Bahamas Blog

New Zealand director Roger Donaldson is to make a movie about renowned U.S. writer Ernest Hemingway, who will be played by British actor Sir Anthony Hopkins, according to the Associated Press.

In the capital, Wellington, to promote another movie - 'The World's Fastest Indian' - starring Hopkins which premieres next week, Donaldson said Hopkins will play Hemingway in the film, titled 'Papa'.

"It's a pretty ambitious movie for what it is... Hemingway is a great writer and a great character. If anybody can play Hemingway Tony Hopkins can," Donaldson told the Dominion Post newspaper in Tuesday editions.

He said the movie will be based on Hemingway's encounter with Denne Bart Petitclerc, America's youngest war correspondent in the Korean War, who was inspired by how Hemingway reported on the Spanish Civil War.

Hemingway, then living in Havana, Cuba, received " a fan letter" from Bart Petitclerc and surprised the reporter by asking to meet him.

"Hemingway invited him to Havana for some weekends and the movie is really about what happens when he goes there," Donaldson told the newspaper. "it' a thriller, it's a love story, it's Hemingway as he falls apart and is suicidal. This guy was a witness to it all."

In researching the film, Donaldson visited Heminway's Havana home and met Cuban leader Fidel Castro.

Like 'The World's Fastest Indian', the movie 'Papa' will be an independent film, Donaldson said. He is still working on secure finance.

Hemingway first visited Bimini in 1935 and won his first fishing competition on Bahamian soil that year.

Hurricane Wilma accelerates toward storm-weary Florida, threatening residents with 115-mph winds, tornadoes and a surge of seawater that could flood the Keys and the state's southwest coast.

After moving slowly through the Caribbean and along the Mexico coast, Wilma picked up speed and strength Sunday, shooting toward the U.S. mainland as a Category 3 storm.

It was expected to make landfall before dawn Monday in the state's southwest corner. The core of the hurricane was forecast to slice across Florida, speeding northeast at up to 25 mph.

Hurricane Wilma Tracking Map

Caribbean nations seem to be failing in their efforts to root out corruption or eliminate the perception of it.

According to the latest global survey conducted by Transparency International, with the exception of Barbados, the levels of corruption or perception of corruption in several Caribbean nations were either considered "very serious" or "severe." Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Guyana, Belize, Haiti, Suriname and the Dominican Republic were on that list of nations with that problem.

TI, which conducts the annual survey of the "perception of corruption," and prepares the Corruption Perception Index listed Barbados as the only English, French, Dutch or Spanish-speaking Caribbean nation with a reasonably good record of dealing with corruption. Its score of 6.95 placed it 24th on a list of 159 nations around the world. Chile, Barbados, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Botswana, Qatar, Uruguay, Bahrain, Jordan and Malaysia in that order were the only developing countries which received reasonably good scores of five or better out of a possible 10 on the corruption index. A score of less than five means a nation has a serious corruption problem. If the scores fall below three then it is considered "severe."

Trinidad and Tobago, which has the Caribbean's strongest and most vibrant economy, has slipped badly in recent years, so much so that corruption is considered a serious issue there. Once described as one of the world's least corrupt places in which to do business, the twin-island republic has fallen from grace with a score of 3.8 and a global ranking of 59h on the Index. Trinidad and Tobago is now listed far below such countries as Namibia, Costa Rica, South Africa, El Salvador and Mauritius. With a score of less than four out of 10 it was placed alongside Thailand and Cuba but slightly ahead of Belize and Brazil.

As a matter of fact, TI, which announced its recent findings in Berlin and London, singled out Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname, Costa Rica and Russia as the nations with "an increase in perceived corruption from 2004 to 2005."

Jamaica wasn't too far behind Trinidad and Tobago. Jamaica with a 3.6 rating was 64th, just ahead of Ghana, Mexico, Panama, Peru and Turkey.

TI classifies both Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica as countries with a "serious" problem of perceived corruption. The same thing applies to Suriname with a score of 3.2. and 78th global ranking the Dominican Republic was in 85th place along with Mongolia and Romania, each with a score of 3.02

The Bahamas and the members of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States were not included in the survey and therefore didn't receive a score or a ranking in the Index. At least three surveys and expert assessments were required for a country to be included in the Index. CPI scores relate to perceptions of the degree of corruption as seen by business people and country analysts and they range from 10, highly clean to zero, highly corrupt. No country received a perfect and none was given a zero.

At the top of the list were Iceland with 9.75; Finland 9.69; New Zealand 9.69; Denmark 9.59 Singapore 9.59. The U.K. had an 8.6 rating and ranked 11th while Canada was 14th with 8.49 and the U.S. 17th with 7.6.

At the bottom of the table as the most corrupt countries in which to do business were Chad, Bangladesh Turkmenistan, Myanmar, Haiti, Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea.

Guyana and Haiti were the Caricom nations with the worst records. They received scores of less than three, with Guyana getting 2.5 and Haiti 1.8.

Here are some of the other key findings of TI as it outlined them a few days ago:

"Corruption is perceived as most rampant" in some of the world's poorest country," and one of them is Haiti.

