This past week had Philip ‘Brave’ Davis, Leader of the Opposition Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) ‘advise’ Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis that on his path to revenge that he should dig two graves; the irony of this statement is not only is the prime minister not on a path of revenge but the statement was made while Mr. Davis issued a subtle threat of vengeance to the prime minister of what his government would do when if they were to win the next general election. One would only assume that Mr. Davis was busy ‘digging graves’ at the time that he penned this letter to the prime minister.
He really must have, because it seems as if Senator Fred Mitchell, unaware of the ‘graves being dug’ – as usual, fell into one. In response to Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis’ address to the nation this past Wednesday, Senator Mitchell comments, “What concerned me about the speech is why do they keep talking down the economy?, Mitchell asked.
This is a rich country. This is not a poor country.
But everything that comes out of their mouth is woe is me…..doom and gloom.”
The irony of is that as the senator calls the country a rich country, he fails to address the economic path that the country has been on during the past administration with high unemployment, a growing national debt, a rising fiscal deficit and four economic downgrades with the possibility on the horizon of another, but I will agree that the country is a rich one but as I admit this I would also need the senator to concede that his government mismanaged the finances of the country and put it in a very precarious position.
When Senator Mitchell says; “So every investor who is looking at will say ‘Oh, my God, we can’t go to The Bahamas, things are terrible there. It’s falling apart.
The government said it is not going to happen and so on and so forth.”
Of course, when Senator Mitchell says that investors will say; “The government said it is not going to happen”, he is being very liberal in his interpretation of what is really being said, where he borders on deception but what is more worrisome about the senator’s comments is the assumptions that he makes of others. Senator Mitchell seems to make the assumption that any investor is too inept, lazy and incompetent to do the necessary research to find out the true economic state of The Bahamas; which would be in my opinion akin to the government of Greece deciding to not tell the international community the moment they went bankrupt and carry on as business as usual hoping no one notice; this approach is not only dangerous and reckless , it is plain stupid.

What Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis has actually done is lay out how things really are, openness and transparency, and begin to lay out a play to fix the problem, with the first step being a 10 percent cut in ALL government expenditure.

My Morning Paper had found that Senator Mitchell has the propensity to act as if he is the smartest person in the room, which may be the case in the Progressive Liberal Party headquarters but not nationally, and therefore treat all others as if they are beneath him intellectually, when in all actuality his ‘intelligence’ has proven to not be that much above ‘normal’; my advice to the the senator; re-evaluate the light in which you tend to see others and therefore treat others; especially those that oppose you as your day of reckoning cometh quickly.

Now while all this is going on Attorney Wayne Munroe has promised to compile a list of alleged questionable conduct by members if the Free National Movement which he promises to present to the new Anti-Corruption Unit of the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) to ‘see what happens’ and now we have the announcement of a national address by the Leader of the Opposition Progressive Party (PLP)  this Monday.  It will be interested to hear what he has to say because it seems that he and his party had little to nothing to say to the public during their 2012-2017 period of governance, now it seems that every time that they see a microphone and camera they get like a kid in a candy store with advise and criticism.

 END

I waited the official response from the opposition Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) and finally got it and they did not disappoint, as the Leader of the Opposition Philip ‘Brave’ Davis seeming to have lost all connection with reality, displayed his and his party’s grand sense of delusion.

“Austerity could trigger recession’ – ‘PLP cautions govt. after PM’s address” – The Nassau Guardian

Excerpt from this article; “Insisting that the first national address by Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis shows the government has no economic growth plan for the country, Opposition Leader Philip ‘Brave’ Davis charged yesterday that  the absence of such a plan with austerity measures announced by Minnis ‘will trigger a double-dip recession.’

During his address, televised on Wednesday night, Minnis announced the government will cut the expenditure of its various ministries by 10 percent, institute a hiring freeze and not renew contracts for emoluments that exceed $100,000 a year.

Minnis also announced that the government will reduce the number of government-owned vehicles and appoint a special committee to advise on state-owned enterprises, with a view to reducing the burden on public finances.

