Bahamian Observer

Stop the Political "Tennis Match"!

Stop the Political “Tennis Match”!

 

The longest professional tennis match, in terms of both time and total games, was the Wimbledon 2010 first-round match between Nicolas Mahut and John Isner on June 22, 23, and 24, 2010. It lasted 183 games and required 11 hours and 5 minutes of playing time.  I do hope to one day commend those tennis players as they truly showed the world what the word perseverance means. Unfortunately, neither Mahut nor Isner won Wimbledon. Rafael Nadal won.

 

Hubert Ingraham, regarded as one the countries hardest working political strategist, was born in Pine Ridge, Grand Bahama, on August 4, 1947. He will be 63 years old this year.  He first served as Prime Minister from 1992 until 2002 and became Prime Minister again in 2007.

 

Perry Christie, regarded by many as a very kind consultative Prime Minister, was born in Nassau, Bahamas on August 21, 1944. He will be 66 years old this year.  He served as the third Prime Minister of The Bahamas from 2002 to 2007.

 

Unfortunately, we see the same political “tennis match” being played in our lifetime. It appears as if any young man or woman with true political fortitude and ambition will only advance if approved, and or endorsed, by either of these leaders. They will or could undoubtedly suffer at the hands of two ancient politicians who have cemented themselves institutionally in their respective political parties. As the two expert political leaders of our nation’s  leading political parties continue their daily diatribe and “volley” their seemingly personal political agenda of “tit for tat”,  year in and year out,  it often appears as if our country’s most pressing issues, in these most trying financial times,  get lost. We sit and watch these two ancient political gladiators navigate, taunt, and tease each other about their proclaimed delivered political successes, or their undelivered political failures, all at the expense of us, the Bahamian people. 

 

They continue to hold this lengthy political “tennis match” that will end the same way that the longest match at Wimbledon 2010 ended.  Even the chair umpire at Wimbledon, Mohamed Lahyani, sitting in his perch long enough to have watched four Junkanoo parades and a Carifta Game, showed signs of fatigue just like our Speaker of the House of Assembly, the Honorable Alvin Smith. The Speaker often appears to have battle fatigue from watching two leaders go back and forth on issues with no productive results, simply for political points. Rather than embracing each other’s positive national initiatives, contributions, or programs that could have further enhanced the development of our nation, they again, like the two tennis players at Wimbledon, go on, and on, and on, to accomplish nothing except for the occasional outburst of laughter, followed by an orchestrated laughing cast of paid, elected Members of Parliament, who must laugh according to when the signal is given, as if they were in a pub with their Mafia boss.  

 

The “tennis court” which I use here to symbolize our country, has cracked under their feet, thus symbolic and emblematic of the rapid depreciation of our nation. Our Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition still go on, and on, and on, playing their political “tennis” match, even though the country continues to slowly deteriorate under their leadership.  

 

Yet, crime is totally out of control. Illegal immigration has changed the face of our nation as we continue to accept habits foreign to our way of life that undermines our culture and very existence. Unemployment increases. Financial Services Industry has read its own obituary no matter how many agreements we sign. BEC sneaked a rate hike. Schools are just being repaired in August again. Tourism is suffering from a terminal disease. Cuba readies itself to open and expand its Tourism Industry with hopes of embracing its glory days. We fake farming while realizing our labor costs is just too high. Urban Renewal needs urgent “refuel”. Our waters are poached and not protected by our military command due to lack of equipment and supplies. The hospital has run out of beds and meds. The roads program is forced down the throats of Bahamian citizens without any recourse. The” Barefoot” bandit never saw Fox Hill prison. Number houses are guarded by the police. And the engine runs out of oil in Abaco while the leaders of the two leading parties continue to simply hit volleys at each other in their political “tennis” match. But which young politician will emerge like Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon in 2010, to finally win this country’s prize from these veteran gladiators who have passed the civil servants’ retirement age, and go on to be the new Prime Minister for a new generation of Bahamians?

 

Anthony U Bostwick Jr

Too much “Kung Fu”?!

