Wednesday, February 15, 2006

Bahamas Issues: 2nd Response to de redhead regarding Koed Smith post

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Originally Posted by de redhead
First I did not not get the impression that your mentioning the fact that Mr. Smith’s father’s ability to speak creole was a compliment.

Oh well! I am hoping to learn a few phrases myself. It seems as if in order to survive in today’s Bahamas, one must master the language. I am impressed that Mr. Smith and his family has a head start. Creole is the second language of the Bahamas

Quote:
The fact that you followed this quote with “hmmmm” suggests to me that you were insinuating that his father may indeed be Haitian, if am reading this wrong, sorry.

“hmm” is a quote used frequently by one of the members of this site, Marchael. The usage was used to get his attention. Needless to say, it was used to indicate that this is something to think about.

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You also state that your issue is not with Mr. Smith defending himself but doing so in the house “Wasting the people’s time”. I feel that there has been too much petty personal politics in the house also, but I feel that what is good for the goose should also be good for the gander.

We agree here!

Quote:
In the House of Assembly Hubert Ingraham refuted a statement made by Mr. Smith as having been made by someone who is not even Bahamian. Why should Hubert Ingraham be allowed to state in the house that Mr. Smith is not Bahamian, and Mr. Smith not be allowed to respond in the house. The only reason that Mr. Ingraham made his statements in the house may be the fact that noone can seek legal recourse against those statements. His statements were disparaging and your repeating them just compounds this.

I never repeated anything that Mr. Ingraham stated, as nothing that he may have stated is on record anywhere…What I did repeat is what Mr. Smith himself said. I did not pay any attention to the bantering until, Mr. Smith waste my time in the honourable House, talking about his possible lineage. Moreover, there is no record of Mr. Ingraham saying publicly in the House on the floor, that Mr. Smith is not Bahamian.

Quote:
When I commented about the “Fire in the mud” thread I was not implying that you made negative comments, but that anyone who wants an indication of Bahamians’ feelings toward Haitians could check that thread and see the negative feelings that we hold.

I think the thread “Fire in the mud” is a poor representation of how Bahamians actually feel about the fire. I cannot fathom that the world will judge the Bahamas by what is posted there.

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And I personally do not think that it is “dishonourble” to be of Haitian descent, I just feel that we have a problem with illegal immigration which affects the way that we look at Haitians and other immigrants. I don’t have a problem with Haitian individuals, but I do have a problem with the negative impact that 30 to 60 thousand immigrants from any country continues to have on our society.

I am glad that you do not think it is “dishonourable” to be of Haitian descent. Nevertheles, Koed Smith used the word “disparaging.” I was offened by that. And I am sure many Haitian Bahamians were too. It is amusing that with all that education Mr. Smith has, he can not find better adjectives.

Quote:
Lastly I disagree with you that Sir Roland and Brent Symonette should be left out of this thread. I have read numerous posts by you condemning any mention of Brent Symonette’s heritage, yet you feel that Mr. Smith’s heritage should be brought up. The fact is, Mr. Symonette’s heritage is on the record, Mr. Smith has shown that the allegations that he is of Haitian descent is false. You defend the indefensible yet tout the patently false.

I do not condemn any mention of Brent Symonette’s heritage. If you wish, start a thread labled ’should Brent Symonettes heritage be held against him,’ and I will comment there.

Posted by at 06:45:01 | Permalink | No Comments »

Bahamas Issues: Response to de redhead regarding Koed Smith post

Originally Posted by de redhead
What is interesting is that you are quoting Mr. Smith’s comment about his father speaking fluent creole, insinuating that his father may ideed be Hatian, and concluding that Mr. Smith has some links to Haiti. Why would you feel compelled to do this?
There is only one reason to do this, and that is to disparage him and his family. That is the same thing that Hubert Ingraham did when he brought the issue up in the house initially. Why do you have a problem with Mr. Smith responding to slurs in the house when they were made in the house. Was Mr. Ingraham not taking up time in the house when he attacked another member with scurrilous and unfounded accusations, the man has every right to defend himself and his position on the matter.
It is also interesting that you defend so vigorously Brent Symonette when his family’s past is raised yet you tear into Mr. Keod Smith when unfounded allegations are made regarding his family. Much of Sir Roland’s past and his actions in the past are on the record. They are beyond dispute. Brent Symonette is in the journal this morning calling The PLP racist and divisive, Keod Smith was in the house calling Hubert Ingraham racist. The issues raised by The PLP regard the legacy of Mr. Symonette’s father, if those issues are untrue Mr. Symonette is free to say to the Bahamian people how his father has been misrepresented and what a wonderful man he truly was to we coloureds. Mr. Ingraham questioned the nationality of Mr. Smith’s father, Mr. Smith should feel free to show where this is a fallacy. He did.
And your assertion that stating that Mr. Smith’s father was Hatian is not a racist comment amazes me. I have read posts on the “Fire in the mud” thread which belie this. Bahamians have an extremely low perception and palpable distaste for Hatians. That is a fact. Any person who is claimed to be Hatian in this country is subject to public and private scorn. Mr. Ingraham’s remarks are racist to the core and serve as a distraction to his own issues of robbing the Bahamian people through his pension.

