The Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) is a total and complete contraction of itself but yet they still expect right thinking Bahamians to keep up with their contradictions; see though them and support them.

Just this past week we have had two contradictions; beginning with the contradiction at Bahamas Power and Light (BPL) concerning debt owed to the company and the reduction of rates and ending with the contraction at the National Insurance Board (NIB) concerning rate increases.

“Coleby-Davis: $1 billion needed to fix BPL” – The Nassau Guardian

Excerpt from this article;

“The government needs over $1 billion to address the challenges at Bahamas Power and Light (BPL), Minister of Energy and Transport Jobeth Coleby-Davis advised in the House of Assembly on Wednesday.

“BPL has over $500,000 million in debt,” she said as she contributed to the mid-year budget debate.

“Yes, that’s right, over half $1 billion and counting. “It owes banks. It owes the government and the employees’ pension is underfunded by $120 million.

Big change is needed.

“BPL operates 29 power stations on 17 islands,” she continued. “Over the next five years, BPL will need an investment of over $500 million to upgrade its infrastructure.

“That’s $300 million in new generation in New Providence and in the Family Islands; $130 million in transmission and distribution in New Providence in the next two years alone; $35 million in advance metering infrastructure and $70 million in other costs.

“To fix BPL: we need over $500 million to address debts and over $500 million to upgrade and improve aged and deteriorated infrastructure. That’s over $1 billion.

“We must fix BPL. We must rescue this sector.”

Here we have the “good” minister speaking to the dire straits that we have found ourselves in as it concerns BPL but promising lower electricity rates but just stopping just short of explaining to us just how the New Day Government proposes to pull of such a feat – PLP Obeah?

The question is if the cooperation is in dire need of money to survive, as the “good minister” would suggest, just how is the New Day government proposing to lower rates by summer of 2024?

The only thing that the “good” minister has been able to tell us to date concerning the restructuring of Bahamas Power and Light (BPL) is that “BPL is not for sale”, okay, but we still would like to know what are the plans of the person that are now going to be “managing” BPL, surely there must be some idea of what they are coming in to do and how they set about to achieve this.

I can already hear some saying “dese people does complain about erryting, but I really am not…I would just like to know the government’s plan.

AND THEN…

Then we have the contradiction at the National Insurance Board, but this is a repeat of what occurred under the former minister over seeing this board.

April 14, 2022 NOT AT THIS TIME: Davis says NIB contributions hike will be a “last resort”- “Eyewitness News” – April 12 20222

Excerpt from this article;

“NASSAU, BAHAMAS — A day after Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister Myles LaRoda foreshadowed a 1.5-2 percent increase in National Insurance Board (NIB) contributions within the next year, Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis said the measure will be a “last resort” so as not to place an additional burden on the backs of Bahamians until the government can provide some relief.”

“Govt. in conflict on NIB increase” The Nassau Guardian – March 8, 2024

Excerpt from this article;

“Hours after Minister of Immigration and National Insurance Alfred Sears announced in Parliament yesterday that the national Insurance rate would increase by 15 percent starting July 1, 2024 and would rise by 1.5 percent every two years for the next 20 years, the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) said no decision has made beyond the July 2024 increase.”

Two obvious questions; if this is the “last resort”, what other alternative were considered and tried and; what/where is the “relief” that the New Day government promised?

Moving past the fact that the Progressive Liberal Party has already been through this “song and dance” with us before concerning the rise in NIB rates; there seemed to be a logic behind the facts as laid out by the Minister Sears but the Minister of Finance claims to not think so by indicting that no long term decision has been made yet.

I hope that he realizes that this only adds to the frustration of the masses, who have been making the adjustment mentally but now do not know what the Office of The Prime Minister is planning long term.

This is what we have had from our government this past week; in one case they total contradict themselves leaving most to wonder if they really know what they are doing and on the other hand offering clarifications to situations that leave them less transparent than before – is this their intent?

They must know that in the absence of evidence, people are left to speculate and even when evidence is abound they will still speculate; the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) were masters at this in opposition but now since their own tactic is being used against them, they cry foul.

My response to them in my best Fred Mitchell voice “boo hoo”.

