A lilie in our Bahama land

A lilie in our Bahama land

On April 13^th, 1964, Sidney Poitier won an Oscar for best male actor for his role in the movie Lilies of the Field. He helped bring down a major race barrier in acting and became the first black male to earn this award. His genius on the big screen brought sensitivity to the plight of many Blacks around the world who were second class citizens in their own homeland and faced many injustices that were enshrined in their constitution.

He went on to lead a stellar acting career and his works throughout the world is legendary. He is a philanthropist, a movie director, a former Bahamian diplomat and not only is he a Bahamian citizen, but indeed he is a citizen of the world.

He was born in Miami, Florida to Bahamian parents, but his childhood was spent on Cat Island and Nassau. For those Bahamians who might be ignorant to the fact, Sir Sidney Poitier is a Bahamian and has always spoken proudly of his heritage.

The recent controversy surrounding the renaming of the Paradise Island Bridge in Sir Sidney’s name in my view is baseless, without merit and to some degree unpatriotic. Here is a Bahamian whose prowess directly contributed to the liberties of blacks in the Bahamas and all over the world. Here is a man who is not only an ambassador for the Bahamas, but also an ambassador for the world.

Bahamians everywhere should be praising the decision by Atlantis and the government to honor Sir Sidney in this way. Sure there are other Bahamians who may be equally deserving and also need recognition; there always will be. Bahamians trying to castigate this son of the soil and iconic figure in a time when we rarely honor our own to me is unbelievable and unthinkable.

The recognition that the country has received and will receive through this giant of a man is incomparable. Maybe adding core programs in our educational system that teaches our children their Bahamian history can avoid controversies of this nature in the future.

Sir Sidney is a grand citizen of the world. He is a lily in our Bahama land and is downright deserving of all the accolades that he receives from the Bahamian people, the Bahamian government, Atlantis and any other people who recognize his iconic value and legendary contributions in our society and indeed the world.

 Dehavilland Moss

 

Systematic Ignorance

Systematic Ignorance

School books are hardly being read. The local news is hardly being watched. The important news in the dailies is not being read enough. We have become fascinated only with the murder or demise of our citizenry. Our children are spending an inordinate amount of time playing video games and watching television programs that are aiding them in poor decision making. Our national heroes are dying out and our children don’t know who these Bahamian legends are. We are losing our ability to think.

The first few years of a child’s life are extremely important because he/she has to learn a solid foundation in order to be successful throughout their educational life.  This is not happening and as such our children are becoming lost in a world where it is extremely difficult to survive without basic reading and mathematical skills. We see the early signs of failure but we have failed to act accordingly.

Our current educational system is not effective and many of our children are falling victim to the systematic ignorance that has been choking their development and ultimately our citizenry for the better part of 20 years. Ill prepared students create subcultures in our society, many of these dedicated to criminal behavior and social decay. Democratic National Alliance (DNA) Leader Branville McCartney was spot on when he said that we need to prepare our children for the world stage and for the 21^st century.

But why haven’t we been successful in our quest as a country to perform this task? The educational system has failed miserably as our students are leaving school in June of each year and they can’t even read or construct a sentence? What will we expect these children to do in order to support themselves? The odds against them are stacked and they haven’t even started their career as yet.

I ask the government of the Bahamas to construct and implement an effective educational plan for our country for the next 10 years. We know that we will borrow millions of dollars per year and we seem to have an idea on how many jobs will be needed in the next few years; but what about the plan to ensure that our children are able to compete on the world stage? When will this important initiative be launched? When will the educational system be revamped or restructured to meet the needs of our students who are now technologically savvy and need a curriculum that uses the latest technologies as opposed to a 1990’s system?

Every so often I come into firsthand contact with students who leave high school with nothing but an attendance certificate. I always recall my amazement when speaking to several recent female graduates this year. I was assisting them with their resume and told them that they did not record their BGCSE and BJC passes. I learned that they had no passes to put on their resume. The sad part about this reality is that they intend to be hired making way above minimum wage. They don’t understand their predicament until it slaps them in the face and they are continuously denied employment.

