By DANA SMITH
dsmith@tribunemedia.net
COMPANIES who hire foreigners must send “justification” for every employee they have on work permit to the government, according to Minister of Labour and National Insurance Shane Gibson.
Speaking in an interview on Patty Roker’s Island FM radio show Parliament Street, Mr Gibson said he’s putting employers “on notice” and the issuing of labour certificates will no longer be “business as usual”.
Using the Bahamas Telecommunication Company (BTC) as an example of a company that has employees on work permits, he explained labour certificates will now be “systematically denied” where there are Bahamians that can do the job.
“I found it so offensive that BTC... they now have over 40 persons on work permit,” Mr Gibson said. “Why would BTC need 40 work permits to operate telecommunications of the Bahamas?”
Noting the Grand Bahama Power Company is “the same thing” with around 20 to 30 work permits, he asked: “Every little thing, we’re bringing in foreigners – why do we need that?
“I’m now instructing the Labour Department to contact these employers, let them know I want them to send me a justification for every single individual they have on work permit and give me a time-frame as to when these individuals will be out of the Bahamas and these jobs will be turned over to Bahamians.”
He continued: “I’m putting all the employers on notice that it will not be business as usual as far as getting labour certificates – we will not be issuing labour certificates. Send us your plan, let us know your succession plan, tell us we don’t have any Bahamians qualified to do this job now, so I’m bringing in this person for six months, this individual will be understudying them and so I’m requesting a labour certificate.
“Once you’re able to justify it, we’re going to give you a labour certificate. Other than that, we will be systematically denying those labour certificates where we have Bahamians – we cannot have Bahamians sitting down in the Bahamas watching all these foreigners come and work while they’re sitting down home, could do the work, but doing nothing.”
However, when asked to comment, companies that employ many foreigners said they already provide justification to the Department of Labour.
Senior vice president of public affairs and retail services for Kerzner International Ed Fields said: “That’s what we do anyway – that is what’s required of work permits.
“We already provide that information as normal course of application. Every application that we make to the Ministry of Labour and Immigration has to, as per requirement, provide a justification. We’ve always done that as a matter of process as required by the Department of Immigration.”
Although stressing he was not aware of the context of Mr Gibson’s comments, Baha Mar senior vice president of administration and external affairs Robert Sands made a similar statement.
“Baha Mar has a Heads of Agreement that speaks to certain work permits that will be required as a result of our project,” he said. “Every time we submit an application, the justification for its requirement certainly is there.”
Mr Sands added that work permit requests for Baha Mar are actually trending lower than originally expected.
Also responding, senior manager of public relations for BTC, Jerome Sawyer, first noted that 99 per cent of the company’s employees are Bahamian and current employees on work permits already have time-frames and justifications.
“The majority of those work permits were secured for individuals working for the company’s suppliers who are here for specified periods for specified projects,” he said.
Mr Sawyer also pointed to BTC CEO Geoff Houston’s earlier remarks at a press conference on Monday.
“It has always been and always will be our ambition to keep BTC predominantly as a Bahamian company,” Mr Houston said.
“Our commitment is always to look first for Bahamian talent locally even if that means we have to take more of a developmental approach when we bring new people in who may not be well versed in the industry or the business or the technology. We are going to take that investment to train and develop.”
Noting BTC has hired around 40 to 50 Bahamians in the past six months, he continued: “If I look at the number of what you might call foreigners in the business, the number of foreigners are actually predominantly working for our suppliers... We have a very, very small number of active full time employees who are foreigners in the business.”
• See today’s Tribune Business for reaction from the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce.
Comments
MartGM 12 years, 6 months ago
Is that the best picture you could find of Mr. Gibson, Tribune...
1plpgovernment 12 years, 6 months ago
http://tribune242.com/users/photos/2012… Yes, This is a better pic.........one for governmental scrutiny.........(labour and immigration) and transparency.
cmiller 12 years, 6 months ago
Yes!! Kudos to Shane Gibson!! DOING HIS JOB!!!! Good job, Mr Gibson.
