I have found it amazing and odd that while thousands of American citizens have taken to the streets to protest the election of Donald Trump as President of the Untied States of America, they would issue an advisory over a protest planned in the Bahamas against the manner in which the country has been governed over the years, especially over the past four years.

“US alert over protest march – ‘Be mindful of your actions, ‘warns tourism minister” – The Tribune

Excerpt from this article; “Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe yesterday warned protesters to be mindful of their actions during the Black Friday march and occupation of downtown Bay Street as the American Embassy and US cruise ships have expressed security fears over the rapidly-growing demonstration set for the busy Thanksgiving weekend.

Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe yesterday confirmed that the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) contacted the ministry to express concerns given the thousands of cruise ship passengers expected to be in port Friday.”

The Tourism Minister amazes me as in his language he is attempting to suggest that the protest to be more that he would have people believe that it really is; this is sad actually given this government past and the damage they have done to the tourism brand, but let us give the minister some credit and see how he responds to the advisory.

“So we told them after we spoke to the Commissioner of Police that we are advising that we believe we will be able to conduct business as usual,” he said, ‘and we certainly hope that’s understood by those involved in the protest.

‘The democracy we do have in place has to be respected. The Royal Bahamas Police force will be managing the protest and we’ve assured the cruise lines that visitors can arrive and all will be well.”

So the minister did what I did when I had guest in town when his party had the infamous ‘murder boards’ up and I was asked if that was how many murders that the country had in one year and I had to explain that it was really over a five year period; basically calm their fears from the reckless actions of a reckless political organization, but just how reckless is this protest?

From my understanding, this protest is simply to put any and all persons in government on both sides of the floor and those wishing to become a part political system, that the electorate has grown tired of the same system and style of governance that been failing us; as we demand accountability and transparency from those that govern us and seek to govern us; to imply that this protest is anything more is extremely disingenuous and minister Wilchcombe knows this fact.

But if he needs a parallel drawn; I will flash back to the BTC demonstrations; there was on concern of cruise visitors then and when Bernard Evans ‘owed that their protest against the sale of the Bahamas Telecommunications would transform the country into a ‘small Egypt’, I wonder where was his concern then.

As US officials have told their staff that the Sand Trap is off limits after the shooting death of a woman their last week, I have begin to wonder if this US alert over the march is actually entirely truthful.

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

END

My question of the day; what does one do when you have been caught being far less than honest and it seems that each and every time that you attempt to ‘explain’ yourself, you only seem to dig a deeper hole for yourself?  Well you deflect of course.

“Gibson brings resolution to probe BTC sale” – The Nassau Guardian

Excerpt from this article; “Golden Gates MP Shane Gibson yesterday moved for the appointment of a select committee to ‘investigate, examine and enquire into the circumstances ‘of the 2011 sale of the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC).

‘Mr. Speaker, it is said that decisions made, whether bad or good, follows you forever and affect everyone in their path one way or another,’ Gibson said.

‘One such damaging decision was that of the previous administration Free National Movement (FNM) to sell 51 percent of that strategic asset, we call BTYC, to a foreign entity.”

Just as Prime Minister, Perry Christie, finally answers Opposition Leader, Dr. Hubert Minnis, as to whether he supported the proposed $2.1 billion agri-fishies venture with Chinese investors; minister Shane Gibson moves to appoint a select committee to ‘investigate, examine and enquire’ into the BTC sale; so what if it is five years after the deal?

To be totally honest, everyone thought that this probe would be the first order of business when the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) came into office in 2012 but as usual this promise was never fulfilled, as numerous other promises; as many man hours and tax dollars have been spent in an effort to regain 2 percent of BTC and thereby ownership, which the Prime Minister suggested that he has already achieved; so why this investigation?

It is interesting to note that as per the $2.1 bn China-Bahamas agri-fisheries project, the prime minister has finally found his voice, saying ‘that if such a plan came before Cabinet, it would be ‘rejected outright’, but didn’t the governments very own ‘propaganda machine’ suggest that it did make it before Cabinet, as it tried to make the case that the deal was not secret and that the Opposition had full knowledge of it; this is beginning to sound like the “Blue Water” deal that the Progressive Liberal Party attempted to ‘cut’ for the sale of BTC during Perry Christie’s first stint as Prime Minister; another deal that he seems to have known nothing about and if it had come before him he would not have gone through with.

Now we have Tall Pines MP Leslie Miller stating; that “[the] Chinese approached Gomez about fishing interest”, when documentation has already proven that it was V Alfred Gray who gave Ambassador to China, Gomez the approval to approach the Chinese with the proposal; this is also documented.

