New Category : Letters

What does the PLP need to apologize for

What does the PLP need to apologize for

Wed, Aug 16th 2017, 11:26 AM

Dear Editor,

In light of the utterly ridiculous suggestion by apologists for the Minnis-led FNM that the PLP should apologize for finding itself (and the country) the victim of a well-orchestrated and foreign-funded electoral hit job recently, I have compiled two lists of matters that either deserve or do not deserve an apology, in my humble opinion.
Things for the PLP to apologize for:
1) Doubling the conviction rate for serious offenses between 2012 and 2016, thanks to Swift Justice and the construction of 10 criminal courts.
2) Setting up Resolve Bahamas Ltd. to manage and eliminate the debt associated with Bank of The Bahamas (a development the FNM once marched against but is now fully endorsing).
3) Establishing the University of The Bahamas.
4) Establishing National Health Insurance for Bahamians (a development now supposedly endorsed by the Minnis administration - though still openly deplored by many of its erstwhile fellow travellers).
5) Renegotiating and restoring the once-derailed Baha Mar project (a development once hysterically criticized by the FNM and the media and now fully endorsed by the Minnis administration and paying off handsomely).
6) Presiding over the most precipitous decline in unemployment numbers in recent Bahamian history (from 14.7 percent to 9.9 percent in less than two years, according to figures released on Friday).
Things NOT to apologize for, since they turned out to be - how does one say this politely? -'Truthfully challenged':
1) Giving the Chinese 500 citizenships as part of the Baha Mar sweet deal. This turned out to be an untruth.
2) Giving the Chinese 10,000 acres on Andros, which (even though seemingly endorsed by that font of truth and wisdom called Fox News) also turned out to be an untruth.
3) Running up a $500 million deficit up to May 2017 (which in turn caused the FNM to borrow that amount PLUS its own $222 million, threatening the country's credit rating), yet which turned out to be inaccurate to the tune of at least $215 million, according to the Central Bank of The Bahamas.
4) Inventing the need for a National Intelligence Agency just to spy on Bahamians for fun (which the sobering realities of law enforcement have now convinced the FNM is actually quite necessary, so they are following suit).

It says a lot about the larger picture that is taking place in the country that, for the first time in memorable history, a governing party is seriously seeking to extract not only political humiliation, but a self-serving apology from its defeated opponent.
Neither the Pindling government that ended in 1992,which featured such damaging baggage as the 1984 Commission of Enquiry, nor the Ingraham government that ended in 2012, which I personally supported, yet which left huge, unanswered questions about the privatization of BTC under its watch, were seriously asked for or gave an apology for having governed as they saw fit for the betterment of their country.
Neither, I might add, did the UBP government, which featured a Cabinet composed entirely of white Bahamians (coincidentally, one supposes) ever see the need to apologize to an electorate that they insulted merely by their existence and composition.
It is frankly below the dignity of our political traditions for anyone to seriously expect anything different from Mr. Christie's, or any other democratic Bahamian government.
Yet, somehow, today there are forces at work seeking to extract an apology from the PLP, even as the FNM struggles to pick up where the PLP left off in constructively governing the country.
So, to put things in perspective, I am presently working on a list of things that the breathtakingly dishonest Minnis-led FNM should be apologizing for, which should be ready in time for me to think up a new catchy pseudonym. This is fun!

- Allen Anderson

There is no bad time for justice
There is no bad time for justice

Wed, Aug 16th 2017, 11:25 AM

The business of tourism
The business of tourism

Tue, Aug 15th 2017, 11:24 AM

Cruising in The Bahamas
Cruising in The Bahamas

Tue, Aug 15th 2017, 11:23 AM

A response to The Graduate
A response to The Graduate

Mon, Aug 14th 2017, 10:02 AM

Former M.P. Pierre Dupuch comments on Bahamas healthcare system.

Former M.P. Pierre Dupuch comments on Bahamas healthcare system.

