Cimate change has emerged as a major issue for the small island economies of the Caribbean. It has two principal dimensions:
1.Climate change will impact Caribbean States enviromentally
2. Climate change will also have grave implications economically
These two dimensions can drastically alter life in the Caribbean.
Saturday, December 8, 2007
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
What Motivates Bahamian Politicans?
Eneas Files:GodfreyEneas
(printed in the Bahama Journal Aug 30,2007)
When one reviews those who comprise our Parliament, one has to ask the question ‘What drives an individual to seek public office?’ You may say that this question should have been raised several weeks or months ago and maybe, at this juncture, the question is irrelevant. The fact remains that the question should be answered or addressed. There is also the view that representation should always be questioned, be it the motivation, the quality, the gender whatever the aspect there is room for questioning.
The Bahamas has passed through various kinds of representation since 1729 when it began parliamentary democracy, some 278 years ago. Party politics is a relatively recent phenomenon in The Bahamas as it commenced during the 50s. Prior to that period, the Bahamian electorate was represented in Parliament (House of Assembly) by the individual representative. This political organism had no allegiance to a party or grouping. During this era, the representative was responsible to the people who elected him, hence his commitment to his constituency.
My first recollection of a general election was around 1949. Many of representatives in that genre have, over the years, become political icons or national heroes. Generally, they were men of outstanding capability, were connected to the people and were cognizant of the aspirations of the voters whom they served. They had to be perspective politically to survive in the elective environment of the day. Their survival was possible because they espoused a type of personal representation which was expected in a fishing village –type community during the pre and the early post World War 11 years.
It is this political climate which created men like Sir Milo B. Butler. Sir Roland Symonette, Dr. Claudius R. Walker, Mr. Walton Young and Mr. Stephen Dillette, Sir Etienne Dupuch, Sir George Roberts, Mr. Bert Cambridge and Mr. S. C. Mc Pherson.
When party politics emerged , a new political animal was born. During the 50s and 60s,political aspirations were tied to bringing about change and it was this factor which motivated the likes of Sir Lynden Pindling, Sir Randol Fawkes. Mr. Arthur D. Hanna , Mr. Paul Adderley , Sir Cecil Wallace-Whitfield and Mr. Carlton Francis. Their objective was to change the status quo across the board-politically, socially and economically. This was their motivation.
Out of this motivation came the policy framework for the institutions which would become the nation building foundation for the New Bahamas.There is no doubt in my mind that Mr. Francis would have been one of the prime movers to make secondary education free. As a leading educator in the public education system ,he taught in the system and headed the Teachers Training College, the forerunner to the College of The Bahamas. He was a qualified educator and understood the educational needs of a people striving to advance in a post colonial world.
The late Mr. Livingston Coakley, a former Member of Parliament for GeorgeTown, Exuma, pushed for the establishment of a secondary school in Exuma because he said he did not want Exumians to go through the travails he had to undergo to obtain a secondary education.His travils included leaving Exuma to come to Nassau for a secondary education.
The individuals in this group had this kind of background so politics had a different meaning for these men.These are some of the distinguishing factors which seperated them from the crop of today’s politicans.Party loyalty was not as deep because the individual representative tradition was still alive and kicking in these hence the actions of men like Fawkes, Whitfield and others.
The politicans of today are of a different elk. The politican today is motivated by party loyalty.It is this scenario which has dictated the relationship between the constituent and the Member of Parliament.The political scene has now swung to the point where the party determines motivation.
(printed in the Bahama Journal Aug 30,2007)
When one reviews those who comprise our Parliament, one has to ask the question ‘What drives an individual to seek public office?’ You may say that this question should have been raised several weeks or months ago and maybe, at this juncture, the question is irrelevant. The fact remains that the question should be answered or addressed. There is also the view that representation should always be questioned, be it the motivation, the quality, the gender whatever the aspect there is room for questioning.
The Bahamas has passed through various kinds of representation since 1729 when it began parliamentary democracy, some 278 years ago. Party politics is a relatively recent phenomenon in The Bahamas as it commenced during the 50s. Prior to that period, the Bahamian electorate was represented in Parliament (House of Assembly) by the individual representative. This political organism had no allegiance to a party or grouping. During this era, the representative was responsible to the people who elected him, hence his commitment to his constituency.
My first recollection of a general election was around 1949. Many of representatives in that genre have, over the years, become political icons or national heroes. Generally, they were men of outstanding capability, were connected to the people and were cognizant of the aspirations of the voters whom they served. They had to be perspective politically to survive in the elective environment of the day. Their survival was possible because they espoused a type of personal representation which was expected in a fishing village –type community during the pre and the early post World War 11 years.
