As it approaches the two year anniversary of the Davis’ New Day Government’s win at the polls to become the government of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas, it conducts another survey to attempt to prove its popularity, but from the very onset; as with the very first survey – the results are very suspicious and seem to lack even a whiff of scientific validity to support a plausible and believable survey.

We all know that a part of politics is political “spin” but this just goes too far.

The First Time;

“PROGRESS REPORT: P.M. Davis receives 67 percent approval rating for first 100 days in office in new survey” EYEWITNESS NEWS WEBSITE – February 28^th 2022.

Excerpt from this article; “NASSAU, BAHAMAS-Prime Minister Philip Davis received a 67 percent approval rating according to a recent survey on the Progressive Liberal Party’s first 100 days in office.

The survey, which was conducted by Bahamian research and polling firm Intel Cay, polled 1,064 participants and is still ongoing.

The survey also gave an opt-in option for respondents to indicate which political party they support, which 33 percent supported the Progressive Liberal Party, 19 percent support the Free National Movement, and 42 percent said they were independent voters.

An additional six percent of people surveyed said they supported other parties, which included the Democratic National Alliance, the Coalition of Independence, and other fringe parties.

Of the respondents surveyed, sixty-seven percent said they approved of the way that Davis is handling his job as prime minister.

Davis received a 72 percent approval rating among men and a 64 percent rating among women.

Additionally, he received a high approval rating (93 percent) from people who identified as PLP supporters than respondents who identified as FNM (57 percent rating).

Meanwhile, Davis received a lower approval rating with respondents on Grand Bahama (58 percent) than he did with those on New Providence (68 percent) or on the Family Islands (71 percent).”

When this survey was carried out; the main question from others while PLP supporters “danced in the street”, was how reliable were the results, given that only one thousand and sixty four (1,064) persons out of four hundred thousand persons (400,000) were surveyed; this representing 0.266 percent of the population.

Well the New Day government and its supporters rejoiced in this “great accomplishment” and just as we thought that there would be no more of this idiocy; I mean to try the same stunt twice would be completely insane; they are at it again.

The Second Time;

“Approval of PM tops 60 percent – Survey results also show high overall approval of govt.” – The Nassau Guardian

Excerpt from this article; “Prime Minister Philip Davis and his administration’s job approval ratings remain relatively high two years into their term, according to the results of a survey conducted in recent days by the Bahamian market research and strategy firm, Public Domain.

Public Domain asked respondents whether they approve of the job being done by the prime minister.

Twenty-three percent said they strongly approve and 42 percent said they somewhat approve.

Nine percent somewhat disapprove; nine percent strongly disapprove and 16 percent said they don’t know.

There was not a huge difference in percentages when broken down by sex and age.

When asked if they approve of the job being done by the government, 21 percent said they strongly approve and 43 percent said they somewhat approve.

Ten percent said they somewhat disapprove and 11 percent said they strongly disapprove. 

Sixteen percent said they don’t know.

The largest “strongly disapprove” response came from males 55 and older — 22 percent said they strongly disapprove of the job being done by the Davis administration. 

Nineteen percent of males 55 and older said they “strongly disapprove” of the job being done by the prime minister himself.

The largest “strongly approve” response to both questions also came from males in that age group — in both instances, 28 percent said they strongly approve of the job the prime minister is doing, and the job the Davis administration is doing. 

Public Domain said it conducted a telephone survey September 5-7, 2023.

The main objective of the survey was to measure Bahamians’ approval with the job being done by the prime minister and the current government.

To achieve this goal, 589 residents throughout The Bahamas were interviewed using a random digit dialing methodology, the firm said.”

This time the results were that 589 of 400,000 percent were surveyed, representing .01473 percent of the population, I was really expecting that with all the “wonderful works” that the New Day

When this survey was carried out; the main question from others while PLP supporters “danced in the street”, was how reliable were the results, given that only one thousand and sixty four (1,064) persons out of four hundred thousand persons (40,000) were surveyed; this representing 0.266 of the population.

Well the New Day government and its supporters rejoiced in this “great accomplishment” and just as we thought that there would be no more of this idiocy; I mean to try the same stunt twice would be completely insane; they are at it again.

The Second Time;

“Approval of PM tops 60 percent – Survey results also show high overall approval of govt.” – The Nassau Guardian

Excerpt from this article; “Prime Minister Philip Davis and his administration’s job approval ratings remain relatively high two years into their term, according to the results of a survey conducted in recent days by the Bahamian market research and strategy firm, Public Domain.

Public Domain asked respondents whether they approve of the job being done by the prime minister.

Twenty-three percent said they strongly approve and 42 percent said they somewhat approve.

Nine percent somewhat disapprove; nine percent strongly disapprove and 16 percent said they don’t know.

There was not a huge difference in percentages when broken down by sex and age.

When asked if they approve of the job being done by the government, 21 percent said they strongly approve and 43 percent said they somewhat approve.

Ten percent said they somewhat disapprove and 11 percent said they strongly disapprove. 

Sixteen percent said they don’t know.

The largest “strongly disapprove” response came from males 55 and older — 22 percent said they strongly disapprove of the job being done by the Davis administration. 

