Dr Minnis said his government had worked hard to revitalise the force from 2007 until the PLP won the general election on May 7.

"As I speak," he said, "a former officer who acted in an extraordinary and partisan political manner during the election campaign is now Minister of State in National Security. I hope we do not see one of the worst periods of politicisation of the police force in its history.

"I understand that a number of senior officers are alarmed at the appointment and fear operational interference."

Dr Minnis pointed out that when in opposition the PLP blamed every criminal incident on former National Security Minister Tommy Turnquest.

But, he said, this was unfair as crime is a societal problem and politicians on both sides are "in this together".

For this reason, Dr Minnis said, the FNM will not blame every criminal act on the new Minister of National Security, Dr Bernard Nottage.

However, he did warn that the Bahamian people will not forget the PLP's promise that Urban Renewal 2.0 will be the cure for all crime.

The public is watching the new government, he said.

"We in the FNM support any crime fighting initiatives that are constructive and curb the senseless bloodshed, but, Mr Speaker, we want accountability. We want to see the logic and tangibles that come with launching such a programme."

From the opposite end of the spectrum, Dr Minnis urged the government to return to the basics of crime fighting on the streets of New Providence.

"We can't talk about zero tolerance when individuals are breaking the traffic laws; when individuals in the west have problems sleeping because of noise pollution, because of licenses given to homes and business that have excessive noise.

"When we close an eye to that we close an eye to the criminals who feel that they have the right to proceed," Dr Minnis said.

June 13, 2012

Tribune242

Caribbean Blog International

...delighted today to have read the message of peace in this election season and beyond ...by the Free National Movement’s candidate for Killarney; the Hon. Hubert Minnis

By Dennis Dames

I was delighted today to have read the message of peace by the Free National Movement’s candidate for Killarney; the Hon. Hubert Minnis. He wrote about allowing calm heads to prevail this election season and beyond.

It’s a point worth repeating by all responsible politicians in the land, as the temperature is truly rising among the people across the political divide. I have never experienced such touchiness, itchiness, and angriness among Bahamians of different political perspectives in The Bahamas until now.

If things continue on this course, we could be in for something violently new in our electoral process; and it will be a direct reflection of our 21st century political leadership in The Bahamas.

Respect should always be our password; and with it – comes responsibility and love for one another. The political disrespect that seems to be out of control in our country today is a part of the wider disrespectful culture that’s slowly tearing us apart.

We cannot be serious about a prosperous future as one people, if we hate one another because - we support different political parties, or we see things differently.

If the invasive contempt for one another continues through the upcoming general election, then - what kind of results do we expect at the end of the day brothers and sisters?

Yes, the assault incident in Grand Bahama this weekend involving a candidate’s daughter, is one worthy of serious note and action. Nip it now or be sorry later.

I have noticed that so called responsible politicians and political leaders in our country are first concerned about winning by hook or crook. Well, Mr. and Ms. politicians, you all better change that outlook before you don’t become a victim of your distorted philosophy.

Let’s all watch and see who will follow Doctor Minnis of Killarney, and denounce all forms of violence in this election season and onwards; because only real leaders will do so.

Step up to the plate brothers and sisters who seek our vote.

Caribbean Blog International

The Bahamas is among a group of Caribbean countries that suffers from a nursing deficiency... ...Health Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis expects the nurse shortage to worsen

Health minister expects nurse shortage to worsen


By Krystel Rolle
Guardian Staff Reporter
krystel@nasgaurd.com

Nearly two years after a World Bank report named The Bahamas among a group of Caribbean countries that suffers from a nursing deficiency, Health Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis acknowledged that the problem still persists and will likely do so for years to come.

In fact, the problem has existed for so long that hospitals and clinics in The Bahamas have become accustomed to working with a shortage of nurses.

“We are going to be plagued with that problem for a long time. That’s not going to be solved by this government and that’s not going to be solved by the next,” Dr. Minnis told The Nassau Guardian yesterday.

“There’s a shortage not only in The Bahamas. It’s a shortage throughout the world. By the year 2015 the United States will be short by 250,000 nurses.”

He said this will place added stress on Caribbean countries as well as many other countries across the globe.

According to the study, 'The Nurse Labor and Education Markets in the English-speaking CARICOM -  Issues and Options for Reform', the region is facing a rapidly growing shortage of nurses as demand for quality health care increases due to an aging population, and high numbers of nurses emigrate, drawn by higher paying jobs in Canada, the UK and the USA.

Dr. Minnis said the problem is expected to get even worse in the coming years as Bahamian nurses will likely migrate to the United States where nursing jobs are readily available.

Pointing to the severity of The Bahamas' shortage, Dr. Minnis said The Bahamas has 26 nurses to every 10,000 people, while countries like the United States have 100 nurses per 10,000 people.

“We are short; that’s why we continue to address the issue by having students train through The College of The Bahamas. In addition to paying for their education, the government gives them a monthly salary. So we are doing all we can,” Dr. Minnis added.

The World Bank said in the coming years, demand for nurses in the English-speaking Caribbean will increase due to the health needs of the aging population.

To meet the demand for nurses in the English-speaking Caribbean, the report suggests Caribbean countries increase training capacity; manage migration; strengthen data quality and availability and adopt a regional approach.

But Dr. Minnis said there is not much more the government can do.

“Like physicians, with nursing there are a lot of new specialities and therefore as they arise you will continue to have shortages because they will move into the various specialties, which means that you may have deficiencies with the generalists and the specialty nurses.”

Jan 25, 2012
thenassauguardian

Caribbean Blog International