Even if we had stellar economic growth, thinking people who have a reasonable choice would stay away from this intellectual backwater.
The social collapse we are experiencing is fairly evident to those who pick up a book from time to time.
Sadly, that does not appear to be a significant percentage of the population here.

I don't think folks realise how dire the times are and how precarious our situation is. Hence it will come as a big shock to the unprepared. I do know that a fair number of Bahamians (mostly business people) have been making contingency plans since 2007.

Don't keep Bahamian dollars get USD like Shane. All the recently and past talented Bahamian students consider working abroad where your political persuasion doesn't matter, wages are better, prices are cheaper and your working environment better. Mind you I am told that the 52 week government employment program is about to start next week. If true what a coincidence ?

Anyone who could afford to leave the Bahamas has done so!

The biggest problem with the economy is The government has been so fatally obsessed with Bah Mar since they came to office that they let many other opportunities to grow the economy slip and slide away. And on top of that they failed to address the problem of crime in the country, murders especially. Beyond that many traditional jobs have become obsolete because of the advancement of electronic technology and the retail sector and banking has been extremely hard hit by this. The tourism numbers have also been lackluster and we continue to give our natural resources away including our Human Resources. And on top of that we continue to rely on the foreign element to invest in and grow our economy. Unfortunately many of the foreigners who come here to 'invest ' and selfish and greedy and many are racist who tend to exclude Bahamians from their business plan, especially when then discover "our labor ain't for free no more." But yes our government continues to have faith in the foreign investors and continue to get disappointed by them. There are so many opportunities for Bahamians to grow this country to the point where it will hundreds of brain drainers back home. If government would only give them half the incentives and support they give the foreign opportunists. The US is the country that consumes most of our immigrants. And sometimes you meet second and third generations of Bahamians. Some who have never been to the Bahamas. Others who have only visited a few times. Many are well educated and have high skilled, high powered and high paying jobs. Call them experts and professionals. But the thing they have in common is they want to return home. They don't want to always be a foreigner in another country. And one day this is going to happen. It will change the face of the Bahamas. And we will no longer have these people coming from half way around the world exploiting us and abusing our people.

John you sound like an excuse machine. Stop blaming our own slacknees, our own laziness, our own corrupt practices on other people, look in the mirror dude! My kids grew up here and were college educated in the U.S. and stayed there after graduating, there is nothing and I mean NOTHING here for them. Until Bahamians completely understand that it takes immigrants from all walks of life to build a country we are doomed.

BMW, you speak blasphemy. "Immigration" You have spoken of the unspeakable, God forbid.

You speak of what the educated know must happen to build this Country.

But we have so many unenlightened citizens who have been listening to the garbage spewed out by the politicians for the last 40 years. How do we turn such a morass around?

When and only when we open immigration to other educated persons will we see the country turn around and the return of our expatriate Bahamians.

Our expatriate Bahamians are not afraid of immigration, they know how to compete. They know what is required.

Our Country is totally un-competitive, even against Turks and Caicos, Cayman Islands, Jamaica, the DR and so on. Once we led them all.

We must open immigration to survive.

John, keep blaming Bahamas troubles on the Foreigners and Whitey.
Maybe if both were kicked out I'm sure everything would be dandy.

BMW how can you call me slack, lazy and corrupt when you don't know me.? Make your mother proud and continue to spew your racial bullsh!t. You with your dirty brains want us to think that of Bahamians while you come here and rape our country. Nothing more dangerous than a self serving hypocrite.

Under the Pindling regime not only did the PLP government control the job market and ensure jobs went mostly to PLP supporters and their families but they did the same thing with scholarships. So for two decades mostly PLP's were going off on scholarships and were guaranteed jobs when they return. Today many young people are going off on private scholarships including athletics. The biggest setback when they return home and wanting to start a business is financing.

John you paint me with a broad brush. I will answer so that you fully understand where I am coming from. My Mother was very proud of her B. B.& B.B. son God rest her ever Loving soul. Let me make myself perfectly clear to you John This writer was BRED, BORN and BROUGHTUP BAHAMIAN so don't come at me with YOUR racist xenophobic bullshit my friend. I am educated enough to know what we need to do to get ahead as a nation. Now to answer the second part of your comment, slack and lazy, go to any department of government and you will get your answer, corrupt , shame Gibson, nose fitzgerald, witch maynard. and we as Bahamians allow this to happen!

Your second post hits the nail on the head SLOP did control the job market and like you say he saw to it that jobs went mostly to plunder loot and pillage supporters, as for jobs on returning home, what jobs????? Our biggest set back are politicians that feel it is necessary to take care of friends family and lovers by using BOB like it was their own bank too plunder loot and pillage. Other banks see the writing on the wall and make it much more difficult to source loans. Why does the plunder loot and pillage not lend these people the money they need?

What say you john

bmw. if I argue with a fool, I would have to lower my standard (very much) to come down to your level. In other words I was born in Ireland, so I am as Irish as you are Bahamian, if you get my drift!

My level is educated unlike you who seems to be full of excuses. Excuses are for losers you get my drift. I can assure you I am BB&BB