It matters little whether you agree or not with the US Embassy's directives to its own staff and citizens -- they can tell them anything they want. That is their right to do so.

What we, as Bahamians, should be more concerned about is how our country is going down the toilet at a rapid rate. These warnings are not made up or done through spite. They are a clear and present warning to us that if we don't shape up and start getting our crime under control that we will see further warnings. Thank goodness someone out there is sending up the warning, as we seem quite content to stick our heads in the sand and make bleating sounds of how unfair it is when an outsider points out the obvious. Surely we're not that stupid, or are we?

If anything the students should be demanding an education instead of silly "my feelings are hurt" apologies. Get your priorities straight, kiddies.

Waah, waah, waah. Anyone with any sense can see that COB is a joke through and through. The education should be free -- insuch as its value is lacking. The first lessons these students need to learn is not to procrastinate and that life isn't fair. Stop whining and find a real school to go to.

Wow, banker, I thought you were a stand-up intelligent guy from your earlier posts. But you're nearly as bad as Birdie. Say it ain't so!

IN other words, they have no idea what is going on. They are making this up as they go along. God help us!

Remember now, folks -- each doctor gets 500 patients (so you'll never be able to get an appointment without waiting a long time), and each patient (sorry "insured") gets $221 of covereage each YEAR. That doesn't even cover an annual physical.

The key with NHI clearly is to not get sick.

Yep, and when they ramp it up, there's the other 9900 jobs the PLP promoised....

themessenger, just curious, but what is a "natural Bahamian"?

As far as I can tell the only "natural Bahamians", aka the Lucayans, were gone from these islands long ago. Every last one of us here now is an immigrant.

Wow, and all the damaged to the corals, mangroves and the area's ecosystem is set aside as Resorts World comes up with a new plan to screw things up even more. Face it, it's DOA. As so many of us told you, it won't work, isn't working, and will not work. Another white elephant to deface our beautiful islands.

Just short of bringing guests in at gunpoint, no one wants to come! When will they see this?

That's funny -- those are the very words (plus a few more I can't type here) that I'd use to describe Glenys Hanna Martin.

And what record is she talking about? The woman has none that I can see -- and I've always wondered what her qualifications are for the Transportation and Aviation porfolio.

Good advice, Mr. DP. All too often I hear tales of visitors to the straw market who leave in disgust at the filth and aggressiveness of the vendors. I have witnessed tourists being threatened by a vendor who was annoyed that they had purchased from a nearby vendor and not her. She pounded her fist into her hand while making rude and threatening remarks to them as they fled back to their ship. What message does that send to our visitors?

While most vendors are extremely polite and helpful, there is a sizeable minority who should either learn to interact with manners and grace, or should not be allowed in the market. They do a great disservice to us all. And government needs to own this as well. Send decoys in if you have to so you can see how visitors are being treated and get rid of the rotten apples.