For many of them, they give up and resort to hanging out on the blocks where they start to engage in nefarious activities and drinking alcohol. Our recent graduates sink into a dejected state and become delusional about their current status. This surely should not be what we as a country want for some of our youth.

There are a handful of students who thrive in the current educational system because of sheer will and some parents and guardians who make the required sacrifices. To these students and parents, I commend you for a job well done. There are also many parents who in my view really need psychiatric help. Some of their priorities are all mixed up. How is it plausible that parents attend political rally after political rally and fail to attend one PTA meeting? How is it that parents don’t even oversee their children’s homework and test scores? The country needs these parents to become a part of the educational process and take an active role in their children’s development.                

Someone once said, “Where ignorance is blessed it is folly to be wise”.  Can this be applied to the inherent lack of organization and strategic commitment of our elected leaders to implement an effective educational system? Education is a national issue, but the government of the country needs to do more.

We can ill afford to allow our children to continually pass through a system that directly contributes to their ignorance. They will become adults one day. We need an educational system that challenges them to think, be creative and that uses current day technology. We need a system that teaches our children what it is to be truly Bahamian.

To use a manufacturing term, the assembly line (our educational system) is filled with products that will soon need to be recalled. I believe that a good education is one of the keys to be successful and that our leaders and the country need to be honest and admit that we need an immediate system change. Education receiving the lion share of the annual budget has become a smoke screen and fancy marketing ploys have not netted the results that we need as a country. We can’t expect to do the same thing and expect different results.

Dehavilland Moss

Cleola Hamilton and the Bahamian psyche

Cleola Hamilton and the Bahamian psyche

There has been much hoopla about Ms. Cleola Hamilton, parliamentary secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She is also the Member of Parliament for South Beach. And yes, she is also the president of the Bahamas Nurses Union (BNU) and the vice president of the Trade Union Congress (TUC).

Put more plainly, Ms. Hamilton is privy to government information by way of being a member of parliament and a parliamentary secretary but she expects to properly represent unionized workers of this country.

I would not waste time and ask Ms. Hamilton what she will do when a dispute arises and she has to decide which side of the fence she is on. The prime minister seeing no problem with Hamilton being a union leader and a member of parliament does not come as a surprise to me one bit. He knows that he is in an automatic “win win” situation.

Ms. Hamilton’s blatant disregard for what should be an obvious conflict of interest speaks to the psyche of our citizenry. We are a very passive people and we only get loud or see the need to take action when someone tampers with our weekly earnings.

Let me site a few examples.

(1). The New Providence Road Improvement project: The overrun will cost the country over 100 million dollars. No one is calling for the arrests of the persons responsible.

(2). The over 400 accused murderers on bail that are free to cause havoc on our streets: The Attorney General cited that there were major operational failures in the AG’s office and this contributed to this mind-blogging figure. No one is calling for an investigation into alleged corruption.

(3). The increasing cost of fuel in the country: One gallon of gas costs at least $5.75 per gallon. Our fuel surcharge is so high that over 5,000 Bahamians at one point were permanently without electricity.

(4). The enrichment of everyone else in the Bahamas, except Bahamians.

I concede that Bahamians are fast asleep at the wheel and we have been fast asleep for a long time. The things that occur in the Bahamas can only occur in other countries with the aid of armies and military force. No right thinking Bahamian should stand by and continue to accept second class treatment.

When are we going to wake up and demand our birth right as Bahamians? Our 40^th year of Independence is just under nine months away. Danilo Dolci said, “It's important to know that words don't move mountains. Work, exacting work moves mountains”.

Ms. Hamilton will continue on in her conflicting roles because most of us will continue to just talk. Only a few Bahamians will openly protest their disagreement with this conflict of interest. Furthermore, the high price of oil and bread will continue to rise without any objection from most Bahamians. The fact that we continue to be blocked from getting our fair share of the economic pie will continue unabated because the vast majority sees nothing wrong with the current economic system and the ones who see a problem will only whisper in the wind.

