More on Freedom of the press

by Rick Lowe

Just back from a two week holiday and see by reading the papers that little has changed regarding the the governments juvenile approach to the the Marquis work permit affair. Minister Gibson is now going to formalise the Immigration Departments work permit process.

First of all, this was recommended by the Prime Minister's Bahamas Financial Services Consultative Forum back in 2003, but as usual it was never implemented. See this link for more information on a paper written for the Financial Services Task Force.

This blogger is willing to bet this government will not present a clear and unambiguous written immigration policy so everyone will know exactly what is required. This will take their "power" away, at least in their minds.

You might also like to take a look at this the following link to an old column prepared for The Bahama Journal sometime ago titled Bahamians First...no matter what.

See Nicolette Bethel’s Blog - Blogworld for another interesting discussion on the subject as well. One of the comments from Ms. Sweeting a former reporter at the Tribune deserves comment. When she states "Further, there would be no training opportunities, there would be no chance of an upwardly moving career, there was no chance of ever reaching the editor’s chair, no chance of ever making a decent salary, no chance for advancement whatsoever", I am left to wonder if she has forgotten that a Bahamian by the name of Ms. Athena Damianos was once news editor and now a Mr. Paco Nunez, another Bahamian holds that post.

In the final, why would government think they can tell an employer who their key person should be in their business? What qualifies a government minister to make such a decision? Don't they have enough to be concerned about without attempting to micromanage businesses?

Obviously an election is nearby, but judging from the lack of support for the government on the Marquis permit issue it would appear that Bahamians have cottoned on to politicians silly little games.

God knows this blogger hopes so.