NoellePina 12 years, 6 months ago
Unfortunately with the lack of education and capabilities of too many in the population, companies who are striving to ADD to the economy of the Bahamas will HAVE to look abroad for certain technical and other positions that require specialties that are not available in the Bahamas. Companies have said for years that the Bahamian workforce is not up to par. What are they supposed to do? Risk having someone not capable in the position when they are in the business of making money? I think not!
spoitier 12 years, 6 months ago
That is why he said send him justification and then give him a time frame as to when these people will be leaving. You can train anyone to do anything.
jj 12 years, 6 months ago
How long would it take to train someone to run a major hotel and resort? 10 years, 15 years?
spoitier 12 years, 6 months ago
The Bahamas have been in the Hotel industry for decades and you mean to tell me that we don't have no capable Bahamians to run a hotel? Find another industry to say that about because a lot of our management skills in the hotels are better than a lot of places around the world, now customer service may need to step up quite a bit.
concernedcitizen 12 years, 6 months ago
there are alot of bahamian GM,s ,,,,when people invest alot of money they like to have their people watch it ,,this is just noise to soften up CWC ,,the investors will get all the permits they want under the PLP one way or another ,,this is emotional banter for the masses ...rah rah bahamiansfirst
242 12 years, 6 months ago
You cannot train anyone to do anything. Erryone would be a doctor or engineer. You got to have the credentials bruh. If there is a qualified person in line by all means let them do the job. But to get a random MP niece or nephew, I say no.
concernedcitizen 12 years, 6 months ago
i agree!!!!!!!!!!!!
spoitier 12 years, 6 months ago
Dude you can take someone with above average intelligence and train him to do open heart surgery. School is there for vetting people.
242 12 years, 6 months ago
lol there is a possibility you can find that above average person but who hiring him/her to do open heart surgery unless they name Vivien Thomas
spoitier 12 years, 6 months ago
The point isn't someone hiring him or if someone would let him do surgery on them, the point is people can be trained. All doctors aren't geniuses, they were trained to do their jobs, I was trained to do my job as a network engineer and I've trained others that haven't even seen a router before. I wonder who started the position as a physician and which school he went too.
242 12 years, 6 months ago
Good point but think of how many failed experiments they had to perform before they got it right. Which adds up to more costs. I ain't saying there aren't any jobs at all where people can be trained. In the case of this "investigation" or war on BTC. How do you train someone without bringing the experienced trainer.
spoitier 12 years, 6 months ago
And that should be one of the only job that is a continueous job of a non-Bahamian, by the way there are a lot fail open heart surgery by new doctors as well as experience ones, failing is part of the process of learning. I'm not advocating that people shouldn't go to school because I'm in school, but I can learn a lot of these things on the job and I know a lot of them anyways. You are making a lot of good points though.
concernedcitizen 12 years, 6 months ago
this is just emotional cake for the masses ,the big investors will get all the permits they need or want under the PLP...this is just rah rah bahamians first horn blowing ,,when people invest alot of money they like their own to watch it ,,,,simple
John 12 years, 6 months ago
Don't forget to visit Abaco and North Eleuthera and see the number of Haitians working in these areas.illegal.. ANd take customs with you to the Northern Bahamas especially. These islands are flourishing because they evade customs duties while Bahamians in Nassau, Central and the Southern Bahamas are burdened to the teeth with taxes. And many of the residents are non-Bahamian. Bahamian money could hardly spend in some parts because everyone jumps in a speed boat or yatch and goes to Maimi to shop duty free..
Stameko 12 years, 6 months ago
So he'll do a better job of vetting each application than he did for Anna Nicole? Perhaps BTC should only hire tall blondes from overseas.
