My personal reflections on the BAIC scandal
Here is a brief submission from myself in regards to the actions of Sidney Stubbs in the whole mess. Mr. E. Watkins a retired old man is been is paid over $70,000.00 a year for nothing he has no scientific, educational background in the area. And young Bahamians are denied opportunities because of him. He should be ashamed of himself.
Tori A. Ferguson a young Bahamian professional who was at BAIC was officially being dismissed as General Manager of the Bahamas Agricultural and Industrial Corporation (BAIC). According to a well-placed source at that bewildered corporation, Mr. Benjamin Rahming, “consultant” is the man now in charge of BAIC.
You will no doubt recall that one of his first acts as Executive Chairman of the Bahamas Agricultural and Industrial Corporation, Sidney Stubbs (the now bankrupt former PLP MP for Holy Cross) victimised seven persons at the Corporation whom he considered members or supporters of the Free National Movement. The Corporation's General Manager, Mr. Geoffrey Stuart, was amongst that number, and Mr. Ferguson became General Manager.
Shortly after Mr. Ferguson become General Manager a litany of allegations were levied against Executives of BAIC: the Korean Boat Scandal; the $51, 000.00 to China and the far east by Sidney Stubbs, Godfrey Eneas and his wife Sandra, and Earlin Williams; the misuse of BAIC Corporate Credit Card by Executives by BAIC; the political influencing peddling by PLP Senator Philip Galanis; the victimisation of FNM supporters by Sidney Stubbs and Godfrey Eneas; and not least among the scandals is the charge by South Andros Independent MP Whitney Bastian that "Irregular carnal lust and delights" were eating up public funds at BAIC.
Months ago, this column reported that the Commercial Crime Department of the Royal Bahamas Police Force has been summoned at that institution and was investigating some $300,000.00 that allegedly went "south of the border"
Sources say that an external audit by Deloitte and Touché on the books of BAIC has discovered that more than one quarter of a million dollars is unaccounted for. The audit is for the almost eighteen months that disgraced and bankrupt former PLP Holy Cross Member of Parliament, Sidney McArthur Stubbs served as Executive Chairman of the Corporation.
The opposition and independent Members of Parliament must raise questions pertaining to BAIC in the House of Assembly, and PM Christie promised faithfully that once the external audit was completed, he would apprise the Bahamian people of the findings. To date we have not heard boo from Mr. Christie. What the hell is he waiting on?
The role of the Opposition and the role of the media in a democracy cannot be overstated. The Free National Movement will continue to raise these issues, but there need to be “follow-ups” from the electronic or print media which is crucial for the full story to be told. There needs to be ongoing analysis, independent or otherwise and there also need to be more investigative journalism in this country by the mainstream media, The Punch and The Source should not be taking the lead in this regards.
Finally, I personally, had hopes for Mr Ferguson. In my mind he was a bright and upcoming professional, but was being used to advance the wicked actions of his political masters, (Perry Christie and Leslie Miller) who is using BAIC a public corporation in a criminal way by terminating the services of Bahamians for no other reason then political victimisation.

That's all well & good,but I personally have no sympathy for political appointees.My take on it, You got your job thru politricks you lost your job thru politricks,so whats the big issue? :dgi:

It's been 3 days since Mr. Stuart dropped his press release on us and he hasn't spoken since. Delroy might as well just drop it in the "Bahamas News" area than in a discussion forum.

It's been 3 days since Mr. Stuart dropped his press release on us and he hasn't spoken since. Delroy might as well just drop it in the "Bahamas News" area than in a discussion forum.
Lol! You still roughing up these one post wonders.

An Open Letter to Mr. Keod Smith from his Haitian Cousin correcting the record.
Thursday, November 24, 2005
Mr. Keod Smith, MP
“You are not who you say that you are”.
My previous name was Limens Louis, I am now John Lewis. I am Haitian and so are you. We are of one family.
I understand completely how you feel now that you have been found out to have your ancestors changed your name to hide that fact that you are of Haitian heritage.
Please stand up for yourself so that I can be proud to be Haitian as well. What are you afraid of? I know your great grand mother and she came here on the same boat as me. Your great grand mother and I are brothers and sisters. It was a hard journey and now you have arrived.
You and I are distant relatives.
You have plenty family in the Bahamas now. I do not think that any live in Mt. Moriah, but we can help you campaign in Creole.
But your past is now coming back to hunt you. Be careful, Haitians would stand behind you.
Next time the house meets bring your birth certificate, cause I am going to give the original documents of my family to Mr. Ingraham soon.
John Lewis

Bey, you'll does post some fart though...I think you wrong for this, even though it was funny...