Nineteen percent of males 55 and older said they “strongly disapprove” of the job being done by the prime minister himself.

The largest “strongly approve” response to both questions also came from males in that age group — in both instances, 28 percent said they strongly approve of the job the prime minister is doing, and the job the Davis administration is doing. 

Public Domain said it conducted a telephone survey September 5-7, 2023.

The main objective of the survey was to measure Bahamians’ approval with the job being done by the prime minister and the current government.

To achieve this goal, 589 residents throughout The Bahamas were interviewed using a random digit dialing methodology, the firm said.”

This time the results were that 589 of 400,000 percent were surveyed, representing .01473 of the population, I was really expecting that with all the “wonderful works” that the New Day claims to have been doing and has done, with this smaller sample of persons that the results would be higher than the previous survey – they actually declined.

I would really wish that that the New day government would actually get to governing as promised and stop playing these juvenile public relations games because they do them at the expense of The Bahamian people, who elected them to office to actually do better and not just claim that they are doing better. 

It is a blatant insult to the average thinking Bahamian citizen that does not follow each and every word out of the mouth of the prime minister or any other politician as “gospel” and actually thinks and rationalize things for themselves.

I dare say that this latest public relation stunt will cause the New Day government, as persons are already fed up with the direction that the country is heading in terms in the standard of living for the average Bahamian citizen as the prime minister keeps telling them that things are getting better.

So who is he really trying to convince with this lowbrow nonsense?

ENDw

claims to have been doing and has done, with this smaller sample of persons that the results would be higher than the previous survey – they actually declined.

I would really wish that that the New day government would actually get to governing as promised and stop playing these juvenile public relations games because they do them at the expense of The Bahamian people, who elected them to office to actually do better and not just claim that they are doing better. 

It a blatant insult to the average thinking Bahamian citizen that does not follow each and every word out of the mouth of the prime minister or any other politician as “gospel” and actually thinks and rationalize things for themselves.

I dare say that this latest public relation stunt will cause the New Day government, as persons are already fed up with the direction that the country is heading in terms in the standard of living for the average Bahamian citizen as the prime minister keeps telling them that things are getting better.

So who is he really trying to convince with this lowbrow nonsense?

END

Now since Prime Minister, the Hon. Philip Davis has completed the shuffle of his Cabinet; a lot of us are left like the coyote in the Roadrunner cartoon , after being passed at a high rate of speed, wondering – WHAT WAS THAT?

RESHUFFLE – PM announces Cabinet changes” – The Nassau Guardian

Excerpt from this article;

“Prime Minister Philip Davis yesterday announced changes to his Cabinet two weeks ahead of his administration observing its second anniversary as government.

The changes include two promotions of ministers of state to substantive ministers.

Jomo Campbell has been moved as Minister of State in the Ministry of Legal Affairs and is now Minister of Agriculture and Marine Resources. 

Pia Glover-Rolle, who was Minister of State for the Public Service, is now Minister of Labour and the Public Service.

Clay Sweeting, who was Minister of Agriculture, Marine Resources and Local Government, is now Minister of Works and Family Island Affairs. 

Alfred Sears, who served as Minister of Works, is now Minister of Immigration and National Insurance.

Keith Bell, formerly Minister of Labour and Immigration, is the new Minister of Housing and Urban Renewal.

JoBeth Coleby-Davis, who was Minister of Transport and Housing, is now Minister of Energy and Transport.

Zane Lightbourne, who served as Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, is now Minister of State in the Ministry for the Environment.

And Basil McIntosh, formerly Minister of State in the Ministry for the Environment, has been appointed Minister of State for Aviation

“In making these decisions, my priority was to strengthen policy execution, and to balance continuity and experience with renewal and fresh perspectives,” said Davis, who delivered a nationally-televised address at 5:30 p.m.

“Cabinet is a team, and as on any team, individual strengths and talents add up to make the team stronger.”

In announcing the changes, Davis had high praises for each minister.

Speaking of Bell, who in recent weeks has been mired in controversy as minister of immigration, Davis said he had “very substantial accomplishments”.

“In less than two years as Minister of Labour and Immigration, Minister Bell recruited a record number of immigration officers and oversaw a record number of repatriations,” the prime minister said.

“Because of his leadership, we have a new temporary detention facility in Inagua, which can hold 800 persons, reducing the time and cost of repatriating those who cross into our waters illegally.

“Also because of his leadership, thousands have been deported for immigration violations, and 600 migrants were taken into custody in Abaco this year alone.

“He has worked with the Royal Bahamas Police Force to target human smugglers, as well as those who break our laws by employing or housing undocumented migrants.

“During his tenure as Minister of Labour, the minimum wage was increased, and Labour on the Blocks job fairs across the country resulted in more than 3,000 job placements for Bahamians.

“I know he will bring his trademark energy and determination to his new role as Minister of Housing and Urban Renewal. Building affordable homes and building stronger communities is a priority for us, and doing it in a big way requires strength and focus.

“Keith Bell was part of the team that originally launched Urban Renewal. His experience and commitment to that mission will help to drive the program to even greater success.”