Dehavilland Moss

 

A different justice for lawyers

A different justice for lawyers

There seems to be a new system of justice emanating in the Bahamian court system. Just last year, I read with interest several cases involving lawyers, who seem to be getting slapped on the wrist for illegal behavior and behavior contrary to their oath.

One case in particular was a lawyer who pleaded guilty to stealing almost two million dollars from eight of his clients. He was released on bail on the condition that he would repay the funds back. This did not happen. In fact, during an appearance in court to discuss the status of his returning his clients money, the accused lawyer admittedly had not paid back one cent and he changed his plea to not guilty. The prosecutor even had evidence that the lawyer was not even conforming to his bail conditions which was to report to the Paradise Island Police Station once a week.

I stand corrected, but last thing I read was that he has a new court date and he is still on bail.

Recently, there has been a story in the press about a lawyer who stole funds entrusted to her from a retired teacher. Yes a retired teacher. I know that the lawyer must now be regretting that decision. She was remanded to prison in August of this year but has been released for a specified time in order to repay the funds back to the client.

The interesting about this is that this lawyer has several other cases pending involving stolen funds. Her defense lawyer said that she is the bread winner of the family and needs to work to sustain the family. Why can’t these type arrangements be made for the over the hill man who might steal a DVD player?

We will have to wait and see how this one turns out. Everyone in life makes mistakes, some of them more costly than others. But what message are we continually sending to the Bahamian public when the type of justice you receive is apparently tied to your status in society? Not a good one. We are nurturing a society of persons to get away with murder and wrongdoing and hence we have successfully created an out of order society. Justice should be given to all Bahamians, not just a select few.

Dehavilland Moss

 

Is Ingraham paving the way for a second return?

Just after the Free National’s Movement (FNM) defeat at the polls on May 7^th, 2012, former prime minister and Member of Parliament elect for North Abaco, the Rt. Honorable Hubert Ingraham declared that he would retire from politics on July 19, 2012. This date would have marked his 35^th year as a member of parliament.

The FNM held a special conclave shortly after the general election and elected Dr. Hubert Minnis as the new leader of the party. But we all know that Minnis was only a figure head to this point and that Ingraham was still calling the shots. In mid July, the FNM had a council meeting to elect a candidate for the North Abaco bi-election. Minnis called on the press to be present when the candidate was supposed to be selected and introduced to the Bahamian people. This never happened and the press never got the announcement that they came to hear. The announcement was postponed. Obviously, Minnis was not privy to the pre-decision of the FNM council, because had he known he would not have called a press conference.

The fact that Ingraham rescheduled his retirement from politics to allow Mr. Greg Gomez’s to satisfy his eligibility to become a candidate is clear evidence that Gomez was not Minnis’s choice.

However, politics makes strange bed fellows and Minnis’s compromise may eventually cost him the leadership of the party.

There are several things to consider here.

(1). The former prime minister is well aware of the fact that the governing party usually wins bi-elections, especially the ones right after the general elections.

(2). He is acutely aware that Greg Gomez had been absent from Abaco over the last 10 years and that the people of Abaco are a thinking people.

(3). He had to know that picking a weak candidate would certainly not be in the best interest of the FNM or Minnis, but maybe in the best interest of himself. This was a bad loss for the FNM. A stronger candidate certainly would have fared better and given Minnis’s leadership some form of legitimacy.

Mr. Greg Gomez and the FNM got a good beating in the North Abaco bi-election. Even the political pundits say that this came as no surprise.

Just after it was obvious that Gomez would be defeated, Ingraham gave a concession speech on behalf of the FNM. Does he believe that he is still the leader of the FNM? Of course not!! This in my view was another of Ingraham’s chess moves to weigh in on the public commentary, specifically by FNM ‘movers and shakers’.