On a serious note, I think the principle is good, but to my knowledge it is already enshrined in immigration requirements that companies have to justify each position.
concernedcitizen 12 years, 6 months ago
does that include all of us who got permit for hatians through favor and pimp them out ,,,its like, get rid of hatians but not the ones i sold my birth right too for a few dollars ,,i live oon a family island and i could bring you 10 people tomorrow that got 3 and 4 work permits for hatians that work elsewhere ,,that 30 to 40 mostly men living ,going to our hospitals and making babys ,,we been selling ourselves for 40 yrs ,,give me 5000 cash and i will get u 2 work permits
concernedcitizen 12 years, 6 months ago
shakedown coming at btc ,,to get the 2% majority back ,the only thing PGC can give is a longer monopoly ,,,,,bahamians first in high cell phone rates
PKMShack 12 years, 6 months ago
Sound good my brother Shane but what you calling for has been the process since 2002. What new are you talking about? More hot air as usual. I sure would like him to name a company that is not doing what he is speaking of. Hot air.
242352 12 years, 6 months ago
We all do that now. The process is already in place, this is just pandering to the people who voted for jobs and haven't got one yet. Smoke screen...
This kind of talk does not bode well for outside investment. Not many investors would not want to set up a 'Wiget Plant' here and not be able to bring in thier chief wiget maker. Investors read this website and our comments. So far the PLP has not said anything warm and fussy to attract any new FDR.
concernedcitizen 12 years, 6 months ago
they like to attract the slippery type that pay under the table to wash their ill gotten gains here,hows that 2 billion dollar Ginn project going ????
bookiedread 12 years, 6 months ago
There is no transparency in this. It looks like a shake down to me. But it really is a wonderful message Mr. Gibson is sending to foreign investors. NOT!!!!!!!
jj 12 years, 6 months ago
Would you invest millions in a resort, when you couldn't even have your own people running the place? No? Neither would most of these foreign investors.
bahamaali 12 years, 6 months ago
Way to go Mr. Gibson. Am sure the entire country will support this much needed endeavor.
concernedcitizen 12 years, 6 months ago
i live on a family island ,i could ride into town tomorrow w/ the rigth amount of cash and get two work permits ,or find someone that got a couple hatian under work permit ,indentured servants ,and get them to work ,,manson ,carpenters ,etc ,,we been selling oursleve for 40 ,,at least we get more from the big firms and their workers leave at some point
242 12 years, 6 months ago
How do you expect a new company to operate without bringing with them the people who know how to do the job. Picking on BTC to make the 48 per-centers happy is ludicrous.
TalRussell 12 years, 6 months ago
I would ask PM Christie to take the approach of while making it clear that his government will no longer be in the business of rubber stamping" work permits but his government understands that there will still be limited occasions whereby a non- native will be approved for a work permit.
Cosmo 12 years, 6 months ago
The work permitting process for foreign workers is mostly a sham. In 2010 was one of those "foreign workers" working as an employee of a BTC supplier (a software company) and the only thing that the Labour Ministry wanted were the fees from the permits. They frequently lost the paperwork submitted by BTC, and only issued the permits when I physically came to the Ministry office with documentation and demanded that the permit be produced to make sure I was not going to face any repercussions from working in the Bahamas on the project I was assigned. Clean up the corrupt and ineffective bureaucracy instead of penalizing companies that are employing workers both domestic and foreign.
concernedcitizen 12 years, 6 months ago
good point ,but this goverment is more into whipping foriegners that we need for our very survival ,,they mostly make noise for the massaes then deal w/ the foriegn firms behind clothes doors ,after they whip them a bit in the press to soften them up,,the PLP,S MANTRA WHITEY BAD HE GA TAKE EVERYTHING ,mind u we have had maturity rule for 39 yrs
mynameis 12 years, 6 months ago
OH! OH! Get ready! The new Minister of Labour has identified a loophole in the process that needs to be closed! NOT! I suppose that for those who do not know what the process for a work permit entails, then what the Minister has stated is revolutionary! Minister Gibson really should stop with the posturing and the smoke and mirrors. The only company he wanted to target in this self-aggrandizing statement was BTC! But he knew he couldn't just signal BTC out, so he dragged in all employers. Please! So transparent!
