It is simply hilarious when Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Perry Christie, attempts to get petty and throw shade at others but only ends up exposing his very own short comings.

“Christie ‘not going to be forced into decision by a gynecologist” – The Tribune

Excerpt from this article; “Prime Minister Perry Christie said yesterday there is ‘no way’ he is going to let an ‘obstetrician/gynecologist politician’ force him make a decision that is ‘not in the best interest of the people’.

Mr. Christie was referring to Free National Movement (FNM) Leader Dr. Hubert Minnis who told reporters on Sunday that now is not the time for the government to begin renovations on the Maternity Ward.  Dr. Minnis said the planned upgrades could create problems given the number of births that occur around this time of the year.

Speaking at a contract signing ceremony for the renovations to the Maternity and Male Surgical Wards, Mr. Christie said the Maternity Ward has not been renovated for over 50 years and women should not be forced to give birth in ’undesirable’ circumstances’ because previous governments did not have the will or finances to upgrade the facility.

He urged doctors at the contract signing to tell Dr. Minnis it’s time to get on board with the improvements.

“No way would I let an obstetrician/gynecologist politician use me to make this political.” Mr. Christie said.”

If I were to recall correctly, some of the very same doctors whom the prime minister called on to urge Dr. Minnis to ‘get on board’, are some of the same doctors that have expressed the very same sentiment as Dr. Minnis; that now it not the right time and it is not about ‘getting on board’ but then there is a general election looming so the prime minister seems to have made this situation political merely by the timing of it all.

The question is, is it only now that the prime minister and his government has found the finances and the commitment to improve the conditions at the Maternity Ward, even after he served as Minister of Health and saw the direction that the ward was taking?  Have these conditions suddenly become ‘undesirable’?

It is very disrespectful the manner in which the prime minister address’s the leader of the Opposition in this matter; “No way would I let an obstetrician/gynecologist politician use me to make this political.”  While the prime minister is attempting to disparage Dr. Minnis as a politician because of his chosen career; we should reflect on the manner of how the country has been brought to its current condition by barrister politicians.

An interesting note; Dr. Bernard Nottage; Minister of National Security, should feel offended by this remark by the prime minister because it also denigrates  him and he should ask himself is the prime minster suggesting that he has no respect or regard for his work as Minister of National Security just because of his chosen profession.

The Progressive Liberal Party fails for one reason, it is within their nature.

END

Allow me if you may to begin my commentary for the day with the opening lyrics to Drakes song “Back to Back”;

“Oh man

Oh man, oh man

Not again…”

“Carnival ‘was never meant to be profitable.” – The Tribune

Excerpt from this article; “Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival was never designed to work as a ‘profit exercise’; according to Bahamas Festival Commission Chairman Paul Major.

Responding to questions yesterday at a press conference in which the BNFC  revealed its economic impact assessment of the event’s second year,  Mr. Major condemned opponents of the festival who continue to look at the country’s annual investment, instead of the carnival’s’ economic impact’.

He said the festival has never been and will never be about turning a profit on investment, contending that no variation of the event around the world was generated a profit for the host nation.”

I must admit that I am confused because there seem to be some disappointment over the results of the first Junkanoo-Carnival and if the festival is not meant to turn a profit, then what is the purpose?

“Carnival reveals ‘significant revenue shortfall’   – The Tribune, July, 29 015

Excerpt from this article; “The Christie Administration failed to secure to return on its $11m investment in May’s highly touted Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival, according to the official statistics of the event released by the Bahamas National Festival Commission yesterday.

For its over-budgeted investment in the festivities, the government reaped $8.3m in combined direct and tax revenue, with the latter providing $6.7m of that sum.

The direct revenue, which totaled $1.6m, largely came from ticket sales and cash sponsorships. According to BFNC chairman Paul Major.

Mr. Major confirmed that efforts were still being made to secure payments from some vendors who reportedly lost money during the event – a sum estimated to cost the government about $40,000.

Nevertheless, the commission concluded that the total direct economic activity of the events was about $19m, including in Grand Bahama.

The total included the government’s local expenditure for the event.

