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.