Do politicians realize that what they say is then out there for all to see. So in one article we get told that to get Freeport and therefore Grand Bahama going we need to open up and allow more foreigners in. Then out comes the Immigration minister saying the exact opposite. Why doesn't he say that if there is a need for foreigners it will be filled, however if there is not it won't. Companies are there to make profit, only a insane company would prefer to spend all the extras you would need to get a foreigner when there is a Bahamain who can do the job. In addition the 40,000 is a headline grabbing number. Part of that is all the foreign doctors and nurses, and i doubt we are going to tell them bye. Then there is all the laborers and domestic workers. Those high power jobs everyone is thinking of (the expat banker) is not that much in the 40,000 (i think around 300, and with many of them when they go so does the company as it is theirs). This is all politics and a way to show that this country will never be much more then it is now as we are so insular. We want the foreign money but we don't want the foreigner.

Whether that is true or not what he is saying is true. Not many companies will ahve the funds to layoff 50% or more of their workforce if needed. So instead of saving the people they can and then hoping to grow back to where they were they will have no choice but to declare bankruptcy and then no one gets paid (and employees go to second bottom of the payout line). Government should consider extending it or amending the severance law whereby companies can defer payment for up to 5 years, with yearly payments (and even consider saying if the person gets a new job then the amount outstanding is got rid of). These events will probably speed up the process of more and more workers being hired as contractors so the company doesn't have the liability at the end.

It will be tough but we need Government to stand up to the unions in this country (and not just the Teachers Union). Unions were needed and brought a lot of good, now they cause more problems then they solve.

I think the policy is for those who can work form home in a foreign country to be able to move here and continue to do the job they were doing before, all this would mean that the person has not taken a job from a Bahamain as this job was not here. They may however increase employment in this country due to having to buy a house, eat, clean, have a car and many others. I suggest to the letter writer that they should find out what the policy is before criticizing and showing their ignorance and xenophobia .

Sounds like if they that powerful its best not to go against them then

No doubt we will one day be a republic. Unfortunately people who think this will solve our problems will be disappointed. On the issue of crown land, technically this is owned by the Queen of The Bahamas (not the Queen of the UK), which means it is up to the country to do with it as they want. There is nothing stopping our Government from giving the land to every Bahamian today, as the Queen would not be able to stop it. But they won't, it is just easier to have people believe all the problems are caused by outsiders and not them.

Umm Someone needs to learn the history of India. Before the British went there the Hindus and Muslims did not get on that great (check the Mughal wars etc to see if that was the case). I know we like to believe many places in the world was living in peace and a paradise before the British came, but that is not true.

Why would you buy school uniforms when your kid is not back to school yet. If they are at home doing it they don't need an expensive uniform. Once the schools do re-open Government will have to consider the VAT free again, as that is when many parents will buy

I think the reason they are extended is due to the fact it means employers do not have to make their decision on whether to layoff (and severance) or rehire a lot of people. Government knows many businesses will have no other choice but to be declared bankrupt and that would make the economic collapse a lot worse then need be. I am sure whenever that date comes there will still be many bankruptcies.

Wait is this the same Chamber of Commerce President who in July said Nassauvians should be banned from traveling during emancipation weekend. As i said then he would change his mind once the economic implications became apparent. Government will most likely not change this policy until after the next long weekend (Heros day), so we got a while to go.