Your voice carries weight, Mr. Rick Fox

Most people don’t know how much courage it takes to speak honestly in The Bahamas

By Conchalay Conchalar

Rick Fox, let me speak to you directly.

I read your letter.  I studied every word.  And I want you to hear me clearly:

Bahamians who stand up for truth are rare… and you have joined that fight.

Your voice carries weight, Mr. Fox — not because of entertainment, not because of fame, but because you are speaking from a place of love, integrity, and concern for the very nation that raised you.

And let me tell you something that the public may not fully understand:

When a Bahamian with international influence speaks truth, it shakes the whole system.

Most people don’t know how much courage it takes to speak honestly in this country.   They don’t know the backlash.  They don’t know the pressure.  They don’t know how quickly people try to silence you the moment you step outside the script.

But you stepped out anyway.  And I respect that.

Rick, I am watching your journey carefully.  And I want you to know this:

Every time you speak… I amplify it.  Every time you write… I respond.  Every time you raise a point… I carry it around the world.

Because while many people know you from the NBA, or from Hollywood, or from the spotlight — the world I deal with is different.

I speak with people in Africa, Europe, the Caribbean, South America — people who don’t watch TV, who don’t follow celebrities, who don’t subscribe to systems.  They only pay attention to truth, justice, and people who defend their homeland.

And just like my environmental stance made my message global, your stance is now doing the same.

You are stepping into a new chapter — a chapter of purpose.  And let me say this directly, with no hesitation:

The Bahamas needs men who speak boldly.  The Bahamas needs men who carry integrity.  The Bahamas needs men who refuse to bow to political pressure.  The Bahamas needs men who speak for the people, not for the system.

Rick Fox — continue your journey.  Continue your voice.  Continue your stand.

Because the more you speak, the more I will lift your message.  And the more I lift it,

the more the world sees exactly what you stand for.

This is not entertainment.  This is not politics.

This is about the soul of a nation.  And you, my brother, have stepped into the arena.

Keep going.  The Bahamas is watching.  And the world is listening.

Source / Comment

The Bahamas Lack Political Leadership

Bahamians are losing out in their country, The Bahamas

Former Minister of National Security A. Loftus Roker says that The Bahamas need to get serious about its illegal immigration crisis

‘This country lacks leadership’

Roker worried Bahamians increasingly marginalized

By Candia Dames, Executive Editor of The Nassau Guardian

 

Former Minister of National Security A. Loftus Roker, who is still widely known for the tough stance he took against illegal immigration when he was minister responsible for immigration, said yesterday he remains concerned that Bahamians are losing out in their country, and lamented what he said is a lack of political leadership.

“When you have no more country, you see where you can go and claim anything,” said Roker, who was asked his views on the controversy surrounding the release of a large group of Chinese nationals found at the British Colonial Hotel without any legal status in The Bahamas earlier this year.

Minister of Immigration Keith Bell has said it was “unnecessary” to transport them to the Carmichael Road Detention Centre, where individuals found to be in The Bahamas illegally are held.  According to Bell, the “irregularities” found at the work site “were expeditiously cured by the employer”.

Roker warned, “All I say is one day Bahamians will find we don’t have our own country.  That’s what I’m worried about.

“The country lacks leadership.  Imagine you had dozens of Chinese without work permits here.  How the hell did they get here? … How did we allow them to land?  We trying to fool ourselves.  We don’t have any leadership.  If you had leadership, you’d know what’s going on.  But what we are doing is keep postponing our problems.  That’s what we’re doing.”

Details surrounding how the Chinese nationals got in The Bahamas and whether they still are currently in country are unknown as Bell nor any other authority has yet to thoroughly explain the matter.

Meanwhile, it is understood that in Progressive Liberal Party circles there is widespread concern over the political impact the controversy ensnaring the immigration minister could have.

Roker wished not to comment directly on a statement made by Director of Immigration Keturah Ferguson in a correspondence to Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Labour and Immigration Cecilia Strachan that “it also appears that the expatriate has more rights in The Bahamas than Bahamians”, but he said, “One thing for sure, we don’t believe in Bahamians.  Anybody else better than us.  All I’m saying is we lack leadership.”

Ferguson’s correspondence was sent a day after the Chinese were ordered released not long after the immigration exercise was conducted.

As reported in the media on Monday, Ferguson said in her correspondence that immigration officials received a directive from Bell to have the immigration officers stand down on the operation and that any breach will be remedied the following day.

Even as the firestorm over the immigration matter – including Bell’s swearing in of a family as citizens of The Bahamas during a funeral service last month – builds, Prime Minister Philip Davis has remained silent, with his office saying only that the facts are being gathered in respect of the various immigration issues at hand.

Meanwhile, a purported report to an immigration superior from the immigration officer who oversaw the January 17 exercise at the British Colonial was circulated on social media yesterday.

According to the document, only three of the 65 Chinese nationals found at the hotel were able to produce passports or identification for immigration officials, while all others claimed they had no passports in their possession and were unable to contact the people who may have them.

“On arrival at the hotel, we observed lighting and clothing hung in the windows of some of the rooms.  Shortly thereafter, we noticed an Asian male in the window of one of the rooms,” the document states.

“Based on this, we approached the security officer and advised him of our suspicions.  The officer attempted to obstruct us from entering the building and checking the status of the individual, therefore, I advised him under extreme caution that I was prepared to arrest him for obstruction and continued the execution of my duties.

“The officer then removed himself from the entrance and I instructed the officers to search the first floor of the building.”

The officer wrote, “In the initial search, the officers reported a total of 10 persons, but, after a more intense search, we were able to gather approximately 65 Chinese nationals.