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

END

“PLP: The only party that can deliver” – The Bahama Journal
Excerpt from this article; “It’s been a trend since 2002. After every term, Bahamians change governments but the narrative from the current Progressive Liberal Party government is if you want real progress at least two terms will be required to truly meet the people’s needs.
PLP Chairman Fred Mitchell has said that the Davis Administration will need at least two terms to accomplish all that it has promised in its manifesto ‘The Blueprint for Change’.
Now Prime Minister Philip ‘Brave’ Davis speaking at the Carmicheal Constituency branch meeting on Wednesday night is also making the call for voters to give them a second term.
PLP members and supporters in attendance let the prime minister know that they are ready to go to work on the campaign trail. However, he told them ‘there is still a way to go’ before they need to hit the ground.
Prime Minister Davis spoke on a number of topics including housing again reminding how his administration has built more affordable homes in their two and a half years compared to the Minnis administration.”

Indeed, the Davis administration has a way to go before they can hit the road; they first have to accomplish something worth note worthy and not just simply “riding the wave” by completing the initiatives of the Minnis administration before it and shamelessly taking credit for it, but I guess the argument that governments are continuous will be applied by their best pundits, so leave that there and move on.

Chairman Fred Mitchell speaks to their narrative being that they will need two terms to bring about any meaningful change as they campaign for a second term, something that has been their goal from winning the last election. Their goal has been to have Davis be the first prime minister to have back to back terms since Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham; so what if they have mislead the public to make this happen?

So, they do not and cannot speak to their narrative littered with political propaganda, lies and hatred; all aimed at creating separation within the public and to deflect away from their current course of failure.

Now whenever anyone from the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) from its leader down to any one of its supporters makes such a bold pronouncement as; “PLP: The only party that can deliver”, I find it very funny. 

So what does one use to back up such a bold pronouncement?

“The Prime Minister not only boasted about his administration accomplishments in home building but the recent removal from the European Union (EU) blacklist for countries considered tax havens; an increase in salary for nurses, teachers and public servants; and the raising of the national minimum wage.”

To this I asked and have been asking for quite some time now; how has the Davis administration proven that the reduction in value-Added tax (VAT) but the addition of VAT to breadbasket items and medications helped the average working man or woman?

We are still mindful of the mess made at Bahamas Power and Light (BPL), that the prime minister and the former minister that oversaw that corporation both denied making, that has resulted in the highest power bills that most of us have seen in our life time,

So the question  to  the bold pronouncement of , “PLP: The only party that can deliver”, is deliver what  and exactly what has been delivered to date?

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

END

The New Day Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Government seems to want to move the more serious and concerning news from the front page and replace them with more upbeat news; more like the travels of the prime minister I can only imagine.

“PM: KEEP MURDERS OFF THE FRONT PAGE – Davis says local press coverage of killings harming tourism” – The Tribune

Excerpt from this article; “PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis criticized local press coverage of the crime rate yesterday, saying prominent reporting of murders has a ricochet effect that is harming the tourism sector.

His comments quickly drew attention to the Progressive Liberal Party’s infamous decision to erect billboards around New Providence highlighting the murder rate under the last Ingraham administration, a move Mr. Davis defended, despite fear that it would deter tourists.

The PLP erected billboards around New Providence highlighting the murder rate under the last Ingraham administration.

The country’s murder rate has repeatedly grabbed headlines this year and sparked travel advisories from the United States and Canada. Mr. Davis said concern is growing about the nature of media coverage of the incidents and the potential tourism fallout.

“Right now, the hotels are seeing some fall off, but more importantly, those who are in the hotels today, they’re not coming out into the community,” he said yesterday during a meeting with religious leaders.

“They’re not going to the restaurants, for example. They’re not going sightseeing as they used to.”

Mr. Davis urged the press to understand their role in maintaining the country’s reputation. He said other countries give less prominence to certain crimes than the local media does.

“I want to call upon the press to be sensitive,” he said.”

“The country’s murder rate has repeatedly grabbed headlines this year” and only to think that we are only in February, if we do not get a serious hold on this matter then we may end up with a very situation.