Finally…

First of all, by me quoting Mr. Smith regarding his father’s ability to speak fluent Creole is not an insinuation that his father may be Haitian, but in stead, it recognizes his father as having a talent which few Bahamians possess, moreover, a talent in which few Bahamians even care to ever possess. I say kudos to Mr. Smith’s father and all the other relatives that Mr. Smith has who can speak two languages, one being creole. I hope to join them in this talent soon.

In deed, it may be true that Mr. Smith father has been misrepresented. In fact, I have no reason to doubt Mr. Smith and his lineage, but my concern is that he should do that on his own time, not the people’s time in our honourable House. Moreso, it were you who concluded that through the facts, and quotes from Mr. Smith, that I am insinuating that his father is Haitian. All I did was quoted the facts, and allow you to assume, and thus you did.

I personally take affront of the use of the word ‘disparage’ in your text in regards to Bahamians who may be of Haitian decent. Are you suggesting that by being of Haitian decent is disparaging in any way. Are you suggesting that by me suggesting, that Poitiers, Dillards, Goodmans etc are of Haitian decent, is disparing their Bahamian identity? That is absolutely rediculous! They are what they are, and they need to embrace it and move on. I wonder what Sir Lynden would think, if I stated that he is Jamaican decent. I am sure he may be up in arms…yeah right! That’s what he is!

I personally, know of no slurs being made by Mr. Ingraham toward Mr. Smith in the House. If you wish you can always cut and paste it and I can retract my comments. Besides calling one what they may be if it is the truth, can never be a slur.

Moreover, Mr. Smith did not ’show’ that the suggested accusation of him perhaps being of Haitian decent is a fallacy. I am not sure if anyone in the House ever raise to the floor and brought that up, nor did I ever done so; all I did was quoted him. (But I do know of a time when they did that do that to Mr. Pindling some years before, but that is another story). Needless to say before, Mr. Smith wasted our time in the House, I could have cared less, whether he was Haitian decent, Jamaican decent or a Turk Islander. The only thing important would be whether he was born here, and I have no doubt of that. Therefore, who his father was, is not important until he raised it in the honourable House.

You claim you have read the posts concerning “the fire in the Mud,” look for my post concerning it. Not every Bahamian think it is dishonourable like you and Mr. Smith appear to think, to be of Haitian decent. In fact, we have a number of persons in the House of Assembly who are. Yet, you don’t see them trying to prove that they are not, wasting the people’s time in the House.

Finally, the post regarding Pap Symonette and Mr. Ingraham’s pension issues, are concerns of a different post. Lets keep it there and talk about Koed Smith in this one!

Posted by at 06:41:28 | Permalink | No Comments »

Bahamas Issues: Responding to my own post regarding Koed Smith post

Quote:
Originally Posted by canewry
Koed Smith: “I am the fifth of six children born to David and Eddlene Smith, nee Bonaby who were married on the 6th Jaunuary 1958.”
Interesting fact, I shall comment on that later on.

According to the Nassau Guardian, Mr. Smith says, ‘his mother was born in Church Grove, Crooked Island and his father was born in Larimers, Middle Caicos, of the Turks and Caicos Islands.’
Another Interesting fact…This too I shall comment on, later.

Even though, I hate quoting myself, there are times when it is necessary. In the above post for instance, I had promised to elaborate on one or two particular points, just for entertainment. Sorry, if I offend anyone; however, blame, Ms. Nicolette Bethel as below will be excerpts came from her article on Immigration, February 25, 2005. One must read the entire article to understand her point. Nevertheless, I just cut this out to serve my point.

So Mr. Smith’s mother named was Bonaby. I know a number of them. A good Bahamian family, who have been very productive to the development of the Bahamas. But let’s see what Ms. Bethel had to say about the origion of the name: “There are plenty of immigrants pretending to be Bahamians, who have passports and everything. Let’s round ‘em all up, shall we? Charter a boat (why worry with a plane?) and send ‘em back off to Haiti where they all came from. Let’s start with the Poitiers, the Moncurs, the Benebys, the Bonabys, the Bonamys, the Godets, the Symonettes, the Dillets, the Darvilles, the Deveaux, the Deleveaux, the Demerittes, the Delamores. Why leave out the Morees, the Romers, the Virgils, the Sargents, or the Scavellas? They trace their roots to Haiti too. And let’s not be fooled by innocent-sounding names like Armbrister or Solomon or Bain or Benjamin or Fountain — they’ll be found in a Haitian phone book if we look hard enough.”

Now, let us consider Crooked Island….now I personally, decended from Acklins, so I guess I may be included in this list too. But for entertainment value, lets see what Nicolette Bethel had to say: “In fact, when we start looking, we’re gonna find that more than half the people who come from the southern Bahamas, from Cat and Long and Crooked and Ragged Islands, from Acklins and Inagua and Mayaguana and Exuma, are gonna have some connection with, to, or in Haiti.”

