COMMENTARY: BY OSWALD T. BROWN
WASHINGTON, D.C., January 20, 2021 – I have reluctantly decided to “put my business on the street,” so to speak, via Facebook because today I received a summons from the Landlord and Tenant Branch of the D.C. Superior Court to participate in a virtual “remote hearing by video” on March 17, 2021 at 2 p.m., with the stark warning that “if defendant does not participate, a default may be entered.”
Clearly, my landlord is laying a foundation for my possible eviction after the moratorium on evictions put in place because of COVID-19 is lifted. Indeed, almost three weeks into the new year, I am still struggling to develop a plan that would generate sufficient income on a regular basis to make it possible for me to keep abreast of my regular monthly rent payments as well as make consistent payments on my past-due rent.
A decision by the Ministry of Tourism to not renew my one-year agreement for $1,000 a month to help promote The Bahamas has dealt a “big blow” to my plans. I still don’t understand the reason for the financial belt-tightening given by Permanent Secretary Charles Albury when he informed me in November that the agreement would not be renewed when it ended in December because I thought I was doing an excellent job helping to promote The Bahamas as one of the world’s leading tourist destinations.
Additionally, when my diplomatic tenure at the Embassy of The Bahamas ended after four-plus years following the change of government in May of 2017, I presented a proposal to continue doing what I did at the Embassy as Press, Cultural Affairs and Information Manager on a contractual basis to Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis in November of 2017 when I was in Nassau promoting my novel WOES OF LIFE.
After not getting a response for several months, I substantially reduced the financial remuneration I was seeking, and I was subsequently informed by Ambassador Sidney Collie that it had been approved and sent to the Attorney General’s Office for review. When I contacted Attorney General Carl Bethel, he confirmed that it had been approved and sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. However, it was never implemented.
As President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris begin the challenging task of reversing the tremendous political damage done to the United States over the past four years by the administration of former President Donald Trump, surely The Bahamas, one of the United States closest neighbours, should be proactive in promoting The Bahamas diplomatically.
When my diplomatic tenure ended, I decided to remain in Washington, D.C., and established THE BROWN AGENCY LLC, which publishes an online publication BAHAMAS CHRONICLE that was launched to keep Bahamians and nationals of other CARICOM-member countries in the diaspora up-to-date on news from their respective countries. Since then BAHAMAS CHRONICLE has developed a huge following in The Bahamas as well as across the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.
Given the critical nature of my current financial situation, I am publicly appealing to both the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to reconsider their decisions to not utilize the services of BAHAMAS CHRONICLE.
Of course, I love the country of my birth and shall continue to promote The Bahamas in the United States and internationally as a leading tourist destination and diplomatically as an independent nation that adheres to the principles of democracy inculcated in our way of life as a former colony of Great Britain, even if I have to do so without financial compensation, but I would hope that the principles of fairness will prevail.
Meanwhile, I have also launched a campaign to attract clients from among the various candidates who are considering running in the upcoming general election, which by law must be held by May of 2022. Our rates are very affordable. For further information, I can be contact at oswalb317@gmil.com. You can check out BAHAMAS CHRONICLE at bahamaschronicle.com
