jo

2 Vote

Ironvelvet 11 years, 6 months ago on $20,000 donation handed to urban renewal

We continue to wonder why they is a mismanagement of funds. $20,000..."the majority of which will be used to buy musical instruments for the Urban Renewal Band?!!!" What kind of foolishness is this? They had to shut down Urban Renewal because they didn't have the funds to pay workers/equipment to do the work, but they now have money to make sure the workers can whistle while they DON'T work?!

Mr. Wells, I can assure you someone like myself will not donate monies to be used as such. Is this what you allocated your money to, a band? They must want to make funeral music for the dead Urban Renewal program.

1 Vote

BoopaDoop 11 years, 6 months ago on $20,000 donation handed to urban renewal

Make sure that some of the money is used to purchase tracking devices for the intruments. The last time Algernon Allen used personal funds to provide intruments, the same went missing.

2 Vote

Ironvelvet 11 years, 6 months ago on $20,000 donation handed to urban renewal

Ummm to all of you clearly talking about me. I never said that the workers didn't work when they WERE employed. I guess some of you missed reading comprehension. To put it plainly for those that need literal interpretation: The government has not employed them because there has been no monies in order to pay them to do work! Therefore, I see no sense in giving money to buy instruments for a program when there is no money to pay the worker that does show up to do his job! As far as my reference to the Urban Renewal program being dead, it is dead, it has not been in practice in who knows how long.

Its nice that Mr. and Mrs. Wells want to give money and yes I am criticizing the use of the funds because it is ridiculous to purchase instruments when there are still abandoned buildings, abandoned cars lining the streets, and not enough public health/social programs to uplift communities.

You are all welcome to disagree, but I stand by my original comment and the sentiment/reason for it as outlined by this comment.

3 Vote

Ironvelvet 11 years, 6 months ago on Shock over immigration staff swoop

Thanks for that information. I hope those Bahamian Sea Lion trainers apply for the job then.

5 Vote

Ironvelvet 11 years, 6 months ago on Shock over immigration staff swoop

Oh my goodness!! How disgraceful! There is a protocol for everything. These are the same police who won't go in and raid illegal activities in the number houses, the same ones who don't go into the slums, but go to a place of business of a person who had a applied for a permit? These people need to be properly TRAINED!!! How much sense does it require for you to at least know that an appeal is possible and that it status should be simply checked.

Oh and Mr. Mitchell, please let me know what Bahamian you know can train a sea lion?

2 Vote

BahamaBoy 11 years, 6 months ago on Shock over immigration staff swoop

Regardless, race/class influences the process. I do recall a Haitian maid in a tourist area being arrested for the same reason and her story never made headlines.

1 Vote

Stapedius 11 years, 6 months ago on Shock over immigration staff swoop

Please spare us the outrage. Bahamians get embarrassed by the wrong things. This happens all the time in the US and I've even seen it while working in the Cayman Islands. ICE in the US come on the work place pack illegals up and detain them without warning. They don't care what you do, who you are or where you come from. In the Cayman Islands the immigration there is quite efficient and can care less where you come from. If you work there illegally then they come for you and that's without warning.

Now I would agree that the Immigration Dept. Should have the facts before performing such and exercise. But personally, I'm not all ashamed when these officers do their job. We too love to think about what tourist would think. The fact is, the same tourists that we think are judging us are probably praising us for showing that we are a country with some law and order.

5 Vote

hj 11 years, 6 months ago on Shock over immigration staff swoop

I don't think anyone would be upset over the department doing its job. However the facts should be checked first. Also doing your job includes all illegal immigrants. So let them go to the so called "shanty towns" and do what they did to Atlantis.

2 Vote

hj 11 years, 6 months ago on Shock over immigration staff swoop

I have read all your paragraphs. However would not you agree that many things in our country happen just to put on a show? Just to show that things are workingwhen in fact they are not? Why the so called "shanty towns" are not raided?

4 Vote

hj 11 years, 6 months ago on Shock over immigration staff swoop

Not to worry 10.000 new jobs will be created in the next 20 days,marking the first year in office

2 Vote

pilgrimagerock 11 years, 6 months ago on Shock over immigration staff swoop

May God help the Bahamas when foreign investors decide to cut their losses and leave without notices. They do not have to come the BAHAMAS to build a mega resort or open up an offshore bank, they could go elsewhere and do that. I wonder what this anti-foreign government would do since wealthy Bahamians do not create jobs for poor to middle class Bahamians.

