Why do we have to go outside the country for UB president, aren't there enough qualified Bahamians to lead? The headlines in the international daily newspapers. "The Bahamas, a country that wants to be seen as, and pretends to be a first-world country can't even produce their own UB president, they ain't nothing but third-world".

Think for just a minute. The USA has become such a great power because they were able attract the best minds in the world. Had they applied your views they would be like Mexico today.

Well, are there not many Bahamians working in the United States? That is the way it is. What are we saying? Our people can work in foreign lands but foreigners can't work here?

Poor UB when you have a minister saying that the new president will be replaced in “short order”. How can he succeed after such comments? No wonder Bahamians want to study abroad.

This brain drain is nothing to brag about. We can look for many excuses why Bahamians do not return after study abroad, but our country is not the better for it.

Maybe if those who go abroad should return after 10-15 years and give back, then our country will be progressing further along.

Can our housing sector meet the needs of returnees? Can our infrastructure accommodate returnees?

I don't think Proguing is bragging about the brain drain. I think, and rightly so, he is pointing out that the brain dead and outdated thinking as espoused by Hanna-Martin and many others like her, is what is creating the brain drain in our country.

Geeezzz, that sure is one hell of an ugly lookin' loud mouth critter.

> During her contribution to the
> mid-year budget debate in the House of
> Assembly, Mrs Hanna Martin said: “I
> wish only to say that the University
> of The Bahamas in the selection of a
> president under the charter enjoys
> autonomy. That’s the charter and the
> University of the Bahamas Act. That is
> not a decision that is delegated to
> anyone and so I also note that the
> board has been very occupied with
> making decisions to cause for the
> university to attain accreditation and
> to become a stabilised academic force
> in the life of our country.
>
> “It is also important to note that
> the search for the president was
> completed before we came into office.
> I must make it clear that it is the
> policy of The Bahamas government that
> Bahamians be empowered…and while we
> must accept the decision of the board
> of trustees, we are confident but we
> also urge and expect that in short
> order a Bahamian will hold that
> prestigious post. I hope I made myself
> clear.”

Ever read two contradictory statements in a speech?

On one hand, she is distancing the government from the decision and saying the board is autonomous (which we know is really not so), and on the other hand saying a Bahamaian will be in the position shortly. Well if the board autonomous, how can she know who will be in the position next?

It is contradictory statements like these that journalists need to put a mic in front of these no vision parliamentarians and challenge them on.

According to many who knew her when she was a loud mouth obnoxious student at Queen's College, her head has always been as twisted and warped as they come. She's prone to shouting, ranting and raving, and all to just to hear herself shout, rant and rave.

She's certifiably unhinged and much too easily goosied into her frequently displayed tirade mode. Most have long ago learned to just tune her out. She has successfully hoodwinked the poor and largely uneducated people in her constituency who are surely much worse off today than they were when she first became an MP umpteen years ago on her father's political coat-tails. You have to at least really feel for them and their suffering.