December 1999

Go To:   12th December

                           19th December

While material on this web site can be used freely by other sections of the press, as a courtesy, journalists are asked to attribute the source of their material from this web site.

Click on a heading to go to that story; press ctrl+home to return to the top of the page.

Supplies:    Contact the National Disaster Hurricane Committee
                    Fax the office of the Prime Minister [242] 327.5807

Financial Assistance:
                    Bahamas National Disaster Relief Fund
                    Account at Royal Bank of Canada Main Branch, Nassau

Note from the Publisher:
Shakespeare could not have written a better script for The Bahamas of the past week.  The maximum leader Hubert Ingraham is back from his progress across Africa and Europe.  While he was away, the troops were restless. Disorder was breaking out on every front.  Dr. Bernard Nottage (PLP Kennedy) in the House of Assembly on Wednesday 1 December told the country that he was concerned that if Mr. Ingraham stayed away just one more week, the Government would have fallen.

Frank Watson, the Deputy Prime Minister who was Acting Prime Minister, failed the test.  Any thought that Hubert Ingraham had of making him his successor must now to be put to rest.  Mr. Watson now finds himself embroiled in a political scandal about Bahamasair which threatens his political career.  What was all the more remarkable though was his attack on his own colleagues at an airport news conference shortly after the Prime Minister's return to Nassau. All people would say about Mr. Watson is that he is a nice guy but he just doesn't have it.

And so below, we delineate in some detail all the tos and fros, the intrigue, the knives are clearly out in the governing FNM, one to another.

But PLPs, while happy that the Government is on the skids are less happy about their own prospects. The carping continues about the fact that the party does not seem to be responding, nor preparing itself for the role in the Government. It is clear from events during the past week, that victory for the PLP is within its grasp.  Will the party embrace this opportunity, or will it slip away?

The murder rate is back up again.

For news about Freeport, see THIS WEEK AT KRISTI'S

For the month of November we had 28, 662 hits on this site.  Up to midnight Saturday 4 December, we had 2,948 hits.  Thanks for reading, and keep reading.

WHY WATSON SAID WHAT HE SAID
If you remember, last week Mr. Watson stood accused by the PLP's Bradley Roberts of approving the lease of a Bahamasair aircraft to a fly by night company called Brinks International.  The Board of Bahamasair made it clear in a statement that they had nothing to do with it.  Some $135,000 was paid as a down payment for the aircraft which Brinks did not have.  Brinks has been asked to return the money.  The deal was directly approved by Mr. Watson through his man at the airline Glen Picard, since dismissed.  The PLP also accused Mr. Watson of being behind the scrapping of the cargo operation of Bahamasair in Miami and setting up another company in Florida with the contract to bring over Bahamasair's cargo.  The suspicion is that Mr. Watson and his partners Jack Ball and Glen Picard may be connected to this company.  As the heat in the kitchen got hotter last week, Mr. Watson jumped on the plane and left town last Friday 26 November. A new Acting Prime Minister had to be appointed for three days - William 'Hapless' Allen. Mr. Watson's explanation was that he left for Thanksgiving dinner. Of course US Thanksgiving is always on a Thursday, but never mind that detail. The town was rife with speculation that he had been relieved of his job because he had made such a monumental cock up.  He just could not give the press straight answers.  So when Mr. Ingraham returned there was smiling Frank Watson with the Chief.  He claimed that there was a conspiracy to overthrow both he and the Prime Minister and he accused the FNMs of fomenting the plot. The Nassau Guardian shows the Prime Minister and Frank Watson at their airport news conference. In other words, the look on his face is saying: "Chief I'm with you!"

FRANK WATSON IN HIS OWN WORDS
We keep saying that the PLP could not have written a better script.  Mr. Watson told The Nassau Guardian that he would not bow to political pressure to cut short his career due to a plot from within his own party. He denied that he had been dismissed from the Cabinet.  "I will serve until the Prime Minister who is the man who appointed me, determines when it is appropriate for me to leave," he said.  "I don't speculate much," he continued, "I surmise that there is a political motive affected by some political mischief as well.

THE WATSON MOVES AND WHAT THEY MEAN
The truth has still not been told about Bahamasair and the purchase of the jet aircraft for the company.  We must know who owns that cargo company at the airport.  Is it the Minister?  Frank Watson made a huge tactical error in accusing his FNM colleagues of plotting to overthrow him and the Prime Minister. Every one knows that the attack on fellow FNMs was orchestrated and approved by Hubert Ingraham.  Most people believe that Frank Watson simply does not have the smarts for what on the surface is a deft political stroke.  The whole idea of the attack was to destabilize the FNM.  Could Mr. Ingraham be setting up a pretext to destabilize the FNM so that he can call an election and get his third term after all? Mr. Ingraham also joined the fray with an attack on Tennyson Wells at the press conference.  What Frank Watson did was to confirm the speculation that had been rife in the country that there was strife within the FNM.  Before it was just rumours and back room chat, now it has been confirmed.  Will the PLP take advantage of this?

THE FATE OF THE BAHAMASAIR BOARD
We have it on good authority that the Bahamasair Board is to be replaced in its entirety.  None other than the Prime Minister announced this at his press conference upon his return from Africa.  How is that a reward for the hard work of the Board during the year?  What an act of treachery on the part of the Prime Minister.  He stopped Board members from resigning after being fed up with Anthony Miller the Board Chairman and the bumbling Frank Watson as Minister.  It is Miller and Watson who should go but instead the Board is to take the fall.  The new Board Chairman is to be Fred Gottlieb, now Chairman of the Water and Sewerage Corporation, former Member of Parliament for Marsh Harbour, Abaco. According to friends in Grand Bahama, Mr. Ingraham was high balling it up in Freeport earlier in the year and was heard over saying "We should put the German  there!" Mr. Gottlieb's father came to The Bahamas from Germany and practiced as a doctor in Abaco where the younger Mr. Gottlieb was born. Some resignations are now out of the briefcases of the Board members, some are still in.  But the Board is totally fed up.

INGRAHAM ATTACKS TENNYSON WELLS
On Tuesday 30 November, the Cabinet meeting must have been especially hot. The Prime Minister had just returned and at his press conference he all but told the country that he was going to fire Tennyson Wells anyway so the plan of Mr. Wells to leave the Cabinet had better be carried  out.  Mr. Ingraham said the words that Mr. Wells had indicated he intended to leave the Cabinet at the end of the year and he expects him to carry out his word.  He was explaining to the country that he intended to reduce the Cabinet by year's end.   Mr. Wells should have resigned immediately. But then this is a Cabinet that does not seem to understand the conventions of the constitution. Here it is Mr. Wells had already indicated from August of this year that he intended to leave. He stayed on at Mr. Ingraham's request.  The latest request came just before Mr. Ingraham left for Africa.  He asked Mr. Wells to hang on until he came back.  Now because he and Mr. Watson are under pressure he strikes out at Mr. Wells and makes it look like he was going to fire Mr. Wells anyway. The language gave the impression that he has no confidence in his Attorney General.  The Minister ought to take his cue and resign immediately. Mr. Wells was reportedly suffering from the flu, but he flew out of bed on that Tuesday to confront Mr. Ingraham in the Cabinet about what he had said. Stay tuned!

INGRAHAM SAYS HE'LL DOWNSIZE THE CABINET
The other bit of intrigue now is Mr. Ingraham's announcement that he intends, in his words to "downsize" the Cabinet by the end of the year.  That is a another bit of political lunacy, even though it is long ever due.  Mr. Ingraham has the largest Cabinet in the history of The Bahamas.  This, after coming to office, criticizing the former Prime Minister for a 13 man Cabinet.  Mr. Ingraham has 20 members of his Cabinet.  If you count Parliamentary Secretaries and Executive Chairmen of public corporations, there are 27 in all.  There is virtually no back bench.  At the time Mr. Ingraham said he appointed a large Cabinet because he needed to train the younger Ministers.  That brought a good laugh.  Obviously some have failed their training.  The speculation is rife about who is to go: Tennyson Wells has already indicated that he is leaving.  The others said to be on the list: Vernon Symonette, Minister for Local Government; Dame Ivy Dumont from the Senate and Pierre Dupuch, the Minister of Consumer Affairs.  Mr. Ingraham intends to purge the Cabinet of all potential Wells support.  He does not feel strong enough to fire Mr. Machiavelli, the Minister of Idle Poetry Algernon Allen.  Mr. Allen is on an all consuming PR blitz for his secret fight for Prime Minister.

MINISTERS TO GET NEW JOBS
The speculation is that the Prime Minister will appoint Carl Bethel to be Attorney General (heaven help us!) or double heaven help us, Mr. Bethel is said to be harbouring the illusion that he will even become Minister of Finance. He is another one all over the place mouthing off about how wonderful the Government is. Zhivargo Laing's friends have been saying that this is his last year in junkanoo, apparently he expects to become the Minister of Economic Development.  Dion Foulkes seems a sure bet for Minister of Education substantively or maybe even Attorney General.  Mr. Foulkes is Mr. Bethel's brother-in-law.

MORE ON CABINET RESHUFFLE
The latest news is that maximum leader Hubert Ingraham is ensconced in a suite up in Freeport summoning the minions to the parlour.  At stewfish on Saturday 4 December he told them that he is planning radical surgery for the Cabinet.  He wants to cut back to thirteen Ministers. Those to go now include Anthony Rolle, Minister for Public Enterprises and Jimmy Knowles, the Minister of Transport.  Is this political suicide or what?

MINISTER OF TOURISM AND THE CHARTER FLIGHT
The Hotel Association was honouring the Minister of Tourism at a Luncheon on Friday 3 December.  Some staff at the Ministry were reportedly incensed because they did not know quite what for.  But be that as it may: what really concerned them is the Minister reportedly chartered a private plane to fly him from Freeport just for the luncheon and then fly him back at public expense.  Mr. Smith was one of those ensconced with the maximum leader over stewfish and other morsels,
deciding how much of a knife to put to the Cabinet.

