Posted by John Hinchliffe on July 17, 2001 at 22:18:06:
In Reply to: Sen. Fred Mitchell's weekly column posted by Briland Modem News Team on April 25, 2001 at 12:21:48:
: Excerpts from the news online at www.fredmitchelluncensored.com:
: SAFE BAHAMAS INITIATIVE
: We congratulate Marlon Johnson, son of the late Yvonne Johnson, former Clerk of the Senate, on becoming the executive director of the new Safe Bahamas Initiative. It is a non-governmental body dedicated to solving the problem of crime and its underlying causes. Mr. Johnson is an aggressive, well-trained young man who excelled at his most recent job in the Ministry of Finance. But like so many young people, he was frustrated by the FNM Government in the job and was decided to make a more useful contribution in the non-profit sector. We wish him well in the job. The Commissioner of Police Paul Farqhuarson and James Campbell, its Chair announced the initiative on Thursday 19 April. The initiative was one of the recommendations made by the Crime Commission in its 1998 report to the Government. The Tribune photo shows Commissioner Farquarhson and other delegates at the launch.
: CHRISTIE ON THE INHERITANCE BILLS
: It is said to have been one of the stellar performances of his career as Leader of the Opposition. As they say on the blocks, he bored a second hole in their behinds (that's not the word they use but we are more polite). The Government has announced three new draft bills: an Administration of Estates Bill, a Wills Bill and an Inheritance Bill. The bills are long overdue and will revolutionize the law, but more importantly seek to bring the law into conformity with the actual social situations we find in The Bahamas. Rodney Moncur, who is a Member of the Council of the PLP and Leader of the Workers Party, has been leading the charge. He first started out on the radio by attacking the Inheritance Bill as the Sweet-hearting Bill. The name has stuck. That's because of a provision that will allow persons who have been living together for seven years or more to claim on each other's estates upon death without a will. Janet Bostwick, the somnambulant Minister for the Women's Desk, has been fighting to say it's not a sweet-hearting bill. Our Deputy Leader Cynthia 'Mother' Pratt is adamant that it is. Mrs. Bostwick has plenty of explaining to do and the Leader of the Opposition Perry Christie in that stellar performance on Wednesday 18 April asked Mrs. Bostwick to explain her flip flop in the bills. The Bills will abolish the right of married women to dower (a life interest of one third in the land of their husbands that kicks in at death) for all women married after the bill comes into force. She was called on to explain the provision that will allow children born out of wedlock to claim on their father's estate, overriding the provisions of his will. Mr. Christie pointed out to her that when the bill last came to the House in 1987, she and the late Sir Cecil Wallace Whitfield opposed the bill. He said that the PLP took the position that the bill was too controversial and unless and until the bill could proceed with the unanimous consent of the House the PLP under Sir Lynden Pindling said that it would not proceed. Mr. Christie pointed out that the FNM now brings a bill to the House, the first 33 paragraphs of which are the same as the PLP's bill, but Mrs. Bostwick is now supporting the bill. Janet has a lot of explaining to do.
: PM BACKS OFF GAY RIGHTS
: Political pressure is a bitch as they say. The Prime Minister has not announced it but he has silently come to an agreement with the church leaders on the point. He has told them that anti-discrimination legislation to protect against discrimination against homosexuals in the workplace will not go ahead. We asked the question in this column: where is the mischief that it is meant to cure? In an e-mail feedback to this column we were told that there is a lot of silent discrimination and innuendo and rumour campaigns used to prevent persons who should otherwise excel in the workplace. This is vehemently denied by many businessmen who say that it has never figured in their calculations for jobs or promotions. One Member of Parliament says that there are high level clergy members who are gay. There are politicians and leaders in business, law, accounting who are gay and it has not affected their careers. But, replies our e-mail correspondent, they cannot openly identify themselves as such for fear of discrimination. So the old argument and divide: can you legislate changes in attitudes? The Prime Minister reportedly told the church leaders that the anti-gay legislation is not fundamental to him and that if they want he can just leave the law as is. But the sources tell us that the quid pro quo for this is that the religious leaders will not hit him hard for the 'sweet-hearting bill' (See story above). This columnist was quite surprised to see in the Nassau Guardian an attentive group of clergymen including Their Graces the Archbishops of the Roman Catholic and Anglican Churches in a meeting called by the Prime Minister to talk on the Inheritance Bills. The picture appeared in the Nassau Guardian on Thursday 19 April. There is something that strikes this columnist as odd indeed about a group of leaders of a religious community in such a meeting and pouring (from all accounts) glowing praise on the Prime Minister for tackling this problem of the inheritance laws. First it should be clear that this is a PLP drafted bill. The initiative was started by the late Sir Lynden Pindling in 1982. The bills need to be agreed by consent of the governed not rammed down everyone's throat. We are concerned that the Government seeks to do this in the short run up to the General Election that must come by 8 April. Further the PLP is concerned about the schedule of speaking engagements of Ministers in Family Islands and in New Providence together with lawyers who support the FNM. At each session they will no doubt have receptions. This is nothing more than campaigning for office at the Treasury's expense. The abuse of public funds must be condemned in the strongest terms.
