By: Candia Dames


17 November 2005


Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Public Service Fred Mitchell last night accused former prime minister Hubert Ingraham of being greedy and unconscionable and said that his pension and benefits must be revisited.

"After all, this was the same man who stopped all pensioners rehired and working for the government from receiving their pension and salary too," said Minister Mitchell, who was addressing delegates attending the third night of the Progressive Liberal Party’s 49th national convention at the Wyndham Nassau Resort on Cable Beach.

Various cabinet ministers have been slamming Mr. Ingraham during the convention for his decision to return to the frontline, changing his mind and running for the leadership of the Free National Movement during the FNM convention last week.

Minister Mitchell told delegates that when the former prime minister formally assumes the position of leader of the Official Opposition, he will be collecting from the Public Treasury $100,000 as a retired prime minister; $28,000 as a member of parliament; $50,000 as leader of the Official Opposition; and $18,000 as a parliamentary office allowance.

"The grand total of what he will collect from the Treasury will then be $196,000," he noted. "Compare that $196,000 to a retired politician to the working prime minister, the Right Honourable Perry Christie, who receives the sum of $146,000 per year."

It should be noted, however, that Mr. Ingraham has tabled proof in the House of Assembly that he has not been collecting his salary as an MP although government officials have said the money belongs to him and the Treasury has no authority to withhold it.

It’s a point the Minister made in his speech last night.

"Do not be fooled by the story that the former prime minister is not accepting his salary and is writing cheques back to the Treasury to repay the $28,000 salary to the government because he does not want it," he said.

"It is not possible in law to refuse to accept your salary, and whether he claims it or not, the money is his; it is being paid to him. If he does not collect it, his estate can claim it when he passes away."

Minister Mitchell claimed that research shows that shortly before the election of 2002, Mr. Ingraham’s cabinet met and agreed to provide former prime ministers the payment of a utility or housing allowance of $1,500 per year: the provision of a diplomatic passport; access to the government’s VIP lounge at Nassau International Airport; and access to an official car for appropriate events in The Bahamas.

Additionally, he said the cabinet also agreed to provide former prime ministers with the provision of security by the Royal Bahamas Police Force when necessary; and provision of one aide.

"Further, Mr. Ingraham’s cabinet agreed to provide for him when attending public functions to be in the order of precedence immediately after the leader of the Official Opposition," Minister Mitchell said.

He further claimed that Mr. Ingraham’s personal assistant who works with him in his law firm is being paid at the public’s expense.

Minister Mitchell also told delegates that Mr. Ingraham’s cabinet agreed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is to notify appropriate officials in foreign countries when he is traveling abroad; the Family Island administrators are also to be notified when he is traveling to their islands.

"And he accuses us of being interested in perks," Minister Mitchell said. "Physician heal thyself. The question must now be asked if he is to get $196,000 per year plus all of those perks, what more does he want? Is he now coming back for more?"

Minister Mitchell then announced that the government has decided to increase the pensions of retired public servants with effect from July 1, 2005.

Each pensioner in the Christmas pension packet will see an increase of $50 per month for all retired and re-employed public servants and a $30 per month increase to war veterans and widows and orphans.

"The Ministry of Finance has made a commitment to review the pension every year so that the pensions can keep pace with the expected rises in the cost of living," Minister Mitchell informed. "I really wish we could have done more, but I hope that this additional sum helps."

By Candia Dames

15 November 2005



Prime Minister Perry Christie recently waded into the capital punishment debate, steering clear of voicing any personal opinions, but instead emphasizing that the Government of The Bahamas will be guided by the decisions of the courts.

Mr. Christie made the comment amid growing calls for hangings to resume in the face of rising crime rates.

"We have this situation where probably the great majority of the people of our country would support capital punishment," he told The Bahama Journal.

"A significant minority does not and they argue very persuasively why they do not. But from the government’s point of view, the law remains on the book and this does not arise with us as to whether or not it happens or doesn’t happen. It’s a matter for the courts of The Bahamas."

The prime minister added, "The Bahamas government supports the law that exists that someone who is charged with murder, convicted of murder and sentenced to death has the right of appeal. The Government of The Bahamas does not interfere with that process.