ALGERNON ALLEN'S PR BLITZ
There he was again.  This time he was shaking the hand of a disabled person on the front page of The Tribune. Now that it seems clear that Mr. Ingraham has realized that he can't stay on for a third term, the wolves are coming out from under the sheep's clothing.  One such wolf is the Minister for Social Services Algernon Allen, aka Minister of Idle Poetry, a regular Mr. Machiavelli. Mr. Allen believes that Tennyson Wells, whom he calls by his second name Gabriel, stepped out in front too quickly. But he realized that this was to his (Mr. Allen's) advantage.  Tennyson could serve as a distraction while Mr. Allen lined up all the ducks.  He started a PR blitz to soften his image.  He started to come off as a caring Minister for the poor and dispossessed in a Government that is known to be anti-poor. He is even now trying to figure out how to counteract the allegations of Bradley Roberts PLP MP that he cavorted with drug traffickers. In short, the campaign for Prime Minister is on.  He intends to knock Mr. Wells out of the box.  Mr. Wells will find that once he is out of the Cabinet, he will no longer have the friends that he once thought he had. Mr. Allen will continue to have his Cabinet power base.  Then he will convince Mr. Ingraham that he is the only one that can protect his legacy.  They say that Tommy Turnquest, though, is the sleeper and the real heir apparent.  The Governor General Sir Orville Turnquest,  the younger Mr. Turnquest's father, will use his office to campaign for his son to succeed Mr. Ingraham.  Will the PLP take advantage of this intrigue?

LADY PATRICIA ISAACS DEFENDS MR. ALLEN
The widow of the late Sir Kendal Isaacs, former Leader of the FNM, and former Deputy to the Governor General, who is herself also a Deputy to the Governor General, wrote a strong defence of Algernon Allen in The Tribune Thursday 2 December.  She said that she had asked her husband during his lifetime about the allegations of drug trafficking and Mr. Allen.  Sir Kendal told her that nothing of it was true.  She called Mr. Allen "a man of marvellous vision and commitment to caring and good works, particularly for the less fortunate, the vulnerable, the at risk and the marginalized in our society." She concluded: "I hope and pray that Algernon Allen continues compassionately and passionately to lead the way in the upliftment of out Little Darlings, our precious Pearls, our disabled, our homeless and all others in despair." Well, who can argue with a widow?  We can.  Lady Isaacs is a wonderful lady but she has mistaken idle sloganeering for compassion.  God Bless her!  Perhaps, a reading of The Prince by Machiavelli might enlighten everyone about Algernon Allen.

DARRON CASH SAYS HE DIDN'T WRITE THE LETTER
Just when we thought there was hope for the FNM Senator who told the country that while he was not an independent he was an independent thinker, hopes were dashed.  Last week, we reported that Darron Cash wrote a sensible letter to the press responding to The Tribune's editorial accusing the PLP of being responsible for crime.  This week Senator Cash who said he was out of the country on business for two weeks, wrote to The Tribune of Thursday 2 December to say that it wasn't him who wrote the letter.  He signed his letter Darron B. Cash.

MORE MURDERS IN NASSAU
The total came up to 61 as of last Sunday 28 November. At about 2 a.m., the Fire Service received a call that a truck was on fire at Independence Drive by the New Covenant Baptist Church.  When the fire was extinguished the Fire Service discovered the remains of three male bodies, who had been shot then burnt beyond recognition.  The families were later able to identify them by rings and watches.  DNA testing was being done later this week. The immediate speculation was that it was drug related.  One of the dead was a 24 year-old young man from Fox Hill.  The mother swore that her son was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. The police think that they will find out who did this.  No word on the other unsolved high profile murder of Sean Symonette, the former customs officer.  The country was in a panic for a few days, but soon it all calmed down.  We are becoming immune to it, it seems. Or could it be that most people feel that this is only drug traffickers killing one another and it does not affect the general public?  That is what the Prime Minister said: "they're only killing their own"  That was an incredibly stupid and insensitive thing to say.  But what do you expect from a goat.  It will prance on the board floor.  The fact is, suppose innocents get killed in the crossfire?  Suppose others learn that they can get away scott free with killing other people? Plus, it is intrinsically wrong to kill. Speaking to the police, they believe that the PLP can help by lobbying for more training of officers on the Force.

GOVERNOR GENERAL ON OFFICIAL VISIT TO CHINA
On Thursday 2 December, Governor General Sir Orville Turnquest and Lady Turnquest, accompanied by their aides left The Bahamas for an official visit to the Peoples Republic of China.  The Guardian photo shows the airport departure with China's Ambassador to The Bahamas.  No word on how long the visit will be.  But Sir Orville is expected to be back in town in time to host the Lunch Bunch at Government House on 21 December.

BATELCO ON SICK OUT
The Batelco work force is on a sick out, and an industrial action that they predict will extend to the new year, if the government does not live up to its commitment to buy out certain provisions of the contract of those workers left at Batelco.  At week's end, the general manager appealed for workers to come back. He claimed that the financial viability of the company was threatened and that Christmas pay cheques could not get out in time because there were no workers to get the paper work in place.  The Union nixed the idea.  The GM said the Union had sabotaged equipment.  The Union Chief Shane Gibson in sharp retort to the dire scenario portrayed by the usually silent general manager Michael Symonette, told Mr. Symonette that he should be reminded how the Union came to his rescue when the PLP tried to get rid of him.  He should show a bit more gratitude to the Union, therefore.  All pay offices of Batelco were closed, and consumers could not pay their telephone bills.  The telephone service has deteriorated and internet service is intermittent. The Bill to disestablish Batelco was laid on the table of Parliament on Wednesday 1 December.  It will be debated beginning Monday 6 December. We urge the workers to stick to their guns.

SICKOUT AT NATIONAL INSURANCE
Some 300 workers at the National Insurance Board in New Providence stayed off work during the week, protesting the offer of the Management over pay and working conditions.

SICKOUT AT PRINCESS CASINO
Last week, security officers at the Princess Casino stayed off work in a dispute with Management.

COB LECTURERS VOTE TO STRIKE
The Union of Tertiary Educators of The Bahamas (UTEB) led a strike vote on Tuesday 30 November.   Members voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike. Margo Blackwell, Union Vice President was quoted on Saturday 4 December in The Tribune as follows: "A strike is going to happen if they [management] don't sit down with us."  The COB president Dr. Leon Higgs claims that the College has gone as far as it can go. Well Dr. Higgs, it is obviously not far enough. The College appeared before the Court on Tuesday 30 November to plead not guilty to another four counts of intimidation and altering the terms and conditions of the contract of employment to the prejudice of Margo Blackwell.

CITIBANK WORKERS FIRED
Five senior workers at Citibank were fired last week. They are blamed for allowing someone on their watch to get away with a million dollars, it is alleged.  The person, who no longer works at Citibank is accused of procuring.  He would take money from customers and make it appear that their loans were up to date.  He would pocket the money.  Some say at least 8 million dollars may be involved.

TEACHERS UNION THREATEN ACTION
Carmetta Rolle was transferred against her will from C.H. Reeves, a Junior High School. The Bahamas Union of Teachers has threatened strike action, if it is not resolved. There are further reports that at least three teachers in Grand Bahama have still not been paid this month. The Treasury is said to be blaming it on "computer glitches". B.U.T. President Kingsley Black speaks to the press in this Tribune photo.
 
 

PIRATE OF PRAGUE KOZENY STRIKES BACK
Victor Kozeny, who owns a home in Lyford Cay, has decided that he will fight the Government's decision to acquire his Exuma Cay called Hall's Pond Cay.  He says he will take the Government to the wire.  He wants 100 million dollars for it.  He is, of course, out of his mind. He viciously attacked the Bahamas National Trust and the Lynn Holowesko family, saying that they run the Trust for their own personal interest. Mrs. Holowesko is the Ambassador for the Environment.  He claimed that he wants the money he donated to the trust returned.  This man who has a reputation for mistreating his Bahamian staff is a little too mouthy for his own good.  He needs to be put in his place.  Only a PLP Government can do it.  The FNM is getting its just reward for playing with a puppy.

LAWYER CHARGED WITH MONEY LAUNDERING
Leslie Rolle, a 56 year old single practitioner, was charged before the Magistrates Court  with six counts of forgery, six counts of uttering a forged document, six counts of fraud by false pretences and five counts of laundering the proceeds if crime.  He pleaded not guilty. The offences are said to have been committed in 1998.

JAMES CATALYN INSULTED UPON RETIREMENT
James Catalyn, the Bahamian playwright and comedian, a Ministry of Tourism executive up until the end of October 1999, is making no secret of his disgust at the way he has been treated by the top brass at the Ministry of Tourism.  Mr. Catalyn was more or less told he was to retire at the end of October.  The day approached: no party, no letter of farewell, no gold watch.  Three decades of service just like that.  The parting shots: the Director General Vincent Vanderpool Wallace reportedly met him in the corridor and said: "Jim what's this I hear about you retiring?" On the last day the Minister C.A. Smith met him at the water cooler and said: "That was a good article on the International Food Show at the Botanic Gardens. How was it?"  That was it.  Mr. Catalyn is awaiting a date before the Industrial Tribunal.  He has the Ministry in court for altering the terms and conditions of his employment without his agreement. We are surprised that C.A. Smith would allow this kind of uncivil behaviour.  Even if you dislike a fellow, there is a way a long term employee ought to be treated, and all the more so for someone who is a virtual icon in the country.

GULF UNION DEPOSITORS TO GET THEIR MONEY
Ads appeared in the newspapers this week, for all depositors in Gulf Union Bank to come and get their money, up to $50,000.  Bahamians only.  Foreign nationals in US dollars will not get their money or so it appears.  Will people have to sign releases for any amounts over $50,000?  The Bank failed in September 1997 even though the Central Bank had a watchman in the Bank.

ABACO MARKETS PURCHASE SOLOMON WHOLESALE
It was announced that Abaco Markets has made another purchase.  This time they have purchased Solomon's Wholesale Club.  The reported purchase price was 20 million.

GOLDEN GIRLS FETED
The country was gaga this week over the Golden Girls, the five Bahamian women who won Gold medals at the World Championships in Seville, Spain last summer.  The celebrations had been delayed because of Hurricane Floyd. They were presented a further $100,000 by the Government of  The Bahamas.  A private entity represented by Attorney Paul Moss donated $50,000 in their name to sports.  Mr. Moss is an ally of the new President of The Bahamas Amateur Athletic Association Desmond Bannister. The Tribune photo is shown of Paul Moss making the presentation.