“All subjects were asked to produce their passports and any other evidence of legal status.  Out of the 65 subjects, only three were able to produce passports or identification.

“All of the others claimed they had no passports in their possession and [were] unable to contact the persons who may have them.”

While he did not delve into the details emerging in relation to the various immigration controversies, Roker said yesterday there’s a need for The Bahamas to get serious about its illegal immigration crisis.

Source 

Haiti Crisis and Its Impact on The Bahamas

Haiti Crisis and Its Impact on The Bahamas Relationship 

Bahamian Diplomats extracted from Haiti

Statement from The Bahamas Ministry of Foreign Affairs

January 27, 2023 -The ministry is able to confirm that this morning all seven Bahamian diplomats, including the spouse of the Chargè d"affaires were airlifted out of Port au Prince by helicopter and have landed safely in the Dominican Republic.

The prime minister has expressed his deep gratitude and highest consideration to the President of the Dominican Republic Luis Abinadar and the Foreign Minister of the Dominican Republic Roberto Alvarez for the execution of this process.

The diplomats are likely to proceed home shortly.

What about a Domestic Agenda, Mr. Prime Minister?

“Global Warming!"

There needs to be a true plan of action if real change is to take place in our country - The Bahamas. We need new ways of diversifying our economy so the trickledown effect can become a reality. Innovation needs to be the order of the day. A new day must include not just the Bahamian elites, but every Bahamian as a whole

By: Dr. Kevin Turnquest-Alcena

LLB (Hon-1st Cl.), LLM (Hon-1st Cl.)

PhD in Economics / Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology

Ph.D. in Public Health / PhD in Herbal and Holistic Medicine

Titular Professor

Lawyer & Fellow—FCILEx; ACIArb; & Snr. Fellow–AMLA

“Some say the planet is sick and humans are the virus, it is undeniably we as a species have destroyed this beautiful planet at an alarming rate. Putting aside global warming and climate change, no species is as greedy as the human race, we take more than we need and leave a trail of destruction.”

Global warming! Climate change! Melting glaciers! Rising sea levels! Sinking lands! Eroding coasts! The world is in a panic; fear of the future like the resounding roar of a lion! Scientist predicting a bleak, dark and uncertain tomorrow. It has been said that by 2100 the sea levels would have risen up to 70%, thus being the catalyst for the loss of many coastal regions.

With that said, God has a divine plan for man and this earth He created. He is the God, the Chronos and the Kairos time and because He supersedes time, He controls everything. Genesis 9:11 states, "And I will establish my covenant with you, neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there anymore be a flood to destroy the earth." Man does not have the capacity to comprehend God or the things He does and thus can never predict the outcome of one's future.

With that being said, it cannot be denied that the drastic effects of climate change have resulted in many countries looking for an outlet to reduce their carbon fingerprint. As a result, a country like Denmark has committed to offering 13.4 million dollars to developing nations damaged by climate change. This excessive damage has resulted in the concept of carbon credits. Carbon credits are carbon allowances giving a company permission to generate 1 ton of CO2 emissions.

Prime Minister Davis, stated that, "We intend to be the first country to offer Blue Carbon Credits... It creates for the first time a framework to compensate The Bahamas for the significant role we play as a carbon sink." However, one must ask, Mr. Prime Minister, will we really receive the compensation being suggested? How will this affect the environment? If you, sir, are truly depending upon other countries to compensate this country, good luck! Like Jeremiah 17:5 “Thus the Lord. Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord."

However, Mr. Prime Minister, while a global agenda is great! The burning questions still remain. What about a domestic agenda? What does your manifesto say in regard to the National debt? How does a $4.2 million dollar travelling budget eradicate the mounting debt? Could not this money have been spent on developing a program focused on decreasing unemployment? May I remind you sir that next June over 5,000 students leaving school, with only 20% going to college. What happens to the other 80% that will be looking for work?

Moreover, what plan is in place to assist those students that are educated yet having difficulty obtaining gainful employment as citizens in their own country? Although it is good to help those that have no options or talents, helping those that do will be an asset.

There needs to be a true plan of action if real change is to take place in our country. We need new ways of diversifying our economy so the trickledown effect can become a reality. Innovation needs to be the order of the day. A new day must include not just the elites, but everyone as a whole.

“Mother earth is crying. We humans have done enough damage and still can’t open our eyes. We are so arrogant that we convince others that we have to save the earth, but earth’s real cancer is human’s behavior. We have to put our ego and arrogance aside and take some serious and strong steps to protect ourselves and our future, or will have to be ready to die sooner or later.”

November 19, 2022 

Source/Comment

Stem Cell Therapy Industry Launched in The Bahamas

NASSAU, The Bahamas -- Prime Minister, the Right Hon. Perry G. Christie, delivers a speech during a ceremony marking the official launch of the Stem Cell Therapy Industry in The Bahamas.  The event was held on Wednesday evening, January 14, at Melia Nassau Beach Resort.  In 2013 the government passed the Stem Cell Research and Therapy Act 2013; and in 2014 the Stem Cell Research and Therapy Regulations were officially brought into force.

According to the Prime Minister, the experts involved in the newly introduced industry will ensure the highest professional standards and best practices in this highly sophisticated biotechnology industry.  Mr. Christie said that it is expected that with the introduction of this industry, The Bahamas would attract clients (patients) from many different geographical territories with the potential development of a significant associated Medical Tourism component.  (BIS Photo/Peter Ramsay)

January 15, 2015

Bahamas.gov.bs

CUBA-US RELATIONS: TIME WAITS FOR THE BAHAMAS NO MORE

By Gilbert Morris:

 


Actually, time never had time for us because we are too wasteful. Now, after all this time, in what state are we to face whatever blows in from this Cuban-American possibility? Whatever comes has already happened. It is the realisation of what it has done and will do to us that will come slowly; because we will be in our habit of denial for decades to come. You should note that the in the Bahamas, there has not been a significant investment from an American investor in 25 years.

