You are so right. My respect for Prime minister Pinding grew tremendously when he conceded on national radio to the nation after 25 consecutive years of power. It had to be one of the most difficult things he ever did, but he did it out of his respect for the Bahamian people. Christie on the other hand has disrespected us. He has shown us that it is all about him, a short concession speech would have been good for the country and our democracy. It will be a stain on his career forever, and shows that the nation was correct in voting him and almost his entire party out of office.

Wikielections has updated and the count has reverted to 35-4, so apparently Hanna- Martin did retain her seat.

I wonder if any of these persons, especially "banker" has ever had any significant interaction with John Rolle to be passing such judgement about him. And the asinine comment that he is not qualified to be a junior minister lends credence to my growing suspicion that they know very little about him much less about finance acumen.

I worked with john Rolle and as a earlier commentator said, he is brilliant. Far above anyone else in our department, including at that time Wendy Craig who was our superior. We are very fortunate to have him as governor, he could be earning three times his salary in the private sector.

As to his competence, he was a chief architect of the vat tax, and the person most responsible for its very successful rollout. By any measure it has been a succes, one that many myself included doubted could be pulled off. BOB is in court now because of the pressure he is applying. Should it have come sooner, no doubt, but one has to survive in their job without political interference to make a real difference. Better to have a competent gov who is trying than a stupid lackey. I only pray he is allowed with the new administration to make meaningful, independent decisions.

Party Seats Won
fnm 36
plp 3 *
dna 0
ind 0
*Recount of Englerston constituency resulted in new result with former PLP Transport Minister Glenys Hanna-Martin, lose to FNM candidate Raymond Rolle

Not sure if accurate but according to wiki elections Hanna- Martin lost her seat after recount
http://wikielections.com/africa/bahamas…

In two weeks, after the FNM govt has seen the books and have a good understanding of the lay of our fiscal land, there will be the need for a frank and sobering conversation with the Bahamian people. We simply can not afford the size of our govt and the services successive govts. have promised to provide.

Our budget must be balanced in at most 3 years. This will perhaps necessitate an increase in taxes but definitely a significant reduction in expenditures. The civil service needs to be downsized, and all govt corps that are currently loss making need to be privatized as soon as possible. It will be painful but it is needed, we can not continue to live beyond our means simply borrowing year after year leading to a massive deficit. We are at a watershed moment, but if after 5 years there is not a meaningful reduction in our debt this FNM govt will unquestionably be voted out.

We need to make the necessary sacrifices and changes ourselves before they are forced upon us. Failure to be fiscally responsible now, in short order will lead to devaluation, and the imposition of onerous demands on us by the IMF such as a massive reduction in the size of the civil service. Barbados recently underwent just this painful exercise, we should learn from their mistakes.

I agree wholeheartedly with your points, no more bloated cabinets that we can not afford, this civil service needs to be reduced, as many loss making govt corps privatized, and I might add Zns budget cut at least in half. No need for a redundant northern service. We need govt as small as possible while still providing the necessary services we require. We are broke as country, no more living beyond our means, no more paying for essential services with a credit card. Minnis also must produce a balance budget within 3 years, and pass legislation binding our govt to a balanced budget until our deficit is reduced to at least 50 % of GDP.

Either that or tax them to within an inch of their life. A max profit margin of only 10% like the port. They are destroying family island communities, at least tax them to pay for all the social ills they create. FNM we are watching and expecting action on these number houses!

Oh what could have been.... the LBT saga would make great source material for an interesting and instructive book. An attractive, ambitious, articulate candidate from a prominent political family, but one fatally flawed by a terrible sense of judgment, lack of wisdom, and unbridled ambition.
She was a decent representative, one who passionately advocated for Long Island in the house, was phenomenal during hurricane Joaquin, but one who could not even keep the potholes fixed. When she named the misogynist Rodney Moncur to the senate, she lost my vote forever. Any person with such terrible judgment as that should never be in power. I wish her the best, but she got as good as she deserved. She paid the consequences for the terrible choices she made. So no need to blame us long islanders, she need only blame herself.

Dear birdie, I intend to curse no one but I intend to relentlessly criticize the FNM when they engage in corruption, graft, and poor governance, all of which was rampant under the PLP and all of which with your blinders you refused to criticize. This is where partisans like you have failed our country, we will never become the greatest little nation that we could and should be until we put party affiliation aside and speak the truth to leaders who have failed us. Not party first but Bahamian first.

Where does the corruption end? Are we sure these funds were spent as Minister Gibson said they were, where is his proof? Our country desperately needs campaign finance regulations, which includes a ban on foreign sources of funds. These politicians are for the most part no more than employees of these contributors. No wonder nygard acts with impunity in this country, degrading our environment at his whim and without fear of our laws and courts, he has bought these politicians protection. We have a democracy in name only, really we are governed by unnamed wealthy political contributors who have bought our politicians body and soul.