CARIBBEAN COURT OF APPEAL
The plans for the Court are going ahead.  The Bahamas has not signed on to it.  The Barbados AG David Simmons will be hosting a meeting on 6 December in Jamaica to look at issues relating to the Court which is to be headquartered in Trinidad.  When functional, it will replace the Privy Council as the final Court of Appeal for many Caribbean countries.

MY MOTHER'S HOUSE IN ARMSTRONG STREET
So that my sister can see the progress on our joint project in Nassau, the restoration of our mother's house on Armstrong Street, the latest picture. It is scheduled to be finished on 15 December. My father will move there after the home at 99 Collins Avenue is sold.
 
 

DEATH OF GRACE ARCHER
She was perhaps the biggest PLP in the Chippingham area of New Providence.  Last week, she succumbed to a twenty year battle with cancer. She was my mother's close friend and a former organist at Holy Spirit Anglican Church in Chippingham. Condolences to her husband Leroy Archer; her son Leroy Jr and daughter Leria.

THIS WEEK AT KRISTI'S
The Quote of The Week: -  "Frank is like me... I trust Frank..." Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham at the first FNM Convention after the 1992 election. Will these words come back to haunt Mr. Ingraham? Have their memory already begun to cause him sleepless nights. Stay tuned.

Photo - Could this be the "rogue element" which the Deputy Prime Minister disclosed this past week?

Minister Algernon Allen in Grand Bahama - Minister Allen visited Grand Bahama last Saturday to attend the funerals of  Junior Grant's mother and FNM Vice Chairman Michael Edwards sister. Photo shows Minister Allen flanked by Mr. Max Quant, Mr. Edwards and local FNM Meritorious Counsellor Theo Farquahson as he offers condolence to members of the Grant family. Junior Grant has considerable influence in the west Grand Bahama constituencies, so it was important for Minister Allen to attend. Noticeably absent were Ministers David Thompson who begged an excuse, and CA Smith, both Grand Bahama MPs. Some reports place Minister Smith off the island at the time. Other reliable reports say Smith was at a time-sharing with his cell-phone calls being screened by his friend the owner of that resort. During the funeral Allen lived up to the name Minister of Idle Poetry as he waxed eloquent. "Another minute," said one mourner, "and he would have burst into tears himself."

Boxer's Back - Cyril 'Boxer' Minnis, general of the late Sir Cecil Wallace-Whitfield is back in favour. Our friend Kelly burrows on Saturday morning was said to have interceded on Boxer's behalf to gain him an audience with FNM Leader Hubert Ingraham. Boxer was vexed over being denied access to Mr. Ingraham on his last trip. Boxer drove straight from stewfish with Hubert to the fellows at Geneva's - the local FNM spot - smiling from ear to ear and speaking of Kelly as a "gentleman and a scholar".  A  far cry from the choice words of a few weeks ago.

PLP Reminder - PLPs in Kristi's this week, reminded the politicos that the PLP had actually paid 150 dollars each to Manny Diaz for the trees bought under its watch, which the FNM opposition criticized bitterly. The FNM, now has the trees donated, and still ends up paying $200 per tree. Meanwhile some people in the Prime Minister's constituency in Abaco are still living in tents in the wake of hurricane damage. Priorities.

Polymers International -  Reports surfaced in Kristi's this week of environmental concerns about the operations at Polymer's International, a manufacturing company doing business in Freeport and owned by Styrofoam cup maker Dart. Observers say excessive roof rust may warrant an investigation into what exactly is being emitted from the company's smokestacks. A Grand Bahama MP / Minister has reportedly asked environmental experts to look into possible infractions of environmental regulations. Stay tuned.

Iron Mike Turns 37  - Sunday marks a birthday for FNM Vice Chairman Michael Edwards. Iron Mike celebrated Saturday at Geneva's. Included was Minister David Thompson, protector of the sacred ox known as Hutchison Lucaya which Iron Mike publicly gored for their business attitude toward Bahamians recently. The two seem to have made peace. No one was prepared to go on record to criticize Vice Chairman Mike who made the offending statement as president of his construction company. Word is that he falls under the protection of the Minister of Idle Poetry, who has let it be known that no one should fool with his boys.

While material on this web site can be used freely by other sections of the press, as a courtesy, journalists are asked to attribute the source of their material from this web site.

Click on a heading to go to that story; press ctrl+home to return to the top of the page.

Supplies:    Contact the National Disaster Hurricane Committee
                    Fax the office of the Prime Minister [242] 327.5807

Financial Assistance:
                    Bahamas National Disaster Relief Fund
                    Account at Royal Bank of Canada Main Branch, Nassau

Note from the Publisher:
After all the excitement of last week, the conspiracies, plots and counter-plots, the allegations and counter allegations, the threats and counter-threats, this week seemed mild when it comes to political intrigue.  But the week was no less interesting. The Government got back temporarily it seems to the business of Government itself. The fate of BaTelCo, now seems to be sealed.  The workers there are still on a sick out but the Government rushed through a bill which will end BaTelCo as we know it.  The bill transfers all the regulatory functions to the Public Utilities Commission, and all the telephone assets and functions to a new entity which will be a private company owned by The Bahamas Government.

The Prime Minister announced his plans for the future to the Free National Movement at their National General Council meeting on Thursday 9 December.  It is as we predicted last week.  Below, we have this as the main story and an analysis of what we think that it all means.

The country seems to be hunkering down to the Christmas spirit, even though it does not feel like Christmas in the town.  Most people just think that the year has flown so quickly. Ken Perigord is by far the country's largest importer of Christmas trees. This columnist never puts up a Christmas tree but it was a real treat to walk through what Ken Perigord calls his Christmas tree farm on Prince Charles Drive. Some 10,000 trees of all shapes and sizes.  You can imagine all the excitement of the little children running up and down through the trees.

One couple who came to visit with their children was the parents of the quadruplets that were born some five years ago in Nassau.  They are all growing well and healthy and they had a good time in the tree farm. One of them said to the customers in the tree farm pointing at their Dad: "Do you know all of us came from him?"

One of the site links on this site is to JuJu.  There was an interesting discussion this week about this Senator and what he is and is not.  Fascinating stuff. It's worth a look.

This week we have 12,106 hits up to midnight on 11 December 1999.  Thank you for reading and keep reading.

WHO WILL BE FIRED FROM THE CABINET?
Last week, we provided a list of those on the chopping block.  They include: Anthony 'Boozie' Rolle, the Minister for Public Enterprises; James Knowles, the Minister of Transport; Pierre Dupuch, the Minister for Consumer Affairs and Aviation; Vernon Symonette, the Minister of State for Local Government.  At least one Parliamentary Secretary is to go as is the Chairman of Bahamasair. Then the list gets a little crazy. It depends on whom you talk to.  Some say that Theresa Moxey-Ingraham is to go as a Minister of Labour and become the Speaker of the House.  No word as to what is to happen to Italia Johnson, the present Speaker.  The real issue is whether  the Prime Minister will have the courage to fire Algernon Allen from the Cabinet.  Mr. Allen was up in Freeport again this week dancing a jig and glad handing the senior citizens in his PR blitz to become the dark horse in the Prime Ministerial race. The Bahama Journal says that Dame Ivy Dumont is to be amongst those to be let go in the PM's shuffle of the Cabinet. Further at the Central Council meeting, when the Prime Minister told the FNM that he will be making deep cuts in the Cabinet, he looked directly at Anthony 'Boozie' Rolle. Late reports from Freeport say that Rolle was being pressed over breakfast at Geneva's as to whether or not he would be fired. His many Grand Bahama supporters were all offering advice as to what his reaction should be. The smell of blood is already in the water.

PM TO DESTABILIZE HIS PARTY
So what do all these manoeuvres mean? Could it be that the Prime Minister is on a deliberate path to destabilize his party in a desperate attempt to seek a third term in office.  Usually in our system, if the Prime Minister means to make wholesale changes in the Cabinet, all Ministers should offer their resignations to the Prime Minister and then the Prime Minister will choose who he is to ask to come back.  The resignations will become effective when the Prime Minister wants them to become effective.  Instead, Hubert Ingraham in his usual backward way of thinking has frightened his entire Cabinet by saying that he is going to have mass firings.  The men and women who sit in his Cabinet don't know whether they are going or coming today.  They are like the walking dead.  And nothing can get done in the Ministries because no one has confidence in the person who is sitting in the seat today.  Mr. Ingraham has therefore already destabilized the Government.  But we think he is after something more fundamental.

MR. INGRAHAM SABOTAGING THE FNM
Hubert Ingraham is very much like the Emperor Jones, that literary figure from William Faulkner's play of the same name.  He despises the people that he leads and is contemptuous of them.  It is because he has some deep-seated dislike of himself which causes him to be socially ill at ease with right thinking people.  He hates Tennyson Wells, because Mr. Wells has an opinion. He has to be the one to get the last.  So he had to make it look like he was going to fire Mr. Wells anyway, it's just that Mr. Wells beat him to the punch. That's why we reported the PM's comments about Mr. Wells last week. It is our theory that such a man of the ilk of Mr. Ingraham wants to throw the FNM into such disarray that he can call a snap election and then claim he has to stay on for the good of the country.  Radical cuts in the Cabinet could cause a break within his party.  The PLP might even be displaced by a large enough chunk of FNMs as the main opposition party.  But that would not last long. It would be inherently unstable, because the break away FNMs would not represent real political support.  Because Tommy Turnquest will not be in the number of Minister's cut,  the Governor General will then fully co-operate with the Prime Minister in dissolving Parliament, catching the PLP unawares, and going back to the country.

DOES HUBERT INGRAHAM CARE ANY MORE?
He is a lame duck so all his mind is on is legacy and getting through.  It does not matter about people's feelings or about doing the right thing for his party.  If he cared, he would step down early and allow the new Leader some time to get established and call the election on his terms.  But no, Mr. Ingraham, selfish as he is, will stay on to the bitter end. One thing we know is that Mr. Ingraham is now at the stage where he does not care.  He says and does what ever he wants. He will pay for it, but he knows that the price will come later so for now it does not matter. The PLP must get itself ready.

