In recent years, the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) has faced significant scrutiny regarding its effectiveness in combating crime, despite its ambitious pledges outlined in the party manifesto. With Prime Minister Philip Davis emphasizing three key priorities—crime, the economy, and education—many expected a strong and proactive response to the escalating crime rates. However, the reality has been far from the promises made.

In its manifesto, the PLP made three bold pledges aimed at addressing the crime crisis that has plagued the nation. These included:

1. Increased Law Enforcement Resources**: Promising to bolster police forces with more officers, funding, and advanced technology to tackle crime more effectively.

2. Community Engagement Programs**: The party committed to creating initiatives focused on community engagement, aiming to build trust between law enforcement and local communities.

3. Legislative Reforms**: The PLP vowed to introduce tougher legislation targeting repeat offenders and enhancing penalties for violent crimes.

Despite these pledges, the party has struggled to deliver on its promises, raising questions about its commitment and ability to implement meaningful change.

In January 2023, Prime Minister Davis then went on to recommit to these previous unfilled promises, he said ; “Economy, crime and education, key areas of focus over the next 12 months” – In this article, Prime Minister Davis once again referred to the Progressive Liberal Party’s (PLP) manifesto, “Blueprint for Change”. In an attempt to further reassure the public that although the crime situation looked dismal he had not forgotten his promise.

All I can say is fool me once………..

Then in the January, 2024, Prime Minister Davis, came back out with an aggressive pronouncement warning criminals; “Bahamas Prime Minister warns criminals, we are coming for you”

When Prime Minister Davis addressed the nation, he highlighted the urgent need for a unified approach to crime, stating, “We are coming for you,” directly aimed at criminals. This fiery rhetoric was intended to bolster public confidence and demonstrate a tough stance on crime. However, the effectiveness of such statements has been undermined by the lack of tangible results and alleged questionable behavior by some members of the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF).

While strong words can rally support and create a sense of urgency, they must be backed by action. The citizens of the nation have not seen a significant reduction in crime rates, nor have they felt the promised increase in safety. This disconnect between rhetoric and reality has led to growing frustration and distrust among the citizens.

While making the bold pronouncement Prime Minister Davis emphasized the importance of the economy and education in his address. However, the interconnection between these issues cannot be overlooked. High crime rates often stem from socioeconomic challenges, including lack of education and limited job opportunities.

The PLP’s failure to address these underlying issues has further compounded the crime problem. Without a holistic approach that includes economic development and educational initiatives, the fight against crime cannot be won. The party’s inability to integrate its crime-fighting strategies with broader social reforms has left many feeling that the promises made were merely political rhetoric rather than a genuine plan for change.

As the PLP continues to navigate its challenges, it is crucial for party leaders to reflect on the commitments made and the expectations set. The fight against crime requires not just pledges, but a sustained effort, innovative strategies, and accountability for results, none of which we have seen to date.

The citizens deserve to see real progress in their safety and security, and it is the responsibility of the PLP to ensure that their promises translate into meaningful action. Moving forward, a renewed focus on community engagement, economic development, and educational reform will be essential in restoring faith in the party’s ability to combat crime effectively.

In the coming months, it will be vital for the PLP to demonstrate that they can transform their pledges into action, or risk totally losing the trust of the very people they aim to protect but on their current course, they do not seem to be headed in the right direction.

The Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) continues to fail for one reason, it is their nature.

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#THENEWDAYOLDWAYPLP

This past week, the Bahamian people were treated to another display of confusion from the New Day, Old Way, Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) government. It’s like they’re on a mission to baffle and disappoint us at every turn.

First on the agenda was the passing of the Cannabis Bill. Now, if you were able to understand it, you were left very disappointed.  But for the rest of us mere mortals, it was a mind-boggling disappointment. I mean, what did we really expect from the source of this legislation?

And then there’s the situation at Bahamas Power and Light (BPL). The government is all gung-ho about signing over 50% of the power company to some new private group that has teamed up with a foreign power company. They’re calling it a “transformation” of the power company, but please, let’s not use the word “privatization.” Because, you know, it’s not privatization if we say it isn’t, right?

What’s truly amazing is that these grand plans seem to conveniently forget about the people who will actually be doing the work to bring about this so-called “transformation.” It’s as if they believe it will magically happen without any input from the hardworking individuals who keep the lights on.