The March 15, 2008 edition of The Economist Magazine was titled "The New Colonists," on the cover was Mao Zedong with the Chinese flag leading a camel caravan through an Arabian desert. The story explained how China's seemingly insatiable thirst for natural resources is leading to a Chinese foreign policy, that matched many early colonist, no different from Spain, Portugal, France, and Great Britain in their early colonial exploits. Today, it’s the Chinese who appear to be “The New Colonist” by strategically investing in many developing countries around the world.  The Bahamas and the People’s Republic of China appeared to have truly begun “dating” in public; On November 15 to 17, 2009 the Bahamas was visited by His Excellency Yikang Jiang, Member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China.  The purpose of his visit, depending on whom you ask, and which country you ask, was to enhance relations between both countries and foster a better understanding diplomatically and politically.  Minister Brent Symonette said it was a pleasure to welcome Mr. Yikang to The Bahamas, the third Chinese official to visit that year. His Excellency Hui Liangyu, Vice Premier in the State Council visited in February, His Excellency Wu Bangguo, visited in September 2009.  The Governments of The Bahamas and the People’s Republic of China signed three agreements on Friday, September 4, 2009. This is now.

History in the Bahamas must give naturalized Bahamians of Chinese ethnicity their credit in building a better Bahamas.  With a financial support structure based on internal cultural lending, money in their “other” pocket, keeping a very low visibility with limited participation in the daily Bahamian public, they ran their casinos at home and aided other Chinese migrating through the Bahamas in stealth fashion. They respectfully cooperated and obeyed the law eventually working their way to economic empowerment by “their” traditional means. Gayle Saunders and Michael Craton in their masterpiece entitled Islands in the Stream noted that it was around 1879 when a Chinese migrant from Cuba named Pang Yuong opened a small restaurant on East Bay Street with extreme resistance from the then Bay Street merchants. The majority of the Chinese who found permanency in the Bahamas today arrived during the 1920’s by way of the West Indies. The Chinese, like the other earlier non-English speaking migrants, immediately discovered their biggest advantage in this young virgin colony, was their language, frugality, and their silent business network, often communicated in a language not known to this colony.  Therefore, the majority of Bahamians for an instant became foreigners in their own country when doing business with the migrant Chinese merchant who may have just arrived through a “network of silence”. The Chinese by many means bought and opened up various businesses in the center of many indigenous and traditional Bahamian neighborhoods.  Almost 100 years later, we witnessed Minister Brent Symonette welcome Mr. YiYang in 2009, when just as a reminder in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s as documented, the Merchants and Wholesalers of Bay Street resisted and did not allow the Chinese migrants entry. That was then.

Nothing in this life is free, and history has far too many examples to illustrate that no country in history gives gifts without the expectation of eventually receiving something in return. Many “real” patriotic Bahamians are beginning to raise their eyebrows with nationalistic skepticism, wondering what does the Bahamas have that China needs, want, or may demand in the very near or distant future?  It may not be today, but you can be assured that China may one day ask to put a nuclear submarine testing facility in Andros, or a very large private farm in Abaco, Andros or Eleuthera, or ask for fishing rights in the Bahamas along with entering a Chinese Junkanoo Group in the Boxing Day parade. They already strategically control one of the largest shipping ports in the world located in Grand Bahama.  In March 2009, the Exim Bank of China financed the stalled Baha Mar hotel project.  The Chinese are funding the construction of a new $30 million sports stadium in New Providence and are providing more than $100 million in road construction projects. It is expected, and raising many fears that an influx of migrant workers from China may be mismanaged by some individuals in respective government agencies as was done in the past with many other silent ethnic groups who have made the Bahamas their home for convenience or commerce. Could indigenous Bahamians as we know them today become the minority culture in their own homeland? Could the next Bahamian leaders bear the names Hon. Mao Zedong Christie, or Hon. Toussaint L’ouverture Ingraham? Bahamians must realize that it has been alleged that “The Panda” may have two faces, and China like many other world leading countries will strong arm The Bahamas into submission, if their demands are not adhered to when called upon for favors in return, it may be just a matter of time. History has given sufficient evidence, and our Bahamian leaders must decide how much, and how we will manage this economic injection and migration from the Far East, as this may just be “too much” or “just enough Kung Fu” for our Bahamian traditional “Rake and Scrape”.

Anthony U. Bostwick Jr

Forget the Elizabeth by-election, “FIX THE CITY DUMP”.

Dear Sir, please allow me space to express a very serious observation that only sheds light on the priorities of those who govern our country.