The analysis on us is that The Bahamas is where investments go to die. We had our chance 30 years ago. And when our mojo was lost, we responded by saying "Its Better in The Bahamas", even as we erected further impediments to good investment. And as usual, we will not innovate to meet the challenge caused by our venality, self-indulgence and plain stupidity. Instead, our cronyocracy will act to snatch every opportunity to reduce potential broad economic activity to personal 'fee collection'.

They will not respond with strategies to correct decades of slothfulness. Instead they will react to protect their personal hides; sighing that our shrinking economic prospects is from the impacts of "globalisation". They will send itinerant fools to evangelise this nonsense and our people, (swaddled with bad education, holding politicians high with such 'messianic fervour' that a basic job is now a political favour ), will prove unable to be that check in democratic terms, to force their hopes for, or vision of themselves upon those who presume to govern them.

Soon the offices of the state will be used openly to secure personal advantages against any striving Bahamian with ambition. These forebodings are not unique to The Bahamas. This is the road to the death of prosperity and the result of cronyist lackeynomics, poor education and societal malaise that fuels the engine of criminality that ensures the efficient destruction of generations upon generations.

It is the result of decades of bumptious tomfoolery and convoluted excuses masquerading as a concept of life. In one real sense Cuba has already 'eaten our lunch'. A nation under a half century embargo by the largest economic power in human history and yet, they surpassed us in tourism - an industry we pioneered - a decade ago, and, disgracefully - we are sending our students to them for education.

Our country does not appear on a single world leading benchmark. (Oh dear, I made an error. We have amongst the highest homicide rates in the world. I do not wish to diminish our accomplishments). Our Ministers of the cloth cling to every vice as the nation rots; the lights are on in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan and we cannot keep power in Nassau; a city named after the Prince of the most efficient country in the world; our young people wail concerning the incompetence of their governments, only to find their governments, which do not have time for governing, with all the time in the world to counterattack them for expressing their fears; we have placed our entire birthright in the future value of beachfront property, which is more likely to lose value in the next 20 years; we are capitulating to join a trade organisation - the responsibilities of which will increase red tape and the slow pace of governance processes - when our greatest economic opportunity in 50 years is in services; our government Ministers are trading on their positions in the very face of the public, whilst imposing draconian rules to punish poor Bahamians for failing to meet tax obligations they themselves have not met, despite a stranglehold on the nation's resources through their crony networks. What of vision and the future?

I wrote in 2012 that the Bahamas and Cayman Islands should be to Cuba what Singapore is to China. But of course, we are too busy busting up, shoving down and undermining fellow Bahamians - under two lunacies called PLP and FNM - as we run down our true potential for deals like Baha Mar, or pursing foolishness such as VAT, WTO and rescuing Bank of The Bahamas. As usual, we will have convenient excuses...even where none are possible. And we will twist ourselves as if in the Exuma wild oceans currents, to explain our only resilience: wutlessness as worthfulness.

Gilbert Morris - FaceBook

The Bahamas supports the movement to end the United States embargo against Cuba

Christie courts Cuba partnership

By K. QUINCY PARKER
Guardian Business Editor
quincy@nasguard.com

The Bahamas affirmed its support for a move to end the United States embargo against Cuba, as the heads of state of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and Cuba adopted the Declaration of Havana on Monday at the close of the fifth CARICOM-Cuba Summit.

Prime Minister Perry Christie asserted that CARICOM and Cuba have always been able to overcome challenges and to develop strategies for mutual advantage.

“In fact, our forty-one years of diplomatic relations have been markedly fruitful as a result of functional cooperation in the areas of health, education, sports, culture, agriculture, disaster management, energy and construction,” Christie said, addressing the summit in Havana on Monday.

“We must continue to support each other in international fora, always providing reciprocal support for our initiatives, whether it is in advocacy for the rejection of any blockade against Cuba; support for the reclassification of middle income economies; negotiations for a strong post-2015 agenda that favors small island developing states; support for Cuba’s leading role in the CELAC process; and support for candidacies for election or appointment to multilateral bodies,” he said.

The prime minister said that The Bahamas and Cuba must continue dialogue on facilitating joint ventures in the tourism industry, particularly in concretizing the concept of multi-destination marketing initiatives and packages.

“This would surely make our region more competitive with other regions in the global tourism market,” he said.

Noting that transportation is key to national and economic development and the travel routes of both countries’ national carriers, Christie said Bahamasair and Cubana need to be further expanded to facilitate tourism, travel and international trade.

“The Bahamas, like Cuba, is also interested in seeking out new strategic partnerships for investment in renewable energy; partnerships that will facilitate access to new capital, more efficient technologies and new markets,” he said.

Christie also welcomed ongoing progress towards the finalization of a CARICOM-Cuba trade agreement, and said that at a bilateral level, negotiations for two Bahamas/Cuba Agreements for Cooperation in Animal Health and Plant Health are now well advanced.

Those issues and more were enshrined in the Declaration of Havana adopted on Monday, wherein CARICOM and Cuba committed to strengthen South-South cooperation as an expression of solidarity and the promotion of bilateral and regional programs as well as triangular cooperation for development.

