In a recent discussion a former public servant said, that Migrants are coming to the Bahamas because they get called. Our young men think they can stand at the corner all day and make money looking into the sun. The reality is that work gets done by the people we called, let (illegally) into the country and tolerated them for years. Its is our political and economical elite that prepared the stage for all these illegals to be here. This is all just loud noise to deflect from the real discussions in this country. Bahamians prefer to hire domestic help from Asia over hiring Bahamians. No one puts our country first - only their own pocket book.

seems you are well informed.

Of course we have the right to protect our borders and of course, the illegal immigrants need to leave unless there is either an economic or other reason to keep one or two or all of them in the Bahamas.

But lets face it - whether you are pro- or anti- the way the Immigration Policy has been implemented, with public stunt raids, prosecution of Haitian activists, calling out the Haitian Ambassador and not informing and cooperating with other Nations and organizations like Amnesty International is a PR disaster for the Bahamas and will cost us many tourist $$ and lots of goodwill.

Governing needs good governance too. This is of course in short supply with the current Government.

Sorry Regardless, Immigration Policy can be determined and implemented without racist undercurrents. Unfortunately not what happened in the Bahamas. Of course the Haitian migrants' influx is an issue and probably the main issue for now, and of course the immigration policy is targeting specifically that issue. However, there are issues that the Government must be dealing with and has not so far: 1. kids born in the Bahamas to illegals need a form of document proving who their parents are and that they are born in the Bahamas, bcz without that they wont even get a passport in Haiti once they are in Haiti. 2. due process - every person that gets picked up needs to be processed accordingly. God forbid my dad was a naturalized Bahamian from Haiti and I look like him but did not bring my papers to work. I would probably be on the next plane. Am sure there is more.
Putting all people on a plane, burning down their houses and sending tem out of the country does not resolve the issue, keep in mind we created the issue ourselves by (I) letting these people into the country in the first place, and (ii) not expeditiously send them back, whatever the reasons were (economically, incapable government, etc. ).So we allowed structures and networks of illegal migrants to grow, kids to be born here, man and women to pick up jobs. So this is a process. it needs to be done consistently, with a firm hand but in a humane way. If we treat stray dogs better than illegal immigrants our value system is upside down.

Big Numbers for a small country...

Who else other than the management should be blamed for making bad loans?

The only raison d'etre for a Bahamian controlled bank such as BOB is - economically speaking - the ability to extend financing to domestic start ups, business, to support the creating of jobs. Now that BOB decides not to do that anymore, there is really no need for the Bank to be around other than illicit ones such as taking the money from the numbers boys or provide liquidity to deals of cronies of the Government that could not find money anywhere else or help launder money. What this economy needs is seed capital for great small business ideas and businesses that help the grow the economy. Gambling you can at Bahamar or Atlantis or with the Number Boyz.

The country IS run like a well oiled business. The politicians get only involved, when they can make money. Not paying taxes is not the respond to the apparent and rampant misappropriation of revenue by our Government. There are many reasons why a government has to raise taxes. What needs to be increased in this country is the transparency (FOIA, Heads of Terms, Disclosure of Wealth and Sources of Revenue for Politicians and Government Employees), and the accountability of Government and Politicians (PMH etc.).

Its the law and you can not claim lack of knowledge for breaking it. It is also the BHTA's job to educate the hotels and smaller B&Bs. A pack of cigarettes in New York costs USD 13. So get over it or elect a new Government. Why should anybody that cheats on taxes be excused? This is money for schools, streets, police (and - I have to admit - politicians private pockets. However that problem has to be dealt with in a different manner).

looks like a line up for the numbers boys to get into the banking business.