From information forward to me, it would seem that the Owner of Diamonds International, Itsik Nachmany, along the head of this Human Resources department, Ms. C. Cunningham have not been paying the national insurance for their employees even after they have deducted it from their pay.

It is alleged by staff that when confronted about this by an employee that was leaving they were told that there was nothing that the staff member could do and the owner and head of HR have encouraged the staff to approach their “good friend” Shane Gibson about the matter whom they have told the staff that they have “in their back pocket”.

Remember, this same store was investigated earlier this year for ‘shady dealings’ and ‘shady contracts’ they were alleged to have forced the staff to sign, which denied them of any and all commissions off sales that they made at the time.

I know Minister Gibson is a man of the people and I would implore him at this time to clear his good name and investigate this matter and make sure that all is made right for the Bahamian workers that say that worker under ‘horrible’ conditions of their foreign employer.

END

“Galanis praises campaign of leadership challenger Sears” – The Tribune

Excerpt from this article; “Former PLP MP Philip Galanis yesterday praised the leadership platform presented by former Attorney General Alfred Sears as a welcome resprite from the status quo of visionless political leadership and a return to the core values of the Progressive Liberal Party.

Mr. Galanis threw his support behind a number of reforms outlined in the 26 page manifesto, entitled “A Vision For Our Revolution: Transforming the Bahamas for the 21^st Century”, rolled out by Sears last month – namely on immigration and economic empowerment.

While he noted that his support for many of the reforms did not signal his endorsement of Mr. Sears for PLP leader, Mr. Galanis commended the political hopeful on his courage and tenacity in penning a manifesto in his campaign for leadership of the governing party.”

While Mr. Galanis may not come out and support Mr. Sears for leader of the Progressive Liberal Party, there seems to be one thing that he and Mr. Sears have in common and this is that the current leadership of the governing Progressive Liberal Party is “visionless”.

“Sears to run for PLP leader – Former MP concerned about the current direction of the country” – The Nassau Guardian; August 8^th, 2016.

Indeed, these are questionable and serious indictments on the present Progressive Liberal Party leadership, and I include the word ‘questionable’ because they have both ‘hidden’ there contempt for the present PLP leadership in language that is meant to be ‘diplomatic’; when the time for diplomacy in this matter as long passed and of course they will respond that they have no ‘contempt’ for the present leadership, while still urging the need for the party to return to its ‘core values’.

The time has come for there to be a ‘revolution’ within the Progressive Liberal Party, in order to move the party forward and bring it in line with the currents needs of the county.  So I find it curious as to who is “Our” in “A Vision For Our Revolution: Transforming the Bahamas for the 21^st Century”, when everyone seems to fall just short of endorsing Mr. Sears and ‘new vision’, while still attempting to convince us all that they seek exactly what he says he seeks.

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

END

“PM: FNM creating Chinese hysteria – Minnis says issues has to do with govt.’s non-transparency” – The Nassau Guardian

Excerpt from this article; “Prime Minister Perry Christie and Free National Movement (FNM) Leader [Dr.] Hubert Minnis yesterday exchanged political blows in the House of Assembly over the relationship successive governments have had with the People’s Republic of China, with the prime minister accusing the Official Opposition of fueling ‘hysteria’ over Chinese investment in the country.’

Again, the Prime Minister chooses to misrepresent the facts in order to justify his way of; doing business’, on behalf of the people of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas.

It is indeed interesting that the prime minister and his government would accuse the Free National Movement of ‘creating hysteria’ and promoting xenophobia against the People’s Republic of China, while at the very same time accusing them [the Free National Movement] of being the ones that ‘opened the door’ and inviting the Chinese in as investors in the first place.

“PM blasts FNM over Chinese deals” – The Tribune

Excerpt from this article; “Teasing documents that detail the previous administrations efforts to partner with the Chinese government for the development of agriculture and fisheries, Prime Minister Perry Christie, yesterday criticized the Free National Movement and its Leader Dr. Hubert Minnis for ‘emotionally exploiting’ Bahamians anxiety over Chinese investment.

In Parliament yesterday Mr. Christie revealed that the pervious FNM administration held talks with the People’s Republic of China and private Chinese companies through the Bahamas State Investment Administration Bureau for projects and co-operatives, which included Crown Land acquisition.

However, he stopped short of tabling documents, and instead invited Dr. Minnis to review the files so that he could be informed without ‘having to make it into some ridicule of a nation’.”