Now Prime Minister Davis comes out and must admit that the serious crime rate is affecting the ‘Golden Egg”, a fact that most of us knew would be the consequences just through simple logical deduction.

To be totally honest, Prime Minister Philip E. Davis K.C. really concerns some persons with some of the statements that he has made, like asking us to accept as fact that he did not appreciate, at the time, the ramifications or even possible ramifications of the now infamous “Murder Boards” on the tourism product;

“Yesterday, Mr. Davis said: ‘That the past: I am looking forward.’

“What I am saying now is, I now have evidence that this is impacting how it’s accepted in the international community.  I didn’t have evidence then on how it is accepted, and now that I know how it is accepted, I will say to the press, just be responsible in how you report to ensure that you don’t harm your country.”

Is he for one moment intimating that for a moment that he was too ignorant to be able to make the logical link between the rise in crime and the fallout in tourism?

If he had not become prime minister and had not been out in this situation, would he never have had someone make the logical link for him?

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

END

They say that if you elect a clown, then expect a circus; well it would appear that the people elected a squad of clowns and not seem shocked and dismayed that we now a full blown Carnival.

“Munroe hopeful crime ‘spurt’ soon behind us” – The Nassau Guardian

Excerpt from this article; “Minister of National Security Wayne Munroe yesterday expressed confidence that the Royal Bahamas Police Force will soon be able to get a grip on the crime wave impacting New Providence, and pointed out that there have been similar periods in the past where such “spurts” have happened.

“What people overlook is every year you have spurts, you know, and if you sit with police, they show you how one thing is inter-related to the other, and it’s like a fire that burns intensely, and then you have lulls, and so last year, I believe March, April was the period, and it happens that it’s the beginning of the year, and it may be as the police adapt then that quells it,” said Munroe, after police reported a series of shootings on the weekend.

Two men were shot dead in separate incidents, and there were four other shootings since Friday that resulted in individuals being taken to hospital.

Since the start of the year, 22 murders have been recorded in The Bahamas – 21 in New Providence and one in Abaco.

After 22 murders were recorded in March 2022, Clayton Fernander (the now commissioner of police) called it “one of the highest months ever in history”.

Munroe said yesterday law enforcement authorities and the government are constantly looking at ways to strengthen the fight against crime.

“Right now, they’ve come to me. We’ve come up with some ideas that we’re going to be moving forward with,” he said, referring to the police.

“Some of it involves getting more technology.”

Most of the killings have been retaliatory or gang involved murders, he said, noting that in one recent case where three men shot dead another man, at least 80 rounds of ammunition were fired.

Munroe pointed to a statement he made in 2013 that there is no silver bullet to stop a “generation of killers’’.

“Unfortunately, if you don’t stem the recruitment for the gangs, then you can continue to have a surge so we can get anxious, but if we concentrate to stop recruitment, that’s the medium, short and long-term solution because as this violence continues people get arrested, people get remanded and all of that,” he said yesterday.

“When you continue to have new recruits and there are people to get involved in it, if you cut off the recruitment there’s a limited pool, and eventually you will get a grip on it because as people glorify it, as the new people come in, it continues to spawn recruits and as you get the recruits, then the recruits, their parents, their families, and then it becomes a culture.”

“Hope for the best but plan for the worst”, remember being on Fort Campbell Army Base in Kentucky, and hearing this but I am sure that I that I heard it before spending time at that U.S. Army Base. 

As we listen to the Minister of national Security address the escalating violent “spurt” that has rocked the country seemingly from the beginning of this year; you get the sense that he is suggesting that if we were to leave things long enough; let them run their course, then they will eventually go away – I guess he is taking the same stance to this that he took to COVID-19, but of course a responsible government should not and could not take such a reckless and dangerous stance.

While he seems to be suggesting this. It appears that the prime minister is now telling the people that crime is social problems and is everyone’s problems to solve; while this is indeed true; a truth that Munroe and the Davis seems to remember as their convenience – dey like play forget ya see. I would just like to remind them that it was the very case when he was erecting the now infamous “Murder Boards”, probably during one of these very same periods of a “surge” as the Hon. Wayne Munroe would have it, but then blaming it on the FNM government at the time and justifying it by suggesting that the government was unable to control the “surge” of violent crime and as the leader of the opposition at the time, he was duty bound to let the truth be known.

