Posted by The Weekly Column You Can't Resist on May 23, 2001 at 09:06:21:
Found in its entirety at www.fredmitchelluncensored.com:
THE INHERITANCE BILLS
There is nothing more pressing in Bahamian society right now than the proposed Inheritance Bill. The Government plans to ram the Bill down
the throats of the Bahamian people, in the absence of the official Opposition from the House of Assembly. Everywhere you go in The
Bahamas people talk of nothing else. Everyone agrees that change must come. What they are not sure about, is what exactly ought to change.
They agree that the rule in a case of intestacy that the first son inherits all the land to the exclusion of all the other children and the widow is
wrong. After that there is not much else on which people agree. There is widespread opposition to the provision that will allow those who
have been living together for seven years or more to be able upon intestacy to claim a share in the other's estate. There is also opposition to
children born out of wedlock being able to petition the court to overreach the dispositions in the will of a father who does not leave provisions
for them. Then the debate disintegrates into tirades on immorality. Mr. Ingraham simply bit off more than he can chew on this one. He feels
that he has the majority and so what? On he goes. We like it. Let him continue to anger the public. We'll see whether it actually serves his
purposes or does not get him the boot when election time comes.
MYLES MUNROE ON THE INHERITANCE BILL
The Church has figured greatly in this debate. In this connection, the charismatic head of Bahamas Faith Ministries the Rev. Dr. Myles Munroe
had a lot to say about the bill when he appeared on the Jones Communications, Love 97 programme 'Issues of the Day'. First, Rev. Munroe
sought to set the record straight with regard to the consultation process in which the Prime Minister said he had engaged with church leaders.
You will remember a story in this column some weeks ago when we criticized the preachers for showing up like supplicants to the Prime
Minister. Mr. Ingraham later published the entirety of their remarks in the newspaper and rebroadcast them on the air. This, Mr. Ingraham said,
was consultation and he said that the church leaders agreed with him on the bill. Niki Kelly in her column of Tuesday 15 May in The Tribune
quoted Rev. Munroe as follows: "The meeting [of religious leaders] with the Prime Minister was not for discussion. We sat there. He gave us
information, gave us a chance to ask a couple of questions, then closed the meeting." According to Ms. Kelly, Rev. Munroe didn't want the
Prime Minister and his Cabinet "to use that meeting to somehow indicate or even try to imply that we agreed with the Bill because we met.
Nobody in that room agreed with anything." Ms. Kelly continued that what Pastor Munroe wanted was for the Government to call a meeting of
a cross-section of people in a closed room discussion, where questions could be put by both sides, and the Government listen to what people
had to say. Rev. Munroe said that he did not think that had happened. Nuff said.
NIKI KELLY PRAISES REV. MUNROE
Let me put my position on the Inheritance Bill. The Bahamas is in my view a secular state. It is not a theocracy. As such, the civil law of The
Bahamas must reflect the social situations that exist today. This means that the Inheritance Law ought to change; the law on divorce ought to
change; the law on sexual conduct ought to change, particularly as it relates to coitus between persons under the age of 16 and relations
between those under the age of 16 and those 16 and above but below the age of 21. But these issues also have a moral dimension to them.
Therefore, any politician ought to tread carefully when dealing with change in these areas. They court disaster if not managed advisedly. That
seems to be the position of Rev. Myles Munroe. Niki Kelly praised him in her column of Tuesday 15 May for having in her words "a gift for
interpreting Biblical scripture in practical terms that are relevant to modern society." According to Ms. Kelly, Rev. Munroe said that he
opposed the provision of a single man or a single woman cohabiting with one another and being able to claim the estate of the other without a
marital commitment. He urged the Government to move cautiously on trying to deal with the issue of illegitimate children. Some 70 per cent of
the births in the country are to those who are unmarried. Interestingly enough the PLP held a rally in the Fox Hill constituency on Monday 14
May. Speaking at the rally was Agatha Marcel, the PLP's candidate for the South Beach constituency. She said that even though she had a
child out of wedlock, she stood for certain principles. She believed in the sanctity of marriage and so she too opposed that provision in the
Bill. This columnist takes a more neutral approach. The practical situation is what do you do where such so-called "common law" marriages
exist. Should there not be some protection for individuals who find themselves in this position? That must be a concern for the civil law. The
morality is quite a different matter. And on that I have no desire to pronounce. We leave that to Rev. Munroe and those qualified to do so.
