Why is this even a question? For heavens sake don’t run Gibson in Long Island or anywhere else for that matter.

Dr. Minnis is absolutely right. The FNM opened the Arawak port deal to Bahamians, had over 12,000 Bahamian shareholders. Opened the cruise port to Bahamians, had over 3000 Bahamian shareholders. The PLP under the cloak of darkness in the BPL deal offer shares not to the general public but a handful of favored crony elite and foreigners and sell our birthright away for a song. All for me baby, they care not one whit about enriching Bahamians save for themselves.

You are rather ill informed. The cruise port has been and will be a resounding success as the vast majority of it’s income comes from a passenger facility fee which is paid regardless if the cruise visitor leaves the ship or not. These restaurants and retail businesses are for them as they say in New Orleans lagniappe. That being said a great service for Bahamians that the cruise port should provide is a shuttle service where Bahamians can safely park at a facility off Bay and they are shuttled to and from the port for free once they have validation from a restaurant or retail shop at the port.

Not a fan of Minnis but he is absolutely right. FNM opened the cruise port and Arawak port offerings to all Bahamians. The PLP sold a majority ownership in BPL for a song ( to apparently some foreign investors?) and restricted the offering to a select privileged few. They do not care a wit about the average Bahamian. Greedy, shady and corrupt.

This is rich coming from a bank that in fiscal 2023 earned $122million! Let that sink in …$122 million, yet there is a need to raise fees? Through first 2 quarters of 2024 net income is up 17% on the record net income of 2023 on pace for $132million in 2024! yet there is a need to increase fees? Give me a break, it is past time that the central bank rein in these outrageous fees.

Funny how Mr. Bowe says he speaks directly and candidly yet he fails again to update the Tribune on the share split he promised shareholders more than four years ago. Why does it take more than four years to execute a simple share split, why so many times he told us it is coming yet it has never arrived? His word holds very little value at this point, shareholders are tired of him crying wolf, tired of a litany of missed targets and failed promises. We are tired of spinning and excuses, of him not maximizing shareholder value and delivering poor results. Last year’s performance was pitiful. He does not seem to understand banking in the Bahamas. His tenure has been one of proselytizing about everything under the sun, especially matters that pertain little to FBB ( he owes shareholders a refund on his salary) as clearly we need a change of leadership at Fidelity Bank, someone who is truthful, and competent and who delivers for shareholders.

This project is 50% owned by Bahamians, and as a Bahamian shareholder I say Godspeed and bring it on. Seems many criticizing this project would have rather our port remain the back water dump it was? We can’t eat sand or drink saltwater! We need more tourism income producing projects owned by Bahamians. I am proud that this port is now world class and successful and am proud as a Bahamian to be sharing in the wealth generation of our Bahamaland. Hopefully the RCL beach club will have the same Bahamian ownership and success.

What makes students so special and why is this the responsibility of the Bahamian taxpayer? Whatever the cost of the flight is, divide it by the number of students on the flight and let them pay their fair share. Why am I being taxed ( or more accurately why are we essentially borrowing the funds for this flight) so that people can have a free flight home? If you can’t afford airfare then you should not be going to college.

And you are happy with the service you receive from govt owned corporations? Are you happy being taxed to subsidize these loss making entities to the tune of $500 mill a year? BPL has $500 mill in legacy debt, is inefficient, and dictated to by a terroristic union precisely because it is govt owned and every Bahamian suffers terribly and has suffered for decades because of it. Privatization is not always a perfect solution, but govt owned is almost never a good one.

It is possible: Bahamas overflight fees were introduced several years ago and generated $43 mill in income last year, the new minimum corporate tax on multinationals w more the $750mill euros in revenue is estimated to generate a new income of $145 mill annually, finally charging vat on private cruise island revenue in the Bahamas etc. we need more of these innovative taxes that almost exclusively target foreigners. That said more than anything we do need to cut expenses, particularly the $500 mill a year used to subsidize loss making govt corporations. Privatize BPL immediately!