I am awaiting to see where it has been documented that the Leader of the Free national Movement has ever said or implied that the FNM did not do business with the Chinese or that the current government should not; this is where the Prime Minister and his government wishes to be less than honest with the people of the Bahamas and lead them down a ‘dark road’ of misinformation.

It is interesting that the Prime Minister can refer to the Bahamas State Investment Administration Bureau, to detail the dealings of the Free National Movement with the People’s Republic of China (PRC), but yet have us wait on the details of the ‘secret’ and sealed deal between his administration and the PRC on such important issue such as Baha Mar and have us only finding out through ‘leaked’ information about Minister V. Alfred Gray given authority to the ambassador to China to have ‘talks’ regarding a $2.1 billion agri-fisheries initiative and now talks about a forestry deal; all behind closed doors under the cover of darkness.

Dr. Minnis says it best in response to the Prime Minister’s claim of the FNM creating ‘Chinese hysteria’, “However, Minnis said the FNM has no fundamental issue with the Chinese, but with the level of transparency, or lack thereof, with which the Christie administration conducts business with the giant eastern trading partner.”

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

END

I have been informed on numerous occasions that Mr. Bradley Roberts as National Chairman of the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP), does an excellent job and cannot be matched.  This may indeed be true, because I have found none that spews as much nonsensical political spin and is still seen as credible even when he contradicts himself or others in the political organization that he so proudly represents.

“Roberts claims ‘lies’ being told over Andros proposal” – The Nassau Guardian 11.05.2016

Excerpt from this article; “Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Chairman Bradley Roberts yesterday decried what he called ‘misinformation’ surrounding the Bahamas Embassy in China being authorized to further pursue a possible $2.1 billion agriculture and fisheries partnership with the Chinese.

‘We thought that there was value in civil servants consulting with the [Bahamas] National Trust, BREEF, fishermen out of Spanish Wells and other stalk holders on the way forward in the sustainable development of this underperforming industry,’ Roberts said.

In our view, this constructive engagement with the relevant industry stalk holders is positive and should continue.’

‘We should go further.  We should hold town meetings that are aired live on radio and television to address much of the lies being perpetrated in an attempt to depress the development of this vital industry.’

“Live town hall meetings made it difficult for those with hidden agendas to hide in the tall grass, and hide behind pen names to cast aspersions, promoting xenophobia and telling outright lies to intentionally mislead the Bahamian people in pursuit of a selfish agenda that has nothing to do with advancing the interest of ordinary Bahamians.”

Sorry Mr. Roberts, but I have some questions and the first one being what ‘lies’ have been told?

But hold on I have others, What exactly has this Progressive Liberal Party done in the past four and a half years to advance the interest of the ordinary Bahamian?

Another one, the persons that this government plans on ‘consulting’ with now, where they consulted before the institution of The Bahamas Agricultural and Marine Science Institute (BAMSI) on “the way forward in the sustainable development of these underperforming industries”?

What would this proposed ‘partnership’ mean to the development of BAMSI and is the Minister now suggesting that the BAMSI project is failing?

Clearly the Chairman of the Progressive Liberal Party is beyond delusional, even in his clear goal to distract with the utter nonsense and I feel he should pay more attention to the people to whom he spews this nonsense, as they are not the electorate of ‘old’ and him treating them as such shows nothing but pure disrespect and distain for them, as he does all this seemingly in an attempt to cover up the ‘original lie’ told that brought about the speculation that he now wishes to denounce.

“Gray tells a lie – Firestorm rages over proposed China-Bahamas initiative’ – The Nassau Guardian, 11.03.2016

Excerpt from this article; “Minister of Agriculture and Marine Resources V. Alfred Gray said in the House of Assembly that his letter to Bahamas Ambassador to China Paul Andy Gomez giving him authorization to develop further a proposed $2.1 billion joint venture with the Chinese was not published in full by the press.

But the statement is false.

Gray’s full letter was published in the Nassau Guardian yesterday.

A day after he claimed The Nassau Guardian story on Tuesday revealing that Gomez was ‘given authorization to further pursue the possible’ joint venture with the Chinese was ‘utterly false’ , Gray also recognized in the House of Assembly that he gave the ambassador permission to discuss the investment with investors.”

While the Chairman of the Progressive Liberal Party comes out and wishes to poor-mouth all those that he claims to be spreading lies and misinformation about Minister Gray and this issue, we have the Minister, himself, contradicting himself and seemingly for no good reason at all, if he actually believes that this initiatives provides the way forward for an underperforming industry but as usual this government have been caught doing ‘things’ that they cannot fully explain behind ‘closed doors’, and the people whom they govern do not seem to be too pleased about what they are hearing or the implications of the little details that have been released to date.