While the situation is spinning out of control with half truths, outward lies and retraction of statements, there now is this resolution to form a committee to look into the BTC sale that took place in 2011, which to my recollection was an open process’ so open that the details of the deal drove the people to the Parliament Square to protest it.

There is some much back and forth concerning this ‘secret deal’ in Andros with the Chinese and the attempts to deflect away from it that I am beginning to develop motion sickness, maybe I just need a doctor.

Yes, the Progressive Liberal Party has made some ‘tough decisions’, but unfortunately most have seemed to have not been in the nest interest of the people of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas.

While many make the argument against the sale of BTC, some with legitimate and valid points, one cannot argue against the fact that BTC has become more profitable than when it was government owned; as more stores are opening with the opportunity for employment for more Bahamians.

One final point of interest, while Shane Gibson and the progressive Liberal Party now seeks to make an issue of the BTC sale to foreigners, it makes one wonder exactly who was behind “Blue Water”.

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

END

In one of the most shameless attacks since the Bahamas Information Services (BIS) fell back into the hands of the present Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) government and has been used to pump out some out of the most outlandish and propaganda; the Deputy Director, Elcott Coleby has put what would be can only be termed as ‘laughable nonsense’, if the matter were not so grave.

It is fact that the Bahamas Information Services (BIS) is used by the government of the time to spread its ‘message’; as is ZNS but there has to be limits, even if they are only moral limits to the level of rubbish that any Bahamian government should will attempt to impose in its people.

“Dr. Minnis ‘thief of our birth right’ comment unclear”

Elcott Coleby, Deputy Director of Bahamas Information Services

Excerpt from this article; “FNM Leader Dr. Hubert Minnis on Wednesday renewed his call for PM Perry Christie to reveal whether he supports the proposed $2.1 billion agri-fisheries venture with Chinese investors, as he said Mr. Christie’s ‘stony silence’ may well ‘go forward with this theft of our birthright.’  Dr. Minnis is on record as calling the proposed investment venture secret and lacks transparency.

He was speaking at the ratification ceremony at the FNM Headquarters.

It is important to note that all the genesis, the facts and the documentation surrounding this investment initiative are all a matter of public record.  The announcement of the $35 billion fund earmarked for CARICOM by the President of the Peoples Republic of China is matter of public record; the announcement was made over four years ago in Trinidad and Tobago during the CARICOM-CHINA Summit.  The draft paper ‘for discussion only’ prepared and submitted by the Bahamas Ambassador to China to Agriculture Minister the Hon. Alfred Gray has been published in its entirety in the local newspapers.  The authorization letter submitted by Mr. Gray to pursue this economic oppurtuinity was also published.  The Ambassador shared both documents with the Bahamas National Trust (BNT), BREEF and a number of local stakeholders as part of his consultation to solicit the input of the industry stakeholders, I note that consultation with stallholders by its very definition denotes transparency so the charge of secrecy appears to be at odds with the facts as we know them.”

First question here is who is “we”? because it would appear that Minister Gray was not privy to the facts as ‘we know them’ because he first admitted to them and then changed his mind and went on to deny them; it makes it seems as if ‘someone’ is being less than truthful with the Bahamian people.

“Hours after Minister of Agriculture and Marine Resources V. Alfred Gray acknowledged to reporters that he gave the go-ahead for the Bahamas Embassy in China to have discussions with the Chinese government on the $2.1 billion proposal for and agri-fisheries project, Gray claimed in a statement that The Nassau Guardian’s story detailing the proposal was ‘utterly false,’

In spewing his propaganda, which could be only in an attempt to deflect from the true issue at hand, the writer of this piece gets lost in his very own rhetoric; the central issue is what did the Prime Minister know and when did he know it? The writer goes off on same strange tangent of; “To ask the Prime Minister, the head of the cabinet, to make a policy decision based on the suggestion of a civil servant is unfair and inconsistent with the manner in which informed public policy is formulated at the cabinet level.’   Are they both not civil servants?

Okay let me ease the tension here and clear some of the confusion in Mr. Colbely’s mind on this issue; Did the Minister of Finance aware of the fact that someone in his cabinet was looking to ‘cut a $2.1 billion deal’ with the Chinese?

This is not the first time that this particular minister flip-flopped on the explanation to perceived malfeasances on his behalf; because he did the same thing when he was accused of interfering in a judicial matter of one of his constituents.

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

END

“Cooper: PLP not perfect, but still the best choice” – The Nassau Guardian

Excerpt from this article; “Admitting the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) every move has not been perfect, PLP candidate for Exuma Chester Cooper said the Christie administration has made the ‘difficult decisions’ to advance the Bahamas, making a case that the PLP is the best choice having laid the foundation for the ‘next evolution of the country’.