The commission said that tourist-related activity, including hotels sales, stopover tourist expenditure and cruise ship expenditure, generated about $4.6, $2.8m of that generated in Grand Bahama – more than the $1.7 made was in New Providence.

The festival attracted about 115,000 spectators or participants, employed 7,208 people and benefitted 880 small and medium enterprises, the long-awaited report concludes.

Some 30,000 spectators attended Grand Bahama’s event, and 85,000 spectators and participants attended the New Providence events.  It was estimated that about 900 tourist attended he events.

The total expenditure for the event was $12,947.650, more than the governments budgeted $9m.  Of this total, the government spent about $11.3m, with the rest covered by sponsorships.”

It would appear that Junkanoo-Carnival was originally intended to boost the tourism product ; revitalize it and also turn a profit for not only the average citizen but also for the government, there is no other reason for this type of expenditure in time such as these, it is illogical.

It now seems that it is intended to be an economic stimulus, aided HEAVILY by the government i.e. taxpayers to provide the opportunity for the average citizen to make a profit, and it seems to even have failed at its new objective.

The Progressive Liberal Party fails for one reason, it is within their nature.

END

“Baha Mar buyer ‘has met’ govt. requirements” – The Tribune

Excerpt from this article; “ While he remained tightlipped over key details concerning the shuttered Baha Mar resort – among them the identity  of the potential buyer – Prime Minster Perry Christie yesterday revealed that the ‘huge enterprise’ has met the government’s requirements for a world class developer.

Mr. Christie said the principles of the would-be purchaser met with the government and shared plans to expand on the existing project, but are still in negotiations with the projects financier Export-Import Bank of China (CEXIM).  It is also still to be announced, according to Mr. Christie, whether the future developer will operate the entire resort or whether it will be managed by separate brands as was the original plan with Hyatt, SLS and Rosewood.

When asked by ZNS yesterday when contractors would begin construction on the property, Mr. Christie said: ‘Now.”

Remarking on the tiresome effort of himself, and his team, in the face of naysayers and critics, he said: ‘For me, all of the correspondence, all of the efforts, all of the obstacles, are now behind us and we are looking forward now to this coming to life and Bahamians driving past and watching will see it come to life in a very meaningful way.”

First, I would like to say that as Prime Minister Christie proclaim “Baha Mar buyer ‘has met government requirements”, I would like to know what are these requirements because at one time Sarkis Izmirlian also met this government’s requirements but then that changed; it change so much that the Prime Minister’s colleagues openly questioned the mental health of Mr. Izmirlian but then I digress.

While Prime Minister Perry Christie struts about the Baha Mar property as proud as a peacock and looks upon the “great works” that he and his government has done; I would like to humbly suggest that he and his government has only now corrected a disaster of their very own making.  Chaos, disorder and unnecessary hardships brought about those their very own incompetence, ineptitude, laziness and greed.  It is shameless the manner in which he and his government now feels ‘proud’ for bringing this development to a standstill for over a year, now wanting to be thanked and praised for ‘rescuing’ it and the Bahamian workers from certain ruin.  Now having paid many of the workers the monies owed to them when they caused construction at the resort to come to a stop; the prime minister and his government actually want now to be thanked and praised for putting these workers livelihoods at rick and subjecting them to uncalled for and unmentionable hardships; is he serious?

Speaking of paying having paid the former Baha Mar employees, there is still the question of the details surrounding this ‘cash gift’ from the Chinese; what are the terms of this agreement?

Sorry, Mr. Prime Minister, there are far too many unanswered ‘details’ for most of the people of the country to be elated as yourself.

The Progressive Liberal Party fails for one reason, it is within their nature.

END

“Roberts accuses FNM of abusing Nolle orders” – The Tribune

Excerpt from this article; “Progressive Liberal Party Chairman Bradley Roberts has accused the Free National Movement of abusing the issuance of stop prosecution orders while in office, as he again defended Attorney General Allyson Maynard-Gibson’s actions over ending prosecution against the Sandals Royal Bahamian Resort and two of its executives.

In a statement on Sunday, Mr. Roberts said an attorney general in a previous FNM administration – Sir Orville Turnquest – issued a nolle prosequi to stop prosecution against John Mosko, who was charged with a fatal shooting.