In a statement to the press, Davis said the address underscored that ‘the FNM has no vision, no plan and no ideas for the future and sustained growth and development into a united, resilient and strong Bahamas.”

This statement by Mr. Davis is indeed a very troubling one, as he wishes to accuse the Free National Movement of not having any ideas to move the country forward, economically, while his governing Progressive Liberal Party, from 2007 to 2012, move the country downward, producing four economic downgrades in their five year reign and left many to question to this day where has all the money gone that was borrowed during their stay in power; it is clear that the Mr. Philip ‘Brave’ Dais and the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) have no clue on how to handle the economy.  They had no clue for five years on how to cut government spending; they had no clue on economic stimulation and indeed no clue on job creation and I dare say that IF the Progressive Liberal Party had actually produced the 10,000 jobs as promised that that they claimed to have produced, then the country may not be at this point.

One point which Mr. Davis refuses to address is the simple economic fact that you cannot tax a nation into to prosperity, yet during very ‘dark’ economic times and without the necessary cutbacks his government introduced Value-Added Tax (VAT), they then went on to claim that VAT was exceeding all expectations but yet were unable to give the country a plausible accounting as to where this money was going, as our nation’s national debt and deficit continued to rise to dangerous levels.

It is clear that in his zeal to criticize Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis and the Free National Movement (FNM), that Mr. Davis missed some key points of the prime ministers national address; the first being the necessary cutbacks which will not only reduce our need to borrow but also make the country look more appealing and stable to investors, along with these cost cutting measures was the commitment to aggressively address crime; which also  has been affecting the country’s image to the world.

Mr. Davis instead deflects from these key and salient issues by asserting’ “Further, how will Bahamians, ordinarily absorbed into the public service be otherwise employed?”  Here, Mr. Davis clearly articulates that his government’s job creation plan was the public sector and this is not realistic, the county cannot afford an over bloated public sector.

Yes, there is a need for job creation but it cannot be the public sector and one wonders what happened to the job creating initiatives that brought about companies such as Bahamas Stripping?  Mr. Davis is being very dishonest with the people of the Bahamas to suggest that the present government does not have a plan to move the country forward and to suggest that the present cost cutting measures MAY lead to a recession when he and his government in five years did very little to improve the country’s economic status and to stimulate the job market or even to try to make the country look appealing to the outside investor.

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

END

“Minnister of Pain – PM swings axe to turn around economy’ – The Tribune

Excerpt from this article’ “MAKING good on his promise to slash government spending in an effort t balance the country’s books, Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis last night announced a variety of conservative measures, including  ten percent cut in spending in all government ministries and no new public sector hiring.

In his first televised national address as the nation’s leader, Prime Minister Minnis also said there will be no renewal of contracts for salaries which exceed $100,000 per year.  He said he will ensure his ministers ‘adhere to their budget and to financial constraints.’

He also announced a reduction in government vehicle as a part of a ‘new era of financial discipline.’

Dr. Minnis aid because of the ‘reckless and massive waste by the former administration,’ his government ‘must get out financial house in order.”

Listening to the talk in the market, literally, this morning, I heard one person claim that the hiring freeze is just another form of victimization, while another claim that ‘yes it is the peoples time, time for pain’, obviously a clear reference to The Tribunes headline but the question is just how many people agree with these cost cutting measures and/or even understand exactly what is being proposed.

I know a lot that work in the private sector are quite familiar with what is being proposed, as they are know all too well of the possibility of being laid off if the company finances were to take a turn for a worst and efforts were being made to turn things around and why should the government be any different?

I will admit that I am happy that it is not me that had to do what is clearly necessary to help the country’s economy but never the less; most of what has been proposed is desperately needed by the country and for anyone to say otherwise of for that person to be disingenuous to the persons that they are addressing.

The challenge for the Minnis administration at this time is to actually mean what they say and go about they work, no matter how unpopular the decisions may seem to some.  As they implement these drastic cost cutting measures; they must bring other programs online IMMEDIATELY to stimulate the economy through job creation, as the previous administration promised but was unable to deliver on.

The time for talk has long ended and it is indeed time for action; to show what you are made of, even if you ‘die’ trying to do it.