Fri, Aug 11th 2017, 10:03 PM

Dear Editor,

Many moons ago when I was a freshman studying economics at St. John's University, my professor, Fr. Martin, walked into the classroom and said, "Open your books and write this down. The definition of economics is the allocation of scarce resources among competing needs and wants."
Over the past sixty years I have seen successive governments run this country contrary to the basic rule of economics, the allocation of scarce resources among competing needs and wants. In 1982 Sir Kendal Isaacs appointed me the shadow minister of health in the House of Assembly. From there for ten years I watched the then government whittle away scarce money with no rhyme or reason. Since then I have seen successive governments do the same thing in the healthcare system -- waste public funds.
I suggested then that the government should buy well-equipped ambulances for each Family Island. This would make healthcare mobile, far less expensive and more efficient. So if a person in south Eleuthera had a chest pain, the ambulance would go there, hook the person up electronically and transmit the patient's vital signs to the main hospital in Nassau.
This information would be interpreted by a specialist who would instruct the operator how to treat the patient. If it showed indigestion, the patient would be told to take two Tums and go home. If, however, it indicated a pending heart attack, the specialist would instruct the operator what to do to stabilize the patient and fly him/her to Nassau for further treatment.
In those days the most difficult part of this operation would have been electronic transmission. I said then that I was sure the Americans, who had bases throughout the islands, would be glad to cooperate and lend their facilities.
With the invention of cell phones, transmission is no longer a problem. The problem is the lack of common sense.
X-ray machines are now manufactured to fold up and fit in the back of a car; medical information and scans can be recorded on machines that look like a cell phone. Why are we investing in all of these inoperative, expensive and inefficient monuments that look great and serve as photo opportunities for the politicians?
This is not rocket science. It is done every day in the United States. An ambulance is called to the scene, the patient's vital signs are immediately transmitted to the emergency room of a nearby hospital, and a specialist gives the operator instructions as to how to treat the patient.
Some time ago I visited one of these state-of-the-art hospitals, which had recently been built on a Family Island. It was beautiful. It looked like a hotel. The most expensive lights were used for its vast parking lot. The entrance would make Baha Mar look sick. The operating room was grand with state-of-the-art equipment in it. The x-ray equipment was the best money could buy. There were at least two-dozen beds. There were desks and telephones on at least twelve administrative desks. There was at least one-thousand square feet for "expansion".
Sounds great! Looks great! Great photo op! But how much did it cost and how effective is it? There was no x-ray technician to operate the state-of-the-art x-ray machine. There were no surgeons to operate. The patient beds were empty. A small room was crowded with patients getting medications.
Allocation of scarce resources or show? This cost millions of dollars of the people's money.
To operate it takes at least four persons: the surgeon, the anesthesiologist, and at least two nurses. This is a minimum. Was the government planning to fly these people in from Nassau? Did the government expect these highly qualified people to stay on the small island where their skills are seldom needed? Or would it make more sense to fly the patient to Nassau where he/she would be treated by highly competent specialists?
For an operation the question is simple, fly four qualified persons to use the state-of-the-art facility on the island or fly one patient here? Which choice would be the allocation of scarce resources? It does not take a rocket scientist to figure that one out!
The choice is yours. A well-equipped ambulance, which is essentially a mobile medical facility with the back-up services of specialists in Nassau, or an expensive, beautiful, non-operative hospital?
My advice is to follow the definition of economics and you will not go wrong.
Note: Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis appears to be doing a great job. Keep it up. But some recent appointments show that the present government may inadvertently find itself in some conflict of interest situations, which they will live to regret.

- Pierre V. L. Dupuch

Former BNFC chairman responds to Paul Thompson
Former BNFC chairman responds to Paul Thompson

Fri, Aug 11th 2017, 11:44 AM

Have they no shame
Have they no shame

Fri, Aug 11th 2017, 11:44 AM

A response to The Graduate
A response to The Graduate

Fri, Aug 11th 2017, 11:42 AM

All are not equal in Pastor Moss' eyes
All are not equal in Pastor Moss' eyes

Thu, Aug 10th 2017, 11:03 AM

Have they no shame

Have they no shame

Thu, Aug 10th 2017, 11:02 AM

Dear Editor,

I have learned to expect very little from the PLP party leadership, but the ramblings of Freddy and Brave, although comical at times, have become bewildering to say the least. One could make the argument that they are trying to appeal to their party base, but that would be an insult to a considerable cross section of the electorate. Surely the PLP base is not as asinine as these two "leaders" would have us believe. I cannot say that I have ever respected either of these two men, but the fact that they are relevant in any way, shape or form in our country is the true tragedy in our current political arena. Free speech, often a shield for lunatics, has its place in a free society, but enough is enough. The PLP has many bridges to cross in the years to come, and hopefully one of them will be back into reality. It is my hope that we shake off the clammy grip of ignorance that these two men spew daily, and press on, steady sunward.