Speaking of Sears, who faced some challenges as minister of works and as minister responsible for Bahamas Power and Light, the prime minister said he oversaw the initiation of infrastructural improvements, as well as “the very significant repairs” which were required to make schools across the country ready for in-person classes after two years of closure.

Applauding Campbell’s efforts in the Ministry of Legal Affairs, Davis said he worked to bring important changes to the Department of Public Prosecutions and to the operations of the judiciary, 

“His leadership was an important factor in improving conviction rates,” the prime minister said.

“He has contributed wise counsel on a range of complex legal and policy issues. He has shown he can do the hardest and most important thing in government, which is to take a plan on paper and make it real.”

Explaining why he also made Glover-Rolle a substantive minister, the prime minister said she has been “another bright star in this new generation”.

He outlined her list of accomplishments, including her leadership of the first public service-wide promotional exercise in over nine years.

“She has significantly reduced a decades-long backlog of promotions, and resolved hundreds of pending matters related to back pay, gratuities, and other matters,” said Davis, adding that he expects Glover-Rolle to serve with distinction in her new role.

The prime minister also said that Sweeting “achieved much in these two short years”.

“From expanding education and training, to creating the Golden Yolk Programme, reopening packing houses, and investing in vertical farming, cultivation centres, and climate-smart technology, he has moved the industry forward for the country,” Davis said.

As the new Minister of Works and Family Island Affairs, he said Sweeting will oversee the “significant” number of infrastructural projects and upgrades that are underway.

“Pulling Works and Family Island Affairs together makes sense in our government because of the scope of our ambitions for our Family Islands,” Davis said.

“With two new airports already opened, and 14 more to go, and major roadwork’s across multiple islands, we are looking at transformative change.

The prime minister praised Coleby-Davis, saying she “revitalized a housing department that had not built even a single house in years”.

“She wasted no time turning things around, as the proud new homeowners in the Pinecrest and Renaissance developments can confirm,” he said.

As Minister of Energy and Transport, he said she will “do the critical work of bringing together and coordinating experts and teams from throughout our government to tackle our energy transition”.

“As many of you know, she has a background in providing legal counsel in the industry, and understands how to navigate complex negotiations with energy executives and companies,” Davis said

“Minister Coleby-Davis, whose dissertation for her Master’s degree focused on overcoming barriers to renewable energy deployment in The Bahamas, is going to be a formidable advocate for our country as we transition to clean energy.”

She is now the minister responsible for Bahamas Power and Light, the state-owned utility which continues to be significantly challenged.

In his address, the prime minister noted, “Light bills are inflicting a lot of pain across the board, and it’s no exaggeration to say that our country’s never-ending problems with electricity are holding us back.

“This is not an area where small changes will be enough. We need to reform and transform our energy sector.”

Davis also said while other ministers will remain in their substantive posts, there are some changes in portfolios.

He said a full list of responsibilities will be published later.

The prime minister also said as his administration moves forward with the next phase of implementing “Our Blueprint for Change”, some permanent secretaries and civil servants will be in new positions, to reflect efficiencies and expertise. “

It is a fact that if you should shuffle a deck of jokers and pick a card to fill positions; it will only be jokers and basically this is what the prime minister has done.  I feel that it is unfair for me to call all of them “jokers’; so rather they were normal cards in a deck of jokers and became “victims of causality”, sometime you just have to watch with whom you make your bed.

With the end result of the shuffle,” my first question would be, what was the purpose of this shuffle in the first place?

As Fred Mitchell, Chairman of the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) would put it to put together a good team that is able to the task and I guess that would fall in line with my reason to do it at all and that’s to move certain people from positions of weakness to positions of potential strength but as you look at the spitting up of portfolios like them one once held by Minister Alfred Sears; the Ministry of Work and Utilities, now to the Minister of Works and Family Affairs, now headed by the former Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. Clay Sweeting; one is left to wonder exactly what is going on.

Then there is the Hon. Myles LaRoda , formerly the Minister of State in the Prime Minister with responsibilities for National Insurance and ZNS, being stripped of ALL of his engagements; while the likes o Basil McIntosh (WHO?) , is simply shuffled from one position of junior minister to another position of junior minister. This with most people not even knowing if he was still a member of parliament, due=e to his inactivity.

Then we have Keith Bell, whom any reasonable and rational government would have lost on the back bench simp0ly being moved from handing out citizenships, I mean from Immigration to Housing and Urban Development.  I guess he cannot do much mo9re damage here but knowing Keith Bell; he will find a way.

Maybe building shanty towns.

Then there is the Prime Minister of Abaco…..

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

END

“EXAM: DROP IN STUDENTS RECEIVING A TO C GRADES – Minister say BGCSE results show ‘much work to do at all levels of the system” – The Tribune

Excerpt from this article; THE number of students who achieved A, B and C grades in BGCSE exams this year dropped compared to 2022, with more students receiving D, E, F and G grades.

Although significantly more students sat the exam as the country moves further from the pandemic, the percentage of grades awarded C or higher this year was lower than in the previous two years, according to statistics the Ministry of Education released yesterday at a press conference.

Overall, 16,326 students took national exams this year.

Five thousand three hundred ninety-three candidates took the BGCSE exams this year, representing 100 government, private and independent centers – an increase of 9.93 per cent compared to last year.

