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Welcome to the Christmas issue of The Bahamas Writer (TBW) - "a source of inspiration for writers worldwide". We would like to wish you warmest Season’s Greetings and very best wishes for much writing success in 2003.

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Left to right – Hazel McLoughlin, Art Montague, Roderick
McKenzie, Joanne Hoople, Fay Knowles and Dennis Dames.

Bahamas Writer members Art Montague and his wife, writer Joanne Hoople, recently vacationing here from Ottawa, Canada, had a unique opportunity to meet local Bahamas forum members Dennis Dames, Roderick McKenzie and Hazel McLoughlin, along with your Bahamas Writer, on December 6th.

Art and Joanne were in the Bahamas for the first time since their marriage at Casuarinas of Cable Beach six years’ ago.

We all met over lunch at Caffé Caribe, Logos Book Store, Harbour Bay, Nassau. Our little “event” was such a success, it was suggested local forum members meet regularly. As a result, a Bahamas Writer Writers’ Group, meeting once a month in Nassau, is planned.

Bahamas Writer members from the Family Islands and around the world will be welcome to “drop by” when they are in town.

Note: You may distribute this Newsletter. Feel free to post it to your website or BBS if you like. However no part of this Newsletter may be reproduced in whole, or in part, without keeping the links within this newsletter active.

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Maolcolum Bascher was born in Cornwall, England, and began writing in 1968. Two of his poems that have been recognised are "Lagan" (BBC T.V. 1979) and " For Africa". Maolcolum says he “writes in isolation” and is “working on a novel on our human condition.” He’s also “writing new poetry” and says that he’s “recently shredded a great deal of old works. I intend to reflect from a greater distance in relation to these memories”.

Maolcolum adds: “I steal time itself. It is as though there is a tap. Turn it on and the water flows. Off and the flow stops. I have removed the washer and the flow is clear and free.”

Maolcolum’s poem “Balcony” brings back to your Bahamas Writer fond memories of happy trips to Cornwall, where colourful “gnomes” can be seen everywhere!

“Balcony”
In the wild and windy weather
The Gnomes are falling
One by One.
Take down the coloured pots
From off the parapet
Nip the flower heads.
One long box
Has grass growing
And weeds
In among the geraniums.
Place it on the sill
Within this quiet room
And let the grass grow on.
Something of an English meadow
For barefeet dreaming
In an autumn City.

© Maolcolum Bascher 2002
(Maolcolum added a note for the Bahamas Writer: “Oh for a long sandy beach!”)
Email: prydythe@yahoo.com 

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"Romance, Kalik and Conch Salad: Things Bahamian" is unlike any traditional
travel book you will be likely to find. Yet, if you are interested in exploring the islands of the Bahamas that lie outside its well-known tourist locations of Nassau or Freeport, the island of Eleuthera is a perfect place to start.

Author George Major has managed a unique treatment here. Under the wide
panoply of fiction, he combines a travelogue of the island with tales of romance interwoven throughout. In doing so--and doing it brilliantly--Major succeeds in wedding the passionate sensitivities of the poet with the clear eye for detail of the consummate journalist.

I have read this book in electronic form but will also be purchasing it in paperback to keep it close at hand for my next vacation. Destination: Eleuthera!

Bahamas Writer Note: George has self-published two other books on http://www.1stbooks.com in addition to “Romance, Kalik and Conch Salad” - “Turtle Soup Theory : Bahamian Out Island Poetry” and “Blood on the Empire : Bahamian Murder Mystery”.

George can be contacted at gmajor.1@netzero.net (website: www.tarpumbay.com)

Contact Joanne at arts-place@rogers.com (Joanne handles her husband Art Montague’s marketing – website: http://www.artmontague.com)

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The issue of the Free Trade Areas of the Americas (FTAA), is one that is daily discussed throughout the Bahamian society. The primary issue is: 'What's in it for us'. Since the December 1994 signing of the initial agreement by 34 democratic countries of the western hemisphere, including The Bahamas- the people of the islands are still in the dark about: exactly what does this free trade arrangement between nations in the region means for Bahamians.

It's fall 2002, and the FTAA settlement is not polished, and enforcement is expected by 2005. The gist of the free trade pact is to do away with trade barriers between the nations concerned- thereby hopefully reducing the cost of goods and services for hundreds of millions of people throughout the Americas. Cuba, a close neighbor of The Bahamas, United States, Haiti, and Jamaica- is presently excluded from a share of the pie to come. Additionally, Cuba is already trading with many nations in the region, including the United States, The Bahamas and Jamaica.

The exclusion of the communist nation in any regional agreement with the magnitude of FTAA- is certain to take away some creditability from the essence of such an arrangement. If the great United States of America can trade billions of dollars worth of goods and services with communist China yearly, then- what's the problem with trading with Cuba?

If many nations in the Americas could trade with the undemocratic regimes of the world, and have treaties in some instances- then what's the hang up with Cuba? Cuba should have a seat at the FTAA's table. It is one of the most pivotal nations in the western hemisphere, because of its history, and close family and cultural ties throughout the region.

It is clear, that before an acceptable free trade pact between nations in the Americas is formulized- serious flaws that appear uncorrectable exist. One being, trading around Cuba; a nation of 12 million plus people- the largest island in the Caribbean and Americas. What's the wisdom in that?

