Sadly the rich will become much richer during these times and the poor? - Well they are just forgotten.

It is like this worldwide - the rich lists will tell the story.

While the tourism industry struggled to recover from Dorian, the Covid dilemma has wreaked havoc yet again.

Many countries continue to drill for billions of barrels of oil. America producing 19.25 million barrels per day in 2019 - and consume over 20 million per day so they rely on imports.

U.S. crude oil production in the U.S. Federal Gulf of Mexico (GOM) averaged 1.8 million barrels per day (b/d) in 2018, setting a new annual record. According to www.eia.gov/

So already there is a huge amount of oil produced in the GoM without incident (thankfully) - so who is behind these opponents?

Why would Lloyds need to explain their previous statement. Probably the largest insurer in the world - not a single company but a large mix of folks willing to risk their own riches at a large risk. Each and every one of those folks allowing their money to be utilised for insurance know that they may lose it, however, their risk is minimised by the fact it is shared among the funders.

Because someone got it wrong when a call was made by a group whose sole gambit is to save their own pot of money - though on the face of it the planet - but who all use things that are either made from oil, use it or are transported by vessels of vehicles that use it.

To suggest the tourists do not want to see oil rigs - though the site is 90miles away from the nearest island - not sure a tourist would be wanting to bring a telescope. They could see many ships passing by. The aircraft and seagoing vessels that bring these tourists to the shores are not powered by fairy dust.

The current climate is creating redundancies and it will take a long time to recover. Let's see what this exploration has discovered and have an adult conversation about it.

The telling line above is "I personally oppose offshore oil drilling in The Bahamas at this present time."

So if not at this present time - will it not be too late to benefit from the oil if it is left underground for another decade?

Within another decade we may all learn about the current solar, wind and hydropower as to whether it is really sustainable and whether it is actually ecologically friendly in the long term.

The lithium for these supercell batteries must be mined. Mining disrupts the earth as we know. Where does the energy come from to recharge these supercells?

There is an expression "Better a bird in the hand than two in a bush".

This is the real world and Mr Smith and his funders need to come up with facts and not just size on any opportunity to create fog.

The Government of the Bahamas has legal entities working through all aspects of this situation.
Bahamas Evolution have a louder voice than the haphazard opponents fighting this current situation.

The biggest issue here is money - who gets what - who benefits most. Mr Smith, who is no doubt earning a healthy crust from backers who have been sought from outside the Bahamas, will keep pushing, however, perhaps not always in the right direction, as long as it extends his fees. it is business after all.

The drill is spinning and a result will be known in a matter of weeks. It appears the opponents are almost praying for some mini-disaster so they can say "I told you so..."

Let the Bahamas learn whether they may be sitting on a potential oil field of Gulf of Arabia proportions. A decision can be made with facts sitting behind the decisions to be made.

In the meantime, everyone globally is looking for the quickest end to the current pandemic and a return to some sort of normality.

Voltaire - thank you for deeming me a decent guy - you are correct of course ;@) - the publicity - certainly from your QC is aimed directly at BPC - perhaps his terminology is wrong - he is reported to have said: -

Qc Urges Oil Explorer: 'Meet Us On Battlefield'

Smith: BPC has “poked a hole in the belly of mother nature”

"We're coming for you"

Whilst these are mere words and I have read several other incidents, they are aimed directly at BPC. So instead of leaving BPC out of the mix and going directly for the protocols set out by your own government, the team have publicly gone after BPC too.

The headline Meet Us On Battlefield tells the fight as it really is and is certainly not sugar-coated.

The claim that monies are outstanding - is this factual and if so can you point me to the official documents that state BPC has reneged on any payment.

Should there be a debt outstanding surely that would be a breach of the contract that the opposing team would pick up on and perhaps force the hand of the government?

I am sure over the next few weeks the truth of the matter will become clearer.

The Bahamas Christian Council bishop Delton Fernander, being interviewed on Eye Witness News, wants to see the results of the exploration as did Fred Mitchell who said "it would be foolish for any government not to consider"

Having seen a video of an open-air meeting by Bahamian Evolution, I noted a large congregation of people listening to what was being said.

Bahamian Evolution want the Bahamian people to benefit from the oil Their video highlights the potential benefits and also highlights the many everyday uses of oil and not just for Gasoline and Polluting vehicles - food, plastics, machines, makeup - almost everything we touch has a trace of oil in it. https://youtu.be/0WKQdLjx0E8">https://youtu.be/0WKQdLjx0E8

When I have seen protests by the anti-drill movement I have only seen still photos and usually only one or two persons present.

Whilst the anti-drill campaign has perhaps a louder voice in the media presently I imagine voices will become louder for the pro-drill campaign.

As the BE video exhibits quite succinctly there are a lot more uses of the oil in your seas than gasoline/diesel.

I see the Bahamias Christian Council bishop Delton Fernander, being interviewed on Eye Witness News, wants to see the results of the exploration as did Fred Mitchell who said "it would be foolish for any government not to consider"

Bahamian Evolution want the Bahamian people to benefit from the oil Their video highlights the potential benefits and also highlights the many everyday uses of oil and not just for Gasoline and Polluting vehicles - food, plastics, machines, makeup - almost everything we touch has a trace of oil in it. https://youtu.be/0WKQdLjx0E8

By 2030 - will we be seeing electric-powered super cruise liners docking at the islands?

In the meantime, we will be seeing the same old dirty engines bringing folks to the beautiful unspoiled beaches.

Though hang on a moment - Covid is ripping the heart out of hospitality and tourism at the moment. The islands rely around 50% on tourism - what will happen once all the savings are spent? Savings? What savings have the folks on the breadline got?

The 5% GDP coming from fishing is now in a quandary with the new fishing bill and will need sorting quite quickly.

Controversy still exists over the $20,000,000.

Can this government stand to the pressure from its people?

I believe the biggest gripe from followers of BPC is the fact they were excluded from the court action deliberately with the action itself solely about the government. The actual fact of the matter is that the applicants have gone out to destroy a company which has paid your government a lot of money in order to discover whether the Bahamas is sitting on a huge wealth that could transform the lives of many for the better. Those underhand tactics are just plain sly.

Voltaire - here are a couple more locals to have signed the Change.org petition: - Carter Venezia, from Ballwin, MO, US
Liudmila Moshchalkova from Hallandale Beach, FL, US
Veronique Chicherie Touboul from Miami Beach
Brad Nahill from Portland Oregon

Many more folks who are not Bahamian though taking that keen interest.

We will discover what moves are made next by all parties during the coming weeks. BPC will of course complete the exploration process and inform the Government of the Bahamas of the result - positive or negative.

It will then be a case of whether there may be merit in the possibilities or otherwise.

50% of employees will be keen to get back to work somehow - tourism has been dealt a terrible blow worldwide and will take several years to recover.