Amybc 11 years, 6 months ago on No charges after two killed when hit by car
No charges after two killed when hit by car
This is a travesty. What kind of system is Exuma governed under? I am a frequent visitor to the Bahamas but this sort of thing is frightening and definitely makes a person wonder whether to just stay away. How can the "Inspector" make this kind of judgment call at this phase? What are the circumstances of the driver who killed these two innocent people? I am disgusted with the Bahamas more and more every day when I hear about how their "justice system" operates.
jackflash 11 years, 6 months ago on No charges after two killed when hit by car
No charges after two killed when hit by car
Sounds like he has realitives in high places....
shortpants 11 years, 6 months ago on No charges after two killed when hit by car
No charges after two killed when hit by car
Exuma is where everything is sweep under the rug .Nothing is solve in Exuma you can commit murder any crime and get away with it. Exuma needs a good cleaning up from the Police,Doctors Lawyers even the Indian chief all are crooked .Check and see if any crimes and murders were ever solve in this little corrupt island .God help them all cause they need help badly .The Police knows who sells the drugs ,but love to pick up the small man who only want to smoke some pot and chill ,pickup the real culprits and than the small man would go back to drinking which is worse than pot The Magistrate who they have their is a joke but she come to clean up sending all those young men up to Fox Hell do your job and send the people that are causing havoc to the young men yes you'll know who they are . Don't mind that beautiful island full of corruption from the top to the bottom.
marrcus 11 years, 6 months ago on No charges after two killed when hit by car
No charges after two killed when hit by car
What about "hit and run?" and fleeing the scene of an accident. When life is lost, this is a felony in civilized societies, punishable by jail sentence, civil fines and community work. You telling me that in the Bahamas I can run two people down, kill them dead, and drive home to sleep it off till the morning and then turn myself in, and have no charges put against me? Mudda Sick. This boy must be real "special."
ivyelden 10 years, 11 months ago on Operation Potcake has been cancelled following opposition from local vets. How do you think the spay and neuter programme should be run?
Operation Potcake has been cancelled following opposition from local vets. How do you think the spay and neuter programme should be run?
And where do they think the people who "own" these animals are going to get $50? These animals would never, ever see vet for any reason, due to their "owners" inability or unwillingness to pay....ergo, would it not make perfect sense to spay/neuter them for free so that they are at least not reproducing endlessly? And the local vets are not the slightest bit interested in doing this, so if we have volunteers willing to come to our country and take their precious time to help alleviate our stray dog problem (which, by the way, affects our tourist industry negatively), why not welcome them with open arms???? Other Caribbean countries are certainly taking advantage of their generosity! This is a no-brainer!
proudloudandfnm 10 years, 11 months ago on Operation Potcake has been cancelled following opposition from local vets. How do you think the spay and neuter programme should be run?
Operation Potcake has been cancelled following opposition from local vets. How do you think the spay and neuter programme should be run?
Or let the local vets do it for free.
FamilyIslandMan123 10 years, 11 months ago on Operation Potcake has been cancelled following opposition from local vets. How do you think the spay and neuter programme should be run?
Operation Potcake has been cancelled following opposition from local vets. How do you think the spay and neuter programme should be run?
This was a good thing, a simple thing. People coming from all over to help our Potcakes, educate our children and support our Bahamaland. Sad that sick, selfish, money hungry fools can hurt us all this way. It's just sad. Please let us know if we can help in some other way.
HarryWyckoff 10 years, 11 months ago on Operation Potcake has been cancelled following opposition from local vets. How do you think the spay and neuter programme should be run?
Operation Potcake has been cancelled following opposition from local vets. How do you think the spay and neuter programme should be run?
Really, how backwards is the VMAB being here.
They've had years to step up and help with the nation's Potcake problem, and have failed miserably.
Now they are refusing to allow vets VOLUNTEERING from overseas to enter the country to help deal with the problem.
And why? Because somehow, they think these stray potcakes should all be paying $50 each.
I guess the VMAB isn't quite smart enough to realise that STRAY dogs don't have owners. Or bank accounts. or $50 in cash between their paws.
Protectionist fools who put profit before betterment of the country.
They are a disgrace.
Jack 10 years, 11 months ago on Operation Potcake has been cancelled following opposition from local vets. How do you think the spay and neuter programme should be run?
Operation Potcake has been cancelled following opposition from local vets. How do you think the spay and neuter programme should be run?
Bizzell. If you're not making any money they why are you trying to stop others from coming in?? If you were so sure that you're just breaking even then it would make much more sense for you to just let the other vets come and do the full 5 days while you guys get on with your precious practices.
You've never supported this project, you sure as hell don't care about animals, only turning a profit. Bahamian vets doing something for free, don't make me laugh.
JackG 10 years, 11 months ago on Operation Potcake has been cancelled following opposition from local vets. How do you think the spay and neuter programme should be run?
Operation Potcake has been cancelled following opposition from local vets. How do you think the spay and neuter programme should be run?
If you really do pro bono spay and neuter why do you need $50 per dog? Perhaps you need to look up what pro bono really means. Just saying.....