BRADLEY ROBERTS ON THE ATTACK AGAIN
PLP MP for Grants Town Bradley Roberts caused the suspension of the House of Assembly on two occasions within one morning last Wednesday 8 December. The reason was an accusation that the FNM must be accountable to The Bahamas on crime.  He talked about the fact that just this week again four persons escaped from the prison.  That was fine until he raised the issue of the drug criminal Alvarez, the escape from the prison under the PLP and the connection between persons in the FNM.  Up jumped Janet Bostwick, whose name was not called, to remind the House that Kendal Nottage had been sued successfully by them and made to apologize and pay some $150,000.  She asked that Mr. Roberts repeat the allegations outside the House of Assembly. The Speaker of the House it seems could not take all the to and fro and on two occasions suspended the House. This is the same Janet Bostwick who was the godmother of the Alvarez baby, and who once said that in order to get rid of crime you had to get rid of the PLP.  Good going Bradley Roberts.  There is an old saying that before taking the mote out of someone else's eye you should take it out of your own eye first.  Perhaps all FNMs would do well to remember it.

QUEEN VICTORIA'S STATUE
We now have a picture of the statue covered in plastic. About one month ago, we reported that the statue, which was unveiled in the public square in 1904, was splashed with red paint.  It has still not been cleaned.  This picture was taken one month ago.  It is now covered in the Bahamian flag as part of the decorations for Christmas and the countdown to the millennium which has been hurriedly cobbled together by Kayla Lockhart Edwards.  Gail Saunders, the Director of the Archives, has announced that the Government has finally identified someone who has the expertise to clean the statue and will be coming in shortly to do the restoration work. It is our view that this is not some mindless act of vandalism.  They say someone has been charged for the offence. It may well be a deliberate political act.  If it is, this will prove our point that there is disquiet in The Bahamas over the state of affairs.

MUSICAL CHAIRS IN THE JUDICIARY
The Government has finally decided that it will proceed with the controversial bills that have been held up in the Senate for several months.  The bills to allow the police to take intimate samples is to come before the Senate.  There is also a bill to abolish mandatory sentencing and to establish the right of the Chief Justice to gazette sentencing guidelines which ought to be followed by Magistrates.   But the Judiciary of the Bahamas remains a happy place if you are a foreigner in The Bahamas.  You have the retired President of the Court of Appeal, a Guyanese by birth, riding around in a Government car, even though he is retired.  You have Justice of Appeal Boyd Carey reaching the mandatory age of retirement being allowed to stay on beyond that period under the guise that he has work to finish.  Your have Justice of Appeal George, another of Gonsalves-Sabola's Guyanese fellow travellers, being offered the Presidency of the Court of Appeal for two months.  He reaches the age of retirement in March of next year.  You have the retired President of the Court of Appeal, Gonsalves Sabola being offered a job as Law Reform Commissioner.  He is 70 years old.  You have Edwin Watkins who insulted young Caribbean lawyers by saying they were not worth their salt, being given an extension on his contract as Law Reform Commissioner for six months.  Both Sabola and Watkins are septuagenarians and both are suffering from cancer. Then you have the fact that the Government intends to appoint Loran Gatpansingh of Guyana, now a judge in Freeport to the Court of Appeal while Bahamian Joseph Strachan, retired from the Supreme Court sits at home twiddling his thumbs.  Justice Lyons, the Australian, who serves in Freeport as a Judge is living in a house at Government expense at $4,000 per month.  Yet Bahamian Burton Hall, the only Bahamian on the Court of Appeal has been told that the Government is unable to find him a house in Nassau. They have been trying to find one for Mr. Hall for the past two years. Stephen Isaacs is now the Registrar of the Supreme Court, after having returned within days from Freeport where he was supposed to have filled a year and half vacancy at the Head of the Industrial Tribunal there.  No living arrangements were made for him.  There is no one filling that position now.  Kelphine Cunningham who has been on special leave after Sabola, as President of the Court of Appeal, forced her out from the job of Registrar of the Court, has still not received her appointment to the Tribunal in Nassau.  She sits at home at public expense indefinitely collecting her salary. This is the FNM accountable Government at work.

POSTAL PROBLEMS IN THE BAHAMAS
It has been reported that there are problems with the delivery of mail to and from The Bahamas.  In some instances it is taking ten days or more for mail to be put in the boxes, even for mail from one point in Nassau to the other.  We are investigating the matter.  Some persons report delays of up to fourteen days for mail to be delivered to the US and Britain from The Bahamas. In Freeport, one frustrated clerk said, "You see all this mail? ...and this ain' even the Christmas stuff. There's not enough people and we have the same system I met twenty years ago."

BATELCO ABOLISHED
The House of Assembly passed a new Telecommunications Act which will abolish BaTelCo, the telephone company.  The FNM has spent 66 million dollars to privatize BaTelCo.  The company is now in a permanent state of collapse.  The staff may not get their Christmas salaries because of a sick out at the company.  The Bill now goes to the Senate.  The Prime Minister says that he intends for the Bill to become law before the end of the year. What's the hurry? The Government is late in its timetable and is said to be paying a late penalty to the investment bankers Deutche Morgan Grenfeld of $25,000 per month for each month of delay. Frank Watson, the besieged Deputy Prime Minister, told the House that next year BaTelCo will lower its long distance rates by fifty per cent and begin to charge for local calls.  We told you so! Late on Saturday, The Tribune quoted the president of the BaTelCo Union Shane Gibson as saying that the work to rule is being withdrawn immediately.  Permanent Secretary to the DPM Harcourt Turnquest reported that the Government has agreed to buy out the provisions of the contract, the payout is to be at the time the private company takes over. The Guardian photo shows DPM Watson as he debates the BaTelCo bill.

DANNY FERGUSON OPENS A NEW BUSINESS
Daniel Ferguson, a Fox Hill man, opened a new business this week.  There to do the honours was Tommy Turnquest his life long friend and now Minister of Public Works.  Also on hand was fellow Fox Hillian Julian Francis, now Governor of the Central Bank.  The business is called Access Data Network International (ADNI).  It is a credit bureau.  It will help businesses and banks who want information on clients as to their credit rating.  A good idea Danny! Best wishes!

BRITISH COLONIAL OPENS OFFICIALLY
The affair was from all accounts a glittering one.  It was said that the hotel is better and more tastefully designed than the garish Sun International.  The Prime Minister and Mrs. Ingraham officially opened the hotel.  The British Colonial has been on the site in Bay Street since 1922.  In the 1970s it began to fall on hard times.  It operated for a time as the Best Western and standards really fell.  You would not recognize the place today. The hotel was officially opened on Saturday 4 December.  The hotel has 291 rooms, and you can get a rate at $210 per person for a non-ocean view and $222 for an ocean view.  Not a bad deal. The Bar Association held its annual luncheon at the hotel on Thursday 9 December.

EEN COLEBROOKE TO MARRY
Our good friend and confidant, political buddy and political advisor Een Colebrooke is to tie the knot in a ceremony at Bethel Baptist Church in Nassau. Congratulations to Een and his new bride Charisse.

CRIME RATE
The Acting Commissioner of Police, who leaves the service at the end of the year, told a funny story last week on Friday 3 December at the Police Ball.  He claimed that crime was down in The Bahamas, except for murder.  Perry Christie had to point out in a press conference on Sunday 5 December what a stupid statement that is.  Both the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister and the Commissioner of Police are so stung by the fact that crime and the fear of crime are clearly on the rise that they are using statistics to attempt to allay the fears of the public.  Their argument is that when you take murder out of the picture, then crime is not as high as we think it is.  But how can you take murder out of the picture.  It was pointed out that in Toronto a city of three million people, they have yet to reach 50 murders for the year.  Nassau, with 170,000 has had 63 murders, one more this week.

MOTHER PRATT SPEAKS
In a brief intervention in the House of Assembly on Wednesday 8 December, Cynthia 'Mother' Pratt, the Deputy Leader of the PLP, called for an explanation about the escape of several girls from the Girls Industrial School.  No word from the Minister.

UNIONS AND POLITICAL SUPPORT
At a press conference held on Tuesday 7 December, Kingsley Black, President of the Bahamas Union of Teachers and Secretary General of the Trade Union Congress, said that the TUC will be endorsing candidates in the next general election who support workers rights.  That can only mean they are supporting the PLP.

ANGLICAN CHURCH IN A FLAP
How could the Anglican Church get itself in the situation where it cut down two Silk Cotton trees, believed to be 100 years old, to make way the Archbishop says for an office building on the grounds of Addington House on Shirley Street.  It is nothing short of disgraceful.  First of all, it is against the law to cut down a protected tree without a permit, which the church did not get.  Secondly, common sense should tell the church that the trees have to be saved no matter what.  We constantly talk about trying to be sensitive to the environment but do not want to make the sacrifices to ensure that the environment is protected.

UP DATE ON CLIFTON CAY PROJECT
The developers of Clifton Cay gave a disingenuous interview to the Nassau Guardian, reported on 8 December 1999 by Mark Symonette.  They claimed that they are frustrated and if the delays for the project to develop the slave plantation ruins and beaches on the western end of New Providence don't end, they will give up.  Of course, no one believes them.  It has been learned that they have offered five million dollars to three adverse claimants to make them go away.  For that they were cussed out by the Prime Minister who asked them how dare they pay in his reported words "land thieves". James Anthony and James Chaffin then claimed in the same interview that they were not easily defeated.  The development is universally opposed by Bahamians. But Hubert Ingraham with dollar signs in his eyes has approved a project that will ruin the plantation ruins, the wetlands on that part of the island and set up a gated community that will further prevent access to the last public beach in that area to Bahamians.  The Guardian photo shows the developers.

CAN THE PLP WIN AGAIN?
It is clear that victory is within our grasp.  But it is also clear that the PLP must be organized to take advantage of the shift which is taking place in the society.  But unfortunately, it is too easy for the PLP to become a party that is afraid to take a position on anything, afraid to put its foot forward.  It must begin to take substantive positions.  It must cease to pat itself on the back internally about what a good job we are doing when many of our supporters continue to say we are doing nothing.  We do not agree that the PLP is doing nothing but we think that both at the supporters level and at the Parliamentary level, we can do more to project what the PLP stands for. Of course, what we have going for us is that the FNM is so arrogant that they think because the economy is doing well that means that the PLP can not win.  But in 1967, the economy was doing well but the PLP won because people were unhappy about the status of their lives.  That is what we have today, unhappy people even though they are making money.  The PLP has to make themselves be seen as the protectors of the people's interest, then and only then can we win again.