- Sheeprunner

Carnival accountability
Carnival accountability

Thu, Aug 10th 2017, 11:02 AM

Much ado about nothing
Much ado about nothing

Wed, Aug 9th 2017, 11:14 AM

Much to do about nothing
Much to do about nothing

Tue, Aug 8th 2017, 10:27 AM

Buddy Hield has done more for The Bahamas in one NBA season than Rick Fox has in 13 seasons

Buddy Hield has done more for The Bahamas in one NBA season than Rick Fox has in 13 seasons

Tue, Aug 8th 2017, 10:26 AM

Dear Editor,

In a February 2015 edition of The Tribune, former columnist and current Free National Movement Long Island MP Adrian Gibson wrote an opinion piece titled "Ministers get their final grades in Cabinet report". In his assessment of former Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe, Gibson expressed concerns over reports that the Ministry of Tourism had "retained former NBA player Rick Fox on a ridiculous rolling retainer" to patronize events which were organized by the then government. Whatever Fox's retainer fees were, I can only imagine that they were exorbitant, based on Gibson's reaction. According to Gibson, Fox wasn't participating in any Bahamian sponsored event because he was proud to be Bahamian. The Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) government had to cough up huge sums of money in order for him to show his face. Fox was also a part of the Ministry of Tourism's 2013 $14 million campaign which was aimed at reintroducing The Bahamas to the world. A series of TV commercials were produced and were aired on MSNBC, Lifetime, TNT, HGTV, the Cooking Channel and the Travel Channel. The first one featured supermodel Shakara Ledard, magician David Copperfield and Fox, and was played during the 2013 Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers Super Bowl game at a cost of $197,000. As was the case with his exorbitant retainer fees, Fox was obviously paid a tidy sum of money to appear in that commercial.
Fox has played in the NBA for 13 seasons as a Boston Celtic and a Los Angeles Laker. During his stint with the Lakers, he, along with former NBA players Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal, led Los Angeles to three consecutive NBA championship titles between 2000-2002. In his Wikipedia biography, Fox's nationalities are Canadian and Bahamian. In my opinion, Fox was more devoted to Canada than to The Bahamas during his NBA career. He even played for team Canada in the 1994 FIBA World Championships. Fox has never played on the Bahamian national team. To my recollection, he has never held a basketball camp in this country. He did make a guest appearance at the 2015 Jeff Rodgers Basketball Camp and the Pinewood Gardens Christmas Basketball Camp in January 2013 along with former Pinewood Gardens MP Khaalis Rolle. But that is the extent of it.
The Nassau Guardian stated that Fox was having discussions with PLP government officials as it pertained to his contributions to national development. Whatever became of those talks is anyone's guess. It is interesting that Fox's appearance at the Pinewood Gardens event coincided with the launch of the Ministry of Tourism TV commercials. In all likelihood, Fox was probably paid money to attend the basketball camp. With an estimated net worth of $20 million, Fox obviously does not need The Bahamas or any largesse from the treasury. Still, he should not be shocked that Bahamians are viewing his all of a sudden enthusiastic participation in Bahamian national development with a large degree of cynicism. Many Bahamians are of the view that Fox is only now saying he is Bahamian in order to cash in. During his 13 seasons in the NBA, Fox gave very little back to this country. Conversely, Buddy Hield, who has just completed his rookie season in the NBA with the New Orlean Hornets and the Sacramento Kings, held his very own basketball camp at the Kendal G.L. Isaacs National Gymnasium. Some of the proceeds from the camp were donated to Hands for Hunger. Even while playing at the collegiate level for the Oklahoma Sooners, Buddy was holding basketball camps in Grand Bahama -- his native island. In addition to his recent camp, Buddy sponsored a concert in Freeport which was held at the Grand Bahama Sports Complex during the August Monday weekend in order to assist those whose homes were damaged by Hurricane Matthew. I understand that he has been very generous in assisting the less fortunate youth in his native Eight Mile Rock community and parishioners at a Freeport-based church he once attended.
Buddy has not shied away from his Bahamian nationality. Unlike Fox, Buddy wears his nationality on his sleeves. When he was drafted by New Orleans in 2016, he flashed the Bahamian flag colors in the jacket he was wearing while family and friends chanted 242 -- the Bahamian area code. I also heard him, along with his former Oklahoma Sooners teammates, chanting 242. Buddy has stated that he wants to give back to his home country. He is living up to that pledge. He has hasn't forgotten his country, despite achieving phenomenal success and wealth in the NBA. In my opinion, Buddy Hield has done far more for The Bahamas in just one season than Rick Fox has done in 13 seasons.

- Kevin Evans

Times change but standards must not
Times change but standards must not

Sat, Aug 5th 2017, 11:50 AM

Are we no longer governed by the rule of law
Are we no longer governed by the rule of law

Fri, Aug 4th 2017, 09:03 PM

The beginning of the end
The beginning of the end

Fri, Aug 4th 2017, 11:05 AM