Now the show is on the other foot and probably one size to small and the Minister of National Security is now asking us to hold hands and pray that it simply goes away because to date him nor anyone under his charge has presented a viable solution to the mitigation of the surge of violent crime.

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

END

On January 5^th 2024, Fred Mitchell, Chairman of the governing Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) made the following statement, “We oppose FOIA idea”, the rest of us can only surmise that the “we” to whom he referred was and is the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP), as a political organization and as a government.

The Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) then almost immediately issued a press release on the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), it was when two statements met one another that mass confusion begun, like the Abbot and Costello’s famous back and forth of “Who’s on first?”

We oppose FOIA idea” – The Nassau Guardian; 5^th January 2024

Excerpt from this article;

“Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Chairman Fred Mitchell said yesterday the Davis administration “opposes” the idea of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), claiming it’s nothing more than “a bunch of public relations” because there is no issue with access to information in The Bahamas.

Mitchell’s comment came amid a renewed discussion over the pending full implementation of the act, which was passed in 2017.

“We oppose this Freedom of Information Act idea,” Mitchell said.

“The FNM has this view; they’ve passed something called the Fiscal Responsibility Act, the Procurement Act, the Freedom of Information Act; all of these things really have nothing to do with ordinary lives versus just a bunch of public relations, accounting procedures and confusing activity with action.”

My first question was who this “we” that the chairman referred of, but this was answered when he said, “……the Davis administration “opposes” the idea of the Freedom of Information Act” (FOIA) and with that being established, it would be safe to conclude that Mr. Mitchell is also conceding and presenting as fact that the Davis “New Day government” administration is opposed to transparent and accountable governance.

Mr. Mitchell then attempt to justify this concession with the very heavy assumption of “….these things really have nothing to do with ordinary living”; but if Mr. Mitchell truly feels that giving the ordinary citizen the “tools” necessary to hold this government or any other government accountable, then my assessment of him is correct; which is he has long passed his “usefulness” as an elected official and should retire immediately!

Then there is the issue of the statement issued by the Office of The Prime Minister on January 5th 2024; “Statement from the Office of the Prime Minister on the Freedom of Information Act”.

Excerpt from this article; “The Office of the Prime Minister wishes to make clear the Davis administration’s commitment to the implementation of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)

Minister Mitchell, in a recent Nassau Guardian affirmed that the government is actively moving forward with the FOIA’s implementation”,  but this is not what Mr. Mitchell said and if it continues with this disjointed back and forth, the people may soon come to the conclusion that someone is lying, because as soon as people were beginning to believe the prime minister and condemning Mr. Mitchel for putting the Davis New Day administration in such a predicament; the prime minister made it clear he is willing to save Mitchell at all cost, even his own credibility.

“PM says Mitchell didn’t say what he indeed said” – The Nassau Guardian – January 11, 2024.

Except from this article, “Though Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Chairman Fred Mitchell told reporters last week that the government opposes the idea of a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), Prime Minister Philip Davis wrongly claimed yesterday that Mitchell did not say this.

Last week, Davis told reporters that the full implementation of FOIA, though a campaign promise of the PLP, was not a pressing issue for the government at this time.

Mitchell, when asked about the matter a day later, said the PLP opposes the idea of FOIA.”

So what the prime minister would wish to have the country believe what Mitchell actually meant was that the full implantation of the Freedom of Information Act; the Procurement Act and the Fiscal Responsibility Acts are not priorities for the New Day Government at this time and not what Mitchell really said and meant of them not being important at all.

It is odd that at the same time that the chairman of the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) would tell us that the FOIA is of no consequence because it does not impact the lives of the average Bahamian citizen and the prime minister would try to tell us that they are looking to implement the FLOA “soon”, we actually have a situation which suggests that sooner is better than later and that Fred Mitchell’s view is absolutely absurd.

