Cuba: A Black Spring and White Ladies!

By Rebecca Theodore


Lo! The paradox unfolds. The gleam of the golden morn of freedom pierces through the night of gloom and oppression. The old paradigms and systems are decaying, ready to be replaced with new, more evolved ideas and energies. There is a voracious indignation. At last! The Twitter Revolution comes to Cuba.

‘And the vultures circle overhead waiting for the old man to die.’

Cubans yearn for Wal-Mart and McDonald’s. They covet ATT, Coke, Nike, and Levi’s. The young stare in passion at iPhones and Apple computers. Pornography is the entertainment of choice. Evangelists lie in wait with a message of redemption hungry for the harvesting of souls. Old exiled Cubans chat in busy coffee shops on Miami’s boulevards. They long to touch the green, green grass of home and light cigars under the starry nights and reminisce of memories lost, long before a 1959 revolution usurped their world of contentment.

“Enough is enough they say”

The voices of Ladies in White -- "Las Damas de Blanco” -- wives, mothers, sisters, daughters, widows and fatherless brides waiting for their bridegrooms, lament in pain as political prisoners continue to die dehydrating deaths in dark dungeons of shame. Yet, they continue to rebel against a demagogue government. For them Cuba is not a Caribbean paradise, it is the gates of hell. They live in humble homes and buy food with ration books. They lay claim to the “freedom” that exists in Cuba.

Abuse of human rights dissipates the void. Freedom of assembly and expression sparkle the emptiness of reality and cease to derail on the frontline of time. Youthful endeavours are lost in dreams unknown. Beyond the smoking curtains, they no longer want to be like ‘Che Guevara’, for they seek deliverance from the oven of wrath.

It is true that Cuba has a better literacy rate than the United States, better maternity leave for mothers, better equality for women in the workplace and more doctors per capita than the US. These are economic factors that should make Cuba the envy of many countries, but Castro’s method of freedom and human rights inspire another revolution.

Moreover, in a new and technological zeitgeist, where communism is just an antiquated political philosophy, a footnote in history, and an unsuccessful ideological experiment, a technological revolution looms supreme.

In a country where Castro is the currency of real politics, Cubans are no longer afraid. Power is slowly being taken over by social media. Repression and internet censorship are gently peeping through their veils of suffocation. Gross darkness dispels into the light of liberty.

It is clear that ideology has failed.

Hark! The courier -- The Cuban Revolution is now an emblem on a T-shirt. Fidel Castro a man against capitalism and commodities is now a commodity sold for capital on the streets of America. St Castro is now the new patron saint of capitalism. Cuba is now gripped in the claw of ‘Manifest Destiny.’

Hereafter, there will be blood. There will be freedom. There will be a Cuban Spring.

October 12, 2011

caribbeannewsnow

Bahamas Blog International

The Bahamas government should let straw vendors know that this is the last straw market the people of The Islands will build for them... Going forward, straw vendors and their association need to start thinking of ways to be autonomous

The last market for straw vendors

thenassauguardian editorial

Nassau, The Bahamas

The House of Assembly is debating rules to govern the new straw market at Bay Street.  The market is a gift of sorts to vendors from the government of The Bahamas.  A visitor to The Bahamas might wonder why a government would build a multi-million dollar commercial space for independent business people in a commercial district.

Well, our political parties regard vendors collectively as a ‘special case’.

The parties think they must ensure that regular black merchants have a space on the main part of Bay Street, a district historically controlled by white merchants.

There is consensus on this point by the governing Free National Movement (FNM) and the opposition Progressive Liberal Party (PLP).

The PLP planned, as it is good at doing, a market between 2002 and 2007.  It built no market, however.  The FNM, which has been in office from 2007, has built a market.  It will open soon.  The old market was destroyed by fire in 2001 and vendors have been in ‘temporary’ accommodations since.

At this stage, we are past the relevant point of debating whether the government should have spent more than 10 million dollars on this market.  What we must consider is if such a practice should continue in the future and if vendors should graduate from state grace and welfare and become independent.

