Columns :
Letters to The Editor
Concern for Fate of Mangroves on Bimini Island! - Feb 26, 2010 - 5:28:58 PM
 Dear Editor,
In
December of 2008, the Honorable Dr. Earl Deveaux proclaimed that
Bimini's long-awaited Marine Protected Area had been made official.
Local Biminites, as well as legions of people around the globe who
care about Bimini, were elated with the news.
Reports
from Bimini also informed us that much stricter regulations were to be
placed on the large development on the North island, including the
requirement of Environmental Impact Assessments and a definite plan for
mangrove restoration along the eastern boundary of the resort...
Columns :
Letters to The Editor
Possible Commercial Tuna Netting in The Bahamas - Feb 19, 2010 - 10:33:07 PM
Friends of the
Environment seeks to keep its members and other interested parties aware
of pertinent environmental issues happening in Abaco as well as
throughout The Bahamas. To that end, we feel that the community should
be aware of a possible business venture preparing to commercially net
yellow fin tuna in Bahamian waters.
As many of you may already
know, there is a fishing vessel docked in Grand Bahama that is equipped
to commercially harvest Yellow Fin Tuna with a purse seine net. It
appears that some of the proposed fishing grounds may include Abaco and
the Tongue of the Ocean. Due to the current dismal state of Yellow Fin
Tuna stocks and the inevitable threat of bycatch (such as marine
mammals, sea turtles, sharks and juveniles of many species), FRIENDS
urges the Bahamas Government to prohibit this boat from fishing in our
waters.
Columns :
Letters to The Editor
Open letter to the Hon. Lawrence Cartwright, Minister of Agriculture and Marine Resources regarding netting tuna in The Bahamas - Feb 19, 2010 - 10:21:42 PM
Dear Minister Cartwright,
I am writing to you on behalf of the Bahamas Marine Mammal Research
Organization to express concern about a permit to use a purse-seine
vessel to fish for yellow-fin tuna in The Bahamas. Due to the lack of
current regulations to govern such fishing activities, I urge your
Ministry to decline the requested fishing permit for this vessel and to
immediately place a moratorium on large-scale pelagic fishing operations
until regulations are in place to ensure the sustainable use of our
pelagic marine resources.
Our country has a history of putting moratoriums in place when necessary
to ensure sustainable use of our natural resources where regulations
have been lacking. For example, applications for new captive dolphin
facilities...
Columns :
Letters to The Editor
Has the National Spelling Bee been politicized? - Feb 8, 2010 - 12:30:57 PM
Dear Editor,
It
is widely known in this country that I introduced the National Spelling
Bee to the school system of The Bahamas to select a student to
participate in the prestigious Scripps National Spelling Bee held
annually at the end of May in Washington D.C.
The
Washington Informer, the paper that I worked with in Washington, D.C.,
as news editor for twelve years, is the sponsor of the District of
Columbia Spelling Bee. After attending my first Scripps Bee in 1982, I
promised myself that whenever I returned to The Bahamas I would do
whatever I could to get The Bahamas involved in this competition. I
returned to The Bahamas permanently in 1996, and when I became editor
of The Nassau Guardian in 1997...
Columns :
Letters to The Editor
The Truth Behind Gambling in The Bahamas - Feb 5, 2010 - 8:19:36 AM
Dear Editor,
I listened to a talk show yesterday and the discussion was on gambling in the Bahamas: (casinos/casino resorts, numbers etc). I paid full attention and I said I will do a little investigation.
As
some of you know by now, I admitted that I used to gamble (via raffle
tickets for the Church, scratch and win giveaways, playing over and
under (craps) and/or throwing quarters in the cup at the carnival,
dropping my name in sweepstakes at fast food restaurants, gas stations,
furniture stores etc along with purchasing shares in the local or
foreign stock markets which are all forms of Gambling (Games of Chance)...
Columns :
Letters to The Editor
What can the Bahamas do about the Haitian's in our midst? - Feb 4, 2010 - 2:30:22 PM
Few
of us around today had any influence on public policy when Haitian's
started illegally migrating here for a better way of life, but the vast
majority of the middle class and above hire Haitian labourers, both
legal and illegal and this has been going on since I can remember.
This
so called "problem" with Haitian's has been mounting because our
founding fathers and forebears chose to ignore it, as we have done many
other things, like the Montague Ramp for example. And for the past
twenty years of our modern history we have also turned a blind eye.
Why do you think this is?
Columns :
Letters to The Editor
2 hour Peaceful Demonstration Protest to be held on February 3rd - Feb 1, 2010 - 12:52:51 PM
Dear Editor,
A good friend of mine Celi Moss sent me this email and it sparked a fire in my soul.