It is this political climate which created men like Sir Milo B. Butler. Sir Roland Symonette, Dr. Claudius R. Walker, Mr. Walton Young and Mr. Stephen Dillette, Sir Etienne Dupuch, Sir George Roberts, Mr. Bert Cambridge and Mr. S. C. Mc Pherson.
When party politics emerged , a new political animal was born. During the 50s and 60s,political aspirations were tied to bringing about change and it was this factor which motivated the likes of Sir Lynden Pindling, Sir Randol Fawkes. Mr. Arthur D. Hanna , Mr. Paul Adderley , Sir Cecil Wallace-Whitfield and Mr. Carlton Francis. Their objective was to change the status quo across the board-politically, socially and economically. This was their motivation.
Out of this motivation came the policy framework for the institutions which would become the nation building foundation for the New Bahamas.There is no doubt in my mind that Mr. Francis would have been one of the prime movers to make secondary education free. As a leading educator in the public education system ,he taught in the system and headed the Teachers Training College, the forerunner to the College of The Bahamas. He was a qualified educator and understood the educational needs of a people striving to advance in a post colonial world.
The late Mr. Livingston Coakley, a former Member of Parliament for GeorgeTown, Exuma, pushed for the establishment of a secondary school in Exuma because he said he did not want Exumians to go through the travails he had to undergo to obtain a secondary education.His travils included leaving Exuma to come to Nassau for a secondary education.
The individuals in this group had this kind of background so politics had a different meaning for these men.These are some of the distinguishing factors which seperated them from the crop of today’s politicans.Party loyalty was not as deep because the individual representative tradition was still alive and kicking in these hence the actions of men like Fawkes, Whitfield and others.
The politicans of today are of a different elk. The politican today is motivated by party loyalty.It is this scenario which has dictated the relationship between the constituent and the Member of Parliament.The political scene has now swung to the point where the party determines motivation.
The Last Frontier
THE ENEAS FILES BY Godfrey Eneas
(printed in the Bahama Journal on Oct 19, 2007)
During this past week, the JCN-TV14 programme, The Platform, highlighted the Mayaguana, Inagua, Crooked Island, Acklins and Long Cay(MICAL) consistuency during an interview with its representative , Mr. V. Alfred Gray, M.P.
Located in the southeastern Bahamas, MICAL is the poorest region in our country. It is conceivable that the per capita income is well below the national average of $21,000 per annum.Te low per capita income is probably the reason for the negative change in population .In Crooked Island, Acklins and Mayaguana, the annual population change based on the 2000 census figures,varied between -1.28 to -2.21. In Inagua, there was only a slight difference of 0.25 % annual change.With a total population of about 2000, there is a general decline in the number of residents on these islands where 50% live on Inagua.
Each island in the constituecy has an economy which varies fron island to island. Mayaguana is trying to build a tourism type economy; however, its economy has been based on farming, fishing,national insurance payments, government work via Local Government projects and remittances from families living and working in other parts of The Bahamas. Apart from Inaguana which has an economy built on salt production, Crooked Island,Acklins and Long Cay function like Mayaguana but with marginal tourism.
In 2002, there were 58 hotels rooms at Crooked Island’s Pittstown Point,17 rooms in Inagua and 25 in Mayaguana; none in Acklins.In all of MICAL, there are less than 100 rooms.All of these islands have airports but no port facilities to accommodate cruise ships or marinas for yachts.
In addition to the limitations of sustainable economic activites, the MICAL locale is the most vulnerable area of our country for the undetected entry of illegal immigrants from Haiti, the Dominican Republic and Cuba. Also, its fishing grounds on Bahama Banks have been exploited by poachers from the Dominican Republic as well as fishermen from as far south as Hondouras.Likewise, it is transshipment route for drugs from Jamaica and Columbia.
Despite the present state of affairs , there is potential for sustainable economic growth and development. Tourism is not the only solution.The islands of the MICAL constituency are uniquely located and this has given them a special place in the historical development of The Bahamas.
Inagua is the most southernly island of The Bahamas.It has a one crop economy-salt. Salt has raked or harvested for hundreds of years. Over the years , it has been the single commodity which has been responsible for full employment on tha island.This may be coming to an end ; climate change is negatively impacting salt production. Low yields have forced new financial considerations like downsizing at Morton Salt.This is anew reality for the people of Inagua.Where is Inagua economic future?
One possibilty is George Lockwood’s Ocean Farms Aquaculture project.The other possibility is to exploit the ecotourism potential which Inagua has at its National Park where one of the world’s largest flock of flamingoes are found.In conjunction with these two possibilities, there is Inagua’s proximity to Haiti, Cuba, Dominican Republic, the Turks and Caicos Islands and its gateway position to the Southern Caribbean and South America. It is this proximity which has the capacity for Inagua to become a Free Trade Zone thereby taking advantage of the fact that it is a tri-lingual zone of Spanish (Cuba and the Dominican Republic), French(Haiti) and , of course, English.It would be in a position to attract and facilitate trade through manufacturing and assemblying a range of items for various types of industrial and technological activities. One of the components of Free Trade Zone is access to low cost labour. Haiti can provide that component; the challenge is to manage that requirement. It may be able to do that aspect into Inagua better or more efficiently than to other parts of The Bahamas.