It's been 3 days since Mr. Stuart dropped his press release on us and he hasn't spoken since. Delroy might as well just drop it in the "Bahamas News" area than in a discussion forum.

Don't worry, he reading...he just ain't saying nothing as yet...
He playing politricks...hoping we forget and that it will blow over.

Don't worry, he reading...he just ain't saying nothing as yet...
He playing politricks...hoping we forget and that it will blow over.


Project this attitude forward...

If he doesn't want to participate or respond in the timeframe the other members want him to, what does that say about the way he'll run a government?

Project this attitude forward...
If he doesn't want to participate or respond in the timeframe the other members want him to, what does that say about the way he'll run a government?
The same way that the others did,"servant of the people till I get in power & try to maintain for ten years so I can get my life time pension".What you think any of these politicans is statesmen aye,I'm sorry to say that the last died when LO did & at that time he was only a shadow of his former self,being corrupted by power.

Good Points! but would their ever be a third party to be the next government at the present ah! maybe in the future. :bouncy: :friday:

Good Points! but would their ever be a third party to be the next government at the present ah! maybe in the future. :bouncy: :friday:

They certainly aren't presenting themselves well, that's for sure. How can any potential 3rd party consider themselves as contenders unless they have a grass roots following. A 3rd party has to offer something different - inclusion. Include the legal voters in your decisions by promising to do more town hall meetings regularly. Get an actual feel for what people want or need. Engage in dialogue with people about political ethics, morality, forgien policy, budgetary matters, and a host of other topics. By far, the cheapest and easiest way to do that is through the internet. Lo and behold, here it is ready made with 2000+ members and more joining everyday!

Don't worry, he reading...he just ain't saying nothing as yet...
He playing politricks...hoping we forget and that it will blow over.

Somehow I resent feeling like a lab rat or a human experiment. Is he watching now? :biggie:

It's bull:wipe: if you ask me...

Good Points! but would their ever be a third party to be the next government at the present ah! maybe in the future. :bouncy: :friday:

Only if you vote for them....your vote makes the difference!