END

“Minnis won’t meet with Davis – PM dismisses political payback” ” – The Nassau Guardian

Excerpt from this article; “Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis said yesterday that he has nothing to hide and dismissed Opposition Leader Philip Brave Davis’ promise of political retribution over the recent arrests of former Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) parliamentarians.

‘Whoever does wrong will be dealt with, be they PLP, be they FNM’ Minnis told reporters following a tour of the Atlantis Paradise Resort.

‘Once they have done wrong, the law will take its course.  Let the chips fall where they may.  If he has facts then give it to the police.  Don’t tell me about it.  Don’t tell it to the press.  Give it to the police.

As for concerns of whether he may face ‘PLP revenge’, Minnis said, ‘My life is an open book.  I have nothing to hide.  My life is an open book.’

‘My only worry today is that yesterday was my anniversary and I forgot.’

This is Prime Minister Hubert Minnis’ response to a letter sent to him by Leader of the Opposition Philip Brave Davis, which flips back and forth between “I would be the first to agree that where there is a reasonable – I repeat a reasonable suspicion of criminal misconduct, it should be thoroughly and rigorously investigated, including taking into account, however, explanations that may reveal that that was originally suspected to be criminal is in fact, nothing of the sort.”

So is Mr. Davis then seeking to intimate that the charges against the former members of parliament are unjustly brought and thereby unreasonable and are due to such an ‘abuse of power’, thereby promising retribution if and/or when the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) regains control of the government.

First I would like to humbly suggest that the only way to determine if it is ‘nothing of the sort’ would be through a rigorous and thorough investigation and I ask, is that not what is going on at this point?  I get the feeling that Mr. Davis, although claiming to seek justice is wishing to ‘save face’ and appeal to his base by attempting to champion the cause of his comrades and is doing so by playing it out in the media and by suggesting that Prime Minister Hubert Minnis is personally responsible for their arrest but as the prime minister advises Mr. Davis; “Don’t tell me about it.  Don’t tell it to the press.  Give it to the police.”

At the end of the day when all is said and done, what really matters and is of the utmost importance is allowing the investigations to continue by the police ; so as to allow the ‘chips to fall where they may’.  As for the ‘threat’ by Philip ‘Brave’ Davis, calling it what it is,  it would appear that the prime minister’s concerns about that is quite minimal, as it should be, as his only regrets from yesterday is forgetting his wedding anniversary as it should be when you consider the message of the Leader of the Opposition.

END

“Munroe wants FNM’s probed – Lawyer compiling list of names to send to the police” – The Nassau Guardian

Excerpt from this article; “Attorney Wayne Munroe said yesterday he is compiling a list of alleged ‘questionable conduct’ by members of the Free National Movement (FNM), which he said he will present to the new Anti-Corruption Unit.

‘I think what needs to happen, and I am beginning to do it, is to compile a list of all the questionable conduct that has been alleged over time against any existing or former politician, be it someone in the present FNM government or retired, and send it to the police and see if they are evenhanded in investigating, arresting, detaining and questioning those persons,’  Munroe said.

‘The police have established what the threshold for arrest is and the threshold for charge is.’

‘I suspect that if they are going to show that they are being even-handed, that those will be investigated in the same manner as these other ones.”

So far, Munroe said he has compiled a list of six names.  He said he expects the list to grow.

I will offer them information in writing to the new corruption unit, which I will deliver with a delivery receipt, and I will sit and wait and see what happens with the investigations,’ he said.

Munroe says he intends to finish his research by the weekend.”

My Morning Paper questions the motives of Mr. Munroe because his motives and actions tend to imply that he questions the work being done by the Royal Bahamas Police Force’s Anti-Corruption Unit but then he has this right but it is really foolish, in my opinion, for Mr. Munroe to suggest that the recent arrests of former members of parliament of the previous Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) government have been drive by anything more than complaints from private citizens to the police an being investigated by the anti-corruption unit. 

When Mr. Munroe delivers his packet to the police with it be accompanied with the necessary affidavits containing statement and evidence from ‘others’ verifying that the allegations that they present/contain for intend factual or is Mr. Munroe expecting the police to just take his word for it?