Prior to the Hawksbill Creek Act, there was no Freeport and the population of Grand Bahama was around 4,000 people.In 25 years , it had climbed to about 30,000.The Hawksbill Greek Agreement transformed Grand Bahama.A similar approach can change the twin islands of Acklins and Crooked Island.
A distance of less than a mile seperates the southern point of Crooked Island from northern Acklins.A bridge connecting these twin islands would create a land mass of 276 square miles(Acklins 192 sq. miles and Crooked Island 84sq. miles) with a population of 778 residents(Acklins 428 and Crooked Island 350 based on the 2000 census.Further, the Bight of Acklins could be dredged to provide a sheltered , deep water harbour which could bring into existence new port to faciltate cruise ships, freigthers and yachts eventually establishing a transshipment terminal in the southeastern Bahamas.With a deepend harbour and modern port, the beaches around Albert Town , Long Cay would enhance that Cay’s tourism potential.
Both islands have outstanding agribusiness development possibilities. Landrail Point, Crooked Island is prime fruit tree production locale and is one of the few locations where commercial citrus production can be undertaken. Acklins ,on the other hand, is one of the few places in the world with commercial quantities of Cascarilla Bark from which oils can be extracted in addition to it being a component of Campari.
With a main road running from Landrail Point in northern Crooked Island to Salina Point in southern Acklins, the government would be in a better position to provide services on a cost effective basis to a connected set of islands rather than to two seperated islands.
Once the infrastruture of a bridge to connect the two islands and a new port with a deep water harbour which would be accessible to cruise ships, yachts, ocean and cargo freighters,the foundation for economic take-off would have been established.
New Providence is approaching over development.The Northern Bahamas with Grand Bahama leading the way , Abaco following close behind and Andros as the sleeping giant, this region of the archipelago is well situated for sustainable economic development.Its close proximity to the United States has afforded it developmental advantages for a number of economic activities.The central Bahamas has seen major tourism related anchor projects on Eleuthera and Exuma and its Cays. Long Island has experienced a surge of its native sons and daughters returning home either to resettle or construct second homes.Long Islanders have fueled substantial investment to that island.Investment proposals have been earmarked for Cat Island and Rum Cay. San Salvador has Club Med.The islands of MICAL are the Last Frontier.
The Islands of MICAL as a region of our archipelago have to cease being perceived as the backdoor of The Bahamas. In many respects ,the MICAL islands are either the front door or entry point for many of the challenges i.e. illegal immigrants, drug trafficking,poaching of our marine resources,population decline, povety alleviation, facing The Bahamas.An elightened economic development vision would positvely impact these challenges.These islands and their development are critical to the national security of The Bahamas. This is our Last Frontier.
The southeastern Bahamas has been a product of underdevelopment and a victim of ineffectual planning. The Bahamas has suffered from a laizze faire approach to development planning as the country has held hostage by the foreign investor who has dictated the tempo of development.
(printed in the Bahama Journal on Oct 19, 2007)
During this past week, the JCN-TV14 programme, The Platform, highlighted the Mayaguana, Inagua, Crooked Island, Acklins and Long Cay(MICAL) consistuency during an interview with its representative , Mr. V. Alfred Gray, M.P.
Located in the southeastern Bahamas, MICAL is the poorest region in our country. It is conceivable that the per capita income is well below the national average of $21,000 per annum.Te low per capita income is probably the reason for the negative change in population .In Crooked Island, Acklins and Mayaguana, the annual population change based on the 2000 census figures,varied between -1.28 to -2.21. In Inagua, there was only a slight difference of 0.25 % annual change.With a total population of about 2000, there is a general decline in the number of residents on these islands where 50% live on Inagua.
Each island in the constituecy has an economy which varies fron island to island. Mayaguana is trying to build a tourism type economy; however, its economy has been based on farming, fishing,national insurance payments, government work via Local Government projects and remittances from families living and working in other parts of The Bahamas. Apart from Inaguana which has an economy built on salt production, Crooked Island,Acklins and Long Cay function like Mayaguana but with marginal tourism.
In 2002, there were 58 hotels rooms at Crooked Island’s Pittstown Point,17 rooms in Inagua and 25 in Mayaguana; none in Acklins.In all of MICAL, there are less than 100 rooms.All of these islands have airports but no port facilities to accommodate cruise ships or marinas for yachts.
