Bahama Pundit

More On Why Race Matters

by Nicolette Bethel

Last week I wrote about why race matters in the twenty-first century Bahamas., and argued that unless we talk about our experiences as different human beings in this multiracial, hierarchical society, we will continue to relive old prejudices forever.

This week, I want to talk a little about why race matters to me -- a Bahamian who, at different times and in different places in this Bahamas, has been categorized as black, white and coloured, and treated accordingly.

Let me tell you a story.

Foulkes Appointed Acting Governor-General

Sir Arthur Foulkes has suspended his column while he acts as governor-general in the absence of Arthur Hanna. He will resume his posts on Bahama Pundit next week.

The Bluewater Deal to Buy the Bahamas Telecommunications Company

by Larry Smith

"There is no circumstance under which BTC could be sold on credit, and what you are going to do after you get it must be clearly stated - you must have the money, the means and the technology to do it, otherwise no deal. And I say that for the benefit of all those who believe they got a deal." -- Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham

Just before the election, the Christie government made a secret $260 million deal to sell 49 per cent of BTC to a little-known entity called Bluewater Ventures - 'secret' in the sense that the public wasn't aware that a deal had been struck and didn't know the terms, although talks had been ongoing for two years.

Bluewater describes itself as "a private equity firm specializing in turnarounds and investments in the media and telecommunications sectors". It was founded in 2003 by John Gregg, an American who has helped run several European cable companies.

Online reports say Gregg has executed over $25 billion of acquisitions during his career. For nine years he was a top executive at the British cable operator, NTL, where he helped found a pioneering internet service, called Virgin.Net, with Sir Richard Branson in 1996.

After Gregg set up Bluewater, NTL went on to merge with Branson's popular Virgin Mobile cell phone service to become one of the first "quadruple-play" media companies in the world - offering television, Internet, cell and fixed-line voice services to over 10 million customers.

In telecoms, the triple play refers to a service provider's ability to provide voice, data, and video services to customers as a single package. Quad play refers to the delivery of voice, video, data, AND mobility. It is all about convergence - experts say - merging different media into one operating platform.

And that is apparently what Bluewater has in mind for BTC. It is also something that Cable Bahamas has been longing to do for years.

My Analysis of the Bahamas General Election

by Craig Butler

First of all I would like to thank God as well as congratulate the Bahamian people on a job well done, as we were able to see the democratic process unfurl in front of our eyes without violence. Secondly I would like to congratulate the Free National Movement on its victory and wish them the best for the next five years.

During the past five years that I have written this column I have tried to be objective, and depending on whom you speak to some say that I have a tendency to favour the FNM whilst others would say that I have been pro PLP.

I have always tried to give credit to the government where it was due but I have also applied criticism when it was appropriate - sometimes scathingly. And I will comment on the current FNM government with the same vigour as I did during the PLP administration.

Like many others I too am a Monday morning quarterback and therefore I have my own views as to why the PLP lost the government after what was really five years of economic prosperity.

Before I meander down that path I want to address something I found troubling. There were all sorts of rumours of election fraud and attempts to steal the election - from a senior PLP official found in possession of over 4000 official ballots, to a young lady and a gentleman being held in a class room at GHS by police officers after the young lady turned up with a garbage bag of ballots already filled in. On hearing this I must admit I thought that there was going to be a riot if the same had proven true.

On Why Race Matters

by Nicolette Bethel

It doesn't. Really.

And if you believe that, I have a couple of bridges to sell you.

I've written about race before, from two different perspectives. The first time I wanted to write about why race didn't matter -- about how all people are fundamentally human alike, and how the concept of "race" is an idea that is used to achieve various goals. The second time, I wanted to talk about racism, which occurs when humans act on what they imagine to be racial differences.

Today, I want to bring it home. I want to discuss why race matters, here and now, in the twenty-first-century Bahamas.

Now some of you may feel the urge to put the paper down, thinking "not this again". Before you do, consider this. We Bahamians love to avoid discussion of the very things that are most crucial to us. We have unacceptably high incidences of pregnancy, HIV and other STD transmissions, and sexual abuse among our young people, and yet we steadfastly refuse to talk about issues of sex and sexuality in any constructive and positive way. We have unprecedented numbers of stateless people living among us, and yet we refuse to discuss any sensible policy relating to immigration and citizenship. And, forty years after majority rule, we remain a deeply divided society that continues to remember and celebrate distinctions based on colour.

