WITH the recent passing of Sir Jack Hayward, it is without a doubt that the Grand Bahama community has lost a true thespian.

ATTORNEY General Allyson Maynard-Gibson yesterday said officials would provide the public with an update on a BEC bribe allegation "within the appropriate time", but refused to comment further.

Tall Pines MP Leslie Miller said yesterday he has grave reservations about whether Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival is in the best interest of The Bahamas, and said the country should not import any "garbage" to further destroy young people.

"I have my own grave reservations as to whether this is in the best interest of our country, realizing that the young people in this country are totally out of line morally," said Miller when asked his views on the festival.

When I look at those things and I look at if you want to import garbage to my country, I take exception to it, to be honest with you, as a member of Parliament and as a Bahamian.

"I say garbage because I was there one time as the minister of trade and industry, in Trinidad when they had the thing, and it didn't impress me. I saw a lot of vulgarity, people were, I don't want to say hitting on each other, but almost a sexual situation in broad daylight. So I really don't have any appetite for it."

Miller also said, "I understand that they are spending our money like drunken sailors, some of the top guys," he added, though he would not state what he meant.

He said though, that he is only the "potcake" and no one listens to him. He said he hopes the festival is successful, even though three members resigned from the festival commission on Friday.

Ed Fields, Freddie Munnings Jr. and Inga Bowleg resigned from the commission. The Guardian asked Miller his views after the Bahamas Christian Council released a statement saying Carnival will encourage "promiscuity, fornication, rape, incest and other sins of the flesh."

"In a recent expose of the costumes which will be worn at various events, the modesty of our women is clearly being dismissed as irrelevant," the Christian Council said. "Quite frankly, it would seem to us that our women's sexuality is being overtly exploited for monetary gain."

Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Chairman Bradley Roberts said the Christian Council president must never have attended the Boxing Day and New Year's Day Junkanoo parades. He suggested that the group is out of touch. But Miller said he is just as concerned as the Christian Council is about the festival.

"I am not enthused about it to be honest with you," he said. "I think that the Junkanoo that we have is our own brand. I don't accept the word carnival that we are imitating, but we are great imitators.

"I hope that it works. I'm not one of those who is going to say hurrah about it. I believe in Junkanoo.

"I've been a Junkanooer all my life. I think we should be spending money branding what we have instead of imitating or transplanting other people's culture on our people and call it something original. It is not. Junkanoo is original. But it is not my decision."

Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe has said the government will ensure that Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival takes place in decency and order and "not cheapen anyone in our society, particularly our women".

The Office of the Data Protection Commissioner recorded a 900 percent increase in the number of complaints it received regarding privacy breaches, including cases involving the sharing of sexually explicit and violent images on social media websites, according to Data Protection Commissioner Sharmie Farrington-Austin.

Farrington told The Nassau Guardian laws need to be strengthened to address these concerns.

"We started out when I took the chair [in 2013] with five complaints for the year," she said. "I am satisfied that within the year we've had at least 50 or more formal complaints.

"...We've seen an increase in the complaints arising from social media where persons are putting up people's personal information without their consent. Obviously, the public is aware that we've had some challenges with child pornography and photos being uploaded on Facebook with minors. That is very serious because the public needs to understand that where minors are concerned the law is very, very clear.

"Information regarding minors ought not to be published. Responsible journalists know that but unfortunately we have many persons who, whether they know or not, are prepared to go out there and upload. So if you are prepared to do the action then we are equally prepared to ensure that our laws are enforced."

Concerns surrounding the posting of child pornography gained traction last week after a series of videos depicting various young women having sex with a man were posted on Facebook and shared on WhatsApp.

Edmond Lewis Jr., a police officer, was charged in a magistrates court with one count of producing child pornography. He pleaded not guilty when he was re-arraigned on Wednesday.

On Tuesday, Deontra Demeritte, 18, was charged with publishing and disseminating a sex video of a teenage entertainer. He also pleaded not guilty.

While not commenting on either case, Farrington-Austin called on Internet users to be more vigilant when posting to social media sites. Farrington-Austin also called on policymakers to pass more specific laws to deal with social media infractions that invade people's privacy. Referencing laws that are being considered in the United States, Farrington-Austin said the government should also look at establishing data privacy and digital privacy acts.

"Obviously we are living in a different dispensation and in a different time where our children are more engaged in technology now," she said. "So perhaps this is a very good time for the policymakers to decide whether or not we are going to have specific laws."

Farrington-Austin also cautioned people against taking pictures of murder victims.

Over the last two years the pictures of scores of murder victims have been shared across various platforms. She said if the family members make a complaint, the perpetrator could face repercussions. Speaking generally, Farrington-Austin said her office will vigorously protect people who are the victims of data crimes.

"If it comes before my department it does not matter to me who you are or who you're connected to," she said. "If you breach our act we are going to enforce it."