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Ignorance and blind allegiances must cease
Dear Editor,
Someone once said that "ignorance can be excused, but not the will to remain ignorant". It amazes me how Bahamians, who are some of the most exposed people in the world by way of travel, remain stubborn and hardheaded towards their own future. We refuse to inform ourselves on the issues affecting us as a country and even when we do, we still make decisions that defy logic.
I was born a Moss and will remain a Moss until the day that God calls me. My mother, father, brothers and my children I cannot change. I am stuck with them for life. I once rooted for the Boston Celtics in the 1980s and in the 1990s I rooted for the Chicago Bulls. I now root for the Miami Heat. Some things in life we can change.
Growing up my family was predominantly PLP and as such this had a huge effect on my political views. I basically was programmed to listen to the good that the PLP offered. Any negative comments were squashed and labeled as nonsense. When I became a young adult my parents seemed to switch their support to the FNM. Of course this had an effect on me still and, of course, I fell in line. Negative comments about the FNM were disbanded and only good commentary was ever listened to or discussed.
Now I have become an adult and realize that it is my responsibility as a Bahamian to listen to the issues as they occur in the country and then decide if I agree with them or not. I can't continue to say that I am satisfied with the PLP when they did not oppose the destruction of homes near the Charles Saunders Highway. I can't continue to say that I am satisfied with the FNM if they are making Bahamians feel like second-class citizens. I think as a Bahamian first and then think about party second. It sickens me when Bahamians say that they have been a PLP or FNM all their life and blah, blah, blah. Wake up Bahamians. The time is too serious in this country now to just say that "I am a PLP" or "I am an FNM".
Kudos goes to the FNM for literally opening up the air waves. There are now many radio stations who report the news daily; there are two additional television stations besides ZNS and there are at least five daily radio talk shows. There are also several television programs that speak directly to all things Bahamian. These mediums provide an invaluable resource of knowledge for Bahamians who want to watch, listen and learn more about their country and the decisions being made by our elected leaders.
We should be electing governments that can set and follow sound fiscal policies and who can strengthen the judiciary regardless of who will be affected. Why are you supporting a particular party? Have you informed yourself of the party's policies and agenda? Do you know the background of your candidate? Are the decisions being made now going to affect your children positively or negatively in the future? These are some of the questions that we as voters should be asking ourselves. We need to raise the bar for our elected officials. Excellent moral behavior, honesty and integrity should be traits that you should be looking for and demanding as a voter about your candidate.
Of course every decision made by any governing party will not satisfy all of the Bahamian electorate. The Bahamian electorate in my view needs to realize, though, that ignorance can no longer be excused. Saying that "I ain't voting cause nothing ga change" or "the government don't give me nuttin'" are some of the dumbest comments that a voter can ever state. You might not vote, but when the government raises the taxes aren't you affected? When the government closes a road aren't you affected? And by the way, the government is not supposed to give anyone handouts. They are supposed to make policy that will enable Bahamians to thrive.
In the next general election, Bahamians will vote for the FNM, PLP, NDP, PDP and the DNA. The only sound advice that I can give every registered voter is to be informed on what the issues are and decide on which candidate and/or party they best believe can aid in solving those issues.
The most idiotic comment ever said to me was when I campaigned in the run up to the 1997 general election. A registered voter told our team that she did not need to hear from us. She said that if we sent a cat as a candidate that she would vote for the cat. This is extreme blind allegiance and this is a major contributing factor to why The Bahamas is in its current state. We need to make each other accountable for all actions taken. I pray that this kind of blind allegiance has ceased to exist in 2011. Don't say in 2013 that the government is doing this and doing that and get vex when you did not do your due diligence in 2012.
And for those of us who are die-hards, consider this: If someone has put a knife in our back or our children's backs and they are twisting it, causing severe injuries to our bodies, it cannot be that they mean us any good. It is as simple as that. Would we just say: "Tha's my cousin? Tha's my friend? We go way back". We need to reconsider our alliance with that person for the safety and wellbeing of not only us, but our children as well. We have to make sensible choices in order to have a chance at sensible solutions.