He also said former FNM Attorney General John Delaney issued a nolle prosequi ending the private prosecution of billionaire Louis Bacon by his Lyford Cay neighbor Peter Nygard.”

First, I would like to ask the question; is Mr. Roberts conceding wrong doing on the part of his colleague?

In a talk that I had with Mr. Bradley Roberts before the 2012 general elections; I brought up something that the Progressive Liberal Party had done as he attempted to criticizes something that the Free National Movement was doing at the time, I really cannot remember what it was.  He [Mr. Roberts] told me that just because your father may have beaten you silly is not excuse for you to beat your child silly; I took the analogy to mean that just because someone did something wrong before you it did not justify you doing wrong yourself.  You should know better because if the other persons wrong doing; it is in light if this comment that I find the present commentary by Mr. Roberts in defense of Ms. Maynard-Gibson on this matter highly hypocritical and duplicitous.

The main issue, I feel, being the Mosko matter, which is a case that enraged many Bahamians, be they PLP or FNM but Mr. Roberts will refuse the outrage that followed this decision by attorney general Turnquest and the fallout from it; Mr. Roberts would have you believe that all was well and many FNM’s defended it as he is doing here, this was not the case, this is a deceitful act on Mr. Roberts part.

The sentiments being expressed by Mr. Roberts cab only come from a regressive mind that has given up on any type of progressive and productive thought; so yes maybe it is time that Mr. Roberts to retire from active politics because to even have him ‘mentor’ a future generation of leaders would, in my opinion, be a danger to the successful progression of the country as we attempt to build a #STRONGERBAHAMAS.

It is clear that Mr. Roberts and those with this mentality are not interested in the progress of the country, as they are prepared to knowingly repeat the transgressions of those before them and then use these past wrongdoings by others as an excuse to justify they themselves repeating them.

There must come a time when we reach a point wherein we are prepared to allow the proper processes/procedures to run their course and then allow the ships to fall where they may; no matter the consequence or who may be involved.

The Progressive Liberal Party fails for one reason, it is within their nature.

END

“Roberts won’t serve another full term as Chairman” – The Nassau Guardian

Excerpt from this article; “The PLP constitution requires that a convention be held every year, opening all positions of the party.

The last PLP convention was in 2009

Roberts has been chairman since then.

A convention planned for November 2015 was postponed in the aftermath of Hurricane Joaquin, and scheduled for April 2016.

The party announced another postponement earlier this year and set a new date in November.”

Asked whether the party was stifling democracy by not holding conventions where leadership and other positions could be challenged on a fair and regular basis, Roberts said, ‘No”.

‘The constitution of the party also gives the governing body, the National General Council, the right to bury the conventions of the party,” he said.

‘And the delays in conventions of the party have been approved by the National General Council of the party.  So it is fully in compliance with the constitution of the party.”

Whereas the party conventions are where leadership and other party positions as challenged, it also a forum where bye-laws can also be challenged and/or amended; such as the right for the National General Council to be able to ‘bury the convention of the party’.  This practice; the voice of the few stifling the voice of the many is highly undemocratic; unless there is an absolute reason to do so, the hurricane being one.

It is unconstitutional and highly undemocratic, no matter what Mr. Roberts may say and reminds me of the burying of the people’s voices after the Gaming ‘referendum’.

Any political organization that stifles true democracy within its own walls cannot truly be trusted to govern the country in a democratic fashion; the PLP has proven this time and time again as this seems to be a party where democracy is use at the discretion of the party if at all, but for the most party left to die.

The Progressive Liberal Party fails for one reason, it is their nature.

END

“AG: I won’t be swayed by political objectives” – The Nassau Guardian

Excerpt from this article; “After some of her fellow Cabinet ministers said they were disappointed in her stopping a private prosecution against Sandal’s Royal Bahamian top managers, Attorney General Allyson Maynard-Gibson shot back  late Thursday night, claiming she won’t be swayed by ‘political objectives’.

Minister of Labor Shane Gibson, Deputy Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis and Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe each said they were left in the dark about the nolle prosequi the AG signed on August 15.

They said they were disappointed the AG didn’t inform them about the nolle.