When governments offer subsidies to local industries, the objective should be to help Bahamian businesses start and build capital bases from which they can operate independently.  The subsidies should not last forever.  The subsidies cannot last forever because the state has many responsibilities, some of which become urgent abruptly.

For example, there are currently intertwined crises affecting The Bahamas – crime and education.

The government of The Bahamas needs to place as much of its focus as possible on these issues. Coddling long-pampered merchants should become less of a priority during these times.  Business people take risks.

The state can help and set policies assisting entrepreneurs.  The state, however, should not take care of business people forever.

The Bahamas has changed since the government became the patron of straw vendors decades ago.  Majority rule and independence have come about and opportunity in The Bahamas is more equally distributed now than it was in the earlier parts of the 20th century.  There is now no bogeyman keeping anyone down.

The government should let vendors know that this is the last market the people of The Bahamas will build for them.  Going forward, vendors and their association need to start thinking of ways to be autonomous.

If they want to operate as a collective, more of the revenue taken in by these merchants would need to be set aside to create an empowered association.

Such a body, run by vendors, would then have the resources to purchase the market and administer the affairs of vendors.  The government could then get back to its role as regulator.

Our major political parties should push to graduate vendors from state welfare.

In doing so, they will become better business people and the Public Treasury will be less burdened.

Oct 11, 2011

thenassauguardian editorial

Bahamas Blog International

The Bahamas Christian Council supports the creation of a national sex offenders register in The Islands

By CELESTE NIXON
Tribune Staff Reporter
cnixon@tribunemedia.net

Nassau, The Bahamas



THE CHRISTIAN council has thrown its support behind the creation of a national sex offenders register.

Council president Rev Ranford Patterson said his members support many of the government's ideas for tackling crime - particularly its willingness to discuss tracking persons convicted of sexual crimes.

"We support all efforts to protect our children from sick sexual predators, be they heterosexuals or homosexuals," said Rev Patterson. "We call on family and friends to blow the whistle on known predators who need counselling and must be kept away from civil society."

According to Bishop Simeon Hall, the public tends to be more concerned about the rights of murderers and child molesters than the victims of crime.

He said: "When we talk about publishing a national sex offenders list, people seem to sympathise with the perpetrator instead of the little boy."

Rev Patterson said he believes it is important for the public to know the location of convicted sex offenders and others who might pose a danger to society, so parents can better protect their children.

Prime Minister Ingraham addressed the public on Monday evening on his government's strategic plan to combat what he described as the country's growing criminal element.

Along with amendments to the Bail Act, the laws governing the death penalty, and the Firearms and Dangerous Drugs Act, Mr Ingraham said the government would be willing to debate a sex offenders registry.

He also said the government intends to introduce new legislation for the control and regulation of pawnbrokers and second-hand dealers, such as "cash for gold and scrap-metal operators" to block the onward sale of stolen property.

In addition, Mr Ingraham said, efforts will be made to crack down on illegal firearms and weapons smuggling, and harsher penalties will be meted out to persons found in possession of illegal weapons.

Mr Ingraham also emphasised the need for greater community involvement in what he hopes will be a "new era of national volunteerism."

The council said it is extremely pleased with the crack-down on illegal firearms and the National Programme of Volunteerism, which will encourage Bahamians everywhere to "get involved."

Rev Patterson said the prime minister's speech was a sign that the government is serious about crime, and should be taken as a strong message to would-be criminals that no one is above the law.

"We are anxious to see the implementation of all those things raised, and we shall monitor them to ensure they are implemented," said Rev Patterson.

The council warned all persons "prone to angry confrontation, robbery, jealous rage and gun toting," that all criminal offences will be punished, and called on them to reconsider their behaviour.

October 10, 2011

tribune242

Bahamas Blog International

Time to reboot the Commonwealth

By Senator Hugh Segal

These days, when alliances are under stress, monetary unions confront their own dysfunction, and financial indicators are angst-ridden, the Commonwealth retains its potential as an organization for global good, but only just.