Five hundred forty-four candidates received a grade of C or higher in five or more subjects — 10.09 per cent of all who sat the exam. This represents a 14.06 per cent decrease compared to last year when 633 candidates achieved that goal. Five hundred and fifty candidates did so in 2021.

The number of students who received a minimum grade of D in at least five subjects declined by 5.36 per cent.

The number of students who received at least a C or better in mathematics, language arts and science fell by 2.37 per cent.

Three hundred and three students received at least a C in mathematics, 5.62 per cent of all candidates. In 2022, 392 candidates received the same, 7.99 per cent of all candidates.

The drop in A to C grades and increase in D to G grades is concerning and calls for improvements at all levels of the education system, Education Minister Glenys Hanna Martin said.

 “The examination results show, as they have revealed in successive years, that we still have much work to do at all levels of the system,” she said.

 “The concerns demonstrated in these results are the product of the results over the years and are the result of long-standing deficiencies in our educational system, which are now compounded by the impact of learning loss on students in The Bahamas and all over the world as a result of the prolonged shutdowns in the height of COVID 19 pandemic.

 “We have therefore determined that the foundational work is a priority throughout the educational system and must be reinforced at every level of the school experience. We do not wish to be caught in the trap of social promotion. To advance this agenda, it is necessary that all hands are on deck as we move forward in this school year.”

Now it would be very easy to turn this onto a political war/row; especially given the bravado with which Minister Hanna-Martin took the post of Minister of Education and casted nothing but “doom and gloom” on what she met in place but this situation is far too important to begin a senseless political war/row – this is really about the future of The Bahamas and it is my most fervent belief that parents needs to be far more involved with the education of their children than they are at this point but even with that very simple suggestion there are at least two major problems; these problem being that most parents do not understand the work themselves  and then there are those that believe that this is the schools responsibility.

A major paradigm shift is necessary to bring us back in line to where we would see that the education of our children extends beyond the classroom and into the home.

I would like to make the following wild intimation, to have parents look at homework in a different manner.  Homework is more than a tool to reinforce the lessons taught earlier that day to make sure that the student grasps the concept, but also is a time for time for parents and children to bond and for a time for the parent to help build their child’s confidence in the subject and in general; giving them the confidence and knowledge that they can do things on their own and establishing the methodology on how to go about achieving this.

I recall when my son was in early primary, he would get very frustrated when he was unable to apply the principles from the school lesson earlier that day and or simply could not resolve a problem given to him for home work.  It took a lot of breaks and coming back and explanation until by the time he left primary school when could not figure something out he was like, “wait! Don’t tell me”, as he figured it out, as he had built the confidence though the support of his parents.  This underscores the value of the parents in the child’s education.

As for the parents that cannot understand the work themselves, there must be programs for those willing to do and want better to be able to sit with educators to be able to grasp the concept of the work to be done so that they themselves can explain it to their children.  This takes time, dedication and money to the system because educators must be compensated for these extra hours spent, as they put in the time to raise the nation.

As I have mentioned above it will take a major shift paradigm shift in our way of thinking to achieve an upward trend in our education results; especially if we were to keep leaving all of the work up to our educators and taking little to no responsibility onto our very own backs – and we must remember they are our children.

END

There is an infamous segment of video recording being circulated by the PLP through its supporters in what can only be described as a desperate attempt to discredit the leader of the official opposition Free National Movement (FNM), the Hon. Michael Pintard.

In this segment of video recording, a mere one minute and fifty seconds (1.50 minutes) long, PLP supporters purport to hear and conclude that they have concrete proof of Michael Pintard being intimately involved in a murder for hire plot.

The persons that were “marked for death” were executive members of the environmental group, Save The Bays; which from my understating was an organization formed by Louis Bacon, a Lyford Cay resident, who was in a furious “war” with his neighbor Peter Nygard.

It seems that Mr. Nygard was illegally expanding his property into the sea, along with other things to the annoyance of Mr. Bacon.

Person on this “hit list”, beside Mr. Bacon were Rev. C. B. Moss, Fred Smith Q.C. Environmentalist, Joseph Darville and Environmental Attorney Romandu Ferreira.

I would like to note that all of the persons on this list were persons that Mr. Pintard worked with, as he was also a consultant to the group, one even being his parliamentary colleagues; so this raises the greatest question to date that remains unanswered by persons spreading such a falsehood, and that is what would be Michael Pintard’s motive to have any of these people killed. 

This is a story that the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) seems to have spent a lot of time and money on and it is it simple political propaganda; baseless and reckless and dangerous.

Other questions raised; who were Toogie and Bobo” closely affiliated with?

Who was in a nasty fight with Louis Bacon? and

Whose payroll were Toogie and BoBo on?

It would appear that due to the “war” that Nygard and Bacon were in at the time, these two men [Toogie and Bobo] were most likely on Nygard’s payroll, whom they seemed very closely affiliated with.

On the short clip, these two self-proclaimed gangsters, are heard attempting to solicit money from Michael Pintard in exchange for the details of the story behind whom they were hire to kill and why.

