This would require accountability and consequences. Two words unknown and without equivalent in Bahamianese.

Downsize Fox Hill and ship the sentenced prisoners and those denied bail to a properly built, secured prison on Grand Bahama, with various areas or type of space/cell arrangements fitting the crime and sentencing- that respect their human rights- while punishing/rehabilitating them. Only the ones who need to be tried in Nassau need to be shipped here, requiring a much smaller facility on the island and a sad but true,stimulating a prison industry on GB. Hotel rooms for the girl friends and boyfriends, mothers and rare father's visiting, boats and planes tickets to get them there and back. food sales. Some might choose to stay in Grand Bahama renting apartments or buying houses. How slow the justice system moves, the facility in Nassau should never hold more than 30 men and women a week and the old police jail on East Street could be refitted to serve that purpose. Wont ever happen because though it makes sense to me, it might be a bad idea. But even if its a good idea the lawyer lobby- and the fact that systems in this country are poorly organized, leaders of military arms of government are sadly territorial and don't like to work together- 50 years into this experiment of nationhood and self governance- guarantees that it wont.

The foolishness going on here is an almost open secret. If this doesnt go anywhere then I know the FNM is compromised. What a tragedy.

why do you assume she leaked it to the press? it seems as if the tribune went to her and she refused to discuss it. this entire thing could have been avoided if Pintard and the leadership of the FNM had just followed the rules. Why not inform her? They are creating these tempests and i am mightily disappointed in Pintard playing these kinds of games. They want Butler to leave the party. She should stay right where she is!

#supportthepuff! Natural hair is beautiful and I much prefer to know that you have something going on IN your head than on it. If it is good enough to attend school then its probably just fine in the workplace.

Proof of at least one way assault rifles are entering the country. Via Haiti and the revitalized drug trade. Sad.

I do agree that customs duties should be eliminated for all and not a select few- but I am not against business incentives for over the hill. Something needs to be done. The roads project devastated businesses along Blue Hill and Market street. They shut and never reopened. Governance isn't about pure economics-it is about cultivating a society or making it seem as if you are cultivating a society where there is equal opportunity for all- and attention given to all sectors of life. This has NEVER been the case in the Bahamas. So to encourage business over the hill with Tax incentives is not a bad thing- how to police and monitor this is another story- but Over the Hill has been abused, neglected, taken for granted and its populations for the most part dumbed down for far too long. I was raised in the inner city and I have a good life now, but I also have a good memory. While growing up I watched as AIDS, drugs, teen pregnancy, a lack of education, poor health, stress, violence,poor choice upon poor decision killed too many people. And we think of then compared to now as the good old days! I cant imagine what its like now to grow up in places like Bain Town, Grants Town, Coconut Grove and Montell Heights. Can't imagine. But this country needs to figure out a way to stimulate these areas and put some real 'help and hope' in the minds of the people. I am no Minnis supporter- but I can appreciate a real attempt at trying to to something real and meaningful for these areas.

"The controversy springs from Mr Lightbourn’s views on key platforms put forth by Dr Minnis, namely his promise to transform inner city communities into tax-free zones." Now if this tax free zone thing means "duty free" zones then that is ripe for corruption and I can't support that. But if it means that they will cancel VAT for instance to spur business to develop and or return to the inner city then that is a pretty good idea. Right now businesses have to pay 7.5 vat on their products and then the consumer pays another 7.5 Vat when they purchase the product from them= 15%- The elimination of that would make a substantial difference in consumer services because it is enough to encourage businesses to move back over the Hill and consumers to come there- if folks don't get greedy. It also would have a side effect of improving the look and vitality of the area, decreasing crime. Theoretically- I think it is a good idea. The only resistance to this- if this is actually what the FNM is considering - would be the perceived fall out from major businesses in other parts of the island- special interests who are probably owned by many white Bahamians. Though this dimension is racially informed, it does not mean that they are actually racist. It means that they are protecting their economic interests. Unfortunately, this LOOKS very BAD and is- imo- terrible. Why? Because it indicates a kind of self absorption and a dis-interest in the welfare of poorer Bahamians by the white business elite, that just can't work for the country moving forward. I suggest that business owners (white, black and otherwise) get on board and move some business branches to the hood. Minnis and the crew have to do better with their language. Make the issues clear. And stop resorting to throwing unproductive lowness.

My question is- Who makes up the executive council? are you telling me that the sitting members of parliament for a party who are the official opposition are not members of this council? at least 4/5 of the ten were on record as not being present. What sense does that make? Were they not informed about the meeting and if not, why not? Especially if you are about unity. something isn't right here.

lol.