In addition to the limitations of sustainable economic activites, the MICAL locale is the most vulnerable area of our country for the undetected entry of illegal immigrants from Haiti, the Dominican Republic and Cuba. Also, its fishing grounds on Bahama Banks have been exploited by poachers from the Dominican Republic as well as fishermen from as far south as Hondouras.Likewise, it is transshipment route for drugs from Jamaica and Columbia.
Despite the present state of affairs , there is potential for sustainable economic growth and development. Tourism is not the only solution.The islands of the MICAL constituency are uniquely located and this has given them a special place in the historical development of The Bahamas.
Inagua is the most southernly island of The Bahamas.It has a one crop economy-salt. Salt has raked or harvested for hundreds of years. Over the years , it has been the single commodity which has been responsible for full employment on tha island.This may be coming to an end ; climate change is negatively impacting salt production. Low yields have forced new financial considerations like downsizing at Morton Salt.This is anew reality for the people of Inagua.Where is Inagua economic future?
One possibilty is George Lockwood’s Ocean Farms Aquaculture project.The other possibility is to exploit the ecotourism potential which Inagua has at its National Park where one of the world’s largest flock of flamingoes are found.In conjunction with these two possibilities, there is Inagua’s proximity to Haiti, Cuba, Dominican Republic, the Turks and Caicos Islands and its gateway position to the Southern Caribbean and South America. It is this proximity which has the capacity for Inagua to become a Free Trade Zone thereby taking advantage of the fact that it is a tri-lingual zone of Spanish (Cuba and the Dominican Republic), French(Haiti) and , of course, English.It would be in a position to attract and facilitate trade through manufacturing and assemblying a range of items for various types of industrial and technological activities. One of the components of Free Trade Zone is access to low cost labour. Haiti can provide that component; the challenge is to manage that requirement. It may be able to do that aspect into Inagua better or more efficiently than to other parts of The Bahamas.
Prior to the Hawksbill Creek Act, there was no Freeport and the population of Grand Bahama was around 4,000 people.In 25 years , it had climbed to about 30,000.The Hawksbill Greek Agreement transformed Grand Bahama.A similar approach can change the twin islands of Acklins and Crooked Island.
A distance of less than a mile seperates the southern point of Crooked Island from northern Acklins.A bridge connecting these twin islands would create a land mass of 276 square miles(Acklins 192 sq. miles and Crooked Island 84sq. miles) with a population of 778 residents(Acklins 428 and Crooked Island 350 based on the 2000 census.Further, the Bight of Acklins could be dredged to provide a sheltered , deep water harbour which could bring into existence new port to faciltate cruise ships, freigthers and yachts eventually establishing a transshipment terminal in the southeastern Bahamas.With a deepend harbour and modern port, the beaches around Albert Town , Long Cay would enhance that Cay’s tourism potential.
Both islands have outstanding agribusiness development possibilities. Landrail Point, Crooked Island is prime fruit tree production locale and is one of the few locations where commercial citrus production can be undertaken. Acklins ,on the other hand, is one of the few places in the world with commercial quantities of Cascarilla Bark from which oils can be extracted in addition to it being a component of Campari.
With a main road running from Landrail Point in northern Crooked Island to Salina Point in southern Acklins, the government would be in a better position to provide services on a cost effective basis to a connected set of islands rather than to two seperated islands.
Once the infrastruture of a bridge to connect the two islands and a new port with a deep water harbour which would be accessible to cruise ships, yachts, ocean and cargo freighters,the foundation for economic take-off would have been established.
New Providence is approaching over development.The Northern Bahamas with Grand Bahama leading the way , Abaco following close behind and Andros as the sleeping giant, this region of the archipelago is well situated for sustainable economic development.Its close proximity to the United States has afforded it developmental advantages for a number of economic activities.The central Bahamas has seen major tourism related anchor projects on Eleuthera and Exuma and its Cays. Long Island has experienced a surge of its native sons and daughters returning home either to resettle or construct second homes.Long Islanders have fueled substantial investment to that island.Investment proposals have been earmarked for Cat Island and Rum Cay. San Salvador has Club Med.The islands of MICAL are the Last Frontier.
The Islands of MICAL as a region of our archipelago have to cease being perceived as the backdoor of The Bahamas. In many respects ,the MICAL islands are either the front door or entry point for many of the challenges i.e. illegal immigrants, drug trafficking,poaching of our marine resources,population decline, povety alleviation, facing The Bahamas.An elightened economic development vision would positvely impact these challenges.These islands and their development are critical to the national security of The Bahamas. This is our Last Frontier.
The southeastern Bahamas has been a product of underdevelopment and a victim of ineffectual planning. The Bahamas has suffered from a laizze faire approach to development planning as the country has held hostage by the foreign investor who has dictated the tempo of development.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