What is Mr. Munroe’s motive here?  To put in a list of names and if not supported with the necessary documentation, then label the on-going investigations and pending court trials as another more that a ‘with-hunt’ to hurt the reputation of former PLP member of parliaments?

I personally have no problem with Mr. Munroe putting for a list of names with the necessary supporting information to warrant them being investigated but to only putting forth a list of names without the supporting documentation is only meant to either ‘stir the pot’ and give the opposition Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) the perceived leverage to claim that the investigation are being handles in an  evenhanded manner or even a blatant attempt to intimidate the Free National Movement (FNM) into stopping it’s investigations all together, which is stupid because the investigation are being carried out by the Royal Bahamas Police Force, and this is not the proper way to conduct serious business such as serious as this but exactly what I feel that Mr. Wayne Munroe QC is going to do, he can always prove me wrong.

END

As the Royal Bahamas Police Force’s Anti-Corruption Unit carries out its business of investigating allegations of wrong-doing by members of the previous government, the Leader of the Opposition Progressive Liberal Party (PLP), the Hon. Philip ‘Brave’ Davis, suggests that if he and his party were to win the next general election, their business would be about pay-back.

“PLP promises payback – Davis says day of reckoning is coming for abuses” – The Nassau Guardian

Excerpt from this article; “Opposition Leader Philip Brave Davis has written Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis alleging abuse in relation to recent arrests of former parliamentarians, and warning that where such abuses of power occur, the offending parties, be they police or politicians, need to understand that there will come a day of reckoning for them as well.

‘What goes around comes around,’ Davis wrote.

‘And let me hasten to add that, this is not a threat.  It is instead an immutable law of the moral universe, one that is sometimes expressed in these words: ‘When you set out to dig a grave for your enemy, dig two.’

‘Those who are committing these abuses should therefore understand they cannot do so with impunity. To use your (the PM’s) own words: ‘Where you do wrong and abuse your position there will be consequences.’

Davis also wrote that where an investigation into alleged misconduct of ministers or MP’s is indeed justifiable, it is of first importance that the investigation be conducted by the police in manner that is completely free of political contamination.”

First, I would like to correct Mr. Davis on his reference of ‘grave digging’; the saying goes, “As you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves’ – Confucius.   I feel that it is very important that he gets this correct because it would be wise for the Opposition Leader to pay close attention to it as he now promises ‘payback’ and also he must outline these abuses that he refers to and show where these investigations may not be considered by him and others as ‘justifiable’.

As far as My Morning Paper was aware the investigations have been carried out “by police in manner that is completely free of political contamination”, Mr. Davis seems to be a bit confused as to what is going on here and he seems to be blinded by vengeance for his colleagues.

Mr. Davis, first question I would like to ask you is why is doing what is right being considered an abuse of power.  Of course the irony of it all is that as Mr. Davis ‘warns’ the prime minister that “where such abuses of power occur, the offending parties, be they police or politicians, need to understand that there will come a day of reckoning for them as well”, and this is exactly what is occurring at this time; the “day of reckoning” has come for “abuses of power” by the former Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) government.

Indeed, a day of reckoning is coming for each and every one of us, but as it pertains to the recent arrests of the former parliamentarians under allegations of abuse of public office by virtue of their positions; I would hope that this is a turning point for us as a society/country and that each and every elected official is held to these standards and no matter the side of the political fence, I hope that moving forward we would hold each and every one accountable for whatever

A mere days after being advised by his very own political party colleagues that he needs to remain quiet, some recommending that he needs to resign or be fired immediately as the chairman of the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) with former Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Cabinet Minister, Loftus Roker responding to former PLP MP Philip Galanis’ observations of “..the leadership of the PLP should call for Roberts’ immediate resignation and adding “The party needs to start from starch.

‘We’ve lost our way.  I agree with Mr. Galanis on his observations of Bradley Roberts.

‘I’m not sure he is doing anything to advance the party’; Mr. Bradley Roberts seems to be at it yet again.