‘The attorney general in the execution of her constitutional duty is never swayed by the political objectives of her colleagues or anyone else,’ Maynard-Gibson said.”

 

Of course, the idea that given her past performance as Attorney General, that Ms. Maynard-Gibson can expect anyone to believe that ‘in the execution of her constitutional duty [she] is never swayed by the political objectives of her colleagues or anyone else is laughable and best and enough to make one’s skin crawl, as I sit her right now I have vague recollections of an unsolicited and unsigned ‘legal opinion’ that derailed an investigation into the misappropriate use of power by one of her colleagues but it does tend to show that the Attorney General is not swayed by the best interest of the people.

A question has a risen from this whole incident, and it is whether or not her decision in this matter was ‘swayed’ by any personal interest in the Sandal property?

This very same question was asked as it pertained to her actions in the Baha Mar situation that saw the construction of that come to a complete stop, having it ‘mothballed’ for over a year.

Of course, these are just questions at this time but as with all things of this nature, the truth is always brought to light.

The Progressive Liberal Party fails for one reason, it is within their nature.

END

There are those in life that know and then there are those that just don’t; it all is a part of life.

“Gibson disappointed in AG’s action – Minister feels disrespected that he found out about nolle from union” – The Nassau Guardian

Excerpt from this article; “Minister of Labor Shane Gibson said yesterday he was disappointed that Attorney General Allyson Maynard-Gibson stopped a private prosecution against the top management of Sandal’s Royal Bahamian Resort without giving him and others the courtesy of knowing.

Gibson said he only found out about the nolle on Tuesday.  The attorney general issued it on August 15, the same day around 600 jobs were being made redundant at the Cable Beach resort.

‘I’m disappointed that we were sitting around talking to the union to resolve the matter with Sandals, and Sandals wouldn’t budge, the union wouldn’t budge, and the AG [took action and did not] notify me as minister of labor or the union who we were talking to, about what she did,” Gibson told The Guardian.

Apparently, minister Gibson seems to be ‘disrespected’ by the fact that he was not informed about the attorney general intervening and stopping a private prosecution against the top management of the Sandals Royal Bahamian Resort, while he was attempting to resolve the matter but not feeling disrespected about the manner in which the workers were treated in the first place, odd.

This is not the first time that minister Gibson claims to have found out something out [about this situation] at the last minute, as he has also claimed to have found out about the intent of Sandals as it regarded their employees at the 11^th hour, thus rendering him ‘powerless’.

But the good minister should not feel in any way slighted by the Attorney General’s rude behavior toward him because it would seem that the Prime Minister was also uninformed about this matter; “He [Shane Gibson] also said the prime minister had indicated that he was not aware that a nolle had been issued.”  Why should she inform anyone of her intentions when she had already informed the country that she is only constitutionally answerable to the Queen but it seems that one person knew or having found out after the fact approved of the attorney general keeping her other parliamentary colleagues in the dark after having thrown a few of them under the bus, and this would be Progressive Liberal Party Chairman Bradley Roberts.

“In a statement issued last night Roberts said: our view [who is our? His and the AG’s?], the Office of the Attorney General is correct in its judgment. And the Progressive Liberal Party supports the decision”, so Mr. Roberts has bound the entire party to this decision that some of them claim to have no knowledge of and after finding out are disappointed’ about.  Shame.

But then of course there is the possibility that each and every one of them knew about the decision before hand and are using the Attorney General as a ‘patsy’ because they believe that constitutionally she is beyond reproach.

The Progressive Liberal Party fails for one reason, it is within their nature.

END

“AG drops Sandals case – Nolle prosequi came same day as redundancies” – The Nassau Guardian

Excerpt from this article; “The attorney general stopped a private prosecution against the top management of Sandal’s Royal Bahamian Resort on August 15, the same day the property made 600 jobs redundant, it was revealed today.

Trade Union Congress President Obie Ferguson said it is no coincidence.

‘Obviously from August 15 this nolle prosequi was signed and on August 15^th, 600 workers were terminated,” Ferguson told The Nassau Guardian.”