A VISIT TO LYFORD CAY
This columnist visited the Lyford Cay Yacht Club Tuesday 7 December. The trip, with political associate Calvin Brown was to plan a fundraiser for the spring of next year. While at Lyford Cay we also had a chance to call on Sir Nicholas and Lady Nuttal. Sir Nicholas is the chair of BREEF, the Bahamas Reef Environmental Educational Foundation which promotes education aimed at the preservation and conservation of the country's coral reefs. Our photo shows this columnist and Mr. Brown talking to Fred McKenzie, Director of Food and Beverage at the Lyford Cay Yacht Club.

RIOT FOR JUNKANOO TICKETS
Tickets for Junkanoo for Boxing day and New Years have sold out.  All 7,000 tickets for the seats in the bleachers were gone by one p.m. on Friday 10 december, the day they were made available for sale.  The Tribune reported a near riot by people demanding tickets. This Bahama Journal photo shows the crowd outside the ticket office.

A SALUTE TO DUKE STRACHAN
This week we carry newspaper photos of Bahamian musical giant Duke Strachan as a salute to him and his work with the Bahamas National Youth Orchestra.

CHRISTMAS AT SEARS ROAD
Each year the Sears Road Association headed by Betty Cole has a Christmas programme on their park.  I attend each year. The photo is me with Mrs. Cole last Saturday 4 december.  Also attending Pierre Dupuch, representative for the area and Vernon Symonette, Minister for Local Government.
 
 

THIS WEEK AT KRISTI'S
The Quote of The Week: -  "We seek to be different from those other fellows and we want you to hold us to account for our actions in Government..." Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham during campaign 1992. Let's see...hmmm. Should we hold him accountable for the missing $135,000 or perhaps for all those people who walked out of prison?

Freeport City Council  vs Central Government - The other two Grand Bahama Local Government Councils can just do it without us.  This was the message from City of Freeport Chief Councillor Burton Miller this week as he opted out of the Road Traffic Authority. It seems there's a turf battle over the composition of the committee. Last year it was 2 from the east, two from the west and 3 from the city of Freeport. Word has it that the east and west Grand Bahama districts intended to outvote Freeport. The Chief Councillor isn't having it. One former FNM candidate who is a western township committee member had harsh words for Councillor Miller.."he better carry his Bl...A... back to where he came from, he'ain even from Grand Bahama." Shame. We wonder if this attitude has anything to do with the committee member's niece who lost a hard fought campaign earlier this year?

Taxi-Cab Chief in Trouble - Word has it that they are collecting signatures for a special call meeting to oust the current president of the Grand Bahama Taxi Cab Union who many think is doing a commendable job. Emotions are apparently running high because there just aren't enough taxi jobs on Grand Bahama. Some members accuse their president of being too cozy with the political powers that be to their disadvantage.

Older FNMs Outraged - Word reached Kristi's this week that a significant group of older FNMs who meet regularly at neighbouring Wendy's Restaurant were outraged by the Prime Minister's talk of drastically reducing his Cabinet. The group feels that the exercise is to have very little to do with competence or lack of competence, but rather blind loyalty to Mr. Ingraham himself. These say that such a move would be political suicide, and vow that they and many others like them will hold a convention in April come what may.  At that convention they say "Hubert will feel the wrath of true FNMs."

After All, It's An FNM Government  -  Minister of Tourism C.A. Smith seems to be losing his lustre with the Grand Bahama electorate. This week at a huge event in Port Lucaya, Port Authority Chief Edward St. George called on the crowd to welcome Minister Smith and was greeted by silence. "Come on, " Edward told the crowd, "You can do better than that, after all it's an FNM Government." A woman spectator muttered, "Child please."

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Note from the Publisher:
After all the excitement of last week, the conspiracies, plots and counter-plots, the allegations and counter allegations, the threats and counter-threats, this week seemed mild when it comes to political intrigue.  But the week was no less interesting. The Government got back temporarily it seems to the business of Government itself. The fate of BaTelCo, now seems to be sealed.  The workers there are still on a sick out but the Government rushed through a bill which will end BaTelCo as we know it.  The bill transfers all the regulatory functions to the Public Utilities Commission, and all the telephone assets and functions to a new entity which will be a private company owned by The Bahamas Government.

The Prime Minister announced his plans for the future to the Free National Movement at their National General Council meeting on Thursday 9 December.  It is as we predicted last week.  Below, we have this as the main story and an analysis of what we think that it all means.

The country seems to be hunkering down to the Christmas spirit, even though it does not feel like Christmas in the town.  Most people just think that the year has flown so quickly. Ken Perigord is by far the country's largest importer of Christmas trees. This columnist never puts up a Christmas tree but it was a real treat to walk through what Ken Perigord calls his Christmas tree farm on Prince Charles Drive. Some 10,000 trees of all shapes and sizes.  You can imagine all the excitement of the little children running up and down through the trees.

One couple who came to visit with their children was the parents of the quadruplets that were born some five years ago in Nassau.  They are all growing well and healthy and they had a good time in the tree farm. One of them said to the customers in the tree farm pointing at their Dad: "Do you know all of us came from him?"

One of the site links on this site is to JuJu.  There was an interesting discussion this week about this Senator and what he is and is not.  Fascinating stuff. It's worth a look.

This week we have 12,106 hits up to midnight on 11 December 1999.  Thank you for reading and keep reading.

WHO WILL BE FIRED FROM THE CABINET?
Last week, we provided a list of those on the chopping block.  They include: Anthony 'Boozie' Rolle, the Minister for Public Enterprises; James Knowles, the Minister of Transport; Pierre Dupuch, the Minister for Consumer Affairs and Aviation; Vernon Symonette, the Minister of State for Local Government.  At least one Parliamentary Secretary is to go as is the Chairman of Bahamasair. Then the list gets a little crazy. It depends on whom you talk to.  Some say that Theresa Moxey-Ingraham is to go as a Minister of Labour and become the Speaker of the House.  No word as to what is to happen to Italia Johnson, the present Speaker.  The real issue is whether  the Prime Minister will have the courage to fire Algernon Allen from the Cabinet.  Mr. Allen was up in Freeport again this week dancing a jig and glad handing the senior citizens in his PR blitz to become the dark horse in the Prime Ministerial race. The Bahama Journal says that Dame Ivy Dumont is to be amongst those to be let go in the PM's shuffle of the Cabinet. Further at the Central Council meeting, when the Prime Minister told the FNM that he will be making deep cuts in the Cabinet, he looked directly at Anthony 'Boozie' Rolle. Late reports from Freeport say that Rolle was being pressed over breakfast at Geneva's as to whether or not he would be fired. His many Grand Bahama supporters were all offering advice as to what his reaction should be. The smell of blood is already in the water.

PM TO DESTABILIZE HIS PARTY
So what do all these manoeuvres mean? Could it be that the Prime Minister is on a deliberate path to destabilize his party in a desperate attempt to seek a third term in office.  Usually in our system, if the Prime Minister means to make wholesale changes in the Cabinet, all Ministers should offer their resignations to the Prime Minister and then the Prime Minister will choose who he is to ask to come back.  The resignations will become effective when the Prime Minister wants them to become effective.  Instead, Hubert Ingraham in his usual backward way of thinking has frightened his entire Cabinet by saying that he is going to have mass firings.  The men and women who sit in his Cabinet don't know whether they are going or coming today.  They are like the walking dead.  And nothing can get done in the Ministries because no one has confidence in the person who is sitting in the seat today.  Mr. Ingraham has therefore already destabilized the Government.  But we think he is after something more fundamental.

MR. INGRAHAM SABOTAGING THE FNM
Hubert Ingraham is very much like the Emperor Jones, that literary figure from William Faulkner's play of the same name.  He despises the people that he leads and is contemptuous of them.  It is because he has some deep-seated dislike of himself which causes him to be socially ill at ease with right thinking people.  He hates Tennyson Wells, because Mr. Wells has an opinion. He has to be the one to get the last.  So he had to make it look like he was going to fire Mr. Wells anyway, it's just that Mr. Wells beat him to the punch. That's why we reported the PM's comments about Mr. Wells last week. It is our theory that such a man of the ilk of Mr. Ingraham wants to throw the FNM into such disarray that he can call a snap election and then claim he has to stay on for the good of the country.  Radical cuts in the Cabinet could cause a break within his party.  The PLP might even be displaced by a large enough chunk of FNMs as the main opposition party.  But that would not last long. It would be inherently unstable, because the break away FNMs would not represent real political support.  Because Tommy Turnquest will not be in the number of Minister's cut,  the Governor General will then fully co-operate with the Prime Minister in dissolving Parliament, catching the PLP unawares, and going back to the country.

DOES HUBERT INGRAHAM CARE ANY MORE?
He is a lame duck so all his mind is on is legacy and getting through.  It does not matter about people's feelings or about doing the right thing for his party.  If he cared, he would step down early and allow the new Leader some time to get established and call the election on his terms.  But no, Mr. Ingraham, selfish as he is, will stay on to the bitter end. One thing we know is that Mr. Ingraham is now at the stage where he does not care.  He says and does what ever he wants. He will pay for it, but he knows that the price will come later so for now it does not matter. The PLP must get itself ready.

BRADLEY ROBERTS ON THE ATTACK AGAIN
PLP MP for Grants Town Bradley Roberts caused the suspension of the House of Assembly on two occasions within one morning last Wednesday 8 December. The reason was an accusation that the FNM must be accountable to The Bahamas on crime.  He talked about the fact that just this week again four persons escaped from the prison.  That was fine until he raised the issue of the drug criminal Alvarez, the escape from the prison under the PLP and the connection between persons in the FNM.  Up jumped Janet Bostwick, whose name was not called, to remind the House that Kendal Nottage had been sued successfully by them and made to apologize and pay some $150,000.  She asked that Mr. Roberts repeat the allegations outside the House of Assembly. The Speaker of the House it seems could not take all the to and fro and on two occasions suspended the House. This is the same Janet Bostwick who was the godmother of the Alvarez baby, and who once said that in order to get rid of crime you had to get rid of the PLP.  Good going Bradley Roberts.  There is an old saying that before taking the mote out of someone else's eye you should take it out of your own eye first.  Perhaps all FNMs would do well to remember it.