"What happens is the appeals process takes itself into the Privy Council, the highest court of appeal and the Privy Council in recent times has been defining the law in such a way that the cases have not taken place and they have entertained arguments throughout the Caribbean on this issue."

Prime Minister Christie noted that some countries are looking at whether they should keep the Privy Council as their highest court of appeal.

"In our case ours is a constitutional matter and we’ve not even contemplated moving away from the Privy Council," he said.

The prime minister wasn’t the only government official to speak about the capital punishment issue in recent days.

One of his cabinet ministers has offered a more personal view on the hot-button issue, strongly intimating that hangings should take place in The Bahamas again.

When he spoke at the funeral service for murdered softball star Jackie Moxey on Saturday, Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Neville Wisdom made that position clear.

"Senseless acts are happening in this country too often," he said. "A clear message must be sent that there are consequences for your actions. Those of us who are in position such as the deputy prime minister, the attorney general and I must find a way to ensure that those consequences are met upon people who determine that they can snuff out a life and then serve a life sentence in Fox Hill prison. This nonsense must stop."

However, opponents have argued that statistics have shown repeatedly the world over that the death penalty does not serve as a deterrent.

They note that in 2000 when The Bahamas carried out its last hanging, there were more than 70 murders recorded.

They also note that because most murders are domestic-related, few people would think strongly about hangings before committing their crimes.

However, as reported in The Bahama Journal last week, Commissioner of Police Paul Farquharson believes that capital punishment would help to prevent some crimes.

"There are many persons on death row who should have been gone a long time ago," Mr. Farquharson said.

By Candia Dames

14 November 2005



Prime Minister Perry Christie said yesterday that the legacy of new Free National Movement Leader Hubert Ingraham is “on the line” and he vowed to politically cremate him in the next general election.

"I’m really sad that he came back," said Mr. Christie, who spoke with The Bahama Journal following his party’s prayer breakfast at the Wyndham Nassau Resort on Cable Beach.

"He has placed his legacy on the line and when you place your legacy on the line in a battle with the Progressive Liberal Party – Hubert Ingraham, Perry Christie, however one would wish to look at it – he will lose."

The prime minister’s comments came as PLPs geared up for the start of their convention this week, fresh on the heels of the opposition Free National Movement’s convention which saw the defeat of Senator Tommy Turnquest as leader of the party.

Mr. Ingraham – who entered the leadership race at the last minute – said after his victory that he expected a "good fight" with Prime Minister Christie.

Asked to respond to this yesterday, Mr. Christie said, "The people of The Bahamas made a mistake; they thought he was buried. Clearly, a political cremation is now necessary."

He said, "The PLP was elected by the people. In our democracy, the people prevail. I am confident that the people are very disappointed that Hubert Ingraham, having gone into retirement, having spent in retirement the people’s money by way of pension, now decides that he should come back.

"I have no real right to describe the obvious devastation in the leadership of the FNM in removing a generation of leaders out of line. That is their real challenge. He has decided now to contest us.

"We believe now is the time for the will of the people to remain triumphant and I am confident, so confident, that the people of this country clearly understand what the issues are and during the coming days we will really attempt to ensure that they understand."

After he was called to the stage on Friday night by Mr. Ingraham, former PLP Senator Edison Key declared that what had transpired last week at the FNM’s convention was the prime minister’s "greatest nightmare."

To this, Mr. Christie responded: "Perry Christie was the first Bahamian to win an international medal in field events. To win a medal internationally, one has to be committed to preparation. The Lord gave Perry Christie a message. Look at Perry Christie and look at the transformation.

"You can see therefore the discipline, the dedication, the commitment. There is no Edison Key, there is no Hubert Ingraham, there is no FNM that can substitute itself or themselves for the will of the people of this country.

"Edison Key knows why he left; Perry Christie knows why Edison Key left. Edison Key will not cause me to say now [why he left]. He knows; I know and one day I will say why."

On Friday night, Mr. Ingraham told delegates and other FNM supporters that it will not be long before they are all back in government.

But he stressed that FNMs cannot govern without PLPs and PLPs cannot govern without FNMs.

"United, we in the FNM are a mighty force. Together, all together, we are greater than the sum of our parts. Let us stand and stick together," the former prime minister urged.