Could it be possible that the most labor friendly government in the history of the Bahamas has failed them again by working against their best interest, while claiming to be unaware of what was happening to them at this resort?

 “Gibson blasts Sandals as 600 lose their jobs” – The Tribune; 16^th August 2016

Excerpt from this article; Labour Minister Shane Gibson said his ministry was given very little notice by Sandal Royal Bahamian Resort of its decision to make more than 600 employees redundant yesterday so it could conduct renovations.

However, Mr. Gibson’s suggestion was denied by a source connected with Sandals who told The Tribune that high-ranking officials of the resort informed the Prime Minister Perry Christie of their intention to make employees redundant”, so we have a claim of the Prime Minister being informed and a claim by the minister of labour that he was given very little warning ; this within itself is laughable, did the Prime Minister not inform the Minister of Labour of communications from Sandals? Could the Christie administration possibly be this inept and incompetent? 

So when did the minister know about the terminations?

‘My ministry first learned of the closure on Tuesday, August 1, with the rest of the country when information was leaked to the media and printed in the local newspapers.  I requested a meeting with officials from Sandals on August 3.

‘We met with Chief Executive Officer of Sandals Resorts International Adam Stewart as well as members of the executive and legal teams.  During that meeting, we asked them to consider laying employees off instead of making then redundant.  They told us that they would consider this suggestion and get back to us within 24 hours.  However, after not hearing from them, my ministry wrote Sandals a letter in August 4, requesting the resort’s latest position and further details on the proposed closure. ‘Sandals has yet to respond to my ministry,’ Mr. Gibson added, ‘Instead resort representatives wrote the attorney general and copied the Ministry of Labour on Friday, August 12, informing us of their decision.”

So the government learned about the planned closure two weeks before it took place, met with officials of the resort, followed it up with a letter and then claimed to have had very little notice of the terminations when the resort notified the attorney general on August 12, three days before the workers were made redundant.

Why does this government continue to play with the livelihoods of the people that they were elected to represent and do so without an iota of empathy?

Continuing in this charade; Minister Gibson then on the 20^th of August claimed to be suspicious of the fact that Sandals was holding a job fair just a week after terminating 600 employees.  I have reached the point where I cannot trust this government even if they were to tell me that water if wet, I would have to go and check this for myself because with each passing day they give me more and more reasons to not take them at their word.

There has been no word from the Prime Minister’s office refuting the claims of having been informed of Sandals intentions, only but to say that he found out too late but was it ever the minister’s intent to intervene on behalf of the Bahamian workers?

The Progressive Liberal Party fails for one reason, it is their nature.

END

“Low support for PLP, FNM – Survey shows huge appetite for change” – The Nassau Guardian

Excerpt from this article; “A recent nationwide poll has revealed what many have long suspected: There is deep dissatisfaction with the current administration and the direction the country is headed in, but people are also unhappy with their options for change.

The Public Domain Poll conducted between August 8 and August 16 found only 14 percent of respondents said they would vote for the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) if an election were held tomorrow.

This might sound like good news for the Official Opposition, but according to the poll, the Free National Movement (FNM) has no cause for celebration.

Among those who responded, only 18 percent said that they would vote for the FNM if an election were held tomorrow.

Fifteen percent said they would vote for the Democratic National Alliance (DNA), one percent said they would vote for the Gatekeepers and two percent would vote independent.

It is unclear when the election will be called, but among those responding to the question 16 percent said they are undecided.

Thirty-six percent said they would not vote if the election were held tomorrow and another nine percent preferred not to say.”

The upcoming elections are proving to be very interesting but one thing that can be seen from these numbers, a lot of people are just not interested in voting for one reason or the other; voter confidence is at an all time low.

I was once of the opinion that Bahamians were very resistant to change but if one were to look at these numbers, they are looking for change and the possibility for change is on the horizon.

Within the Free National Movement, there has been a four year ‘birth’ to change and while some in the party do not accept it, the party is slowly picking up quality candidates to represent the people of the country if elected.

While the Democratic National Alliance has offered itself as a party of change, people have been resistant to this change; this is what led to me to once believe that the Bahamian people are resistant to change in the first place, well one of the reasons, but why are these number suggesting that the people want and need change?