Most politicians know that where ignorance is blessed, it is folly to be wise. In other words, once you are uninformed and ignorant they have no pressure to inform you on what is actually going on. Inform yourselves voters and please remember that ignorance and stubborn allegiances can no longer be excused, as these traits will only cause the further downfall of our beloved Bahamas.
Yours, etc.,
Dehavilland Moss
Government-Sanctioned Lawlessness Must Cease
It is not possible for The Bahamas to tackle and beat the scourge of crime if crime in any form is being purported and indeed exalted as untouchable. Either we are going to crush crime, or crime is going to crush us.
Christie: UN call to cease repatriations should be viewed favorably
Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) leader Perry Christie suggested yesterday that the call by the United Nations' (UN) humanitarian arms to temporarily cease repatriations to Haiti should be viewed favorably.
However, he said it is important to make the international body understand the heavy burden that illegal Haitian migration has on the local economy.
"We're always prepared to do the right thing when it comes to our neighbors, but it must be understood that in that process The Bahamas needs all the help that they can get in addressing the issues because we have carried the brunt of the nationals of Haiti coming into The Bahamas and remaining in The Bahamas," Christie told reporters yesterday at his downtown office when asked how his party would respond to the UN's request.
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) spokesperson Adrian Edwards, speaking at a press briefing at the Palace of Nations in Geneva Tuesday, urged countries with high Haitian refugee populations like The Bahamas to halt repatriations until the situation in Haiti improves.
The government is considering the request, according to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Brent Symonette.
Christie said, "With any action called by the United Nations there ought to be a specific response from The Bahamas government to ensure that the United Nations and the world understand the burden that the Bahamian people have carried on this issue if only because of our close proximity to Haiti and the fact that we are seen as the window to the United States of America.
"So I think it's important in acceding to international commitments to ensure at all times that there is a full understanding of what we are exposed to and our commitments.
"But given the fact that our resources are limited there must be some kind of understanding fostered that The Bahamas will always need help on this matter."
The UNHCR official reasoned that repatriations should be halted because "precarious conditions continue to persist" in Haiti since a 7.0 magnitude earthquake devastated its capital city in January 2010.
Hundreds of Haitians have been repatriated in the last several months.
Symonette said The Bahamas has always recognized those situations in Haiti that might force the government to suspend the repatriations of illegal Haitian migrants.
If the government does suspend repatriations, it would be the second time since the earthquake. Christie said the PLP has always been sensitive to the plight of the Haitian people.
"We have been always aware of the conditions there," he added.
And while the PLP would likely accede to the UNHCR's call, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs Fred Mitchell said the PLP has to gather more information before any official position is reached.
"I think what we'll be doing is seeking from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs urgently what the parameters of this request are because you want to know what are the confines, for what duration, what are we definitively being asked to do, before you can definitely pronounce what you are going to do," he said.
Peter Nygard issues cease and desist letter to property owner's association
FASHION mogul and long-time Lyford Cay resident Peter Nygard has issued a cease and desist letter to his property owner's association.
Citing intimidation from the private security firm hired to patrol the gated residential community, Mr Nygard's legal counsel has also lodged a formal complaint against the Lyford Cay Property Owners Association with the Commissioner of Police.
Up to press time, Marvin Dames, deputy commissioner, said that the organisation was not in receipt of such a complaint.
In a press statement, Keod Smith of Commercial Law Advocates said that the actions of the hired security were the latest in an ongoing "conspiracy" against the Canadian expat's reputation ...
Turner: Government-Sanctioned Lawlessness Must Cease
It is not possible for The Bahamas to tackle and beat
the scourge of crime if crime in any form is being purported and indeed
exalted as untouchable. Either we are going to crush crime, or crime
is going to crush us.
Any government Minister who is telling the Bahamian
people that the courts have ordered the government and the police not
to enforce the law with respect to illegal activity is willfully being
untruthful to the nation. No court will ever order that a crime not
be handled as a crime, and that crime can no longer be fought and prosecuted.
The selling and buying of numbers is a crime in this
country and has always been a crime. No opinion poll or injunction changed
that law in any way nor could it...