He told FNMs that they must work day and night, month by month to "return to the place we want to be."

Mr. Ingraham also said, "This is no time for disloyalty or disaffection in our ranks. You are either with us or you are against us; you’re not going to stay inside and poison the atmosphere. This is a time for healing and for heeding the cry of the people."

He said the PLP, which promised help and hope, delivered "hot air and Junkanoo shuffles" and "has got to go."

But yesterday, Prime Minister Christie said during the PLP convention, which starts today, Bahamians can expect "a wonderful, dynamic experience to demonstrate that we are the majority party; that this little bubble that happened last week is merely that."

BY Tameka Lundy and Candia Dames

11 November 2005


Members of the Free National Movement voted almost two to one yesterday to reject the man who had been their leader for four short years, opting instead to replace him with the man who had “anointed” him to lead the party into the 2002 general elections.

Former prime minister Hubert Ingraham garnered 234 votes from delegates who cast their ballots, according to the unofficial results, winning by a large margin that left former leader Senator Tommy Turnquest earning 99 votes and Dion Foulkes trailing with a distant 40 votes.

The ballot counting at the convention site ended shortly before 7p.m.

Many delegates broke out in thunderous applause as chairman of the session Michael Barnett announced the results.

Sen. Turnquest entered the convention hall several hours later as hundreds of people stood to their feet and saluted him.

"I accept the will of the Free National Movement," he told The Bahama Journal soon afterwards. "Let us unify and begin the process to regain the Government of the Bahamas. I congratulate Mr. Ingraham on his victory."

Mr. Turnquest promised to give a more detailed response on Friday. Earlier in the day he told The Journal that he was disappointed that Mr. Ingraham had not kept his word, referring to him running for the leadership position.

Brent Symonette, the Member of Parliament for Montagu, was successful in his bid to secure the deputy leadership position, getting 168 votes. One hundred and twenty-four people voted for former party chairman Carl Bethel and former deputy leader Sidney Collie received 79 votes.

"There’s no turning back now. You will see a different programme and it will come forth with vitality and go straight through to our election victory," Mr. Symonette said confidently.

Mr. Bethel declined to comment and promised to release a statement.

Former Senator Desmond Bannister succeeded him as the new chairman-elect. In what was considered a fairly tight race, he secured 214 votes to his rival’s (Loretta Butler-Turner) 155.

"I promised all of our delegates that I would get into every constituency in the country, on the ground, and ensure that each one of them is ready for victory. I also promise them that as chairman I will raise the level of political debate," he said

Former Fox Hill MP Jaunianne Dorsette was voted in as the new Secretary General elect with 194 votes, beating out Ashley Cargill’s 179 votes. Former MICAL candidate Johnley Ferguson was elected as the Deputy Chairman.

The count for trustees is expected to take place this morning. There are more than 30 candidates who ran for 10 positions.

Michael Barnett, the session chairman, said it was one of the most keenly contested races for the party, where two to three candidates contested some 52 positions in most instances.

The installation of officers was scheduled for Saturday night.

Veteran FNM politician and former cabinet minister C.A. Smith opined that the election of a leader and deputy leader, who are both members of parliament, would auger well for the party.

"It provides the leader of the opposition, whose responsibility it would be to put forward the FNM’s agenda, whose responsibility it would be to oppose those things in parliament that are wrong…the fact that we now have a leader who is in the House of Assembly, I just believe this is an excellent thing," he said.

He said FNMs throughout the country had been expressing concern about the fact that there was no leader or deputy leader with a seat in the House.

Mr. Turnquest lost his seat in the Mount Moriah constituency in the 2002 general elections to Keod Smith.

Just over two hours after the count was concluded, Mr. Ingraham told reporters at a press conference in one of the suites of the Nassau Wyndham Resort that he would be ready and willing to lead the Free National Movement to victory if the election were called in the morning.

Mr. Ingraham was asked to respond to Mr. Turnquest’s statement that he [Mr. Ingraham] had gone back on his word.

"I told you that I did not decide to allow my name to go forward until Monday…," he said.

"I called Tommy and Dion both on Sunday night and I said I was not going to allow my name to go forward. I told you that the calls were incessant, the demands were great by party supporters and others throughout the country and I decided the following morning that I will allow my name to go forward. If you call that a breaking of a word, then I did; I don’t call it that though.

