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[00:00:22] Speaker B: I'm not afraid. I'm not afraid to take a stand.
Take a stand.
[00:00:28] Speaker C: Z Live with Chivago Lang is brought.
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[00:01:38] Speaker D: Welcome, welcome, welcome ladies and gentlemen to Z Live. I'm Chevagulang, your host. So glad that you could join us here today on Guardian Radio, 96.9 FM on this beautiful Wednesday afternoon. I trust and hope that you are doing well.
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Don't forget that coming Monday, this coming Monday the 14th of October, we will have a new time slot for Z Live.
That time slot will be 12 to 2. Sorry, today's Tuesday. I'm so sorry. Not Wednesday.
I might be rushing to get on Tuesday. Thanks producer.
Keeping me in the right time zone.
Tuesday, Tuesday, Tuesday. But don't forget Monday. Monday. Come in. We start a new time slot which is 12 to 2.
Okay.
What, what, what what is. What what is. Or what's happening downtown?
I'm not sure.
I. I'm not sure. What? What?
Oh, sorry. The show I'm producing, man, you got me and I got me. Okay, no, hold on. Let's back this ship up. We're gonna back this ship up. Please let me back it up. Okay.
Today had that right. Okay, so I'm not, I'm not Ottawa.
This is Wednesday, which is Wednesday. The. The show begins Tuesday, October 14th. Because Monday is holiday.
Okay, so the new time slot for the show 12 to 2 is Tuesday, October 14th. Because October 13th, Monday is a holiday. Thank you, producer. All right, we straight now. We clear, everybody, we clear and straight.
I can't have a call on the line now. I, I have. Nobody knows what I'm talking about, per se. Yeah, what am I.
I have a call on the line already.
Go ahead, caller, we're listening to you.
[00:04:39] Speaker E: Yeah, how you doing, Mr. Lang?
[00:04:41] Speaker D: Yes, sir. I even introduced the topic. I wouldn't. You, you got, you, you call it. What's going on? Tell me. You must have a real hoty, hottie. What's going on?
[00:04:51] Speaker E: Ain't nothing going on, man.
[00:04:52] Speaker F: First time, caller.
[00:04:54] Speaker D: Oh, thanks for calling, man. Appreciate you.
All right. I just was wondering how your day going so far.
Not bad. Not bad, not bad. You know, I'm, I'm in a very high altitude, and I have to tell you, it is affecting me. It's so. I, I, it, It doesn't. I know I don't feel normal. Normal, Normal. But, but other than that, I'm good.
I'm from Flagstaff. I'm in Flagstaff, Arizona, which is 7,000ft above.
All right then, that's good. You've been downtown today?
No, no, no, no, I, I don't. I'm asking what was going on downtown today?
What was.
[00:05:33] Speaker E: It's a protest. They promised the civil servants, them their money.
[00:05:37] Speaker F: September.
[00:05:37] Speaker G: Now they push it back to December. So that's why everybody carrying on.
[00:05:42] Speaker D: Yeah, but, yeah, but, but how is that news, though? I mean, we, we got that announcement almost some weeks ago.
Some weeks ago we were told by the government that those civil servants who did not get their pay increase in September would get it in December, retroactive to September. Well, so what. Why the protest now? What, what, what is. I don't understand it. I, I heard the president of the Obama's union of teachers say that they have that and some other issues.
I mean, nobody said what those other issues are, but I, I'm just trying to. Was it a, Was it a legal strike? Was it people who were off from work who just had organized to go protest? Like, what was this today? What? I don't know. I don't understand.
Maybe, maybe someone who understands can let me know what, what, what has happened because there's a protest.
People have been chanting. I got the videos. People are chanting, if you can't pay the money, just ring the bell. People are chanting, Brave has to go.
And these are union people. So these are the public service union people. These are the Bahamas Union of Teachers people.
The leadership of the two unions, Mr. Ferguson and Mrs. Wilson went into the House of Assembly and as I understand it, came walking out of the House of Assembly holding the hands of the Prime Minister who indicated that the monies would be paid in December, as he had indicated before.
So what, what, Maybe someone in the press, you, you, you know, maybe you can tell me what happened.
Like I'm talking about, like, what was this?
I don't, I mean, I don't tell me it's a protest. I know it was a protest, but I mean, but, but I. What, how was this on? Like, you're not allowed to go on Bay street, just like that. You, when you crowds gather in that faction, you have to get some permission from the Commission of Police and those.
That's, that's. There are lots of things to talk about with this, this event today.
So presumably they had barricades out there with a barricade set up in advance, so that notice has been given in advance that this was going to be happening. My understanding for some people in the press, they didn't know that it was happening.
They didn't know it was happening.
The Free National Movement seemed to have known it was happening because plenty of them was out there.
Plenty. The leadership was out there. The leader of the party, the chairman of the party was out there.
The deputy leader of the party was out there.
Some of the candidates were out there. They didn't just, were not just out there, as in talking to the crowd. They were in the crowd. They marched with the crowd from wherever they started marching from. So you can see them on the street. So you can't just march on the street like that. You had to have gotten permission from the Commission of Police, as far as I understand. So, so did the unions get approval from the Commissioner for this protest?
I'm confused. That's all I'm saying. I'm just confused. Doesn't mean there's an. You know, I just don't understand it and I don't understand how you come out of the House of Assembly, you're holding hands at the Prime Minister.
You got a meeting with him on Monday, Monday's holiday, and he says you can get your pay in December. But he already said that before. So if you knew that before, what would have been the reason for protesting today? What new things fermented that warranted this level of public protestation?
I don't know is the question right.
[00:09:47] Speaker H: Now.
[00:09:48] Speaker D: The F M's leadership and candidates saw fit to support this protest in a big way. This was no little protest. This was no little support. This wasn't no verbal or vocal support.
They joined with this group and went out there and they were behind the barricades protesting with the group.
Right.
That's not new for politicians in the Bahamas from either side of the political divide. Any side of the political divide. Not sfnpf, any side.
That's not new.
But just because it's not new doesn't mean like it's so when you're the alternate government, you know that's what the official opposition is, right?
It's the alternative government. That's what it is.
Yes, the election could be won by the cri, but that doesn't matter. The official opposition is the Free National Movement. That's the alternate alternative government.
Right. That's how it's seen.
Ingram used to say.
Ingram used to say, only do in office things you can live with when you are out of office.
Generally, people looked at that to mean if your government, if you're going to do things while your government, make sure you could live with it when you are not the government.
But the reverse is also true. You know, it's that when you are in opposition, do the things that you can live with when you are out of opposition.
So, for instance, Free National Movement to become the government of The Bahamas and Mr. Pinter becomes the prime minister and many of those people you see out there become cabinet ministers and Labor. People should find occasion to protest against them.
Fine. Occasion to protest against them.
They will have to say, well, they will have to say, well, yeah, that's fair. That when the opposition is standing there protesting with the people, they say, yeah, well, that's fair. That's how you support the people, how you support people. That's what you do.
That's what we did.
No, not only that, you know, you, you, you have to say to yourself, well, you know, we supported you while we were in opposition. Now, but, you know, you against us with this policy measure, etc, etc, you know, we don't support you in that way and you know, you could. You have the right to protest and we can't stop it.
But it looks, it kind of looks opportunistic when you do that. It didn't matter if it was the plp, the fm. I am saying, I'm saying forget anybody else and get mad with me if you want.
I think it looks opportunistic for an alternative government to participate in a protest that way.
It doesn't look governmental to me. It doesn't look that to me.
There are many ways to support people who are protesting something, right? And this is a protest Of I want my money.
If the government don't deliver the money on December, I could see, okay, where you protesting because is the protest supposed to get the government to pay the money now in October or November versus December?
I don't know. But, but the ways is you can say, you can tell the public what you would have done had it been you, how you would have performed had it been you. You could go to the House assembly and do your job and rah, rah. And I was assembly. See what people are doing now because you weren't faithful to your word. You weren't blah, blah, blah, blah. You could do that. But to be sitting in the middle of that crowd, to me, that it looks like opportunistic behavior and it looks thunderous because you do that now and we all know people are fickle.