: WHITNEY BASTIAN RESIGNS FROM THE PLP
: After months of disputes with the Progressive Liberal Party over the nomination for the South Andros constituency, Whitney Bastian, the National General Council Member for South Andros who was denied the nomination for the PLP for South Andros has resigned from the party. The resignation came in an address at the Council of the PLP held at the Bahamas Communications and Public Officers Hall (Gambier House is under renovations) on Thursday 19 April. Mr. Bastian said that in being denied the nomination, he was denied due process and his constitutional rights under the PLP constitution. In the circumstances, Mr. Bastian felt compelled to resign. The PLP's nominee for South Andros is Vincent Symonette, former owner of Tropigas and businessman. Other nominees nominated for the PLP: former Senator Damien Gomez for North Eleuthera; Alfred Gray, former MP for Carmichael is nominated for Mayaguana, Inagua, Acklins and Crooked Island; Anthony Moss for Exuma. That leaves only Delaporte, St. Margaret's, Montagu, Bain Town and Bamboo Town as the constituencies without nominees in New Providence for the PLP. In the Family Islands, we have South Eleuthera and Long Island to complete.
: WELLS RESPONDS TO THE WEBSITE
: Tennyson Wells, the dissident FNM MP for Bamboo Town, has confirmed that some moves are being made to resist the inclination of Hubert Ingraham to stay on for a third term as Prime Minister. In an interview with the The Tribune published on Wednesday 18 April, Mr. Wells denied the story on this web site that he intended to bring a resolution to the FNM's council to oppose Mr. Ingraham's third term. But he said that some moves are being planned. Mr. Ingraham was busy helping out his favourite propagandist, the several times nominated JACKASS OF THE WEEK in this column Oswald Brown, the mis-editor of the Nassau Guardian. In a long and tortuous interview (Tuesday 17 April) in which Mr. Ingraham tried his best to sound Pindlingesque, Mr. Ingraham said that he would stick by his promise to step down as Prime Minister because his family expects him to step down. He said the promise was to serve for ten years or two terms. That is an outright lie. Mr. Ingraham said two terms. Nothing was added about "or ten years". We have a tape that we expect to play at the PLP's rally in Fox Hill on Monday 23 April at 8 p.m. on Freedom Park of what Mr. Ingraham said. So clearly, Mr. Ingraham intends to stay on into a third term. What he intends to do is call an election, run that campaign, hope to get re-elected as PM and then resign on 19 August 2002 in fanfare, having chosen Tommy Turnquest as the Prime Minister. We ask you: who then will the Bahamian people be voting for or will have voted for as Prime Minister? Surely the system was not meant to be abused in this way.