Voluntary, historic, multifaith, multiracial and multicultural, this association, which spans every part of the world, this network of networks, has worked in a multitude of ways to make life better for its 2.1 billion citizens in 53 member states. The world's largest democracy, India, population 1.2 billion, co-exists with the small Pacific island state of Tuvalu, population 10,000.

Scholarships, distance learning, parliamentary co-operation and education, agricultural support, development, trade advocacy, anti-poverty programs, and health and democracy promotion have characterized this network of principled co-operation. However, in recent time, it began to lose its credibility and relevance in a world that desperately needs the healing touch it had brought to conflict and disparity in the past.

When Commonwealth leaders met in Port of Spain, Trinidad, in 2009, they publicly acknowledged that any organization, decades old, needs such reform from time to time. They agreed on two measures. The first was the establishment of an "Eminent Persons Group" (EPG) to look at how the Commonwealth might be updated and made more relevant, impactful and influential in the 21st century. Second, they mandated the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group, established by Commonwealth heads of government in 1995 to deal with serious or persistent violations of Commonwealth fundamental values, to consider how its actions might be made more effective when core principles of democracy, human rights and rule of law are violated by member states.

Commonwealth heads of government are meeting in Perth, Australia, in three weeks time to consider these reports that were submitted to them four weeks ago after 13 months of work, in the case of the EPG.

Inexplicably, current chair-in-office, the prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago, decided that the reports should be kept secret. The host of the meeting, Australia's prime minister, has indicated that while her national position is that the reports should be made public before the summit meeting, she is constrained to join the Trinidadian prime minister to keep the reports from being made public in the interest of "consensus."

As a result, helpful suggestions around more work on HIV/AIDS, a stronger and supportive presence on human rights, democracy and rule of law, a Commonwealth Youth Corps, focused disaster-relief preparations, economic and trade support for smaller states, achieving development goals, work on climate change, addressing the needs of women, and modernizing the secretariat's communications strategies to the benefit of all member states are left in the dark.

Instead, some recommendations have been subject to distortion and misinterpretation by representatives of a few governments that mistakenly believe there is some marginal benefit to them in stifling progress on these issues.

From the outset, EPG members committed to openness and transparency in the process that would lead to their conclusions and recommendations. To this end, regular updates and news releases were issued after each of the five meetings -- more than 300 civil society groups and many governments and individuals made submissions -- and feedback was always solicited.

EPG members organized input sessions and made themselves available for consultation in their own countries and, when invited, travelled widely to brief, but more importantly to listen to opinions on the reforms that the Commonwealth needs if it is to continue to be relevant to its people and its times. Keeping the report secret is harmful to informed, open and transparent debate about the organization's future.

At the end of the fourth meeting in London this past March, having read hundreds of submissions and listened to people throughout the Commonwealth, the group concluded: "The Commonwealth is in danger of becoming irrelevant and unconvincing as a values-based association" and "to safeguard against this danger, we will recommend to leaders the adoption of proposals that will strengthen the Commonwealth, both as an association of governments and of peoples."

The last Eminent Persons Group was established by the then Secretary-General, Shridath Ramphal with the strong support of prime ministers Rajiv Ghandi, Brian Mulroney and Bob Hawke of India, Canada and Australia respectively, and its 1986 report dealt with the issue of apartheid. The report was made public -- four months before the historic London Commonwealth summit.

That report, the publicity it received, the support it garnered, and the pressure placed on South Africa in the years following, is credited with being a catalyst to the end of legal racism and segregation in that country. The report of the current EPG, "A Commonwealth of the People: Time for Urgent Reform," may not result in such a historic, life-altering transformation, but it does offer essential and practical ways to make better the lives of one-third of the world's population.

Leadership is about the courage to engage freely on ideas that serve the public interest. Advocates of keeping the reports secret are really advocates of weakening the Commonwealth -- one of the great and historic associations that still has the potential to embody and reflect the best of the human spirit.

