by Jerome Pinder
Nine Straw Vendors are now charged in the United States, after US Authorities conducted a six month investigation on the purchasing and exporting of knock off luxury goods.
These nine individuals have become the symbol of a lawless society. Those charged and their fellow Vendors cannot see the wrong in what they do, because they live in a Country where selling these knock off goods is acceptable behavior. In addition, they work and operate a market that has become nothing more than a flea market, filled with low end imported products. Does made in China ring a bell?
I do not accept the argument that Tourist do not want to buy authentic straw and Bahamian products, because I have repeatedly heard Visitors say that they miss the opportunity to purchase authentic products on Bay Street. When I have traveled to Caribbean destinations, I always look for hand made goods, such as wood carvings, to purchase.
Unfortunately, rather than the opposition using this as an opportunity to make a unified statement with Government against the practice of selling knock off products, they would rather whip Minister Symonette for speaking out against such practices. Another political football, so things will never change.
I know I live in a lawless society. I could probably break the law 99 times and get away with it, but the one time I break the law and get caught, I must suffer the consequences. We do not enforce many of our laws in the Bahamas, and this has encouraged individuals to operate without fear of any consequences. When society fails to police us, we need to police ourselves. The Vendors knew they were selling knock off products and therefore, no matter what our society dictates, they must face the consequences.
The question is, will we learn anything from this? Today knock off products are still being sold in the straw market. And to make matters worse, the Taxpayers are constructing a brand new market, to be filled with counterfeit goods and cheap Chinese products. I suggest the Government fill the new Straw Market with those persons willing to sacrifice and produce authentic Bahamian arts and crafts.
Are we going to police the Straw Market and confiscate the counterfeit goods? How can we, when:
– We allow persons to set up shop on the side of the road without a license?
– When we cannot police the illegal numbers business?
– When we allow persons and businesses with a legitimate business license to sell pirated DVDs?
– When false invoices are used to import goods?
and on, and on………………….
Please visit The Nassau Institute here to read a report on the Straw Market entitled "The Nassau Straw Market Puzzle."
Well said Jerome.On top of that, the business that are legitimate are being taxed to death !One of these days, the ding dongs in parliament are going to wake up,when, I don’t know.
The Government also has control on allowing this to continue as counterfeit goods are brought into the country, across our borders, many times duty paid on the import of them, and business license fees paid on the sale of the products. In order to stop the illegal commercial activities from continuing, it also takes commitment of the Government to stop the activities when it the opportunity for Government intervention presents itself.
…and so the music plays on! Well put Mr. Pinder, how can we have law abiding citizens when the politicans set the example? Maybe they want the citizenry to do as the preacher once said, “Don’t do what I do, do what I tell you to do.” The opposition politicans are crying foul because they believe that the government was a part of these persons getting caught. What kind of example are they setting for the future generations of Bahamians when they make such a spectacle of themselves.
Welcome to the culture wars gentlemen. The battle of the haves and have nots. The haves set up a system of guarantees for themselves which the have nots understand and so look for their own methods of securing a survival if not a future. The questions of wrongs and rights are interpreted and practised within the confines of these opposing views. We have long been a purely subjective society so it is appropos that the merchants see the issue of selling ridiculously overpriced cheap goods by designers as a legitimate business while these vendors who have found a way and a market of circumventing and exploiting that system, though illegal as legitimate or maybe just necessary. These goods are essentially irrelevant. They are simply the subject of today’s little culture battle.
The Minister should ote nor is he expected to condone breaking the law. However he is expected to and should act as an advocate for The citizens of The Bahamas and the people who pay his salary. A lawyer who deends a murder accused does not do so because he believes in murder but because the defendant has the right to a defense. However, when you have a government which believes that might, particularly financial might is always right, you will get a response like the Minster’s. “”when you gat hog you gon get grunt”
WTO will take care of most of this, as certificates of origin will be required of all imported goods.
Most in the legitimate business community are going to get knocked on their backs also, but the illegit will be largely gone. Almost no one in the business community is paying attention, except the big accountants and a couple lawyers.
The rest could be toast.
Our Governments challenge, is to figure out how to prepare the shady for legit business practices(or lock them up)and preserve the last of the legit businesses.
Also, they’re going to have to be very accountable themselves, in their personal and governmental affairs which may bode well for the Bahamian public improving the almost non existant level of Govt.acountability currently enjoyed.
Remember however, that “sanctions” against the Bahamas, in not following through on compliances
(WTO, OECD, TIEAS, EU_EPA, CARIB-CAN) will affect the public to the larger degree.
The politicos have carved out a significant immunity for themselves.
Kim Ill Juk (or whatever his name is) doesn’t suffer much, but his people starve.
Bad comparison? I think not, if one looks around, with their eyes open.
Great post Jerome.
There’s so much to say I don’t know where to begin.
Politicians are so hypocritical it never ceases to amaze me.
Was it not the same MP for Fox Hill that scurried Ninety Knowles off to a US prison while his appeal was ongoing? Now he wants to pretend to be all caring.
It smells of something and it’s not the fish.
It was important for the legitimacy of our country to ship Mr. Knowles out and it is equally important for us to let the law take its course with the vendors for their alleged transgressions.
Unless of course there are two types of right in these circumstances.
Dear Ken:
Sorry I do not know your last name.
Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
Does a culture war mean the country should condone such practices?
And why do you consider financial might right?
We have a Constitution to help guide us all.
Dear CanesFins:
Yes successive governments have condoned this (PLP and FNM).
Both the Opposition and the Government have an obligation to ensure the rule of law is maintained do they not?
Rick
“erry one wan’ go ta heaven –
but ain’t nobody wan’ dead”
I agree that “Politicians are so hypocritical” but hypocrisy is far more widespread than just in the political arena. We as citizens must hold ourselves accountable to some level or standard. Should we not police ourselves on the first hand and not wait until society or Government fails to do it for us?
How many of us have never bought a bootleg DVD? or rented a pirated video from “legit” businesses? Or ever had a gardiner or maid working for us that didn’t have a valid work permit? Remember those days when large satellite dishes were common? Almost all of them using pirated decoders…? More “legit” businesses happily operating here – but smuggling hardware out of the US.
As for the arrested vendors, they broke the law in the US and are accountable over there – irrespective of whether or not we in the Bahamas think its “no big deal”. Actually enforcing the law…What a concept!
It seems that we must find a way to tackle problems like these from both ends.
Then again Piracy is in our heritage in the Bahamas. We’ve been slave traders, gun runners, bootleggers, drug runners… so a couple of knock-off bags?? That must be OK eh?
Good point AGR, and I for one can tell you I have never:
1)rented or bought bootlegged DVD’s
2)never played the numbers
3)have always held a permit for any non-national worker employed by me
4) also have always paid their N.I.B. contributions ON TIME
5) Do not owe any Government ministry or department any fees, payments or tax.
6 Never purchased any couterfeit products period.
This list can go on, for one simple reason:
It was instilled in me that the law of the land is the only personal protection I have, and it also tells me specific things I cannot do.
Mind you, the protection it alone affords me has been significantly eroded due to the fact that those charged with upholding it have discarded it themselves, but the fact remains,
Ignorance is no excuse!!
How to correct a Prime Minister in ignorance or anyone else charged with upholding it is problematical but…….