Russell, any right-minded citizen would think that the Court would turn these "criminals" (they were found guilty) over to the Department of Immigration for deportation at the criminals' expense. I have a question: What was the immigration status of these women: (a) visitor visa's or (b) work permit, (c) illegal? Visas and Work Permists should have been revoked. [Are we witnessing weak journalism or weak immigration/justice system collaboration?]

Enironmental Debates do not resonante with the wider Bahamian populace. We, as a people, are more concerned about the present rather than the future.

The Government's argument for- and the some Bahamians argument for offshore oil drilling in the Cay Sal Bank is based on the **potential** $3billion a year. It is based on whether or not new technology can access the billions of barrels of oil estimated by Tenneco Oil Company back in the 1980s.

Lack of Transparency: This is the 21st Century. The Government has yet to reveal the Cost:Benefit Analysis. (Of course, one might not exist.)

for our reflection

First, the oil will belong to BPC. It will not be 'Bahamian' oil. The rent is for the ocean and what they find is theirs. (Take a look at the Aragonite deal, the Morton Salt deal). This oil will not affect the price of oil at the pumps.

Second, Tourism and Agriculture & Fisheries are approximately 62% of our GDP (2011 est = $10.81 billion). Approximately $6.9 billion.

This oil will not affect the price of electricity. Government can, however, reduce the cost of living for Bahamians by using the oil rent revenue to subsidize electricity and petrol.

the evolution of bpc
With regards to the PM's remarks:
1. BPC has absolutely no oil drilling experience (neither on land nor in the ocean.
2. BPC speculators, after acquiring licenses to drill in The Bahamas, hired executives with oil drilling experience.
3. In 2009 BPC formed a joint venture with Statoil (a Norweigan company with off shore oil drilling experience). Statoil will be the operator of the off shore exploration licenses in the south-western Bahamas (Zapata, Islamorada and Falcones). Statoil is also the owner of the South Riding Point storage and transhipment terminal located in Grand Bahama, Bahamas.
4. In 2012, BPC hired Applied Drilling Technology International (ADTI) to drill the first exploratory well
5. Four of the licences (Bain, Cooper, Donaldson and Eneas) are held by Bahamas Offshore Petroleum Limited, a wholly-owned Bahamian subsidiary of BPC Limited. The isolated fifth licence (Miami) is held by Island Offshore Petroleum Limited, another wholly-owned Bahamian subsidiary of BPC Limited. BPC is looking for partners or theses licenses.

action time
Bahamians, yes, BPC has acess to expertise. But, oil clean up is not 100%. The onus is on you Mr. PM to convince us that BPC is 'up to the job'. Where are the reports? Bahamians, are we prepared to risk 62% of our current revenue stream for **$3 billion a year**?

[link text][1]
[link text][2]
[link text][3]

[1]: http://www.bpcplc.com/our-operations/li…
[2]: http://www.statoil.com/en/Pages/default…
[3]: http://www.deepwater.com/fw/main/Home-1…

Cable Bahamas,
The $30 for the prime service is too high! The bundle is unappealing.
(1) Too many US networks from South Florida--abc, nbc cbs. Let customers if they one one, two, three or none.
(2) *Lifetime* *LMN*Channels should be based on personal choice. Let customers choose.
(4) Let us choose if we want usa, hdln, fnc, cnn, espn, speed, syfy, truthtv, e!tv, mtv, vh1
Based on the above, with creativity, you can create a new basic package and reduce to price to $20.
Of course, if C&W survives, your customers can switch to a more understanding and afordable provider.

Bahamians,
Reading, writing and comprehension cannot be ignored. Trade schools are institutions where participants/students learn a particular job. Reading, Writing and Comprehension is a part of the training process. Moreover, in the 21st century, our society should not tolerate mentally and physically fit citizens who cannot read, write, and comprehend.
Trade schools are useless if a proper internship or apprenticeship programme is not a part of the education process. For example, 5 years internship before you are certified a plumber!

Furthermore, without a national plan we are creating additional problems-- citizens trained for jobs that do not exist or trained for fields that are already saturated. Haphazard training can result in more frustrated citizens.
Trade schools are not bins for rejects.

- Who do you want repairing your
vehicle? Who do you want
constructing your home or business?
Who do you want to make repairs to
your home/business? Who do you want
working in your business?

.

If we listen to- or read what- the Minister of National Security and the Attorney General say, we can conclude that "There is no truth, only whatever is convenient to whomever is speaking." Words from a character in Kathleen O'Reilly's novel.

One factor missing from the discussion is the Core Exam.

When are we going to remember that the majority of our high school students take the BGSE's **Core Exam**. The core exam's maximum grade is **C**. Therefore, the student must have a perfect score to achieve a **C** grade. A slight slip results in a **D+**.

The teachers decide which student will sit the Core Exam and which student will sit the Extended Exam. The extended exam's maximum grade is **A**

The ballad ( ) lotteries remain the same, ( ) national lottery, ( ) no lottery

Will the PLP MPs "rubber stamp" what the majority of the electorate vote for?
Will parliamentarians be allowed to ignore their electorate and vote their conscience in the House of Assembly?

Bahamians,

We have important problems to solve -- crime, education, unemployment etc.

The London Olympics was a wonderful distraction from our national problems. Let's return to reality. As the late Stephen R. Covey wrote, "the main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing. In other words, "It’s so easy these days to get distracted doing things that will not get the main job done. Fight the urge to do something else that is not as important or a priority. Remembering to keep the main thing the main thing will help us all to focus on our most important goals."

“…whatever benefits and rewards it may sometimes be possible to attain by b…s..tting, by dissembling, or through sheer mendacity, societies cannot afford to tolerate anyone or anything that fosters a slovenly indifference to the distinction between true and false.”
*On Truth* by Harry G. Frankfurt. pg. 33

"However studiously and conscientiously the b...s..tter proceeds, it remains true that he is also trying to get away with something."
*On Bullshit* by Harry G. Frankfurt. pg 23

gender equality

In our euphoria we appear to forget that this is the second Bahamian relay team to win an olympic gold medal. A precedent has been set.

The men's 4 x 100 relay team (2012 London Olympics) gifts from The Bahamas government should be equal to the gifts received by the women's 4 x 100 relay team (2000 Sydney Olympics).

The reminder:
"Each of the five Golden Girls is being given a 20,000 square foot piece of property overlooking the sea, just west of Traveler's Rest , valued at $400,000 for a total of $2,000,000.

The Golden Girls were promised the land as part of the appreciation package by the government after they won the gold medal in the 4 x 100-meter relay at the 2000 Olympic Games. They also received $40,000 each and a gold commemorative coin."

Source: http://www.bahamasgateway.com/athletics…
Article by: Julian Lockhart, Tribune Sports Reporter
Date: May 2, 2002.

Our rational exuberance is commendable but, we must face reality.