MISS BAHAMAS WINS MISS CONGENIALITY
The Miss Universe contest usually draws much attention from ladies of quality and high fashion in The
Bahamas. Just like the Miss Bahamas contest itself, those who like to dress and are fashion conscious
watch these things with an eagle eye. This senator found himself at one such gathering to celebrate the
79th birthday of Marjorie McKinney, the mother of Janet Davis (nee McKinney and wife of
businessman Derek Davis); Andrew McKinney of the Protocol section of the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs and Anthony McKinney of Paradise Fisheries. A comedienne named Hope Curry was the MC
for the evening and kept informing us about the latest goings on of the Miss Universe contest held in
Puerto Rico last Friday 11 May. Usually, this senator pays no attention to the thing because the
Bahamian woman never wins. It's all, political any way, and in order for us to win, we have to hire
someone with the expertise and clout to know how to win and coach the woman accordingly. The
closest that we came to a win was the beautiful Ava Burke, now Thompson, who won the contest's
Miss Photogenic Award one year. The country was ecstatic. So imagine our surprise when according to Hope, our woman won MISS
CONGENIASTITY, translation Miss Congeniality. The country is ecstatic. On Wednesday 16 May at Breezes, Hotel manager Jackson Weech
and Minister of Tourism Tommy Turnquest presented prizes to Nakera Simms, Miss Bahamas and Miss Congeniality. We think that beauty
contests are a bit of a cattle show and are really demeaning to women. But they are popular beyond measure. And one thing is that it has
helped with the social and financial mobility of many many women and their families. So if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Congratulations to Miss
Bahamas. The photo by The Tribune shows Miss Bahamas as she learns that she is Miss Congeniality.
BARCLAYS & CIBC SAY IT AIN'T SO
A story by Samantha Joseph writing in the business section of the Tribune Friday 18 May says that both Barclays Bank and CIBC in The
Bahamas have dismissed as speculation widespread rumours that the two banks will either enter a full merger or combine resources to offer
specialist offshore banking services. We reported about that possibility on this site. The Tribune story says that both companies limited their
comments with Barclays, in particular, failing to totally deny the speculation. We shall see.
PUBLIC MEETING IN FOX HILL
The Eastern Region Branches of the Progressive Liberal Party held a public rally on Freedom Park in the Fox Hill constituency on Monday 14
May. The star speaker was Leader of the Opposition Perry Christie. Mr. Christie delivered a scathing attack on Bahamasair. Mr. Christie
revealed that Bahamasair is paying Icelandic Airlines some $550,000 per month to wet-lease an aircraft for use on the Miami to Nassau run. The
contract expires at the end of the month. He also attacked Brent Symonette for trying to play the race card. Mr. Symonette accused the PLP of
being racist because he was attacked for his strange deal to lease out the running of the Nassau International Airport parking lot to a foreign
company. Bahama Journal photo.
NIGEL BOWE CLOSER TO HOME?
The Nassau Guardian reported on Tuesday 15 May that F. Nigel Bowe, the Bahamian whose sentence has been exhausted and is being held in
detention awaiting deportation, is about to come home at last. He was released from federal prison in the U.S. on 6 April. The Guardian spoke
to Missouri Sherman-Peter, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs who said that they had given leave to the Bahamian
consulate in New York to facilitate his return to The Bahamas by the issuance of appropriate documents to him. The Guardian said that this
was confirmed by the Immigration and Naturalization service in the United States. It's strange that once you are a free man, you can't actually
be free for over a month. This is a natural disgrace.
YOUNG TURKS BEATING THE FINANCIAL BUSH
Senator Darron Cash (FNM) continues to be an apologist for the Bahamas Government and the FNM of which he is a part. He and a number of
others announced that they were sponsoring a financial conference to reassure U.S. investors that The Bahamas was still a safe place to park
their money, even after Hubert Ingraham passed the bad pieces of financial legislation. Senator Cash told his audience, reported in The
Tribune Tuesday 14 May that while the Government had indeed passed some legislation that caused some concern in the market, he had the
impression that this legislation was being revisited and that suitable amendments would be made. One of the others involved in this
conference, Owen Bethel of Montagu Securities, told the group that he had the impression that once the Financial Action Task Force (FATF)
finished its work and okayed The Bahamas, then it would be time to look at changes. The Central Bank Governor Julian Francis went one better
than those apologies and said that The Bahamas had better learn that things have changed. He said nothing about reversing the situation.