In the declaration, heads of state - citing the cooperation between Cuba and CARICOM in health, the development of human resources, construction and sports - reiterated a commitment to continue promoting social initiatives as well as the implementation of projects to improve air and sea infrastructure and connectivity, and to broaden economic and trade relations through the implementation of the revised trade and economic cooperation agreement between CARICOM and Cuba.

The declaration also hails progress in the negotiations to expand market access and improve economic cooperation under the trade and economic cooperation agreement. Heads of state noted a desire to conclude negotiations by the end of the second quarter of 2015.

December 10, 2014

thenassauguardian

Go to Haiti instead of The Bahamas Ms. Daphne Campbell

By Dennis Dames:

I have been following the illegal immigration debate in our beloved country with great interest.  I was moved to provide my views on it in writing after hearing Ms. Daphne Campbell, Democratic member of the Florida House of Representatives give her take on the matter.

Like so many Haitians and those of Haitian descent, Ms. Campbell wants to dictate immigration policies to the Bahamian Government.  She sounded crazy when she said: The Bahamian government officials have one week to apologise and reverse the new policies, or she will travel here with a delegation to address them face-to-face.

Ms. Campbell needs to travel to Haiti instead of The Bahamas to insist to the Haitian Government and people there that they need to plug the illegal migration of Haitians from Haiti.  There is where the outrage should be Ms. Campbell.

For too long the government of Haiti and the elite Haitians have turned a blind eye to the pressing and vexing matter of illegal migration from its shores.  The Bahamas has been delinquent in dealing vigorously and effectively with illegal immigrants for too long.  It’s about time that we restore law and order in our land, and addressing the illegal immigration issue is a major component in our crime fight.

It’s illegal and immoral Ms. Campbell, for illegal Haitians in particular – to feel that they and their children have rights to be citizens in a country where they have entered illegally and have babies galore.  It’s utter madness.

So, instead of advocating the boycott of The Bahamas by all and sundry Ms. Campbell, you should let Haitians leaving Haiti illegally know that they should boycott The Bahamas on their way north and join you in Florida.  That’s a better proposition.

The National Insurance Board (NIB) and the growth and development of the modern Bahamas

In its 40 Years, NIB has Fueled National Growth

By Gena Gibbs:


NASSAU, The Bahamas – In his address of the National Insurance Board’s 40^th Anniversary Church Service at Evangelistic Temple on Sunday, Minister of Labour, National Insurance and the Public Service, the Hon. Shane Gibson illustrated the significant role NIB has played in the overall growth and development of The Bahamas.

He expounded saying, “we’ve not only assisted with the benefits paid to contributors, we’ve assisted in building dozens of clinics all over The Bahamas.  We’ve assisted in constructing many Government facilities.  We’ve assisted with unemployment benefits.  And we are now on the way to introducing a National Health Insurance scheme, which would mean universal healthcare for all Bahamians, throughout the length and breadth of The Bahamas.”

Acknowledging the significant milestone of 40 years, Minister Gibson said: “We pause to reflect on and access the National Insurance Board as an Institution, as a movement, and as a foundation pillar of our modern Bahamas.”

NIB was created to administer the country’s social security programe, and first opened its doors on October 7, 1974.   Minister Gibson outlined its history and development since then, noting that Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Perry Christie, also present at the service, was the third Minister of National Insurance, and among the first Ministers appointed to National Insurance during the period of 1977 to 1982, just three years after the program was introduced.

Mr. Gibson stated: “In the historical context of The Bahamas, this was the immediate post Independence period when expectations in the social, economic and political context were very high.  It was a time when the Government of the Bahamas had to be seen to be delivering on the promises and aspirations that drove the movement to Independence.

“But as history has proven, time and again, political freedom gained from a struggle is not an end in itself, but rather a means to an end.  In The Bahamas, we dreamt of and aspired to education for all of our people, access to basic healthcare, non-discrimination in employment opportunities, and social mechanisms that would allow and give us some measure of dignity when things become rough, and a normal means to earn an income uninterrupted.”

Minister Gibson said that to its credit, the Bahamas Government had seen the need for a comprehensive system of social security, and a small group of persons in The Bahamas was charged with developing a social security scheme that would provide some acceptable form of income replacement for workers of the country, and their dependents, from the cradle to the grave.

“And this work was completed with the passage of the National Insurance legislation in 1972.  I think the point of then and now would best illustrate the phenomenal growth of the scheme.  At the start of the various programs under the National Insurance, short-term benefits were paid at a maximum rate of $54 per week, long-term benefits were paid at a rate of $26 per month, and funeral benefits, one-time payment, was $200,” said Minister Gibson.

“Old age, non-contributory pension, which was paid when insufficient or no contributions had been made, was $26 per month.  At the end of its first three years, National Insurance had collected some $58 Million in contributions; had paid out over $6 Million, as Benefits assistance; and had a reserve fund of some $52 Million.

Minister Gibson said that no one at the time could imagine how significant NIB would grow to become over the years.

“Today, in contrast to its humble, but ambitious beginnings, NIB at the end of its last financial year 2013 had accumulated reserves of some $1.6 billion.  Its contribution income for the same year was reported at $229 million.  While its benefits expenditure for 2013 was some $222 million,” said Minister Gibson.

“It also realized an investment of some $86.3 million during the period.  Additionally, maximum monthly long-term benefits and weekly short-term benefits payments have increased on average of 63-fold and seven-fold respectively, since 1972.” 

For its achievements, Minister Gibson congratulated the employees of NIB, “in particular those long serving employees who would have made a significant contribution over the years.  And even though persons may say they were well rewarded, I can tell you they have made many sacrifices in making sure that you get the quality service that you do get from NIB.  And so we thank them and we congratulate them.”