: DANNY STRACHAN CORRECTS US ON REGATTA
: We ran a story last week on the Regatta that is to begin in Georgetown, Exuma on 24 to 28 April. This is the longest running, biggest and most prestigious of the races in the racing calendar. We reported that the Bahamas Boat Owners and Sailors Association headed by King Eric Gibson planned to boycott the race. The boycott comes because a sloop the Tari Ann is participating and the BBOSA says that it was repaired abroad and should not be allowed to compete. Danny Strachan who is the Commodore for the Regatta faxed in a clarification and correction. The race started in 1954, not 1953. He explained in his statement that the Regatta Committee cannot ban the Tari Ann because there is a court order that prohibits them from enforcing any ban until the matter is decided at trial as to whether or not the owner violated the rules of the race. Mr. Strachan says: "We either obey the laws of the land or we could have anarchy because they [BBOSA] are saying we should not listen to the courts on this matter. We believe in the rule of law and that is why the National Family Island regatta has been so successful and has lasted for the past 48 years because we respect and sail by the rules." Well said! Perhaps someone should show that to Hubert Ingraham and C. A. Smith who this week violated the court's order in the air traffic controllers case (Oops! Sorry we should keep politics out of sports). Good luck on the Regatta. Thanks for the clarification. As a former member of the Family Island Regatta Committee, the race is close to my heart.
: THE AUTOPSY REPORT ON DEVAUGHN DARLING
: Florida State University has released the autopsy report on the death of its young football star Bahamian twin brother Devaughn Darling. He died on 26 February after a work out. He collapsed suddenly and died. The report says the sudden death was related to sickle cell trait. Mr. Darling had the trait. Sickle cell trait is not the disease of sickle cell,that causes malformed red blood cells in mainly people of African ancestry to have difficult and painful bouts of illness. The trait says the autopsy report and according to the Associated Press and The Tribune of Wednesday 18 April is linked to strenuous exercise and the risk of sudden death. Persons with this trait ought to avoid dehydration and avoid extreme exercise when ill. The trait is usually in the generation after the one with the disease. A comment from the family of the late Mr. Darling reported on Friday 20 April said that they do not support the view that the trait caused the disease. Whatever the cause, it is a sad and tragic event.
: SWIM FEDERATION AND AL DILLETTE
: Even as the children of the Editor of this site one Albert King Dillette were excelling in swimming in Grand Bahama and in preparation for the Carifta swim meet and the Carifta Games themselves held in Nassau from Thursday 19 April to Sunday 22 April, Mr. Dillette entered intrepidly into controversy. In a few sentences, he was really pissed that the Bahamas Swim Federation was not assisting the Grand Bahama team. And he said so in no uncertain terms to The Tribune Tuesday 17 April. Said our Editor: "I don't understand the machinations or what happened to the money or what, but it is really a disgrace when members of a national team have to fund their own way. It just shouldn't happen." But children Robby and Alana did more than words could say in the pool. 'DILLETTES DELIVER' said the headline. The two gave The Bahamas its first individual medals in the international competition; Alana a bronze and Robby two silver. The competition ends today Sunday 22 April. A full report next week. The Tribune photo of Robby Dillette is shown.
: GOVERNMENT CAMPAIGN ON FTAA
: At last, with the Chief Slave and one of the youngest turks off to Canada to see the world and bow down to the international community, there was some attempt to explain to the Bahamian people what the Free Trade Agreement of the Americas is all about. Zhivargo Laing that youngest of turks who is a trained economist, told the country that as Minister. The Bahamas wasn't quite sure which way we wanted to go on this all encompassing 35 nation free trade area. What he did admit is that it will change life in some fundamental ways, like the tax system of customs duties will be abolished.
: Then there is the question of services being opened up to all and sundry. No protectionism. He said the Government wasn't sure but they knew it was a good thing so they were going to Canada anyway so they would not be left out. Perhaps he can get a whiff of some tear gas too when he goes there to Quebec City. More police than protestors to keep those who are proselytizing for people's concerns out from the conference on 20-22 April. Mr. Laing said all of this at a press conference with Leonard Archer, the Ambassador to Caricom and James Smith the Ambassador for Trade present on Tuesday 17 April. The Guardian photo is shown.
: JIM HEPPLE OF TOURISM RESIGNS
: The Tribune Friday 20 April reported that Jim Hepple (see his web site address above) has resigned as Deputy Director General of Tourism for The Bahamas. Mr. Hepple, originally from the U.K. married to a Bahamian and living in The Bahamas for 18 years, is to head the Curacao Tourism Board in the southern Caribbean. What now happens to Mr. Hepple's site on tourism statistics for The Bahamas? Well, we shall miss him. We feel sorry (not really) for poor Tommy Turnquest, the Minister of Tourism and Mr. Ingraham's Prime Minister in waiting, who had the ignominious job of announcing to The Tribune that his number two man is leaving to head the tourism team in Curacao. Where did he make the announcement? You guessed it; at a tourism meeting in Curacao.