His remarks were made at the official opening of Banker's Week at the Nassau Marriott on Monday 14 May. Of course, the Governor of the
Central Bank not being in private business has no idea what all of this foolishness is going to cost private industry. The insurance company
Family Guardian announced that the changes in the law are a major set back for their business. They told The Tribune that they are losing
business because of it and that their agents are complaining bitterly about it. Cecile Greene of Family Guardian said that the know your
customer rules have been onerous and in 95 per cent of the cases of fresh applications for insurance, the applications could not be accepted
because the customer had to be found again to complete more paper work. All we say is when these people go to the polls, they should
remember who caused them to lose income: Hubert Ingraham and the FNM. The report appeared on Tuesday 14 May.
SUN INTERNATIONAL BREAKS MORE GROUND
The latest at Paradise Island is that the Minister of Finance William Allen has broken ground with Sol Kerzner at Atlantis for its new
100 million-dollar condominium development. The news is that demand for condos is growing at light speed. The minimum and
pre-construction price for the condos is half a million dollars. Needless to say William Allen and the FNM think that this bodes well for the
economy and they see it as a sign of confidence in the FNM. But of course Sol Kerzner does not vote in The Bahamas and what we need to
know is not what is out of the pipeline but what is in the pipeline. Tribune photo.
MORE NEWS ON ZHIVARGO LAING
Niki Kelly, the journalist, in her column on Tuesday 15 May had some interesting words to say about Zhivargo Laing. She said
that The Bahamas has its own version of foot and mouth disease in the form of Zhivargo Laing, whom we call the Minister for
Uneconomic Development, when he denied allegations that the proposed Free Trade of the Americas (FTAA) called for the free
movement of labour. Mr. Laing said the following: "The FTAA agreement says: 'free movement of goods and services'. If it
wanted to say 'labour' it would have said so." Wrote Ms. Kelly: "In case the Minister isn't aware, services are performed by
people. This means that you cannot freely move the service without moving labour to perform it." Well you know, out of
respect for his mother, we say not more. However, this week the press reported Dr. Peter Maynard, President of the Bahamas Bar
Association, described Minister Laing as "out of his depth" when it came to the FTAA.
AMOS FERGUSON, THE ARTIST
The Tribune Monday 14 May carried a giant picture of Vincent D'Aguilar with Amos Ferguson, the Bahamian
intuitive artist, whose paintings with house paint fetch thousands of dollars around the world. Sandra de
Friesching who does a column called 'Close Encounters' spoke to Amos Ferguson who is now 81 years old. He
still continues to paint. His muse Bea, the devoted wife, has now passed on to glory. Mr. Ferguson, of course,
comes from a generation that has a view about Black Bahamians that it is negative, but quaint. It was interesting to
see it in print and he said what many young Bahamians still think today: "Bahamas [Bahamians] get me mad
sometimes. Spend all day looking at the painting make me tired. They's take the painting and not pay. So many
people have let me down, you know. I don't think my art is expensive... everything has gone up in life and I's don't
deal or bargain. I am known all over the world, but the Bahamian people don't buy my work. I was told in dreams
that white folk would bring me luck, but my colour would bring me hard luck. Only few Bahamians have brought
my work over the years… they speak well of me, but they don't support me." Things that make you go: hmmm!
TALENTED TEEN FOUNDER DIES
Cindy Thompson, founder of the Miss Talented Teen Bahamas contest has died of breast cancer. She had been ill for about a year. She was
buried after services at St. Francis Xavier's Roman Catholic Cathedral on Friday 18 May. Ms. Thompson leaves two children, one ten and one
six. She was to have been the maid of honour for Richa Sands who is to be married to the traditional King of Togo later this year. May she rest
in peace.
MARITIME AUTHORITY SCHOLARSHIP
The Bahamas Maritime Authority ran an ad in The Tribune Tuesday 14 May. They are looking to award a scholarship to a young Bahamian
seeking to engage in the maritime field. It is for a full four-year programme that will lead to a Bachelors Degree in the maritime discipline, tenable
at the California Maritime Academy commencing August 2001. The scholarship, sponsored by the Bahamas Ship Owners' Association, will
provide the successful applicant with tuition, course material, accommodations and airfare. The applicant must possess a minimum of five
BGCSE passes of grade C or better, including English Language and Mathematics. They must have an aggregate of 1000 on the SAT exam.