At no time is there any solicitation for murder made by anyone to anyone, as the solicitation for murder, according to these “gangsters” was already set by the person that hired them – this lie has ran its course like a very bad case of diarrhea.

It would appear that each and every time the PLP and its most faithful trolls want to launch at attack against the Leader of The Free National Movement (FNM), they pull this most convenient lie of out the cupboard, dusts it off and puts it out there and it is not even a “good” lie.

It is not a “good lie” and extremely poor political propaganda based on the facts that they are unable to prove a link between Nygard and Pintard, they cannot use the video because it does not prove their lie and they cannot prove a plausible reason why Pintard would want his fellow colleagues dead.

At the very least the Old PLP knew how to tell a good lie; as even as this New Day government carries out the very same policies as the Old PLP, they just cannot seem to tell a “good” lie like the Old PLP – trust me they do lie.                                                                                                       

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

END

“Parliament prorogued – New session begins Oct. 14 – AG says unfinished business will be brought back” – The Nassau Guardian

Excerpt from this article; “Governor General Sir. Cornelius A. Smith acting on the advice of Prime Minister Philip Davis, prorogued Parliament on Saturday.

Commissioner of Police Clayton Fernander read the proclamation on the steps of the House of Assembly at 1 p.m. on Saturday.

The new session of parliament will begin on October 4, 2023.

There is widespread expectation and reports from government insiders that former Deputy Prime Minister Cynthia ‘Mother’ Pratt. Who has served as deputy to the governor general on numerous occasions, will soon be named governor general and will read the new speech from the throne.

The prorogation of Parliament brings an end to the current session.  This means the agenda of the House will be wiped clean.

In a statement, by the Office of The Prime Minister (OPM) said, ‘There is still so much work to be done, and in the new session of Parliament, to begin on the 4^th of October, we will prioritize legislation and policies which address the high cost of living, lift our people up, and strengthen our economy and national security.”

The first thing that I find odd about this statement is just as the Office of the Prime Minister speaks to “much works to be done’, they take a nine week break but that is no problem by their standards.

The main question that I have is why would the New Day government choose to prorogue Parliament at this particular time?

It would appear that according to the Office of The Prime Minister Parliament was prorogued for two main reasons;

1. To bring in a new Governor General and
2. To wipe the agenda of House clean, maybe hoping that persons would forgot that what was going on because as the OPM says they will now “prioritize legislation and policies which address the high cost of living, lift up our people and strengthen our economy and nation security.

With that being the case; it would appear that the New Day government is merely attempting to correct or mitigate the hardships that they themselves have contributed to.

As far as the naming of a new Governor General, there is no problem on the behalf of this writer as to the current choice, especially given all of the odd names that were speculated to have been considered. 

I say congratulations to Cynthia “Mother” Pratt, whom I most fervently believe is an excellent choice for the position of Governor General and I am sure that she would agree with me that she does not need the pomp and pageantry of the opening of Parliament to assume the role of Governor General.

At no time can the agenda of The House be “wiped clean”, this would only pertain to the business that the New Day government was conducting on behalf of the people, which they now seem to see and as time wasted and to be wasted, so therefore having no reason to continue them.

I hope that as the New Day government seeks to now prioritize the high cost of living that they will answer the question of how did their economic initiative of lowering Value-Added Tax (VAT) to ten percent (10%) but adding VAT to breadbasket items and medications positively affect the lives of the proletariat and those less fortunate?

The New Day government brags about increasing the minimum wage by fifty dollars ($50) and while the average worker is grateful, the New Day government must see that this means little to nothing with the new increased government rates and the drastically increased electricity rates.

So now I come to their point of the high cost of living due to the increased electricity rates; this within itself is pure lunacy, given the fact the New Day government has yet to explain to us in detail exactly why our bills have doubled and in some cases tripled and have shown little to NO concern toward the small business owner that is struggling to keep his doors open.

I personally see the proroguing of Parliament as a means of a New Day government that seems to hooked on “pomp and pageantry”, to attempt to use the Speech from The Throne and all the “pomp and pageantry” of such an event to rewrite history in an attempt to convince the people that that they have not actually failed them and are currently failing them.

And we do know that this New Day government knows how to throw a party, if they know nothing else.

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

END

The latest “situation” that the Minister of Immigration, Keith Bell has found himself caught up in is just an indication of how the New day Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) government thinks of itself as having laws unto themselves, while the law of the land is applied to the rest of  us evenly and rapidly.

This extending beyond him using his office and the powers vested in him as some sort of lottery or is this just more of the same?

“BELL ADMITS CHINESE HOTEL WORKERS FREED: Minister refuses questions over ‘irregularities’ – The Tribune

Excerpt from this article;

“IMMIGRATION Minister Keith Bell admitted yesterday that some Chinese nationals working at the British Colonial Hilton in January were released from custody and returned to the construction site despite the “irregularities” that prompted officers to detain them.

Mr. Bell said “it was determined that given all of the circumstances”, taking the people to the detention centre for processing was unnecessary.

He did not say who determined this, and he refused questions from reporters.

Free National Movement leader Michael Pintard has claimed senior immigration officials sent a letter to the permanent secretary expressing concern about Mr. Bell’s intervention in the January 17 matter.