242 12 years, 6 months ago
I agree.
concernedcitizen 12 years, 6 months ago
you got it ,but 48% of the people will lap this up like mana from heaven
mynameis 12 years, 6 months ago
By the way, I hope that this scrutiny extends to all of the domestic help that his parliamentary colleagues have brought into this country...the latest wave is Filipinos. Surely, there must be some Bahamian out there who knows how to swab a toilet...but maybe not...
242 12 years, 6 months ago
Is it ironic that Shane Gibson of all people in charge of this.
mynameis 12 years, 6 months ago
I would really be impressed if the Minister had said that the Government is going to amend the immigration laws so that it looks something like the immigration laws of Bermuda - five year maximum for work permit per person. After the time has expired, and unless you are married to a Bermudan, you have to pack your georgie bundle and go, no exceptions, no renewals after the fifth permit issued. Now that announcement would have been revolutionary!
Stameko 12 years, 6 months ago
intersting thought but not going well as they realize it is beginning to cripple their bread and butter insurance industry, and firms are likely to pull out as a result. See http://bermudasun.bm/main.asp?SectionID…
jj 12 years, 6 months ago
But those upper level jobs don't end up going to locals after 5 years, the company just brings in another foreigner to do it.
mynameis 12 years, 6 months ago
The point of the suggestion was that if we say that our present permit process is broken, inefficient, failing, etc., then the solution cannot be that the Minister must personally vet each and every single permit. The solution must be legislative. If we are going to really change anything, it cannot be a case of a subjective assessment which subjective assessment inevitably will result in claims of victimization, bias, prejudice, etc. The assessment must always be objective. If the system is not working, then change the system at its root. Look around and take what's working from other jurisdictions, or craft something new. But do more than you're doing now!!
concernedcitizen 12 years, 6 months ago
yes but if the minister vets every proposal he is in the money seat ,he can make or break an investment and line his own pockets ,,he is really whipping CWC to soften them up tp return 2% for a trade for a longer monopoly,,,bahamians first w/ high cell phone rate
conian 12 years, 6 months ago
How about taking action when a permit holder is found working for someone other than who holds the Permit.......and in an all together different category than what the Permit allows....
jj 12 years, 6 months ago
I agree that there are lots of jobs that require basic skills and education that should absolutely NOT go to foreigners.
But the problem is that we have an economy that is largely driven by tourism. The only way to get these tourists to come here is to offer them a "world class" resort experience. And to do that we have to let these resorts bring in world class employees for certain jobs. If Atlantis had to remove all foreigners from the payroll, it would be no time before the quality of service suffered and it would soon be empty. And then where would we be? Thousands of locals would be out of a job.
It's even worse for the smaller resort destinations, where, without a few key people with the proper skills and experience, the resort will stagnate instead of flourish.
Take a look at any job listing site and search for "manager" or "director" level jobs. They want very specific job skills and many years of experience along with the proper education. It just isn't practical to think that an understudy could be trained to do one of these jobs.
Allow these tourist based companies to bring in the best people for the job and everything else will take care of itself. Resorts will expand and generate more and more new job for Bahamians.