“GOVT, BROKE WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTION” – The Tribune

Except from this article; “A TOP civil servant is alleging the government violated the Freedom of Information’s by “intimidating” and “sidelining her after she sought to highlight ‘wrongdoing’.

Antoinette Thompson permanent secretary in the then Ministry of Transport and Housing until she was p[lace on ‘unrecorded leave’ in April 2023, is now2 seeking ‘exemplary’ and ‘aggravated’ damages for alleged breached of that law and the Public Finance Management Act after the government sought to ‘punish’ her for drawing attention to alleged ‘clear acts of public malfeasance.”

It would just appear that this New Day government just cannot help itself as it “set things right” to the advantage of the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP)

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

END

Last year ended with a question being suggested by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The question suggested, as the IMF warned that the fiscal deficit is likely to be almost three times higher than the government’s forecast, based on the government’s 2023-2024 budget projections; was where is the government’s revenue going?  Exactly how is it being spent?

Then we had the Leader of the Opposition, Free National Movement (FNM) calling on the government to ensure that the Fiscal Responsibility Council be given the necessary tools to carry out its statutory duties of independently assessing the government’s fiscal plans and performance, it would appear that this council has not had these “tools” to produce a report since the New Day government came to office.

Now it would appear that the New Day Government is attempting to shift its priorities and it now says that its “new” priority is going to be to address the high cost of living in The Bahamas and how it effects in the working class and the lower class.  I feel that the New Day Government must first admit to how they contributed to this high cost of living through mishaps like the fuel hedge fund debacle and how the cost of energy is now having a negative effect on some small businesses?

There were those amongst us that warned that the New Day Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) government was the very same Old PLP Progressive Liberal Party (PLP). This has been proven today as fact as the chairman of the PLP removes another layer of deception from their cloak of lies used to become government.

“’We oppose FOIA idea” – The Nassau Guardian

Excerpt from this article;

“Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Chairman Fred Mitchell said yesterday the Davis administration “opposes” the idea of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), claiming it’s nothing more than “a bunch of public relations” because there is no issue with access to information in The Bahamas.

Mitchell’s comment came amid a renewed discussion over the pending full implementation of the act, which was passed in 2017.

“We oppose this Freedom of Information Act idea,” Mitchell said.

“The FNM has this view; they’ve passed something called the Fiscal Responsibility Act, the Procurement Act, the Freedom of Information Act; all of these things really have nothing to do with ordinary lives versus just a bunch of public relations, accounting procedures and confusing activity with action.”

One thing that Mr. Mitchell will soon come to understand that as it relates to the New Day Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) government; no one will confuse “activity with action”, because there has been a lot of activity under this New Day Government – the House being prorogued, a few Cabinet Shuffles and new appointments but yet today this activity has not brought about any action, other than to waste time and taxpayers money.

When the New Day Government first said that the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA) was not a priority and that they were more focused on the effects of the cost of living was having of the lesser amongst us; I wondered if they were only now realizing that there was hardships due to the high cost of living and that some of their early initiative were actually contributing to these problem.

Mr. Mitchell further says; “We oppose the Freedom of Information Act.  The FNM has this view, they have passed something called [the] Fiscal Responsibility Act, the Freedom of Information Act and the Procurement Act.  All of these things have nothing to do with people’s ordinary lives”.  While tis statement by itself may be true, taken while applying the rules of responsible governance; they are very important – especially to the people with the ordinary lives.

What I see is a government that is fighting against being accountable to the people that elected them to be accountable.

I see a government that sees itself as above and beyond the law; as several of these acts have been [passed and enacted and the New Day Progressive Liberal Party government seems to have simply ignored them and done as they pleased.

So one were to go by the tone of chairman of the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP); the Freedom of Information Act will never become law and the Fiscal Responsibility Act will never see the light of day. 

Leaving the country defenseless against any government in power and there will be no legal way to enquire about a government as to why it it’s spending is outpacing it’s income and where is this money actually being spent?

END

Sometimes the best thing that a person can do is strip something that does not seem to be working properly back now to its bear essences and totally rebuild it.

This may be the point where the Free National Movement (FNM) finds itself again as a political organization, the question is can they undergo and survive a “rebuild” at this time to ready themselves in the eyes of the public and garner support to win the next general election?