But let’s move on to the real gem of the week – Prime Minister Philip Davis K.C.’s disclosure that his government has entered into an agreement with a non-profit to potentially sue firearm dealers. Yes, you heard that right. They want to sue the National Rifle Association (NRA) for illegal guns on our streets. Because, apparently, the United States government itself has been totally incapable of holding the NRA accountable for gun violence on their own turf, just let that sink in a minute.

Now, I’m not saying this because it’s a PLP initiative. No, no. I’m saying this because it makes absolutely no sense and has the potential to cost us taxpayers a boatload of money. The gun manufacturers have the backing of the NRA, and the United States government has failed miserably in reining them in. So why on earth does our government think they can succeed where the USA has failed?

And let’s not forget the needless risks involved in this case. If the Bahamas government’s lawsuit is unsuccessful, guess who’s left holding the bag? That’s right – us taxpayers. We’ll be on the hook for our own legal fees and those of the non-profit. Talk about a fool’s errand.

Instead of wasting our hard-earned money on this misguided venture, why not invest in social programs for our youth? Especially our young men who are in desperate need of guidance and support. Let’s teach them the value of human life and provide them with anger management skills. And while we’re at it, let’s also reach out to the parents who may be struggling to deal with difficult situations.

Suing the United States is not a “Brave” move; it’s a futile one. I’d really love to know who is advising Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis on this matter. Are they convincing him that this actually makes sense? Or is he trying to prove to the United States that he’s just as “brave” as they are? Either way, it’s a clear demonstration of the PLP’s nature – a nature that fails us time and time again.

So, let’s put an end to this fool’s errand and focus on initiatives that will actually benefit our country and its people. It’s time for the PLP to step up and lead with intelligence, not confusion.

END

#THENEWDAYOLDWAYPLP

In today’s edition of the My Morning Paper, we look into the recent statements made by National Security Minister, the Hon. Wayne Munroe, and his affiliation with the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP). Upon closer examination, it becomes evident that there may be a larger issue at hand than initially perceived.

To understand the context, it is important to explore the reasons behind Mr. Munroe’s departure from the Democratic National Alliance (DNA) to join the PLP. An article from The Tribune on September 10, 2015, sheds light on this matter. In the article, Mr. Munroe explains that he aligned himself with the PLP because he believes their philosophy is more aligned with the future direction of The Bahamas.

While Mr. Munroe’s rationale for joining the PLP may seem plausible, it is worth noting that the party’s philosophy has deviated from its original principles over time. The New Day Progressive Liberal Party government, which they claim to represent, often exhibits a sense of infallibility. Any criticism directed towards them is either attributed to external factors or dismissed as a misunderstanding. The discrepancy between the party’s stated philosophies and their actual practices raises questions about their effectiveness in governing.

The issue at hand is further highlighted in a recent article from The Tribune, titled “Munroe says he always had faith in police force.” The article discusses Mr. Munroe’s shifting stance on the ability of the police to investigate themselves. Prior to assuming his role as National Security Minister, Mr. Munroe advocated for independent investigations of police-involved killings. However, after assuming office, he expressed unwavering support for the police’s ability to handle such matters, despite public skepticism.

The contrasting positions taken by Mr. Munroe raise concerns. Why should his tone drastically change now that he has the authority to effect change? Furthermore, what concrete changes has he brought about in his role as National Security Minister?

It appears that Mr. Munroe’s alignment with the PLP is based on philosophies that the party itself has already abandoned since the departure of the Dissent Eight. This group, including one individual who refused to be a “yes man” to the party leader and prime minister at the time, Sir Lynden, signifies a significant shift in the PLP’s values.

It is clear from Mr. Munroe’s statements that he has fully embraced the “new” ways of the PLP and has become a staunch supporter of their agenda. However, this raises concerns about his objectivity and independence, as he appears to be a “yes man” for the New Day government. The resemblance between the current government and the “Old PLP” cannot be ignored.

It is worth noting that the Minister of National Security should exercise caution and restraint in his public statements. More often than not, his attempts to showcase his intelligence only serve to embarrass himself and potentially undermine the credibility of the PLP. The underlying nature of the Progressive Liberal Party seems to be the root cause of their failures.

Let me end here, the affiliation of National Security Minister Wayne Munroe with the Progressive Liberal Party raises questions about the party’s values, the alignment of its members, and the effectiveness of its governance. The contradictions and inconsistencies in Mr. Munroe’s positions further highlight the need for transparency and accountability within the party.

END

#THENEWDAYOLDWAYPLP

Behold the grand spectacle of the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) and its unwavering devotees, who proclaim with fervor that this political powerhouse, established 71 years ago in 1953, has never faltered—a feat truly worth marveling at.