: DELTEC BANK LICENCE SUSPENDED
: The Central Bank is on a roll. The name Deltec Banking is a household name in the country. The principle Clarence Dauphinot died a few years ago. He and his wife Penny were well known in upper middle class circles in the country for their philanthropy. Many Bahamians got their start in banking at Deltec. Well it appears that the party is over. The bank's licence has been revoked by order of the Central Bank by notice published in The Tribune Friday 20 April.
: JULIAN FRANCIS AND THE BLACKLISTING
: We have the utmost respect for Julian Francis. He is after all a Fox Hill man, so we wouldn't dare. And beside, he can beat his friend Danny Ferguson - another Fox Hillian in the credit and collections business - playing tennis (well not according to Danny!). But he made a speech over the past week to the Chamber of Commerce at the British Colonial Hilton on Thursday 19 April, reported on Friday 20 April in which Mr. Francis, the Governor of the Central Bank, claims that there is no harm to The Bahamas from the blacklisting and the changes of our financial laws. This does fly in the face of the evidence to the contrary, with banks closing down, IBCs fleeing the jurisdiction, people in the industry losing their jobs and construction slowing down as people hold up on projects. Things that make you go: hmmm!
: CABLE BAHAMAS GETS ANOTHER LICENCE
: In another corporate guise the folk at Cable Bahamas keep getting more and more. Now they have a company called Caribbean Crossings Ltd. and it has been granted a licence by the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to provide a cable link underwater between Grand Bahama, New Providence, Eleuthera, Abaco and the U.S. This according to the Tribune of Wednesday 18 April. The licence is for data transmission and Internet only. The Bahamas Freedom Alliance headed by Ali Moultrie is screaming bloody murder. They say the licence should not have been granted because Cable Bahamas, the parent company is under investigation for the illicit use of trailer facilities of the Broadcasting Corporation of The Bahamas. The BFA also says that employees have been mistreated. Cable Bahamas through its spokesman Dr. Keith Wisdom has denied this. Well you know our views about Cable Bahamas. Should not have been allowed here. But one day the Chief Slave will have to explain before a Commission of Inquiry what he has, what he owns and what he knows and why the decision was made to give a monopoly to Cable Bahamas.
: RICK LOWE'S LETTER
: It was a remarkable letter. It was published in The Nassau Guardian on Saturday 14 April. In it Rick Lowe, the quintessential FNM and Free Marketer, was lamenting the Free National Movement and its policies under Hubert Ingraham. He lamented the offensive tone of the Prime Minister and the high-handed nature of his actions. But the question for Mr. Lowe still remains: can he vote for the PLP? We can't understand it. He said that white people generally are in a quandary as to what to do. Mr. Ingraham, their champion, has apparently let them down. The implication of course is that the PLP can't be trusted. We have a simple proposition: Mr. Lowe and his fellow white Bahamians who he says are in a quandary as to what to do, ought to think about this. In the wildest imagination and on his worst day, Perry Christie could never be half as offensive as Mr. Ingraham. So what is the problem? Is it that unspoken thing in the background about the ethnic group that is the traditional support of the PLP that is the real problem? If Bahamian whites are now race neutral, if they admit that they flourished economically under the PLP, and if they would admit Mr. Christie is not half as offensive as Mr. Ingraham, then there is no reason they can't support the PLP. Further, the business of politics is a dynamic one, not static. If one Government does not work out, you vote them out the next time. The PLP hopes to get the chance to govern over the next five years. Will Rick Lowe and his allies rise over their tradition bound thinking and vote PLP? That's the only party that can form an alternative Government to the FNM.
: MISS BAHAMAS OFF TO MISS UNIVERSE
: Miss Bahamas Nakera Simms is off to Puerto Rico for the Miss Universe Pageant. The 22 year old will compete with 80 other women on 11 May. The Nassau Guardian published a photo of the beautiful Miss and we publish it here. Congratulations and best wishes!