Today it's them, tomorrow it's you, you know, you know, when, when Jesus went into Jerusalem, all how the crowd loved him and, and showed support for him and came to get him, to make him king. The Bible says he retreated, he says, because he knew what they sought to do. And the Bible says but he would not because he knew what was in them.
And it's a lesson in being grounded in the principal stance that defies any time, any season or any grouping.
Right? That's my. And you know, Prime Minister Davis has suffered this too.
Prime Minister Davis goes and rails against Dr. Minutes. 10.7% unemployment now, over 10.8% is, well, that seasonal. Blah, blah, blah, blah. See, principles, principal stance, stances, right? It looks opportunistic. It looks like you just kind of trying to, you're trying to follow the crowd and not lead them.
And so, you know, I mean, it's a judgment call.
I can't tell anyone what call to make or not make. I'm just saying what it looks like to me. And it is, and as somebody indicated to me all sides to it.
And that is true. But that me, that don't make it, that don't make it, you know, sound.
It does not.
I think that, I think that a different posture could have been taken that looked more leadership and less opportunistic, you know, but this is what it is.
I still am not aware, I'm still not certain what this was really about, and I'm still not.
I did try to make some private inquiries. I didn't get a response before the show, but I'm not sure. I'm not saying I'm not. Sorry, I'm, I'm not, you know, and I, I, I so like if you walk out assembly, new leader of the two labor bodies and you walk out the house in 70 and you hold in the hands of the prime minister what that's supposed to mean?
What does that, what does that mean?
Tell me, somebody tell me what does that mean?
What are we as a public supposed to conclude from that?
Somebody say, oh well, we're not at war. We're not at war. You're not fighting and throwing rocks and them kind of things. You're protesting and you still have a meeting presumably to resolve something. So what's the holding hands about? What was that?
You're listening to Z live. I'm survival. I know. We'll be back after this break.
[00:18:04] Speaker B: Walk this road together through the storm, whatever. Weather, cold, the war, let me know that you're not alone.
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[00:19:53] Speaker D: In all seasons this October, let's come.
[00:19:56] Speaker I: Together for hope, support and strength.
[00:19:59] Speaker A: It's the Sister Sister Breast cancer support group Dollar Day happening Friday, October 17th from 7am to 10am right here on the grounds of the Nassau Guardian, Carter Street, Oaksville.
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[00:20:50] Speaker B: I'm not afraid I'm not afraid to take a stand Take a stand Everybody everybody come take my, come take my we'll walk this road together through the storm Whatever weather, cold, the warm Let me know that you're not alone.
[00:21:15] Speaker D: Welcome back. Welcome back ladies and gentlemen to Z Live. I'm Chivago Lang, your host. I'm so glad you guys could join us here today on Guardian Radio 96.9 FM on this beautiful Wednesday afternoon. So glad you could join us. If you want to give us a call, the numbers are 323-6232 or 325-4316. You can text us on 422-4796 or you can WhatsApp me on 439-3043.
You know what time it is, right?
It's 1133 hours behind this text just says good afternoon. I love the way you are able to show objectivity.
I try. Even though there are those who will question that. I do, but I do try.
This text says the public service union sent a voice note out last night at 8:45 saying what today was going going to do and ask his supporters to meet his this morning. That's how everyone was made aware last night. Oh okay, so but this was a protest then for which they got, I assume they got proportion from the commission of police on them or so. Right.
So I heard the leader of the opposition say that, you know, he was commenting on the barricades and indicating that he didn't blame the police for the barricades because they're under instructions.
Now I only want to tell you all what Chevalier understands and knows about these things.
The putting up of barricades is entirely the call of the Commissioner of Police.
I was the Minister of State and the Ministry of Finance and the government of the Bahamas privatized 51 of BTC.
[00:23:16] Speaker B: And.
[00:23:19] Speaker D: 4951 BTC and and I recall many of.
And I could tell you Hubert Alexander Ingram called up no commissioner and said listen, you need to put them barricades up.
If a commissioner of police knows that there's going to be a public protest and does not know how to secure an environment in relation to there. That's a big problem. They have to wait for a politician to tell them that's problematic. And frankly, any. And I confirmed this with some of my colleagues who were in that position that issuing operational instructions to the Commission of Police is a no no, a no no. You are Policy Directorate.
Now, I'd be shocked if any politician, the Minister of National Security or the Prime Minister knows that, go to the commission and say, you know, they have a protest on the road and you need to put up the barricades.
If, If a voice note goes out last night by the Public Service union president asking its members to meet downtown and, and the Commissioner of Police don't know that that voice note went out and doesn't know how to take appropriate measures.
Something wrong? And I know ain't nothing wrong with this Commissioner police.
I know that to be the case.
So I don't. I don't buy. I don't buy that. That's a matter of instruction. That's just, that's, that's, that's powerful. The cause.
That's the standard protocols. Right. But again, this is the man. Listen, listen. Today is today.
Tomorrow is tomorrow.
Prime Minister on Arthur said to me on an airplane with Prime Minister Ingram while we were flying back from Canada.
He said to me in the front of Prime Minister Ingram, he said, you know, son, never say in public.
He said, never make a public statement from which you cannot retreat.
We have a call on the line. Go ahead. God. We're listening to you.
[00:25:29] Speaker F: Good afternoon. How are you today?
[00:25:32] Speaker D: I'm right here, man. How are you?
[00:25:33] Speaker F: Okay. I'm great, man.
[00:25:34] Speaker G: I know.
[00:25:35] Speaker D: I heard you mention Arizona.
[00:25:37] Speaker F: Arizona. And I. I drove that coming out of Vegas. Right. It's 6,000ft in elevation. It feels like you're making 80 miles an hour going up the mountains for the sea, like you make in 10.
But, you know, it's a good site for you to see while you're there. If you have the chance.
Take Interstate 40 into Santa Rosa, New Mexico, in the evening, like when dark is falling. The beauty of that is just like you're going into Vegas.
[00:26:00] Speaker G: Pretty nice.
[00:26:01] Speaker D: Yeah. Yeah.
Vegas is. Vegas is about five hours from where I am.
[00:26:05] Speaker F: Yeah, I know.
[00:26:05] Speaker D: The most I. Yeah. The most I can get to see is the Grand Canyon, which is.
[00:26:10] Speaker F: You say Vegas is about five hours from where you are. You want you on the other side hours.
[00:26:14] Speaker D: Yeah. I'm in Flagstaff. Yeah.
[00:26:16] Speaker F: Because otherwise I would have been like probably about half an hour away because.
[00:26:20] Speaker D: Yeah, yeah.
[00:26:21] Speaker F: It's a little windy road to take you to the, in Nassau. It's so small to get to the hover down from out of Vegas because.
[00:26:27] Speaker D: Somebody, some, somebody tell me the best thing to do is take the train, the training.
[00:26:31] Speaker F: Okay. But it's a good, it's a good experience. I mean for someone who's never been there, you know what I mean? It's, it's a change atmosphere than just in Florida, you know what I mean?
[00:26:40] Speaker G: It's something to.
[00:26:41] Speaker D: Yeah, definitely, definitely. But I've been to Arizona before. I spent some time in Phoenix.
[00:26:45] Speaker F: Okay, okay.
Several parts Arizona. It's pretty nice.
[00:26:52] Speaker D: Yeah.
[00:26:53] Speaker F: But that's the only state that, that, that, that get tax back from the government except for the Indian reservation in Florida and other places. Okay.
[00:27:02] Speaker D: Right, right.
[00:27:03] Speaker H: All right.
[00:27:03] Speaker E: Thanks man.
[00:27:04] Speaker F: Have a nice day, man.
[00:27:05] Speaker D: Yeah man. Thanks man. Appreciate you calling. Appreciate you calling.