Making the work permit process more difficult doesn't help anyone and it will cost the government millions each year in permit fees. Let's remember, those fees generate 50 million dollars each year. Where will that money come from, if we eliminate work permits? The answer is easy - our pockets
concernedcitizen 12 years, 6 months ago
this is just noise for the masses ,think about the offshore banks without foriegn managers ,,,this is to soften up btc,,,,
spoitier 12 years, 6 months ago
That is why foriegners treat Bahamians bad because people like you feel like it is impossible to be train to do a job or Bahamians isn't good enough to be trained. The world class employees you're talking about was trained by someone, so not only that Bahamians can be trained there are Bahamians who have work in the field for years and have been to school for Hotel Management.
concernedcitizen 12 years, 6 months ago
yeah yeah the big companies will get as many permits as they need under the PLP ,,This is retoric for the masses , this is a not so subtle first shot across the bow of CWC,,this is saying its going to cost u more and we want it appear to the people that you gave us that 2% of BTC back ,,then we all going go in the back and cut up the cake ,and stick them w/ high cell rates ,cuz u know like Miller said dey is dumb
spoitier 12 years, 6 months ago
ConcernedCitizen I know that you are intelligent, however sometimes your points are partisan base because the samething was happening under the FNM and if this was Tommy T saying this after an election you probably would be saying it is time to start doing it. I can admit that Shane is a disgrace and shouldn't have that position, the PLP is running a slack ship, Hubert I is to bossie and think he is the only one that can run a country and Branville M don't know how to straddle his mouth and had some scab politicians running for the DNA. See I can say the good, the bad and ugly about all of them, so show me some unbias on political blogs, your intelligence shine a lot on other blogs but I think you are somewhat bias when it comes to political blogs... You're not in TalRussells category, but still somewhat bias.
concernedcitizen 12 years, 6 months ago
your are right i am partisan i don,t particuly like PGC and the crowd around him ,before i liked him and thought he wasn,t tough enough ,,,with the people he brought back i wonder about his integrity ,,it was time for HAI to go the people spoke ,,,i think OHW is good in tourism .. i wasn,t an outstanding citizen in the 80,s 90,s thank God he helped me change ,,i knew who would play ball and would not ,i know who was meeting in omni hotel rooms ,hey a couple FMNS too but ,the majority of the facillatators ,our now all up in the present goverment
mynameis 12 years, 6 months ago
This whole announcement is puzzling to me in the context of the fact that we have some serious illegal immigration/resident/workers issues. Yet, Mr. Gibson is focusing on the legitimate permit holders, the fees from whom go to the Consolidated Fund, and who (employer and permit holder) by applying for and paying for a work permit comply with the immigration laws of this country, and who, depending on the reason for the work permit, leave once their permits have expired (does not refer to the domestic help, maintenance men, farm helpers etc. that live in this country). In contrast, he doesn't utter a peep about the thousands of undocumented workers and illegal residents in this country who don't comply with the laws, do not pay any monies by way of application and permit fees into the Consolidated fund, but who benefit from the services which are paid for out of the Consolidated fund, and certainly must be taking jobs that Bahamians are capable of performing. There is no succession plan for this type of individual due to their unregularized status. We have no idea when they are going to leave and since they didn't seek permission to enter and stay, we can't say how long they will be in the positions they are in. So ultimately, no Bahamian will ever succeed to those positions. Translation: Bahamian out of work. PLEASE MR. MINISTER, you mean to say you don't recognize that the greater threat to Bahamian jobs is the thousands of illegal workers in this country as compared to the holders of legitimate work permits? Man, you need to get real!!
concernedcitizen 12 years, 6 months ago
he check with Peete to see if his closet secure now ,shame thinks he going to need more closet space once he explain to these tricky foreigners the new tax on work permit.....and that screw up face ,,shakedown coming
Concerned 12 years, 6 months ago
How can a man with a known history of granting foreigners special immigration favours be given the same power again to repeat the international embarrassment over again? Are we slow to learn? The only results of this shake down will be that foreign companies will get frustrated with the higher level of scrutiny and cronyism and will pull out on projects, and someone/s pockets will get more full as the system will be more susceptible to payouts and corruption.
spoitier 12 years, 6 months ago
Now this is a sound point, I can tell which party some people follow base on their point but this one is a good one irregardless.