October 10, 2011

caribbeannewsnow

Election Politics in Jamaica and Guyana

By Rickey Singh

TODAY, while Jamaicans contemplate a forthcoming battle between incumbent leader of the Opposition People's National Party (PNP) Portia Simpson Miller, and the rising star of the governing Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Andrew Holness, to lead this nation following the next general election, Guyanese would be anxiously awaiting the official announcement of the date for new presidential and parliamentary elections.

The Guyana election date will come from its outgoing president, Bharrat Jagdeo, who became the youngest head of state in the Western Hemisphere at 35 and who will leave office at the comparatively young age of 47 after being executive president for a dozen years.

Constitutionally debarred from more than two successive five-year terms, Jagdeo is expected to announce Monday, November 28 as the date when the ruling People's Progressive Party (PPP) will seek an unprecedented consecutive fifth term in government, this time under the leadership of its current 60-year-old general secretary, Donald Ramotar, an economist.

Ramotar's primary opponent will be the 65-year-old ex-Brigadier of the Guyana Defence Force David Granger. He is the presidential candidate of a newly established opposition front, Partnership for National Unity which is dominated by the People's National Congress (PNC) that has been defeated by the PPP at all national elections since October 1992.

Here in Jamaica, now that Education Minister Holness has already obtained significant support from his JLP parliamentary colleagues, and appears to be popular within the party's traditional base, it is most likely that the endorsement for him to succeed Golding would be deferred for the party's November 19-20 annual convention.

By then, Guyana will be in the final week of election campaigning to choose a new 65-member Parliament and executive president. If in the case of Guyanese politics the incumbent PPP's central message will be, as already signalled, "continuity" for social and economic advancement, in Jamaica it would be quite different to market the new JLP leader with a similar message.

For, objectively, the social and political problems that finally forced Golding to quit as both party leader and prime minister (read the Christopher 'Dudus' Coke controversy as a major factor), would be very much part of the election campaign of the PNP's Simpson Miller. She can be expected to link Holness to the JLP's political culture — as difficult as such a strategy could prove.

The age factor has, surprisingly, been thrown into Jamaica's political mix of reasons for the sudden resignation announcement by Golding, who has chosen to emphasise a preference for a new generation of young leaders to be in control — in the best interest of the JLP and Jamaica.

Golding's plus & minus

The reality is that Golding, who will be 64 years old this coming December and is in good health, knows that age is not the substantive factor for his decision to walk away from the highest political office. He was certainly not going to face a leadership challenge at next month's convention, nor is he being magnanimous in suddenly making way for a suitable "young" successor.

Rather, having seriously compromised his political integrity in his controversial handling of the sensational issues that surrounded last year's extradition to the USA of the accused trafficker in drugs and guns, Christopher 'Dudus' Coke -- an influential JLP supporter -- Golding came to realise the serious damage he had wrought on confidence in his leadership judgement.

Further, and quite related, his decision was informed by how the Opposition PNP has been strategically manoeuvring to exploit the current national mood ahead of a new general election.
The suggestion that it's time to make room for a new generation of youthful leaders could also be self-serving as a parting shot by Golding against those elements within the JLP's decision-making councils and some senior Cabinet ministers who may have disappointed him at critical periods of his four years as leader of party and Government.

However, it is relevant to note here that even the more strident critics or opponents of Bruce Golding would have difficulty in ignoring an evident factor in his favour as a politician. He has, over the years, demonstrated a firm commitment to democratic governance (in party and government) — even when it came to opposing the leadership-style politics of his former mentor, Edward Seaga.

Some feel that Golding's plus factor would also point to the cultivation of a reputation for opposing corruption; And now, by his decision to quit as prime minister and JLP leader, he hopes to be remembered as a politician who did not wish to perpetuate himself in the structure of party leadership.

