There is a bit of controversy brewing regarding the financial laws that were passed by the Ingraham government back in December, 2000.

One of the laws, relating to the inspection of attorney's offices and files by financial regulators, is causing some concern to the Bahamian legal community. Immediately, when the law was passed, astute legal wags, such as Maurice Glinton, Leandra Esfakis and Dr. Gilbert Morris, saw the legal ramifications in the enforcement of such legislation and cried out.

Most lawyers in the Bahamas, more concerned with their own business, failed to note the effects this legislation would have on lawyer/client privileges and didn't react at all.

Now, as the time for compliance nears, and as the challenges to the legislation wear thin, the legal community is abuzz. The Bahamas Bar Association has adamantly stated that, not only will they NOT abide by the legislation, they will reprimand lawyers who do.

It is important to note that the Bar Association is the group who has basically NEVER reprimanded any of their members, despite the fact that some of them have acted well outside the rules of the bar, even outside the rule of law. That has never bothered the Bar Association before, except in the isolated case of Ortland Bodie, which was clearly a political motivated situation. In fact, dozens of attorneys have had numerous complaints filed against them, and the Bar Association has never even responded to the complainants. Ask Harald Fuhrmann, the German investor about that.

The legal profession in The Bahamas is rife with criminals. Nobody wants to hear that, many will deny it, but we all know it's true. Most of the lawyers in the Bahamas are totally incompetent and completely ignorant of the law. They have made a living, over the past thirty years, stealing land, laundering money and arranging bribes and kickbacks for their politician partners and friends. Some lawyers, are said to be, honest to God criminals who fix cases and steal from clients, with total disregard of the rule of law.

Other attorneys just jerk their clients around, doing nothing but continuing to issue monthly statements, milking the clients for as much money as they can, without any regard for ethics or integrity.

Still others have made a living defending the very scum that has destroyed Bahamian society. These people have become rich keeping drug dealers and murderers on the streets, by pulling deals and otherwise compromising the legal system.

Still others have become millionaires and "pillars" of our society by using their political positions to manipulate laws and by passing legislation that benefits only them and their cronies.

Some of the most prominent names in the Bahamian legal profession are really nothing but common crooks, who have made so much money, they have bought prominence and prestige within the community.

The illegal or unethical actions by these individuals (who will be named in a future post) are well documented, and witnesses have come forward, willing to testify. If any of the lawyers think of suing for slander, when their names are published, they should be informed that evidence will be produced that will literally shake the Bahamian legal profession to it's foundations, as it implicates many other lawyers, judges and politicians whose names have not yet been associated with disreputable activities.

Laws, similar to the ones being challenged here, were proposed in Canada. The Canadian Bar Association challenged them, arguing that the legislation was a violation of client/attorney privileges. The Bar Association won. But the situation is completely different in Canada. There, the courts have some semblance of credibility, integrity and honour. Here, almost all of our judges are compromised and some, like Stanley Moore, should be removed from the bench for their biased and questionable actions. Instead, as outrageous as it may be, Judge Moore has been placed in charge of a commission looking into the very crimes he has been rumoured to be involved in.

Also, there is at least some level of honour and integrity to the legal profession in Canada, like there is in England and the US. Some lawyers in those locations may be crafty and unscrupulous, but most are not criminals. Not that there aren't bad lawyers in those countries, but bad lawyers do not dominate the legal profession there, as they do here.

Recently, many in the legal (and banking) profession have been gathering together to confront this controversial legislation, which after several major legal challenges is due to come into effect in a matter of weeks. These lawyers and bankers have much to lose if the legislation is upheld. Most are incompetent and could never make a living unless they operate in the shady ways they are accustomed to. Others (bankers and real estate agents) benefit tremendously by their lawyer buddies being able to conduct business outside any legal parameters. (This allows drug dealers and money launderers to buy property and conduct business on the sly.) The local newspapers have come alive with intelligent sounding letters to the editor, informing the public of the perils of this legislation and the threat to Bahamian sovereignty. Even the Nassau Institute has jumped on board.

It is all bunk! Don't listen to a word from any of these sources as they all have much to gain from the legislation being struck down. While the rest of us stand only to lose... big time!

The legislation passed in December, 2000 should stand firm, as it has in two court challenges thus far. Maybe some day legislation so invasive will not be necessary, but right now it is imperative to the sovereignty of the Bahamas that we cleanup our legal profession and weed out the lawyer/politicians who are making a mockery of our legal system, destroying the reputation of our country and imperiling the sovereignty of our nation.

It is vitally important to the future of the Bahamas to, once and for all, get rid of these criminals who are giving the country an international reputation for piracy. A reputation that is already so bad it is affecting our number one industry, tourism, and has slowed quality foreign investment to a trickle. Except for Sol Kerzner and Phil Keeping, who both know how to handle lawyer/politicians... bribe them.

If we fail to enforce the good sound legislation that was passed in December 2000; if we fail to open up and inspect the files of Bahamian lawyers, our country will either be insolvent or part of the US in twenty years - as the decay of our society and our economy will continue as long as the international community knows that we allow these criminals protection from the law.