concernedcitizen 12 years, 6 months ago
thats what they want ,why would u put a name who sold his birth right in charge of permits ,man u coul only sell 10 or 20 residency permits a year w/ out getting catch ,,now work permit u could sell bout 500 of them
exuma123 12 years, 6 months ago
If he is genuine as to what he is stating then by all means this is what needs to be done and should have been standard practice. However we all know a lot of under the table deals go on and that is why things are the way they are now! I read some of the comments about scaring off foreign investors and such, which is all bull we understand that businesses are here to make money. It’s just going about it in the right way. I know of many companies that employ workers who are not Bahamian but the jobs they are doing Bahamians can do! And yes there is an expectation for those highly skilled jobs that requires some sort of major certification in which will take years but companies themselves should think of the bottom line. While when they bring in their foreign workers they have to pay thousands of dollars for their work permits along with paying in many cases for living arrangement and other benefits, all of this immediately affect their bottom-line why not try and train or educate Bahamians to save the company a lot of money (case in point SANDALS EMERALD BAY) that is all!!
mynameis 12 years, 6 months ago
By your example that there are companies employing workers who are not Bahamians but are jobs which Bahamians can do, you assist me in making the point that the solution isn't really that the Minister must scrutinize every permit, particularly as the process actually requires him as Minister (delegated by the Prime Minister) to participate as part of the Immigration Board in the permit issuing process. The solution is to change the law and the procedures we use. Presently, an employer is required to go to the Department of Labour to confirm that there are no Bahamians registered with that Department with the qualifications being sought by the employer. This is a broken part of the process, 'cause really, how many Bahamians feel confident in the ability of the Departmentof Labour? Just going through the motions. Then, the job is supposed to be advertised and again the Department is supposed to certify that that there are no Bahamians. But this really only happens for the jobs like maids and handymen (check out the want ads for proof). The big investor never follows this process, therefore the possibly qualified Bahamian never knows about the job. So, we have a supposed system in place that employers are not complying with, and I daresay the Minister and the Department of Immigration is not complying with, and now the Minister wants to call foul, when it's his job to ensure compliance. I say the solution really is transparency. Every single applicatiion for a permit should be placed in the Gazette for public access. The employer should be required to list the requirements, the pay and benefits being offered to the potential expat employee, and Bahamians should be able to object to the hiring of such a person. I guarantee you that if there is a qualified Bahamian out there, he or she will be the first to object. But you can't object if you don't know what to object to. You really can only justify your actions if you're being challenged on your actions. Everything really is too closeted.
jj 12 years, 6 months ago
They hire those people and pay all that extra money, because those people are needed and WORTH IT. There is just no way that a country of 343,000 people can provide enough highly skilled, experienced workers for all jobs. We all know what happens to Bahamians who go to the USA to be educated and gain job skills --- They stay there.
Cc 12 years, 6 months ago
Ha! trust me, sometimes we bring in foreigners jus cus we think "foreign is right". At my workplace, we have a foreigner on a 2-year contract, making $7000 per month who , after 1 year, still does not understand the internal processes and procedures within the company. This person is constantly apologising for "doing this wrong, and doing that wrong". The competent, black, Bahamian management team daily scratch their heads in wonder, as this person brings nothing to table and has in fact hindered the development in the company, while these Bahamian black managers have to clean up this person's messes on a regular basis. The only reason this person was brought in was because the CEO does not "beleive in Bahmians", does not want to pay these Bahmaians what he knows they deserve, and because he believes that "white is right". Full stop. Hard truth. Let's just suck it up, shall we?
concernedcitizen 12 years, 6 months ago
that person is there to watch their money ,just like if i opened a business in say the U/S i would want one of mine to watch my money
concernedcitizen 12 years, 6 months ago
i,m going to say this and everyone going tear my head off ,,so what ..we theif too much ,thats why they want some one there watching their money ,,,i remember on Jones and co ,they asked B farrington ,one of the most senior bahamians at Alantis why our rates are so much higher than say D/R ,,he said one, we are paid better and two, we like to move things that arn,t ours ....thats a polite way of saying we theif too much ..just look at our lawyers with foriegn clients money
spoitier 12 years, 6 months ago
That is somewhat true.
