Very cool. He has witnessed so much change in his lifetime.
Wishing Mr. Neilly all the best.

Even if that were true, how is that a colonial tactic? And how can you imply that the Bay Street Boys are colonists when they are just as Bahamian as anyone else? The only form of modern-day colonialism I see going on in this country is coming from the Chinese and other foreign investors whose interests are often short term and/or purely self-serving. They have more control over our government than the BayStreet crowd do. Also, the "Baystreet Boys" and other wealthy Bahamians (both black and white) actually live here permanently. They have children here, they own houses, businesses, property, they employ people, they pay taxes, they vote. I think their interests are more in line with the future interests of the country than you seem to think.

Have you ever stopped to think that maybe people are just fed up with the corrupt, inept PLP government, and want to to see an FNM leadership in place that can win the election and get the country back on its feet?? You sound like you are stuck in the past. Time have changed. This isn't about installing a gov. that will only pander to the interests of the wealthy in this country, this is literally about saving the country from economic and social collapse. If wealthy Bahamians are putting in an effort to try and prevent that then I don't blame them.

Yeh, it's a joke. I can't believe some people are still trying to play like Bay Street "runs the Bahamas" and is holding everyone else back. Nonsense. It hasn't been that way for years. In fact, many Bahamians with money - black and white - old and new money - are terrified about what is going on. People want to get their money out of the country. People are afraid to invest. Prohibitive taxes and gov. red tape are preventing small Bahamian businesses and Bahamian entrepreneurs from success...meanwhile foreign investors like the Chinese play by their own rules and negotiate favourable terms with the gov. often with little benefit to Bahamians... and some people still want to put the blame on Baystreet? Get out of here. That's nothing more than a pathetic political move to try and appeal to the masses. It's also a case of shooting yourself in the foot. Once you see the wealthy Bahamians start to move money out, close up business and sell off property (as is happening now)... you know we are in for trouble. Maybe they should try and make it easier, not harder, for bahamians to do business in our own country. People may not like the connotations associated with "Baystreet" but these are the very people who own businesses, and create jobs for Bahamians, and create wealth. When they suffer the rest of the Bahamas suffers, and vice versa.

...

Boy oh boy

@Well_mudda_take_sic I don't know how much you know about Freemasons, but from the sound of things I would say you don't know very much. A good many of our leaders have been freemasons, both PLP and FNM. It is not some elitist club that only looks out for its fellow members.. If anything the lodge is just a social gathering - a means for people to get together and talk sh*t, do a few old traditions, have a good time, and talk about politics, life etc. Some lodge memebers are lawyers, doctors, businessmen, while some are carpenters and plumbers. Yes, they will help out their fellow lodge members in times of need.. but they won't do so at all costs. And lodge membership is not likely to impact someones political tactics or policies.

How is she anti-Bahamian?

Dead right. They scored an own goal on this one. I think the Constitutional Commission in conjunction with the PLP messed up too - but im not exactly sure how that whole process worked. When I say messed up, I don't mean the substance of the proposed Bills were wrong - they were all right and deserving of a YES vote in my opinion... but they should have had a little more foresight as to the reactions of Bahamians to each proposed Bill, specifically #4. They should have left out # 4 and just dealt with the issues relating to citizenship. That is where the real discrimination actually takes place in practice. I think the first three 3 Bills would have passed on their own if #4 was not included with them. #4 allowed people to make this whole ordeal about something it wasn't. The result was that it ended up casting a shadow of doubt over the whole thing. They should have held off on #4 to a later date..

If we got rid of the constitution we would be screwed. The constitution has screwed us this time... but without constitutional rights, we as citizens are exposed to gov tyranny and abuse.... the constitution and the the judiciary are the only real tools we as citizens have

I think you are spot on about the referendum and its hastening of the downward spiral of this country... For instance, I know for a fact that this result will influence many young, bright, college/university educated bahamians... especially young females... that the Bahamas is no place for them return and raise children - especially when they themselves are not afforded equal rights. The future of the Bahamas is already hanging in the balance.. this referendum proves that it is not only the gov. holding back the Bahamas, but the people themselves. It's a grim thought.

I myself am a young Bahamian who recently graduated from university abroad, in a position to leave or stay.. I want to stay, and I think I will. I want to make a name for myself here and try to better the country... but I have privileges that many others don't have and I have a passion for a certain kind of lifestyle available here that is hard to find anywhere else...This means I will probably stay. But many others who don't share the same interests as I do, or quite the same connection to the land and sea.. are leaving in their droves. It's not good. A YES vote would have restored many people's faith and hope that this country can turn itself around.