Moving Nassau's Cargo Port to Save the City

by Larry Smith

For almost 20 years private sector leaders have been seeking to persuade successive governments to sanction, if not actually lead, the revitalisation of downtown Nassau.

And for almost 20 years the city has steadily decomposed into a filthy, traffic-choked slum, overrun with hucksters and dope peddlers, offering little of interest even to those notoriously cheap cruise visitors.

In fact, cruise tourism to Nassau was down almost 12 per cent last year, compared to a 2 per cent drop in air arrivals - an indication that the seaport is even more of a disincentive than the airport.

And it certainly begs the question of how the Ministry of Tourism can talk incessantly about "improving our product" to attract more business while the capital city (and main destination) remains a big, suppurating mess with no attractions.

As those of us over 40 can recall, it wasn't always so. Back then Bay Street was a big tourist draw, as this account by architect Pat Rahming recalls:

The Way Forward for the PLP After the Bahamas Election

by Sir Arthur Foulkes

As the dust settles from the 2007 election both national political parties will no doubt be assessing their standing in the country and the challenges facing them – external and internal.

The Free National Movement is, of course, in the better position. Having won the election, the primary objective of Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham and his colleagues is now to govern well, even though they will be taking a good look at their performance, especially in some constituencies they expected to win but did not.

Opposition Leader Perry Christie and his colleagues must not only mount an effective opposition in parliament but they also face the daunting task of examining why they lost the election and became the first one-term government in Bahamian history and, more importantly, what to do about it.

On Personality Cults

by Nicolette Bethel

There has been much talk over the past three months in the media and over the airwaves about the differences between two men, men who, at their best, are two parts of a whole. Much of the bottom line of the 2007 election rhetoric was fastened on to one thing and one thing only: who would voters like to have running the country -- a man who acts quickly and decisively and makes massive errors, or a man who contemplates all sides of an issue and hardly acts at all?

Let me say this. Contrary to what we believe, twenty-first century leaders don't run countries. People do. For the first time ever, it is possible for democracy to function as it should. Thanks to fundamental changes in the transmission of information, every member of a democracy has the opportunity to make his or her voice heard -- over the airwaves, through the medium of the radio talk show, or, more revolutionary yet, over the internet, through blogs and podcasts.

Prostitution of Government Information Infrastructure in the Bahamas

by Larry Smith

Here's the thing. We all got to make a living. And since Steve Mckinney is a political flack and ZNS hack, he gets to make a living off the rest of us.

In fact, having been in the business myself for a long time - I'd have to say that Mckinney is the most successful PR flack in the country. At $142,000 per annum (plus other business) Mckinney is raking in more bucks than the governor-general, the prime minister, the chief justice, permanent secretaries and media magnates like Charles carter or Wendall Jones.

In fact, Jones admitted as much (in amazement) on his media talk show last week when he, Fred Sturrup and Godfrey Eneas grilled Mckinney for some 30 minutes.

And the most amazing point of all is that Mckinney's government contracts included perks like paid vacations, sick leave, casual leave, gratuities, etc - all at taxpayer expense.

Mckinney has a contract to provide public relations and speech-writing services for the Ministry of Tourism, but top officials know nothing about it - and Tourism has its own in-house PR and broadcasting unit, as well as an expensive out-house PR firm. And, the prime minister says, Mckinney also has a similar public relations contract with the Ministry of Education.

The PLP, Victimisation and ZNS

by Sir Arthur Foulkes

Steve McKinney and Philippa Russell should have been fired immediately and unceremoniously as talk show hosts on ZNS Radio the day after the election.

As a matter of fact, they should not have been hired for this job in the first place; but having hired them, it should not have taken the management of ZNS long to realize that they were totally unsuited to be talk show hosts on this national broadcast facility, or any other for that matter.

It was clear when the PLP came to office in 2002 that the leaders of that party fully intended to turn back the clock and to undermine much of the progress that had been made in deepening and expanding our democracy, not only with regard to broadcasting but in other areas as well.