OMG 12 years, 6 months ago
Who is Shayne Gibson to take the high moral ground.
Puzzled 12 years, 6 months ago
Surely this is just pandering to those who put him in power. I hope that he is smart enough to know that when BTC, BEC etc bring in new technology they also bring in technicians to set it up and train people who have never seen it before. I notice that he does not mention the LPIA rebuilding which has an incredibly high proportion of ex pat supervision and is moving forward very efficiently. The Bahamar project Chinese supervising Chinese just keeps on going. Whereas the NPRIP supervised by a few Argentinians and crewed almost entirely by Bahamians has been so bad that it seems to have been one of the major reasons the current government has moved into power. I know he is smart enough to realise this he is just posturing for his supporters.
1plpgovernment 12 years, 6 months ago
http://tribune242.com/users/photos/2012…
haitianboy 12 years, 6 months ago
With all due respect Mr. Gibson if Bahamians were qualified and wanted to work, there wouldn’t have been an immigration issue to begin with. “Dem foreigners, dem foreigners”………yeah but we need “dem foreigners” to invest and create jobs. Foreigners are treated like potcakes; Bahamians only know them when they need them. Pride, pride, pride!!!! All I keep on hearing is how,” I’m proud to be a Bahamian”. Haitians are doing jobs most Bahamians don’t want and large corporations are importing expats with special training because Bahamians, especially the men, are too lazy to go to school and get an education. Majority of Bahamians are looking for fast money with little effort, that’s why so many are into drugs and number houses are making millions every year. If you want to get rid of foreigners, start in the schools and educate the Bahamian children. Do a survey and recognize the areas where specialty skills are needed and implement training programs just for Bahamians. Provide more contractual scholarships with a clause that recipients must return to the Bahamas after college and work for a number of years, if they don’t prosecute their behinds. Education is the solution to just about every situation.
concernedcitizen 12 years, 6 months ago
this is all us againts them talk for the poor and uneducated ,the same thing the pastor do , i,m not equating shame to hltler ,but that is a classic example of how you get masses to follow you w/ zenophobia ,,we good we great ,but them from over there they bad ,,you think anyone is going to invest big bucks with out having their people watch their money ,,the big investors will get all the permits they need, hes just talking for the dumb bells sitting on the blocks waiting for their PLP mana
Stameko 12 years, 6 months ago
There is of course another reality...there are those who prefer to be big big fish in a small small pond, say they will protect the little fish, but in reality just like being big fish and when the little fish ain't looking grab all the food or gobble the little ones up....too much progress and the resultant higher education means people begin to see through the rhetoric - not good for politics.
242 12 years, 6 months ago
i take it this election also reminds you of the book "Animal Farm" by George Orwell
concernedcitizen 12 years, 6 months ago
and how 242
242 12 years, 6 months ago
If you familiar with the story think of Mr. Jones as the UBP, Old Major as Sir LOP, Snowball as HAI/FNM, Napoleon as PGC/plp 2.0, Squealer as Keith Bell/Nottage/Etc. Old Major came up with the idea for the animals to be free and run the farm themselves. He died and the new leaders emerged. Snowball focused his time and energy on teaching the newly free animals how to read and other valuable skills. He also wanted to make sure the farm would be able to last in the future. Napoleon felt only the pigs(the farm leaders) should know this stuff. So he ran Snowball off so he could run the farm his own way. Once the animals got their little share of food at the end of a hard day of work they were happy. Soon Napoleon started changing the laws of the farm on the sly making so that the Pigs always got wealthier and what they wanted. Squealer's job was to make sure the animals always believed these changes were for THEIR benefit. And always told them if they don't listen Mr. Jones(the UBP) would return. And they shouldn't believe anything Snowball(HAI) ever told them because everything that went wrong on animal farm was his fault and he was secretly allied to Mr. Jones. The sheep on the farm would always believe no matter what but the other animals would get skeptical so this is where Squealer would come in...
