Time to Think: RELIGIOUS PREJUDICE:
By Dr. D. Paul Reilly -
Nassau, Bahamas:

As most of my regular readers will be aware of, one of my pet peeves is prejudice of any kind. Most will also be familiar with the fact, that although I am indeed a very strong proponent of living a truly spiritual life, I’m at the same time not at all keen on organized religion. Now, when one puts the two together, that is Religion and Prejudice, it does become a really disgusting duo.

What gave me the incentive to write this particular article, was reading several advertisements for staff in the local newspapers in The Bahamas, which believe it or not, actually listed as one of the qualifications required, that the applicant for the job MUST be a Christian. This My Friend, is pure and simple blatant ‘Religious Prejudice’ and would indeed not be tolerated in most civilized societies.

That’s right, one would not be allowed to put an advertisement in the papers in The U.S., Canada, or Great Britain stating that the applicant MUST be a Christian, it would not be allowed by law, as it is indeed deeply prejudicial. In fact, I am led to believe, that it’s actually against the Bahamian Constitution to discriminate against a person because of their religion, and yet the newspapers allowed this deeply offensive to many, and indeed blatantly prejudicial advertisement to be published.

Now, for those narrow-minded so-called Christians who feel that they should be allowed to advertise for, and only employ so-called Christians; I wonder how they’d feel if they read an advertisement in the local paper in The Bahamas looking for staff, stating that the applicants MUST be ‘Muslim’ or ‘Buddhist’ or ‘Hindu’? I believe we all know the answer to that question, they’d be up in arms stating that the advertisement was prejudicial…and of course, they’d be absolutely correct.

Gordon W. Allport said "Individuals having no religious affiliation show on the average less prejudice than do church members". How sad, but alas how absolutely true that statement is. On the subject of prejudice Knute Rockne certainly seemed to sum up my feelings when he said "Most men, when they think they’re thinking, are merely rearranging their prejudices". Now, he certainly hit the nail on the head!

One of the people whom I really admire is the late, great Mohandas Gandhi, who was indeed an excellent example for all the world to behold, of a truly spiritual human being. On the subject of religion Gandhi said "I consider myself a Hindu, Christian, Muslim, Jew, Buddhist, and Confucian" How very well put there by Gandhi; but I guess that his words of wisdom, and indeed wonderful TRUTH,would just sail right over the heads of so many of those so-called Christians, who daily practice ‘Religious Prejudice’. Lord oh lord, the things some people do in the so-called name of God….it never does cease to amaze me.

I honestly believe, that Sigmund Freud got it right when he so wisely said "When a man is freed of religion, he has a better chance to live a normal and wholesome life". To which I will just add a loud AMEN! Finally, Frederick The Great who lived from 1712 to 1786 said "ALL religions must be tolerated....for....every man must get to heaven his own way". Yes indeed, he must.

THINK ABOUT IT!

E-mail: dpr@humanRI.com

30 May 2007

H. M. PRISON: A VISIONARY’S PARADISE:
By E. W. I. Watkins -
Nassau, Bahamas:

In early 1951 on a Saturday morning, I accompanied Major Edward Sears and Mr. Bryon Pinder, the then Superintendent of Prisons on a tour of the area now occupied by H. M. Prison. The Prison, at that time, was located on the site now occupied by the new Conference Centre, the Command Centre, Canteen and Office Complex at Police Headquarters on East Street, in the rear of the old Customs shed that still stands on East St. The area where now stands the Prison Compound was at that time, one large area of trees and underbrush.

Some fifty-plus acres were purchased and a new Prison Complex was built. There were no buildings or habitation of any kind in the area. The Prison was built, and in 1953, all inmates at the old East St. compound were transferred to the new facility. In those days when a convicted murderer was sentenced, the presiding Judge, in handing down the automatic death sentence would use the words, "You will be taken to the ‘Nassau Prison’ where you shall be hung by the neck until you are dead," or words to that effect.