"Nineteen of the world's poorest countries have been granted debt service relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative, testifying to their economic reform achievements. Yet, not one of them, including Guyana, received a score above four on the CPI, "indicating serious to severe levels of corruption. The story here is that Guyana and the other 18 nations "face the grave risk that money freed from debt payments now entering national budgets will be forfeited to greed, waste or mismanagement."

Nearly half of the countries included in the Corruption Perception Index scored less than three, indicating a severe corruption problem. Guyana and Haiti were the two Caricom countries in that group.

"Corruption isn't a natural disaster," said David Nussbaum, TI's Chief Executive. "It is cold, calculated theft of opportunity from the men, women and children who are at least able to protect themselves.

By Tony Best

Editor's Note: A reader sent us this article, which we think is great, but the sender didn't include where the article came from. If you know, please tell us.

BTW - We'd rather publish a brief synopsis with a link to the actual article. So, in the future, if you could send the link with the article (or just the link) we'd appreciate it.

See exclusive photos of the aftermath and impact of Hurricane Wilma on Grand Bahama.

I have to warn you... it's not pretty.

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Okay, so I've got a solution for those Greek food junkies who, like me, were saddened by the lack of a Greek booth at the recently held International Culture Festival.

The Greek community will be hosting an affair entitled An Evening in Athens - "Taverna Style".

It is to be held on Saturday, 5th November, 2005 at 7:30pm, at the Greek Orthodox Church Hall on West Street.

Lots of food, a cash bar and a DJ for entertainment.

It'll set ya back $65.00 for adults, $30.00 for children (10 yrs and under). Hmmm, I'll have to eat lots of lamb and octopus and dance my fool head off at that price.

Opa!

The clean-up and the restoration of Grand Bahama and northern Bahamas islands affected by Hurricane Wilma has begun. For some, especially in Grand Bahama, it will be a long road back to normalcy.

Unprepared?

For too long, Bahamians have been accused of being complacent regarding hurricane preparedness. Many wait until the final moment to secure their homes, stock up on emergency supplies or evacuate and head to a shelter. Sometimes, they wait too long.

That may have been the case in Grand Bahama, where you'd think the people would have been better prepared after the devastation caused last year with the passage of Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne.

Devastated!

Hurricane Wilma unleashed her rage on much of the Grand Bahama coastline from as far east as Williams Town to as far west as West End. Dozens of homes were destroyed, demolished or washed away by storm surges and flooding.

Minister of Housing Shane Gibson’s assessment of Grand Bahama is that at least 100 homes were destroyed.

Public schools in Grand Bahama are closed until further notice, according to District Superintendent for the City of Freeport, Sandra Edgecombe.

Technicians from The Grand Bahama Power Company and The Bahamas Telecommunications Company have been working feverishly since Monday to restore power, water and communications.

Director of Community and Client Relations at the Grand Bahama Power Company, Roger Johnson, said that power and water have already been restored to some areas of Freeport.

Fortunately, in The Bahamas, Wilma's devastation caused minimal loss of life. A particularly tragic moment occurred when a toddler in Grand Bahama was swept away by flood waters after a storm surge demolished his home. The same storm - in its trek across the Caribbean, Mexico and South Florida - is responsible for more than 25 deaths and billions of dollars in property damage.

It will take weeks, maybe months before a proper assessment can be compiled and a total dollar figure applied to all the damage casued by Wilma.

Junkanoo Shack Destroyed

For the second consecutive year, one of Grand Bahama's most talented Junkanoo groups has been dealt a major setback due to a storm.

Monday morning, Hurricane Wilma swept through The Swingers' Peel Street shack in Grand Bahama tearing nearly completed costumes to shreds and leaving the remainder in a pile of rubble.

Now, leader of The Swingers, Anthony "Huck" Williams, is making an urgent appeal to the Grand Bahama community to lend the group some assistance to replace the dancers' and back-line outfits.

"It doesn't have to be money," explained Mr. Williams, "it could be material or any kind of assistance. We just need help to make the pieces again."

Despite this setback, Mr. Williams said The Swingers are determined to perform in the New Year's Day Junkanoo Parade.

Those who want to assist may contact Dwayne Hepburn at Grand Bahama Farms 352-9801 or Mr. Williams at Wide-world 352-3636.

Schools Out

Not too many structures built along Grand Bahama's coastal zones were spared destruction from Hurricane Wilma's merciless wind gusts and torrential rains as it rapidly, but severely, passed over the island Monday.

St. Vincent de Paul School, in Hunters, was one of the island's coastally-erected structures that was seriously devastated by the storm.

Today, hundreds of students who attend the school remain at home — awaiting the school's reopening.

No More Sunset Village

Sadly, Hurricane Wilma has also taken Sunset Village, one of Grand Bahama's superb entertainment strips, and turned it into a memory.

The Sunset Village has for many years attracted many Bahamian thrillseekers and tourists alike who came for nightlife and recreation that was slightly different from that found in Freeport or Lucaya.

Gone are the beautifully decorated shacks that once served mouth-watering food and drinks to the pulsating sound of local music. The aroma of chicken, ribs, fish and conch cooking on a grill during fish fry and other festive events are now gone, at least for a while.