Holness vs Simpson Miller

Golding is departing as the first prime minister of Jamaica to voluntarily leave office without completing a first term. He is also the second to give up the prime ministership while still in good health, the first being P J Patterson.

So far as the PNP is concerned, having put to rest — expediently or not — some of the very bruising areas of internal division and discontent, it now appears as a party under Simpson Miller's continuing leadership, to be in readiness to resume control of the reins of state power when the election bell rings, either early or late next year -- depending on how the political wind is blowing with Holness as prime minister.

What both Holness and Simpson Miller would have in common is a desire to be prime minister for at least a full five-year term. The PNP leader had originally served in that office for less than a year when she succeeded Patterson before calling the September 3, 2007 general election that was lost to the JLP in a very tough battle and close outcome in terms of popular votes cast.

The PNP cannot, however, be unaware that the timing and manner of Golding's decision to quit as prime minister and leave the political landscape well ahead of a new general election would necessitate a critical reassessment of the party's electoral strategy for 2012.

Having already invested so much political capital in hammering away at the leadership blunders of Golding over the "Dudus fiasco" and more, the PNP would understand the need for its own post-Golding adjustments, which could also be a serious challenge for the JLP under the leadership of Holness.

October 09, 2011

jamaicaobserver

Jamaica: What we do not learn from history?

What we do not learn from history

JAMAICA HAS a track record of prime ministers and opposition leaders who have, for one reason or another, denied themselves the luxury of seeing out the maximum potential of their leadership careers.   The exceptions, of course, being those two fathers of the nation, Norman Manley and Sir Alexander Bustamante, who both bowed to old age and infirmities.

A relatively younger Michael Manley was forced by illness to retire early in his third term when it seemed that he still had more to offer.

Edward Seaga, Percival Patterson, Hugh Shearer, and now Bruce Golding, all announced their resignations as prime minister or opposition leader while still in the saddle and, on all accounts, brimful of vim and vigour.

  There are interesting parallels in each instance of resignation or transition.   There are also some interesting lessons to learn from the different party election campaigns, if we care to learn from history, bearing in mind Georg Hegel's famous adage that what we learn from history is that we do not learn from history.

Norman Manley announced his retirement at a People's National Party (PNP) testimonial held in honour of his 75th birthday at the Sheraton Kingston Hotel on July 5, 1968.   He retired officially on February 9, 1969, at a party conference held at the National Arena.   He sent members a message of commendable restraint coming from a party leader: "I am not with you today because I have promised not to influence the decision of the party in any way. That fact makes it important for me to keep away."   Lesson number one.

Lesson number two

There were several would-be contenders who eventually dropped out, allowing a clear, sometimes bruising race between Michael Manley and Vivian Blake.   On the eve of the election, both men issued a statement vowing "to accept the will of the people and to give unqualified support to whoever is the leader of their choice."   Lesson number two.

It would be Michael Manley's turn, some 23 years later and at 68 years old, to announce his retirement as prime minister at a special delegates' conference on March 15, 1992.   Health considerations were the main reasons, but he made a telling point on youth succession similar to the one laboured by Bruce Golding last Sunday night.

"I have always believed that political leaders must know when to step aside and make room for others", said Manley.   "And because of my strongly held conviction about making room for young people, I had long decided I would not lead the PNP into the 1994 election." Lesson number three.

Waiting in the wings were P.J. Patterson, 57 years, and his main rival, Portia Simpson, a girlish 47 years.

It was P.J.'s turn the next time around.   On January 22, 2006, he announced his intention to retire as prime minister, the dust settling on February 26 to see Simpson Miller emerge as party leader after an intense and sometimes bitter race.

Dirty laundry in public

Do we learn from history that we do not learn from history?   Hark to the PNP that has always managed to display a semblance of unity in spite of their differences.   The JLP, now in the middle of a succession process, tends to let it all hang out, to their disadvantage.   Bob Lightbourne refused at first to be sworn in by Donald Sangster in 1967, because he was not named deputy prime minister.   Hugh Shearer resigned as JLP opposition leader when the party knives were drawn at a Montego Bay meeting in 1974.

