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Last Updated: Dec 29, 2011 - 2:18:31 AM |
 Nassau, Bahamas - The following is a letter of thanks from Fred Mitchell, MP for Fox Hill.
"It is my usual practice at this time of the year to say thank you to the
people of the country and their public institutions for the support
given to the people of Fox Hill during the recent Fox Hill Festival.
The Fox Hill Festival is a culturally authentic brand built up over 176
years of continuously marking the emancipation of African slaves in The
Bahamas.
This year, I wish to digress from the usual thank yous, however, because
I received an unusual call here in Toronto where I write this note from
Carla Palmer, the reporter at ZNS. The call came on Wednesday 18th
August. She offered her apologies for the fact that when her report on
Emancipation Day was broadcast over ZNS, the people's radio and
television station, the report ignored the fact that I as the
representative spoke extensively and instead my political opponent in
the last and it appears future election was made to appear that she in
fact organized the Festival. My constituents were livid. The matter
was repeated by ZNS almost a week later with their report on Fox Hill
Day. That time, my constituents took to the airwaves that time and
blasted the Corporation on Orthland Bodie's show.
I of course appreciate the concern of my constituents but I have gotten
used to these insults and slights in a ham-fisted effort by the FNM to
wrest control of the constituency from the PLP. I tend to ignore it. I
note it and move on to continue to do my work. No problem!
However, the view expressed by the callers on Mr. Bodie's show was that I
was excluded from participating in the Festival's activities. That of
course is untrue, but the way that ZNS gave the reports gave a picture
that was false. The support of the Festival is the primary job of any
representative for Fox Hill. George Mackey, my predecessor in office in
Fox Hill, taught me that and I have never shirked from that
responsibility. I am therefore present, active and accounted for until
the last nail knocks. I sought to add to the prestige of the Festival
by asking my colleagues to join me. Every year since 1998, the Leader
of the Opposition has done so and this year we were joined by colleagues
Picewell Forbes MP, Melanie Griffin MP and Philip Davis MP, who is also
the Deputy Leader of the PLP.
I did, however, make the point of apparent bias and a lack of simple
professionalism in the report about Emancipation Day by telephone call
to Jerome Sawyer, who is the Managing Editor of the ZNS Broadcast and I
followed up with a note to him. When it was repeated on Fox Hill Day, I
did not bother. Ms. Palmer said that Mr. Sawyer spoke to her about it
and her explanation was that there was an equipment breakdown, which
prevented any voice being given to what I had to say. As Arthur Hanna
used to say, “Well, if nothing's on the tape, nothing is on the tape.”
I want my constituents to know that this is the explanation of ZNS about
that matter of their report on Emancipation Day. As for their report
on Fox Hill Day, we will never know what their explanation is, because I
do not intend to ask.
Having said all of that, it was an excellent Festival. I wish to thank
the leadership of Maurice Tynes and the Fox Hill Festival Committee and
all its hard working volunteers on the Committee. I thank the media,
including ZNS, for ensuring that everyone heard about the Festival. The
press all carried photo spreads of the activities and reinforced the
activities as clean, safe, family fun.
I thank the Commissioner of Police for the work done by the Royal
Bahamas Police Force and the support given through the Band; the
Commodore of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force and the support given by
their band; the Bahamas Electricity Corporation for the work of lighting
the grounds and greasing the pole; the men who entertain the crowd by
climbing the greasy pole; the young ladies who dance around the maypole;
the Water and Sewerage Corporation for getting the water supply to the
Community Centre going; the Baptist Churches in Fox Hill: St. Paul's,
Macedonia, St. Mark’s and Mt. Carey for their programmes that are
central to the tradition of Fox Hill Day; my own office staff for their
work above and beyond the call of duty; Derek and Jan Davis whose store
and resources we were able to call on at a moment's notice; the Junkanoo
groups who participated in the true cultural tradition despite the
dearth of funding; the Ministries of Environment, Works, Culture and
their respective Ministers and department heads who supported us; the
vendors who sold their good and services; and of course the great people
of Fox Hill who carry the responsibility of this tradition almost alone
on their shoulders.
We all remember that it has been just over a year since we lost our Fox
Hill Festival Committee Chairman Charles Johnson. We felt his spirit,
but continue to miss him in body.
A great, big, general thank you to everyone. We hope to see you next year, if all goes well."
Yours sincerely,
Fred Mitchell MP Fox Hill
© Copyright 2010 by thebahamasweekly.com
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