During early 1953, a local character had killed a man and was so sentenced to death. While on Death Row awaiting execution, he was, along with the rest of the Nassau Prison’s inhabitants, transferred to the Fox Hill entity. A young lawyer at the time, fresh out of Law School, took the character’s case and successfully argued hat the convict was sentenced to be hung in Nassau Prison and that no such place now existed, as the prison was in the Fox Hill area of New Providence. The Death Sentence was commuted to life imprisonment. The facility was built to accommodate 400 persons. Today, it is not bursting at the seams, but literally exploding at its core.

Over-crowding is a vexing problem; but it need not be so. Security is a serious problem, it really should not be. Corruption is not only a serious one, it is a frightening issue that no one seems to be addressing at all. The cost of running this facility is astronomical, when one takes into consideration the following: a) available labour; b) available skills and c) the varied avenues through which the above can be utilized. To give a few examples, i) The Prison produces the best blocks in the country and has been doing so for decades, but its perimeters are not adequately secured – Why?

ii) Inmates produce a goodly number of assorted artifacts, why is it that the Facility and the artisans not producing these items in sufficient quantities to be beneficial to themselves and the Institution? iii) Some of the best tailors and dressmakers in this country are long-term residents – Why are they not utilized productively to supply uniforms, table cloths, napkins and other items that are used in hotels and restaurants. iv) The best office furniture that one can expect to find anywhere can be produced at this institution – Why are we importing school and office furniture for schools and government offices in this country? v) Some of the best building craftsmen in this country – carpenters, masons, electricians and plumbers – are domiciled in this Facility, so why do we not have a modern penal institution with secured perimeters? The answers to all the aforementioned questions are simple. NO VISION, FORESIGHT or HINDSIGHT.

In 2002, one Paul Farqharson, our present Commissioner of Police, took command of the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF). Shortly after his taking command, I was invited to a function at the Senior Officers Mess. He (Farquharson) said to me, "Watkins, I would like to add another story to this building. I was told that you had something to do with its construction. Do you think that this present structure can support another floor?" "No, Sir," said I. There is no steel or poured columns in this building. In fact, I will not suggest that anyone should walk on the roof for fear of it collapsing." He thanked me; but said no more.

A year later I was attending the annual Independence Day Celebrations at the Police Headquarters, when I was shown a massive structure being erected on the site of the old "Mess" that had been demolished. I asked the Commissioner, who was going to pay for such a huge edifice. "This thing is all about SELF HELP, my Brother," he replied. "It may take some time, but by God’s grace, we will finish it.

Sometime at the beginning of this year, I was invited by my Grandson to his Passing-Out Exercise as a Police Constable, which was being held at the edifice that had risen on the site of the Old Officers’ Mess. The Commissioner told me that it was constructed at a cost of $6,000,000.00, all of which was raised by him and his men, labour was not part of the cost, as Police and Prison artisans did all the work. In fact, when this edifice was officially opened, one inmate, who gave exceptional service to the construction of this building had his fine of $3,000.00 paid for by funds donated by members of the RBPF, and was assured of lifelong employment on his release. This building, named the Conference Centre, is a living MONUMENT to the vision, foresight and perseverance of an individual (Paul Farquharson) who saw not only the need to do something substantial and permanent, but indeed, had the will and fortitude to do it.

H. M. Prisons has the capacity to construct and secure a modern penal facility that can meet modern-day requirements and become a sustainable and self-sufficient entity, instead of being a financial burden and a stigma on the social conscience of the nation. It is also said that, "where there is no vision, the people perish." In this case, it is the inmates of the Institution. VISION and FORESIGHT is all that is needed to get the job done.

29 May 2007

Regional police chiefs highlight need to unite:
By JIMENITA SWAIN,
Guardian Senior Reporter -
jimenita@nasguard.com ,
Nassau, Bahamas:

The challenges of crime to law enforcement require collaborative efforts between regional and international bodies in order to combat proliferating criminal enterprises, according to law enforcement officials.

That theme is prevalent at the Association of Caribbean Commissioners (ACCP) 22nd annual general conference being held here this week.

"I believe that we can all agree that crime and the fear continues to dominate too much of the lives of Caribbean people and so it is right that we should be focused on addressing crime in all its aspects and elements," Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham said yesterday in an opening speech to conference attendees. The fact that the Caribbean region is made up of scattered islands, with small populations and limited financial resources, presents a challenge to law enforcement.