As the by- election saga  in Elizabeth constituency rages on and a probable future court action looms, every radio talk show and media house enthusiastically continue their coverage on every aspect of the by-election in Elizabeth Estates.  As the torch burns and the crabs walk, the Nassau city dump burns releasing fumes that contain very dangerous chemicals, surrounding neighborhoods. The fire at the dump is symbolic of the many “fires” that burn unattended in the Bahamas.

Subdivisions such as Jubilee Gardens and many other areas continue inhale extremely poisonous chemicals like dioxins and mercury receive their daily dose of smoke filled poison, the inside of many homes smell as if a garbage can was lit inside their living rooms. In Bahamian history, I have studied two instances when the Bahamas as a nation stood up to foreigners trying to dispose of, or offload their garbage either in our waters or in our lands. In August of the 1970 the U.S.Army had planned to dump 3000 tons of highly lethal nerve gas deep in the Atlantic off the Coast of Florida. The dumping was to start on August 10^th, 1970 164 miles northeast off the Bahamian islands but was met with serious protest from the people of the Bahamas. The other major garbage protest took place in 1986 when the Khian Sea, an ocean-going barge containing seven tons of ash from incinerated household garbage, sailed from Philadelphia to dispose of the ash in an overseas landfill in the Bahamas.  Sixteen years later, the Khian Sea has returned to Philadelphia-with its original load of ash. Over the last 16 years the Khian Sea has sailed around the world, trying to find a country-any country-that would accept the ash for disposal. The Khian Sea originally had a contract with the Bahamas to accept the ash, but en route the Bahamian government under pressure and protest from the people of the Bahamas changed its mind and reneged. It’s now time for the people of the Bahamas to protest the continued poisoning of many of our citizens in Nassau by allowing the improper methods used in the daily disposal of our garbage. In a developed city a dump site should not be in the middle of residential and commercial properties. What is the plan to deal with this situation? Yet, the by-election in Elizabeth takes priority in the media and has consumed the attention of all our politicians in government and opposition.  Who is managing the fires that threaten the environment and health of Bahamians?

As the Nassau city dump burns the poisonous crime situation engulfs the Bahamas – home invasions and day light robberies have become common as the cold. Serious crime continues to rise just like the plumes of smoke from the dump that finds its way in many homes. Even as Commissioner Greenslade came out with many new initiatives, the by-election in Elizabeth Estates takes priority in the media. Who is managing the ferocious flames of crime that is raging through Bahamian society?

As the Nassau city dump smoulders, our economy is similarly the victim of repressed flames conflagration and apparently is not being given the proper attention required by those in government to save and restore it.  Our governments have allowed our Financial Services industry to struggle and fade away instead of putting in proactive measures that strengthen our country even in the face of the United States and O.E.C.D. led initiatives to close such jurisdictions.  As they continue their strategy and create new laws every time we adjust our laws  to their requirements, they once again  “move the goal post back” on us.  We must unconditionally take bold steps to save this industry as they have taken bold steps to destroy our Financial Services Industry in our face, we in the Bahamas cannot lose our Financial Services Industry as it has been one of our main industries and job providers, yet we have allowed ourselves to be dictated to as our economy hinges on the foreign financial markets and other economies but, the by-election in Elizabeth Estates takes priority in the media. Who is containing the flames that are retarding the recovery, growth and development of the economy of Bahamas?

As the Nassau city dump burns – symbolic of all the threats that pervade every facet of life in the Bahamas, we must move away from the political short term “quick vote” job getter which all governments have been guilty of, to long term real job solutions for the thousands that graduate high school or return from college every year. A long term productive job of substance that positively affects and enhances the dignity and self esteem of every individual is the only answer. This will aid in eliminating the anti social behavior that result in the escalation of crime and the present state of social degradation.

I pray that our leaders’ response to the fire at the dump is not indicative of our leaders focus on the priorities that face our nation. We have what I consider a national crisis because someone from every island in the Bahamas lives on the island of New Providence. What an opportune time for criminals to increase their activities or illegal immigrants of all backgrounds to invade, as the dump slowly burns and our politicians distract the entire Bahamas and focus only on “Lizzy”.

 

Anthony U Bostwick

A “Clown” Meeting- Building Now For the Future Bahamas.