 “Bannister calls for FNM convention – Former minister writes to FNM leader” – The Nassau Guardian

Excerpt from this article;

“As tensions continue to mount in the Free National Movement (FNM), former FNM Minister Desmond Bannister in an open letter to FNM Leader Michael Pintard yesterday urged him to call a convention.

Bannister wrote, “… I am respectfully urging you to call a national convention for the party at the earliest possible date.

“Any convention will be a referendum on your leadership, but all political conventions are referenda on political leadership.

 “If you cannot retain that leadership post after more than two years serving in that capacity, then this is simply not your time.

“Once a convention is held and party members have been permitted to participate in free and fair leadership elections, the party leader will emerge with a national mandate on behalf of the FNM.

“Members will appreciate that they have had the opportunity to freely campaign and vote for their chosen candidates during a national convention.

“The losing candidates will be bound by the party’s mandate to coalesce with and support the elected party leadership team.

“The FNM will then have in excess of two years to earn the confidence of the Bahamian people once again, and to regain the government.

“To delay calling a convention will diminish confidence in your leadership. Party members will question your confidence in remaining party leader, as well as your ability to raise the requisite amount of funds that will be required to hold a convention and to successfully contest a general election.”

Bannister opined, “Should you win, your mandate cannot be subjected to legitimate questioning.”

Some seem to have a problem with the leadership of Free National Movement Leader Mr. Michael Pintard especially in light of the recent Western Grand Bahama and Bimini bye-election loss; and it would also appear that just as some party supporters were toward former leader the Hon. Dr. Hubert Minnis after the last general election lost, wanting him gone ‘yesterday’; some are toward Pintard but the odd thing is that some of these people seem to be calling for the return of Dr. Hubert Minnis.

There are parts of this communication by Mr. Desmond Bannister wherein he seems to be pushing for an early convention, that seems to suggest that the Hon. Michael Pintard was appointed and not duly and democratically elected which is also odd;

“If you cannot retain that leadership post after more than two years serving in that capacity, then this is simply not your time.

“Once a convention is held and party members have been permitted to participate in free and fair leadership elections, the party leader will emerge with a national mandate on behalf of the FNM.”

First, the next convention is due, by the party’s constitution to be held next year and after this “new” emergence will the party really be satisfied with [the] “national mandate” set by this convention?  As this was supposed to have been the case in ousting Minnis and electing a new leader, right?

I have an odd feeling of déjà vu.

The Leader of the Free National Movement (FNM), the Hon. Michael Pintard, has a huge task ahead of him, as he is being asked to unite a party that does not seem to want to be united; and as some are fine with the leadership of Mr. Pintard and look to stand with him going into the next election; what would then become of these people if a new leader is appointed at the next convention?

With all of that being said; is this history repeating itself when Minnis had to fight off rumors of the former leader returning and others to retain the leadership of the party; which he did successfully and then became prime minister or are there those within the Free National Movement (FNM) organization willing to “slash and burn”, just to get what they want?

Actually what do they want?

Do they really know?

This is not an indictment on Dr. Minnis and his accomplishments as prime minister, as I have always defended his record, as I still do to this day.  But rather this is simply my view of what is occurring within the Free National Movement to date and asking if it really makes sense in the long term?

There a lot of questions to be asked and answered and realizations to be made as the Free National Movement (FNM) moves forward, but just how much time do they have?

END

The bye-election has come and gone and as it is after each and every election, the people have returned to their way of living but they are very hopeful ion the Western Grand Bahama and Bimini constituency because of all of the promises made by the New Day government, who came in and promised the world and then some; all in the name of the former member of parliament; the late Hon. Obie Wilchcombe .

So now this New Day PLP government may actually be required to fulfill its promises; actually, forced to deliver, this has shown to be a problem for them thus far.

“Victory For PLP – Smith wins 575 of votes – Voter Turnout at 62%” – The Nassau Guardian

“The Progressive Liberal Party’s (PLP) Kingsley Smith won the West Grand Bahama and Bimini by-election yesterday, easily defeating a crowded field of four other candidates.