: NIGEL BOWE HELD
: Nigel Bowe who was supposed to have been released by the US Government has not been released. Although Mr. Bowe was released from federal custody in New Jersey where he was in prison, he is still being held by US authorities pending an extradition request from the state of Florida to the state of New Jersey for him to be tried in the state of Florida on conspiracy to import drugs and money laundering. Experts in law say that this is a complete and blatant violation by the US Government of the treaty between the two countries that limits the offences with which an extradited person can be charged to those in the extradition request only. Minister of Foreign Affairs Janet Bostwick told the Bahama Journal on Friday 20 April that the Government has sought an explanation as to why Mr. Bowe is being held. We will continue to keep you abreast of developments.
: BLACK TUESDAY
: Friday 27 April will mark the 36th anniversary of Black Tuesday, the Tuesday 27 April in 1965 when the late Sir Lynden O. Pindling, the founding Prime Minister of The Bahamas, threw the Speaker's Mace out of the window of the House of Assembly. The Mace is the metal object that precedes the Speaker into Parliament as a symbol of the Speaker's authority. The protest by Sir Lynden was the culmination of a set of plans by the PLP's National General Council, plotted by the National Committee for Positive Action (NCPA). The late Leader of the Opposition Sir Cecil Wallace Whitfield led the protest outside in the streets. Thousands gathered to support what was going on inside. Inside Sir Lynden told the House that the then governing white merchant oligarchy, known as the Bay Street Boys would not listen to the voice of the people and reason with regard to the Boundaries Commission report for that year 1965. The distribution of seats in favour of the Family Islands was not acceptable to the PLP when the majority of the population lived in New Providence. Sir Lynden often described how afraid he was on that day. Some say that Sir Milo Butler, the late former Governor General kept urging Sir Lynden to go ahead or he would do it. Eventually Sir Lynden did, threw the Mace out of the Eastern window of the House where it fell in the streets below and was destroyed. Arthur Hanna, the former PLP Deputy Prime Minister who was in the House on that day says that someone brought the pieces to him and he buried them somewhere that he can't remember. Arthur Hanna, Paul Adderley, former Attorney General, Sir Orville Turnquest, now Governor General and Cyril Stevenson former PLP MP are the only MPs of that era still alive. The PLP left the House and led a massive crowd to the Southern Recreation Grounds from Bay Street. The riot act was read commanding them in the name of the Queen to move from Bay Street. Conscious of the riot that happened in 1942, the PLP led the crowd from Bay Street south. The name Black Tuesday is said to have been coined by Arthur Foulkes, former MP and now Ambassador. It is borrowed from the expression from the American usage for the day of the Wall Street crash in 1929. Sir Lynden said that the thousands that came out that day were not planned. It was spontaneous given the police and other excitement in the streets. But it was the height of his political career in Opposition and made him a legend in the minds of many. Sir Milo Butler, the people's champion, followed the Mace out the window with the Speaker's Hour Glass that was used to time the speeches of MPs. In those days, each speaker in the House was limited to 15 minutes. While the rule is still on the books, when the PLP came to power in 1967 they stopped enforcing it and it has not been enforced since. Paul Adderley, Orville Turnquest and the late Spurgeon Bethel, all PLP MPs at the time were not told of the PLP's planned action. They did not agree with the subsequent decision of the party to boycott the House after that. When they returned they were suspended from the party. They formed their own party the National Democratic Party. That party was defeated in the 1967 election. The PLP won the government that year. The rest as they say is history.
: Back To The Top
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: PROFESSOR GILBERT MORRIS TO SPEAK
: Gilbert Morris is to be the featured speaker at the Heritage Foundation on Capitol Hill, Washington D.C. on Monday 23 April. The Foundation is a conservative think tank on U.S. Domestic Policy and International Relations. He will address the topic of the harmful tax initiatives by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. The Bush administration is trying to formulate a policy response to the initiative. Gilbert Morris is a Professor at George Mason University in Washington D.C. He opposes the initiative.