On the evening of August 6th, 2009 with great appreciation and anticipation I respectfully attended the Government of The Bahamas Town Meeting to address the following:

 

Part 1: Nassau Harbour Port Improvement Project & New Providence Road Improvement Project.

Part 2: Container Port Relocation/ EIA Impacts /Mitigation.

Part 3: New Providence Downtown Redevelopment Project. 

 

It was evident from the onset that the town meeting was poorly planned and poorly executed.

Many of the presentations were totally irrelevant to the sentiments being expressed in the local media and daily Bahamian dialogue and discussions. 

The size of the room was very inappropriate and it only infuriated the already skeptic audience who were barely able to squeeze themselves into the little “hot” room. Was it intentional, poor planning, or a tactical blunder?  In any event, it gave the impression that it was purposely done that way to limit the public’s attendance and participation.

Based on observation, and listening to many commenting in the ebullient audience, it appears as if the seats were filled early with government officials, their supporters, media personnel, and numerous presenters with no support to the main critical contentious issue that the public came seeking information on principally Part 2. The Container Port Relocation. 

It was also observed by those attending the meeting that to ensure the time was meticulously exhausted and very limited, some of the irrelevant presenters were discombobulated by the heckling as they muddled over their presentations on issues that the public already have accepted and appreciated, that would be Part 3 and some of Part 2. 

It is not the Nassau Harbour Port Improvement Project that the public has an issue with, Bahamians know that this dredging must be done as it is required for this country not only to compete, but also to protect our cruise ship superiority and keep in sync with the changes in the industry. No disrespect intended but The Minister of Tourism and the present Director General of Tourism and Aviation along with a few others should not have been on this program, but at a separate Town Meeting for themselves. Their valuable expensive time which the Bahamian people pay them extremely well for, could have been spent on more productive matters like ensuring all of the Bahamian people money that is being spent on Ms. Universe Pageant, bring back some return as a future investment for the country as well as getting more tourist back into this country, a job which they have mastered in selling to the politicians but not to the tourist.

Unfortunately, they did nothing but “window dressed” their presentation and “killed precious time” off the clock in order to divert attention from the real purpose which the majority of the Bahamian people came to the so called “Town Meeting” for. The Director of BEST, who knows better and is well aware that the Bahamian people know that it takes longer than Five to Ten minutes to present an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) especially one that appears to have a subterfuge motive and is under so much public scrutiny.

Having some degree of understanding in Project planning, Appraisal, and Management it is and remains in my humble opinion that the presentation of Part 2: Container Port Relocation/ EIA Impacts /Mitigation should have been the only item on this Town meeting’s agenda. 

One such project model, developed by Goodman and Love (1979) called The Integrated Project Planning and Management Cycle illustrated that a model has four distinct phases and showed feedback flows of information and authority, and policy connections. The introduction of feedback was a very important contribution because it introduced the idea that the process of project planning could go backward (to redesign the project if necessary) as well as forward. But at this stage of this project which equates to Project Implementation (Project Cycle- Baum 1970) it is truly criminal to come to the public at this stage now that the people resistance accelerated due to lack of information and present a story created through an EIA when mobilization is already completed, and project execution is in progress. 

Any sensible thinking Bahamian can only conclude that they were not considered a Stakeholder in this venture. If the Bahamian people were given any respectable consideration and had the opportunity to address many concerns in the public forum, this project would have been met with far less resistance and a lot of questions would have been appropriately addressed.

An initial Stakeholder Analysis, Problem Tree Analysis or a Logical Framework would have aided in guiding the initiators of this project to include one of the most important components, the Stakeholders who is the Bahamian public and not the identified chosen few.

The activist have right to demonstrate and voice their concerns even though there are preferred ways to remain respectful while accomplishing your purpose without politicizing the issue. The Government has already showed its hand and the project is moving forward.

The voices of the many Bahamians are not being respected, and our questions are not being addressed as  it appears to be a political agenda with a crafty motive, and one of appeasement or payback rather than substantive dialogue to reveal the truth and do what is in the best interest of all and not just a few. Unfortunately and sad to say it appears that we cannot leave politics out of anything in this country because our Politicians seem to become “the experts” once elected and ignore the real experts that tell them where development should take place, and how to proceed to mitigate any negative impacts.