Citing information from unnamed officials, Mr. Pintard said buses were loaded with Chinese nationals, but Mr. Bell intervened to release them.

“The government was advised that the hotel required extensive renovation works,” Mr. Bell told reporters before a Cabinet meeting yesterday. “The work, as with other large projects, necessitated the importation of temporary foreign workers. Given the construction processes, varying workers are required for elements of the project. As specialised workers complete their tasks, they leave the country and new specialists re-enter.

“In January of this year, the Department of Immigration, as part of its ongoing efforts to ensure compliance with our immigration laws, discovered a number of irregularities with the status of workers at the British Colonial Hilton construction site.

“Whilst the irregularities required immediate action, it was determined that given all of the circumstances, taking the persons at the detention centre was unnecessary. It is important to note that the employer, as with almost every other major hotel redevelopment, has a heads of agreement with the government of The Bahamas to permit the temporary importation of foreign construction workers.

“Secondly, the irregularities found at the site could and were expeditiously cured by the employer. And thirdly, the completion of the renovation works at the British Colonial property will address and add critically needed hotel rooms on New Providence and create additional employment and opportunities for Bahamians.”

Former Immigration Minister Brent Symonette said he would have allowed officials of the Department of Immigration to do their job

“A minister,” he said yesterday, “shouldn’t interfere at that level unless it’s a matter of national security or public interest or something way beyond that, but if there are workers working there illegally, they should be arrested and whatever happens happens, especially since his prime minister said he won’t tolerate whatever.”

I have questions: what “irregularities”?

And “given which circumstances” exactly?

First, if “the employer has an agreement with the government of The Bahamas to permit the temporary importation of foreign construction workers”, why does there seem to be a problem on site with documentation?

Secondly, what were the “irregularities found at the site [that] could and were expeditiously cured by the employer’?

And thirdly; why is the completion date of this project even being considered/brought up as a mitigating factor in the detention of these foreign nationals that seemed to, at the time, to be undocumented?

I saw this article and read it and had flashbacks of when a certain Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Member of Parliament contacted an Island Administrator concerning one woman’s “good son”.

At that time the laws of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas seemed to have been circumvented by the words of a member of parliament, is that who we really are?  A nation where “justice” is for sale?

It seems that the PLP, in any form Old or New, has one basic problem; which seems to be its inability to not see it self’s as being above the laws of The Bahamas; only applying and adhering to them when most convenient and then they go on to ask the rest of the country to turn and blind eye to it all or just to “carry water in a basket”.

END

“FNM shocked as Lewis joins Coalition protest of Immigration Minister” – The Tribune

Excerpt from this article; “CENTRAL Grand Bahama MP Iram Lewis raised eyebrows in the Free National Movement yesterday when he joined members of the Coalition of Independents at a protest demanding the resignation of Immigration Minister Keith Bell.

Although the FNM has also called for Mr. Bell’s resignation and believes the Davis administration has inadequately addressed concerns about the actions he took at a recent funeral, the major political parties have been careful to distance themselves from Lincoln Bain’s movement, fearing its immigration rhetoric and views are too extreme.

Mr. Lewis’ appearance alongside COI members shocked some in the FNM, according to three sources who said people found it ill-advised.”

I find it simply amazing that ANYONE would find it “ill advised” or be “shocked” by one Bahamian standing with another group of Bahamians to bring about an end that both groups are advocating for. 

We have the Coalition Of Independents protesting against the actions of the Minister of Immigration, the “Hon.” Keith Bell who granted citizenship to a man who had passed away family at his funeral at that funeral; claiming that he was only attempting ti grant the man’s dying wish, while the intent may have been honorable; were they appropriate for that setting?

The question has already been asked by his colleagues that have come to “rescues”, if his actions were illegal and they were not; then the question has be raised, “Do an act have to me illegal for it to be wrong?”

I have found that the New Day government loves to play with semantics to justify any and all of their malfeasance, in order to justify the wrong doings of their fellow Member of Parliament, and even former members of parliament. 

To tell the God’s honest truth I do not know if the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) as a party or a government has ever committed anything wrong, but then that is another story for another day and I really am no story teller.

Mr. Iram Lewis then goes on to explain the reason behind is action.

“I’m here totally in solidarity with this move because, again, it’s not about colours. It is about The Bahamas,” Mr. Lewis said, standing next to Mr. Bain near the Office of the Prime Minister?”

In my opinion showing a certain a high level of political maturity when it comes to matters that affect the sovereignty of The Bahamas.

I fervently hope that this is someone in the media trying to “fire bun”, to use a term from my father; because in my opinion there is NO reason for anyone in the Free National Movement (FNM); to be “shocked” by this move FNM’s Member of Parliament for Central Grand Bahama with all of the other issues that need to addressed on a daily basis, like a Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) has seems to have developed a God” complex and making outlandish statements, even as he faces very serious allegations of sexual assault.

END

“Food prices will remain elevated’ – Roberts doesn’t expect immediate relief as inflation imported” – The Nassau Guardian – Thursday, June 22, 2023

Excerpt from this article; “Super Value food store chain owner Rupert Roberts said yesterday that notwithstanding all the creative measures employed by buyers in the grocery store industry, particularly within his establishment, food prices will likely remain elevated into next year and will probably continue to rise.