Part of the letter of Minister Gray to Paul Andy Gomez, Bahamas Ambassador to China reads;

1. “The Peoples Republic of China (“PRC”), or its substantive representative(s), will partner with Bahamian corporate entities to form up to one hundred (100) corporate structures that will engage primarily in the Agriculture and Fisheries Industries in the Bahamas.
2. Each of the one hundred (100) cooperate structures will be owned equally (that is 50-50) by the PRC and Bahamian corporate entities
3. The PRC will provide funding equivalent to 2.1 billion dollars (2,100,000,000) over a ten (10) year period, in the form of cash, agriculture and fisheries equipment, as well as expertise.
4. Each Bahamian owned entity that partners equally with the PRC will contribute the following to the Joint Venture:
5. One hundred (100) acres leased Andros farm land with an option to access one hundred (100) additional acres, provided certain benchmarks are attained. Unprofitable entities that end in liquidation will have their leases cancelled by the Bahamas Government.
6. A cash contribution of $225,000 must be paid at the start of each entity’s operations (i.e. required contributions of $25,000 by each of the 10 shareholders equals $250,000, less $25,000 for entity’s administrative expense.)
7. The Government of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas will provide fishing licenses to each of the one hundred (100) entities participating in the Initiative, consistent with existing laws.
8. Only Bahamian farmers and farm laborers, along with Bahamian fisherman, will make up the Initiative’s workforce. The Bahamas government recognizes that each entity will probably require the services of one fishing and one farming expert, for a limited period, who will probably be Chinese.”

With this being the case, exactly what would be the Chinese’s motive to take on this initiative in the first place?

The argument can be made that the Chinese would be looking for the long term investment with these 100 corporate entities but why haven’t this offer been made with Bahamians as it concerns BAMSI? Why haven’t we been allowed to invest in that initiative?

This government cannot assure the people of anything given their poor performance of the past four and half years.  The ‘deals’ that they have made have not served the best interest of the Bahamian people and always have left more questions than answers, this is being seen with the Baha Mar project , where all of the questions surrounding the ‘secret deal’ have yet to be revealed to the people of the Bahamas but as in that case, when the Chinese provided he ‘gift’ of the money to pay the creditors at that job, we are now to believe that another country’s government is willing to invest $2.1 billion into the country without any concessions or ‘favors’ asked.

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

END

“Urban Renewal Commission blasts Auditor General’s Report”

Bahamas Information Services

April 14^th, 2015

Excerpt from this article; “NASSAU, The Bahamas – The Urban Renewal Commission responded to a report provided by Bahamas Auditor General Terrance Bastian on the Urban Renewals Small Home Repair programme at a press conference, April 14, at the Urban Renewal Commission’s headquarters at Centerville House.

Co-Chair of Urban Renewal Commission Algernon Allen responded to the submission of the Auditor General that the Small Homes Repair (SHR) programme allowed internal controls to expose the government to insufficiency and abuse of funds with the observation: ‘I am of the firm view that the Auditor General has failed to appreciate the philosophy of Urban Renewal; more specifically; the philosophy of the Small Homes Repairs Project, thus making the erroneous statement in is Audit report.’

The co-chairs of the Urban Renewal program claims to be innocent of any and all wrong-doing but continue to act as if they have something to hide’, ‘……the Auditor General has failed to appreciate the philosophy of Urban Renewal; just because during the course of this job, a financial audit of the Urban Renewal programme, he found some ‘financial discrepancies’; seriously?  This is as stupid as saying that just because I may not agree with communism, that I do not appreciate the philosophy behind it; totally asinine.

While the rest of the country was captivated by the shenanigans of the “Hon.” V.  Alfred Gray and his letter that he now attempts to down play or explain way; a $2.1 billion proposal for an agri-fisheries project with the Chinese government; one that someone said today that was only a proposal but I had to remind and caution them that with this Christie led administration, the ink was probably dried on a contract somewhere concerning this matter; the financial issues’ of Urban Renewal have again come to light and as the ‘story evolves’, it only becomes that more amazing.

The first line of defense was that the Auditor General, Terrance Bastian, was a political incompetent’, this has since evolved as the PLP continue their attempts to keep the co-chairs of this programme out of the ‘hot-seat.’