I feel that a main indicator of just how much the people want and/or need change will be just how people advocate for change at the Progressive Liberal Party’s national convention in November. 

As Dr. Hubert Minnis represents a change in the style of leadership within the FNM, Alfred Sears speaks to a change in style of leadership within the PLP, much like Perry Christie did when he first ran as the leader of that party; nothing much changed and I feel that this is a major factor that has affected voter confidence, but what about the DNA?

The Democratic National Alliance will indeed draw many younger voters but the question still lingers about this political organization’s ability to govern, having only one person within its ranks to have served as a member of parliament.  There are those that will be point to Sir. Lynden and the way in which he and an all Bahamian government came to govern the affairs if its people but times have changed drastically, so the question not is, as it pertains to the DNA, is the electorate willing to take that change?

Indeed, there is the possibility for change, especially within the two major political organizations.  The FNM has already made a change and is now working through its ‘growing pains’, is the PLP willing to make that change that the people are seeking?

END

“Sears not shaken by support for Christie” – The Nassau Guardian

Excerpt from this article; “Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) candidate for Fort Charlotte Alfred Sears said he is unshaken by the support Prime Minister Perry Christie has headed into the party’s leadership race at the November convention.

Over the past week, a chorus of PLP parliamentarians threw its support behind Christie to remain as leader of the party with some suggesting Sears is fighting a losing battle.

‘Well the persons who are qualified to vote are the delegates and the stalwart councilors, and I’ve been canvassing the stalwart councilors and party officers and I am more than encouraged by the response I’m getting, “ Sears told The Nassau Guardian Friday before boarding a flight to  Abaco  where he planned on meeting with more delegates.”

While Sear appears to be optimistic about his chances at the Progressive Liberal Party’s November convention, I am quite sure that he is aware that the present leader of the PLP has been adding Stalwart Councilors to the ranks at an alarming rate and that the Stalwarts always outnumbered he delegates in the party; so maybe, just maybe other party members are correct that this is an exercise in futility and I am sure that at one point even Bradley Roberts, Chairman of the Progressive Liberal Party, once expressed the very same sentiment but today he [Bradley Roberts] claims he feels this is the best time for anyone to challenge for leadership of the party, does this include former PLP Chairman Raynard Ribgy?

“Bradley Roberts: Now is the time to challenge Christie: – The Nassau Guardian (September 15, 2016)

Excerpt from this article; “Although he is undecided whether he will seek the chairmanship position at the party’s November convention, Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Chairman indicated yesterday that now is the time for leadership aspirators in the PLP, including Deputy Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis, to challenge Prime Minister Perry Christie.

‘Anytime is an option for anyone when the seats are declared, the offices are declared vacant,” Roberts told The Nassau Guardian.

‘We are a democratic organization.  Whenever there is an opportunity, it is their right to do so.”

“We are a democratic organization”, this seems to be the present theme of the Progressive Liberal Party November convention; so not to many people have taken Mr. Sears seriously, seeing his ‘challenge’ as a farce; a show to prove that democracy actually exists within the PLP, it does not.

 It is also amazing that the chairman of the Progressive Liberal Party would even utter such words after the party that he chairs has not held a national convention since 2009. 

Doesn’t Mr. Roberts realize that they have violated their very own constitution by not holding a convention in over seven years? 

Doesn’t Mr. Roberts realize that he and others within the organization of the Progressive Liberal Party have aided in Perry Christie holding on to the leadership position through the violation of their constitution and supported and condoned these action and even encouraged them?

Doesn’t Mr. Roberts realize that they have violated the rights of the qualified people in that party to democratically choose who they want in the leadership of the party but then of course the current leader has claimed that he has been encouraged to remain as leader, even by some of the younger members of the party; whatever happened to the bridge to the future?

While the chairman now seeks to brand the party and its inner workings as being ‘democratic’ in nature; we have seen firsthand that this is not the case, as it has been shown time and time again in the Progressive Liberal Party’s governance of the country in the past four plus years, I ask why should we further trust a political organization to run the affairs of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas for another five years, when they seem to only use democracy at their discretion?

The Progressive Liberal Party fails for one reason, it is their nature.

END