The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.

Three years ago, I was recruited by Island Television to host a radio/television show. I was the “darling” of the owners of that particular entity, or so I thought. Lo and behold I made certain references to the PM and a particular attorney-at-law. Within hours I was ordered to apologise to both of them. Needless to say I refused and I was summarily dismissed.

The lawyer also filed a Writ of Summons against me and the media group for defamation. The usual exchange of pleadings took place. This was three years ago. Since then to now, the complaining attorney has taken absolutely no steps to advance her so-called case against me or the media group.

The media group is/was represented by Alfred Sears, QC. Now I note that the PM and the owners of the media group are creased right up in bed together. I was able to bounce back as the number one rated radio/media personality. Normally it is the duty of the plaintiff to lay out its case in detail. This has yet to happen. If the Lord was not/ is on my side, I would have been reduced to picking peas out of shaving cream.

While I salute the PM’s appointment as non-resident ambassador to South Africa in the form of brother Bastian could have made a better selection - that is my opinion. In my eyes, the appointment reeks of cronyism or a quid pro quo. The power of money is alive, or so it seems, in The Bahamas. Mr Bastian is simply exercising good and prudent deployment of his funds. I presume the appointment was made over in Abaco while the PM presided over the opening of Bastian’s Reliance Shopping centre down there. Nothing is wrong with this, but the timing and optics leave much to be desired.

While in opposition Minnis and his minions cussed brother Bastian everything except a child of God. They were referred to as parasites and worse. The web stores and Bastian’s extensive reach ghetto-wise within the less affluent areas of New Providence has proven lucrative at the expense of the unwashed masses. A wrong message is being sent. Ignore the law of the land, get more wealth while doing so. No I am suggesting nothing sinister. But most Bahamians have been reduced to buying numbers and spinning.

Will Bastian and his allies get a cultivation and distribution licence for medical marijuana? Will he be granted deeply discounted Crown land in Abaco to construct public/private affordable residences? The question is where will this all end.

To God then, in all things, be the glory.

ORTLAND H BODIE, Jr

Nassau,

May 26, 2021.