Plea to Cease Desist the Rape, Pillage Wanton Destruction of Our Patrimony Heritage of Land Sea
We, this country, this
land, this Commonwealth of the Bahamas, are the enviable prize of the
world, and the prey of the world's largest and most economically vicious
predators. A piece of our sacred heritage is the closest some of them
will ever come to heaven on earth. We are rapidly becoming the spoils
of a quiet (too quiet) and subtle (much too subtle) bargaining and
bartering of our heritage patrimony of land, sea, sand, coastlines and
sea beds. This rabid and rapid dispossession has taken place right under
our eyes which have been half closed, and at times fully shut.
"For
most of history, man has had to fight nature to survive; in this
century he is beginning to realize that, in order to survive, he must
protect it." Jacques-Yves Cousteau.
Turner: Government-Sanctioned Lawlessness Must Cease
It is not possible for The Bahamas to tackle and beat
the scourge of crime if crime in any form is being purported and indeed
exalted as untouchable. Either we are going to crush crime, or crime
is going to crush us.
Any government Minister who is telling the Bahamian
people that the courts have ordered the government and the police not
to enforce the law with respect to illegal activity is willfully being
untruthful to the nation. No court will ever order that a crime not
be handled as a crime, and that crime can no longer be fought and prosecuted.
The selling and buying of numbers is a crime in this
country and has always been a crime. No opinion poll or injunction changed
that law in any way nor could it...
Govt: No formal request on repatriation halt
The United Nations (UN) has not made a direct request to The Bahamas for the suspension of repatriations to Haiti, a press release from the Cabinet Office revealed yesterday.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Brent Symonette also told The Nassau Guardian yesterday that Haiti has had no drastic changes on the ground that would warrant ceasing repatriation exercises.
"We're a sovereign country and obviously we have to review issues on the ground (in Haiti) and unless things change in Haiti our policy will remain the same," Symonette said.
The Bahamas suspended repatriation exercises following the January 2010 earthquake in Haiti for several weeks last year. This week, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) spokesperson Adrian Edwards, speaking at a press briefing at the Palace of Nations in Geneva, urged countries with high Haitian refugee populations like The Bahamas to halt repatriations until the situation in Haiti improves.
Edwards suggested that "precarious conditions continue to persist" in Haiti since the 7.0 magnitude earthquake devastated its capital city.
"UNHCR and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights are renewing their appeal to governments to suspend, on humanitarian grounds, all involuntary returns to Haiti," he said.
"Despite the recent elections and ongoing reconstruction efforts, Haiti, weakened by the earthquake, cannot yet ensure adequate protection or care, especially for some vulnerable groups in case of return, such as unaccompanied minors, disabled persons, people with health problems, victims of trafficking or of sexual abuse."
The Cabinet Office release said the Government of The Bahamas had taken note of the request made by the UNHCR and ensured that "if a formal request is made by the UN to the Government of The Bahamas, such a request will be considered and a determination made as to the broader implications of such a request for The Bahamas and the best interests of our citizens."
The release also insisted that The Bahamas has always been sensitive to the plight of the Haitian people. The Bahamas' record of dealing with the Haitian illegal immigration issue since the earthquake has been one of sensitivity and prudential judgment with regard to various domestic imperatives and our international obligations and relations," the release said.
Symonette told The Guardian, "I talked to both the previous (Haitian) ambassador to The Bahamas who was in Jamaica, and Colin Granderson, OAS (Organization of American States) election representative in Haiti, and at the time none of them were aware of any changes in the current situation on the ground in Haiti, neither [is] our ambassador," said Symonette, who recently returned from Jamaica.
"Therefore, repatriations to Haiti will be guided by if there are any changes on the ground. So we'll continue obviously along those lines and should situations necessitate ceasing we will cease.
"...We haven't had another earthquake or a hurricane. Yes, they had some rain the other day which killed some people, but there hasn't been a drastic change that would affect our repatriation exercises."
PM announces he will 'ring the bell' Tuesday, April 10
Prime Minister Ingraham greeted a huge crowd of NM supporters Monday evening at the FNM Red Splash event, announcing that he will 'ring the bell' Tuesday 10 April, after meeting with his Cabinet.