Jack 10 years, 11 months ago on Operation Potcake has been cancelled following opposition from local vets. How do you think the spay and neuter programme should be run?
Operation Potcake has been cancelled following opposition from local vets. How do you think the spay and neuter programme should be run?
To be honest I've never been to a country, and I've lived in several, where I have to question the vets as much as I do here. The average animal lover in the Bahamas seems to have a better idea than you lot on the whole. You don't get respect because you don't deserve it as a group and this whole fiasco just proves the point.
Animal_Lover 10 years, 11 months ago on Operation Potcake has been cancelled following opposition from local vets. How do you think the spay and neuter programme should be run?
Operation Potcake has been cancelled following opposition from local vets. How do you think the spay and neuter programme should be run?
As one of the committee members for organizing Operation Potcake, I am incredibly disappointed and discouraged by the letter we received on Friday November 22nd from the Vet Assoc. Earlier in the year we spent time discussing with the vets the way forward and have worked to foster good relations. We hosted a gathering in August with all the local vets to discuss why High Volume MASH Clinics and being in the communities is so important, to hear any concerns and to come to a mutual agreement. We attempted to fill the 5 day schedule with local vets (to which they agreed to donate their time but we would pay for materials at $30) but when the schedule was not adding up, we wrote an email and requested the help from foreign vets to come in. This would allow local vets to help as they could on a rotation basis (at the price of $30 and they would bring their materials) and still tend to their practices.
This email was sent on Sunday September 8th to all the vets, and then on Wednesday September 18th, Dr. Peter Bizzell and I spoke on the phone to which he, as the president of the VMAB at the time, agreed to allow us to bring in a total of 7 vets.
Because I trusted and had utmost respect for Dr. Bizzell and I thought we were all working towards the same goal - to reduce the suffering of animals, the number of unwanted roaming strays, and the numbers in the shelter - I had no reason to feel that this should have been in writing. I am a trusting person, and take a respectable person at their word. After all, we are working towards the same thing, so why would I need to worry? I did send this email to him to document our conversation:
Date: Wed, Sep 18, 2013 at 10:50 AM Subject: Further to our talk To: Peter Bizzell Cc: Operation Potcake Dear Dr. Bizzell Thank you so much for the talk this morning. As agreed, we will proceed with finding 6 high volume spay neuter vets, preferably that were here last year and Dr. Diane Scollard as a 7th will come to host a cat clinic out of the BHS. Looking forward to having a lunch next week when you are in Nassau. thank you, Laura
Animal_Lover 10 years, 11 months ago on Operation Potcake has been cancelled following opposition from local vets. How do you think the spay and neuter programme should be run?
Operation Potcake has been cancelled following opposition from local vets. How do you think the spay and neuter programme should be run?
The committee proceeded to plan, and line up vets to come in.
We asked the current vice-president of VMAB to attend the meeting on Tuesday September 19th, but after asking the response was no, and our attendance would not be necessary.
Then on Friday November 22nd, about 10 weeks out from Feb 2nd 2014 we received the letter. With deadlines so close for applying for the foreign vet permits and ordering the necessary supplies for about 1000+ spay and neuters, we had to make the unfortunate decision to cancel.
I would also like to add that the local vets had been offered by the organizers of Operation Potcake considerable positive recognition and rewards in return for donating their time. Each vet was going to be photographed and placed on Banners for the annual Bahamas Humane Society Banner Launch and recognized at the event at Government house. Prizes were going to be gathered so for example if 3 vets volunteered for 3 full days, they would be in a pool to receive 1 each of the 3 prizes weighted for 3 days, and so on. I say this to note that the vets were going to receive positive PR and acknowledgement from the public, promoting their practices.
Also, all of the vets received reminder emails about the open monthly planning Operation Potcake meetings that happened in September, October, and November, as well as the meeting minutes that were sent out for Sept and Oct. Communication has been more than open from our end making a letter 10 weeks before the program changing all the terms that were originally agreed downright disrespectful to all those who have invested extensive personal volunteer time (as ofcourse no one is paid who was organizing OP 2014).
We all really must keep the focus on what our purpose is - to end the unnecessary suffering of animals in The Bahamas and spay and neuter is the proven and most effect way to do this. I saw Dr. Lawrence write about the heartache she experiences from the suffering, the more spay and neuters we can do the less dogs and cats are born into a life of suffering. Most kittens and puppies die hungry, sick and alone. Many that do survive live a life of abuse, constant hunger, to die by getting hit by a car, starving at the end of a chain or from heart worm or tick born illnesses or may I add to be turned into the shelter when the family has a baby or relocates. Only the lucky minority know a life of unconditional love, comfort and safety.
We have a solution, so many people willing to help and a way to reduce it - so WHY ARE WE FIGHTING and denying help?
Thank you, Laura
blackcat 10 years, 11 months ago on Operation Potcake cancelled after local vet opposition
Operation Potcake cancelled after local vet opposition
@ ThisisOurs, I completely agree. I have dealt with Dr. Bizzell before, as well as his associates at his practice, along with other vets on the island with never a doubt of their skills or professionalism. I have never had the experience of seeing Dr. Johnson but have heard excellent things about her too, from more than one person who were very pleased with the care she extended to their animals. I don't want to speak for anyone else, but I don't believe the concern here has anything to do with questioning the vets' skills.
