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This Week in The Bahamas Commentary by Elcott Coleby: Jan 5 - 9
By Elcott Coleby
Jan 11, 2015 - 6:14:38 PM

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Prime Minister Perry Christie leads delegation to China - Bahamas Prime Minster the Rt. Hon. Perry Christie became the Chair of CARICOM, the Caribbean Community, on 1st January 2015. Surprisingly his lofty appointment was only publicly acknowledged by the Foreign Affairs Ministry and his party. In fact this is a great honour for The Bahamas as Mr. Christie is the effective political head of CARICOM. Also, The Bahamas will host the next CARICOM Heads of Government meeting in Nassau in February 2015.

The first official duty as the Chair of CARICOM was to represent the region at the China/CELAC (Community of Latin American and Caribbean countries) meetings in Beijing China on the 8th and 9th of January and this trip dominated government news this week in The Bahamas.

The Prime Minister delivered a statement on behalf of CARICOM where he announced that a proposal to acquire funds from China’s $3 billion dollar investment fund will be made on behalf of the Bahamas as one of the initiatives that The Bahamas will pursue in coming weeks.

“Welcoming the 3 billion dollar commitment on China’s part for investment on concessional terms” said the Prime Minister, “we will be raising at the Conference the proposal to use this funding for budget support, as well as debt restructuring and refinancing.”

In addition, Mr. Christie said that the Bahamian government will also be promoting opportunities for investment in the energy sector, gas exploration, mining, forestry, tourism, airline services, financial services, agriculture and fisheries.

He explained that given that energy, water, sanitation, coastal protection, and protection of critical coastal infrastructure are central to the capacity of CARICOM countries, all efforts must be considered to mitigate the effects of climate change.

“The reality is that a five foot rise in sea level would eliminate 80 per cent of The Bahamas. Climate change is real for The Bahamas; it is a threat to our very existence,” he said “In this context, we actively encourage the building of the Sino-Latin American and Caribbean Cooperation Fund to provide resources according to the needs and priorities of the recipient countries.”

Following his address to the China/CELAC Forum delegates on Thursday 8th January, the Prime Minister met with the Chinese President Xi Jinping and the Chinese Premier Li Keqiang where a number of bilateral issues were discussed and agreements executed.

During his thirty minute meeting with President Xi Jinping, the Chinese President announced an agreement in principle that would allow The Bahamas to be a country where debts involving international parties can be settled. He also announced an agreement that would allow The Bahamas to trade in Chinese denominated currency, the Renminbi (RMB) Chinese Yuan making The Bahamas one of only three countries in the world where the Renminbi is traded. This is very good news for the financial services sector.

Prime Minister Perry Christie also met with the Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China, Li Keqiang, on Thursday afternoon following his inaugural address to CELAC delegates. It was during the meeting with the Premier that the nation’s chief raised the issue of the execution of local infrastructural projects; he also introduced talks of another national gift to the Bahamian people in the form of an multipurpose indoor stadium to facilitate youth and cultural development in The Bahamas. In the end both sides agreed that The Bahamas would draft a paper for the proposed indoor stadium for review.

On Friday, two important agreements were signed between The Bahamas and the People’s Republic of China. One was a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Civil Aviation Authorities of both countries which in essence is a reciprocal air services agreement between the two countries for direct flights between China and The Bahamas. This is good news for, Baha Mar, tourism generally and both Bahamasair and the forty-one private airlines that operate in The Bahamas.

The second MOU was signed between China’s Ocean University and the Bahamas Agriculture Marine Research and Science Institute, or BAMSI, located in North Andros. The agreement will enable technical cooperation, research and student exchanges for studies in agriculture and marine sciences.

Additionally, the Prime Minister held discussions with the chairman of Genting/Resorts World Group and also took some time out to host Bahamian students living and studying in China to a reception.

On Saturday and Sunday it was on to Shangai where the delegation was joined by Baha Mar Chairman Sarkis Izmerlian and Senior Vice President Robert Sands. The Bahamian delegation met with hotel and airline operators with business interests in Bahamar. The Prime Minister met separately in a series of meetings with leaders in the business community where a number of business and trade opportunities between the two countries were discussed.

Mr. Christie was accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Hon. Fred Mitchell, the Minister of Tourism Hon. Obie Wilchcombe and the Minister of Transport and Aviation Hon. Glenys Hanna Martin.