“Minister admits to Small Homes surveyor did not produce properly”

• And contractors not required to show proficiency
• Public Accounts minority back key FNM findings
• Brand China Ambassador’s conflict as ‘moot’ – The Tribune Business Section – 11.04.2016

Excerpt from this article; A Cabinet Minister has admitted that the company hired to oversee Urban Renewals $3.2 million Small Homes repairs project was out of its depth, and there were minimum qualifications required from contractors.

The Public Accounts Committee’s (PAC) minority report, while intended to rebut the findings of its FNM’s majority report, actually backed up several of the letters key findings when it came to project oversight and contractor quality.”

So, they way out is now to say “yes, you are right, but it was due to the incompetence of others?”

Are we to accept this in the case of the contractor that was building a major government building without the required Contractors All Risk Insurance?

How is it the Progressive Liberal Party always seems to find ‘someone’ more incompetent then themselves to point the finger at when things go ‘horribly wrong’?

At BAMSI it was promised that ‘heads would roll’, but to date we still wait; now we are dealing with financial discrepancies at Urban Renewal and while the Auditor General was never reprimanded for making such an egregious ‘mistake’, now the mistakes are being admitted to but it was fault of CCMG Consulting, the quantity surveyor hired finding the task ‘stressful and daunting’, that caused these ‘oversights’?

After four and half years of overseeing a $3.2 million initiative?

Who is over overseeing this entire program on behalf of the Bahamian taxpayer that is footing the bill for any ‘lost’ revenue?

Really who is watching this ‘candy shop’?

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

END

“Sears must answer – Wilchcombe hits at colleagues failure to deliver festival” – The Nassau Guardian 31.10.2016

Excerpt from this article; “Attorney Alfred Sears must provide answers on why the main events at the Caribbean Muzik Festival still have not happened more than a year after the government gave organizers $650,000 to help put it on, Minister of Tourism Obie Wilchcombe said.

‘Alfred Sears was the lead person in this and he convinced his colleagues to give it an opportunity. And as I think that he does have a responsibility to ensure that his team and the men he worked with deliver,’ Wilchcombe told the Nassau Guardian.

Sears said he resigned as festival director in December 2015, two months beyond the date the main events were to take place.

But Wilchcombe said, ‘It’s certainly after the fact.  The truth is, you were there in the initiation, and no matter what happened, you resigned when the concert did not take place.  So the truth is you have a responsibility.

‘I’m from the school of thought that some things might not work out, but never shirk your responsibility.”

Finally, we have someone within the governing Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) government that is demanding answers and accountability, not shirking his responsibility to the people of the country.

I do not blame Minister Wilchcombe when he says “Sears must answer”, as he seeks some accountability but while we are at this point of enlightenment and looking for answers from Mr. Sears, are we going to demand answers from other burning issues which have plagued this government and caused this country great embarrassment?

Will Minister Wilchcombe now demand proper answers and accountability from those that we have not gotten viable answers, if any from?

 Will Minister Wilchcombe demand answers from V Alfred Grey as to his improper interference in a criminal matter or the ‘mysterious’ extras that have been added to the Potter’s Cay project?

Will Minister Wilchcombe now demand answers as to who will give a final accounting as to why a contractor was allowed to build at BAMSI without the law required Contractors All Risk insurance?

Minister Arnold Forbes promised that ‘heads would roll’.

Will Minister Wilchcombe demand accountability surrounding the Junkanoo-Carnival matter?

After millions have been spent on this government initiative we have now been informed that it was never intended to me an event to generate government revenue;  then exactly what is the purpose and has it really succeeded at its intent, whatever that may be.

Will Minister Wilchcombe now demand answers and accountability on the Baha Mar matter and this new ‘secret deal’, whose details have yet to be revealed?

Will Minister Wilchcombe now demand answers from the Attorney General’s office as to the questionable nolle prosequis that have been granted under their watch?

Will Minister Wilchcombe now demand answers and accountability in the Rubis gasoline spill in Marathon; and who knew what and when?

Will Minister Wilchcombe hold the Prime Minister responsible for two failed referendums under his watch and demand that he step down as it is an indictment on his administration?

Or is the demanding answers from Sears a way by Wilchcombe of protecting ‘the king’ [Prime Minister Perry Christie], whom Wilchcombe has seemed to have ‘fallen on his sword for’, as he gives up all of his future aspirations and ambitions to one day lead the Progressive Liberal Party and maybe one day the country?

Mind you, I am not advocating giving Alfred Sears a pass on this issue, if he is indeed guilty of the offenses that he is being charged but just as he should be ‘made to answer’, then others should be ‘made to answer’; unless there is a vindictive motive behind Mr. Wilchcombe plea for accountability in this matter, over a year later.