Several statements in Minnis’s concession speech, as the leader of the FNM in my view were very timely. Although he appeared stunned during the interview, he remarked that the Ingraham era is over and that it is time to build a new FNM.  He was ultimately trying to shake off Ingraham and let the ‘Ingrahamites’ know that he is in charge and that it is time for a new day. He also said that the he and the FNM lost the election, as opposed to taking all of the blame himself. The reason he did this is because he knows that the candidate was not his choice but Ingraham’s hand-picked choice.

Maybe Minnis’s speech came a little too late because there is uneasiness in the FNM and all roads lead to the party’s leader. The late Charles Maynard said that Minnis has 12 -18 months to prove himself. Minnis must know Loretta Butler Turner and others are salivating at the mouth waiting to strike.

History tells us in 2006, that Mr. Ingraham told Tommy Turnquest that he had no interest in becoming the leader of the FNM. A few days later, the deal was sealed and Turnquest was on the outside looking in and Ingraham was the new elected FNM leader.

Ingraham is a master politician and if he returned to challenge for the leadership of the FNM, it would certainly not surprise me. It appears that he has already made some very calculating moves to date.

He still commands respect in the FNM and certainly in the country.  Will he return to lead a now stumbling FNM party? Time will certainly tell us all.

Dehavilland Moss

Public Transport bus system’s overhaul is long overdue

My use of the public transport bus system dates back to the mid 1980’s. I was a frequent user of the bus system and I used the bus to catch rides from school to home, to track practices, to basketball games and even to Junkanoo.  The bus system was a much needed service back then and it probably is even more important now because many Bahamians rely on this service to get to their jobs daily. Students use the bus to get to school and senior citizens use the bus to pick up their National Insurance checks and to visit the hospital.

Loud reggae and rap music, reckless driving and conversation that involve cursing and illicit talk were the norm in 1985. I can sadly say that 27 years later much of what happened in the past remains the same. In fact, because of the increased number of bus franchises now competing for that almighty dollar and a quarter, drivers take more risks to try to get to potential customers first.

I left Nassau to attend college in the early 1990’s. Can you imagine my surprise when I caught my first bus ride? There was a schedule of the bus times on the bus stop. You paid when you entered and the driver waited for you to sit down before he drove off. There was no change to receive. If a ride costs 50 cents and you paid one dollar, you knew to get your transfer and sit down.  Additionally, there was no loud music on the bus. If my memory serves me correctly, the radio was never played on the bus.

Andrew “Dud” Maynard appeared on the Sawyer Report sometime last year and he disclosed that affecting a scheduled bus system in New Providence was discussed from the early 1970’s. It is now 2012.

There have been several related deaths due to reckless driving by bus drivers and many other serious traffic accidents have occurred leaving passengers injured. Daily, bus drivers can be seen running the red light, making detours through gas stations, side corners, pulling off before a passenger is seated and driving across sidewalks. 

I had the misfortune of catching a bus when there were three busses competing for potential customers. This is when drivers are at their worst. Pulling across the middle of the road when a bus stop is requested, driving at over 50 mph in short bursts and pulling off before a passenger exits the bus are common occurences. The safety of the passenger is never considered.

There are even bus drivers engaging in illegal “tour bus” activities, where they bus students to sports events and other social gatherings. This is illegal and a blatant disregard for the law. Suppose an accident occurred during one of these illegal tours? I wonder who would cover the students’ medical cost.  An innocent observer must wonder if these acts are pre-requisites for maintaining a public service license.

There are a few bus drivers out there that are conforming to the traffic laws of the Bahamas, but we need more of them.  Busses with loud music and dark tints have contributed to the creation of a subculture among junior and high school students. On the 16A route, I have seen students wait for specific busses with tainted windows that play loud reggae music. Some of them would rather be late for school and take a round trip on a particular bus than to just simply catch a bus that will take them to school on time.

We have taken a band aid approach to solving this problem. The police at times do ticket bus drivers for breaking traffic laws, but we must address this problem from a holistic point of view. I have listed several recommendations below.

