I don't know Marlon Johnson personally, and have never engaged him in a conversation. However, as a Bahamian who keeps abreast of local upwardly mobile professional talent, I have paid very close attention to his work. Not only is he a policy wonk, but can stand shoulder to shoulder with any of the past financial secretaries. Academically, he is light years beyond most of them. The Treasury needs to go in a different direction, and I believe that Mr. Johnson is just the person to chart that course.

It is so sad that many of you chose to bash the good gentleman without even researching his background. That just seems to be the order of the day in the Bahamas. Because he doesn't have a household name, or the requisite political pedigree, he must not be up to the task? What backward thinking!

Marlon Johnson is not a novice by any stretch of the imagination. He has worked alongside both former Financial Secretaries, and was well groomed for this position before leaving the Treasury for BTC. Stop wishing bad on the guy before he even get started. Ye know not of what ye speak!

Where is Leslie Miller? He always has something to say.

Pastor, your scriptural basis for supporting and encouraging the Death Penalty is a little weak when compared to other scriptures. Murder was not the only crime for which state execution was commanded by God. Adultery (Leviticus 20:10/Deut.22:22); False Prophecy (Deut.18:20); Disobedience to Parents (Deut.21:18-21); Sabbath Labour (Exodus 31:14); and the list goes on. So, to surmise that God commanded the Death Penalty only for Murder is a little disingenuous.

Throughout His teachings, and exemplified in His life and death, Jesus promoted the concept of love as the fulfilment of the law. He rejected the old testament law of societal revenge, and actually interrupted a capital punishment (John 8:7-9).

Since you invoked the apostle Paul, I must admit that I don't know what was going through his mind when he stood accused, however I do know that in other writings he distinctly warned us against taking revenge for evil done (Romans 12:17-21). The apostle Peter also encouraged us not to repay evil with evil (1 Peter 3:9).

There is something very wrong when present-day Servants of God are expending their energies promoting state-sponsored solutions to sin, when clearly Jesus' death and resurrection championed a "new way". Instead of popping necks, we should be saving souls.

Let's stop the knee-jerk reaction to rising crime, and put our heads together and come up with some real solutions.

And, yes, while we are at it, but have no sound basis for our viewpoints, let's just deflect and change the topic of discussion. If we can't argue Capital Punishment on its merits, let's throw in sexuality and bestiality....... I guess that will win the argument every time. How can anyone top that?

It is a "constitutional enshrinement" whose time has come and gone. If we are aspiring to become an enlightened society who head is not buried in the out-dated constitutional enshrinements of which you write, we must look at new ways to combat criminality, and effectively punish our criminals - yes, even the murderers. State sanctioned murder as a punishment is neither a deterrent, nor fit and proper punishment.

Pastor Moss, I am not trying to get into a argument with you about the Death Penalty, and definitely in no way attempt to impugn your character as a sincere Man of God. I have much respect for you and the work you are doing. However, I am really having a hard time wrapping my head around your statement that Capital Punishment is a "fit and proper punishment for murder". How did you arrive at such conclusion? Who determines this? The Courts? The same courts that have convicted and sentenced innocent men for murders they did not commit?

I strongly believe that this FNM administration, under the stewardship of Prime Minister Minnis, is very serious about making a difference in how the people's money is handled. Their first order of business, involving holding to accountability those who previously handled/mis-handled the country's finances, seems to bear this out. The removal of the former Financial Secretary, under whose watch a number of misfeasances occurred, and the replacement with a qualified, and well-groomed, Marlon Johnson, does give me hope that we will see changes.

Why does the Tribune continue to run outdated photos to accompany recent stories? Are they just too lazy, or possess insufficient manpower? This photo is so misleading!

I am very disappointed to hear these nonsensical drivel coming from a Pastor whom I had always held in high regards. The Death Penalty being enforced has been proven over and repeatedly to not being a deterrent to murder; and the good Pastor knows this. No wonder we as a country are stuck in this vicious cycle of crime, because those who are expected to take the lead in solving, or at least contributing to a sound solution to some of our country's ills, have nothing more than useless verbiage in their arsenal. They are woefully devoid of any constructive contributions.