The person is expected to return to The Bahamas and attain the highest professional qualification. Contact the Ministry of Education, Nassau
for further details. Proof of citizenship is required, originals of academic certificates. Application closing deadline: 25 May 2001.
NEWS FROM GRAND BAHAMA
Freedom Fighters? - Our friends John Bain, Kelly Burrows and Max Quant were named FNM 'Freedom Fighters' at a party 'Heroes' banquet this
past Friday 18 May in Nassau. It was at this same banquet that the Prime Minister spoke of the difference between dissent and disloyalty. The
talk by Mr. Ingraham was widely perceived as a thinly veiled threat, translation for the dissidents: stop fooling around or face being completely
purged. As for the 'Freedom Fighters', Max Quant and John Bain are said to have been significant financial contributors to the party, but some
in the Grand Bahama political community say that Kelly Burrows' award was a shocker because, according to one of his political friends "Kelly
is a pacifist about everything except Kelly". The 'Freedom Fighter' accolade is said to be payment for delivery as a mover and shaker on the
Sylvia Scriven committee to ask the Prime Minister to remain in office as party leader. Hmmm! News From Grand Bahama was told that former
FNM Vice-Chairman 'Iron' Mike Edwards was also offered the honour but did not respond. Hmmm, hmmm!
Battling Vietnamese At Resorts at Bahamia - Last week, we reported that the Driftwood group's Resorts at Bahamia had brought in a group of
Koreans over Bahamians as cheap labour for the hotel's renovation. We we wrong, the cheap labour is Vietnamese and this week they staged
vicious pitched battles with each other on hotel property. The genesis of the disagreement was unclear, but when the dust cleared half of the
group of about twenty had been put on a plane for home, expelled by their employers. One of the departing Vietnamese muttered something in
his native tongue which was translated for News From Grand Bahama as "I'm not a dog. Don't treat me like a dog."?
Watson Questions Remain - Incensed by the fact that Deputy Prime Minister Frank Watson is being quoted in the newspapers about who is
best to lead the country, one FNM naysayer insisted to News From Grand Bahama that Mr. Watson should first tell all about Bahamasair's
mission $135,000. "He is leading this whole cooked up thing to help Hubert to break his word to the Bahamian people. We should tell this
Minister of Insecurity is the last one to talk about who is best for what. We still don't know what happened in all those breakouts from the
prison. His judgement was bad then, his judgement was bad at Bahamasair and it's bad on who should be the leader of the party." He says it all.
Who Died? - On regular observer at the Grand Bahama FNM's Sunday morning breakfast 20 May at Geneva's restaurant said it was as if
someone had died. This one refused to sit with that one, no one laughed and everyone watched their words carefully. C.A. Smith, Minister and
FNM Pineridge MP was asked whether he checked with his constituents before voting to give the Prime Minister free reign to break his word
on a third term. "The good thing about democracy," C.A. is reported to have said, "is that they could come and tell me if they wish."
David & The Conveyor - Also at breakfast in Geneva's was West End & Bimini FNM MP David Wallace who once (briefly) stood firmly against
the project to build a conveyor belt for aggregate rock over the main road into his constituency. Wallace said that he had toured the rock
facility and reported that an alternative road is well on the way to being finished. He claimed to be "too busy raising money for the campaign"
to say more. This seems to suggest that until an alternative route for motorists can be constructed, the conveyor belt project is dead. We shall
watch closely.
Fallout From 3rd Term Vote - Neko Grant, FNM MP for Lucaya, until recently enjoyed a certain support from wide cross sections of people.
His yes vote to keep Hubert Ingraham on seems to have endangered that. One long-time Neko supporter told News From Grand Bahama
"Neko should be shame, he don't have to live off the Treasury, so why go along with what he doesn't believe?... I don't buy that 'most people
wanted it. He should be reminded that two thousand years ago most people said 'Give us Barabbas". Another FNM informant maintains about
Minister Algernon Allen's support for a third Ingraham term that "Hubert must have a dossier on Bulgie, because we all know how he feels,
and a third term for the Prime Minister is not it."