(1). Implement a scheduled bus system as soon as possible. I am sure the Ministry of Transport can locate past government studies that are locked up somewhere in storage.

(2). Allow the franchise operators 6 months – 1 year to organize themselves through partnerships. I would encourage the government to issue licenses for specific routes, for example the 16A route that travels on Carmichael Road.

(3). Put all drivers on a weekly salary once the new system is implemented.

(4). Review scheduled bus times yearly or as needed as per traffic flow.

(5). Control the content on what is played on all busses and the volume. I personally believe that all output devices should be kept off. This needs to be implemented today.

(6). Give powers to a governing body that regulates the public transport bus system and who will hear and resolve complaints by passengers, drivers and franchise holders.

(7). Ensure that all busses to be used meet a minimum standard of operability and institute impromptu equipment checks involving seats, brakes, shocks etc. Additionally safety records need to be kept for the life of the vehicle. Huge fines and penalties should be imposed on operators whose busses are not deemed as safe and who break violate regulations.

The year is now 2012 and Bahamians know that our current bus system continues to be in shambles. We are a civilized society and our continuance with this barbaric and dangerous bus system is beyond comprehension. Our legislators don’t have to reinvent the wheel to fix this issue.

Bahamian artist Q-Pid released the song “Bus Driver” last year. He sang about the experiences that passengers have while using our public transportation bus system. He summed it up perfectly in his song when he said, “Man don kill me for $1.00, I mean $1.25”.

Are we going to wait for another student to be killed or seriously hurt and then say sorry to a parent?  The bus system is very crucial to the economy of the Bahamas, specifically New Providence and it needs to be fixed immediately. Bahamians deserve to be passengers on busses that are safe, free from loud provocative music and in good condition. Bahamians deserve to go to a bus stop at a predetermined time and have the bus appear on schedule as opposed to waiting for whenever time the bus shows up. This year should not pass without a complete overhaul of our public transport system. It is long overdue.

 Dehavilland Moss

Perfecting Hypocrisy

I was utterly stunned on Friday. September 28^th, 2012 when I read the Nassau Guardian’s top story, “Some FNMs accepted web shop donations”. The headline did not surprise me but indeed the story gave me a deeper look into the mind of our former prime minister.

He willingly admitted that some Free National Movement (FNM) candidates received campaign contributions from web shops and that he found out about it late. Later on in his statement he also said that the Free National Movement did not receive any donations from web shops.

I am very concerned at the ex- prime minister’s statements because it implies several things.

First of all, can he please advise the Bahamian public on what he has done so far to ensure that these candidates are brought before the courts?

Secondly, the former prime minister from his statement has concluded that candidates that the FNM certified are separate from the FNM party. Mr. Ingraham must have misspoken in this regard because if he truly expects right thinking Bahamians to believe this idiotic argument then I pray God for our country. Is Mr. Ingraham of the belief that all Bahamians are “slow” and retarded?

There is no strict laws governing campaign contributions in the Bahamas and intentionally so. No prime minister has ever been serious about this issue because their intent is to keep power and prosperity in the hands of a few. Politicians know that money wins elections and a lot of the money comes from questionable sources. Do you really believe that any prime minister of the Bahamas will tackle this issue?

The selling of numbers is supposed to be illegal in the Bahamas and if candidates vying for the government of the country accepts campaign contributions from the proceeds of an illegal numbers industry then our democracy is tainted. How can we seriously expect our law makers to abide by and enforce the laws of the country when they themselves are actively and openly engaged in illegal activity?

I think that the former prime minister’s statement is provocative, nonsensical and cause for the commissioner of police to open an active criminal investigation.

Mr. Perry Christie, I say to you sir that the Bahamian people are watching your every move. It is not whether you are a Progressive Liberal Party supporter or a Free National Movement supporter. It boils down to what is right and legal and the government’s will to strengthen some laws that are antiquated. The former prime minister has publicly admitted to knowing about acts that are illegal. Will you be a part of this perfected hypocrisy or will you ensure to enforce the laws of the country?

Dehavilland Moss