"Crimes that impact all out-island countries span the gamut from nuisance to serious property crime, from domestic violence to capital murder, from drug and gun smuggling to illicit traffic of human cargos, from white collar crime associated with smuggling operations to money laundering and various other forms of fraud in the financial services sector; nowadays, even kidnapping in one of our sister states," said Ingraham.

With such a wide range of crimes, the prime minister said: "Indeed, it is simply sensible that we combine our human and financial capital so as to maximize returns from national and regional investment in anti-criminal programs."

Regional enforcement has been in place since the 1980's when various countries sought to fight illicit drug trafficking cartels and has been extended to cooperation in training, intelligence sharing, exchange programs and forensic services, he noted.

Added Commissioner of Police Paul Farquharson, who was inducted into the executive branch of the International Association of Chief's of Police during yesterday's opening ceremonies: "The partnering of the ACCP with its counterparts in other countries, particularly those represented here today, is a very important aspect in our efforts to combat the many criminal activities within our region and, by extension, the world."

Both the prime minister and commissioner pledged the continued support of the Royal Bahamas Police Force in the regional fight against crime.

Commissioners from every Caribbean country were represented at the conference, which is expected to wrap up Monday.

Time to Think: Politics Is Sickening:
By Dr. D. Paul Reilly -
Nassau, Bahamas:

At the time of writing this particular article, we are very close, six to eight weeks, away from a general election in The Bahamas. Now as anyone who is a regular reader to these articles will know, I’m not at all keen on politicians, as I find them for the most part to be dishonest, hypocritical, power hungry, and totally self-serving. I wrote another article some time ago about the ‘Two P’s of Politics’ which are Power & Profit. Believe you me, this is the only reason that so many people get into politics; that is to get into a position of power where they can laud it over others, in a desperate effort to shore up their chronic low self-esteem, whilst at the same time lining their own very deep pockets with illicit wealth. These are most definitely the two P’s of politics Profit & Power.

But coming up to an election, the politicians appear to excel in trying to pull the wool over the people’s eyes, in a desperate effort to either stay in power, or defeat those in office, by getting elected as the government of the day. As the title of this article puts it ‘Politics is sickening’.

In The Bahamas prior to the elections the only television station in operation was owned by the government, and it was so disgustingly biased in favor of the governing party, that it had just become a blatant ‘Government Propaganda Tool’. They really need to change the name of the Evening News, which is presently called ‘The Bahamas Tonight’ to ‘The PLP Propaganda Show’. The call letters of the government owned T.V. and Radio network are ZNS, which in my estimation stands for ‘Zero News Station’.

The one sided Political Propaganda emanating from this entity really was sickening, and I believe, that every Bahamian should rise up against the bias, the unfairness, the lack of balance which this government mouthpiece spewed out, supposedly as news, day after day it’s a National Disgrace!

During the six months prior to the election, the government signed more contracts for roads and bridges to be built, schools and other government buildings to be erected, than throughout the entire five years they were in power . . . .what a sham. . . .what a complete scam of the people. Then there was all the disgusting racism and xenophobia, which the ruling party had of course always used at election time, in a desperate effort to stir up the people.

Yes My Friend, at election time we all get to see right into the very soul of politicians running for office, and what we see is so very ugly ,so very disenchanting, that it makes us very upset and uptight about who will be running the country after the next election, which party will in fact be the ‘Lesser of two evils’. Yes indeed, I believe that most honest, God-fearing people feel that ‘Politics is sickening’....because it is!!!

THINK ABOUT IT!

E-mail: dpr@humanRI.com

24 May 2007

Police Question UN Report On Crime In Caribbean:
By Vanessa C. Rolle -
Nassau, Bahamas:

Local police are analyzing a recently released United Nations/World Bank report that says the murder rate in the Caribbean is higher than any other region in the world.

In an interview with The Bahama Journal on Tuesday, Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police Elliston Greenslade said, "I don’t particularly like what I am hearing and what I am reading in that regard."

The report states that the average murder rate for the Caribbean – 30 per population of 100,000 – is higher than any other region of the world and has increased in recent years in many countries within the region.