Edward Seaga was pilloried by the famous gangs of the JLP while he was leader, but gave as good as he got in a battle that was played out in the public arena.

Golding himself enjoyed a seamless transition following Seaga's resignation.   Dr Ken Baugh was appointed acting leader of the Opposition, but made it clear he was only holding the position "until Bruce wins, his seat in Western Kingston when I will resign and make way for him to become opposition leader".   By that time, Pearnel Charles had dropped out of the race to make it a one-horse contest.   The JLP went on to win the 2007 elections.

Do we learn anything here from history?

Comments to columns@gleanerjm.com or lanceneita@hotmail.com

October 6, 2011

jamaica-gleaner

Protecting suicidal homosexual teens

By Dr Oswald R. Thomas


September 4-10 was earmarked as National Suicide Prevention Week. It was recognised that youngsters identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) are two out of three times more likely to commit suicide when compared to their heterosexual counterparts. Tragically, one out of three lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender teens will attempt suicide.

As the LGBT community in Antigua and Barbuda, and the wider Caribbean, continues to grow and more young people openly declare their sexual orientation, many have and will become targets for aggressive behaviour.

This is unacceptable. Assaults often result in serious injury or death. In other cases, suicide is the answer. Regardless of how we feel about diverse sexual orientations, we have to find saner, more holistic ways to embrace each others' humanity. Yes, we may still acknowledge deep ethical differences, and at the same time, relate to one another from the context of the Golden Rule.

The school, of all places, should show exemplary leadership, social graces, and rational behaviour. Some who are put in charge of our schools ignore anti-LGBT bullying. As these so-called responsible adults remain neutral in the face of obvious and subtle heckling, unfortunately, their behaviour reinforces dark stereotypes about LGBT. They also send the wrong message to the teens that their sexual orientations do not matter. Beyond the school, I expect church leaders, without damaging their good Christian identity, to uphold ideals of human solidarity.

I don’t expect the church to abandon its ethical obligation of telling the truth to its communities. But the church cannot turn a blind eye to the social evil of harassing and inflicting serious injuries to LGBTs. This leads to teenagers taking their own lives. No way on earth could this negligence be right in the sight of God.

LGBT teens struggle with mixed feelings over their sexual identity -- be it feelings of being attracted to someone of the same sex when he or she was raised to get married and have children. These feelings of same-sex attraction are compounded by feelings of rejection. When linked to intolerance from a school system, society at large, and resistance from within one’s own family, suicide sets in.

It is particularly painful for LGBTs to be rejected by their own families. The home should be a place of love and comfort, but in many instances, it is riddled with conflict and stress. It becomes an increasing hostile environment for LGBT teens.

Unless we cultivate a passion for nurturing social commitments, even with those who are different from us, our societies will not grow and expand. LGBT teens need to feel a sense of belonging and love. They need to be integrated as full members of the family. They need to be protection by law. And they need to know that they can grow up to make their contribution to nation building, like any other teen. If we protect their individual rights, they can make a difference that inspires us all.

On September 12, the Guyana Stabroek News featured a young man who told his story of how, as a homosexual teen, three men grabbed him off the street in Georgetown. They took him to a dark alley where they raped him, then left him bleeding and broken. He felt so ashamed that he never told anyone the real story about what had happened to him. The men claimed that they wanted to teach the boy a hard lesson. The young man contracted HIV.

Fortunately, the youth has come to terms with what happened to him. He turned a tragedy into a triumph, and now travels all over the world speaking about his ordeal. This is a great ending. But for many other LGBT teens, the story ends with suicide.

It is well known that people who go through life not feeling loved, respected, and accepted from peers are likely not to love themselves. Many fall back on suicide.

When we put an emphasis on community and compassion, and on values-based politics, we promote the common good. Time to save our LGBT teens.

October 5, 2011

caribbeannewsnow

Bahamas Blog International