Is the minister really this ‘slow’?

Let me stop, because I know there are already those out there reading this thinking to themselves this fellow petty bey!

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

END

There is a rap song that goes, well I cannot actually put those lyrics online, being the good catholic boy that I am but I will just say at times one must realize that they only get what they give; so if you are going to give someone advice about their ‘burning house’ while your very own is on ‘fire’ and ‘crumbling’ around you; then why act surprised when another person points out the fact that your house have ‘burnt’ to the ground?

“Press Statement

Bradley Roberts

National Chairman Progressive Liberal Party

October 29^th, 2016

Excerpt from this statement

“D Aguilar off to terrible start as Politician”

“It is unfortunate that the first public action taken by Dionisio D’ Aguilar as an announced candidate for membership in the House of Assembly is failing to recognize that when there is a conflict between his role as a politician and that of his former role as a director of Baha Mar and surrogate for Sarkis Izmirlian he must not be confused – he must place his national role first.

The failure referred to is as follows:

The PLP made the assertion that the Leader of the FNM, Dr. Hubert Minnis, had sold the soul of the FNM to on new Boss Man.

D’ Aguilar response is to assert that the Chairman of the PLP is on over his head on Baha Mar.”

I must say that Mr. D’ Aguilar may have been wrong in his assertion that Mr. Roberts may be in over his head because knowing exactly what his government has done, to the detriment of the Bahamian people and the economy; he [Mr. Roberts] may just be looking to deflect from their gross malfeasances in this matter and Mr. Roberts may up to his neck in these wrong-doing, along with his colleagues in this matter that continues even as I pen this blog.

It is odd that Mr. Roberts would attempt to raise the issue of ‘conflict’ between his [Mr. D’ Aguilar’s] release as a new politician and his role as a FORMER director at Baha Mar, I guess you have to be a ‘seasoned’ politician’ to make this error as I have memories of Mr. Roberts and his party attempting to downplay the conflict of South Beach MP, Cleola Hamilton, when she was newly elected but also held the post as president of the Bahamas Nurse’s Union (BNU) and this union was in negotiations with the Bahamas government with Ms. Hamilton being one of the persons on the government’s side, I mean the union’s side that she was negotiating with.

Nor will there be the mention of possible ‘conflict of interest’ when the Attorney General found herself leading the negotiation team on Baha Mar, as its developer filed for Chapter 11 protection in the United States against his Chinese partners that were registered in America; never mind the stores spaces belonged to her husband and daughters and she had no interest in them at all. 

No, I will not be little myself, as I simply choose to direct Mr. Roberts wavering attention to the right path and that is keeping this country’s affairs and the country’s affairs in order; neither of which he and is party seems to have  failed at as a government, I can only surmise that this is the reason for all this deflection.

As Mr. Roberts looks to the Free National Movement (FNM) to point out its faults, it is simply amazing that he has very little to say of the trouble brewing on his side of the street.

“Mixed views on whether to put off PLP convention” The Nassau Guardian – 24 Oct. 2016

Excerpt from this article; “Prime Minister Perry Christie said it is not his decision whether the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) should postpone its convention, scheduled for next month.

“I’ll leave that up to the committee,” Christie told National Review when asked whether the convection will again be out off.

After Hurricane Joaquin last year, the PLP announced that its convention – which had been set for November 2015 – had been postponed to permit the government to focus on the urgent need for relief in the south and central islands impacted by the storm.

Incredibly, the PLP has not had a convention in seven years.  Its constitution mandates an annual convention.”

There is a back and forth by members of the party, both sides offering reasons why they conventions should not should not be held next month; my only comments are that the PLP postponed convention to ‘focus on the urgent needs for relief in the south and central islands impacted by the storm [Hurricane Joaquin] efforts have fallen short, as to date some of these islands still look for relief and now we have had another hurricane affect some of these very same islands.

Attorney Alfred Sears, who claims to be opposing Perry Christie for leadership of the Progressive Liberal Party has suggested that the convention be held in Grand Bahama, one of the islands still trying to get back to some state of normalcy sine Hurricane Joaquin a year ago, to aid in boosting its economy, but seems that this suggestion will be ignored as the personal attacks against Mr. Sears have began.

So now the PLP have scheduled its convention for ‘sometime early next year’, just a continuing joke of a party that wishes to have people find it democratic when it denies democracy within its very own walls but wishes to advise others of their perceived ‘short comings’.

 

 

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

 

END