Minister Gibson then introduced Prime Minister Christie as one of the most socially conscious Prime Ministers in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas over the last 40 years, who has been there from the beginning and like NIB, is also celebrating 40 years serving the Bahamian people.

Senior Pastor, Rev. Dr. Vaughan Cash welcomed NIB Board members, executive management, honourees, and staff attending the service to launch National Insurance Week.

October 07, 2014

Bahamas.gov.bs

NO to same-sex marriage in The Bahamas!

Poll: 90% opposed to gay marriage

By TRAVIS CARTWRIGHT-CARROLL
Guardian Staff Reporter
travis@nasguard.com

There is no public support for same-sex marriage in The Bahamas, according to the data from a scientific opinion poll conducted earlier this year.

The results, compiled long before debate began over whether one of the four proposed constitutional amendments will open the door for same-sex marriage, show that only a small percentage of people support gay marriage in The Bahamas.

The controversial bill would make it unconstitutional to discriminate against someone based on sex.

The poll was conducted in January by Public Domain, a local market research and opinion polling company.

The results show that 86.5 percent of respondents strongly oppose same-sex marriage; four percent somewhat oppose it; 3.7 percent somewhat support it; 3.1 percent strongly support it and 2.8 percent did not answer.

Researchers polled 575 people, a respectable sample size for the country’s population, according to Public Domain President M’wale Rahming.

“Normally, what we do when we poll is we poll conversations that are being had in barber shops and beauty salons and in restaurants on Saturday mornings, in an effort to figure out where people are on this,” Rahming said yesterday.

“Nobody is interested in this.  This is not a conversation that is being had.  It is not a national conversation and nothing is being discussed about this.

“This is not an issue in The Bahamas.

“It is a non-starter.  There is no movement for this.  There is no significant group that is pulling for this.  There is no substance behind it, meaning they haven’t captured a segment of the market.”

He added that “no segment of our society is asking for this”.

“Not even gay people in The Bahamas are clamoring for this,” Rahming said.

“So this is not something that we are talking about as a nation, other than on the talk shows and in politics and on the news.”

Victor Rollins, of Vic’s Communications, who recently organized a gay pride event in Freeport, Grand Bahama, recently said that members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community are not pushing a gay marriage agenda.

“Frankly, for all the married gay persons who are married and living here, they went and got married and came back and are enjoying their life,” he said.

“Those who want to get married will get married and live happily ever after. It’s no real issue.”

Rahming said he was surprised that people were equating the issue of gender equality to same-sex marriage, stating “there is no link there”.

Although the poll is from January, Rahming said it represents a non-reactionary position.

“I would venture to say, if we were to poll today, the number would be higher simply because we have all this media talk about it,” he said.

September 09, 2014

thenassauguardian

The first confirmed case of Chikungunya virus in The Bahamas

MOH Officials Move To Fight Chikungunya Virus

By Jones Bahamas:

In light of the country’s first reported case of the Chikungunya virus, the Ministry of Health (MOH) has teamed up with the Department of Environmental Health in an attempt to combat the further spread of the disease.

Director at the Department of Public Health Dr. Pearl McMillan told the Bahama Journal Monday that both the MOH and Environmental Health officials have been taking initiatives to stop the virus from progressing throughout the country.

“We are working with our partners in Environmental Health, and they are also promoting that individuals in communities do the necessary vigilance as it relates to preventing the proliferation of the mosquito,” she said.  “We do not want to have a situation where we have more cases.  Environmental Health has already started doing the spraying and they also do the water treatments.  That has been ongoing.

“We work with them regularly; we do not wait until we have a case.  Once we have a suspect then we inform them and then they go out and do the necessary activities that will assist in preventing the breeding of mosquitoes.”

The MOH, in a press release issued over the weekend, documented the first confirmed case of Chikungunya in The Bahamas.

“The case occurred in an adult visitor who travelled to The Bahamas from the Dominican Republic on June 29, 2014,” the report read.  “His symptoms reportedly began the day before travel to The Bahamas.

“He was seen at the Princess Margaret Hospital on June 30, 2014 and was subsequently tested.  A confirmed positive test was received on July 4, 2014.”

The report went on to say that the patient had been treated and was recovering well.

Dr. McMillan confirmed that there has only been one confirmed case to date, meaning that the presence of the disease does not mean that there is an outbreak.  She did say that in light of a startling new revelation regarding the disease’s carrier, the Aedes Aegypti mosquito, persons definitely need to take preventative measures.

“This mosquito lives around the house,” she said.  “It’s not like other types of mosquitoes that you have to go out into the bushes and into the wild.  This mosquito is a house bound mosquito.  So we urge individuals and communities to work with us as we seek to prevent having any additional cases.  This one case was imported, and we are hoping that we have zero additional cases.

Chikungunya was first reported in the Caribbean on December 6, 2013.  To date, 22 countries in the Caribbean have reported confirmed cases.

July 08, 2014

Jones Bahamas

Tamara Van Breugel on Value Added Tax (VAT) in The Bahamas

Citizens Must Unite To Be Heard In The Vat Debate

MY NAME is Tamara van Breugel and I am a citizen of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas.  I am a young working mother, my family owns a small business in the city, and I strongly believe there are responsible alternatives to VAT.

First of all let me say that I am by no means an expert on economic theory or taxation, I am not a representative of any political persuasion, and I have no special interest ties other than a special interest in the growth and prosperity of The Bahamas and of every Bahamian man, woman and child.

The Nassau Institute has kindly granted me a few moments in tonight’s programme to share with you my personal thoughts on VAT, and I am extremely grateful for their kindness.