“Roberts: ‘Rise up’ against evil of the FNM” – The Nassau Guardian

Excerpt from this article; “Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Chairman Bradley Roberts last night called on supporters to ‘rise up and challenge’ the Minnis administration and take to the “streets, march and demonstrate”.

“I am a strong supporter of law and order but strongly feel that if the witch hunt in not discontinued that we, the supporters of our great party, must rise up and registers our disgust,’ he told supporters at a National General Council meeting.

‘We must take to the streets, march and demonstrate.  We must engage in a letter writing campaign not only to local newspapers editors, but to the United Nations High Commission on Human Rights.

‘Political activism is the most potent form of opposition to bring about change and to put a stop to evil.”

Exactly what is this evil that Mr. Roberts is referring to and to this point, whose human rights has been violated?

The ‘evil’ of investigating persons for allegations of wrongdoing and abuse of public office and holding these persons accountable?

Mr. Roberts, while advocating for civil discourse for ‘evils’ that he seems unable to articulate,  Mr. Roberts claims to be a strong supporter of law and order but has never questioned any malfeasances, clear violation of law and order which occurred during the past Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) administration.  Usually, the good chairman stood to attempt to justify it or deflect away from it, and often chastised those that spoke up/out against the perceived wrongdoings of the last Christie administration, making his statement of believing in law and order hypocritical and duplicitous.

What I would advise of the good chairman, as long as he is chairman, that he should actually find some ‘evil’ that has been perpetrated by the current Minnis administration on which to base your call for social discourse, thereby making it legitimate, because without that, your actions are nothing more than that of a reckless person.

END

“Corruption squad quiz PLP veteran – Frank Smith held overnight in loans probe” – The Tribune

Excerpt from this article; “FORMER Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Senator and member of Parliament Frank Smith was taken into police custody and questioned yesterday in connection with an ongoing fraud probe, The Tribune understands.

Attorney Damien Gomez, who said he is representing Mr. Smith, confirmed the former Public Hospitals Authority (PHA) chairman voluntarily went to the Central Detective Unit (CDU) about 10am Wednesday morning for questioning.

Mr. Gomez, who is also the PLP’s former minister for legal affairs, said Mr. Smith will be held overnight.

In an interview with the press, Mr. Gomez said he is confident that his client will ‘prevail’ in the end.

‘The questions appear superficially to relate to government, they really concern private loans that persons who probably don’t want to pay their lawful debts are now hiding behind a scam.  There is no allegation of bribery and I have no concerns about his innocence,’ Mr. Gomez said outside of CDU.

‘I am confident he will prevail in this……Of course we are concerned that political abuse of power is behind this and will deal with that at the appropriate time.”

My Morning Paper’s very first question is, ‘what private loans’ and what ‘scam’?

It is interesting that Attorney Damien Gomez is representing Mr. Frank Smith against allegations of wrong doing while Smith was a Senator in the Christie administration, after resigning his position from the Christie Cabinet as minister of legal affairs claiming ‘financial considerations’ but leaving many to speculate that it was actually due to a “crisis of conscience”, but be that as it may be he has taken the case on. 

In my opinion, if the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) wishes to call this a ‘political witch hunt’, then I am fine with that.

 It is also my opinion that if the results of on-going forensic audits bring about the necessary investigations that seek to bring people to answer for perceived and/or actual wrong-doings while in positions of governance, thereby setting a tone for a more accountable governmental system moving forward, then I am also fine with that but what I do find very troubling is the fact that as evidence of alleged wrong-doing is uncovered, investigated and persons are brought in to clear up the circumstances surrounding these alleged wrong-doings, the governing Free National Movement (FNM) is now being chastised as abusing their political power; I ask is it not more an abuse of political power to use that power to engage in wrong-doing, a lot of the time at the expense of the Bahamian people?

It is unfortunate that such young and promising political minds may be wasted, as the previous government seemed to have allowed them to do whatever they pleased without fear of consequence, but it is clear that those days have passed as the Royal Bahamas Police Force’s Anti-Corruption Unit has taken over these cases of alleged malfeasances and are doing the necessary investigations to determine guilt or innocence; so for anyone to label the exercise as “a political abuse of power” or a ”witch hunt”, is for that person to not be very honest, not just with the country but also with themselves.