The ministerial delegation was supported by a team from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs headed by Eugene Torchon Newry, Bahamas Charge in Beijing Sheila Carey and Senior Policy Advisor in the Office of the Prime Minister Sir Baltron Bethel.

The delegation will leave Shangai for Nassau on Sunday evening (China time) and arrive in Nassau around mid-day on Monday, 12 January 2014.

Christie: BEC bribe “very serious matter”

The Alstom bribery scandal was back in the news this week. Characterizing the $300,000 bribery of a Bahamian official as “a serious matter,” Prime Minister Perry Christie promised that his government will deal with it accordingly and said he expects to have answers soon. The bribery was in exchange for a BEC contract to supply slow speed diesel generators.

“The Attorney General of The Bahamas Allyson Maynard-Gibson is engaged with that…discussions are taking place. The information is being made available. So the matter is being investigated” said the Prime Minister.

He went on to say that “it is a serious matter and the Bahamian people will be informed of the results of that. It is ongoing. It is moving very rapidly…We have to deal with it.”

The Attorney General was in the news earlier shortly after the news broke that the Office of the Attorney General had requested relevant information from the US government on the court ruling inclusive of the bribe taker.

Christie makes two new cabinet appointments

The Cabinet Office announced this week in a press statement that pursuant to Article 73 of the Constitution, the Prime Minister, the Rt. Honourable Perry G. Christie, had advised Her Excellency the Governor-General, Dame Marguerite Pindling, to make the following ministerial appointments:

The Hon. Hope Strachan, Member of Parliament for Sea Breeze, is appointed the new Minister of Financial Services with effect from Monday, January 12th, 2015. In the meantime, Mrs. Strachan will be the acting Minister of Transport & Aviation during the absence of the Hon. Glenys Hanna-Martin who is travelling on state business.

The Hon. Arnold A. Forbes, the Member of Parliament for Mount Moriah, is appointed Minister of State in the Ministry of Works & Urban Development, also with effect from Monday, 12th January, 2015.

In addition to the foregoing ministerial appointments, Mr. Dion Smith, Deputy Speaker and Member of Parliament for Nassau Village, is appointed the new Chairman of The Bahamas Agricultural and Industrial Corporation (BAIC) in place of the Hon. Arnold A. Forbes, also with effect from Monday, 12th January, 2015.

Eleven Queen’s Counsel (QC) named.

The Cabinet Office announced on Tuesday in a press statement that Her Excellency the Governor-General, Dame Marguerite Pindling, acting on the advice of the Prime Minister, the Rt. Honourable Perry G. Christie, has appointed the following members of the Bahamas Bar as Her Majesty's Counsel (Queen’s Counsel), with the right to use the initials “Q.C.” after their respective surnames and to enjoy all the other rights and privileges reserved to members of the Inner Bar of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas. It was also announced that an additional group of new QCs would be appointed in the near future.

Listed in order of call to the bar, the following persons are the new QCs:

Neville Smith, The Hon. Philip Brave Davis, Anthony McKinney, Elliott Lockhart, Lester Mortimer, The Hon. Allyson Maynard-Gibson, Maurice Glinton, Carl Bethel, The Hon. Damien Gomez, Wayne Munroe and Alfred Sears

Price Control Commission remains vigilant

In the wake of increased complaints from consumers about price gouging by merchants, the Price Control Commission was out in full force this week conducting compliance spot checks. One such culprit was the Galleria Cinema whose ticket prices were eighty-six cents above the post VAT price. The chairman of the commission, Earnest J. Bowe had this to say about his findings:

“We can’t get it through the department of VAT, so it is the consumer side we looking at and that is why we are out here to make sure see that they are not taken advantage of. Because the figures are clear, you could read the writing it is clear there and to me until I hear otherwise just based on what I see here and what the consumer saying it is wicked and you (the reporter) yourself said, it is price gouging. We can’t stand for that. As I said before, things are already tough with the consumers so my God have a heart. Don’t take advantage of them. And sure we know all business…yeah they make a living, but don’t make a killing as well too off the poor people. No way we can’t allow that.”

Adult tickets are $10, $9 for senior citizens and $5 for children. Movie tickets are not price controlled.

Government announces Majority Rule Day list of activities

The Cabinet Office announced this Thursday (8 Jan) that Majority Rule Day (January 10) will be observed on Monday, January 12, 2015.

A Majority Rule Exhibition, a photo narration outlining important steps in the march to Majority Rule, will be displayed downtown in Rawson Square and can be viewed as of Friday, January 9, for a full week.

