“McAlpine: I put country first – Always” – the Tribune

Excerpt from this story; “AS HE slammed Free National Movement Chairman Carl Culmer for calling him a hypocrite, Pineridge MP Fredrick McAlpine yesterday suggested the FNM chair was not a real leader.

Mr. Culmer made the remark about the FNM backbencher last week as he deemed Wednesday’s march outside Parliament a failure organized by the Progressive Liberal Party.

Despite siding with protesters who demonstrated against the Minnis administration, Mr. McAlpine insisted he was not a hypocrite or anti-FN but said the party does need a ‘come to Jesus moment’ having faced two protests in less than six months.”

I have had conversation with the Hon. McAlpine and we have made peace and I refuse to attack or bash him because of his view but I would like to ask him exactly what does he mean when he says, “I put country first – always”?

For some putting country first seems to mean to bring immediate relief to the persons of that country or to do whatever it takes to bring about this relief and is what most person expect of a government when they vote them in; especially in the manner in which the current Free National Movement government was voted in.

For others, putting country first means setting long terms goals for the country so that in the future the country will have a solid foundation on which to build and grow and NO the previous  Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) government did not leave one in place, so I do not what to hear them carry on with that again.

Both of these views have their potential merits and both have their potential pitfalls.

If one were to bring immediate relief to the masses no matter what, given the state the country has been in, then one must ask at what cost?  How does one achieve such a lofty goal and if one looks to take the second route, then how much can the people actually  bear in the attempt to achieve long terms goals for the betterment of the country?

It would be foolish and irresponsible to accept any and everything that any government does or says without question but as you question, at the same time you must be willing and able to offer viable solutions and take the ‘heat’ for your criticism; well within reason.

I have not been pleased with everything that this government has done to date but as I criticize them, I at the very least offer a solution.

Today, the Free National Movement (FNM) member of parliament for Pineridge gets into a spat over what is hypocritical as it pertains to the direction in which the governing Free National Movement is taking the country and my opinion is exactly how does one define ‘country first’?

“Country First” like the phase “Nationalist” basically off the very same concept, are both catchy terms but how do you define each in the best interest of any nation because no matter which direction you take to improve the lives of the of the people of The Bahamas through true change, someone will be dissatisfied and/or made to ‘suffer’.

END

 

“No relief from power bills – More expensive fuel to blame” – The Nassau Guardian 05.11.2018

Excerpt from this article; “Consumers who have seen their Bahamas Power and Light (BPL) bills spike in recent months might not get any relief for months as the electricity company continues to grapple with generation issues stemming from a fire that impacted two of the Clifton Pier power station’s largest engines in September.

Chairman of BPL Dr. Donovan Moxey said BPL is working on securing additional assets to compensate for the loss of those engines, but said that might not happen until next summer.

‘The spike in the cost of electricity is due to a number of factors,’ he said during a press conference on Friday at BPL’s Tucker Road headquarters.

‘First of all, we lost some critical assets at Clifton Pier, about 60 – 70 megawatts that was used to generate electricity for New Providence, given the fire that we had.

‘This particular generation assets were running on heavy fuel oil (HFO), which is the least expensive of the fuels that we use to generate electricity.’

‘We had to shift that load to Blue Hills (power plant).  Blue Hills runs on mostly on ADO, automotive diesel oil, which is much more expensive than HFO.’

‘So, when we lost those assets at Clifton and we had to shift our load to Blue Hills, we ended up utilizing the more expensive fuel, and right now our fuel mixture is 70 percent ADO, 30 percent HFO.’

‘So that’s what caused that inherent spike in the cost of electricity”

“The spike in cost of electricity is due to  number of factors”  and still waiting to hear which one these factors makes the public at large liable for the increased cost in the generation of power.

I had a calming down period to undergo as I experienced what could be described as a period of ‘rage and violence’ when I first read this article and the reasoning behind the increase in power costs and would like to first say that I find the actions by Bahamas Power and Light (BPL) and the government allowing it actually happen simply unconscionable; especially with the present state of the economy.

Indulge me in a simple analogy of this situation to highlight my position.

If I am own a car service and have an arrangement with a client to pick them up from a certain location and take them back there for a prearranged fee; I then cannot go demand compensation from them if my car has broken down and I have to rent another car to fulfill my obligations and this is exactly how I see the present situation with BPL.