Perry’s Big, Bad Convention Flop
It is now clear that Prime Minister Christie is suffering from a huge Messiah complex.
Only a megalomaniac could have agreed to the ludicrous introductory video played on Friday night to PLP conventioneers packed into an over-crowded Ballroom awaiting his arrival to give his key note address.
If this was his attempt to copy US television "Up Close and Personal" footage of sports personalities and political candidates he missed the mark by a mile.
Indeed, his entire performance at the convention showed a man uncomfortable in his skin. He was in turn an egotistical, self-absorbed man, some kind of born-again personality, a political leader frightened by the shadow of his predecessor, and a shouter, convinced that if he shouted loudly enough someone would believe at least some of his half-truths.
Yes, the half-truths and exaggerations that he presented as the list of his accomplishments after three and a half years in office.
He would have done better to begin to respond to the still unanswered questions raised about his leadership inadequacies by Member for North Eleuthera, Alvin Smith, in his address to the FNM convention a week ago.
As the PLP Leader's video presentation progressed, it became increasingly difficult to distinguish between two Perry Christies.
One of them seemed like the wealthy and privileged Perry Christie seen, on video, recuperating from a stroke suffered earlier in the year, exercising and training a la "Rocky Balboa" at his lavish Cable Beach digs, outfitted with a top quality home-gym and secluded pool.
The second Perry Christie was the one who claims to represent the common man and who in his convention address claimed to lead a Party of "the needy, not the greedy".
Mr. Christie's personal "needs" certainly look "greedy" to some of us, notwithstanding his staged expression of sympathy to citizen victims of hurricanes conveniently captured on tape for replay at a political convention.
Still for all his illusions (or delusions) of grandeur, the Prime Minister seems incapable of escaping the shadow of the considerably more humble former Prime Minister, Hubert Ingraham.
The PLP Leader entered his convention wearing a yellow tie only slightly more bright than that worn by Mr. Ingraham a week before when he addressed the FNM convention. And, the PLP Leader entered the hall to the strains of recorded and choir sung church hymns much as Mr. Ingraham had entered his convention to the strains of "To God Be the Glory".
Having his convention scheduled to follow the FNM convention, the PLP leader had the opportunity to be different. He proved that he was not up to the challenge and played it safe following Hubert's style. And then he spent fifteen minutes speaking about and to the FNM Leader.
Seems that Mr. Ingraham is looming uncomfortably large on Prime Minister Christie's mind and on his horizons.
PLP convention planners, too, appeared to be a little "off their mark" as well, especially as the week of PLP convention came to a close.
They needed something to soften the hard direct blows to the PLP landed at the FNM convention, including the double whammy, firstly, of Mr. Ingraham's surprise return to FNM leadership, and secondly, the public declaration - made from the podium at the FNM convention - by former PLP Senator Eddison Key of his support for the FNM's return to office in the next election.
And so the PLP Leader and Party Chairman led the charge to entice B. J. Nottage, old school chum of the Leader, to return to the PLP fold during the Party's convention. This it was hoped would provide some cover for the PLP.
They succeeded in getting Dr. Nottage to return, though what has been promised him is still a highly-guarded secret. However, Dr. Nottage's appearance may not have gone down as well as the PLP had hoped for.
Firstly, Dr. Nottage said that he was back and ready and willing to work hard to bring "focus and discipline" to the PLP Government, which presumably he, like the FNM, believes has been unfocussed and undisciplined.
Secondly, sources suggest that a goodly number of PLP Cabinet Ministers do not welcome Nottage's return, since he immediately becomes competition for the position they themselves seek - that is, post-Christie Leadership of the PLP.
Thirdly, ZNS and Cable Bahamas television viewers of the convention could not avoid noticing that the great exuberance extended by conventioneers to Dr. B.J. Nottage on Thursday night was simply not there for the Prime Minister on Friday night.
The impact was simply not there, and that was notwithstanding the fact that the call had gone out and the planners had made certain that convention hall was far more crowded with the PLP faithful to view the physical fitness video of the PLP Leader on Friday night.
Finally, the PLP convention strategy blew up in the face of Party Chairman, Rigby when his repeated promises to the media that one and possibly more than one other senior political figure from political opposition camps would return to, or join the PLP at the convention fizzled.
The hype was all for naught - whoever was (or were) expected to appear turned out to be no-shows!
In his address to the convention, the PLP Leader was loud in his promise to send Mr. Ingraham back into retirement (after having last week declared Ingraham to have been previously buried but still in need of political cremation).
Perhaps it is the PLP Leader's early retirement which had him looking so worried and preoccupied that he forgot to smile at his assembled conventioneers on Friday night. The conventioneers returned him the favour, hardly giving him the rousing applause he sought at his entrance nor at the conclusion of his hour-plus long angry presentation.
Indeed, the ballroom emptied quickly following his address, as the PLP Leader tried to assemble his motley crew of Cabinet Ministers for post-convention photos.

YAWNS! :board2:

Can someone please tell Cassius that all of the big dogs once followed before they became leaders,as a young man myself we can never get respect if we take his approch,he has some good points but going about it in the wrong manner,I agree that we should show the country that we can walk and allow others to follow.I hope one day he get it, we all feel the same way my brother but we must go about it the right way.

It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to the Leadership of the Free National Movement. Many of us in the FNM who have always maintained an especially high regard for you now welcome your election, which has just taken place as an historic milestone for our party and thus the Bahamas as a whole.

I wish you good luck in the battle ahead.

I gotta ask, but Are we the only country in the Western Hemisphere that do not have televised debates by Party/ Government leaders; or even candidates of specific areas. Some forum where questions covering all aspects and sectors of the specific area or the greater society? I think its amazing that we allow much rhetoric that is quoted by these MP's during their conventions. A great sence of accountability to me would be to put that person/ people on TV and let them intellectually debate issues with clear and concise facts and action plans. I ein know, It makes sence to me!