The only thing that can change the direction of the Container Port Relocation and some parts of the New Providence Road Improvement Project that totally disrespected some of our citizens is the people of the Bahamas. We do not need anymore “Clown” meetings, lame duck speeches, waffling politicians both in Government and Opposition.

If the Government can proceed with these projects in such a manner, it is then evidently clear that the Jitneys can be moved immediately off Bay Street, the Straw Market should be finish, the educational system in our country could be improved, medicine should be in the hospital, and every street light should be working.

If the people of the Bahamas don’t want these projects, many shining human examples exist from around the world that stopped major projects for the satisfaction of a few , just take one example and any sensible Bahamian would know exactly what to do!

 

Anthony U Bostwick

 

“ENRON” ON “FARM ROAD”.

(written in 2002 when BISX wanted the Bahamas Government to bailout the Exchange)

I write in reference to the recent scandal involving Enron Company in the United States  and the plight of many Companies trading on our Local Stock Exchange… BISX.

It appears to be some similarity in performance as it relates to some of our local companies trading on the Bahamas International Stock Exchange. It leaves me to wonder that notwithstanding Sept 11^th, which is the biggest excuse used by many companies to report their poor performance and to rid themselves of staff without union interference.  We as investors besides feeling betrayed are asking ourselves how could certain stocks purchased failed so soon and where is the exaggerated hype about the stock exchange gone to?

 I have gone back to and reviewed all the prospectus of the respective companies, and I can honestly say that the Bahamian people got taken for a ride by some of those companies.

I do not understand in such a short period of time, many companies that Bahamians invested their hard earn savings have gone south. The Owners/Directors must realize that while they took their big payouts cheques from going public, those losses were incurred by many poor hard working Bahamians who had confidence in those Companies and respected them as smart, honest Bahamian “sometimes”, business people. 

While the Owners/Directors and other “Fat Cats” skimmed the milk off the top they then watched the companies fall like the twin towers.

Unfortunately only the small investors who believed in those audited financial statements and hype promoted by BISX and the key brokers and dealers at that time suffered tremendous losses. While the motives of many of the Owners/Directors of these companies leaves many questions based on their actions. What kind of sign is this, it only further undermines the confidence in the market. This truly does not augur well for the sustain health in the market. Many hard working Bahamians feel just like the Enron and Worldcom employees and investors.

For Bahamian Brokers, Dealers, and Accounting Firms you know who you are, who aided and abetted these companies and their agenda, they have the public to answer to. The public should not just be left in the woods to wonder what “the hell” is going on. They must realize it is innocent people hard working money. The Brokers/Dealers were in the daily circulars everyday; buy Bahamian Companies on our local Stock Exchange was the hype. Batelco packages and other Bahamian owned pension funds were carrots hanging in their faces, so they sold the public “wolf tickets,” and where are they now? Rock point or under a rock, or between a rock and a hard place?  Additionally BISX who HELD A PRIVATE OFFERING FOR SELECTIVE SOPHISTCATED INVESTORS, now has the audacity to come to the Local Bahamian Public for additional funding to support them in their loss, where is the Central Bank in all of this?  They traveled all over the world, living in the best hotels, dined in the finest restaurants, and called it a promotional tour for the launching of BISX.  When in my humble opinion, what they should have done instead of drinking champagne and travelling all over the world was this.

They should have simply studied the social spending and investing habits of Bahamians to see how BISX should have been configured, or simply ask the “small Bahamian investor” who invest for the long term and not as daily traders.   They would have realized that BISX was going to be problematic from its inception because the social financial habits of Bahamians did not conform to their operational make up or short term financial objectives.  This is when you have consultants who bring industry standards and do not understand the people of the country whom they are consulting. Someone or a company should be held accountable to the Bahamian people, they should handcuffed and led across Rawson Square like our everyday criminal.  The Government should not be spending the Bahamian people money to bail out BISX but prosecute if need be the criminals behind this “white-collar” crime. We must not forget that BISX never came “Over the Hill” looking for investors, but they must realize that the Government of the Bahamas represents the majority of the people who reside “Over the Hill” and thats who’s money they want to spend to bail them out.

Anthony U Bostwick jr.

The Naming of the Board Members, and other Government Appointments & You Wonder Why?

(Note: This letter was written in 2002 when former Prime Minister, Perry G Christie appointed his first government Board members).