So, so maybe we, somebody says you, you need more background. All opposition, general public out there. No, all opposition ain't out there and all the general public isn't out there.
A lot of people out there, but not all general public.
I, I, that's what I'm asking for. I'm asking for an understand.
You know what it is? I, I like did something precipitate this like an addition to what we've already known? The government of the Bahamas continues to brag, brag. I mean, I'm talking about, this is one of the, one of the standing achievements of the government. The government brags about how many contracts it's settled with unions.
I think the number is 50 something contracts settled with unions.
It prides itself in its labor relations notwithstanding. We know that unions have had problems with the government and continue to say they have problems with the government.
But this has been a point of pride. We know that the government has said yes. We had promised to make payment at this time but we didn't do so. So we expect to make those payments in December.
So did something happen that made it necessary to show this kind of force?
Now is what I do not know.
And like what is the format like? Can you just, can you just show up a group of people, can you just get a group of people and show up on Brace Street?
Mind you, I don't see odds but the police could do if you get a big, big, big, big, big, big crowd that could only be turned into a nasty affair. But I don't know, I don't know.
We have a text here that says that the FM should have Stayed home. These unions ain't loyal.
It's not, it's not. You're right. It's not only that they. But they shouldn't be loyal. Unions should not be loya political groupings. They should seek to do what is in their members interests. And to the extent that a grouping, a political grouping might represent that interest, they might lend their support in that direction. So that's not inappropriate.
But they shouldn't have a loyalty that says we can always be FNM and we can always be plp. Now there have been occasions on which some of those groupings have been that way.
Long standing supporters of the plp. Long standing supporters of the fnm, even if not overtly saying so.
Right, so. But they shouldn't be loyal. The problem is, the problem is that again, it's a question of posture.
Okay.
You see yourself in opposition as the sitting government, the sitting government, okay?
I mean as the government in waiting. Not sitting, sorry. The government in waiting.
And the question becomes a grouping is now at odds with the sitting government, the sitting government.
In light of that, in light of my perhaps imminently becoming the government, what is the best way to respond to what is happening?
So from my point of view, the first thing you look at is what is the issue?
What are the other issues?
Are these issues reasonable?
Do they represent a fundamental breach of trust, of governance, of leadership on the part of the government?
Is the protest that they are doing sufficient in and of itself to bring about a change, a result? Because what is the result? Now let's just say that is possible on the margins, maybe with a little bit more show of force, the government might be pressed to bring a result that we believe is necessary sooner.
And then we believe that if we actually join them, put our force there, it could bring about that result.
Then you might think, okay, let's do that.
But if this is just about, you know, we're trying to get votes now and we want these unions to know, be with them.
So let's go there and join them. So, so, so let's let, so if that, if that is sufficient to get the unions to vote for you, if that alone is sufficient, well, why shouldn't the government think, you know what we were going to give these people 5% raise, you know what we can do in December? I can give them a 10 raise.
So you think the unions can do that?
Union members, forget 10, man, I can't hold hawk 15 raise. How you can find them annoying with that? We can borrow that money. We just get a standard boss Upgrade and borrow that money, pay these young people. You all want. You all want me show you all what it is, what support is True support is.
Or you elucidate the issue and you can tell them people, you know, we believe the government exists and not in action, so forth. Or you could have a talk with the people.
I'm saying is somebody can. I cannot say it's morally right or wrong. I can't say that it's right or wrong. I'm only giving a perspective that I have on the issue.
This Texas Mr. Lang PM was dishonest when he said he was not aware of what was going on. Today, the PM is stalling for time and the union leaders bought it. The public service union leader want more money for their members. The teachers union leader want money for her members because she wasn't included in the pay increases. According to how he does. Time will tell who will come out on top after the dust is settled.
Okay, so you're saying the teachers union went out there because they said they want money because they weren't included in the grouping.
And union leader said the public service union wants more money.
So how does that work? So you negotiate a contract.
See, this is what I don't understand. The Prime Minister said.
The Prime Minister said that he gave this increase without any discussions with the unions, meaning that this was not a part of any negotiated contract.
So we'll be negotiating contracts for.
And if you.
As far as I'm aware, Public service union has its contract negotiated. They have concluded that negotiation on their contract according to the minister responsible for public service and those.
So you got what you wanted, but you negotiated.
The Prime Minister now appears to be saying that he is doing something on top of that.
On top of what you negotiated.
And you are saying to me, texter that the union leader is saying on top of what I negotiated and on top of what you agreed to do, what I did not negotiate, I want more than that. Is that what you said? Does that sound reasonable, leader, that's unreasonable to you.
Now, as far as I'm aware, the Bahamas union of teachers have included their contracts with the government. As far as I'm aware. I could be dead wrong on this, but as far as I'm aware. So they have negotiated agreements and the Prime Minister decides to give the public service people an increase, but not the union, the teachers.
But the teachers have gotten there. Of course, I can understand why. I said, well, you giving other people things, food and they didn't negotiate. You ain't give us nothing too. And you be teachers like I could see that.
I could see that for sure but again when the prime minister was first announced it they knew that this was the case was no protest then.
So I I still I'm a little bit at a loss and loss.
[00:36:15] Speaker G: Now.
[00:36:16] Speaker D: Let me come back again. Another something to mention about this whole affair that intrigues me.
You're listening to Z Live. I'm Cheval, I'm your host will be back after this break.
[00:36:55] Speaker A: This October, Bahama invites you to indulge your senses at the Culinary and Arts festival where world class flavors meet breathtaking creativity in the heart of the Bahamas. Join us October 22 through 26 for an unforgettable celebration featuring culinary legends Daniel Oulud, Marcus Samuelsson, Barry Ochecini and Simeon Hall Jr. Alongside a vibrant lineup of Bahamian chefs and mixologists. Explore captivating art installations, interactive workshops and live performances all set against the stunning backdrop of Nassau's mess. And electrifying live performance by global superstar Lenny Kravitz. Headlining the festival's welcome party on Friday, October 24th with a concert experience you won't forget. This is more than a festival. It's a feast for the soul. Tickets and packages are going fast. Visit Bahamar.com to reserve your spot at the Culinary and Arts festival at Bahamar where taste and talent takes center stage.
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[00:39:09] Speaker D: Fidelity.
[00:39:12] Speaker B: We're good for you.
[00:39:19] Speaker A: This is Guardian Radio 96.9 FM. Fresh news. Smart talk all day.
[00:39:30] Speaker B: I'm not afraid. I'm not Afraid to take a stand Take a stand Everybody, everybody Come take my Come take my we'll walk this road together through the storm Whatever weather, cold, the war Let me know that you're not alone I love if you feel like you.
[00:39:56] Speaker D: Welcome back. Welcome back, ladies and gentlemen to Z Live. I'm Shabbat Gulang, your host. We're so glad you could join us here today on Guardian Radio 96.9 FM on this beautiful Wednesday afternoon.
Please feel free to call us on 323-6232 or 325-4316 from the Family Islands. You can call us on 2423-00-5720. You can call, text us on 422-4796. You can WhatsApp me on 439-3043.
You know, so when you, when you negotiate a contract with unions, right, the finalization of the negotiations is really only a first step in the process, like a bit. Well, it could be a second step too. But let's put it like this, right?
Concluding negotiations and signing an agreement is only one half of the story.
It is now delivering on your obligations under the contract.
That is the other side of the story.
Finding the cash to pay people.
Let me say it again very clearly.
More often than not it means finding the cash to pay people.
You, you, you name these unions negotiating for a buggy load or non cash things. No, they, they have some non cash things mind you, but that cash, that cash is, is bottom line.
And so you can celebrate that you've concluded a negotiation and, and signed agreements, but it's finding that cash. Now let me, let me ask you a question.
The government of the Bahamas has money. It has agreed to pay. This isn't, this isn't under the contracts, mind you, because that's the, that's a set of money to be found, the ones, the increases under the contract.
This new set of money the Prime Minister says was not negotiated with the union. So there's a new set of money on top of that.
