@Porcupine, spot on. I said in a previous post in the Bahamas,you need trained psychologists.You also need sociologists who could study and explain the root causes of crime and other anti social behaviour in this country.

This is just a photo op for the minister.The media here in the Bahamas is just as bad. They need to ask questions and do real journalism. There was a grant given by the IDB for a study on the development of a unified public transportation system on the island of New Providence.That was done in 1994. Here we are in 2024, basically no progress to that goal.

SBF arrest, arraignment, trial, conviction and sentencing was quick.The authorities here in the Bahamas should take note. An accused murderer here in the Bahamas was given a court date of 2026. He was arraigned initially here in early 2024. Compare that to the very efficient court system in the US.

Human smuggling like drug smuggling is big business in the Bahamas. A journalist for the next daily spoke about what he saw in a particular island. He said that on a talk show. Bahamians love to pretend, like they do not know what is going on.

@Rosepi.The same thing was done under the Minnis administration.A person who was there told me that. Almost all capital projects started under the Christie administration were stopped.Even the garbage contracts were stopped and gIven to FNM supporters.The same thing with school bussing contracts. Former prime minister Hubert Ingraham said the FNM under Hubert Minnis is the same party as the party under Perry Christie and Brave Davis. He said that at the FNM headquarters on Mackey Street .He said that publicly .Those comments were shown on facebook.

The airport redevelopment in Grand Bahama is supposed to be a PPP.The major player behind that is a well known FNM supporter.Included in his group are also some PLPs. They are attempting to do what Vantage Airport Group did with the redevelopment of LPIA. They are in a partnership with a UK airport group.They are attempting to make the GBIA a cargo hub, They are basically trying to take advantage of Grand Bahama being so close to the US.This is an idea that goes back to Wallace Groves,the original founder of Freeport.

Corruption is endemic in this country. From the top to the bottom. From the clerks who demand lunch money and tips to the big man at the top. It is engaged in by the private sector also. The media here in the Bahamas do not talk about that. It is one of the push factors that is driving the migration of educated Bahamians from this country.

The IDB's country report on the Bahamas is the truth.

A former colleague of mine related to me a situation that occurred to him in the nineties.He was attempting to check on a customs entry at the old customs building in Oakes Field. He said persons were paying tips and buying lunch to get their entries checked and cleared quickly.He said certain officers basically solicited these paymemts.Since he did not pay,his entries were not processed as rapidly as those who paid,

The Bahamian education system is inferior to both the Barbadian and St.Lucian systems. That was the opinion of a person who had a major position in the Minnis administration. The opinion was based on his experiences living and working in those countries.

The Bahamas 's saving grace is two fold. It was a strategic position being right next to the United States. The Bahamas ,s two nearest independent neighbours are economic basket cases.The Republics of Cuba and Haiti.

This report should be used as guide to reform in this country.However the Bahamian people do not seem to like change or reform.

@Dawes.That is the purpose of the Revenue Enhancement Unit.Also the Tyler Technology project,These programs were abruptly stopped by the Minnis Administration. They then restarted them when they realized these programs are needed.
Bahamians including you have no idea about government policies, An english man teaching at COB, laugh and scoff at how this government is governed.The Bahamas is quite backward in his opinion,

These amendments are an attempt to strengthen the oversight on the maritime sector.There was a boat explosion in the Exuma Cays. Some persons spoke about that situation. Bahamian parliaments are very slow in modernizing laws.

These laws were drafted after the boat explosion in Exuma. A person was killed and several persons injured. I remember that incident well. Also there was a collision between two boats in Harbour Island, three young persons ere killed.

Both the training and enforcement of maritime laws in this country needs to be improved.That was the opinion of a white Bahamian who have years of experience in the maritime field.He said that after various activities on the waters around New Providence and in the family islands.