Dear Mr. Prime Minister

There are numerous rumors going around about certain prominent past political participants and other members of the public at large that are to be named to the various government boards, diplomatic appointments, parliamentary secretaries, and other government appointments to be made by you the Prime Minister.

Unfortunately the names sound so familiar from a past political era and their political careers and business dealings and affiliations in the past speak for themselves.  While I do admire them in many respects and their contributions to the country in that particular era in time, I would hope that the delay in naming the boards is not because you our Prime Minister cannot tell some of the past performers to retire and tell them thank you for working in the election bid and call it that.  I only hope they participated for the love of politics and their party, not for no political favor what seems to be the norm in our country.

Mr. Prime Minister I would like to inform you that there are many young talented, educated, and “full blooded” Bahamians out there who are just as capable and have brilliant analytical approach and reasoning to any situation in the country that could aid the government in its decision making process. Simply stated, young people should be given a chance to serve on these various Boards and receive some of the appointments if they are capable, qualified and uncompromised.  They are very capable of giving advice and corrective measures in this modern age of new technology and in our changing Bahamas, they can compete any where in the world and on any level. 

I believe Mr. Prime Minister; young people should be given the opportunity to modernize the thinking and direction of our government offices and our country.  Our generations’ thinking is not of such where every time we go to do something we feel that a foreigner should be bought in as a consultant, because we have lived here all our lives and we should know what affects us and how it affects us and what is needed to correct it.

It is funny that you found confidence and applauded the young voters with great respect and admiration during the election and the young people put you in office for many reasons, now you need to find confidence in truth in the young to help you modernize our government offices and decision making process of this new and exciting time of globalization.  

I know you have been called a Prime Minister that do not want to hurt or victimize any Bahamian but you must remember your recent Batelco information exchange fiasco in the House of Assembly…yes young people watch that to.

Mr. Prime Minister there are so many thoughts on young Bahamian minds that leaves us to wonder why. These are just a few for thought.

1. You wonder why scholarship cheques were made out to individuals and not to Universities where the students were going to attend, the result were cars, trips, and home repairs these students should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

2. You wonder why the 52miles of road work stopped and the Director of Min. of Works left and went to Atlantis like most of our good retired Senior Police Officers have made it a norm.

3. You wonder why Management of Batelco and other Govt Corps could not make proper sound financial decisions without the Board of Directors, some of whom cannot read a Balance Sheet or Income Statement and worse probably don’t know what is even being discussed at that time.

4. You wonder why there are just as much Jamaican and Haitian Straw Vendors selling Chinese, Indonesian, and Cuban products in prime locations down town in our tourism industry and why the Haitian Moped rental company by the ships is given priority and not harassed by police on the busiest work days over a Bahamian Company who employs Bahamians and operates the same.

5. You wonder why the jitney still owns the road or why the Public Utilities Commission looks like a Retirement Park for former executives of Govt. Corporation instead of just making them consultants and giving that commission to young individuals who are probably uncompromised, and clear of beaurocratic red tape.

6. You wonder why the Defense Force Members are treated like boy scouts at mini camp, and why poachers are only charged $100 in fines for 10,000 pounds of crawfish caught out of season or on the first day of the Crawfish season they have the same amount of Crawfish.

7. You wonder why Haitian Boats are caught by Paradise Island and not by Inagua, also why the dock at long wharf where Haitian vessels have turn this into a Port with no bathroom facilities or proper Government clearance, but Bahamian families and paying tourist swim in that water daily.

8. You wonder why the Post Office system has not changed in 40 years…the building yes, but the operation and rodents in the building still remain the same.

9. You wonder why the Central Bank is being left behind in the Financial Services Industry, and why it is so antiquated in the Banking Industry. It appears to have just become an art gallery and a collector of artwork some as archaic as its banking operation and regulations.

10. You wonder why a Bahamian of Negro persuasion is called a “drug dealer” and a Bahamian of Caucasian persuasion is “a smart businessman” when they are shipping the same drugs.

Mr. Prime Minister these are just a few realistic thoughts happening today you should allow young minds to change.  It is evident that these things are still going on. The past we must learn from, and the future we must ensure that such incidents are not repeated. Please give young “Bahamian” people an opportunity to serve on these Government Boards, and be appointed to serve abroad, remember they will not always be young and other countries are looking for talent.

Anthony U Bostwick Jr.

2002