The PM fired up the crowd of supporters saying "the tide of Red Splash has turned into a massive surge of Colour Red! It is now time to transform the raging tide into a tsunami of support!"
Ingraham remarked on the overwhelming turnout for Red Splash, saying "anybody flying over The Bahamas must think that they are seeing the Red Sea. Don't forget what happened to those Egyptians who tried to pass through the Red Sea in their Gold Rush chariots!"
"We cannot and will not take anything for granted. This will be a hard-fought contest. We will fight over every vote, and work without ceasing. There is no time for complacency," said the PM.
The development of high school sports in The Bahamas since Independence
There are some who argue that high school sports in The Bahamas, particularly here in New Providence, lost some of its competitive nature and some of its luster since the teacher's strike of 1986, but few can deny that it has played an integral part of the sustained development of the youth of this country.
That year saw the separation of the public and private school sporting programs into two separate bodies, ceasing the frequent matches and rivalries between the two entities here in New Providence. Be that as it may, interest certainly didn't fall off.
High school sports here in The Bahamas have produced Olympic and World Champions, such as Tonique Williams-Darling, who got her start athletically at St. John's College on Bethel Avenue.
Currently, the sporting curriculum includes team sports such as basketball, volleyball and soccer in the primary school sector, and all three disciplines along with softball in the high schools. Individually, athletics has drawn the most attention in both primary and secondary schools, and has experienced the most success.
The cry for baseball in the school system continues to ring out, but for the most part, it appears that it is falling on deaf ears. The Ministry of Education, through its sports unit, experimented with baseball in the schools a few years back, but apparently, the ministry experienced difficulty fitting it into the after-school sports curriculum and sustaining consistent league play. The program fizzled out, but thankfully, through the various leagues under the umbrella of the Bahamas Baseball Federation (BBF), youth baseball is as vibrant as it has ever been in The Bahamas, and scholarship opportunities are endless.
In basketball, Bahamian high schools have produced some of the best young players in the region. Despite not experiencing the same success on the senior side, on the junior level, The Bahamas has advanced to the FIBA Americas Championships on four separate occasions - all four in the past 12 years. The country hasn't advanced further, but no other Caribbean country can lay claim to that level of success. Numerous college stars and professional athletes surfaced out of that success on the junior side. Girls' basketball hasn't been nearly as successful as the boys', but the program is steadily on the rise. In the various high school leagues around the country, the Tabernacle Baptist Falcons, the C.I. Gibson Rattlers, the St. Augustine's College Big Red Machine and the Westminster College Diplomats have been perennial powerhouses.
Soccer in the high school system has been dominated by the St. Andrew's Hurricanes and Queen's College Comets in the private school sector, and the C.C. Sweeting Cobras and C.R. Walker Knights in the public schools sector. Just recently, a number of young women, many of whom are still in high school, made history for the country when they became the first team from The Bahamas to advance to the CONCACAF Championships. That under-17 national team entered the CONCACAF Championships as the number three team in the Caribbean behind Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica, and during the tournament, was able to play the top ranked Caribbean nation Trinidad to a scoreless draw.
The sporting disciplines of volleyball and softball have struggled to produce regional champions in the 39 years of The Bahamas' Independence, but the competition here at home is as intense as it ever was, and the interest continues to grow.
The sporting discipline of athletics has produced World and Olympic Champions on all levels for The Bahamas. Just last year, a youth team from The Bahamas, consisting mostly of Bahamian high school students, produced the best ever finish for The Bahamas at a world level event. Team Bahamas returned from the IAAF World Youth Championships in Lille, France, with three gold medals and one bronze - the best ever collective finish for The Bahamas.
As if that wasn't enough, the team traveling to the World Junior Championships is expected to be just as successful, if not more successful. The World Junior Championships get started on Independence Day and will continue until July 15.
Hence, this Independence Day is expected to bring a period of true national pride for Bahamians. A junior team is in Barcelona, Spain, preparing for the World Junior Championships, and in a couple weeks, a 20-plus member team will depart for the Olympic Games in London, England.
Both teams are expected to fare well, and bring recognition and prestige to this tiny nation of just 39 years of age - The Bahamas.
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