concernedcitizen 12 years, 6 months ago
YEAH THATS ABOUT IT
chuck 12 years, 6 months ago
Buxom blond playmates go to the front of the queue.
concernedcitizen 12 years, 6 months ago
preferably with a dope habit ,
maryann 12 years, 6 months ago
Yes! stop these Bahamians from applying for work permit for these foreigners for jobs in which bahamians can do .Why is it that a person on a work permit can move from job to job as simple as working in a beauty store or a food store while the Bahamians have to collect unemployment ? .The immigration Department allow these things to happen,because when you call them with the information it is never investigated.Once they get their hookup with someone in the Immigration Department they then tries to bring in their friends and families.
Bril 12 years, 6 months ago
Wow what a response this has evoked. Immigration issues definitely strike a cord with Bahamians but we have been too afraid to deal with it. There are some hard truths that we must face and the sooner we do the better for the country. The reason we have this problem with permits etc is because we have no clear immigration policy. Every new minister wants to do it different to show they're doing something. Mr. Gibson has a point that cannot be overlooked. We have companies mainly banks that bring in foreigners under the radar. Everyone is looking at the Haitian or Jamaican as an illegal migrant. But we overlook the people who come in suits and ties. A few things come to my mind when I think about this. The first is, we have have a disjointed and woefully disorganized department of immigration. Second, that immigration for the Bahamas just like any other country is an emotional issue that plays on the fears of people. Third, like other countries we need immigration but there must be a controlled process that creates the right social and economic balance.
The problem that I have with Bahamian ministers in this and previous governments is this very public, aggressive stance that they take. It doesn't look good and it shows the lack of diplomacy that ministers have. We have international partners and companies that have done well for the Bahamas and Bahamians. We need to be careful how we handle issues. When there is tension it is often better to use a nuanced approach to achieve your objective. Lets setup a system that is fair and timely. When the law is breached let us deal with it appropriately and in a timely manner. That is how we show the companies that we mean business. Not by issuing a big warning in the media that gives the appearance that the government is inflexible.
242352 12 years, 6 months ago
This is simple.
You want a permit - you go see Shane and after YOU PAY HIM UNDER THE TABLE -you get your permit!
Just take note of what he declared in assets before the election.
Then check in five years when he runs again!
Oh, don't think that he ani't slick enough to hide his assets as well.
Same a s labour problems - Just see Shane - HE CAN HELP....
nahbruh 12 years, 6 months ago
This is a joke right? It has to be. There are two real issues here...first someone is brought in with maybe with the education/qualifications (say a degree or masters that took four to six years to obtain), the experience (say three or more years experience) and yet someone who doesn't have any of the qualifications/education or experience is expected to understudy the worker for six months to two years to get the work after the worker cannot get his/her permit renewed? If I am in an occupation that is highly skilled (e.g systems analyst/educator/anywhere in the medical field), do you really want someone who might only have two years on the job training to succeed me if you are the employer (or customer/client) simply because the understudy was born here?
The other issue is this, if I am understudy and I shadow this worker for two or more years, from whence shall the money come to pay me enough during the two years? What if the business has say three foreign workers and three understudies who shadow them, does the business have to dig three times deeper to pay the understudies as well? I assume so. What about the school system (especially the private schools that have a majority of foreign teachers) Are all these teachers going to be understudied too, and does the school have to pay for each understudy?
I can hear Bob Marley now..."Exodus, movement of Jah people...exodus"
crobards 12 years, 6 months ago
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proudloudandfnm 12 years, 6 months ago
Does the minister of labor have anything to do with authorizing work permits? Or is this just another of Shames silly tactics?
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