EDITOR, The Tribune.

I read in your paper that the chairman of the clearing banks advised against the regulation of bank fees. In my opinion this man does not care about the Bahamian people who are being strangled by ridiculous fees. One bank’s credit card late fee and over the limit fee is so high, when they are combined they are equivalent to an actual payment. This same bank offers no interest on savings but charges ridiculous fees for everything.

Yet the chairman of the clearing banks says regulating banks is “a slippery slope”. He nor the government in my opinion cares about the average Bahamian who is struggling to survive in this country.

What is a slippery slope is trying to find a reasonable place to rent in a decent area or having a budget of 150 dollars to buy grocery for a month.

Why is the government happy to regulate gasoline and propane prices… They refuse to let Bahamian owners of these businesses raise these prices so that they can meet their overhead expenses. Bahamians can understand a reasonable increase for these services because they are long overdue.

Banks on the other hand consistently increase their fees and offer nothing in return. They make large sums of money from the exorbitant interest rates on their loans and yet want to add high fees for simple services.

The chairman of the clearing banks in my opinion is simply looking out for the industry with which he is affiliated.

Very few people have the guts or integrity to speak up for what is right even if it means going against the majority or people they know.

When are Bahamians going to rise up and speak up against the poor treatment we receive?

When is this government going to actually do something that benefits the average Bahamian?

Why are they allowing banks to do as they please when it is us the people that keep them in business?

I have yet to see any sign that this government or many of the people who hold high office in any industry, who have the power to make changes that will help everyday Bahamians do anything that actually matters

Most of these people are paid well and are content because all is well in their lives and in the lives of their family members.

Is there any individual who falls in this category who is willing to rise up and say let us do this and that to help the people in a meaningful way?

Money is wasted on trips for government officials and digging up roads and paying consultants while teachers and nurses are given salary increases of 100 dollars.

Can we give them an increase that they can actually do something with?

How about a four hundred dollar a month increase at one time and then decrease the number of consultants and trips and the amount of money spent renovating homes for ambassadors and those in similar positions.

How about we not buy a bunch of tablets or install swimming pools but instead hire reading specialists and place them in the schools according to the number of non readers and low level readers in a particular school. Why don’t we go solar to help our people and lower light bills instead of continuing to buy fuel from a particular company in which certain Bahamians have a great interest?

The answer is that no one truly cares enough to do what really needs to be done. This is why our country is suffering morally, spiritually, financially, academically and in every other way.

The game will continue to be played until the next election.

A BAHAMIAN WHO SEES

Nassau,

August 18, 2024.