World

Dennis Bonnen Discusses The Importance of Voting In Midterm Elections

Published

3 years ago

December 8, 2022

It’s no secret that midterm elections are crucial. With so much at stake, Dennis Bonnen says it’s more important than ever to get out and vote. But what exactly is the importance of voting in midterm elections? Here are a few things to consider:

The Midterm Elections Are Just As Important As The Presidential Election

When exercising your right to vote, two elections garner the most attention—the presidential and the midterm elections. While everyone talks about the importance of the presidential election, far too often, the midterms get overlooked. But in reality, the midterm elections are just as important, if not more so, in some situations.

Midterm elections allow voters to express their opinions on government initiatives and policies at a local level and make a difference close to home. Many important decisions that affect our everyday lives— such as tax rates and zoning bylaws—are decided by officials elected during midterm elections. During these midterms, vital decisions may be made about whether or not current laws should be amended, maintained, or entirely thrown out.

Dennis Bonnen says casting a ballot during a midterm election is just as important as voting in a presidential election because these results can have far-reaching impacts on your community. Taking part in both is essential for making your voice heard both statewide and nationally. Therefore, if you’re committed to equal representation and change, you must exercise your right at every opportunity.

Voting Is Your Civic Duty And Helps To Shape The Future Of Our Country

Whether your interests are in the environment, healthcare, education, or any other issue that affects your life, voting is essential to making sure that your voice is heard. Your vote is a powerful tool that you can use to shape our country’s future and ensure the needs of all citizens are represented. When you cast a vote, you are exercising your democratic right to join millions of other Americans who understand the importance of their civic duty.

By voting, you are participating in our democracy and helping to create public policies that contribute to a better society. What’s more, it’s been proven time and time again that countries with active voters tend to have lower crime rates and environments that cultivate innovation. Voting is also one of the most cost-effective actions we can take — residents don’t have to pay taxes if they do not vote.

Regardless of which candidate or party you choose to align yourself with on election day, casting your vote will help ensure a better future for generations to come. That’s why voting should be celebrated and encouraged — it’s one of the simplest yet most effective ways we have as citizens to participate in government decisions and ensure every single person has their say on where our nation goes from here.

Every Vote Counts, So Make Sure You Are Registered To Vote

Voting is one of the most fundamental rights that we have as citizens. It’s a way to make your voice heard and participate in the democratic process. There are many ways to engage with politics, but voting is the most powerful and direct way to express your opinion. After all, when you cast your ballot, you are deciding who will represent your community’s interests in the office.

That’s why it’s so important that everyone exercises their right to vote. Unfortunately, Voter Registration can be a complex process – especially if you have recently moved or changed your name. Dennis Bonnen says everyone must know how to confirm their eligibility and ensure they are registered on time.

Research The Candidates And Issues Before Heading To The Polls

There’s no denying that voting is one of the most important actions we can take as citizens. Heading to the polls on election day can feel exciting, but it’s equally important to make sure you’re taking action with informed decisions. Researching the candidates and issues is a key part of being an informed voter. This often means reading through position statements from individual candidates and reading media articles related to the topic. Ensuring we understand what each candidate stands for can help ensure that our vote will be an informed decision reflecting our opinions.

Reading up on contentious debates and delving into different causes’ positions can also clarify where each candidate lies on the topics we care about. From local elections to national races, researching those vying for office before heading out to the polls has never been more critical. Ultimately, ensuring we are armed with facts is not just intelligent voting; it’s essential to helping create an educated electorate that clearly understands where each candidate stands on issues before casting their ballot.

With research being so available and accessible these days, there’s no excuse not to engage in it when it comes time to head out and do your civic duty! Doing your due diligence now will only benefit us in the long run by making the election process better and our democracy stronger. After all, democracy cannot thrive without informed voters.

Conclusion

The midterm elections are just as important as the presidential election. This is your chance to shape the future of our country by voting for the candidates and issues you believe in. Every vote counts, so make sure you are registered to vote and research the candidates and issues before heading to the polls.

World

Criminal probe focussed on Mehtas shipping business

Published

1 month ago

August 6, 2025

Jonathan Grilli

From Monitoring Desk

DUBAI: An Asian family linked with the shipping business is facing criminal investigation in several jurisdictions including in Dubai and Far East where the family’s companies are under active investigation now, according to the authorities in three countries.

Sanjay and Gaurav Mehta, through their companies Best Oasis Ltd in Dubai and Priya Blue Industries in Gujarat, are facing investigations over money-laundering suspicions and suspected links to the Russian oil sector, sanctioned by the western countries, sources shared.

Sanjay and Gaurav Mehta, through their companies Best Oasis Ltd in Dubai and Priya Blue Industries in Gujarat have projected an image of environmental responsibility in ship recycling. They have tout certifications, attend global summits, and positioned themselves as ESG-compliant but their business practices have come under intense probe now. Their operations reportedly involve dismantling high-risk ships, using cash transactions, and leveraging political connections to avoid accountability, a source shared looking into the companies’ affairs. The investigation is being conducted in Dubai and the Far East.