Over the months since the announcement of the imposition of VAT I like many of you here tonight have been following the news media, scouring the internet and attending various speaking forums to better understand this new tax proposal.

In my research I have learned a few important things:

Our nation, has over many decades and successive administrations become excessively burdened by debt.  Our national debt is projected to exceed the $5 billion mark by the end of this fiscal year.  This is the equivalent of 61.5 per cent of our gross domestic product and nearing a danger zone of 70 per cent debt to GDP ratio.

Governments have not been effective in collecting existing taxes or in safeguarding public funds from waste and mismanagement.

The 2010 / 2011 auditor general report illustrates some of these collection gaps, identifying:

• 5,980 cargo manifests that had not been presented to Bahamas Customs for clearance

• $95 million in real property taxes went uncollected taking the total sum outstanding to $541.886 million

• $302,866 of unpaid fuel from the Ministry of Works

In the 2014 /2015 fiscal budget subsidies have been allocated as follows:

• $20 million to subsidise Bahamasair

• $20 million in subsidise to Water and Sewerage

• $7 million to the Bahamas Broadcasting Corporation

... Ok, you get the point.

The Bahamas is preparing for ascension to the Wold Trade Organisation by the end of 2014.  As a part of this process The Bahamas must commit to dramatically reducing import tariffs.  The expectation could be for an average peak tariff of approximately 15 per cent.  Down from the current average of 55 per cent.

To avoid the potential ill effects of a credit risk rating downgrade the government has determined that a Value Added Tax mechanism would be the best option to help our nation combat the double-edged sword of a swelling deficit and the need to reduce the revenue from tariffs.

And on top of that the government believes a swift implementation is required to steer us off the path of economic failure.  The increased revenue goal with the implementation of Value Added Tax is $200 million.

And so this in a nutshell defines the events that lead to us all being in this room tonight.

Early on when the idea of VAT was being mentioned I did not know much about it but I did recognise that for better or worse, this tax was destined to be the most significant adaptation our modern economy has ever seen.  I also started asking myself some basic questions like, what is this tax?  How does it work?  How will it work for us?

Like most, I waited and waited for the government to provide full details and education on how this tax plan would work.  But as the information was slow to come I started to reach out on my own to learn more.

Here is what I have found.

Firstly, VAT is a regressive form of taxation.

Burden

This means that the economic burden will be greater on households with lower incomes.  And while our customs duty system was also regressive, the VAT system does not seem to rectify this imbalance. As an offset to the regressive nature of this tax our government has provided for some VAT exemptions including breadbasket items, medical services and educational services.  Offering comfort to the most needy in our society through this bare-bones survival kit of exemptions implies to me that VAT planners do anticipate a raising tide of prices that would overwhelm our poorest citizens.

And then from there I start to wonder... when these struggling lower income households become burdened with higher prices on their non-exempt consumption what will they do to get by?  Take a second or third job?  Forego access to modern amenities like electricity, running water and telecommunications?  Lean more heavily on the social services network?  Or perhaps fall prey to the lure of white collar and blue collar crime?

Next, VAT will increase our cost of living.

Though the exact amount of this increase seems to become more and more difficult to define as we get closer to implementation, the estimates I have heard range from 3 per cent – 30 per cent and according to a Ministry of Finance official: “On the cost of living there will be some initial impact from the VAT but that initial impact will disappear in a very short time-frame, over six, eight years. That is not long,”

Can we as citizens really afford a cost of living increase now?  And could we endure it for six to eight years?

According to statistics released by the Central Bank of The Bahamas, 95 per cent of Bahamian dollar personal savings accounts have a balance of less than $10,000 and the average balance is $704.  Additionally a Ministry of Finance official recently disclosed that around 70 per cent of government payroll is dedicated to salary deductions which service consumer loans.

By the looks of it the People of the Bahamas may be just as cash strapped as the government of The Bahamas.

On a personal level, as I sift through my household bills I am always left to wonder will there be enough money to get through the month?  And the thought of any increase makes me scratch my head and wonder … where do they think this money is going to come from?  Will it come from a decision to cut back on my child’s education?  Will it come from a decision to shop only in the breadbasket aisles at the supermarket?  Or will I have to start making some even tougher decisions?

Additionally, VAT will increase the cost of doing business.

If you own a business that is just getting by today how will you handle it when your prices increase and your customer volume goes down?  Will you make the shift to lower quality products and services?  Will you make some tough decisions about which staff to let go?  Or will you start preparing your business exit strategy?

The other thing about doing business is that VAT will require businesses to divert a portion of their time and resources from usual business activities to take on the new and uncompensated role of tax collector.

Most VAT registrants will be required to install new systems and acquire the services of a professional accountant to implement and administer the tax.   Additionally the filings will be required on a monthly basis and amounts will be payable at the time the invoice is issued and not when payment is received.   How will businesses manage this new expense?  Do you think they will absorb it into their profits?  Or will they build it into the price? And beyond that, might some businesses even try to evade paying these taxes altogether?

These are just some of my findings from my research on VAT.  It seems however, that the only sure thing that comes out of each new discovery is even more questions. Regardless of where you live, how much you earn or who you voted for don’t you also have some questions?

I will admit I did learn one other thing through this process.  And that is that the people of Turks and Caicos were able to successfully convince their government to stall their VAT plans and implement alternative measures to get a handle on their economy.

Success

From what I can tell a few factors combined to make their effort a success.  Firstly they are a UK overseas territory, which obviously does not apply to us.  But what I also found out was that when ALL the people came together and spoke in a unified voice they were able to demand that their decision makers move toward alternative revenue generating and debt reducing strategies.

Based on this insight I believe that the VAT debate in The Bahamas has the potential to engage and unite our country like no other issue of our time.