"The Bahamas film society is having a 2 hrs peaceful demonstration
protest against the ministry of tourism using Bahamian money to launch
the careers of foreign filmmakers, while denying Bahamian filmmakers
same and equal opportunity in our own country.
As you are aware, the music and the movies go together. Ultimately
the movies will be the vehicle to launch you, the Bahamian music artist
to the world, as it did with Bahamen via soundtracks etc..."
Columns :
Letters to The Editor
Massive Toyota Recall - Jan 26, 2010 - 9:19:16 PM
Dear Editor,
I
am very concerned about the safety of my friends, family and fellow
Bahamians. I am a Bahamian temporarily residing in the USA to further
my education. I watched the US news yesterday and they announced that
the automaker Toyota has issued a massive recall and also a suspension
of the production of 8 of their most popular models. This will no doubt
cost the Toyota motor company billions of dollars but it was necessary
due to the alarming amount of complaints and deaths that have occurred
due to this malfunction...
Columns :
Letters to The Editor
The Bahamas & Haitians. Contradictions abound - Jan 18, 2010 - 11:57:12 PM
Dear Editor,
There
has always been a love hate relationship between Bahamians and
Haitians. We love them when they do the physical labour we don't want
to do, but hate them when they start to aspire to do more for
themselves.
When we consider the reactions to the government
documenting and releasing 119 Haitians from the detention centre here
as a result of the earthquake devastation to Port au Prince, Haiti one
wonders how we can call ourselves a "Christian" nation...
Columns :
Letters to The Editor
Alison Ball on EIA for BEC Power Plant at Wilson City - Jan 14, 2010 - 9:15:24 AM
Dear Editor,
While perusing the EIA for the Wilson
City power plant, I came across yet another major cause for concern – as if
there weren’t enough already.
Near the beginning of the EIA we are
told, “…the site is located outside of the Marsh Harbour-Lake City Aquifer.” (P. 3-11).
This is would be good news if it were true, as this aquifer supplies all
the water for Marsh
Harbour and surrounding
communities. However, later on we are
told, “Cooling water extracted via boreholes is readily available at the
site. This cooling water will then be
discharged to the brine zone beneath the Marsh Harbour-Lake City Aquifer using
a new effluent discharge injection well...
Columns :
Letters to The Editor
Concerned Abaco Resident on EIA for BEC's Wilson City Power Plant - Jan 13, 2010 - 6:07:14 PM
Dear Editor:
A scientist who has done a
lot of work throughout the Bahamas
had this to say about the EIA for the Wilson City
BEC plant. I thought it was worth
sharing with those of us who didn’t get to read the EIA.
Thank you, Another
Concerned Abaco Resident
As a scientist who has long conducted research in The
Bahamas, I was recently afforded the opportunity to review the Environmental
Impact Assessment (EIA) for the Wilson City Bunker C plant. I feel so relieved after doing so. A couple of points I found reassuring...
Columns :
Letters to The Editor
The People of Turks and Caicos Have Become Pawns for Political Greed - Jan 5, 2010 - 11:58:36 AM
Dear Editor,
There is a crisis in the Caribbean, right under our noses. The
people of Turks and Caicos have been manipulated and have become pawns
for political greed. What has caused this political upheaval? Was it
the greed of the former Michael Misick cabinet and his PNP party in
power for 6 years that caused the problems facing the country today?
The UK and the opposition party in the islands would like the world to
think so. However, let's examine who let the people down now that the
dust has settled and the vision is clear.
Once The Hon. Dr.
Michael Misick resigned as Premier of Turks and Caicos following a
corruption scandal in March 2009 (which was manufactured many say),
Hon. Galmo Williams was voted and sworn in as the new Premier from the
same party, PNP.
Columns :
Letters to The Editor
Opposition to New BEC Power Plant at Wilson City - Jan 3, 2010 - 9:32:47 PM
Dear Editor,
I am writing in opposition to the Wilson City
Power Plant which is currently scheduled to use a toxic fuel known as Bunker C
in an extremely environmentally sensitive location. After attending the Sept. 10th 2009 town hall
meeting with other concerned residents of Abaco, my research about the location
and fuel choice has brought to light the distressing economic and environmental
impact this project will have on Abaco.
The more I learn about the location the more I
can’t understand how and why the decision was made. Having grown up near the Bight of Old
Robinson and often giving tours of the blue holes in the mangrove creeks...
Columns :
Letters to The Editor
Bahamas Tourism down but not out - Dec 13, 2009 - 4:55:21 PM
Dear Editor,
The sixteenth Annual World Travel Awards were held recently
in London and what was patently clear was that
the Bahamas was not the
hottest destination in the Caribbean, a lofty
position that we as Bahamians had all but taken for granted for far too long.
