The issue concerning purported instances of widespread smuggling in North Andros will not, and should not be allowed to fizzle. Everything should be done to see to it that this problem is properly addressed. The proverbial chips should –as they say- fall where they may.
Today the attentive public is clamoring for the matter to come to a head. The longer everyone is obliged to wait, the stronger will be the perception that some kind of white wash is being attempted. So like so very many other Bahamians, we need to hear something from the authorities.
If The Minister of Labour and Immigration is correct in his judgment that those who are trying to implicate him in the mess are wallowing in total and utter nonsense, we would be quite happy for him. But that aside, the fact remains that something does appear to be something out of whack in north Andres.
Some say that it is scandal.
As one news report put it. With scandal after scandal emanating from the island of Andros, we are told that prominent people and being scrutinized for their possible involvement in the illegal importation of vehicles, illegal immigrants and other items into his constituency.
We note -albeit parenthetically- that Bahamas has always been a premier destination for any number of pirates and smugglers. Granted this nation’s geography, history, demographic profile and other island-archipelago characteristics, it could perhaps not be otherwise.
One example might go a long way to explain how some of this stuff actually works.
We note and do most vividly recall one other example of a smuggler’s delight.
In 1998: “In the largest most complex and sophisticated alien smuggling case in U.S. history, the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) today announced the unprecedented dismantling of an international alien smuggling and money laundering ring. This yearlong investigation, known as Operation Seek and Keep, has identified the entire alien smuggling cartel and the organizational hierarchy at the global level.
“The traditional smuggling route was India to Moscow to Cuba-then from Cuba via boat to the Bahamas. From the Bahamas, boats or planes transported the human cargo to Miami. An alternate route took some loads from Cuba to Ecuador. From Ecuador they were flown to Miami or driven through Mexico to the southern U.S. border.”
Today information reaching us suggests that North Andros is home to a number of smuggling rings. Some close observers of that scene are also of the view that the stench of corruption goes all the way to the top, and that a number of socially prominent politicians, churchmen, business people and other community notables are deeply involved in a number of scandals.
While we have no way of actually confirming some of the more salacious allegations now coming forward, we can report that what has been confirmed is damning enough. For example, the Comptroller of Customs, Mr. John Rolle confirmed Customs officials seized in one raid over $290,000 worth of items.
In a world where practice makes perfect, we are left with the surmise that what was uncovered was but the tip of the proverbial iceberg. The Bahamas is a smugglers’ paradise; and it remains a lair for any number of modern day pirates. Those are facts of life with which Bahamians must contend, one way or the other.
But -and herein lies the rub- something is dreadfully wrong when the public authority or those charged with protecting the public interest are somehow implicated in any scandal. Even now, there are whispered allegations concerning politicians, bureaucrats and a number of business people working between New Providence and Andros who have benefited from some of the crookedness going down in that part of the country.
What concerns us to no end are some of the more dramatic suggestions that smuggling and the names and addresses of some of the Androsian smugglers are well known to both Customs and Police officials. While we find this hard to believe, we are today sufficiently exercised to call upon Mr. Rolle to do the right thing and let the attentive public know what he has learned about who is involved in what -if any- illicit activities in Andros, and elsewhere in The Bahamas.
Editorial from The Bahama Journal