In the Bahamian context, I believe that the road-map towards alternative economic strategies could include:

• Enactment of the Freedom of Information Act so that we can understand how our tax dollars are being managed.

• Full enforcement and collection of outstanding taxes

• Implementation of further reductions in government expenditure

• Develop near-term plans to relinquish under-utilised or unprofitable government assets and corporations

• Legislate strict conditions and limits under which future government debt could be approved

And if following these initiatives, additional tax revenue is still deemed necessary, I believe that a comprehensive economic impact assessment should be conducted to determine the appropriate economic and tax reform strategies our nation should implement.

Fellow citizens, in a time when we are being asked to forego some aspect of our quality of life to sustain our government through this fiscal crisis I believe that it is every citizen’s obligation to ask serious questions about how the financial affairs of their country are being managed and I also believe it is a citizen’s right to receive full and serious answers from its government.

Additionally, I believe it is only through the unity of people power that we can move this conversation with our government forward.

I know that there are many concerned groups forming and strategising on this issue as we speak. These groups will vary in their objectives, their access to professional advice, and financial resources.

However, what if we consider for a moment that the most powerful and important participant in this discourse could be THE PEOPLE?

At the moment, the people are in general disconnected, distracted by the daily grind and without adequate information on legislation that will impact their lives.

Right now the people need several things to be effective – they need to be focused, they need to be educated about VAT in plain language and they need to be given a forum to express their opinions to their decision makers.

To assist in this process of engaging the people on this issue, a group of young Bahamians called Citizens for a Better Bahamas aims to launch a broad based educational campaign on VAT throughout our community streets, through social media and on our webpage: www.citizensforabetterbahamas.org.

Our core campaign objective is to launch a petition both on-line and on the street specific to each constituency and addressed directly to each member of parliament.  The petition will request each representative to vote NO to a VAT implementation of July 1 and to consider responsible alternatives.

We understand that this is a tall order on a tight time-line but we believe it is through activities like these that we will be able to help our decision makers know that we are all here, we are all aware and we wish to be heard.

You are here tonight because you are aware and you want to know more. But is your neighbour aware? Or your co-workers? Or your extended family?  It will only be through a re-connection of our entire community that we will have our voices heard.

Citizens for a Better Bahamas is poised to become that re-connection point for our nation. But we recognise that on this issue there is a need to move quickly and we recognise that we cannot do it alone.  We need YOU, EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU, we need your time, we need your talent, and yes we need your financial support.

We each have a vested interest in the outcome of the VAT debate.  If we put aside our differences of background and social status and denomination and political affiliation and bind together as Citizens of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas I believe our voice will be heard and acknowledged by our decision makers.

It was Margaret Meade who once told us “Never believe that a few caring people can’t change the world.  For, indeed, that’s all who ever have.”

Fellow citizens, if you believe in this simple idea I ask that you join us.  Together we are better and together we can build a Better Bahamas.

November 17, 2013

What do you think? Send your comments to pnunez@tribunemedia.net or join the conversation on tribune242

Value Added Tax (VAT) and Tax Reform in The Bahamas

By Dennis Dames:

We, the Bahamian people must realize that we cannot continue to borrow more than we are collecting in taxes.

We should appreciate as one people that something has to give now as it relates to getting our fiscal house in order.

Either we increase taxes, or cut spending significantly.  We do not have years left to answer that question, and to take sound and prudent fiscal action, my brothers and sisters.

So, that is why we are debating the impending institution of value added tax in The Bahamas; to help us to live by a balanced budget until further notice.

This Bahamian has already accepted the reality that we need some kind of tax reform in The Bahamas, so that the government could collect more money on our behalf, in order to contain the outrageous deficit spending – year after year.

Our National debt is projected to officially double in the seven years; from $2.4 billion in July 2007, to $4.9billion to June of 2014 – coming-up.  The fiscal deficit for thepast two years is reported to be more than $500.00 million.

It is a pity that the education process on the principles of value added tax (VAT) did not begin when the Bahamian government had signed on to the various international agreements years ago, like: the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) with the European Union, and the World Trade Organization (WTO).  We know it was coming nonetheless, because the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) and the Free National Movement (FNM) made it known that value added tax (VAT) is in the pipeline.  We went through the 2012 general election - recently, and the electorate voted overwhelming for the PLP and FNM.

So, what’s the problem?  Who’s shocked, who’s surprised, who’s outraged and who didn’t know that value added tax (VAT) was on the horizon?  The FNM has reminded us recently, that if they were elected in 2012, that they had plans to employ value added tax (VAT) by 2015 or in thirty-six (36) months; the PLP plans to install value added tax (VAT) by July 2014 or in twenty-two months of their 2012 general election victory.

I think like the pundit, Dr. Gilbert Morris in the Turks and Caicos Islands, when he sounded in that nation’s context, that it was not that the TCI people are against value added tax (VAT), but it was felt nationally, that more time was needed to prepare the people for the realization of value added tax (VAT).  The United Kingdom was seen to be rushing the brush and had to eventually relent, in the wake of public pressure from every political house - and cancel the Turks and Caicos Islands’ value added tax kick-off date of April 01, 2013.

Our Prime Minister said publicly, that he is open to delaying The Bahamas’ value added tax (VAT) execution date, which is scheduled for July of 2014.  It’s a great gesture, Mr. Prime Minister.  Now it’s time for all Bahamian people to face the music of looming tax reform in our country, and let’s start dancing and debating.  Our children and the generations yet unborn, deserve to enjoy the fruits of our wisdom.

November 13, 2013

Bahamian History and Bahamian National Heroes... Happy National Heroes Day Bahamas!

