Bahamas Blog

Bahamian educators made certain they were heard, this past Wednesday, as hundreds of them descended on Bay Street to protest the government's "insulting" contract offer.

Minister of Education Alfred Sears was caught in the storm as he attempted to enter Parliament. He looked like a little school boy as he was lectured and scolded by a crowd of angry teachers. Mr. Sears kept saying "look here", while being interrupted constantly as he tried to get in a word edgewise.

Later, Prime Minister Christie showed up and was also given an earful of angst as he stumbled and fumbled his way through responses to a group who apparently have had enough talk and promises.

The PM, clearly frustrated with the situation, ended up scolding the teachers for not consulting with him before taking to the streets in protest.

I would advise the Prime Minister to read the daily papers more often. He seems to be the only one in the country who was not aware that the teachers had a problem with their contracts.

See, the teachers want more money. They are the backbone of our future as they educate the next generation of Bahamian national leaders.

But wait a minute!

Are these the same educators who gave us classrooms full of students with BGCSE average grades of D minus?

It might be a bit premature to insist on a raise in pay when the results of your performance would indicate that, frankly, you are lucky to still have your job.

I mean, everybody wants to earn more money, even rich people. But there should be some justification for an increase in pay. Teachers shouldn't be paid like hotel workers, with salaries buoyed by an automatic gratuity. That has done enough damage to our tourism industry, let's not let it ruin the entire country.

I, for one, like to see some results before I give an employee a raise. (Actually, I don't have any employees, but that would be my policy if I did.)

How about we get serious about education and throw a little incentive into the pot by paying bonuses to the teachers whose classrooms excel in the BGCSE results?

Racist comments will do more damage to tourism than the Bird Flu scare.

I read that Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe has spun into damage control after reports (which turned out to be false) that Bird Flu had been found in the southern islands of The Bahamas.

Minister Wilchcombe said there was a PR mess to be cleaned up as the erroneous reports were affecting tourism bookings and even the stock price of our largest hotelier, Atlantis.

He ain't seen nuttin yet.

In one of his, now famous, tirades in parliament, Prime Minister Perry Christie was ranting against the the United States concerning the Cuban dentist fiasco. Referring to his meeting with Florida Governor Jeb Bush last week, Mr Christie said: "As I told Governor Bush, this government of a black country is discriminating against Haitians in favour of how we deal with Cuban nationals. I am refusing to do that."

Say what? Black country? What the hell am I, scorched conch?

Am I the only white Bahamian who is outraged by the PM's racist remark? I don't think so!

Christie's remark is as outrageous as the one made by MP (and Cabinet Minister) Leslie Miller when he stated publicly that white Bahamians are not "normal" Bahamians.

Both remarks seems to reinforce the appalling attitude of the black Bahamian who pushed the white founder of a local website up against a car, while telling him that he was "the wrong colour". The assailant threatened the white boy with a sharp cutlass, telling him that if he dared open his mouth, he would "chop him up".

The racist attacker was never punished because a corrupt Bahamian magistrate dismissed the assault charges against him. After all, it was only a white foreigner who was threatened.

The fact that the white man's civil and human rights had been violated never crossed the racist magistrate's feeble mind.

Here's a wake up call to Perry Christie. Ya better take a look around and recognize all that white Bahamians contribute to this country. Ya better get your attitude straight and apologize to white Bahamians before you end up making poor old Obie Wilchcombe work double overtime trying to cover up your dumb racist remarks.

Last week in Parliament, while, once again, pontificating on his wisdom, Prime Minister Perry Christie happened to mention that he had reached a decision on the fate of the Cuban doctor detainees.

He also said he would not tell anyone what that decision was.

Only Mr. Christie fails to see the folly of announcing a decision which he is not going to announce.

Meanwhile, the good doctors languish longer in our hellish detention centre.

Every day that those doctors have remained in the inhospitable confines of the Detention Centre - especially since this incident became red hot, several weeks ago - has been a disgrace to the Christie administration, a black mark on the Bahamas' reputation for human rights and an embarrassment for the Bahamian people.

Mr. Christie's irresponsibility in this matter has caused enough stress and duress for too many people already. For him to have made a decision... and STILL delay - is the ultimate slap in the face to all involved.

No matter what Mr. Christie's decision is, after all is said and done, I wouldn't blame the US for slapping some sanctions on the Bahamas, and Mr. Castro for taking whatever measures he deems appropriate, just for the outrageousness of Mr. Christie's additional dithering.

People around the world may not care that the PLP's incompetence impairs our economy or that Perry Christie's inability to make decisions stifles the nation's development, but they certainly do care that our government abuses the human rights of citizen's of other countries, and damn well they should.

Forget about the Grand Canyon.

Never mind that African Safari.

Pass on the Alaskan Cruise.

Why bother with those traditional vacation destinations when you can visit Mayaguana to see the world's longest runway.