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

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