Just a few weeks ago, representatives of the Ministry of Tourism announced that the annual Discovery Street Festival would be held at Sunset Village. The festival was slated to take place each Saturday of this month, and it was anticipated that natives and foreigners alike would experience lively Bahamian music, rake 'n' scrape, quadrille dancing, Junkanoo rush-outs all performed by local entertainers. That's not going to happen.

To The Rescue!

The HMBS Nassau and Bahamas pulled into Grand Bahama early Wednesday morning with the first shipment of relief supplies for the latest hurricane-stricken victims.

The Royal Bahamas Defence Force vessels docked at the Lucayan Harbour and 50 marines, some of them recruits, have been deployed there to assist with relief efforts post Hurricane Wilma.

Both the HMBS Nassau and Bahamas sailed in around 7:30 Wednesday morning with the group of first responders and water, cleaning and sanitary supplies that were immediately off-loaded for subsequent distribution in care of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

A team of 100 defence force officers are expected to follow the first responders shortly and the recovery teams will remain in place until the island is returned to some form of normalcy before returning to regular duties.

Good News!

Commonwealth Bank on Wednesday presented a cheque for $10,000 to the Grand Bahama Centre of The Bahamas Red Cross for the victims of Hurricane Wilma.

"It is sad that we find ourselves in this position of having to deal with the devastation of yet another hurricane in Grand Bahama" said Mavis Burrows, the bank's Nassau-based area vice-president for operations. "However, we are indeed very grateful that we can extend a helping hand to the community in a tangible financial way."

More Good News!

The Department of Social Services on Grand Bahama has already begun providing hot meals for members of communities wrecked by Hurricane Wilma two days ago.

People in the ravaged settlements along the island's coasts can get breakfast and supper daily. The hot meals were prepared with the intention to distribute them to hurricane victims in the designated shelters. But with a combined total of only 70 people sleeping in both the St. Georges High School and Eight Mile Rock High School shelters last night, the Department decided to make arrangements to have the meals taken to the people in the affected areas.

Lillian Quant-Forbes, Assistant Director of the Department of Social Services, said that they will continue to provide the meals to the people within the communities, but stressed that the Department would prefer for victims to come in to the shelters.

Donate Food

Persons in the community wanting to donate food items to hurricane victims can take such items to designated help desks. Help desks are located at: the Joey Centre at St. Vincent de Paul Roman Catholic Church, the Lodge Hall Burial Society, The Church of the Good Shepherd, Eight Mile Rock Urban Renewal Centre (in the new shopping centre), Department of Social Services in Pinedale, St. David's Methodist Church in Seagrape, Mt. Olivet Baptist Church in Holmes Rock, the West End Urban Renewal office in West End.

Unscathed

The Sheraton and Westin at Our Lucaya Beach & Golf Resort on Grand Bahama Island were virtually spared from any damage and never closed.

Tournament Goes On

Perhaps the biggest Pool tournament to be held in The Bahamas was once again held here in Grand Bahama at the Westin at Our Lucaya over the weekend.

More than 350 players flocked to the Our Lucaya Hotel in the Grand Ballroom to compete for the coveted prize.

The numbers fell from previous years, but because of Hurricane Wilma, some of the teams cancelled and only 37 teams came to the tournament. But according to organisers, the tournament was extremely successful.

Paul Sands, of Grand Bahama Distributors, Charter Holder for the VNEA Pool Tournament, was responsible for the hosting of the Tournament, which has become imprinted on the calendar of serious pool players from throughout the United States.

Quicker Relief in the Future

The government Wednesday took a major step to ensure that the delivery of relief to disaster and emergencies comes more quickly.

The Disaster Preparedness and Response Bill places greater focus on preparing for disasters and taking steps to substantially decrease their impact where possible.

The proposed legislation, based on the model legislation presented by the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency (CDERA), would establish the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) as a statutory body. The government would also be empowered to declare certain areas national disaster zones.

Debate on the Disaster Preparedness and Response Bill came only a day after Prime Minister Christie and a team of technical experts toured Grand Bahama to assess the damage caused by Hurricane Wilma, which struck on Monday.

Meanwhile...

Chanting and shouting words of disgust at PLP Parliamentarians, angry members of two major unions converged at the House of Assembly yesterday, making it clear they were fed up with the PLP government. BPSU president John Pinder led scores of the union's members in the protest, demonstrating to have government accept their demands for salary increases.

Police were called in to keep order. However, the crowd continued their rowdy behaviour, calling for Fred Mitchell, the Minister responsible for Public Service, to "Come out, so we can have some words with him."

Mitchell, who kept his distance, labelled the leadership of the Bahamas Public Service Union (BPSU) as "irresponsible, and insensitive in the extreme," while speaking later in the House of Assembly.

"In the middle of yet another national crisis as a result of a hurricane that severely damaged Grand Bahama for the third time in one year, the leadership is demanding that Government increase taxes on the Bahamian people to pay unreasonable salary increases.

"How insensitive can you get to human suffering?"