END

“Minnis denies ‘witch hunt’ – ‘We are in the business of transparency” – The Nassau Guardian

Excerpt from this article; “Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis yesterday shut down criticisms that his administration as executing a ‘witch hunt’, as he explained that his government is simply fulfilling one of the Free National Movement (FNM) main campaign promises to push ‘accountability and transparency’ in The Bahamas.

During a tour of the LJM Maritime Academy at the Crystal Cay Marian Park on Monday afternoon, Minnis told the media, ‘We don’t witch hunt’.

‘If you do wrong and are discovered, then ask the public if that is [a] witch hunt.’

‘If you’re discovered doing wrong, then so be it.’

‘That’s what they asked us to do.”

I already see what the very first problem that anyone on side opposite would have with this and that is that is fulfilling a campaign promise; something that the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) as a government seemed to frown upon.

Indeed; this is what was requested of each and every government, to be open, transparent and accountable but it would appear that some persons are actually offended by this being requested of them, as they seem to feel that they should not be accountable or responsible for any wrong-doing that occurred under their tenure.

It is actually a shame that Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis has to address this issue, as there are persons calling a request of openness and accountability of themselves a ‘witch hunt’; the only persons who would claim that the Free National Movement is on a ‘with hunt’, as it changes the course of governance in The Bahamas from ‘business as usual’ and ‘every buck up goes’, would be those that do not believe in transparency and openness in governance

Yes, the course of governance has changed and as Desmond Bannister, Free National Movement (FNM) Member of Parliament for Carmichael says, there must be consequences.

So I guess the message by the prime minister was necessary after all, to let people know that ‘those days’ are over and they are quite welcome to carry that type of behavior elsewhere.

END

“All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing” – Edmund

“Bannister” There must be consequences” – The Nassau Guardian

Excerpt from this article; “Minister of Public Works Desmond Bannister said yesterday that the Minnis administration is not interested in blaming members of the Christie administration for every ill facing the country, but said ‘there must consequences’ for wrong doing.’

‘We are not interested in the blame game, but there must be consequences,’ he said.

‘The Bahamian people want to see consequences for actions if something happened that is wrong, it is important first of all, for us to share with the people.  They want to know.

“They want to know if somebody was sitting in elected office for years and accepting kickback.’

‘They want to know that’

‘Then the second step comes in: they want to know what we are going to do about that.”

In My morning Paper’s opinion, what a lot of people want to know is that while you served in public office, you did all that was in your power to fulfill your promises bring about legislature that bettered the lives of the citizens and bettered the country at large and did not act in a self-serving manner; enriching yourself at their expense – actions such as these in the public’s eyes deserves dire consequences.

We must turn the corner, so to speak, as it relates to accountability, and actually walk the road no matter how rough it may be – there must be consequences.

It has been alleged that the former Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) government, who claim that the present government is on a ‘witch hunt’ as it seeks to bring about accountability, did just this, in that that they enriched themselves at the expense of the public whom they served and the public believes that if after the proper investigations are carried out, and if there are any findings of wrong doing on behalf of any public official past or present, that consequences should follow but of course the interim Leader of the Opposition Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) would hope to convince the public otherwise; while seeming to oppose accountability; “Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Leader Philip Brave Davis said last week that the PLP is not a corrupt party.’

We do not support corruption in any form,’ he said in a message to PLP supporters.

‘The events now before us are designed to sap the will of the PLP and destroy the party.”

So, essentially, the call for accountability and action of bringing about the necessary consequences is only a ‘with hunt’, ‘designed to sap the will of the PLP and destroy the party’; is this the spin that the interim leader of the opposition wishes to bring about the action of bringing accountability to the government of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, then so be it but it seems to speak to a conscience that is not clear.

The truth of the matter a corner is being turned that impacts on the future course of the country and if the Progressive Liberal Party thinks that is all about them, because it affects all political organizations, then a rock must have been thrown.

END