Why the PLP Lost the Bahamas Election

Here's a selection of reasons from Bahamian commentators:

Felix Bethel (Bahama Journal): I knew (the PLP) was on a losing wicket as far back as May 3, 2002. The truth is they did not win the 2002 general election. The truth is that a tired and fractured FNM led by an exhausted Hubert Ingraham did what the tired and fractured sometimes do, which is drop the ball. The PLP lost because they refused to understand that that they did not win in May 2002.

Nicki Kelly (the Punch): There is little doubt that the PLP was the unwitting engineer of its own defeat. (Successes) were overshadowed by an indecisive prime minister reluctant to act on critical issues, the aura of scandal and corruption surrounding a number of government ministers and backbenchers, a land policy that favoured white foreigners, and allegations of thuggery, intimidation, fraud and racism during the election campaign.

P. Anthony White (the Punch): We must not forever tear the nation apart each time the election bill rings, setting Bahamian against Bahamian, using a wicked and wanton bait which can only incite to deep, deep hatred in the hearts of a people to whom hatred is far from native.

Vincent Ferguson (Bahama Journal): The PLP was remiss in its duty to lay the foundation of of a true and sustained democracy. It appears they were more concerned with arrogating power to themselves for personal gain and prestige. (This comment referred to the original PLP government, but we think it is just as apt today).

Catherine Kelly (the Punch): For once the Bahamian people walked their talk. They said the election would be close, and it was. They said they would vote for the candidate, not the leader, and they did. And they got exactly what they deserved: a balanced government.

Craig Butler (the Nassau Guardian): The PLP didn't have a cogent plan; the behaviour of some of the ministers and members; the PLP did a poor job with public relations; many (representatives) failed to keep in contact with their constituents; the PLP didn't have a person to play the role of a pitbulll; the PLPs message was lost in that they appeared to be answering the FNM; and too much time and effort was spent on Brent Symnonette; Perry Christie did not lead.

Oswald Brown (the Freeport News): Unquestionably the most unpredictable election in the history of the Bahamas. (Perry Christie) did not see anything wrong with offering several scandal-smeared candidates who, in any other democratic country, would have long ago been forced to close the book on their political careers. This was the ultimate insult to the Bahamian electorate. What kind of message was the prime minister sending to the young people of this country?

Ian Strachan (the Nassau Guardian): (Koed) Smith invited all the nation's bad boys to enter the welcoming arms of the compassionate, forgiving, turn-a-blind-eye, wink-wink, nudge-nudge PLP...Hubert Ingraham told his supporters to take their monety, jobs, scholarships, and still vote the PLP out.

Nassau Guardian editorial: The people went to the polls and declared that they do in fact trust Mr Ingraham to lead the country.

Tribune editorial: The people...are obviously tired of promises and government by committee. They are also tired of the scandals. This is the first election that we have witnesses in more than half a century that vote buying has been so public, so brazen, and with some candidates even trying to justify their insult to a people's dignity.

Andrew Allen (the Tribune): The biggest disappointment of the PLP government has been the seemingly lacklustre approach it has taken to matters involving the perception of corruption and scandal. Of the FNM it can be said that the the most striking strengths and weaknesses relate to the leadership style of the man at its helm.

Adrian Gibson (the Tribune): The Bahamian people rejected Perry Christie's government of broken promises, scandals and indisposition for one that they hope would be more productive, less ethically challenged and more decisive.

John Marquis (the Tribune): It was no surprise that the PLP was beaten. The only surprise was that it wasn't beaten badly. While Bahamians have moved forward into a bright new century the PLP has languished in the past, still nursing the same old prejudices, still resorting to the same thuggish tactics, and still expecting ordinary folk to bow to their might.

Sir Arthur Foulkes (the Tribune): In spite of everything, the PLP lost the election and the biggest loser was former prime minister Perry Christie. Mr. Christie was exposed as ineffective and weak during the last five years, and now he has the distinction of having led the first one-term administration in Bahamian history. But more than that, Mr. Christie’s pretense of being a democrat was stripped away by his refusal to do anything about all the unfair practices in the election and his personal participation in the abuse of ZNS.