Smith secured 2,150 votes, taking 57 percent of the total votes cast.

The Free National Movement’s (FNM) candidate, Bishop Ricardo Grant, got 1,276 votes.

Coalition of Independents candidate Lincoln Bain received 307 votes; independent candidate Daquan Swain received 28 votes and the second independent candidate, Terneille Burrows, got four votes.

Based on The Nassau Guardian’s calculations, voter turnout was 62 percent. There are 6,079 registered voters in the constituency.

Polls closed at 6 p.m. and the results began trickling in by 6:27 p.m. Half an hour later, it was clear that Smith had won.

Eight weeks ago, the West Grand Bahama and Bimini seat was vacated when the PLP’s Obie Wilchcombe died suddenly.

The PLP pledged to win the election for Wilchcombe and adopted his personal mantra, “one love” as its theme.”

An interesting note is that after two years PLP member of parliament Jobeth Colbey-Davis could actually utter the sentiment that she was unaware of the living conditions that the people of Western Grand Bahama endured; this begs thew question, where has she been, Switzerland?

Surely she does realize that some of the economic policies of the New Day government has worsened these very same conditions, but I digress.

The total lack of knowledge by Ms. Colby-Davis to the conditions of the Western Grand Bahama and Bimini area should be of great concern and have us question if this is indicative of the way forward for the people of Grand Bahama and Bimini, as it would appear that she did not even pay attention to what the late Obie Wilchcombe would have told them about the area and I am sure the manner in which Philip Davis campaigned, he would have taken everyone there; like he did as when he recently help cabinet there in the new complex named in honor of the late Obie Wilchombe.

Now as the New Day government, continues to celebrate its recently victory, I must take into account that the constituency is a strong Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) strong hold and really was theirs to loss and also the PLP collectively climbed carefully on the back of the late Sir. Lyden Pindling and onto the back of the late Obie Wilchombe; while playing the dirties politics seen in quite some time in order to secure and bring this seat home for Obie.

It really would have been seen as an astonishing victory for the Free National Movement (FNM), who really had nothing to lose. 

Note; if the FNM had been victorious in pulling this seat away from the slimy and grimy hands of the PLP, would they have been calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Philp E. Davis.

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

END

“SHANE Gibson said Fred Mitchell was “out of order” for saying the pool of candidates eligible for the upcoming West Grand Bahama and Bimini by-election is limited to those the PLP considered in 2021, a restriction the party publicly reversed yesterday when the secretary general announced that qualified candidates include all members in good standing.

 “I don’t want to get into a public fight with the chairman,” Mr Gibson said, referring to a comment Mr Mitchell made in a voice note last week that public officials must know when to move on. Mr Mitchell did not name anyone in particular.

 “The chairman is 70, I’m 62,” said Mr Gibson. “The results of my ministry is clear. I built 1,500 houses in my first term in office.

 “I didn’t have a ministry where I could fly up and down all over the place and that’s my ministry. I had a ministry where I had to actually work, not where I fly, interact, have coffee and tea and drinks and cigars. My ministry is helping people and getting things done.”

Shots fired!

All of this from the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) that claims that this political organization is not in “conflict”, but it now seems that we have moved beyond this delusional state of being and we are left with “blood” at the door steps of Gambier House.

There seems to be a “war” going on within the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) over Shane Gibson putting his ‘hat in the ring’ to be the candidate for the PLP for the West Grand Bahama and Bimini seat left vacant by the untimely demise of the Hon. Obie Wilchombe.

We have seen the Chairman of the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) come out and advise the public that no former members of parliament will be considered and that only new persons need apply.  Then we have seen former Prime Minister and former leader of the PLP come out and advise the current chairman that; “Gibson has a right to seek nomination”. 

Then we had Fred Mitchell ‘s comment of “Former public figures must know when to move on”, was this a “shot” at Shane Gibson for the attempt at a political comeback; at former Prime Minister Christie for defending Shane Gibson or both?  The odd thing about it all is that most of The Bahamas would recommend that Mr. Mitchell take his own advice as they feel that his time has come and gone; a long time ago

Then we have had the Prime Minister and current leader of the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) come and say……has he gotten back from the Vatican yet?