Let me ask you a question.
If the Prime Minister of the Commonwealth Departments and the Minister of Finance had cash in the bank right now to pay the civil servants, what would be the reason not to begin paying them now?
Tell me.
You have made a commitment, an obligation you're already behind, what would be the reason you would not meet that obligation?
The only explanation you could give me for that is to say I just ain't doing it in the Christmas better.
So now it's a, it's a political decision. It's Not a public policy decision, it's a political decision. I just think it's better to make it in than to give it in the Christmas because that, that'll come off better otherwise.
The only other explanation is you don't have the cash.
You don't have the cash.
Would that be surprising to you that the government departments don't have the cash to meet these obligations that it says, why should it be?
There are vendors in the commonwealth of the balmist today who can, who are not getting any or only part payments on many, many, many, many of their fulfilled contracts because the government has a cash flow problem.
So that's possible and maybe even probable that's the case.
But what it speaks to is, and we, we talk about this in, in, in fiscal management all the time, is that quantifying the cost of a decision and quality means to support that cost is a part of good fiscal management.
Because unless you can deliver a result, it doesn't matter what you say and it doesn't matter what you write, people want the tangible benefit of the thing that was negotiated and concluded.
And that oftentimes means I want to see my money in the bank and I will see it in the bank as soon as I get it.
Now, if you, if you, if you, if you scheduled it. So if you said up front.
So I want to, I want to say to civil servants, we are going to give you a raise. Now here's how that's going to happen.
We're going to give a raise to this group in September and we're going to give a grace to the next group in December, and we're going to give a grace to another group in March.
So please be aware that that is what is going to happen.
And we're doing that because we are timing that with some inflows. You know, maybe government need to borrow some money. I just saw that the government was approved to borrow some money through the IDB the other day. I think it was a couple hundred million dollars.
Right.
And so you could. So now people, it would be unreasonable.
Unreasonable on a promise that was not negotiated, that was announced in advance how that promise would be delivered.
But these are the nuances, these are the details, these are the anticipations that are necessary in the delivery of sound public policy.
Right. And if you have cause to be unable to do what you do in accordance with your schedule, to have gotten sight of that in advance enough to say to people, you know, let me call the unions in and say, listen, I know we'll be promised, we are running into this. And so I need to make an adjustment. So we prepare, we're supposing, to make an announcement about that tomorrow as opposed to people seeing a time come and go and ask me where my money.
This says the public service union leader is upset that top managers in the public service got thousands of dollars in back pay in comparison to what the lower skilled workers. Top managers got their money on time as promised and the lower skilled workers did not. If the government did pay those workers as promises, this protest would not have happened. Money inside causes no fight.
Okay, all right. So they might.
And that is true. I can't argue with if, if you point, and I can't be surprised that top senior people got more money than non senior people in dollar value.
Because if you do something on a percentage basis, then your dollar value, even if the percentage is the same, is going to be more if your pay is more. So let's say somebody's making $10,000, 10% of $10,000 is $1,000.
But let's say somebody's making $1,000. Well, 10% of $1,000 of $100. So of course $1,000 is more than $100, but in percentage terms, in terms of increase, it's the same thing.
Now, you telling me that the government gave a larger percentage increase to senior people than it gave to, to people? Is that what you're saying?
We have a call on the line. Go ahead, caller, we're listening to you.
Anton, Anton, you know, I know you're watching the time. We are, we are on the break.
[00:48:35] Speaker E: So better for you I could get it in.
[00:48:38] Speaker D: No, Anton, Anton, Anton, with the greatest respect, it's 12 o', clock.
[00:48:43] Speaker B: 5 o'.
[00:48:43] Speaker D: Clock.
I mean, sorry, it's, it's, it's now 3 o'. Clock.
That's not gonna happen.
So please call back. Call back. Thanks.
Ladies and gentlemen, you're listening to C Live. I'm Chicago Lang, your host. We gotta go to news break. We'll be back after the news.
[00:49:08] Speaker B: Alone.
[00:49:21] Speaker A: This is Guardian Radio, your station for up to the minute news and intelligent, interactive and engaging conversations.
96.9 FM.
[00:49:34] Speaker B: I'm not afraid I'm not afraid to take a stand Take a stand Everybody, everybody come take my, Come take my we'll walk this road together through the storm Whatever weather, cold, the warm Let me know that you're not alone I love if you feel like you.
[00:50:04] Speaker D: Welcome back. Welcome back. Ladies and gentlemen, to see live, I'm Chevagolang, your host.
So glad you could join us here today. On Guardian Radio, 96.9 FM on Beautiful Wednesday afternoon.
If you want to give us a call today, the numbers to do so.
323-6232. That's 323-6232 or 325-4316. 325-4316. You can call us from the Family Islands on 242-300-5720 or you can text us on 422-4796. That's 422-24796. You can WhatsApp me on 439-3043. That's 439-3043.
Okay, we have, we have Anton back. Go ahead. Go ahead, Anton. We're listening to you.
[00:51:08] Speaker E: Yes, good afternoon. How are we in Chicago?
[00:51:10] Speaker D: Good man, how are you?
[00:51:12] Speaker E: I'm doing okay, thank you.
[00:51:14] Speaker F: Good afternoon to the nation.
[00:51:16] Speaker D: A couple, three, three, three areas I.
[00:51:18] Speaker E: Want to discuss and whatever time you allot me if I can go quickly.
[00:51:22] Speaker D: That's, that, that's, that's the tree. You can try again in two minutes.
[00:51:26] Speaker E: Yeah, that's, that's no problem once I get through it.
Firstly, you mentioned that the government just got an IDB loan. Right?
But I, I looked up that IDB loan. I think that was like $160 million based on the article from the IDB and it spoke specifically to what that law was for.
[00:51:45] Speaker D: Yeah, I didn't, I didn't, I didn't say. I didn't say it was for this payment. I didn't say it was for this payment. I just said. I know that you didn't say.
[00:51:52] Speaker E: So I was just thinking to bring more clarity so that people don't run away in their minds thinking that the government went and got a loan to facilitate payment of the government workers, which is not so that loan is for enhancing disaster risk management capabilities and performances by the government. Right.
[00:52:12] Speaker F: Secondly.
[00:52:12] Speaker E: Right. The second point the government of the Bahamas has addressed definitively in the public domain why it did not make the timeline payment for September of this year to the support staff of the government, not the management and mid management to the support staff. And that reason given by the government of the Bahamas is definitive. It had nothing to do with the government not having the cash in order to facilitate the promise to the government workers on it stated clearly that they were working through the Minister of Economic affairs who also has responsibility as the Minister of State and Finance. Michael Alquidas stated that they are working through the tedious details to determine who is to be paid, what is to be paid, how the salary restructures will impact each and every staff of the government. And it's a lot of work that's going into it and they will complete the work and the government staff will receive its money. Prime Minister Davis came behind today in the media and gave his word as guarantee that the government staff will receive their monies before December. And none of the communications represented in any way, shape or form a lack of funding or an inability to pay the government workers, the staff. Last point, the opposition leader, to my surprise, right, he started a government that stopped increments for staff. He had nothing to say he was a part of that decision making process as a cabinet minister, but he had the nerve undergone to be amidst workers who are fighting for their rights and rightfully so, and acting as though he is so much a part of what they are trying to do when his administration, that he sat in that he was a part of the collective decision making process of. Stop.
This is crazy.
You can't make this up. We must be in Narnia. Thank you for the opportunity, Trivago.
[00:54:20] Speaker D: All right, thanks a lot. Anton, a couple of things.
First of all, first of all, just to be clear, I never said that the IDB loan was for the payment of salaries.
But bro, I worked in the Ministry of Finance, all right? I worked in the Ministry of Finance.
And when you have things to do, you can get a loan specific to a thing that allows you to take cash you get for other things and do what you have to do with.
That's the first thing.
Secondly, the information about why the lower rankings of the civil service were not paid didn't come about solicitously voluntarily.