How can they reasonably expect for the consumers to pay higher fates plus VAT due to mechanical issues that they have encountered?  These concerns are noted by me but really are not my financial concerns as I have already have an agreement with the power company to supply me power at a set rate.  The only way that I can reasonably engage the power company when considering a power rate increase would be if or when the price of fuel rises on the global market and we have already seen that they are NOT interested in this conversation because when oil prices fall, the rate of electricity still remains constant; well they have never done it to my recollection.

What I find seriously unjust about what is going on here is the fact that Bahamas Power and Light (BPL) has passed these costs onto  it consumers with the blessing of the Utilities Regulations & Competition Authority (URCA ) a state owned organization, instead of taking the lost of for faulty or malfunctioning equipment; it is fact that this now increases hardship on the average person who now is even more pressed when making the decision between lights and food and it also discourages economic growth as some employers will now be forced to cut back, not hire and even having some small businesses who are at this very time just breaking even to probably go out of business.

It is my opinion that this more by BPL only serves to negatively impact the country at large

END

 

 

Even as I may be greatly criticized for what is termed as unfair commentary against the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) because they are not the government; I feel compelled to address them just based on their blatant hypocrisy and duplicity.

“Christie urges Brave t lean on PLP’s” – The Nassau Guardian

Excerpt from this article; “Former Prime Minister Perry Christie urged Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Leader Philip Brave Davis to ‘not fall victim’ to a narrative that will be created to defeat him.

“You play your role in this democracy,’ Christie told Davis while speaking in front of a crowd of party supporters at former PLP Chairman Bradley Roberts’s memorial at PLP headquarters on Wednesday.

‘You continue to play your role in this democracy, pushing forward making the sacrifice you are making, and relying on the goodwill and strength and conviction of these people.”

What I find amazing is the constant use of the word of democracy by the former leader of the Progressive Liberal Party, as he encourages the present leader to stay the course of democracy in the party when both of these men played a part in stifling democracy not just in the country but in their very own political organization.

The Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) held its first party convention in over 2016, with the last one before that being held in 2009 and this is in spite of the fact that the party’s constitution calls for a convention very year.

Now, as Brave takes over and is encouraged to carry on with the works of democracy in the party; they [the Progressive Liberal Party] have held two conventions since being defeated in 2017, this would be in keeping with their new found convictions but their upcoming convention; which would continue these democratic works, has been out on pause due to ‘financial’ considerations.

Maybe this reason is plausible maybe not but you as already proven that you have a real struggle with democracy, even though this is one of the principles of governance in The Bahamas which was brought to Independence by the Progressive Liberal Party itself. 

This have been proven when you were a government by the way that you governed the country and by the way that you run your very own political organization, so the use of the word “democracy” by anyone in the present Progressive Liberal Party, especially those that Aare a part of the ‘old guard’ demonstrates the improper use of this word.

END

 

 

 

 

“Don’t be fooled, ‘prove your status’ makes us all Jean Rony” – Insight ‘The Tribune

Excerpt from this article; “The Social Media frenzy about the identity of Jena Rony Jean-Charles for him to ‘prove who he is’ promotes a serious threat to the presumption of innocence in The Bahamas.  Targeting Jean Rony puts everyone’s freedom and presumption of innocence at stake.  We are all potential Jean Ronys.

Jean Rony has committed no immigration nor other offence known to law.  Like most of us, he was “born” in The Bahamas and was exercising his constitutional right to move freely when he was falsely, illegally detained and expelled from the country.

This is a result of Fred Mitchell’s 2014 ‘Prove your status’ and ‘produce your papers’ upon demand policy.  Jean Rony was thereby presumed to be guilty of no known offense under the law.  Because Fred Mitchell (PLP) and now continuing with Brent Symonette (FNM), he was merely by policy, deemed born with original sin.

It can and will happen to any of us.”

First, let us dispel with the notion that Jean Rony Jean-Charles has committed no immigration nor other offense known to law; first he did not by our current immigration laws, apply for citizenship when he had reached the age of eighteen and thereby violated the spirit of not only the constitution but also immigration policy; the play with semantics now by Fred Smith only serves to further the divide with persons whom held some sort of empathy for his client as he now seeks to apply for citizenship.

As Jean-Rony applies for citizenship, a matter that should not be addressed until the whole issue of who he really is is cleared up, we must look at the fact that not only did Jean Rony attempt to perpetuate a fraud on the country by not applying for citizenship thereby living without the responsibility of being a contributing citizen; there is also the issue of him being in the criminal system when he himself admitted to being arrested for possession of marijuana, fined and jailed for a month, while seeking to claim he has violated “no immigration nor other offense”.  While this may be seen as a very minor offence, it should be considered when considering citizenship as now we already have a man lying to conceal two criminal acts.

No, Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis nor Fred Mitchell or even myself do not need to prove that we are the persons that they are on our birth certificates because we all have documents in support of who were are; when arrested, detained and deported Mr. Jean Rony seemed unable to produce any documents attesting to who to exactly who he is and it seems to date that he is even unable to.

The recent attack by Fred Smith QC is nothing more than a ‘smoke screen’, in my opinion as he attempt to invoke the distain that American had for the “Papers Please” law of Arizona back in 2010 and I would ask him did this practice just become ‘wrong’ as his client’s future came to be in jeopardy due to the ‘shell-game’ which he attempted to play with the government and lost?

As Fred Smith seeks to further erode the sovereignty of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas with his asinine ‘hit and miss’ commentary’’ I would enquire of him how is he seeking to now help his client while playing this high stake chess game.

END

People keep asking for the Free National Movement (FNM) to stop using the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) past performance or lack there off in office as an “excuse” to rationalize what the present government is doing but then the Progressive Liberal Party turns right around makes statements which are not familiar to or even closely acquainted with to the truth and I feel it is totally necessary to remind them of their past malfeasances that they perpetrated upon the people of The Bahamas.

“Darville hits out over proposed NHI tax”- The Nassau Guardian

Excerpt from this article; “Progressive Liberal Party Senator Dr. Michael Darville has said the proposed two percent tax to fund National Health Insurance (NHI) would be an additional burden on the Bahamian people given the country’s economic state.

According to a policy paper released by the National Health Insurance Agency (NHIA) this week, employees would pay two percent of their salary to a maximum of $42 per month, with the employer paying the reminder premium.

The revamped NHI would cost taxpayers $100 million a year, according to Minister of Health Dr. Duane Sands.

In an interview with The Guardian, Darville said the Minnis administration should have followed the blueprint left by the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) administration with regard to NHI.”

As I slowly raise my hand to ask the most obvious question – ‘Exactly what plan do you refer to Senator Darville?’ I also ask for him to please not insult the intelligence of the Bahamian people; just stop it and keep this in the halls of the Progressive Liberal Party headquarters where it seems to be acceptable.

Further exception from this article; “The Christie administration introduced the enrollment and primary care phase of NHI in 2017.

It did so with no public insurer and no means of funding the program.

Back in February 2015, the opposition leader Dr. Hubert Minnis said his party will not support taxing Bahamians to fund NHI.

Pointing to these comments, Dr. Darville said ‘It’s very much [hypocritical].  What you are seeing now is pretty much the exact same blueprint the Progressive Liberal Party left behind, excerpt for the modality for payment and the fact that we made it empathically clear that we would not initiate a tax on the Bahamian people until we felt confident the economy could sustain it.”

Exactly what you saying here Senator Darville?

As I need clarification.

Senator Darville you state that “…..the Minnis administration should have followed the blueprint left by the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) administration with regards to NHI” but then go on to say; “what you are seeing now is pretty much the exact same blueprint the Progressive Liberal Party left behind except for the modality of payment….” First is it the same model or not and also Senator Darville no one in the previous Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) government has ever said exactly how NHI would be funded, so there was no model of funding to follow although there was the intimation that there would have been a tax to fund the program in the original bill as introduced and passed by a Progressive Liberal Party government and then there is this curious and odd statement “…..until we [the Progressive Liberal Party] felt confident that the economy could sustain it [a tax to fund NHI” and I wonder exactly when that would have been because after four economic downgrades and the country slowly slipping toward a fourth, it did not seem that it would have been anytime soon under a Progressive Liberal Party government.

The Progressive Liberal Party government introduced the National Health Insurance plan in May of 2017 and at that time had no plan to fund it.  The Free National Movement (FNM) party came to power and continued to implement the program by upgrading medical facilities throughout the country and introducing the National Prescription Program.  The PLP then came back to power and from 2012-2017 did little to nothing to further advance NHI much less seek a way to fund the program but now Dr. Darville seeks to misguide with talks about a plan that he and his government had left in place.

In my opinion, the truth is that, the former Progressive Liberal Party administration never had a plan to fund the program beside taxation; they were just unable to given the way they ran the country’s economy but now they seek to demonize others for attempting to bring to fruition something that they were too lazy or too inept to bring about but will undoubtedly then seek to take full credit for when it is actually up and running.