1 Vote

SP 11 years, 6 months ago on Shock over immigration staff swoop

Fred Mitchell would do well to ignore the ignorant, big mouth, uncouth one-man-band red shirts and follow the lead of U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron who is doing similarly to protect British citizens jobs from expats.

http://news.yahoo.com/britains-pm-camer…

http://news.yahoo.com/britain-considers…

White, yellow or black, American in Atlantis, Haitian in an empty house or any other illegal found anywhere, if found breaking the law should be apprehended wherever found and made to leave this country as would happen in any other country.

The era of stupidity and snap horrific decisions is over!

Keep up the good work Mr. Mitchell. True Bahamians are behind you 100%.

6 Vote

banker 11 years, 6 months ago on Shock over immigration staff swoop

@SP -- true bahamians will soon be eating pigeons and coconuts again. You do not scare tourists away, which puts bread and butter on the table of 75% of Bahamians. You may be behind Mr. Mitchell, but it would be ill advised to be in the reciprocal situation.

2 Vote

MartGM 11 years, 6 months ago on Shock over immigration staff swoop

Best line of this entire thread goes to "Banker" for: "You may be behind Mr. Mitchell, but it would be ill advised to be in the reciprocal situation."

3 Vote

divestream 11 years, 6 months ago on Shock over immigration staff swoop

For those that are truly interested in knowing ..this whole story is bogus she is not the head trainer for the sea-lions. she is only a manager... Secondly there was no interaction when they escorted her out out the property.. she was not in hand cuffed they simply walked behind her... She was allowed to call for her supervisors but both of them refused to respond to her call over the radio. You say in this article she is highly sought after one of the top trainers in this field well I have to dis agree she was taught everything she knows about Sea-lion training from these same Bahamians that You (Bahamians), my people didnt even know that we had. The Government has the right to deny any and all work permits when there are qualified Bahamians, Yes, even at Atlantis that can obtain this position that they are keeping for her. This very same expatiate who we are all defending in these comments left the country earlier this month and was so afraid that she would be detained came in the country under false pretenses saying that she is a visitor to the county when questioned by immigration at the airport.... So MY PEOPLE please know the fact before defending nonsense and just running off at the mouth about being disgusted. I have copy of resumes for Bahamian sea lion and dolphin trainers some with over 20 years experience. Yes Bahamas Bahamian dolphin and sea lion trainers. WOW shocker. Atlantis will continue to sell all the dreams in the world because they want to make sure the money our country is making stay out of it by making the expat look like the victim but it is all lies

2 Vote

TheObjectiveVoice 11 years, 6 months ago on Shock over immigration staff swoop

When I read the article, I was sure that it did not go down like that. Just because my common sense would say that officers would not just show up at Atlantis like that without some kind of directive from their supervisor or O/C. Plus, despite what people are saying about police these days, let's give them some credit. I don't think they would have done that on the Atlantis property and in front of tourists. I was waiting for someone who actually was there to come forward and give the real story. Let's give our people some credit.

2 Vote

Stapedius 11 years, 6 months ago on Shock over immigration staff swoop

I understand your frustration. Bahamians are so afraid to be who we are and we always find ourselves pandering to tourist. I really don't see what the big shock is about. We mull and ruminate over these things too much in the Bahamas. The right way, the wrong way blah, blah blah. Funny, I don't hear the same outrage when Cubans and Haitians are being packed in a bus far away from the prisitine pools of Atlantis. Oh but I forgot, we view them as people without skills or relevance. Bahamians are truly mentally screwed up. You should have a read of France Fanon. He clearly explains how the tourist industry can erode the national drive and focus of a country. We always pander to the tourist and can never give ourselves credit for anything. What a messed up commentary in our 40th year as a nation.

4 Vote

banker 11 years, 6 months ago on Shock over immigration staff swoop

@Stapedius -- unfortunately there is nothing else except tourism. The entire focus is to attract direct foreign investment in creating mega resorts. With little else in the way of employment for a burgeoning, unskilled population, there is no other hope but tourism. If there were some long term planning in economic diversification, there would be hope. However the only way to get elected in this country is by short term promises that counter the long term common good. Can you imagine a political party saying "We have a recover plan but it will take 10 years and millions of dollars. We have to retrain a majority of the population, and until then, there will be nothing but blood, sweat and tears?". Another party would come along and say "I will pay your rent for month, give you a ham, turkey and tee shirt, and free booze at the constituency office if you wote for me." Who do you think will win?

1 Vote

Stapedius 11 years, 6 months ago on Shock over immigration staff swoop

@ banker. I agree with diversification, but we need to be sensible with how we judge our own. The prevailing attitude that Bahamians are stupid, uncultured and unprofessional is really demoralizing to the psyche of a people. If we keep saying it people will begin believing it.