It came about after people started agitating about the fact that the higher ranking folks would get their money in September.
In September.
Now, as far as I am, and I don't understand why Anton has to call in and provide this information.
As far as I'm aware, the exercise that was to be done for the lower ranking folks, that exercise has been done. That's how come the prime minister could say I can pay the money in December.
So you tell me you you still doing paperwork, you still trying to assess things and you could give assurance you can pay money in December. You don't know what amount of money the amount of money is going to be.
Come on man, let's be real, right?
We know that there was a delay in the work getting done, even for the senior people.
How is it possible that you have concluded work for the senior people and you haven't concluded work for the junior people? Why? Because they. More. No, man. The principal in respect of salary scales work the same.
The same.
Right. So I'm sorry, I hear your talk and I hear what you're saying, but I don't get that.
I don't understand that.
Okay, now, insofar as Mr. Pintad is concerned, just remember, and Mr. Pintad has to remember this, and all of his team was good for the goose, is good for the gander.
So you are absolutely right. Anything, anything that was done under the minister. Administration is owned by. By Mr. In that administration, every single thing.
Now, you have to apply the same thing to Prime Minister Davis and his people. When he was in the Christian administration.
We were told that for decades now, for years and years now, these assessments weren't done, no increments delivered. We were told that this didn't happen under the Minnesota administration, It happened under the post, was that the Prime Minister is the first one in a long time to be delivering this. In fact, the last time it was delivered was under Zhivago and Ingram when we were at public service.
Okay, now, so when you talk about Mr. Pintad owning what was done under the Minnesota administration, are you also asking the Prime Minister to own what was done under the Christie administration?
Because. Because the principle has to be the same.
Okay. What do you mean, he has some unmitigated call?
Well, the Prime Minister, though, said that he's delivered on what hadn't been delivered in a long time, and he's the first one to do so, et cetera. Well, he was a part of the administration that didn't do it.
Would you say what you say, he has the unmitigated God to boast about that. Now, I'm a man. Principle is principle. What's good for the goose is good for the gambit. It's good in the light, it's good in the day. It's good on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday.
It's good on the land and it's good on the sea.
It's good in the United States of America. It's good in South America, it's good in Africa, it's good in Asia.
That's what principles are.
Good afternoon, Mr. Lang. The opposition was invited by the unions.
We wanted to protest on the day the House of Assembly resumes.
The opposition was invited by the unions. You know that? How you know that? How?
Tell me how you know that.
Because I. I can assure you that is not the story I got.
Okay. It says, Mr. Lang, responding to the question of why political leaders might hold hands with the pm. It's called political showmanship and it's for the audience. Yeah, but who audience like when, when, when.
When protesting union people see that what are they supposed to think?
What are they supposed to think? I know showmanship but what is it supposed to be? What's supposed to. What are they supposed to think? It says good day Mr. Lang I agree with the protocols for the protest today. The harsh reality is as the PM know who all in the country it's a sad cry to know the undocumented a newly documented just something to think about but but, but but but but people with protest and immigration but you you to be for unions it says every administration is held accountable for its stewardship. Every F M administration lost because when we say they didn't do why should we accept the PLP complaining about the FM administration administration for five years because they cannot be accountable for their own. As a matter of fact I mean I always find it curious that Antonio and others would jump on the Mr. Pintard and those minister and anybody else minister and they lost badly in fact there are significant protests in the turnout an election for them so why would ministering them be a standard for any observation of what is going on?
Yeah Mr. Pinta them doing what they're doing and you say what he didn't do but they lost.
Right? It says good day to show or being the people's savior to show that is okay says greetings Chivago. I know that you said that you are several feet up in Arizona. It's ironic that you are seemingly perched in a lofty position for the most part assuming and bordering on grandstanding instead of firstly bannering the facts before you delve into the matter. I have a great deal of respect for what you bring to the table, sir. But today you seem to be often fumbling in the dark. Please sort your ducks out before engaging.
And what am I fumbling in the dark with?
I'm asking questions, right?
If this test developed last night and I come on the air today and I reach out to people for answers and they don't respond me and I come on the show and ask your respect for me is irrelevant.
What have I done other than ask questions and where I've made comments, I've made comments on what I know.
Okay, so I hear you but I don't accept.
I don't accept what I regard as your inauthentic respect because it seems to me really a veiled slap with the greatest respect to you says every administration this sorry, this text says when the government changed Payroll bi weekly. I said that's indicative of cash flow.
Easier to get half salary requirement than all of it. Deals can be negotiated in next two weeks. I don't know that they're on bi weekly yet, are they? Is the government on bi weekly now?
I'm not sure that's. That's true. We have call on the line. Go ahead. Call to be listening to you.
[01:02:50] Speaker G: Good afternoon, Mr. Lang. Good afternoon, sir.
I almost take that comment about you fumbling in the dark as a slap in your face. And you know, I was ready to respond for you, But I can't, Mr. Lang. But I want to. I want to point something that continues to create grievance in this whole audience. Mr. Lang, I happen to be a former.
[01:03:13] Speaker F: Hello?
[01:03:14] Speaker D: Yeah, I'm listening to you. I'm listening.
[01:03:15] Speaker G: I happen to be a former public servant by way of contract.
Had to abide by the same rules of general orders like any other regular public servant. It's just the difference whether you're pensionable or permanent. But the point came in people, which I found great pleasure in, and I had the opportunity to work with public servants and experience firsthand the daily challenges that public servants go to personally and professionally. And thereby is where I learned in my service that there's almost never enough resource that you could pay public servants for the service that they offer to the Bahamian people. I'm talking about all across ministries, Mr. Lang. Yes, we have some challenges in our system, and people don't want to say this, that's about public servants, but in an archipelago, the service to our country that public servants do on a daily basis is. Is priceless in my opinion. Now, our Prime Minister, and, And according to him, it seems to him to be dishonest in my opinions, and I say dishonest.
[01:04:23] Speaker D: No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, man. No, no, no, no, no. See, dishonesty means that he's saying something that he knows not to be true, or so like that. So you don't want to do that. You don't want to do that.
[01:04:33] Speaker G: That's why I said my opinion, Mr. Lang.
[01:04:34] Speaker F: So.
[01:04:39] Speaker D: That. Don't clean it up, man. Honestly, that don't clean it up.
[01:04:42] Speaker F: Okay?
[01:04:43] Speaker G: The comment of not knowing what the protest is about, I'm quite sure many other Bahamians feel that that was a disingenuous comment.
Okay, all right, I'm quite sure.
I always appreciate you for steering me in the right direction.
When the Free National Movement left office, when they were voted out of office. If I'm not Mistaken. I remember the last budget that the Free National Movement passed had budgeted some $50 million for salary adjustments, reclassifications because public servants were looking forward to this whether the FNM won or not. The PLP one came to power.
[01:05:25] Speaker D: That went away.
[01:05:27] Speaker G: And here we are today in May. The prime minister said that he had a surplus.
Then he came back and said that.
I don't know what he did with that. I called it a mirage. A word kind from Yeshosa.
And today we now have during that same surplus announcement he said that, you know, we've completed this comprehensive review of the public servants and he had his minister of Public service and labor taught and they banged on the desk how in September the lower end of the staff would receive income and back day and da da da da da da and June gone or July the mid level and up staff would receive what was due to them. Those people got what was due to them. Here we like you said earlier in a comment, not voluntarily, you know, but after being pressed by those same people, those same public servants and their union leaders, we get the response. Oh, we could check you all in December.
[01:06:27] Speaker D: I have another call on the line so you got to wrap it up for me, okay?
[01:06:31] Speaker G: And so the point of not knowing what the protest is all about, I think it's very, very disingenuous. And that being the response.
Very disingenuous, very disingenuous.
[01:06:46] Speaker D: Thanks a lot. Appreciate you calling, man. Appreciate you calling.
You have another call on the line. Go ahead caller. But listening to you.
Hi, go ahead, call up. Hey, how you doing sir?