In closing I would just like to say, it would have been advantageous for the previous Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) administration to have left a plan in place to fund this highly touted and anticipated initiative but unfortunately they did not.  Also, although as this tax has not been finalized, as the government is still in a period of consultation, the rumors of a tax so close to the increase of the VAT rate only serves the opposition message of “the war on the poor”

By the way, who contacted Senator Darville for serious and honest commentary on this subject in the first place?

THE END

It would seem that twice in one week the Bahamas Christian Council (BBC) has overstepped its bounds and gotten involved into areas the politics of the country which should not concern them, when or especially they seem to be failing at their very own role in society.

“You told us that you were broke” – The Nassau Guardian

Excerpt from this article; “The government’s decision to buy the Grand Lucayan hotel for &65 million has reignited concerns regarding whether the 60 percent value-added tax (VAT) hike was necessary to dig the country out of debt as indicated by the government, Bahamas Christian Council President Delton Fernander said.

‘What I believe has happened in the short term is the message has been challenging,’ Fernander said.

‘You told us that we were broke,’ he continued, referring to the Minnis administration.

‘You told us about austerity measures, but yet we spend a tremendous amount of money, albeit to save our economy as is being purported.  But we are challenged now to stop and think: Was this to settle debt when taxes were raised or to put money in the kitty so that we could have it to spend?”

Bishop Fernander exactly what it that “they” who sent you want you to say?  I mean that you want to say here?

You indicate that you understand the austerity measures put in place and the purchase of the resort to ‘save the economy’ but at the last moment you pull back on that understanding, leaving others to wonder if you understand and believe the message that you have been sent to deliver, I mean which you wish to convey.

Earlier this week to sought to chastise the government for not assisting the nation of Haiti at this time but have yet to outline what the Christian community [Bahamas Christian Council] and the Church is doing to help and now again you seek to chastise the government but at this time the message given to you; I mean your message is unclear.

There seems to be an attempt to question where the money is coming from if the VAT rate was increased to service the national debt which would be a valid question if the BCC had not been caught asking the government to financially contribute to the efforts to aid the nation Haiti and this question that you seem to want to ask totally contradicts the question of was the tax hike necessary to help the country get out of debt. 

Do you need a moment to check with ‘the sender’ so that you may clarify your message?

As I end, I will return to the responsibility of the Church in society as I quote Mark 16:15; “Go ye into the world, and preach the gospel to every creature”, even if there are those among us that reject the Christian faith; wouldn’t it be your responsibility to at the very least show the benefits of living in harmony, while showing love and peace toward one another?

END

As the leader of the opposition Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Philip ‘Brave’ Davis objects to term limits for the prime minister post, the Chairman of the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP), Senator Fred Mitchell announces the party’s upcoming convention for the PLP as the party seems to seek to change it public perception/image by making it seem to be democratic.

“PLP convention set for November” – The Nassau Guardian

Excerpt from this article; “Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Leader Philip Brave Davis yesterday confirmed the party will host a convention ‘before the end of this year’ in alignment with the party’s constitution.

Davis said the details are expected to be discussed at the party’s leadership council this week, but PLP chairman Senator Fred Mitchell told The Guardian that the PLP will host a convention November 14-16 with all leadership positions up for grab”.

 

It is interesting that a political organization that held a convention in January 2017, months before the 2017 general election, its first convention since 2009, now seeks to have a convention almost every six months in order to seem democratic, while conceding to operating in an undemocratic manner for over eight years. 

What is more interesting is the fact that the people who seek to control this new and strange activity in the party are the very ones that were present the entire time as they violated their very own constitution; violating the rights of members of the party but isn’t this the very reason as to why the leader of the opposition objects to term limits for the office of the prime minister; “To legislate term limits may well be depriving the citizens of what they desire?”

Really, how do you now as the most undemocratic political organization in the country, now seek to pull the veil of democracy out at your convenience? 

We do not buy it.

So there we have it, a tale of a political organization which now attempts to dabble in democracy after having deprived its very own elected and paying members of their constitutional right to choose its leaders for years. 

As the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) sets yet another convention date, proclaiming “all leadership positions up for grabs”, many still wonder about the democracy of this process where the stalwarts far outnumber the delegates.

END

 

“Sands ‘deviated’ from contract procedure – Minister denies the was ‘out to get’ Frank Smith” – The Nassau Guardian – Tuesday, September 11, 2018

Excerpt from this article; “Health Minister Dr. Duane Sands admitted yesterday on the stand that he ‘deviated’ from normal procedure when he approved the award of a 1.8 million cleaning contract to Magic Touch Company which is owned by Barbara Hanna.