Marking the historical day, Governor General Her Excellency Dame Marguerite Pindling will lay a wreath at the Mausoleum of her late husband, first Majority Rule Prime Minister Sir Lynden Pindling, at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, January 10, at St. Agnes Cemetery.

In Grand Bahama, there will be a Second Annual Majority Rule Day Parade and Cultural Explosion, beginning at 11:00 a.m. on Pioneers Way, downtown Freeport, presenting the Bahamas Brass Band and uniformed groups.

Various schools throughout the archipelago will hold special assemblies, including one at Sandilands Primary School, January 9, beginning at 9:00 a.m., or will conduct commemorative events.

The holiday weekend will feature celebrations, including the popular “King Eric” All-for-One Regatta in Montagu Bay, January 10-12, featuring A, B, and C class sloops and a children’s race showcase.

Special church services will also be held.

Prime Minister Perry Christie leads delegation to China - Bahamas Prime Minster the Rt. Hon. Perry Christie became the Chair of CARICOM, the Caribbean Community, on 1st January 2015. Surprisingly his lofty appointment...

Christie: BEC bribe “very serious matter” - The Alstom bribery scandal was back in the news this week. Characterizing the $300,000 bribery of a Bahamian official as “a serious matter,” Prime Minister Perry Christie...

Christie makes two new cabinet appointments - The Cabinet Office announced this week in a press statement that pursuant to Article 73 of the Constitution, the Prime Minister, the Rt. Honourable Perry G. Christie...

Eleven Queen’s Counsel (QC) named - The Cabinet Office announced on Tuesday in a press statement that Her Excellency the Governor-General, Dame Marguerite Pindling, acting on the advice of the Prime Minister, the Rt. Honourable Perry G. Christie, has appointed...

Government announces Majority Rule Day list of activities - The Cabinet Office announced this Thursday (8 Jan) that Majority Rule Day (January 10) will be observed on Monday, January 12, 2015...In Passing…


Bahama Mama, the Queen of Junkanoo, the inimitable Maureen Duvalier was eulogized on Sunday, 4th Janaury at St. Agnes Anglican Church. Parliamentarians, Cabinet Ministers and former Governor General Sir Arthur Foulkes were all in attendance and Prime Minister Christie paid tribute her life and body of work.

The initially scheduled date of the 8th January 2014 for the formal commissioning of the PMH critical care block was postponed by the Prime Minister’s trip to China to represent CARICOM at the China/CELAC Forum. The new date is the 22nd January 2014 where Prime Minister Perry Christie will officially open the healthcare facility.

In the wake of the two-day sickout by Bahamasair pilots, four pilots were laid off. When contacted by the press, the Chairman of Bahamasair Valentine Grimes said the layoffs were due to the fact that Bahamasair no longer had operational use of one Dash 8 aircraft.

Some eighteen months after issuing a Request for Proposal (RFP), Deputy Prime Minister Philip Davis announced this week that the strategic partner for the state owned Bahamas Electricity Corporation (BEC), had been selected. The government opted to select a management company with an agreement similar to the one that exists between the Nassau Airport Development (NAD) Company and the Canadian strategic partner instead of splitting BEC into two entities. Prime Minister Christie said earlier that the government was looking for a strategic partner that possessed the economic capacity to invest millions of dollars in BEC in infrastructural upgrades such as new power plants and renewable energy systems. Also, the management partner is mandated to reduce the cost of electricity by 30% over the next two years. Prime Minister Perry Christie is expected to make the announcement upon his return from China.

The Hon. Philip Davis, MP, in his capacity as Acting Prime Minister, extended the deep condolence of the Government of The Bahamas to the families of Mr. Reno Brown and Mr. Hubert Dean on the passing of these two distinguished Bahamians who were giants in the financial services sector. Mr. Brown worked in private banking and Mr. Dean was Deputy Governor of the Central Bank. In particular, Mr. Davis said that his thoughts and prayers go out to their respective spouses Mrs. Mary Brown and family and to Mrs. Dianne Dean and family at this time.

Amid calls from its membership, Acting President of the Bahamas Union of Teachers (BUT) Mr. Zane Lightbourne revealed on Thursday that the union’s executive committee will meet within the next two weeks to discuss turning over to the police for criminal investigation, documents purported to support the allegation that some $1.1million of union funds were misappropriated by embattled and suspended President Belinda Wilson and the suspended Treasurer, Lorraine Knowles.


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