I'm good, man. How you?
[01:07:02] Speaker G: I like I complain my lay above the ground. He called it. How about you?
[01:07:08] Speaker D: All right.
Yeah, just spinning off with a gentleman just said just now, right.
I'm a public servant.
[01:07:18] Speaker E: I'm a civil servant.
[01:07:21] Speaker G: All right?
If you can promise somebody something and you don't give it, it'll be a problem.
[01:07:30] Speaker E: All right?
[01:07:30] Speaker D: So you can't promise people something in September and then think no, we give.
[01:07:35] Speaker G: It to you in December if you get away coming from I, I only.
[01:07:42] Speaker D: Saying that, that if you can promise me something today, don't give it to.
[01:07:48] Speaker G: Me tomorrow.
[01:07:50] Speaker D: Unless there's a good reason that you can't do it.
[01:07:54] Speaker F: What's a good reason?
[01:07:55] Speaker D: Because you gain on a trip.
No, because you ain't got no money.
No, they getting on the trip.
Yeah, but trip money and, and salary increase money and the same thing trip might cost 100 grand. Salary money is millions.
Now let him do what's going on another trip.
Okay, thanks, man. Appreciate you calling.
So let me read something to you from the budget communication. 2020. 2021. This is Dr. Hugo, Minister, Prime Minister Municipal Finance, delivering the budget communication. This is what he said.
Budget communication. Listen now, listen, listen. You know, because Antoine called and said who suspended the increments and all that kind of stuff and nobody talked about it. Blah, blah, blah, blah. Listen, the Prime Minister indicated on that occasion, he said, in addition, we have begun discussions with the relevant unions with a view to seek their support for the pausing of all increments to permanent and pensionable civil servants, as well as temporarily suspending salary increases and deferring deferring salary increases attendant to promotion exercises. This is in the height of the pandemic. When was this delivered? In May of 2020. When did we start. When did we start shutting down the country? March of 2020. This is May 2020.
I'm going to read it again. In addition, we have begun discussions with the relevant unions with a view to seek their support for the pausing of all increments to permanent and pensionable civil servants, as well as temporarily suspending salary increases and deferring salary increases attendant to promotion exercises.
Said. To be clear, the intent will still be to process and grant promotions as we recognize that some are long overdue. However, attendance salary increases would be deferred. Listen, listen. This January 2021, when we have a better view of the circumstances.
Similarly, any new appointments will happen on an exceptional basis only.
Right?
Sounds reasonable enough to me.
Right. That was the staker Anton Antonio, in stating what he stated, makes that sound like an act of cruelty, not having regard to the context in which the. The. The. The exercise was done.
So something somebody should be ashamed of in the midst of a pandemic. Early days. The early days of a pandemic and. And should be ashamed about it. And who lost office in September of that year?
2021.
Right. In September 2021.
It says, I don't know how you're supposed to deliver on your promises in September 2021. By the time as September 2021, according to the Prime Minister. According to Prime Minister, the country was on a fiscal cliff and the country, the economy was in the doldrums. Etc.
So if. If that is true, why would the increments and increases have been made? Increments and increases not made in 2022 minutes was not in office. In 2023 minutes was not in office. In 2024 minutes was not in office. We are now in 2025.
If it was just a matter of someone not deciding to do it.
How come it wasn't done in those 2022, 2023, 2024?
Stack says I don't know why some of the PLPs are such crybaby sour lime series whenever someone levy any kind of criticism against them they can give but can't take.
Say if, say a line has to the call. Say say a line has to call. Say the $50 million allocated by the FM administration for a salary adjustment. It didn't just go away when the PLP came to power. It went to consultants in the form of some I think $52 million, right? No, I don't know about that.
I don't even know about the $50 million allocated for the promotional exercises. I don't even know if that was in the last budget. I think it may have been in the budget. Something may have been provided for in the budget before that.
Which is why in the midst of the pandemic, Dr. Minnis indicated that he would suspend those As I just read all right, you're listening to Z Live. I'm Cheval, your host. We're going to take a break. We'll be back after this break.
[01:13:04] Speaker B: A st everybody everybody come take my, come take my we'll walk this road together through the storm whatever weather call the war Let me know that you're not alone I love if you feel like you.
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[01:15:59] Speaker B: I'm not afraid I'm not afraid to take a stand Take a stand everybody, everybody come take my come take my we'll walk this road together through the storm, whatever weather, cold, the warm Let me know that you're not alone.
[01:16:26] Speaker D: Welcome back. Welcome back, ladies and gentlemen, to Z Live. I'm Shivago Lang, your host. So glad that you could join us here today on Guardian Radio 96.9 FM on this beautiful Wednesday afternoon.
If you want to give us a call, please feel free to call us on 323-6232 or 325-4316.
You can call us from the Family Islands on 2423-00-5720.
You can text us on 422-4796 or you can WhatsApp me on 439-3043.
I was reading this text again.
Sometimes I, you know, I reflect to see, okay, maybe there's something in there that's accurate. Correct.
So, yes, I want you to imagine someone says they respect you.
I want you to imagine that they say they respect you and then they start a conversation with you with these words.
It's ironic that you are seemingly perched in a lofty position.
You already believe people stupid.
Really?
You really think people stupid? Let me tell you something. I don't do flattery. So. So you could tell me you respect me all you want. I don't do flattery. I want, I want you to know that I take flattery and criticism almost the same because I know people are changing and people change and I know people could be insincere.
So we had a protest day.
I still don't know why the protest happened.
All of the things that I understand that the unions are concerned about, pay increases, confirmation and stuff. These are long standing issues.
Long standing issues.
As they said, as they conceded.
Why they fermented and precipitated in today's what I said. I don't know.
I don't know why.
I don't know why, given the protests and the unresolved matters, why eventually, as it was reported, the two heads of the two unions most prominently out there walked out of the House of Assembly with the Prime Minister holding their hand or they holding the Prime Minister. One, two.
I don't know how that happens or why it happened and I don't know why.
Because all the meandering things I said and spoke about that the textile, the, my. My respectful textile didn't get.
I don't know why.
I mean I, I am not.
I don't think that the opposition, particularly the official opposition should have been in the midst of protesters on this occasion.
But that's your choice. And I explain why I did not believe that to be the best way.
I don't understand why the monies that are owed to these junior people are not being paid now.
And because if you started paying it now, you'd be paying not a lump sum in arrears, you'd be paying a lesser amount over time, which is from a cash flow point of view how you would want life to be as opposed to having to go and find a lump sum payment at once.
So I don't know. I still don't know. I don't. I heard Antoine and I still do not know why that is the case.
Right. It is not a good look. It isn't a good look that senior people get paid for junior people. That's not a good look.
I don't. There's is hard. There's hardly an environment in which you could do anything in which that's a good look.
That's the reason why. That is the reason why to this day, for nearly 20 something years the politicians of the Bahamas have not gotten an increase.
That's why. Because they have never been able to reconcile that it's a good luck that you get a pay increase while the society at large sees nothing.
It's one of the reasons why. Because it's not a good luck and why senior people get and junior people being left in the lurch. They'll tell till Christmas. Sometime before Christmas somebody texted and say he didn't say before December. He said before Christmas. Yeah, before Christmas.
Right.
We have a call on the line. Go ahead, call up a listening to you.
[01:22:07] Speaker F: Good day, Mr.
Hi, how you doing?
[01:22:10] Speaker D: Yes, yes.
[01:22:11] Speaker F: Hey, Poppy. Chief, I'M gonna tell you, don't worry. Right, because I think that's the wrong word to use. But I say don't pay no mind to your respectful texter who respect you. We always could agree to disagree. We ain't agree on everything, so whosoever that is. No, we could agree to disagree that. But Mr. Mr.
Minister, I hear you saying nothing wrong. I hear you asking appropriate question.
