Before I begin I would like to express my deepest condolences to the United States of America, for the terrible loss they suffered on Saturday Feb. 1″ 2003. It was so reminiscent of the tragedy of January 28th 1986 a day that I shall never forget as I was a sophomore at Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida and from the campus we were able to gaze skywards and view the disaster that was Challenger.
May the Lord grant eternal rest to the seven souls who were the crew of the Space Shuttle Columbia.
Initially I wanted to address two important issues, the need for an immediate Cabinet reshuffle, and the Emerald Bay disaster in Exuma. And disaster it is for if you were to examine the Heads of Agreement that was passed in the House of Assembly by the Ingraham Administration, it is clear that although the project may develop the island and bring much needed jobs, these jobs will be by and large menial or low level management, the concessions will be leased to foreign entities and the requirements for working on the construction project are such that Bahamians are excluded. As to the last point, and not to beat a dead horse, we as Bahamians must accept the responsibility for our own inadequacies which keeps on going back to the point that I always make about mediocrity. To be assigned there were requirements as to insurance, productivity assurances, cash bonds to meet standards under the construction penal clauses, and payment schedules adopted by the lead contractor meant that sub-contractors would have to be able to sustain their work forces. Accordingly with the stroke of a pen our government at the time saw to it that the majority of the money spent on the project would eventually end up overseas. Gunite Pools one of the lucky local sub-contractors had to seek the help of an intermediary to even be allowed to bid. Appalling is it not. But I shall have to discuss these matters later.
As some of my contemporaries expressed the opinion that I must be crazy to think that the United States would give us five hundred million dollars, as well as noted that I did not deal with the problem of the marginalized male I will now attempt to do so. My original piece did in fact touch on these issues, but the space constraint necessitated that the editor do his job. Therefore I will continue as if the article had been paused.
This is my utopian dream; but when we are afraid to express our dreams we are already doomed as a society. It is something that I feel strongly about because it will create in the students from a young age, something to strive for. One major drawback in the Bahamas is that we have very few Bahamians who would be able to teach at such a place. However once established a portion of the spaces each year should be for international students and if the institution is everything that I have described the waiting list for a space and the fees that could be charged would more than be able to support it. One thing needs to be clear, it should always be first and foremost a place for Bahamians, and the cost even to paying Bahamians should never be prohibitive.
With respect to the criminally minded youth, there needs to be National Service. Upon being sentenced, men and women 18 to 25 should be given the option that they can enter the Program, or where the jurist feels that a soul can still be salvaged then that person would be conscripted for a two (2) year period, where they would undergo intense regimented military training. For those 14 to 18 there would be no option. I propose that some retired drill sergeants from the Unites States Marines, British Navy and some of Israel’s former forces be bought in to run such a place.
One may question why the emphasis is on the military, I say because it will instill a sense of deep discipline, and it is clear from the sectors that I have chosen that these would be former soldiers who fear nothing and therefore have no qualms about getting in the face of some youth who thinks he is all that. Additionally many of these entrants will be lacking in basic education, this needs to be incorporated in such a venture along with the teaching of trades. This is particularly important to the younger offender as they will not be in regular school.
At the end of the two years, four in respects of the young offender, even the drug addict or common recidivist would have had his or her spirit broken and rebuilt. Those that are worthy could then join the Defense Force. The others will have a trade which they can utilize by entering society and being a productive member. All of them will still be on two years probation, where with one slip up and they are dealt with by the Courts. For those however who stay straight the advantage would be that they would at the end of the probation have their criminal records stricken.
The costs associated with all that I have suggested is obviously high. But when we declare war we are fighting for a greater good, and when we realize what the options are otherwise we as a society show our seriousness and determination to win this war by demanding that the money be allotted by government. The private sector as well will be called on to donate generously. We can never place a price on our safety.
One possible solution is that we need to say to the United States as you are serious with the war on drugs so are we with the war on crime. Accordingly we are willing to assist you in your efforts by doing all that is necessary, but we have a serious problem with the education of our people. It is thru education that we feel we can best help, for as we give the people another option of making money, the need for them to be involved in drug trafficking should decrease. Our budget does not allow us to undertake the requisite steps. The bottom line is in reprogramming a nation we will have to repair the infrastructure of the existing schools, employ suitably qualified persons, set up new programs, and establish a new school altogether for the best. Additionally we need a facility for the reeducation of offenders and the personnel to staff it. And finally we require a new prison facility in line with modern facilities in the United States, where we can stress rehabilitative concepts and it not just be a place to spend time and become efficient in criminal activity. This we should be able to achieve at a cost of approximately five hundred million dollars.
If we ever had a government to tell the United States this we would soon realize how serious they were in their determination to rid their country of the drugs.
Sir Winston Churchill said ‘What is the use of living if it be not to strive for noble causes and to make this muddled world a better place for those who will live in it after we are gone?’
That is where the original should have ended. In seeking the assistance of the United States consider the following facts. The case against Samuel ‘Ninety’ Knowles states that he was responsible for the importation of over 2 billion dollars in drugs into the United States. And exactly how he did a simple Bahamian become so large. Well by removing one by one the people and organizations such as Joe Ledher, Pablo Escobar, The Cali Cartel and others the opportunity arose for this man, so much so that he is now considered amongst their ranks.
As a country that has always profited from illegal activity, piracy and rum running but two of the others, this should not be surprising. But the war on drugs requires that we do the right and honorable thing, but no matter what conclusions one may have drawn in respect of Samuel Knowles, he is still guaranteed his rights in accordance with the Constitution of the Bahamas.
However also consider the following. We have always cooperated with the United States; examples include the Ship Rider Agreement; the package of financial legislation 2000; the Patriot Act 2002; and presently there are proposals for The Anti-Terrorism Act; Financial and Corporate Service providers (Clients’ Money) Regulations 2002 to name but a few. So it is clear that we are doing our part.
If one were to wonder why Samuel Knowles is so important think about this, General Colin Powell the U.S. Secretary of State has visited the Bahamas, although this was to meet with the CARICOM foreign ministers it was also to send a signal, and the present American Ambassador has ignored all established diplomatic conventions to make his point as to the corruption in our government and security forces. All of this is an effort to secure the extradition. To personalize an example, imagine you had a chocolate cake, and you cut a little slither, that wouldn’t be so bad the majority would still be there. However each time you went back the remainder would become smaller. The same with all the legislation, the U.S are seeking small pieces until they have achieved their objective and we as a national will have nothing to show for it.
What we desperately need are politicians who understand this and realize sooner or later we will lose what little bargaining power we have. For those reasons we need to request the financial assistance. After all, the amount is less than they send to Columbia on an annual basis to eradicate the drugs at the source and less than what is supplied to countries such as Israel.
These are serious times that we live in and we need a bold and innovative solution.
By Craig Butler, Columnist, The Nassau Guardian
