"Aquaculture and ocean-related biotechnology have not been properly exploited" is only the tip of the "poor attitude mountain" this administration and its managers have Re: industrial aquaculture development in the Bahamas and, in fact, any development by Bahamians, as it were.

I recently had to abandon my discussion with this Administration because of its lack of vision, disrespect and the careless attitude I encountered, presenting what could become a major challenge to the industry leaders in the multi-billion dollar global export seafood industry. And what I can only conclude as a petty grudge or just a simple hatred for things Bahamian.

Globally the Blue Economy has an annual value of at least $2.5 trillion each year from the combination of fishing and aquaculture, shipping, tourism, and other activities. But the vision this Government have of Bahamians in this regard is what was said to me "Bite-Size" that you must start small and that you are too big-eyed for having the big vision of creating an industry that can easily employ 10 - 20,000 Bahamians in the Modern Aquaculture and Marine related industry.

Lately, I have learnt that millions of dollars are made available for Bahamians, as recently noted by our Ambassador Maria O’Brien The Bahamas will gain access to the $100 million Climate Services and Related Applications Programme, which supports development in agriculture and food security, health, water, disaster risk reduction and energy and is a key part of building the country’s ability to reduce the impact of the climate crisis and increasingly powerful hurricanes.

O’Brien said: “There are many programs available for Bahamians from EU-funded organizations, and with a skilled team of technical officers who can perform at a high level in Brussels, we can do even more for the country.

Ambassador Maria O’Brien and her staff are doing an excellent job of bringing forward solutions that have been available to Bahamians for years, which eases the frustration of the private sector who may not qualify for funding assistants in areas like aquaculture from traditional financial institutions.

But the sad reality for Bahamians seeking to develop industry in small island nations like The Bahamas; where assistance from funding countries and institutions become available to politically motivated administrations. The funding received is nothing more than campaign money for the sitting political party, whose view is to get maximum coverage from a few dollars while ignoring the more sustainable and more viable option of developing industry and employment - over party agenda, personal legacy and misguided ambition.

To this end, I support the IDB position that “upon compliance with a set of policy reforms” that promote sustainable investment in The Bahamas’ marine industries and “strengthen the legal and institutional framework” for promoting an ocean-based economy. Describing the arrangement as a “policy-based guarantee”,

And there I was thinking that my PTI Project was the only Bahamian created industry that this administration trashed and its leadership accused of fronting by Mr Bethel. Then laughed at after being invited to make a presentation before the Cabinet of The Bahamas.

My PTI (Vehicle Safety Inspection) Project would create 300 new jobs for Bahamians and save lives; and provide the Road Traffic Department with 12 service locations throughout the Bahamas, at no cost to the Bahamian People.

PTi in the Bahamas would ensure that the motoring public follow internationally accepted guidelines for safe driving. An example of how PTi saves lives: An industrial-sized vehicle would never be allowed to operate on public streets without the universally agreed necessary reflective apparatus or parked in a motoring lane without clear and advanced "Danger Approaching" warning signs.

The country will continue to waddle in its own selfish, short-sighted and bloody belief that Bahamians cannot provide a better solution to control some of this deadly and scary mess that is now a common way of life in the daily lives of Bahamian Families. But the powers that we have entrusted our safety are quick to celebrate many multi-million dollar contracts with foreign companies while disrespecting and insulting a Bahamian effort to contribute, even when a proven international solution was offered to this government in a comprehensive proposal at a minimal capital cost to the country.

Unlicensed and stolen vehicles play a major role in the free and undetected movement of this carnage. Plate swapping, recycling and fakes are the tools in many of these brazen acts of criminal activity. The lack of proper vehicle registration linked to an Automated License Plate Recognition System (LPRS) that is Pole and Vehicle Mounted. It plays into the game of "find me if you can" that have our frustrated Police Force in a never-ending tailspin running after a "ghost vehicle" (used in the commission of deadly crimes) that doesn't exist - but freely travels our streets and neighbourhoods, as it were.

http://tribune242.com/users/photos/2021…

The story on the "Indian Oxford-AstraZenenca Vaccine" Donated to Barbados, Dominica and Share to other Caribbean Islands is starkly different from what is reported by India and our Caribbean Neighbours then what is being told in the Bahamas to Bahamians.

This uncertainty also fuels the narrative that all politicians are nothing but nasty, arrogant, dirty liars who don't have the people's best interest at heart but will spool out untruths to appease the moment while actually don't know and deceive us all.

After 7 Years of presentations, emails (that went unanswered), meetings that had no conclusion, a Cabinet meeting that was a clown show and an embarrassment; design, consultancy fees, travel and salaries that total over three million dollars. Our company had to close the book on our projects (that would cost the government no capital expense) while the Bahamian People are lied to and have to stand out in the yard for service at a government department that feeds a greedy few who careless about the effects of their corrupt and criminal enterprise because Ministers and officials turn a blind eye on "the ride" that is played on the Bahamian People ...in both administrations.

“salient” and “valuable” Patrick would not know what is salient and valuable if it came out and kick him in the face! ...Bahamians and Medical Professionals should be allowed to make their own scientific assessment of what vaccination is best and safe to entre their bodies and not following political patriotism' which could put the lives of Bahamians at (a known) and unnecessary risk.

**A much bigger problem, but fixable:**

After a seven-year battle with the Bahamas government, Bahamas Auto Safety and Inspection Centre (BASIC), retired its efforts to offer, (at no capital cost) to the Bahamian people a comprehensive solution for enforcement agencies to detect vehicles driven on our streets with expired or no insurance.

At a Cabinet presentation detailing the critical need of the road safety and violation detection technology in March of 2020, the former Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Finance describe the Vehicle Verification and Testing initiative as

> "seeing no benefit for the Bahamian
> People"

leaving the company with no option but to retire the effort after many attempts to re-engage the government on the matter.

The new Minister of Transport up to yesterday has stubbornly refused to reply to our many emails requesting a meeting to discuss other critical issues plaguing his ministry (like a reliable vehicle plate issuance system) where BASIC has offered our expert resources to fix this frustrating but essential government service.

Another senior government official commented that the "government would never give three black boys a contract like this" while asking us "who are we fronting for?" ending a meeting seeking his support for the road safety initiative earlier in January 2020.

Pete sound like another fellow who feels that he win the presidential election but everyone cheated on him. go quietly and pray your situation doesn't develop into jail time ...hahaha