‘Over the past five years many have been critical of the PLP, and we know that every move we made hasn’t been perfect, but when you stop and take stock, you’ll see that what we’ve been doing is making the difficult decisions, doing the heavy lifting and laying a foundation for a new Bahamas’ said Cooper, who was given the nod for Exuma at the PLP headquarters on Thursday night, along with Bahamas Power and Light (BPL) senior executive Eva Bain for Central and South Abaco.”

It is indeed amusing and amazing the manner in which Mr. Cooper has over stated the obvious, “PLP is not perfect” but in doing so still arrived at the most illogical  conclusion; “……..but still the best choice.”

The truth of the matter is that he ‘heavy lifting’ was already done by the pervious Free National Movement (FNM) administration, and if the PLP had stayed the course and followed up on what had already been started, the country would be that much further ahead but instead we have been left with countless unfilled promises and initiatives that have either failed or are currently mired in deep controversy.

A prime example would be that of tax reform with the introduction of Value-Added Tax (VAT),many labeled this as a ‘bad idea’, with me being one of those persons and I still see it has having a negative impact on the country’s economy than positive, as promised.

This past week it was revealed that the government has collected $852 million over an 18 month period from VAT- this is about $47.33 million per month but yet the national debt continues to grow at an alarming rate as it seems that borrowing has not been curbed but rather seems to have increased, but yet Mr. Cooper would have us believe that the PLP is the best choice and maybe this one of those examples of where they have not been ‘perfect’.

Mr. Cooper says; “……..the Christie administration has made ‘difficult decisions’ to advance the Bahamas”, and all I can do is sit in astonishment as I try my best to see where this ‘advancement’ has taken place because I only see the quality of life for the average Bahamian in decline.

Indeed, Mr. Cooper the “PLP [is] not perfect” and to be fair to them who really is but they have proven themselves to be so far from perfect that it would be pure insanity to even consider them as the “best choice”

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

END

“PLP convention Jan. 24-26” – The Nassau Guardian

Excerpt from this article; “After postponing its convention following the passage of Hurricane Matthew, the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) gas decided that it will stage the event on January 24-26 next year.

In an internal communication yesterday, PLP Secretary General Barbara Pierre advised party officers that the three-day convention will be held at the Melia Nassau Beach resort, West Bay Street.

The convention, the first since 2009, will see the highly anticipated showdown between PLP Fort Charlotte candidate Alfred Sears and Prime Minister Perry Christie.

Sears has expressed confidence that he will win.

Despite an emergence of Christie supporters within the PLP snubbing Sears’ leadership bid, the former attorney general has not backed down.”

Finally, after seven years, the Progressive Liberal Party has decided to host a national convention; with Alfred Sears putting his ‘army’ together to clash with the present leader and about 4000 Stalwart Councilors give or take one or two.

What I find admirable about Mr. Sear, if his leadership bid is genuine, is the fact that he refuses to back down, knowing full well that a delayed convention only gives the leader of the Progressive Liberal Party that much more time to shore up his Stalwart base by adding a ‘couple’ here and there, Mr. Sears response is one of optimism, in that it will give him more time to campaign; I honestly wish him all the luck in the world because as the Prime Minister once said, “You can go to God……..”

What is notably disturbing here is that the Prime Minister and his party has denied democracy to the members of their very own party by violating their very own constitution and not holding a convention earlier, as the PLP constitution calls for a convention very year as stated in Article 7.1 of the Party’s Constitution: “There shall be a General Meeting of the Party every year in the month of either October or November or as otherwise determined by the National General Council, which meeting shall be named the National General Convention.”

The current leadership has denied the members of that party the right to choose leadership, other positions and make possible amendments to its constitution for over seven years but yet this is the very same party that wishes for the people of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas to re-elect it and have it honor the country’s constitution; we saw just well that worked out over the past 4 and a half years.

The Progressive

This government seems to have an inherent difficulty with transparency and accountability; with many of the members of the governing Progressive Liberal Party seeming to have no idea of very basic principle of these concepts; today I will discuss one such member.

As Prime Minister, Perry Christie, makes a call for his government to be more transparent, this call coming four years too late, one of his Cabinet Minister seems to not be in agreement with the Prime Minister, as this minister still insists that he has no need to be open, transparent or accountable, and that no one can make him be accountable or transparent, even If it had the potential to save his own political career.

“Gray won’t reveal ‘secret FNM deal’ – Minister: Minnis can’t tell me what to do.” – The Nassau Guardian.

Excerpt from this article; “Minister of Agriculture and Marine Resources V. Alfred gray yesterday dismissed a call made by Free National Movement (FNM) Leader dr. Hubert Minnis for him to table in the House of Assembly a ‘secret deal’ Gray claimed the FNM administration entered into in 2009 with China Shandong Expressway Investment Company Limited for an agriculture development involving 10,000 acres of land in Abaco free of charge.”