The investigators are looking at the Mehtas operations dating back to 2006 when they came to attention of the law enforcement for the first time. Priya Blue dismantled the “Blue Lady” in 2006, a vessel containing over 1,200 tons of asbestos and radioactive waste, despite protests and objections from Greenpeace. Later, the “Exxon Valdez,” notorious for a major oil spill, was renamed “Oriental Nicety” and dismantled by the Mehtas in Gujarat, drawing international attention. In recent years, their transactions have become less conspicuous but reportedly more hazardous.

In 2025, Best Oasis allegedly acquired and dismantled at least four vessels linked to sanctioned entities, including Iranian and Houthi-controlled networks. These weren’t obscure ships; they were designated under U.S. terrorism sanctions for their involvement in oil smuggling and arms transport. According to investigators, here are the details of the sanctioned ships dismantled by Best Oasis in 2025: IMO: 9155808, Name: NOLAN (SOLAN), Sanction: SDN (SDGT), Beaching: 31 Jan 2025, Plot 16; IMO: 9221657, Name: BLUEFINS, Sanction: SDN (SDGT); Beaching: 26 Feb 2025, Plot 16; IMO: 9105085, Name: CONTRACT II, Sanction: SDN risk, Beaching: Arrived mid-2025, Plot 27; IMO: 9209300, Name: GAMA II, Sanction: SDN (SDGT); and Beaching: Pending/Planned, Plot 34

All four vessels were reportedly dismantled in Alang on plots leased by proxy firms connected to the Mehtas. These short-term leases, approved on a ship-by-ship basis by the Gujarat Maritime Board, reportedly make regulatory oversight nearly impossible. Once dismantling is complete, plot registrations often lapse, leaving no long-term record, according to documents shared by the investigators in Dubai.

Rahul Mistry, a shipping compliance researcher, noted this as a growing pattern: “This is a pattern we’ve seen more frequently in the last two years sanctioned hulls arriving under the radar, processed fast, with no digital trace.”

Payments for these vessels reportedly bypassed normal financial channels. According to sources familiar with the deals, transactions were settled in cash, either on-site or through offshore handlers. One source described entire ship values being paid in foreign currency bundles, avoiding Indian and Dubai banking disclosures, said one of the investigators familiar with the matter.

A retired port official Mr. Akin Yadav, familiar with Alang and Gujarat Maritime Board approvals stated that short-term leases are routinely used to avoid scrutiny, adding, “It was never meant to be a permanent workaround. But it’s become one.”

Political connections also reportedly play a role. Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and Gujarat State Minister Jitu Vaghani have been linked to approvals granted for Best Oasis and its proxies. While there’s no direct evidence of personal gain, sources allege that both men used their influence to expedite approvals, slow down inquiries, and shield the companies from enforcement.

Despite these activities in India, Best Oasis is expanding under new branding. A recent joint venture in Japan with Hiroshi Abe is being marketed as a clean, regionally responsible recycling partner for Japanese shipowners.

Mariko Fujita, a Tokyo-based maritime consultant, observed, “They’re presenting themselves as a new entity with no reference to past controversies. But none of the underlying ownership or structure has changed.”

In Alang, the situation reportedly remains much the same. Plot numbers are reassigned, cash continues to circulate and the same network of breakers and handlers is reportedly involved. Individuals like Jayant Vanani (also known as Budhabhai Patel) and Ramesh Mendapara are frequently named in connection with specific beachings, including “Contract II” and “GAMA II.” Both have been previously linked to other shadow transactions involving distressed or sanctioned tonnage.

Several yards allegedly connected to Best Oasis, including Shantamani Ship Breakers and Sai Baba Ship Breakers, reportedly operate with minimal inspection, despite numerous reports of irregularities in worker safety, hazardous waste disposal, and compliance with Indian scrapping codes.

This system, according to multiple sources, appears to be intentionally designed to operate in plain sight with just enough paperwork to pass basic scrutiny but not enough to trigger meaningful enforcement. There is no indication that regulatory bodies including customs, port health officers, or environmental oversight panels have conducted full inspections of any of the sanctioned vessels listed. Most were reportedly cleared and dismantled within days of arrival.

Rahul Mistry said: “This isn’t merely a loophole; it’s reportedly a business model. Best Oasis and Priya Blue are allegedly running a high-volume, low-visibility operation that filters sanctioned, end-of-life ships through legal instruments to appear legitimate on paper. This reportedly involves routing untaxed funds and shielded actors through a well-connected political and industrial network. As global scrutiny of ESG practices intensifies, many of these activities are allegedly being whitewashed through new partnerships and branding, but the underlying mechanisms reportedly remain unchanged.”