Roberts said the only commodity that he sees going down right now is corned beef.

“Most of the other commodities have gone up,” he said.

“Sugar went up $3 a bale; rice is up. Most commodities have gone up.

“Now, in the next 18 months, I hope they remain the same, but they are likely to go up again.

“So, I don’t know what’s fueling it, but we tripled up on orders from China … and, of course, the freight rates from China have actually come down. We locked in the prices on the China goods at least until the end of this year.

“All of the inflation hasn’t really shown in this country because when we suspect something, we buy [to lock in lowest prices]. We have a 100,000-square-foot warehouse now. Our warehouse is probably a little less than half full, and so we have a lot of opportunity to buy. We have space. We have storage.”

The Budget Debate has wrapped up and to my knowledge this subject; that of some sort of immediate relief to the average Bahamian shopper has not been addressed.

There was a lot to say about the New Cruse Port deal and how it was such a “bad deal for The Bahamas but no one seemed willing or able to offer any immediate solutions to the impact that inflation is having on the average working class of the country.

The Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) New Day government has bragged about their two “major accomplishments” as it concerns the working class; these being the increase of the average wage from two-hundred and ten dollars ($210) to two-hundred and sixty dollars ($260) and the decrease in Value-Added Tax (VAT) to ten percent (10%) but they also seemed unable to show how this decrease along with the addition of VAT to breadbasket items and mediation; which were once exempt from VAT, has benefited the people of the country.

It would appear that the general consensus “on the ground” beside the concerns about immigration and crime is inflation, as revealed by Fred Mitchell, Chairman of the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP), Minister of Foreign Affairs and the member of parliament for Fox Hill;

“Speaking in the House of Assembly recently during the 2023/2024 budget debate, Minister of Foreign Affairs Fred Mitchell, the MP for Fox Hill, said inflation is clearly the number one issue faced by Bahamians and he is seeing more requests for help from constituents than he has ever seen in his time in politics.

“… It seems to me, I know people say that crime and immigration are issues which concern them, but it seems to me right now that inflation has got to be the number one issue that’s affecting people because the cost of everything has become more expensive,” Mitchell said.”

The New Day government cannot claim that they did not know of this being a major problem when they came into office, as we all knew – if we were paying attention that we were about to go through a round economic period coming out of the pandemic; even as the world began to open up and the economy begun to rebound.

It would appear that the New Day government spent an entire budget debate applying his common tactics of deflection and “smoke and mirrors to’ have the public not notice that they are actually failing the people of The Bahamas, as the double down and make even more promises on the top of those that they made during the campaign season.

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

END

The manner in which the Keith Bell, the Ministry of Labour and Immigration, attacked the deal surrounding the new Cruise Port, is indicative of a government and members of parliament that are simply unable to focus on what is important; so they “invent’ things/situations/issues to “deal with”; even if these situations makes them look more incompetent and inept than they already are.

I know that most would say that this is simply impossible but they [The New Day Government] does just this each and every day.

“Shanty town demolition to start ‘this year’ – Bell” – The Tribune March 6^th 2023

Excerpt from this article;

“LABOUR and Immigration Minister Keith Bell said he thinks the government will move to demolish shanty towns sometime this year.

The minister was asked during a recent interview about a timeline for when the government will move to raze the illegal structures now that a Supreme Court injunction barring such action has been lifted.

This comes as tensions over the issue continue to mount, with political hopeful Lincoln Bain and several of his supporters being stopped by police a little over a week ago as they tried to demolish homes in a shanty town off Bacardi Road.

Asked about the issue, Mr. Bell responded: “The main thing here is that this is a country, and I’ve repeated this before, this is a country of law and order. Everything has to be done in decency and respect and in those shanty towns, we have three categories of persons.

“While we have the undocumented migrants we also have persons who have legal status here in the country and we have Bahamians living in those shanty towns. So the idea is that when we do go and move to demolish, we identify those Bahamians, and we ensure that they have some place to go, or we provide Social Services to them.”

It would appear that Minister Bell has lost control of this situation as he claims to be simply abiding by the law and order of The Bahamas, but the last time I checked the demolition of the shanty towns was already deemed lawful, so exactly which “law and orders” is the minister referring to?

By the this time, shouldn’t the New Day’s government’s Immigration Minister and all other relevant ministires have had resolved all of the other factors that the Minister of Immigration is suggesting that should have been considered

So what should a Cabinet Minister do when it would appear that his portfolio is failing and he seems lost as how to get it on track?

Deflect of course, but when you do you should really deflect to something that you should be more knowledgeable about and that does not contradict the opinions of the persons whose portfolio that you seemed to now want to be passionately wrong about.

“Bell: Cruise port deal worst ever in history “– The Nassau Guardian

“Although Prime Minister Philip Davis and Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper both recently applauded the partnership with Global Ports Holding, which gave birth to the newly opened $300 million Nassau Cruise Port (NCP), Minister of Labour and Immigration Keith Bell yesterday excoriated the former Minnis administration for entering into a “bad deal” for the port — a deal he termed a “national disgrace”.