It seems that Mr. Gray has become unhinged in an attempt to defend himself against the blatant accusations of wrongdoing and in defending himself has now threatened to expose a ‘secret deal’ that the previous Free National Movement administration made with the Chinese; my dear God, how ever would the FNM leader respond to such a claim of wrongdoing done on behalf the administration that he was a part of?

“Minnis told The Tribune he knew nothing of the 2009 deal and challenged Gray to table it in Parliament.”

Ball in your court, Minister Gray, “when asked whether he will release the information, Gray said he will not.

‘No. Minnis can’t tell me what to do,’ he said”

Hon. V. Alfred gray, did you just ‘punk out’?

I wonder if Minister Gray is referring to the talks that the former administration held with the People’s Republic of China and private Chinese companies, that was documented through and by the Bahamas Investment administration Bureau, if so then this was hardily ‘secret’, unless Mr. gray believes other to be as ignorant as he is making himself look right now.

In my opinion, it is time for the Rt. Hon. Perry Christie to call Mr. Gray into the Prime Minister’s office and have a stern talk with him because he is not only contradicting the message that the Prime Minister would like to project at this time, that he realizes that his government needs to me transparent but also he is continuously embarrassing him [The Prime Minister] and the Progressive Liberal Party as a ‘serious’ political entity.

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

END

One of the greatest travesties of the past week was how the Minister of Agriculture and Marine Resources showed great contempt and utter disrespect for the people of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, whose well being which he once swore to work in best interest of. 

When he [Minister Gray] suggested that the Chinese agri-fisheries deal was still open to negotiation, despite the overwhelming opposition to it by the population at large, his contempt then reached a point where he suggested that he was ‘untouchable’ in any and all wrong-doing by himself and his government.

“Gray Suggests Chinese argri-fisheries deal still open negotiations” – The Nassau Guardian; 11.10.2016

Excerpt from this article; “Minister of Agriculture and Marine Resources V. Alfred Gray yesterday suggested that the $2.1 billion proposed China-Bahamas agricultural and fisheries initiative is still on the table and also expressed fear that the Chinese would discontinue investments in the country in wake of widespread criticism over foreign investment.”

It is totally amazing the manner in which the minister would still proceed with this proposal, give the manner in which has transpired to date.  A proposal which he first denied even existed i.e. lied about but it now saying to the public; since he has been totally exposed, yes, I gave the approval and I stand behind it an no matter what your objections are, whether they be credible or not, I am still open to it.

In a nutshell, the Minister of Agriculture and Marine Resources sent the Bahamian ambassador to China to ‘chat up’ the Chinese government with a $2.1 billion agri-fisheries project; question, who is putting up the $2.1 billion and why would they agree to a 50/50 ‘deal’ with the Bahamas government where they [the Chinese] have virtually no control; I mean the only thing that the Bahamas government brings to the table is valuable agricultural and fisheries resources.

Minister Gray, then goes on to be less than truthful to the people of the Bahamas, when it is said [he] expressed fear that the Chinese would discontinue investment in the country in the wake of widespread criticism over foreign investment”, has the minister forgotten how this government berated Izmirlian but then I tend to digress and it would come to seem that China has some ‘favorite nation’ status and is not to be offended, when one realizes that the entire Baha Mar fiasco began as an argument between the developer and the contractor [the Chinese].    There was no and is no criticism over foreign investment with the Chinese but rather with the total lack of transparency that these ‘deals’ are being handled.

As the Minister and his government prepare to hand over the Bahamas to the Chinese; we would like to know under what conditions we are being sold out.  As Zimbabwe has now made the Chinese Yuan its legal currency after Beijing cancels it debts, some of us would like to know if we are headed in the same direction or have ‘arrived’, with it all beginning with our natural resources, most notable our marine resources?

With this potentially at stake, Minister Gray seems to have taken the position that this is all about him and he will do whatever he pleases.

We need a recall system wherein we can pull ministers like this back into line or remove them from office, especially when they have reached a point where their interests outweigh those of the many; the Bahamian people.

Through it all we have yet to hear the Prime Minister’s opinion on the issue but it seems he is being the usual ‘bury my head in the sand’ Prime Minister, because I cannot fathom that one this deal was not known to him before Gray gave his first instruction and also I cannot imagine Gray making a statement of the deal still being open to negotiation without the Prime Minister’s approval.

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

END

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

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

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

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

END

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

END

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

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

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

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

“PM blasts FNM over Chinese deals” – The Tribune

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

END