Today, the Chairman of the PLP, the indomitable Fred Mitchell, known to some as “Snagglepuss”, has unleashed his fury upon the organizers of the Vertical Blue free diving competition, staunchly defending the party’s impeccable track record.

The competition, a fixture at Dean’s Blue Hole on Long Island for the past 16 years, has been abruptly suspended due to the island’s woeful infrastructure, as lamented by Director William Trubridge.

Trubridge painted a grim picture, stating, “It is now common for utilities to have outages for the majority of the day, occasionally for weeks on end. Roads have deteriorated to the point where it is unsafe for them to be driven on. Where there were once three commercial airlines servicing the island, with a minimum of two flights a day, there is now a single inconsistent carrier that … is often booked out.”

One might have expected the New Day government to spare no effort in preserving such a prestigious event in The Bahamas, particularly given its alignment with the Blue and Orange economy initiatives outlined in the government’s manifesto. But alas, the Chairman, in his unwavering loyalty to the party and the government, chose to shield their reputation at all costs—even if it meant sacrificing the event. As always, the blame is deflected, and the PLP remains unblemished and infallible since its inception in 1953.

The Nassau Guardian reports on Mitchell’s scathing response to the canceled freedive event on Long Island, where he absolves the government of any culpability. Mitchell dismisses Trubridge’s concerns as the grievances of a failed promoter seeking to shift blame onto The Bahamas for his own shortcomings.

Trubridge’s letter cited a litany of infrastructure woes on Long Island, including power and water outages, decrepit roads, and limited flight options hindering athlete travel. Despite the significant economic contribution of the event to Long Island, Trubridge lamented the government’s lack of support and basic infrastructure upkeep.

It would have been reasonable to expect the government to address these issues, not only for the benefit of event organizers and participants but also for the residents of Long Island. Yet, Mitchell’s unwavering defense of the government’s honor persists, even as critical voices grow louder.

In a puzzling turn, Mitchell veers off course to address the case of missing American transgender woman Taylor Casey, diverting attention from the pressing issues at hand. His failure to acknowledge and address the reasons behind the event’s cancellation only underscores his unsuitability for frontline politics.

As the PLP continues to stumble due to its inherent nature, one cannot help but question the party’s leadership and its priorities. In a realm where accountability and responsibility are scarce commodities, the Progressive Liberal Party stands as a stark reminder of the perils of unchecked power and hubris.

The PLP fails for one reason, it is their nature.

End.

It is being reported that Prime Minister Philip Davis; Secret Squirrel, has directed the appointment of a foreign independent investigator the inquiry into allegations against Chief Superintendent Michael Johnson, officer if charged of the Criminal Department.

My first thought is to enquire whether Secret Squirrel is only now finding out about these allegations, which would not surprise many, but we know that he has been aware of this developing saga, so my other thought is that he has been forced to act based on the negative attention that this story is getting especially since the shooting of the self-appointed “whistle blower” this past weekend.

“Accusation involving senior officer terribly disturbing” – The Tribune

Excerpt from this article; “PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis said he found voice notes purporting to capture a quid-pro-quo arrangement involving a senior police officer and a gang leader “terribly disturbing”.

“We want to ensure that we restore the confidence of Bahamian people in our police force because there are many good police officers that are doing a wonderful job in protecting our property, our lives, and our country and citizens,” he exclusively told The Tribune Tuesday night. “We need to ensure that we get to the bottom of whatever the tapes mean, and to ensure the confidence, I’m advised that they will be calling in assistance so that there will be not only a semblance but an actual independent review.”

Mr. Davis said he could not give more information about the involvement of foreign investigators.

“I’m leaving that to the investigators, and I want them to set the parameters, but I want to make sure that what happened, that we get to the bottom of it all and that the confidence of the Bahamian people in the police force has been restored,” he said.

He said it is “quite alarming” that many Bahamians do not trust the police force to investigate the matter probably because it involves a senior officer.

“We have to appreciate that we’re all humans, we make mistakes, we have to understand what’s going on and where the bad apples exist, we have to weed them out,” he said. “The overall goal is to find the truth and let the chips fall where they may and any persons who are culpable, they should be brought to justice.”

First it is interesting the prime minister finds it “quite alarming’ that many Bahamians do not trust the police force to investigate the matter, maybe it is time that someone brings him up to speed on the fact that a lot of Bahamians simply do not trust the police. Then there is this last paragraph which is a bit unsettling; the prime minister first states that “we all makes mistakes” but as if he is suggesting that the country be more understanding of such instances but then goes on to say what most of the country is already saying; “weed them out” and bring them to justice, so all of the eloquent verbiage is very unnecessary.