John Farmer (Weblog Bahamas): In 2002, the new PLP administration started brightly, with Christie promising a code of ethics to guide his party’s conduct in office. It did not take long for the PLP to resume its original persona, with victimisation, nepotism, corruption, bribery, deceit and secretive governance the order of the day. Not to mention their abhorrent attempt to undermine the independence of the judiciary, and their attempts, once again, to usurp the will of the people at the ballot box.

On Victory

by Nicolette Bethel

Let me start by congratulating the Bahamian electorate on its victory at the polls.

Before the election took place, I had written a very different article. The bones of it are posted elsewhere; I was thoroughly disappointed in the campaign, and I thought this was going to be an awful election. An interesting election, but an awful one as well.

On Having a Sense of Humour in Politics

by Larry Smith

"Bad humour is an evasion of reality; good humour is an acceptance of it."
-- Malcolm Muggeridge

We thought you'd like to see some examples of bad and good humour from the recent election campaign:

Ingraham: How you could fly a whole plane out of the airport and ain't nobody know about it?

Rigby: The PLP is not interested in race.

Symonette: I right here.

Mitchell: Whoever wins Fox Hill wins the general election.

Wilchcombe: The fat lady hasn't sung yet - but she's warming up.

Ingraham: He assured us he was simply helping his constituents. This is the same man who claimed to have single-handedly delayed the US implementation of its new passport programme.

Christie: ????

Christie: ????

2007 Bahamian Election Campaign Most Flawed Since 1987

by Sir Arthur Foulkes

The tumult and the shouting diminishes but does not die; the captains and the kings do not depart but remain in the arena, albeit in reversed roles. The action in the political arena usually reaches frenetic proportions during an election campaign, but the arena is seldom, if ever, really quiet.

The election just concluded will fade into history like all the others but promises to cast a long shadow for months, perhaps years, into the next term of parliament.

It was the worst election since 1987 when a desperate government, shattered by the damning revelations of the Commission of Inquiry into Drug Trafficking and fearful of possible consequences, pulled every stop and employed every dirty trick in an all-out campaign to win at any cost.

Bahamas Election Results: Government Ousted in Sixth Free Elections Since Independence

by Larry Smith

The lack of official information in the aftermath of the general election caused great frustration and much anxiety amongst Bahamians of all political persuasions. This post summarises the facts as they unfolded in the first week following the election. Further significant developments will be provided in new posts.

Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham and his new cabinet are finalising their first-year legislative agenda for presentation in the Speech from the Throne at the official opening of parliament on May 23.

"And we are reviewing the many deals and contracts that the former government rushed to conclusion in their final days and weeks in office." Ingraham said at a FNM victory rally in Freeport May 9.

"We will ensure that in each case the interests of The Bahamas are protected -- whether it be in the sale of BTC; the sale of the Royal Oasis here in Grand Bahama; the deal to keep the Isle of Capri Casino at Lucaya operational; or the sale of Crown Land in Mayaguana or elsewhere."

Former prime minister Perry Christie was sworn in as leader of the opposition on May 8 and promised a vigorous PLP parliamentary campaign to force an early general election. Bahamian governments are elected for a five-year term, but the prime minister can call an election at any time.

"Ingraham must now live with the reality that he is the first ever prime minister of a government elected with a minority of the popular vote," Christie said in his first public statement since Thursday night. The FNM received just under 50 per cent of the vote while the PLP together with several Independent candidates won just over 50 per cent.

Christie called charges of electoral abuse by the PLP merely a diversionary tactic by the FNM. But according to the new prime minister, "some things happened during the course of the election that may result in consequences. If offenses were committed then I would expect the law enforcement authorities to do their job."

Although the PLP said it would contest the results of some close races in the election court, Ingraham dashed speculation that the FNM would do the same: "Election is over...we have no intention of going to election court to determine the validity of any of our seats or anybody else's seat."