QUEEN VICTORIA'S STATUE
We now have a picture of the statue covered in plastic. About one month ago, we reported that the statue, which was unveiled in the public square in 1904, was splashed with red paint.  It has still not been cleaned.  This picture was taken one month ago.  It is now covered in the Bahamian flag as part of the decorations for Christmas and the countdown to the millennium which has been hurriedly cobbled together by Kayla Lockhart Edwards.  Gail Saunders, the Director of the Archives, has announced that the Government has finally identified someone who has the expertise to clean the statue and will be coming in shortly to do the restoration work. It is our view that this is not some mindless act of vandalism.  They say someone has been charged for the offence. It may well be a deliberate political act.  If it is, this will prove our point that there is disquiet in The Bahamas over the state of affairs.

MUSICAL CHAIRS IN THE JUDICIARY
The Government has finally decided that it will proceed with the controversial bills that have been held up in the Senate for several months.  The bills to allow the police to take intimate samples is to come before the Senate.  There is also a bill to abolish mandatory sentencing and to establish the right of the Chief Justice to gazette sentencing guidelines which ought to be followed by Magistrates.   But the Judiciary of the Bahamas remains a happy place if you are a foreigner in The Bahamas.  You have the retired President of the Court of Appeal, a Guyanese by birth, riding around in a Government car, even though he is retired.  You have Justice of Appeal Boyd Carey reaching the mandatory age of retirement being allowed to stay on beyond that period under the guise that he has work to finish.  Your have Justice of Appeal George, another of Gonsalves-Sabola's Guyanese fellow travellers, being offered the Presidency of the Court of Appeal for two months.  He reaches the age of retirement in March of next year.  You have the retired President of the Court of Appeal, Gonsalves Sabola being offered a job as Law Reform Commissioner.  He is 70 years old.  You have Edwin Watkins who insulted young Caribbean lawyers by saying they were not worth their salt, being given an extension on his contract as Law Reform Commissioner for six months.  Both Sabola and Watkins are septuagenarians and both are suffering from cancer. Then you have the fact that the Government intends to appoint Loran Gatpansingh of Guyana, now a judge in Freeport to the Court of Appeal while Bahamian Joseph Strachan, retired from the Supreme Court sits at home twiddling his thumbs.  Justice Lyons, the Australian, who serves in Freeport as a Judge is living in a house at Government expense at $4,000 per month.  Yet Bahamian Burton Hall, the only Bahamian on the Court of Appeal has been told that the Government is unable to find him a house in Nassau. They have been trying to find one for Mr. Hall for the past two years. Stephen Isaacs is now the Registrar of the Supreme Court, after having returned within days from Freeport where he was supposed to have filled a year and half vacancy at the Head of the Industrial Tribunal there.  No living arrangements were made for him.  There is no one filling that position now.  Kelphine Cunningham who has been on special leave after Sabola, as President of the Court of Appeal, forced her out from the job of Registrar of the Court, has still not received her appointment to the Tribunal in Nassau.  She sits at home at public expense indefinitely collecting her salary. This is the FNM accountable Government at work.

POSTAL PROBLEMS IN THE BAHAMAS
It has been reported that there are problems with the delivery of mail to and from The Bahamas.  In some instances it is taking ten days or more for mail to be put in the boxes, even for mail from one point in Nassau to the other.  We are investigating the matter.  Some persons report delays of up to fourteen days for mail to be delivered to the US and Britain from The Bahamas. In Freeport, one frustrated clerk said, "You see all this mail? ...and this ain' even the Christmas stuff. There's not enough people and we have the same system I met twenty years ago."

BATELCO ABOLISHED
The House of Assembly passed a new Telecommunications Act which will abolish BaTelCo, the telephone company.  The FNM has spent 66 million dollars to privatize BaTelCo.  The company is now in a permanent state of collapse.  The staff may not get their Christmas salaries because of a sick out at the company.  The Bill now goes to the Senate.  The Prime Minister says that he intends for the Bill to become law before the end of the year. What's the hurry? The Government is late in its timetable and is said to be paying a late penalty to the investment bankers Deutche Morgan Grenfeld of $25,000 per month for each month of delay. Frank Watson, the besieged Deputy Prime Minister, told the House that next year BaTelCo will lower its long distance rates by fifty per cent and begin to charge for local calls.  We told you so! Late on Saturday, The Tribune quoted the president of the BaTelCo Union Shane Gibson as saying that the work to rule is being withdrawn immediately.  Permanent Secretary to the DPM Harcourt Turnquest reported that the Government has agreed to buy out the provisions of the contract, the payout is to be at the time the private company takes over. The Guardian photo shows DPM Watson as he debates the BaTelCo bill.

DANNY FERGUSON OPENS A NEW BUSINESS
Daniel Ferguson, a Fox Hill man, opened a new business this week.  There to do the honours was Tommy Turnquest his life long friend and now Minister of Public Works.  Also on hand was fellow Fox Hillian Julian Francis, now Governor of the Central Bank.  The business is called Access Data Network International (ADNI).  It is a credit bureau.  It will help businesses and banks who want information on clients as to their credit rating.  A good idea Danny! Best wishes!

BRITISH COLONIAL OPENS OFFICIALLY
The affair was from all accounts a glittering one.  It was said that the hotel is better and more tastefully designed than the garish Sun International.  The Prime Minister and Mrs. Ingraham officially opened the hotel.  The British Colonial has been on the site in Bay Street since 1922.  In the 1970s it began to fall on hard times.  It operated for a time as the Best Western and standards really fell.  You would not recognize the place today. The hotel was officially opened on Saturday 4 December.  The hotel has 291 rooms, and you can get a rate at $210 per person for a non-ocean view and $222 for an ocean view.  Not a bad deal. The Bar Association held its annual luncheon at the hotel on Thursday 9 December.

EEN COLEBROOKE TO MARRY
Our good friend and confidant, political buddy and political advisor Een Colebrooke is to tie the knot in a ceremony at Bethel Baptist Church in Nassau. Congratulations to Een and his new bride Charisse.

CRIME RATE
The Acting Commissioner of Police, who leaves the service at the end of the year, told a funny story last week on Friday 3 December at the Police Ball.  He claimed that crime was down in The Bahamas, except for murder.  Perry Christie had to point out in a press conference on Sunday 5 December what a stupid statement that is.  Both the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister and the Commissioner of Police are so stung by the fact that crime and the fear of crime are clearly on the rise that they are using statistics to attempt to allay the fears of the public.  Their argument is that when you take murder out of the picture, then crime is not as high as we think it is.  But how can you take murder out of the picture.  It was pointed out that in Toronto a city of three million people, they have yet to reach 50 murders for the year.  Nassau, with 170,000 has had 63 murders, one more this week.

MOTHER PRATT SPEAKS
In a brief intervention in the House of Assembly on Wednesday 8 December, Cynthia 'Mother' Pratt, the Deputy Leader of the PLP, called for an explanation about the escape of several girls from the Girls Industrial School.  No word from the Minister.

UNIONS AND POLITICAL SUPPORT
At a press conference held on Tuesday 7 December, Kingsley Black, President of the Bahamas Union of Teachers and Secretary General of the Trade Union Congress, said that the TUC will be endorsing candidates in the next general election who support workers rights.  That can only mean they are supporting the PLP.

ANGLICAN CHURCH IN A FLAP
How could the Anglican Church get itself in the situation where it cut down two Silk Cotton trees, believed to be 100 years old, to make way the Archbishop says for an office building on the grounds of Addington House on Shirley Street.  It is nothing short of disgraceful.  First of all, it is against the law to cut down a protected tree without a permit, which the church did not get.  Secondly, common sense should tell the church that the trees have to be saved no matter what.  We constantly talk about trying to be sensitive to the environment but do not want to make the sacrifices to ensure that the environment is protected.

UP DATE ON CLIFTON CAY PROJECT
The developers of Clifton Cay gave a disingenuous interview to the Nassau Guardian, reported on 8 December 1999 by Mark Symonette.  They claimed that they are frustrated and if the delays for the project to develop the slave plantation ruins and beaches on the western end of New Providence don't end, they will give up.  Of course, no one believes them.  It has been learned that they have offered five million dollars to three adverse claimants to make them go away.  For that they were cussed out by the Prime Minister who asked them how dare they pay in his reported words "land thieves". James Anthony and James Chaffin then claimed in the same interview that they were not easily defeated.  The development is universally opposed by Bahamians. But Hubert Ingraham with dollar signs in his eyes has approved a project that will ruin the plantation ruins, the wetlands on that part of the island and set up a gated community that will further prevent access to the last public beach in that area to Bahamians.  The Guardian photo shows the developers.

CAN THE PLP WIN AGAIN?
It is clear that victory is within our grasp.  But it is also clear that the PLP must be organized to take advantage of the shift which is taking place in the society.  But unfortunately, it is too easy for the PLP to become a party that is afraid to take a position on anything, afraid to put its foot forward.  It must begin to take substantive positions.  It must cease to pat itself on the back internally about what a good job we are doing when many of our supporters continue to say we are doing nothing.  We do not agree that the PLP is doing nothing but we think that both at the supporters level and at the Parliamentary level, we can do more to project what the PLP stands for. Of course, what we have going for us is that the FNM is so arrogant that they think because the economy is doing well that means that the PLP can not win.  But in 1967, the economy was doing well but the PLP won because people were unhappy about the status of their lives.  That is what we have today, unhappy people even though they are making money.  The PLP has to make themselves be seen as the protectors of the people's interest, then and only then can we win again.

A VISIT TO LYFORD CAY
This columnist visited the Lyford Cay Yacht Club Tuesday 7 December. The trip, with political associate Calvin Brown was to plan a fundraiser for the spring of next year. While at Lyford Cay we also had a chance to call on Sir Nicholas and Lady Nuttal. Sir Nicholas is the chair of BREEF, the Bahamas Reef Environmental Educational Foundation which promotes education aimed at the preservation and conservation of the country's coral reefs. Our photo shows this columnist and Mr. Brown talking to Fred McKenzie, Director of Food and Beverage at the Lyford Cay Yacht Club.

