Despite all the rosy predictions we will not get more visitors until our vaccination rate is high and the Health Visa is abolished. There are too many travel advisory warnings out on The Bahamas by the USA, Canada and the U.K.

We either need a more impartial writer about American politics or drop the column altogether. Every week is criticism of the Republicans while Democrats are lauded. Why do we need this column? We should be having more stories about our Caribbean neighbours and/or the U.K. and our Commonwealth allies.

I completely agree with this letter writer. The PLP promised to abolish the Health Visa as one of their primary election promises. Now they are in office they are not getting rid of this cumbersome and anti-tourist Visa. We are losing business to all the other destinations in our region because they have a more realistic and tourist friendly policy. There is no clear need for the Visa. If passengers show a fully vaccinated health certificate then they should be given a boarding pass and be on their way to our country. The weak excuse of the new Minister that the Visa gives us "information" is not credible. The previous normal landing card had passengers fill in all the relevant information about them and where they were from . That was sufficient to garner information. The Visa is taking much needed business away from us. Where is the hotel workers' union officials and business owners suffering from lack of business in not complaining. They have the most to lose by these harsh rules.

This regular column is far from objective. It is a continual regular diatribe against the Republican Party, Trump and those opposed to the Democrats. I am not an American and it does not affect me personally. However I would prefer to have a more impartial column on American politics if we have to have one in The Tribune. . In The Bahamas we have become far too americanised and our focus should be on other parts of the world as well including the often fascinating activities taking place in the United Kingdom and the other 54 Commonwealth countries of which we have been a part for 300 years.

We cannot re-write our history. Columbus was a part of our history. One of the greatest contributions to our development has been the Christian religion. This was brought to us by the European nations through their explorers and missionaries. This was a positive aspect of our colonial experience .

We need to keep all our historic statues . We need to know our history better and be proud of being Bahamian. Tearing down statues gives a terrible impression of our country. We cannot rewrite history. We cannot judge our ancestors by to-day's standards. This is a different era. We should look forward not backward.

Sadly we have lost and are losing many prospective visitors because of the cumbersome requirements of the Travel Visa. Nearly everywhere else is easier to enter than The Bahamas. Why be bothered having to fulfill all our requirements when they can just show a fully vaccinated certificate at the airport check in desk and go nearly everywhere else without any hassles and expense. Keeping this Visa does not make any sense. We are desperate to get tourism up and running again and our people being employed again.

How sad to see our country descend to these unlawful activities. We are importing the negative attitude of activists in other nations. We cannot rewrite our history. Bahamians must have a better knowledge of our history and be proud of our long and colourful traditions. Christopher Columbus made a contribution as did others over the centuries. This monument and that of Queen Victoria must be better protected. For someone to be able just to mount the statue and damage it and no police or security are around can no longer be tolerated.

I am very saddened to read of his passing. He was very talented both in sports and journalism. He is a great role model for our younger generation in his determination to go ahead just like his Father who served The Bahamas and The Commonwealth in dedicated military service during World War Two. All the Johnson family are very talented Bahamians. We shall really miss Ivan's presence in the newspaper world.

As long as the Government keeps the Health Visa our tourist numbers will be depressed. Many pprospective visitors do not have the will or time to complete all the cumbersome paperwork required and the Visa charge is unreasonable. The PLP had promised to get rid of this Visa but now are indicating it may stay. Visitors can go to most other southern vacation spots without all the hassles we are requiring. Think again Minister!