Yes, there is a lot going on within the New Day government as a party as they follow their “process” in choosing a candidate for the upcoming bye-election in West Grand Bahama and Bimini, and as much as they attempt to put up a “united front”, their “casualties” of the “war’ being fought and it is all evident by the “blood on the door steps of Gambier House”

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

END

One thing that you will have to admit about the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) New Day government is that they know how to throw a party; especially if they do not have to pay for it.

Today, the New Day Government will open Parliament after proroguing it back in August.

There a lot of speculation as to why they would so such a thing at such at time; my speculation at the time was that the New Day government had reached a point wherein they realized that they really had done nothing of significance to better the lives of the average Bahamian, as promised; the address from The Speech from The Throne should be quite a listen to today, so they [The New Day Government] realizing its failed promise had to attempt to reset the course of their failing government and what other way should this be done but with an expensive, unnecessary “party”?

The only problem being is that they will use our hard earned tax dollars to put forth this farce.

As the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) New Day government gets set to begin a new legislative agenda of governe; we ask what they have done over the past two years.

The New Day government points to the increased tourism numbers, to the opening of the country, to the lowering of VAT as signs of their successes and I ask if they are really serious or do they really believe that the average Bahamian is really that stupid and gullible; maybe this is what the “free” party is all about.

The simple fact that they New Day Government cannot refute is this…they have done nothing to improve the lives of the average Bahamian; as promised.  The facts will further show that the country was being opened when they won the election and they simply finished a task already implemented and ongoing.  The facts will also show the tourist number would have rebounded to this level even if the Coalition of Independents (COI) had won the election ad completed the task of opening the country.  The facts will show even as things are getter “better” the average citizen still continues to suffer and struggle even though The New day Government would have reduced the Value-Added Tax rate to ten percent (10 %), simply because they then added VAT to breadbasket items and medication, then they went on to increase the rate of electricity; having most people paying three to four times what they previously paid; so that extra fifty dollars ($50) that was added to the minimum wage went right back to them before the average person even got it. 

Then there was the increase of the basic government fees; the average person could not keep up; a lot still are trying to find ways to cope with it all but this New Day government looks to spend almost three hundred thousand($300,000) to throw a party to celebrate these “accomplishments”.

The New Day government has yet to produce and evidence that the “economic initiatives” that they implemented had a positive effect on the lives of the average working man.

It’s odd that as the New Day PLP Government sets to have this very expensive and totally unnecessary party at our expense; there is NO mention of it on the front page of any of the dailies, the main story of the Nassau Guardian being; “Govt to action shanty towns – owners will have 28 days to demolish structures”.

”Govt. to act on shantytowns – owners will have 28 days to demolish structures” – The Nassau Guardian

Excerpt from this article; “Minister of Works Clay sweeting will begin posting notices in shanty towns, which will give the owners of these illegal structures 28 days to pull down the structures, his ministry announced yesterday.

Should the person to whom notice is govern fails to comply with the notice, the minister of works may, in compliance with the Building Regulations Act, pull down and remove the illegal structure and recover from that person the expenses reasonably incurred in doing so, the minister warned.

The ministry established the Unregulated Communities Action Task Force (UCTF) to ‘address the critical safety concerns within unregulated communities in The Bahamas.

Under the Minnis administration, a similar committee known as the Shanty Town Action Task Force was established but it works was halted by legal action taken by some shanty town residents.”

This is where things got strange, because the of the legal action against the demolition of the shanty towns was actually backed by Davis in opposition when he spoke to the illegality or the acts only to find out, after becoming prime minister that the acts taken by the Minnis and his administration were totally legal and instead of resuming the demolitions, the New Day government then waited over a year and a half – as these shantytowns once again flourished instead of simply to following the “blueprint” as laid out by the Minnis administration, as they did with the opening of the country

The New Day Davis administration has been a very odd set, having accomplished little to nothing; they seem very intent and ready to “throw a gala ball” at the drop of a ball, to celebrate this fact and all at the taxpayers’ expense.

END