Jamaica
celebrated a “Sweet 16” by winning an
outstanding 16 awards. For the third consecutive year Jamaica was recognized as Leading Caribbean
Destination, World’s Leading Cruise Destination and Caribbean’s
Leading Cruise Destination. While questions are being asked in some
international quarters about whether it is truly “better in the Bahamas”, Jamaica
was honored for its “Once you go, you know” campaign, in a new category, Caribbean’s Leading Marketing Campaign...
Columns :
Letters to The Editor
The Glenn Beck of the Caribbean acts with UK to abolish Turks and Caicos' self government - Nov 30, 2009 - 2:14:23 PM
Dear Editor,
It is alarming to me that TCI Journal continues to
purport to speak for the "people" of Turks and Caicos in the Caribbean.
Why anyone would want to be associated with the weblog that choses
daily to malign Turks and Caicos and ruin the reputations of anyone in
its way, is beyond my comprehension. How can more than one person go
along with their acts?
The bottom line is that Turks and Caicos
has lost its right to self government and self determination because of
TCI Journal's accusations. Is that strange to anyone other than me?
What is behind TCI Journal's power and influence to orchestrate such a
feat...
Columns :
Letters to The Editor
Mr. Zhivargo Laing, The Bahamas Minister of Finance gets it wrong again - Nov 26, 2009 - 7:55:29 AM
Dear Editor,
Back on November 23, 2009
The Tribune Business quoted Mr. Laing regarding the Bahamas Governments recent debt issue of a $300 million sovereign bond.
The Minister of Finance is quoted as saying:
"Our level of foreign currency debt is less than 10 per cent of our GDP";
"There is no objective analyst in the world who would regard
this as problematic. The Bahamas stands as unique in that regard - that
low level of foreign currency indebtedness. Our indebtedness, as a
ratio of debt-to-GDP, remains a far cry from many in the developing
world."; and
"...Once this is done. [Foreign currency debt] will be of the order of $600 million..."
Columns :
Letters to The Editor
Miss Bahamas International Resignation - Amanda Appleyard - Nov 25, 2009 - 5:40:03 PM
Dear Editor,
Amanda Appleyard was 2nd Runner Up in the 2009 Miss Bahamas Universe Pageant.
After
the resignation of Miss Earth Bahamas 2009 Ife Bethel-Sears - A
non-finalist Krystal Brown became Miss Bahamas Earth after all the
finalist refused. Amanda continued as Miss Bahamas International. I
guess the organization felt with her coloring Miss International would
be more welcoming to a light skinned Miss Bahamas?
Columns :
Letters to The Editor
Medical Insurance in The Bahamas - Nov 10, 2009 - 5:54:27 PM
Some people believe
that there is a national dilemma facing our nation today. There are
agencies that currently make billions of dollars at the expense of
thousands of Bahamians that are dying every day and sadly most of these
deaths are preventable. This monster that feeds off of innocent
Bahamians is commonly referred to as medical insurance.
It is
so crafty and precise in its devices. It initially offers an illusion
of a safety net to its customers welcoming them to join its health
Insurance Plan. The unsuspecting client feels a false sense of
security. “Oh, I have a great Insurance Plan. My family and I are
covered for up to 1 million dollars if we ever become ill.” Then the
client or a family member unfortunately becomes ill and sadly discovers
that the Insurance Company...
Columns :
Letters to The Editor
Bahamas Government debates a "Free" Prescription Drug Scheme - Nov 1, 2009 - 2:19:04 PM
Well the FNM, not to be out done by the PLP, has taken the first step
toward socialised medicine.
We're told the comprehensive plan the PLP had proposed before they were
voted out of office in 2007 was found by all concerned to be far too ambitious,
and was bound to fail.
So the FNM is introducing socialised medicine, one step at a time.
Their first step is a free drug scheme that has been passed in the House of
Assembly and is now before the Senate for approval...
Columns :
Letters to The Editor
Support the Freeport Lions Club Candy Drive - Sep 24, 2009 - 7:35:44 AM
Dear Editor
As Chairman of the Freeport Lions Club candy sales committee let me first take this opportunity to thank the Grand Bahama
community for supporting our efforts over the many years. We
have arrived at that point in 2009 where our candies have arrived and
we are ready to commence sales. Like previous years we look forward
to a successful candy drive despite a small increase in the price. Originally
the candies were sold at $2.00 a bag however as a result of the increase
in cost this year; the candies are being sold at $3.00 a bag.
It is important to note that the Freeport
Lions Club is a non profit organization and the annual candy sales is
one of our major fundraisers where we utilize funds raised to
finance our programs throughout the Grand Bahama community. Sight conservation
is our main focus...
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