RIOT FOR JUNKANOO TICKETS
Tickets for Junkanoo for Boxing day and New Years have sold out.  All 7,000 tickets for the seats in the bleachers were gone by one p.m. on Friday 10 december, the day they were made available for sale.  The Tribune reported a near riot by people demanding tickets. This Bahama Journal photo shows the crowd outside the ticket office.

A SALUTE TO DUKE STRACHAN
This week we carry newspaper photos of Bahamian musical giant Duke Strachan as a salute to him and his work with the Bahamas National Youth Orchestra.

CHRISTMAS AT SEARS ROAD
Each year the Sears Road Association headed by Betty Cole has a Christmas programme on their park.  I attend each year. The photo is me with Mrs. Cole last Saturday 4 december.  Also attending Pierre Dupuch, representative for the area and Vernon Symonette, Minister for Local Government.
 
 

THIS WEEK AT KRISTI'S
The Quote of The Week: -  "We seek to be different from those other fellows and we want you to hold us to account for our actions in Government..." Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham during campaign 1992. Let's see...hmmm. Should we hold him accountable for the missing $135,000 or perhaps for all those people who walked out of prison?

Freeport City Council  vs Central Government - The other two Grand Bahama Local Government Councils can just do it without us.  This was the message from City of Freeport Chief Councillor Burton Miller this week as he opted out of the Road Traffic Authority. It seems there's a turf battle over the composition of the committee. Last year it was 2 from the east, two from the west and 3 from the city of Freeport. Word has it that the east and west Grand Bahama districts intended to outvote Freeport. The Chief Councillor isn't having it. One former FNM candidate who is a western township committee member had harsh words for Councillor Miller.."he better carry his Bl...A... back to where he came from, he'ain even from Grand Bahama." Shame. We wonder if this attitude has anything to do with the committee member's niece who lost a hard fought campaign earlier this year?

Taxi-Cab Chief in Trouble - Word has it that they are collecting signatures for a special call meeting to oust the current president of the Grand Bahama Taxi Cab Union who many think is doing a commendable job. Emotions are apparently running high because there just aren't enough taxi jobs on Grand Bahama. Some members accuse their president of being too cozy with the political powers that be to their disadvantage.

Older FNMs Outraged - Word reached Kristi's this week that a significant group of older FNMs who meet regularly at neighbouring Wendy's Restaurant were outraged by the Prime Minister's talk of drastically reducing his Cabinet. The group feels that the exercise is to have very little to do with competence or lack of competence, but rather blind loyalty to Mr. Ingraham himself. These say that such a move would be political suicide, and vow that they and many others like them will hold a convention in April come what may.  At that convention they say "Hubert will feel the wrath of true FNMs."

After All, It's An FNM Government  -  Minister of Tourism C.A. Smith seems to be losing his lustre with the Grand Bahama electorate. This week at a huge event in Port Lucaya, Port Authority Chief Edward St. George called on the crowd to welcome Minister Smith and was greeted by silence. "Come on, " Edward told the crowd, "You can do better than that, after all it's an FNM Government." A woman spectator muttered, "Child please."

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Note from the Publisher:
Today is Boxing Day.  This too, like Christmas, is a public holiday in The Bahamas.  Because it falls on a Sunday, the holiday will be marked on Monday 27 December.  That means that no shops, businesses or Government offices will be open on 27 December.
Boxing Day is said to be an English holiday, which was the time when people went visiting to deliver their Christmas gifts.

The mother of this columnist would have celebrated her 77th birthday, had she lived, on 24th December, 1999.  She died on 4th May, 1999. She is greatly missed this Christmas season.

Ken Perigord, who is the biggest Christmas tree seller in The Bahamas sold most of the 10,000 trees that he imported. The competition is fierce but he still managed to prevail.  It was quite a sight, seeing the lonely trees standing on Christmas day on the tree farm.  They now have no economic value. But people lit up their houses in this town like lights were going out of style for Christmas, and a cold front blew into town, making it feel for us like Christmas.

Politics took a back seat to peace on earth and goodwill toward men.  Dr. Bernard Nottage, this columnist, Ben Higgins met for our usual Christmas Day breakfast of ackee and salt fish. An announcement should be expected from that quarter shortly which will say officially that he has departed from the Progressive Liberal Party.  We wish no one ill will, and wish him personally well. Our task remains the Progressive Liberal Party and trying to encourage the necessary reforms so that we can capture the Government in 2002.

It appears that Hubert Ingraham has been successful in frightening all his competition.  All the hard mouth before the dismissal of  Minister Pierre Dupuch has fizzled.  The rabbits have run for the tall grass and no one, as they say, has moved. So far no one else has gotten hurt.  A SPECIAL REPORT IN THIS WEEK IN KRISTI'S. We await the Cabinet changes.

Perry Christie, the Leader of the Opposition, will address the nation on 31 December to mark the end of the year, the decade, the century and the millennium.

NEXT WEEK OUR VILLAINS OF THE YEAR, THE CENTURY AND THE MILLENNIUM.

We have 21,742 hits the site up to midnight 25 December 1999 for the month of December.  Please keep reading.

FNM OPPOSITION FIZZLES
It is amazing how easy it is apparently to intimidate even the most formidable political figures. It just occurred to us: what happened to all the hard mouths that the FNM had when they were in Opposition to Pindling. Suddenly no one has anything to say.  They all promise some strike back to Hubert but nothing.  The Opposition has fizzled. Hubert Ingraham has effectively frightened them all into silence. Consider this: not a Minister, not a Member of Parliament except Tennyson Wells, not one FNM councillor, spoke up for Pierre Dupuch since his dismissal.  These were the same folks who said that the men under Pindling were ballsless. Now one wonders; who in that party has the balls?

CABINET CHANGES THAT WE HEAR
The ground has absolutely gone silent since last week about the changes in the Cabinet.     All we have heard is that Jimmy Knowles, the last white man in the Cabinet, has a safe job, not because he is particularly effective but because the white community cannot be further alienated. Anthony 'Boozie' Rolle is said to be going to the Executive Chairmanship of The Bahamas Development Bank.  He will lose his Ministry. But the salary that he will get as Chairman will be the same, so that will ease the pain.

DAME IVY PREDICTS SHE'LL BE BACK
As Dr. Marcus Bethel was winding up the debate on the Telecommunications Bill which abolishes BaTelCo as we know it, he told the Senate that some FNM Senators might not expect to return.  Dame Ivy Dumont, the Government Leader in the Senate, is widely expected not to return.  It is believed that in Mr. Ingraham's downsizing he will ask her to retire.  She now collects two pensions: one from the Government and another from the private sector. But Dame Ivy has other ideas.  She predicted that she will be back and wished us all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.  The only other news going around is that Senators Darren Cash and Calvin Johnson are on Mr. Ingraham's list of expendable senators.

HENRY BOSTWICK SAYS HE MIGHT NOT BE BACK
The real surprise as the Senate came to an end was a cryptic comment by Senate President Henry Bostwick. He indicated that he might not be coming back to the Senate in the next session.  He said that he lamented not being able to participate in the debate in the Senate because as President he had to remain neutral.  But he said that in his next job, he will be listening even more.  He said he was seriously thinking about that job and Senator Mitchell (who had just spoken about the Judiciary) would be very interested. Later, we pressed Senator Bostwick about it and he said that it was a job in the Judiciary and he was thinking seriously about it.  We think it would only make sense for him to leave that job for Chief Justice.  That would give him a knighthood and allow Janet Bostwick to be Lady Bostwick without the problem of making her a Dame and her husband without a title. Dame Joan Sawyer is to go to be President of the Court of Appeal. We await developments.

BUTT KISSING AS A FINE ART
An FNM backbencher called us up and said he was sick to his stomach.  He had to disgorge its contents.  The source of the discomfort: a stellar performance in butt kissing during the hastily called meeting to rally up the troops by Hubert Ingraham on Wednesday 15 December.  You remember that last week, we reported how Hubert Ingraham told the FNM troops that they were a bunch of losers without him.  It was an attempt to intimidate them into silence.  What the MPs could not believe was a spontaneous address by sub Minister for Culture Zhivargo Laing.  He reportedly told the MPs that they have to stand by Hubert Ingraham.  He likened Hubert leaving as similar to the effect of divorce on a family.  It is like the husband leaving the wife and family behind.  The MP said he felt like vomiting.  It was so sickening an exercise in butt kissing that even the Prime Minister was embarrassed and reportedly hastily drew the meeting to a close.

A WARNING TO DARREN B. CASH
In a remarkable attack on this columnist two weeks ago, Senator Darren B. Cash sought to defend the record of the FNM on the Judiciary.  How an intelligent man such as he, and one who had come to office with a reputation for defending an objective principle, would defend something which is clearly indefensible is unbelievable.  He spoke like someone mouthing the script of another, most likely the Prime Minister.  And this has to be because he knows nothing about the court system or the Judiciary.  He is in no position to defend it.  At the end of the intervention of this Senator in the Senate on Wednesday 15 December, another friendly warning was sent across his bow.  Don't mess with your friends.  This is a fellow who owes a great deal of his current prominence to the longstanding support of this senator, having identified Senator Cash early as someone who got a bad break under Pindling and deserved support.  But what is emerging with he and another former associate is a lack of appreciation for not crossing the line, for knowing which side they are on.  Either that or they are simply ruthless, and fooled this Senator as to the kind of persons they really are: devoid of ethics or morality and who will do anything to get where they want.  In the present, it looks very much like what one of them has to protect is a Senate seat.  Even rumours of being called in by the Prime Minister and told to either start attacking Mitchell and leave public criticism of the FNM alone or else.  This Senator hold friendships dear, despite political differences.  Not so apparently this next generation.  Anything to get ahead. In one case it is for money.  In this case for political power.  This is the second time, that a warning shot has been fired across his bow. Next time, not so lucky! 'Nuff said.

ARCHDEACON THOMPSON DEMITS OFFICE
The Anglican Church's Archdeacon William Thompson officially demits office of 31 December 1999.  His last official mass and sermon was delivered on Boxing Day 1999 at St. Agnes at a special joint service at 9 a.m.  The congregation turned out en masse.  We all wish him very well.