The UN report continued that murder rates are 34 percent higher and robbery rates are 26 percent higher than countries with the comparable macroeconomic conditions.

These types of crimes are higher in countries with lower economic growth while murder rates are higher in poor countries and communities that have large populations of young men, according to the report.

"But these factors alone cannot explain the high rates of crime in the Caribbean," the report indicates.

"Through multiple channels, crime and violence inflict widespread costs, generating a climate of fear for all citizens, and diminishing economic growth. Crime and violence present one of the paramount challenges to development in the Caribbean."

Mr. Greenslade confirmed that the police have a copy of the UN/World Bank report.

"I have asked my people to look at the source of the information. Certainly we have the World Bank Report that we are doing an analysis on at the moment. We are having a proper look at it and will certainly determine the methodology used to derive at those figures," he said.

"I am not castigating anyone and I am not saying anything to the contrary. I am just saying that when these general statements are made, I am concerned as a Bahamian, certainly as to the source of the information. I don’t know where that information was derived from.

"When you’re looking at statistics, you can make numbers do all kinds of things for you if you’re not careful. It depends on how you are grouping numbers."

The UN/World Bank report continued that assault rates in the Caribbean – based on those reported to the police – are also significantly "above the world average."

"If I were to look at a common assault, someone pushes someone; someone slaps someone; that is an assault. One might determine that that is violence; yes, that is violence," Mr. Greenslade said.

"But you certainly wouldn’t look at a common assault in the same way that you would look at a situation where someone takes a knife and stabs someone and causes a serious injury, or if someone takes a gun and shoots someone – the person doesn’t die but is seriously injured. The scale of violence is different. But if I were to take every common assault and I group it, then of course, I am going to give it a higher number," he said.

When applied against the population at a per capita rate, he said the numbers are bound to startle the public.

"You would think we are killing each other everywhere and that is not in fact so. And I say that emphatically – that is not what is happening in this country," Mr. Greenslade said.

The report also stated that the reported rates of crime are highly sensitive to the level of trust in the local police in general and the willingness to report domestic violence, in particular.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Greenslade said that in order for the members of the Royal Bahamas Police Force to enjoy the trust of the public, they must always demonstrate that "everything is above board, and they are coming to equity with clean hands.

He said this means, "we are honest, and our integrity is in tact and that we are indeed credible. As long as we deliver the services that the public expects of us and we do it a very fair and firm fashion, I believe certainly we will enjoy the confidence and the trust of the public."

"It is a constant struggle," Mr. Greenslade said. "Officers are going to be on the front line if they are working and the more they press forward aggressively to resolve crime issues the more potential exists for confrontations between the everyday citizen and people in uniform – not just law enforcement people in general.

"So we impress upon our officers to always deliver care, respect and trust. That is to be firm and resolute in their dealings but to also be respectful to members of the public."

He said the police must let their credibility speak for them in the eyes of the public, "and people will talk to you. That has always been my view. I believe it does work."

The UN/World Bank report also noted that from the drug trafficking industry, which is common in all Caribbean countries, has spawned another industry "guns for hire".

The report described such persons as "addicts who need to commit crimes to support their habit and hence perpetrate more violent crimes". This, continues the report, has spun off from another criminal industry – "contract murders".

"Despite their diversity, one thing that all Caribbean countries have in common is that they have long been caught in the crossfire of international drug trafficking. The good news is that the flow of drugs through the region may be decreasing," the report said, adding that the transshipment of cocaine to the United States appears to be in decline.

However, it added that even though it might appear to be on a decline, large quantities of drugs continue to transit the Caribbean.

Mr. Greenslade said, "I don’t want to speculate and I don’t want to make a statement in that regard except to say that we continue to work hard hear in The Bahamas. We continue to co-operate with our regional partners and international partners and international partners to ensure that there is a united front in the fight against drug trafficking and certainly its usage in our country, and certainly in the region."

The report said that several factors which heighten the vulnerability to crime and violence of Caribbean countries is their vulnerability to drug trafficking – with the world’s source of cocaine to the south and primary consumer markets to the north.

To make things even more difficult, the report added, many Caribbean countries have weak criminal justice systems that are easily overwhelmed.

23 May 2007