Sands made the admission during cross examination in the briery and extortion trail of former Public Hospital Authority (PHA) Chairman Frank Smith.

Hanna has alleged that Smith demanded and received $60,000 from her, from 2016 to 2017; after he allegedly helped her company win a contract to clean the Critical Block of Princess Margaret Hospital.

Smith has denied the charges.

It was previously revealed in court that Hanna was awarded a second contract in 2017, valued at $1.8 million, three months after Smith was charged.

The contract was awarded, according to the minutes from the PHA board, without approval from the board.  The board did approve it later.

Last Tuesday, it was noted that Sands approved the second contract for Hanna following a recommendation from PHA’s tender analysis committee and a legal opinion from the Attorney General.

During his testimony last week, Sands said Hanna who donated $300 to his election campaign to 2016, alleged she was making monthly cash payments of $5,000 to Smith and that she asked for help.  Sands said he told Hanna to go to the police.”

What I have found amazing about the way in which this trail has unfolded is the manner in which the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) has been able to shift the focus of this case from the allegations of bribery and extortion by former PHA Chairman Frank Smith to one where we now have Dr. Duane Sands, the present Minister of Health services being “bought” for the sum of three hundred dollars [$300].

So a donation of $300 was made during the he lead up to the last general election and from this we are being asked to connect the following dots; one, that Dr. Sands had foreknowledge that he would win the Elizabeth seat, that the Free National Movement (FNM) would win the general election and that he would be made Minister of Health because only with these three things happening would he ever have the opportunity to ‘go after’ Frank Smith.

Then we look at this $300 dollars that the minister is said to have sacrificed his political and medical career for, we wonder what about the money that brought this case about in the first place, the $600,000 [six hundred thousand dollars], a quick look through Ms. Wilson’s financials would easily prove this but then there has been an objection by the defense to the introduction of Hanna’s banking information, imagine that.

But then there is this lie that the health minister has been caught in right?

While the Dr. Sands admits to deviating from contract procedure, I ask two questions;

1. Did he have the authority to ‘deviate’ from contract procedure? And
2. Did he do anything illegal when he did, given the circumstances? The circumstance as explained by him but which has been totally glossed over was the immediate need for someone to clean the hospital.

At this point, the major issue is that Dr. Sands has proven to be a horrible witness, it is that simple and there are two things at play here.  The allegations of extortion and bribery by Frank Smith of Barbara Hanna and Dr. Sands deviating from contract procedure; one of these issues has been answered with a plausible explanation while the other has been answered by attempting to make this deviation more nefarious that it is really is and to make it seem more salacious than the claim of bribery and extortion.

The funny thing about the entire situation is that only the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) would even consider being brought for $300 because this is something that they would do, as it is their nature.

END                                                                                                                                       

“Govt. Purchases Grand Lucayan Resort” – The Tribune 22. Aug. 2018

Excerpt from this article; “The Minnis administration has purchased the Grand Lucayan resort in Grand Bahama, Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis announced after a tour of the property on Wednesday.

During a press conference on the island, Dr. Minnis said the government made a deposit of $10 million on the property. The full purchase price is $65 million on the property, Dr. Minnis said.

Dr. Minnis said it is not the government’s intention to run the hotel, saying it is his administration’s intent to save jobs, saying if the three-property would close, it would have a ‘devastating’ impact on Grand Bahama.

He said the government was ‘holding’ the property to preserve the island’s economy and as soon as possible, the hotel would be sold.”

 I read this article and thought while the government’s intentions may be good; the holistic approach to the goal of preserving ‘the islands economy’ could not be realized by the simple act of buying the resort.  So I waited for the opposition Progressive Liberal Party to interject a more viable solution to the issue and got the leader of the PLP, Philip ‘Brave Davis’ suggesting that the purchase of the resort would be a ‘a waste of money’ without giving any viable solution to the economic woes that face the island of Grand Bahama but then why should I expect vision from a set of people that only increased the cost of government on that island during their last years in office, which did nothing to lessen the problems of that island, really not surprised by their lack of vision but then enters Maurice Glinton with his opinion, with most of us being like, “WHO?”

“Lawyer says resort’s purchase unlawful” – The Tribune 6 Sept 2018

Excerpt for this article; “ATTORNEY Maurice Glinton QC believes the Minnis administration’s purchase of the Grand Lucayan resort is unlawful.

