Dear Editor;

Kindly permit me to comment on the "inflammatory" remarks uttered by none other than the Prime Minister of The Bahamas on Sunday, 16 January 2012, at his "Meet the Candidates rally" at the Grand Lucayan Hotel at Freeport Grand Bahama.

Among other things, the Prime Minister stated that Sir Jack Hayward has now divorced himself from Hannes Babak (former chairman of the Grand Bahama Port Authority ) and as such he and Sir Jack are presently discussing ways in which to improve the economy of Grand Bahama.

I found the Prime Minister's statement very egregious at best, if for no other reason than to reference Sir Jack Hayward rather than the Grand Bahama Port Authority.

Should the Prime Minister not be addressing his concerns to that entity? Of course; not that referencing either of them would have made his remarks any more creditable.

Further, we are reminded that the work permit previously issued to Babak was for the performance of services as Chairman of the Grand Bahama Port Authority and not for Sir Jack Hayward personally.

It is further noted that Babak's work permit was to expire December 31, 2009. However, prior to the expiration of the subject permit, the Prime Minister publicly stat-ed, during the latter part of 2009, that Mr. Babak's permit would not be renewed.

This is a very dangerous precedent to establish, particularly by the leader of a nation.

Acts of this nature certainly gives rise to the question of character and judgment-attributes that are often found wanting in this Prime Minister.

Moreover, the Prime Minister's actions raise serious concerns about the process of The Bahamas Immigration Department.

Since Babak is not authorized to apply for a work permit for himself, on behalf of the Grand Bahama Port Authority, the Prime Minister therefore, in a calculating fashion, fired a warning shot over the bow of the Grand Bahama Port Authority.

The intended message was clear, "do not even think about applying for a renewal of Mr. Babak's Permit."

Notwithstanding the Prime Minister's warning, information available to me suggests that the Grand Bahama Port Authority exercised their option and correctly applied for the renewal of Babak's permit.

After all, Babak was the person they felt, at the time, was the person best suited to be Chairman of their company.

We know that since December 31, 2009, Babak has not officially performed the duties as Chairman of the Grand Bahama Port Authority. It is therefore safe to conclude that the Port's application was either refused or that the Port is still, at this point, awaiting a response. With the existing bureaucracy, numerous government agencies and departments, in this country, would not win any awards for timely responses.

I wish to state unequivocally that I totally support the position, that The Bahamas Immigration department should at all times reserve the right to approve or reject applications for status of all sorts relative to this country.

Continuing, in his referenced address, the Prime Minster clearly tied Babak to Sir Jack and not the Grand Bahama Port Authority. The entity for whom he PREVIOUSLY worked, and a company for whom he has not worked for a period of TWO YEARS. To therefore continue to pursue someone who, by all accounts, has become so inconsequential as it relates to dialogue between the Grand Bahama Port authority and the Government of The Bahamas, certainly in my opinion raises serious questions as to the motives of the Prime Minister in this regard.

It is also noted that this Prime Minister refuses at all cost to accept any responsibility for the failed economy in this country, particularly as it relates to Freeport, Grand Bahama. He blames the hurricanes of 2004; opposition leader Perry Christie; the global economy and with no other scapegoat to identify at this time, his latest target has become Hannes Babak.

However, what is most troubling is the fact that this Prime Minister asserted during his address, that until now, the two (Sir. Jack and Babak) have been closely linked and as a result he was not prepared to communicate or negotiate with Sir Jack (not the Port) relative to improving the economy of Grand Bahama. This is indeed an alarming confession by the Prime Minister of this country. No doubt voters of this Country should take heed and if they have not done so they had better do so in a hurry.

We now know that this Prime Minister must accept full responsibility for the failed economy of Freeport, Grand Bahama and by extension the country. He knowingly, willfully and single-handedly stifled the growth of Freeport until he was satisfied that Sir Jack had, as he defined it, "divorced" himself from Babak. This flagrant act by the Prime Minister may very well be a "BETRAYAL OF TRUST."

Foreign investors in this country must be shaking in their boots and those who may wish to invest here must certainly be wary of this type of helter-skelter leadership. Likewise, Bahamian investors who may require foreign expertise must and should have grave concerns about a leader who will wreck businesses and by extension the country because such leader may wish that they not associate themselves with a person or persons for whom he has much disdain.

In closing, I can assure readers that my comments are by no means meant to champion the cause of Babak, for I have no reason to believe that he is in any way incapable of doing same. I am still flabbergasted; however, that the leader of my country has allowed himself to be so petty by injecting what appears to be a personal vendetta into proper governance. This is indeed mind-boggling and scary.

How can the Prime Minister travel around this country touting TRUST when in fact he knowingly and willfully stifled the economic growth of Freeport because one Hannes Babak, as he described him, may have been a close associate of Sir Jack Hayward.

WAKE UP GRAND BAHAMA, WAKE UP BAHAMAS; CHANGE MUST COME TO THIS BELOVED COUNTRY NOW!