The issue here is that the problem is out of control. High volume spay and neuter campaigns at low cost have been proven to work and aid significantly in putting a cap on the problem. Many animal rights groups such as Pink Potcake, Baark etc work hard all year round to spay and neuter stray dogs/ cats on their own time. This cannot be done without the help of local vets and for that, us volunteers are hugely grateful. But doing little by little throughout the year is simply a band-aid approach as many of us have full time jobs and time is limited.
Operation Potcake has happened once before and amazing and successful results were seen. It is not like the vets did not know what they were getting into this time around, having participated last year. If they had any doubts, they should have been communicated up front and early on before out -of-town volunteers had already gone out of their way to arrange travel and accomadation plans. It is simply bad form for the vets to handle the situation as they did. A commitment like this is a large one and no doubt the volunteers and op potcake organizers appreciate the time and effort vets put into such an event-- but confirmation should never have been given only to back out at the last moment. They knew this event was a charitable one from the get go and profits were not expected to be made. If they didn't think they could afford to participate, they should have given notice right away.
Furthermore, the logic behind the decision is simply beyond me. If your #1 concern is for the animals who suffer daily with no voice, then why not accept the help being offered from the foreign vets and assistants? I am sure the bahamian vets would be looked on with great admiration for opening their arms to guests who are willing to help us with this massive problem.
Jack 10 years, 11 months ago on Operation Potcake cancelled after local vet opposition
Operation Potcake cancelled after local vet opposition
Yes life is too short for negativity Dr Lawrence which is why it's so sad we the people of the Bahamas have been put in this situation by the local vets. So dry your tears because we wish you could walk in our shoes as volunteers that go into the community in OUR OWN TIME and see the pain and suffering as you do. It's not just about the spays and neuters, it's about the community spirit that Operation Potcake has created. It's about the massive educational drive that will make the next generation of Bahamians more caring people. It's about going into yards across the island en mass and working out ways to help the animals together with the owners. Operation Potcake brings the people together from all walks of life and and gives them all a warm fuzzy feeling about caring for animals. It's about Bahamians and foreigners standing together and working out a solution because many hands make light work. Why would the vets possibly want to stop this wonderful momentum that has been created?? You tell me if you care about animals so much? I know the answer and it's greed and short sightedness
Jack 10 years, 11 months ago on Operation Potcake cancelled after local vet opposition
Operation Potcake cancelled after local vet opposition
Bizzell and Dr Lawrence, both your replies have demonstrated that you just don't "get' Operation Potcake and THIS is the real issue here. If you can't work it out from my reply above then there is no hope and the Bahamas is doomed on the animal care front. The "hoopla" Dr Lawrence, helped us get the people in the doors, yes, people who never in a million years would have got off their lazy bums to help their dogs did. Yes, you can pick up a sick or hungry dog, but what is wrong with having 100 or more foreigners and locals get together for a big event to help on a much larger scale? We all win, not just the odd dog or cat you pick up.
It's also about getting enough volunteers. The "hoopla' got us a load of volunteers that never would have given their time. Having a big program once a year gets everyone together for a common goal. It's very hard to drum up volunteers on a regular basis and many people I know had planned on giving a week of their holiday time EVERY year to help with this project in the Bahamas. Why on earth would they fly from across the world for 3 days? So now we have to rely only on the same locals who give every bit of their spare time instead of spreading the load.
Bizzell we need foreigners because you can not do the job on your own. In one breath in your letter you say you can, it the next you say you're cutting down the days to 3 because you can't handle it, Which is it?
No one suggested that we ONLY do Operation Potacke on a large scale. It is in combination with the many smaller efforts that occur every week with the Bahamian nonprofits. If you have not seen that then you're blind.
Dr Lawrence, you and the other vets have allowed yourselves to be conned by Bizzells archaic views. I'm sure you and many of your colleagues are good vets but you really, really don't understand what Operation Potcake is all about and that is such a shame.
leeza 10 years, 11 months ago on Operation Potcake cancelled after local vet opposition
Operation Potcake cancelled after local vet opposition
So how do you feel when you see animals smashed up in the street and people just go past like its normal and 100% of the time they stay there and rot. We need to control strays even more now than before seeing that we have highways and why isn't anyone advocating for fences or barriers to prevent these creatures from accessing the busy roadways. I have never heard of any initiative by vet to spay of neuter pets free more persons who can not afford to have it done. I know that there were programs in place like BARAK and ARK but they would have to pay for these to be don't at your private clinics to voucher no surgery
jo 11 years, 6 months ago on No charges after two killed when hit by car
No charges after two killed when hit by car
"You people are all so fast in judging and none of you where there - meaning none of you know really what happened ... very impressive!" ...and unless you were there, the same applies to you as well.
"The final judgement is not made..." If an investigation is still ongoing how are they able to decide so quickly that no one will be charged? THAT is the problem.