NEW RECTOR FOR ST. AGNES
The vestry of St. Agnes Anglican Church has accepted the nomination by Archbishop Drexel Gomez of Rev. Father Patrick Johnson as the new rector of St. Agnes.  He is now the rector of the Church of the Holy Spirit in Chippingham.  He was the rector of the late mother of this columnist.  He did a fine job at that church. As a member of St. Agnes, this columnist welcomes him.  Before Holy Spirit he did an excellent job in Governors Harbour, Eleuthera. The appointment comes after months of private haggling between the Archbishop and the St. Agnes vestry.  The vestry was adamant that they did not want the Bishops' first choice and preference. The Governor General who is a St. Agnes member normally is on the same side as the Bishop, but on the choice of rector they seemed to be on opposite sides.  The vestry did not get its choice either but they believe that they have struck a blow for freedom by preventing the Archbishop's first nominee. Let us hope it now all works out for the better.

NEW COMMISSIONER OF POLICE
The Government has announced that operational control of the Royal Bahamas Police Force will be transferred on 29 December to Assistant Commissioner of Police Paul Farqhuarson. He succeeds the now Acting Commissioner of Police Errol Farqhuarson (pictured) who will retire from the Force after acting for three months.  Mr. Farqhuarson the latter reaches the mandatory age of retirement on 31 December.  He is to become the security chief at the new Airport Authority when that entity comes into being at the start of the new year.  The Senate debates the bill on 10 January.  The substantive Commissioner of Police caused quite a furore by suggesting at a luncheon that following his sabbatical at the Council of Legal education to finish his law qualification, he intends to return to the Force.  This led to Sgt. Philip Wilson's strong denunciation in the press which we reported. The feeling is that the Force will have changed so significantly while Mr. Bonamy is away that it will be impractical for him to return.  Mr. Farqhuarson, the former, is to become the substantive Commissioner of Police.  The Police generally seem to look forward to his tenure, a more collegial manager of the Force. The Opposition will reserve its position but at present sees no obstacle to his becoming Commissioner.  However, this columnist believes that there should be no more acting Commissioners. The Commissioner on leave should officially retire from the Force and allow a substantive appointment.  The Force requires stable leadership today.

CONGRATULATIONS TO MR. JUSTICE MALCOLM ADDERLEY
Evan Adderley graduated from the College of the Bahamas with the highest grade point average of 3.72 last year. The ceremony took place on Friday 17 December.  His proud parents are Justice Malcolm Adderley and his wife Daphne.

CABLE BAHAMAS MAY LOSE THE MONOPOLY
The Prime Minister suggested in Parliament that Cable Bahamas would only be allowed to compete with BaTelCo if it agreed to give up its monopoly.  No problem said Philip Keeping, the CEO of Cable Bahamas.  He told The Tribune that they would give it up in a minute to compete for BaTelCo's revenue stream of 150 million versus their 26 million per year.  It all seemed an elaborate dance worked out in advance between the parties.  Hubert having floated the trial balloon; Keeping, having responded, without any adverse publicity to the Government or the company can now move ahead and do it.  As a sign of things to come, Cable Bahamas will introduce limited test Internet service to its subscribers shortly.  Given all the problems you have to get on the net in this country, anything would be a relief.

KOZENY TAKES THE GOVERNMENT TO COURT
McKinney Bancroft and Hughes must be laughing all the way to the bank.  As the week began on Monday 20th December, The Tribune reported  that Victor Kozeny, sometimes known as the Pirate of Prague, and a resident of Lyford Cay, had taken the Government to Court to stop the forced acquisition of Hall's Pond Cay. He is a billionaire.  The court action seemed to portray him as the poor little billionaire being picked on by the Government.  He sought to portray himself as a champion of individual rights against a bad Government. The Government wants the acquisition in order to ensure that the Cay is protected within a national park system.  But the real reason is believed to be the fact that Mr. Kozeny offended the Prime Minister by not following his instructions to make good the environmental damage to the Cay done by Mr. Kozeny's development.  This columnist is interested in the matter as a fundamental rights issue and will be following the matter up.  This is a typical human rights situation where the character might be objectionable but the principle may be worth fighting for.  In the Senate on two occasions within the last week, this columnist spoke about this Government's treatment of private property rights and how dismissive they are about private property rights.  Private property rights are at the heart of our economic system.

STOCK EXCHANGE OFFICIALLY INCORPORATED
The company that will run The Bahamas' first stock exchange has been officially incorporated.  The Bahamas International Securities Exchange is now incorporated.  It will be known as BISX. The  exchange will be de mutualized, i.e. it will not be owned by the persons who trade on the exchange exclusively.  There are at least 49 private shareholders, following a share offering earlier this year.  It is planned that the exchange itself will go public to sell more shares.  For now the COO is Goutam Bose, a consultant from Price Waterhouse. The Board of the Company consists of the following: Gregory Bethel, President of Fidelity Merchant Bank; Gregory Cleare, Senior Partner KPMG; Kenneth Clowes, CEO of Oceanic Bank and Trust; Ian Fair, Chairman Mees Pierson; Larry Gibson, Chairman BISX Steering Committee; Patricia Hermanns, President Global Life; and Barry Malcolm, Bahamas Financial Service Board Executive Chairman.  Two other key players are Keith Davis, who is a Bahamian member of the New York Bar. He is Chief Legal Officer and Compliance Officer. The other is Brian Taylor CEO.

GUARDIAN BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Nassau Guardian responding to pressure from this and other shareholders has announced that two Bahamians are to join the Board. They are Tim Donaldson, Chair of Commonwealth Bank, former Governor of the Central Bank, former Ambassador to Washington and former Senator. The other is Dr. Leon Higgs, President of the College of The Bahamas. Mr. Donaldson usually does a credible job wherever he goes, but if Dr. Higgs does as bad a job as he is doing at COB then we can only expect more of mediocre heaven at the Nassau Guardian.

MINISTER OF YOUTH'S COUSIN ON THE WANTED LIST
Adrian Francis, a former ZNS employee, who as a cousin of the Minister of Youth Zhivargo Laing, was hired at the Ministry is now wanted for questioning by police.  A warrant has been issued for his arrest.  The police say he should be approached with caution.  Mr. Francis, also said to be a Minister of Religion, is wanted for questioning in connection with the disappearance of $20,000 by way of a forged cheque from the Ministry's Junkanoo fund. The matter was first raised by this Senator last year in the Senate.

STAN BURNSIDE'S EXHIBITION
Stan Burnside has painted 38 new pieces for a Christmas exhibition.  Stan, who is also a cartoonist for The Tribune says that he is concentrating on spirituality.  Shown is a Guardian photo of his Shadrach, Meschach and Abednego - Serenity of Triumph.

ARLENE NASH HAS A BOOK
She is the sister of Lunch Bunch organizer H.O. Nash and the daughter of the famous educator.  She is an important educator in her own right as a former Principal of St. John's College.  Now she is an author.  Her first book is on Junkanoo and it is called: 'I Come to Get Me'.  Ms. Nash was one of the first modern day female Junkanooers.  She is pictured in the Tribune photo with her book.

BANK OF THE BAHAMAS TRUST
A little birdie tells us that the Bank of The Bahamas plans to open a trust division early next year.  They also plan to get ATMs finally. The Bank's shares traded last at five dollars.  Presumably CEO Paulene Allen Dean is happier with that price.

THIS WEEK AT KRISTI'S
The Quotes of The Week: -  "A Leader Will Take You No Further Than He Himself Has Gone" Miles Munroe - Bahamas Faith Ministries... "Gentlemen: Turn Yourselves In, Turn Yourselves In!" late Senator Austin Grant - West End, Grand Bahama.

    This week at Kristi's was a strange one. No one wanted to go on the record on the firing of Pierre Dupuch. We don't know what Hubert must have said to the MPs and the generals, but it must have struck fear and terror into the hearts on the faithful and the not-so-faithful. One general spoke to our informant outside and pleaded that we not use his name in any form or fashion to be associated with anything in FNM circles whether good or otherwise. He wanted nothing, he said, to affect his business arrangements with the Government.

    The crew at Geneva's the FNM spot which usually renders up some harsh criticism for the PM was also strangely silent. But we suspect that there was some underground movement against the FNM's would be leader-for-life.

    Our informants at Wendy's who sometimes pride themselves on their UBP lineage, made up for all the bobbing, weaving, ducking and craven behaviour of the others. "We have never trusted Ingraham, " said one regular. "We saw where he was going when he sent Orville to Government House, Ali Butler to Washington, Maurice Moore to New York and Arthur Foulkes to London... we knew then that he was up to no good and intended to highjack our party and re-form it into his own vision of the third force." There were also harsh words for Grand Bahama MPs for not coming to the defence of Pierre Dupuch. One said "that's why I preferred the UBP. They at least, could represent themselves, and disagree with the leader. With the exception of Neko Grant, this crew can't represent themselves and they certainly can't disagree with Ingraham." Sage words indeed.

Ronnie Knowles / Frank Watson? - An FNM general told us this week that there was more than one way to skin a cat. He asked us to put a question to the Prime Minister concerning his bosom pal Minister of Health, Ronnie Knowles and the renal dialysis services on Grand Bahama. FNMs, he said have uncovered a plot for an insider contract in this area and warned against any such action, and spoke of grave repercussions from the FNM Council. He also asked if the PM knew anything about hospital supplies that could be had a lot cheaper by the Ministry of Health, except that the cheaper purchases were being blocked by someone in high authority. This seems to be the new approach for a rear guard action in the FNM. This questioner and many others still want to know where is Bahamasair's $135,000?  Accountability demands the truth.

Head Count in Nassau - Our sources inside the FNM say that a backbencher was doing a head count of the parliamentary group earlier in the week to determine how many MPs would be prepared to stand with the Wells-Allen faction. We were not given an exact number. but said if they fell short, they would be making overtures to the PLP. Hmmm.

Ingraham's Christmas Boil Fish Party -  As the sword of Damocles hangs over the heads of the Cabinet of The Bahamas, Ministers of Government who have not been invited to Prime Minister Ingraham's Christmas boil fish party plan to crash the occasion in a last-ditch effort to save themselves. We are putting Mr. Ingraham's chefs on alert to cook some extra. The question would be asked, is it I?