So, while the Secret Squirrel was leading us to where we already were; his Chairman and Minister for Foreign Affairs; Fred Mitchel [Snagglepuss], was busy seeming to undermine the prime minister with his own message, which was simply one to contradict the Hon. Michael Pintard, the Leader of the Opposition; Free national Movement (FNM) – or in other words, simply being the ball of contradiction that Snagglepuss has become known to be.

“Mitchell dismisses calls for commission of inquiry into police operations” – The Nassau Guardian

Excerpt from this article;

“The Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) was “read the riot act” over serious allegations that led to the head of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Chief Superintendent Michael Johnson being sent on garden leave pending an investigation, Minister of Foreign Affairs Fred Mitchell said yesterday.

Mitchell said the country’s leaders are taking the claims seriously but dismissed calls from the Free National Movement (FNM) for a commission of inquiry or for foreign law enforcement agencies to step in and investigate.

“We are now faced with a set of allegations [that] go to the root of law enforcement capabilities,” said Mitchell in a voice note released on Independence Day.

“We have gone down this road before and one thing we know is that in order to achieve justice and equity, you don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater.

“The government has been looking into the performance of the force since it came to office. Looking at its management, looking at its future and where it’s headed.

“… Our friends in the FNM always have this knee-jerk reaction to call in foreigners to clean up the mess. But we may say this: this is The Bahamas.

“When we accepted the responsibility of independence, we took on the responsibility of managing and solving our own problems. The rules in this matter have so far been followed and they will be followed. The decisions must be evidence-based and not by some cockamamie suppositions and conjecture.”

Indeed, Mr. Mitchell we have accepted the responsibility of independence and managing and solving our own problems but there are instances where outside help is needed and/or, to avoid the appearance of impropriety and conflict of interest and I think that even you would understand understands this concept but there seems to be such a great distain for the opposition that you are willing to go against your very own leader and “throw the baby out with the bath water”, exactly what you accuse the leader of the opposition of doing; so just contrary, even to commonsense.

As the chairman of the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) seems to not see the potential tremendous backlash of this entire situation; the international papers are now erroneously binding the Taylor Casey case and to the allegations of corruption in in the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF); the very tenuous link being that the police force is so corrupt it is unable to conduct a proper investigation.

 It would appear that the chairman of the PLP’s great distain for the opposition Free National Movement (FNM), and him attempting to ‘save’ the PLP from “them”, has him so blinded that he would even risk the reputation of The Bahamas and just like that the “baby and the bathwater gone out the window.

The Progressive Liberal Party fails for one reason, it is their nature; maybe now two, because of the myopic and bitter approach that its chairman has taken to politics.

END

“Ah, relief at last! Families can finally afford groceries, school supplies, and other essentials without breaking the bank,” declared Prime Minister Philip Davis, aka Secret Squirrel. The money saved will be funneled back into local businesses, giving the economy a much-needed boost. Sounds great, right?

Let’s rewind a bit. When the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) took office, there was this nifty fuel hedging program in place at BPL. It was a sweet deal, letting The Bahamas buy fuel at a fixed, lower cost. But then, the New Day PLP government came in almost three years ago and, in their infinite wisdom, decided not to renew this program. Surprise, surprise—electricity costs soared! At first, they played dumb, but eventually, they had to own up to the blunder. By then, though, the damage was done.

Fast forward to today, and the same New Day PLP government is telling everyone, “Check your bills at the end of July.” Oh, joy.

Now, not to be labeled “ungrateful” for the umpteenth time today, but I’ve got a couple of burning questions. First off, what exactly is this magical plan that the New Day government and the Minister for Energy and Transport, Jobeth Colbey-Davis (aka Theodora Elphaba), have cooked up to lower our energy costs?

The devil is always in the details; maybe they are trying to save us from these “devils” by now sharing these details and maybe we should be grateful for the kind consideration of our souls.

And second, will these new rates actually be lower than what we had under the old fuel hedging program, courtesy of the former Free National Movement (FNM) administration?

The last thing we want—scratch that, the very last thing we want—is to feel like we’ve been swung by our “caring government” in some crafty con. Imagine if they let our bills skyrocket just to bring them back down to where they originally were under the hedging program, all so they could claim, “Look, another campaign promise fulfilled!” That, my friends, would be downright wicked and deceitful.

END