"I have a record that I am running on, that I stand on, that I sit on and I never seek to run away from. I think the people know that record and because they know it many, many persons would like to have more than they had before."

Mr. Ingraham was also asked whether he thought PLPs were "running scared."

"Oh no," he said. "The PLP is a major political party. It has substantial support in the country. They wouldn’t need to be running scared. We’ll have a good fight and they will expect to win and we will expect to win and at the end of the day one party will win."

A convoluted statement issued by former prime minister, Hubert Ingraham, yesterday is being interpreted by many political observers as his intension to accept a nomination for the leadership of the Free National Movement in the party’s convention, which begins today.

Those observers said the former prime minister’s nomination would evoke a certain amount of controversy and acrimony in the organization given that Mr. Ingraham would be going head to head with Senator Tommy Turnquest, his handpicked successor in 2001.

For several weeks, Mr. Turnquest, the current leader, sought to convince the media that Mr. Ingraham would not seek the leadership.

Mr. Turnquest told the press on several occasions that Mr. Ingraham had informed him that he was not interested in the position.

In his statement – which broke his silence on the whole leadership issue – Mr. Ingraham did not offer a straight yes or no answer, but made it clear that he would accept "the will of the people."

Mr Ingraham said: "I have steadfastly maintained that I was not seeking the leadership of the FNM. I also maintained that if it was the will of the people that I lead, I would listen. I accept that it is and must be the will of the people which ultimately determines who is best to lead, and that the will of the people should prevail."

While some political observers were interpreting Mr Ingraham’s statement as ambiguous, a senior party source told The Bahama Journal that the statement was a clear indication that if nominated, Mr Ingraham would run, and if elected he would serve to the best of his ability, "and he is ready to serve now more than ever."

Mr. Ingraham’s statement came the afternoon before the party’s nomination and appears to confirm speculation by some political observers that although Mr Ingraham ultimately does not wish to return to politics, he would not decline the leadership nomination. The statement was also faxed to all FNM MPs and party officers.

"I think Mr Ingraham’s statement is a clear indication that he intends to have his name put into nomination (Tuesday) for leadership of the FNM," Montagu MP Brent Symonette told The Bahama Journal last night.

Mr Symonette said that he thought Mr Ingraham’s return would be good for the party because popular opinion had been asking for the former prime minister’s return to the leadership post. "You have to consider that while the convention is the highest arm of the party, the entire populace makes up a greater part of the community than delegates of convention."

The FNM MP also did not believe Mr Ingraham’s nomination would split the party.

"I think whoever is elected leader on Thursday the party will rally around and fully support because at he end of the day, once the democratic process of electing the leader is over, the main objective then will be to win the next election, and that will be the party’s main focus," he said.

Mr Symonette said that he would support Mr Ingraham, who he feels would be a "very large" threat to the PLP.

Mr Ingraham said that the "crescendo" of voices throughout the nation compelled him to make a statement.

"It has been a humbling experience to realize that so many members of the Free National Movement, together with thousands of other Bahamians, on all sides of the political divide, want a better Bahamas, see a brighter future for our country, under my leadership, and that is why they have been agitating for my return to the party’s leadership," he said in his statement.

The former prime minister thanked all of those who have written, campaigned and spoken words to encourage him to return to lead the FNM.

At the weekend, scores of Ingraham supporters pushing for the prime minister’s return as party leader took part in a motorcade through New Providence, weeks after the FNM council sided with FNM MPs who wanted the former prime minister to lead them in the House of Assembly

Leadership contender Dion Foulkes told The Bahama Journal yesterday that Mr Ingraham’s statement would not affect his decision to run for the party’s top post.

"I have said from the beginning that I am nominating, no matter who is in the running, until the last ballot is counted," Mr. Foulkes said.

He said that he is confident he has the majority support of the delegates and said that he is the only candidate who has come up with a reform programme for the party.

"I believe that I am the only leadership candidate that can unify the party at this time," he said. "I will be campaigning for as many votes as possible and I am confident that I will get the majority."

Mr Turnquest could not be reached for comment yesterday.