Our History and National Heroes

By ARINTHIA S. KOMOLAFE

Monday, October 14, 2013 is a day for the history books of our nation as we celebrated the first National Heroes Day in The Bahamas.

This historic feat comes after years of lobbying and advocacy by several individuals and certain sectors of the Bahamian society for a public holiday in honor of our national heroes.  It was therefore heart-warming when on Thursday, October 10, 2013, Governor General Sir Arthur Foulkes gave assent to the passage of two bills which paved the way for the National Heroes Day celebration and the observance of January 10 each year as a public holiday in honor of Majority Rule Day.

Discovery and a nation in transition

History records that in 1492, Christopher Columbus set sail upon the seas from Spain to discover what became known as the New World.  The Bahamas will always have its place in world history as the record shows that Columbus’ first stop on his voyage was Guanahani Cay, which he called San Salvador meaning “the land of Jesus Christ the Savior”.  The blessings upon The Bahamas are apparent in that in spite of our size, our country holds a unique place in history based on the voyage of Columbus.

All across the Americas, nations have paid homage to Christopher Columbus either by recognition of a public holiday or through monuments.  However, many nations have moved to change the name of the holiday for diverse reasons.  Some argue that Columbus was not the first European to sail the Americas, nor could he have discovered that which already existed.  In other words, The Bahamas which is recorded as his first landfall during his first of four voyages, was already inhabited by Arawaks, Tainos and Lucayans.  To reinforce the case against perpetuating the celebration of Discovery Day, Columbus is accused of genocide and eradicating many of the natives during his voyages.  The transition of Discovery Day into National Heroes Day, in our case, also marks another step in the life of our country as we cut ties with our colonial past, giving honor to the men and women of yesterday who fought to create the modern Bahamas as we now know it today.

A landmark event and movement

The Bahamas is one of the last countries in the region to make this long overdue shift as many of our Caribbean counterparts have over the years opted for a National Heroes Day.  It is fitting that the Government of The Bahamas has made this landmark step to recognize the heroes of our nation to ensure that the accomplishments and memories of such unique individuals are enshrined in the conscience of our people from generation to generation.

Additionally, the commemoration of majority rule will forever tell the stories of the struggles of our foremothers and forefathers who fought for the voice of the majority to be heard and the opportunity for equality to be achieved within our commonwealth.  It is our hope that these significant steps taken by the government will also ensure that a full account of history is taught and preserved for future generations.

Our history and our identity

For many years, those of us who were educated in The Bahamas during the sixties, seventies, eighties, nineties, and even into the new millennium, were taught American and European history for the most part.  Regrettably, we still do not have a formal and comprehensive Bahamian history curriculum within our nation’s school system; this is a matter in need of urgent attention for our history is a major part of who we are as a people.

On a personal note, this writer recalls being introduced to Bahamian history from a political perspective during a government and politics elective course at The College of The Bahamas back in the late nineties.  This begs the question: What about the thousands of Bahamians who may not pursue tertiary education and never enter the halls of The College The Bahamas?  Their only hopes are the biographies and memoirs of past Bahamian leaders or the more popular informal education, which may sometimes be skewed, one-sided and/or inaccurate depending upon the mindset of the individual telling the story.

A dedication to Bahamian history

Spanish philosopher George Santayana stated in his “Reason in Common Sense” that “those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it”.  For this reason, it is essential that the Bahamian people, specifically the younger generation, are aware of their history lest we repeat a part of our history to our detriment and the struggles of those before are rendered in vain.  The institution of Bahamian History Month will certainly shine the spotlight on past victories and defeats of those who came before us and fought the good fight to secure the liberties we now enjoy.  Moreover, it may encourage those persons with a story to tell to do so while recording their contributions and sacrifices made for the benefit of our nation.

The education of the populace is important to avoid a return to the dungeons of intolerance and inequality of The Bahamas of old.  It should not be unthinkable that The Bahamas can find itself in the position that it was in pre-majority rule or even pre-independence.  Colonization, albeit in a more subtle and economic form, is still a concern in today’s world – particularly for small island states like The Bahamas, with wealth and political power at the heart of this ill.

Commonality for the national interest

The camaraderie that existed between the individuals of diverse political affiliations, gender, race and creed who labored for the recognition of our national heroes must be allowed to spread throughout our archipelago.  We must always live up to our motto and progress “forward, upward, onward together”.  As we begin to identify and honor our national heroes, we must be ever mindful of their concepts of nationhood, their struggle for freedom, their contributions to our social transformation and their willingness to give of themselves for the benefit of our Bahamas.  These individuals may not have been and will not be perfect; however, their flaws should not disqualify them from national recognition or diminish their status based upon the work they have done to contribute to the quality of life for all Bahamians and their role in the fulfilment of our destiny as a nation.

The spirit of our true national heroes should transcend political divides and address the polarization of our country which has yielded no positive results.  The current state of the U.S., whose government has been shut down and is at risk of a default on its debts, is a chilling reminder of this fact; the reality that level heads should prevail and personal interest should not supersede the national interest lest the nation is destabilized.

As we continue to celebrate the 40th anniversary of our independence, we applaud the government for making this bold and historic move.  We applaud the National Heroes Committee and other proponents of this cause for their tireless efforts over the years to make this day a reality.  In the words of the Rev. Canon S. Sebastian Campbell, a nationalist and progressive who no doubt will have his place in our history, “We urge all our people on all our islands to celebrate our heroes and establish traditions for years to come.”

Happy National Heroes Day!

• Comments on this article can be directed to a.s.komolafe510@gmail.com.

October 15, 2013

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