In the Bahamas, the opinions about FTAA varies, and scepticism is the order of the day. Rightly so, as updated information from the powers that be, is lacking. Speculation is becoming more agonizing as facts evade.

Improving productivity and competitiveness is the calling cry to Bahamian workers. Their meaning and purpose are met with subtle reluctance and suspicion. What do those things have to do with free trade, and what is to come? Bahamians are already saturated with the presence of foreign workers throughout The Bahamas, and the illegal immigration problem is not helping matters any. How will the free movement of labor impact an already nervous Bahamian workforce? Who is able to provide definitive information as to where the FTAA discussions are at this point?

The lack of current information, has become an enemy of the FTAA in The Bahamas. The public relations war is being lost due to a vague and apparent disjointed campaign. To complicate matters, the tax culture of The Bahamas appears threatened in light of a free trade agreement on the horizon. What are we going to change, and what are we going to convert to- in order to fall in line with a regional trading body? How will the strength of our currency affect trading with nations of the region with very weak currencies? How will wages and salaries that Bahamians are accustomed to- be impacted as a result of competition and consolidation?

As the date for a regional free trading system nears, more questions arise than answers. A general election in The Bahamas is due by 2006, and a free trade agreement is due in 2005. The present administration must do or die by the next election. The way the FTAA issue is bouncing, the challenge appears monumental. 
Sovereignty, is also a major question. How will a free trade agreement in the Americas affect national sovereignty? How will smaller nations compete with the larger countries in the trading block of the Americas?

Competition too, is a major concern. Big nations versus little ones, and big powers implementing high tariffs to protect its own industries at the peril of defenseless tiny economies. We see examples of this in the steel, agriculture and other industries already. It will certainly happen in the Americas in the advent of an FTAA agreement, and because of a culture of abandoning treaties in 'the national interest'.

From a layman's perspective in The Bahamas, the issue of the FTAA- is one that is aloof from the peoples concerned. Why it is so and remains- is an issue within itself. With an implementation date just 3 years away, and many individual and collective matters of nations are still unresolved; a recipe for delay appears to be cooking up.

The appetite for, 'what this free trade thing is about?', is getting larger by the day. We are not even at the local debating stage, because- how can something be discussed effectively if the knowledge of it is wanting? Therein lies the FTAA challenge to citizens of the Americas. The participating governments have an obligation to enlighten their population on what's going on with this FTAA. Failure to do so, will only result is their democratic removal form office and the concept of FTAA facing death by the ballot boxes throughout the Americas.

©Dennis Dames2002
Website: www.DennisDames.com
Email: dpoetry2002@yahoo.com

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The Exeter & District Writers’ Club, Devon, England, is offering prizes from £50 to £200 in a Short Story Competition. Your Bahamas Writer was a member of this inspiring and supportive club during the eighties.

Maximum 1500 words. Feedback comments if desired. Final judging by Simon Brett.

Entry forms from -

lindalewis@lindalewis.eurobell.co.uk

or by post with SAE from -

Competition Secretary
5 Cowick Hill
Exeter
EX2 9NQ

(A share of any profit will be donated to the National Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Children)

Hurry! Closing date - 14th February 2003

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(i) Radmila Djurica (Yugoslavia)

Bahamas Writer member, Radmila Djurica is a freelance journalist from Serbia, Yugoslavia. Check out her impressive bio at 
http://www.bahamaswriter.com/forum/pop_profile.asp?mode=display&id=45

It’s hard to keep up with Rada’s many successes, but one of her latest articles, “The British Film Industry In Our 21st Century And That Fabulous Filmmaker, Simon Perry”, can be read at http://www.seniorcitizensmagazine.com/03_12december/Page_38.htm

Rada’s email: bella@yubc.net

(ii) Art Montague (U.K.)

A collection of Art Montague's essays about his granddaughter, called "Travels With K.C.", will be printed in a booklet supplement of a northern Ontario literary magazine, Wynterblue Thunder, in its January issue. All ten essays were written when K.C. was a toddler; she's now five and a half. A few samples may be read at http://www.artmontague.com/essays.html 

Art also won second place in the FUTURES Fire to Fly contest with a story called Momma's Boarding House (murderous but funny). http://www.firetowrite.com/firetofly2002.htm

Website: http://www.artmontague.com
Email: arts-place@rogers.com

(iii) Linda Cousins (U.S.)

Writer/Educator Linda Cousins has had an audio interview featured on “Good News Broadcast”, which Linda says is “one of the most positive sites in cyberspace.” In the interview, she speaks briefly about her work in and love for Junkanoo and ancestral storytelling. 

Website: www.ancestraltravels.com 
Email Linda at Akan@aol.com

(iv) Dennis Dames (Bahamas)

Dennis is a prolific poet, evidenced from the many poems on his various websites. He’s also had several articles accepted by http://www.takingitglobal.com

Websites: http://www.bahamaspoems.com
http://www.bahamaspoems.org
http://www.dennisdames.web.com
http://www.Bahamian.web.com

Email: dennisdames@netscape.net

(v) Roderick McKenzie (Bahamas)

Roderick McKenzie is a Sergeant in the Royal Bahamas Police Force and is the writer of Christian based articles that are continually published in our local newspapers. He’s also had several articles published recently on http://www.takingitglobal.com 

Roderick was recently honoured by the Boys Club of The Bahamas, as one of the “fathers of the Community” (for community service in Nassau). 

Email: roddie30@hotmail.com

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