Ingraham named 14 cabinet ministers, including three ministers of state. Thirteen ministries were created (including the Office of the Prime Minister), four less than in the outgoing PLP government. Ministers already appointed are:

Brent Symonette - deputy prime minister & minister of foreign affairs
Tommy Turnquest - minister of national security & immigration
Claire Hepburn - attorney-general
Carl Bethel - minister of education, youth, sports & culture
Ken Russel - minister of housing and national insurance
Earl Deveaux - minister of works & transport
Larry Cartwright - minister of agriculture & marine resources
Sidney Collie - minister of lands & local government
Dr Hubert Minnis - minister of health & social development
Dion Foulkes - minister of maritime affairs & labour
Neko Grant - minister of tourism & aviation
Zhivago Laing - minister of state for finance
Desmond Bannister - minister of state for legal affairs
Elma Campbell - minister of state for immigration

Ingraham holds the finance portfolio. Campbell, Hepburn and Foulkes were made senators in order to join the cabinet. Symonette, 54, is the son of the Bahamas' first premier, Sir Roland Symonette. Turnquest is the son of retired cabinet minister and governor-general Sir Orville Turnquest. Hepburn is a former college lecturer, acting judge and chairman of the Bahamas Broadcasting Corporation.

Referring to the PLPs criticism of Symonette as a wealthy white Bahamian, Ingraham said the country must "transcend historic prejudices" and listed a series of obligations that cabinet ministers should fulfill - selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, honesty and leadership by example. He also said the condition of the justice system was "unacceptable" and vowed to "improve responsive and accountable government across the board."

On May 5 he told a huge victory rally that there had been more political interference in last week's general election than at any time in recent history, and hinted at legal consequences for members of the former government accused of vote buying and intimidation.

"Let history record that (former prime minister) Perry Christie is no democrat," Ingraham declared. "The FNM won the election - period. And we will defend our victory against any and all. If the need arises we will come back to you for a bigger majority.

"Too many members of the former government have no respect for the law, they disrespect our democratic institutions, they believe they have a divine right to govern this country and they are consumed by an insatiable greed for power and self-aggrandisement."

On Elections

by Nicolette Bethel

(written on April 28, 2007)
not an Essay on Life

Before I start, let me say three things.

First, I am a civil servant, for better or for worse, for my sins. As a civil servant, I am obliged to serve the government of the day, no matter whose initials they wear.

Second, as a writer, I prefer not to politicize (in terms of superficial party politics) the issues I choose to discuss. If our political parties can be said to have ideologies, I imagine that my opinions might align with one or the other. However, as none of them appear to have any true ideological bent these days, I imagine I'm pretty safe.

Third, I happen to believe that the value of party politics for the nation has eroded. I don't believe that blanket support of any group of people is going to benefit The Bahamas in general as we move forward (perhaps I ought to say if we move forward). Moreover, as the political parties who are contesting these elections have eschewed every discussion of relevant issues in favour of ad hominem attacks, I really don't see much point to them at all.

The Party's Over -- and Change is Good for Bahamian Democracy

by Larry Smith

"That a people get the kind of government they deserve is almost axiomatic...Until people awaken to their own responsibilities, they will not have a responsible government." -- Rev H. W. Brown, 1946

Well, the three-week party is finally over.

In a few hours we'll know whether the incumbents have been turfed out after five years. And if so we should celebrate that, and make sure it is repeated every five years. That seems to be the only way to control our political class in the public interest.

So what about the cry that "one good term deserves another?"

Well, consider the Ingraham government. Their first term (1992-1997) rescued a tanking economy, restored a degree of accountability to the political system and expanded democracy. The achievements of the second term (1997-2002) were much weaker, and it is likely that a third term would have recreated the problems that Ingraham tried to fix in 1992.

Since there is so little difference between the FNM and PLP ideologically, changing horses after a single term will have virtually no effect on development plans. In fact, many of the projects and programmes touted by the Christie administration were actually initiated during the Ingraham administration.

Minister's Stunning Response to Vote-Buying Charges in Bahamas Election

by Sir Arthur Foulkes

There have been persistent reports of vote-buying in Grand Bahama by PLP candidates or their agents and of voters being asked to swear on the Bible that they will vote for the PLP.

According to one report, money was being given out at a PLP campaign office and there were so many people lined up that the police had to be called to keep order.

The PLP candidate for the West End and Bimini constituency, Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe, was questioned about this by a reporter from Cool 96 Radio and made some extraordinarily revealingly comments in response.