In a recent written opinion price, he described the purchase as evidence that the government’s ‘decision making process-making process (or lack thereof) is critically impaired’.

‘By that’, he noted, ‘I mean ‘flawed’ for not obviously being informed as such process must be by views of proximate stakeholders consulted on the practicality and legality of an acquisition that will make The Bahamas government a licensee of Grand Bahama Port Authority Limited entitled to enjoy the benefits and privileges in virtue of the 1955 Hawksbill Agreement and the subsequent 1960 and 1966 amended agreements, all statutory in nature as enabled by Acts of the Bahamian Parliament.”  As I listen to Mr. Glinton’s contribution I first wonder where did he come from but at the very least he brought to the forefront what I feel may the problem here, which in my opinion is the Grand Bahama Port Authority.

Although I understand why the Minnis administration has committed to the purchase of the Grand Lucayan resort, I do not feel that it was the most prudent move in this case because of the economic strangle hold that the Port Authority has on the Freeport area; my solution is a simply this, if the Port continues to be the problem as it pertains to the economic advancement of Grand Bahama, then put them out of business or just work them out of the equation and the only way that I can see this being done is by shifting the economic focus of Grand Bahama from the city of Freeport to East End or West End, preferably West end.

It has been speculated that the purchase of the resort will be financed by the Chinese government, who currently own the resort; so borrowing from them to buy and fix a property that they seem uninterested in makes no sense to me, so I simply suggest that the government take that money to build a new hotel and casino with airport in the east or west and allow the current owners of the Grand Lucayan to unload the property while they continue to pay extra  taxes to the Port Authority.

There was a recommendation by former Prime Minister, the Hon. Hubert Ingraham for the government to buy the Port Authority instead of the resort but are the Haywards and St. George families even willing to sell, I doubt it, it is a sure ‘pay check’.

I say then force the families into a timey ‘death’ and go in and purchase the Port for pennies on the dollar and then dismantle it because it has long served its purpose for the island of Grand Bahama and the Freeport area and only now serves to make the ease of business in that area that much more difficult and another advantage of building a new hotel with its own airport, beside shifting the economic focus of the island, would be that if you are serious about selling the resort because you do not want to be in the hotel business, would be that the allure of a new resort is much more attractive to an investor.

END

 

“Anger On The Roads Over New University Crossing” – The Tribune, 31^st August 2018

Except from this article; “MOTORISTS stuck in long lines of traffic were confused and angered yesterday by the newly installed HAWK pedestrian signal crosswalk on University Drive.

As several students have been hit crossing the street between the Michael Eldon Building and the main University of The Bahamas campus, officials said it adds a safety mechanism for students who need to cross the street.

But because the new system’s traffic light does not ever change to green to signal when they could go, some driver did not know if and when it was safe to drive through the crossing.

Others did not acknowledge the system’s flashing lights and drove through the pedestrian’s markings as some students were crossing.

On the other hand, most students were not using the system properly and did not wait for the ten second system countdown for the walk signal.

The chaos this created yesterday led many motorists to voice their frustrations and honk their horns, telling reporters they had no idea how the new system was to work.

Generally, they all agreed this would create a daily nightmare in the area.”

I find it disheartening that in this day and age we are even having this conversation of how do we get university across the street safely and if my commentary seems to be insensitive then maybe it is supposed to be.

I have always found this area to be an area to avoid when the university was in session because the entire situation could make the most ‘saved’ lose their religion because it is as if the university students treat that section of street as if it is ‘pedestrian only’, having no consideration for motorists, so there is already a certain level of animosity between the driving public and the students and the only way that I feel that this situation can be resolved is by the students first having some common sense on how to use a crosswalk in the first place because until they are able to grasp the concept of how to use a simple crosswalk; the more advanced system of HAWK (High-Intensity Activated crosswalk) is lost on them, as it has already been reported that there is some level of confusion on how the system works.

“As several students have been hit crossing the street…”? Really? I don’t mean to sound insensitive, or maybe I do, but even the ‘potcake’ has seemed to figure out a way to safety cross the street but then many of them are running when they see a chance to get across ,so could this be the solution?  Does the University of The Bahamas have to introduce a course on how to cross the street; “Crossing the Street 100 – How to Safely Cross the street”

Before I leave, driving down Carmichael Road this morning I saw a school child attempting to cross the street where there is NO crosswalk; she came to a STOP, waited until the traffic STOPPED and HUSTLED across the street; maybe I should have videotaped it for the university students.

END