“It is a bad deal,” said Bell, who used a great portion of his contribution to the 2023/2024 budget debate in the House of Assembly to rip apart the deal, which was signed in 2019.

“As a matter of fact, I would submit that this is the worst deal in the history by any government and any administration in the history of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas. I’ve never seen nothing like this, never.”

Bell charged, “When the FNM and the competent authority (former Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis) signed this deal, they wrote off hundreds of millions of dollars, if not billions, in revenue for at least 27 years.

“What is most disturbing is that the honorable member of Killarney (Minnis) is proud of his deal. Madam Deputy Speaker, to make matters worse, this deal was done by the same government that spent $44 million of taxpayer money in 2009 to dredge the same port that they turned around and gave away.”

Keith Bell continues to talk about the “give away of the port”, a claim that he is unable to substantiate with fact; most of this contribution based on speculation and supposition and most of it spent addressing the Port deal instead of what is happening in Immigration; I guess this is not as important or salacious as the “stories” that he seemed so willing to create concerning a matter that most people would accept his opinion on, if he were able to show some positive moment in his very own portfolio.

Keith Bell’s contribution seems to be indicative of the New Day government’s approach to govern,   total unfocused and out of touch with reality and as the saying goes; “you are free to our own opinions’ but not your own facts.  So while Bell contradicted the sentiments  of the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Tourism and Aviation on this matter, he also seemed quite willing to contradict the facts and the numbers by making up his own.

“$85.3 mil. in govt. revenue from cruise port next year – Figures contradict Bell’s claim that govt in deficit position from port deal.” The Nassau Guardian June 15^th 2023

Excerpt from this article; “The government of The Bahamas is projected to rake in revenue of $85.3 million next year as a result of the redeveloped Nassau Cruise Port Ltd. (NCP), up from $72.3 million in revenue in 2019, according to numbers released yesterday by NCP.

The NCP release came on the same day that a Cabinet minister claimed the Bahamian people are being robbed as a result of the deal the Minnis administration entered into for a public-private partnership arrangement for the new, state-of-the-art $300 million port.

The $85.3 million in revenue would include $82.8 million in head tax and $2.5 million in lease payments.

Minister of Labour and Immigration Keith Bell claimed that over a five-year period – from 2023 to 2027 – the port will get $575,800,000 in revenue while the government gets a mere $18 million, which he claimed amounts to a deficit when one considers the $44 million The Bahamas government invested over a decade ago to dredge Nassau Harbour.  

NCP did not reference Bell in its statement yesterday but outlined facts on the port deal and its projected impact, which directly contradict the information he provided in Parliament while contributing to the budget debate.

NCP noted that it completed the construction of the new berth six and extension of berth one in early 2022, which has materially improved the cruise port’s vessel capacity and consequently the number of passengers coming to Nassau.

In 2023, Nassau is forecasted to surpass 2019’s passenger count by approximately 300,000 passengers and in 2024 the total number of cruise passengers is estimated to climb to 4.6 million passengers.

“As we look forward, Nassau Cruise Port Ltd. forecasts from FY2024 to FY2027 are based on cruise passenger bookings for the next two years and future estimates,” NCP said.

“Notwithstanding the addition of berth number six and the expansion of berth number one, passenger capacity and revenue generation is limited by the number of berths available and the size ships each berth can accommodate. It is also impacted by The Bahamas tourism seasonality.”

The cruise port projects that 4.6 million passengers will visit in 2024 for a total revenue for the port of $34.1 million; five million passengers are expected in 2025 for a total revenue of $47.4 million; 5.2 million are projected for 2026 for a total revenue of $60.4 million; 5.4 million passengers are expected in 2027 for a total revenue of $64.7 million and 5.6 million are forecast for 2028 with a projected revenue of $68.9 million.

The revenues do not represent profits as expenses and dividends to investors are included.

“In summary, the development of the new Nassau Cruise Port is the envy of the Caribbean,” NCP said.”

My opinion to the “Hon.” Keith Bell would be simple and straight to the point.  Please stick to your portfolio and get the country out of the bind that you and the New Day government has it in, as it pertains to it not being able to reclaim Crown Land that has been built on illegally by persons that are here illegally.  It has become quite apparent that you are now even a failure at spreading cheap nonsensical political propaganda.

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

END

Today is being recognized as Labour Day or Sir. Randol Fawkes Day; the man recognized as “The Father of the Labour Movement”. It is a day set aside as a holiday on the first Friday of June to recognize and celebrate the nard working proletariat
This day has been hi-jacked by the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP), and to hear them tell their story – it is a PLP holiday but the only thing that they have succeeded in doing is to create separate between the average workers based on politics when this day has nothing to do with politics.
The PLP has become toxic to the Workers Day Celebrations by first separating the workers from their colleagues, whom they should be walking with, by encouraging them to walk with the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP), turning the march into a political event.
They further separate the workers from their fellow colleagues by encouraging them to end the march at Gambier House, the PLP Headquarters; instead of encouraging them to end it and socialize together on Arawak Cay.
The Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) has always been a party of separatists and only encourages “togetherness’ with it politically convenient for them as a party and/or government.
The PLP fails for one reason, it is their nature.
END