I don't, I don't have the answers right, But I could give you my opinion. I don't know what's the official answer. Why wasn't they brain. Why they do what they do? Minister, you hit the nail on the head when you say paying the senior citizens for it. Mr. Minister, that made the workers angry, the public service workers. I talked to a few of them and they were saying before that happened, they wasn't really interested in getting registered to vote and they was planning on voting on this government. I believe the time was right for them to do it today. Minister, I don't know when last they made. But if they'd have come to the house to sell me anytime before the date after they mentioned that they changed their mind for whatsoever reason to pay the people, not in September and December. I think the protest would have been going on out there.
[01:23:24] Speaker D: But Papa did. But Papa didn't they announce that weeks ago?
[01:23:29] Speaker F: Who announced what?
[01:23:31] Speaker D: Yeah, the government announced that it would pay those junior workers in December. Weeks ago.
[01:23:37] Speaker F: Yes, sir. So I'm saying meet weeks ago after they mentioned that. But if they did meet and I miss it, I would expect for the unions to be there and they're protesting.
See, Minister, when you promise and you give your word to something.
See, that's what I like about Mr. Hubert Ingram. When he say something, he mean what he said. He say what he mean.
This, this Mr. Brave Davis. I, I mean we like Brave Davis. We know Brave Davis for years. But the things seem to be a little different now. I don't know if it's the higher you get in life, you, you show your true colors or the people he get around him really ain't listening or doing what they want to do or don't care how they deal with us because all of them just serving us. How you compete, the senior staff, the senior people before you pay, the people who, which I don't know what word to use for them who really struggle and who really need the money day to day.
[01:24:27] Speaker G: That's.
[01:24:29] Speaker F: And I think my prime minister, Brave Davis, if he don't know and he ignorant to the fact I think his Handle is around and telling you babe Mr. Davis way brave boy these people like like I said the time is right for them to do it today and if the host are open before after they said they ain't gonna pay the people they would have still been out there but knowing that a by election is next up coming soon May that was the appropriate time to do it then the prime minister fix him up I mean for years we know prime minister with the most respect no disrespect stumbling or wiz words but when saying what he's saying he can help or he can help with the situation so I'm glad to hear him say that people can get paid before December but like we say on the streets and on the road Davis all time saying take that. You know why I say take that. You should have never come try and approach the people dealing with you so servant you could find money to do all kind of things all kind of things different things. You're all allocating money for these people who working hard. You hear me? These people are working hard. They hear the people who've given us the medicine what you call the national health insurance the doctor they can't get paid the drug plan people are here they I mean like you say before you tell us we might have a cash problem challenge right now it ain't like we broke or nothing but we have a catch y But I say Mr. Davis my PLP government take that stop playing with people put people first you have it's like this new PLP like they disconnected with the real concerns of the beheming people yes they doing some good but when we talk to them they don't listen now you can come fix your mouth but you can pay the people for your they need.
[01:25:57] Speaker D: To thank thank you papa appreciate you calling we got a couple more people on the line Go ahead call listening to you we have another call on the line No I thought you said we had three you all know what Belinda Wilson said Belinda Wilson said Simon Wilson was not elected to be prime minister that they don't want to be having to go see Simon Wilson.
We have a call on the line Go ahead call we're listening to you I'm good man.
[01:26:35] Speaker F: Are you okay?
[01:26:36] Speaker D: Observation this pain the soft lines seems.
[01:26:41] Speaker F: To be through the government ministry and.
[01:26:43] Speaker D: Only person who is down line is.
[01:26:47] Speaker E: The chosen few Sprinkle here and sprinkled.
[01:26:50] Speaker D: Yeah but I don't for some reason.
[01:26:53] Speaker E: They continue to do it all ministry.
[01:26:55] Speaker D: Just promoting the top people and the.
[01:26:58] Speaker E: Small people and all ministries not just Civil servants.
[01:27:02] Speaker D: I mean all the civil servants but I mean inside. Yeah they are. They're all civil servants.
[01:27:07] Speaker E: Yeah. I said to be a uniform branch and stuff. They are being stuff for the same thing.
[01:27:15] Speaker D: And I don't know if it's a money thing.
[01:27:17] Speaker E: They're trying not to avoid paying out.
[01:27:19] Speaker D: Big money but it's going on and.
[01:27:22] Speaker E: It prompts you for years you think emotion coming and never come.
And now the end of the term now I guess it's something that it.
[01:27:32] Speaker D: Could be a funeral deal.
Oh I'll do it to say they.
[01:27:38] Speaker E: Do something but I mean me personally.
[01:27:39] Speaker F: Feel like when you do it early.
[01:27:43] Speaker D: On time it's a better look.
I got you brother. Thanks for calling me. Appreciate you calling. Ladies and gentlemen, you're listening to Z live. We're going to take our final break. We'll be back after this final break.
[01:28:12] Speaker B: The warm Let me know that you're not alone alone all of it. You feel like you.
[01:28:26] Speaker D: You try to rest roll with the best for all your printing beast there ain't no one better no. For posters and banners, magazines and flyers. For wind beating cards and newsletters. No joke job too big and there's no job too small. You name it, we can print it. Just give us a call.
Let print masters bring your masterpiece to.
[01:28:51] Speaker I: Head to the Nassau Guardian Building. Telephone 302-2361.
[01:28:55] Speaker H: In the face of a storm, it's not just buildings that get tested, it's all of us.
Insurance isn't just about repair, it's about recovery. So when the winds die down, you're already working the path forward.
Having insurance can mean the difference between starting over and starting stronger. So talk to an authorized agent or broker of Bahamas first general insurance about how the right coverage can support you through this season and whatever comes next. With Bahamas first, you're in safe hands in all seasons girl.
[01:29:25] Speaker I: Junior just show me Bella boy and his phone.
[01:29:27] Speaker D: What you mean?
[01:29:28] Speaker I: He take picture of that good for nothing boy?
[01:29:30] Speaker B: Shh.
[01:29:30] Speaker I: You don't want Bella hair. You see say that you know she always say that's my good child. So what are you doing in junior phone? Oh he there cuz the police looking for him. He on that wanted list. Wanted persons in your phone now.
[01:29:41] Speaker D: Yes child.
[01:29:41] Speaker I: And when police won't find anybody quick, quick after something happen they can send pictures direct to your phone. Call to Google play or app store and search for crackwear in Bahamas. Then pick install to a section on missing persons. Yes girl, everybody needs to get this app so police can tell us right away when These people go missing. Just like an alert sign system.
[01:29:59] Speaker D: Yes.
[01:30:00] Speaker I: It has numbers for Crime Stoppers Bahamas. So you can call and nobody knows you. Call directly to Miami and give the information without giving your name or anything about you. I tried the other day and when I hear Junior and his boys talking about where they hide those guns, I walk quick, quick round the corner and call that number.
[01:30:16] Speaker D: Call 328-8477 from Nassau or 242-300-8477 from the Love the Show.
[01:30:25] Speaker I: Want to give your support? Become a sponsor today. Call 302-2300 for our rates and packages. That's 302-2300. Become a sponsor on Guardian Radio 96.9 FM. Fresh news, smart talk all day.
[01:30:43] Speaker A: This is Guardian Radio 96.9 FM. Fresh news, smart talk all day.
[01:30:54] Speaker B: I'm not afraid I'm not afraid to take a stand Take a stand Everybody, everybody Come take my Come take my we'll walk this road together through the storm, whatever Weather, cold, the war Let me know that you're not alone.
[01:31:20] Speaker D: Welcome back. Welcome back, ladies and gentlemen, to Z Live. I'm Cheval Go Lang, your host. They're so glad that you could join me here today on Guardian Radio 96 Wednesday afternoon. If you want, in these last remaining moments of the show to give us a call, please feel free to do so on 323-6232. That's 323-6232 or 325-4316.
You can text us on 422-4796 or you can WhatsApp me on 439-3043. Antoine, I understand you were holding.
If you want to call back, go ahead and call back.
You can also call us from the family islands on 242-432-4300-5720.
