VS, Jamaica, UK, and Barbados are complaining about the quality of their high school students. Barbados found that the decline begins after primary school and they are trying to fix this deficiency. The Bahamian MoEd does not share its statistics and analyses.

The PM has the gift of the gab. (I want to be respectful.) The PMs speech lacks something .. Sometimes his speech lacks clarity. Sometimes he makes you scratch your head and say "what!"

Opportunity for investment: Bahamian owned farm in Haiti, like U.S. Dole in South America, grow crops and export to the world. (Let's get in before the Americans).

I visited Aruba some years ago and the locals were allowed to "play" in the casino. At that time, the locals, 18 years and over, were allowed to gamble once a month. It was controlled in this manner: Citizen presented his or her passport to the gaming board located on the casino floor, it was stamped and the citizen used the facility.

“Speaking to The Big T, Bishop Moss said that civic and religious leaders failed the country when they allowed casino gambling to be introduced in 1973…The government has ignored the church on this issue since 1973. We are opposed to all forms of gambling, including numbers and casino gambling. I think we should think thoughtfully on how we could legally bring casino gambling to a close. It was a bad decision in the beginning.”

Bishop Moss, the authority/power of religious and civic leaders rests in the hands of the followers. People allow you to have power/authority over them – make decisions for them, guide them, lead them. Without our support, you are

Bishop Moss your argument is one sided. You are not preaching. You are trying to convince a nation that something is “bad”. The rowdy pulpit will not get the job done. An intelligent discussion, however, can convince many. Bishop, you talked about the negative impact of casino gambling. (What you found on Google!) Apparently, what you found, affirms your conclusion that the Bahamas should “eliminate casinos”. Bishop, ask the BHA about the parasitic relationship between the casinos and hotels. Many of the hotels only survive because of the casinos are money makers. Take a look at our economy, specifically the linkages (wholesale food companies, BEC, BTC, taxi drivers, sales clerks etc.). Can you convince Bahamians to give up their current socioeconomic status – become unemployed based on your interpretation of the scripture? Sir, you cannot avoid a discussion on the economic and social impact of the casino gambling business in The Bahamas. Do you think that we can accept “the Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want” (Psalm 23) while we are homeless and cannot put food on the table?

vs,
external examinations
The Bahamas Junior Certificate (BJC) and the Bahamas General Certificate of Education (BGCSE) are uniquely Bahamian and cannot be compared to the GCEs of other countries. To compare exam results, all students must take the same exam. For example, countries such as Jamaica, Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago whose students take the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) exams can compare the performance of their students nationally and internationally

More Statistics
Since the PLP "believes in transparency", I would like to see a comparative analysis, table format, of the BJC and BGCSE results for the past five years for all of the Government schools.

http://tribune242.com/users/photos/2012…

“It is a crying shame that a former Prime Minister would attack the Commissioner of Police, who is not in a position in our system to defend himself against political attacks,”
The Commissioner himself refers to scientific evidence—he cannot establish cause (removal abandoned and dilapidated buildings and police walkabouts) and effect (lowered murder rate) with the little data and short time frame.

“This is the same man …who did not allow my former cabinet colleague and Deputy Prime Minister, Cynthia ‘Mother’ Pratt and others, the dignity and grace to say farewell in the House of Assembly to her constituents”
Mr. Roberts, Ethics of Reciprocity: treat other people as we would wish to be treated ourselves. PM of a country (15 years) and Deputy PM are not equal.

“Instead of going quietly into the sunset, he is making of himself an embarrassing spectacle.”
Be truthful Mr. Roberts, didn’t you thank God that the former PM will not be in frontline politics. If his charisma, showmanship, leadership, and eloquence (which surprised many of us) were displayed in a brief 30 minutes, image the damage he can cause the PLP during a debate in the House.

“Under this current administration the PLP has freed the Commissioner of Police to be the Commissioner of Police, to speak freely and to determine the priorities and actions of the force”
Are you stating that the Commissioner did not give the Bahamian people his best? Are you stating that the Commissioner was under some type of censorship? Are you stating that the press releases from the RBPF, strategic plan etc. were not the product of the Commissioner and Assistant Commissioners of Police? What is the truth?

“The Prime Minister has already secured three well known Bahamian personalities to negotiate from the government’s side. The issue is quite advanced.”
I do hope that the three well-known Bahamian personalities are not the same well-known personalities who handled the original Baha Mar and I group negotiations.

http://tribune242.com/users/photos/2012…

Let’s put political affiliation aside at take an objective look at Minister Pinder’s response.

“In my situation,” he said, “when I nominated for the Elizabeth by-election there was no question to my residency or if I was qualified to run. I was a resident for clearly over a year and they tried to make a big issue over my qualifications….”
Who had your loyalty? U. S. or The Bahamas? Is representing one country while holding the citizenship of another country “respect for the [Bahamian] electoral system”? You gave up your U. S. citizenship after pressure from the Bahamian public and your political opponents.

“… the difference between the PLP and the FNM is the PLP believe in transparency”
Sorry Minister Pinder, the PLP’s culture is not about transparency. Although you say that you (PLP) believe in transparency, we, the people of The Bahamas, we do not see your structures and your processes as transparent. When questioned about why certain decisions were made or where is the government’s policy on certain issues, we hear ‘defensive’ sometimes ‘condescending’, sometimes ‘insulting’, more often ‘vague’ press responses justifying your actions.

“Mr Pinder …PLP … would not do anything to manipulate the system to gain an advantage…”
Really Minister!

http://tribune242.com/users/photos/2012…

My thoughts…
recession: Yes, even the economists up North did not know that their country was in a recession. Unfortunately, I think Mr. Wilson’s problems are more complex.

national insurance: Mr. Wilson, you claim that your failure to pay NIB is one of the reasons for your financial woes. This was your poor decision. Your budget for salaries and wages included the salaries and wages earned, and national insurance fees is a part of salaries and wages. You were wrong to withhold the NIB fees—your portion of the NIB fees and the employees’ portion that was deducted from their pay checks. This was unfair to your employees. It was unethical.

Please, do not blame NIB. As a seasoned businessman you are aware of your obligation to pay National Insurance.

However, in spite of your claim that paying your debt to NIB “dealt a death blow to the company” Mr. Wilson, you were able to choose whether to rebuild a historical company “John S. George” or continue with your other businesses. Your choice is obvious. Since 2007 your other businesses have expanded. As a matter of fact, QBC and Radio Shack are in direct competition with John S. George. Also, while John S. George is “dying” your competitors have expanded and new competitors have emerged.

entrepreneurship: Mr. Wilson is a businessman. He purchased an old business that required a new vision. Just reading his lament (Mr. Wilson) points to a “poor swimmer in deep water”.

As a former customer of John S. George, I watched the changes over the years. It is sad to see the end or an era, the end of John S. George, the oldest retail store in our country (founded in 1855).