My point here being, it seems as if the more Mr. Smith tries to dig himself out of a so called hole, the more he sinks into it.

Posted by at 06:39:45 | Permalink | No Comments »

Bahamas Issues: Response to comment made by Sun Flower regarding Koed Smith Post

Originally Posted by Sunflower
Absolutely brilliantly written canewry!
Koed (is that even a Bahamain name??) I forget he is part of some African tribe which only he knows exists. If ya Haitan ya Haitan why can’t he accept who and what he truly is regardless of what Ingraham says or alludes to be saying about him….
This superior complex has been proliferated and purpetrated by the colonisation of our people, the Motherland concept has and will continue to enslave our way of thinking and living. Unless and until we acknowledge this fact we will never be able to consider our Caribbean brothers and sisters as our equal counterparts.

Thanks Sunflower; at least there is someone on Bahamas issues who can appreciate an interestingly written piece. Nevertheless, the saga continues.
Look what I found in the Nassau Guardian, dated December 2, 2005. An excerpt from Mr. Koed Smith:

Koed Smith: “I am the fifth of six children born to David and Eddlene Smith, nee Bonaby who were married on the 6th Jaunuary 1958.”
Interesting fact, I shall comment on that later on.

According to the Nassau Guardian, Mr. Smith says, ‘his mother was born in Church Grove, Crooked Island and his father was born in Larimers, Middle Caicos, of the Turks and Caicos Islands.’
Another Interesting fact…This too I shall comment on, later.

But let me first continue to quote Mr. Smith:
Koed Smith: “At least I know who my father is without question, however, for people like the Right Hon. Member to say or otherwise suggest that I am Haitian is to suggest that someone other than my father fathered me or that my father was indeed Haitian. This is a direct assault on the good name of my parents, myself and my siblings. It is defamatory as it is untrue and designed to injure my mother’s reputation.”
Interesting, in deed. Is it possible, that by suggesting that one’s father may be of Haitian decent can injure one’s mother reputation, perhaps.

Nevertheless, let us continue, siting the Nassau Guardian regarding Mr. Koed Smith’s contribution to the honourable House, ‘Still insisting he is not of Haitian heritage, Mr. Smith said his father spoke fluent Creole and both of his sisters married Haitian Nationals.’ Okay? Let us stop right there. So his father is fluent in Creole hey; (as Marchael on here,would say, “hmmmm!”) Oh well, as we all know, there is nothing peculiar about speaking fluent Creole, as I, myself, know two or three words myself, due to living off East Street. Words such as, “talking caca,” and “he pa bom.” A limited vocabulary, as you can see, but I am sure that with the help of someone who is FLUENT, I can do much better.

Anyway, what is so important about these facts one may ask? My answer, is absolutely nothing! Yet, in our honourable House for days, Mr. Koed Smith, took up our time, talking about issues, which still undoubtedly links him to that great island nation to the south, and I am not speaking of Turks and Caicos.

Posted by at 06:37:36 | Permalink | No Comments »

Bahamas Issues: Re: Koed Smith being victimized by Hubert Ingraham

Is Koed Smith: an imbecile, simple minded, or just plain petty?

So Koed Smith labelled Mr. Ingraham a racist! Yet Mr. Smith suggests that by implying that he may be of Haitian decent is ‘disparaging’ and ‘ill-conceived.’ I guess it depends on how one interprets his statment, one can safely assume that Mr. Smith believes that being of Haitian decent is degrading. But we on Bahamas Issues never assume!

Nevertheless, to ensure that he never again should be called HaItian…Mr. Koed Smith digged up his entire family tree, tracing himself all the way back to Africa. Aparently, Mr. Smith is from the Baracau tribe, (anyone heard of that one?), he also gave dates of birth of his grand parents etc. Was there a need? (apparently, there existed doubt, so I guess there was a need). Perhaps. Now, the question is: is there now a need to reinvestigate these so called truths. Apparently, these facts were so important to the Bahamian populace, that he had to bring them up in our honourable House. My God, we have petty children playing in our House. Where are the parents?

But I conclude with this, it is true that Mr. Smith is educated. In fact, he is one of the better educated parliamentarians we have in the House. Moreover, Mr. Smith has a huge vocabulary, and can in fact, play vocabulary acrobat with the English Language. That being said, how in the world did he come up with calling Mr. Ingraham a Racist? Couldn’t he have found a better choice of word. Did Mr. Ingraham indicate that he does not like Turks Islanders or Haitians? More so, did Mr. Ingraham ever stated outrighly to Mr. Smith, “Bey, Koed, you is an ole HaItian.” Hmm, it just seems as if Mr. Smith has some skeletons in his closet, he trying to clean up. Or is he just scared because he realizes that he has a tad more African features than the ordinary Bahamian? Well Mr. African Baracau?

Posted by at 06:35:31 | Permalink | Comments (2)