So again, Anton, nobody's online now. If you want to call, go ahead. I was trying to get new callers in.
Let me see if we have a text here.
No.
Governance is hard.
No, I know some of you will say governance is hard. Leadership is hard. It's difficult in all spaces and places, not just in politics. It's hard. It's difficult. It's challenging mostly because you have to make decisions, utilizing scarce resources amongst a almost unlimited range of demand. Make a decision.
Whenever you make a decision, you are benefiting some and isolating others.
And that means you are inviting both popularity and unpopularity at the same time.
And so people with thin skins and people with who don't have strong backs and People who have no courage will find a very difficult time in politics.
Very difficult. We have a call in the line. Go ahead, caller. We're listening to you.
[01:33:28] Speaker G: There you go.
[01:33:30] Speaker D: Hey, what's going on?
[01:33:32] Speaker G: I had lost my train of thought a little earlier when we were holding to get to you, but something I wanted to point out. Just ask your opinion on that. I find, you know, again would put my grievances in this situation even more. The prime minister came on and he said he'll meet with the union leaders.
Not this week, based on his schedule, but no later than Monday.
Monday is a holiday.
[01:33:58] Speaker D: Yeah.
[01:33:58] Speaker G: And, and, and so it makes me wonder or think, okay, is this meeting gonna happen if not this week, this weekend?
Saturday?
It'll happen on Sunday then.
[01:34:09] Speaker D: But that, but that doesn't surprise me because prime ministers don't treat holidays the same as most people. The holidays to them is mostly same, the same as any other day.
Okay. They meet people, they get there. That is not unusual at all.
[01:34:23] Speaker G: Okay, thank you, sir.
[01:34:24] Speaker D: Yeah, yeah, yeah, I call it. We're listening to you.
I. Go ahead, caller. Listening to you.
[01:34:32] Speaker E: Yes, can you hear me?
[01:34:34] Speaker D: I can hear you myself.
[01:34:36] Speaker G: Yeah, good afternoon.
[01:34:37] Speaker E: I was holding for quite a while, but nonetheless.
[01:34:42] Speaker D: You'Re holding because other people are falling and we're talking to them.
Think about that. I mean, think about your statement for a moment.
[01:34:50] Speaker E: That's fine.
[01:34:50] Speaker F: As the last call.
[01:34:52] Speaker D: This is almost like a complaint, though. It's almost like a complaint other people are caught. You know what people tell me, why do you let Anton.
[01:34:59] Speaker E: It's an acknowledgment. Tobago.
[01:35:01] Speaker D: Yeah, but Anton, But I mean, that's, that's, that's, that's gratuitous, man. I, I don't, I, I don't, I think, I don't even think that's fair. I think, I think, I think it's not. It's, it's almost a back slap, like somebody's doing something to you.
[01:35:14] Speaker E: I'm simply acknowledging that I was holding for quite a while. How is that a back club?
[01:35:19] Speaker D: Anton, Carry on. Go ahead. Go ahead. Go ahead. Go ahead, brother. Go ahead. Go, brother. You know, people, you know, somebody text me right now, say, boy, you got.
[01:35:26] Speaker E: Coming off of that last caller. They provided you with a whole host of misinformation which they shouldn't have called the airwaves to stay because they actually, they actually did a good job making their leader or person they support, former Prime Minister minutes look even worse in the circumstance they suggested misleadingly, so dishonestly, so that the former Prime Minister who made provisions in the budget for $50 million. That is a blatant lie. And secondly, Chivago.
[01:36:01] Speaker D: I don't know it to be a lie. I just said. No, I haven't confirmed it. I don't know it to be a lie.
[01:36:06] Speaker E: And everything that you read, you stated that the former Prime Minister.
[01:36:09] Speaker D: No, no, I read. I read one paragraph. I didn't know if I wanted to look for that, Anton, that's why I didn't do. No, no, no, no, no. Hold on, Antoine, Antoine, you see, you don't get the privilege of having somebody else call in and give them misinformation and then you give it. Here is how I would have to find out if there was $50 million allocated. If it's not in the budget communication, I would have to go and look line by line in the budget itself, right?
I didn't do that. So I don't know it to be a lie.
[01:36:34] Speaker E: Let me understand this anchor Bogo, with your experience as a former Minister of State for Finance, right? As a former cabinet minister, right? Elections were September of 2021. Based upon what you read from. From Prime Minister Minnesota at the time he was going to review and.
[01:36:53] Speaker D: No, no, no, because. No, no, because that communication. No, no, no, because that communication was the pandemic communication.
What I would have. What I wanted to do was to be able to go back and read the 1920, 1920, which would have been a more normal.
[01:37:08] Speaker E: Right, Just tell me about this part. Help me understand this part. Right? With your experience and your knowledge. With your experience and your knowledge of. He made a statement saying he will come back to it in January of 2021. Right? Based upon what you read from him that he said in Parliament, we had a whole fiscal bucket June 30, June 1, and the ensuing two to three weeks thereafter with the communications. Right? And going into the heads, etc, right up to the passing of that budget. He had several months after.
After his 2021 last budget, and he did nothing for the civil servants.
[01:37:45] Speaker D: So, no, with the greatest respect, Anton, with the greatest respect to you, that, that, that logic cannot follow. First of all, he had. He passed a new budget. It took effect in July and he said he would look at the matter in January 2021. We were still in the throes of the pandemic in 2021, right? He said he reviewed the situation. Now, hold on, hold on, bro, hold.
[01:38:09] Speaker F: On, hold on, I'm listening.
[01:38:12] Speaker D: You say he didn't do anything. In several months, the new administration, the Prime Minister Prayer Davis, our Prime Minister had 2022, 2023, 2024 and he is now in 25 and still, still delayed in what he's going to do for junior officers.
[01:38:33] Speaker E: Tell me this, Chicago, who's the Prime Minister of this country?
[01:38:38] Speaker D: You ain't. You're asking me no question, but don't make no sense for me to answer.
[01:38:42] Speaker E: How much more time he has left on the clock.
[01:38:47] Speaker D: Thank you. Thank you, man. I appreciate it. That's a lot. Appreciate it. Ladies and gentlemen. Listen, we have another couple of text here. Let me read. Do we have another call on the line producer just to make sure?
No.
Says the Prime Minister didn't tell them anything different than what they were told earlier.
He said before Christmas they would be paid and government's payday in December is always before Christmas. So nothing is further resolved. I agree with that 100%.
Says hello Lang. Well, the PM said he would meet with them no later than Monday. Does he remember it's a holiday weekend on Monday? It's a holiday. Maybe just was under pressure by the protest and wanted to say something sounding good. What's going on with him and what's going on? And he said these days prime ministers don't look at holidays, as I said the same way as many of us do. They work any kind of day, any kind of time.
I used to have Ms. Ingram called me all kind of hours in the morning. I need to look at this bill and so forth and so forth.
They sometimes just be on the let's get the job done trip.
It says. Look who's talking about misinformation.
Hi. Let me tell you something, boy.
There is none so blind as he who refuses to see when we drink that Kool Aid.
It's something.
It is really something.
What I don't understand what is the. What is the usefulness a slapping up Dr. Hubert menace who lost office horrendously.
But like. Like how does that even play?
What the heck does it have to do with what is being done?
Hey, Antoine makes a point.
How much does the Prime Minister have? Well, he has about a year so.
Well, Dr. Minnis gone and call election in September 2021. So he gave himself a few months.
Only a few months.
But he didn't do what he was supposed to do apparently. And he lost office. So why are you appealing to him?
That's the standard, really the losers is the standard or is your word and your promise and your obligation to standard, huh? You don't make. See, Prime Minister Davis made a case against minutes in 20, 21.
Even that he went that he win that debate. He became prime minister.
He won that debate. That debate has been won.
This is now the fifth.
Yeah, the beginning.
You've been listening to Z live. Ladies and gentlemen, I'm Chicago Line, your host. So glad you could join us today. God spares life. We'll be back tomorrow.
Well.