: NEWS FROM GRAND BAHAMA
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: Quote of the week… From a knowledgeable Grand Bahama politico at breakfast in Kristi's - "Janet doesn't believe a word that she's saying about the 'sweet-hearting' bill… Anybody else except her could talk except her. You hear what I say?!"
: 'Bulgie' Allen Out Of The Loop? - Word in from Nassau is that Algernon Allen aka 'Minister of Idle Poetry' is now out of the political loop in the FNM. Sources say that this is why 'Iron' Mike Edwards, Allen's main general in Freeport has hinting he is to leave the FNM. A major announcement supposedly to this effect was promised for this past Thursday, but did not materialise. When questioned about the matter, 'Iron' Mike said "I helped bake this cake and now you' all want me to go? Not a day like it!" A major Grand Bahama supporter of Prime Minister Ingraham tells News From Grand Bahama that "we knew all about Allen's scheming and plotting when he backed out of his support for Tennyson so he has been marginalised." This would explain why Allen has been keeping a very low profile in the FNM campaign thus far…
: No Respect For The People - Despite repeated demonstrations against it, plans are continuing to move crushed rock over the main road into the settlements of Eight Mile Rock in Grand Bahama. The proposal by the foreign-owned rock mining company Dravo is to move the rock from its crushing plant by overhead conveyor belt to large ships for transport, moored at the harbour on the other side of the road. Eight Mile Rock activist Caleb Outten and a group of residents held a demonstration Friday morning 20 April. The closure of the road to begin construction of the conveyor was postponed, supposedly because the company didn't have "sufficient signage to ensure the safety of the driving public". Mr. Outten asked the question 'Who could you imagine a conveyor belt over I 95 in Miami?', noting that the move showed a tremendous lack of respect for the people in the area and Bahamian people generally. The last time this issue was raised, the FNM MP for the area said he knew nothing about it, but would check. This time, the Minister for Works is Grand Bahama MP Ken Russell. A spokesman for the Grand Bahama Port Authority said that all the relevant approvals had been granted. So now the people see how helpless and inadequate their elected representatives are in the face of anything thing to do with the Port.
: Driftwood Closes Road, Damages Bahamian Business - Sunrise Highway, Freeport's main thoroughfare has been closed in front of the 'Tower at Bahamia' resort. The Driftwood Group, new owners of the former Princess Properties then immediately erected a fence across the highway anchored into the hotel property. The fence restricts access by hotel guests to the popular and successful Bahamian-owned restaurant 'Ruby Swiss' and has the potential to severely damage business there. Our advice to the Driftwood Group is, don't do it. Caroline Bailey Wipf and her family have been there for a long time and will be there for a long time to come.
: More Musical Chairs At Driftwood - Resorts at Bahamia's Regional Food and Beverage Controller who hails from Pakistan was this week lamenting that this is a beautiful country and he doesn't want to leave. The relevant authorities however, should be put on notice that he has resigned his post after six
: months on the job. Freeport has recently been rife with reports about foreign workers who enter the country on one work permit and end up permanently in the job market. Late word is that the former Food and Beverage man Kelly Burrows who had been reassigned to Sales and Marketing is now back in business. We hope that all the shenanigans going on with the Bahamians are now coming to a close and that those in positions there can finally give investor Buddemeir some wise counsel as to how to effect positive change… Driftwood has been drifting of late.
: Wallace Should Finish The Road - Our senior correspondent was summoned to the community of Seagrape in Eight Mile Rock this week to be shown a dangerous unfinished road. Residents charge that FNM MP for Grand Bahama and Bimini David 'Bread' Wallace started some work in the area and left it so that unwary motorists might drive off a cliff. They complained, "David is always starting things and not finishing them." Finish the job that you started David, and we recommend that road signage with reflectors be put in place and a light should be posted on that corner for safety purposes. 'Nuff said.
: If You Don't Like It… - High-ranking rabid and defiant FNM faithfuls defended Transport Minister C.A, Smith this week in political discussions on Grand Bahama. One saying, "C.A. and this Government have mandate of 35 seats, so if you don't like what we're doing, vote us out! We ain't checking for no court order because 35 seats makes us the law." We report these comments without further embellishment and any comment ourselves, except to say: Well I'll be!