> While the U.S. Labels the Caribbean
> 'Shithole' Countries, China Invests
> Without Insult

While the United States has long positioned itself as the dominant force in the Western Hemisphere, its approach toward the Caribbean has often been dismissive, condescending, and laced with neocolonial undertones. The infamous characterization of Caribbean nations as "shithole countries" by a former American president was not merely a diplomatic blunder—it reflected a deeper and more enduring perception rooted in exploitation, paternalism, and contempt. This insult, though widely condemned, was never truly disavowed by the broader U.S. political establishment. Instead, Washington’s Caribbean agenda continues to be shaped not by development cooperation or mutual respect, but by narrow preoccupations with drug interdiction, immigration enforcement, and regional containment.

Contrast this with the approach of the People's Republic of China, which—though often critiqued by Western commentators—has invested substantially in Caribbean infrastructure, trade, education, and public health systems, without attaching ideological conditions or resorting to degrading language. Chinese engagement has included the development of ports, roads, medical facilities, telecommunications, and energy infrastructure across multiple island nations. These investments are not merely symbolic—they represent a long-term strategic commitment to mutual economic benefit and sovereign partnership. China has not attempted to lecture the region on governance while simultaneously undermining its economic independence. Nor has it backed foreign-led coups, imposed sanctions, or dictated terms of political obedience.

The disparity is clear: while Washington sees the region through the lens of surveillance, security, and suspicion, Beijing sees it as a partner for commerce and connectivity. The United States sends Coast Guard ships; China sends engineers, funding, and construction expertise. The U.S. government warns of so-called “malign influence”; the Chinese government builds tangible infrastructure and offers concessional financing. The U.S. urges transparency from the sidelines; China sits at the table, putting real capital to work.

It is disingenuous for the U.S. to condemn Chinese influence in the region when it has, for decades, abdicated its own responsibility to foster prosperity in its own neigh. If Caribbean nations have welcomed Chinese investment, it is not because they are unaware of geopolitical risks—it is because, in the vacuum left by U.S. neglect and arrogance, China has shown up with resources and respect.

Go, Toby, go — do this not just for yourself, but for every Bahamian who has been betrayed, overlooked, and pushed aside by both the FNM and the PLP. For too long, our so-called leaders have bent the knee — and opened their mouths, to foreign interests, selling out the dreams of Bahamian developers while propping up outsiders with open arms and sweetheart deals. Enough is enough. It’s time someone stood up and called it what it is — a disgraceful legacy of neglect and political cowardice. Do this for the ones who have been hoodwinked, undermined, and deliberately excluded from building the very nation they call home. Let your voice be the one that breaks the cycle of petty Bahamian politics.

What you see as the FNM today bears little resemblance to the principled movement it once claimed to be. This version has strayed so far, it belongs in the political wilderness—alongside the other relics of failure, corruption, and empty rhetoric. It's time to retire both the FNM and the PLP. Their decades-long duet of dysfunction has dragged the Bahamas in circles. We need new leadership, new ideas, and new blood—because this PLP/FNM cycle is broken beyond repair.

And so the story goes—but what it fails to highlight is just how common this complaint truly is. Time and again, police forces unlawfully seize property from private homes, leaving owners abandoned in a relentless battle for justice against the very corrupt system that has violated them.

Arguing about who owns rental houses or how the government brings in Cuban doctors does nothing to fix the real problem—which is the lack of medical staff willing to work here. Instead of blaming politics, we should appreciate and stand up for the Cuban and Filipino doctors and nurses who are keeping our healthcare system from falling apart, even with low pay and tough conditions. If we truly want to improve healthcare, we need to focus on better pay, and better hospital conditions—rather than side issues that won’t solve anything.

OK, let have a look at your one-sided narrative that overlooks the substantial economic, technological, and diplomatic cooperation between the United States and "Communist China" across numerous sectors. While geopolitical tensions exist, particularly in strategic and ideological domains, the reality is that both countries maintain deep interdependencies in trade, finance, technology, and scientific research. The assertion that U.S. intelligence agencies are singularly targeting Bahamian elites based on taxation or political affiliations lacks verifiable evidence. U.S. tax laws apply to all its citizens globally, but enforcement follows established legal frameworks rather than politically motivated crackdowns. Similarly, speculation about Elon Musk's involvement in U.S. government data mining for tax purposes is unfounded and conflates private enterprise with federal enforcement agencies.

You are advancing a political and ideological perspective rather than presenting objective truth grounded in verifiable data. Much of the propaganda aimed at influencing opinions through emotionally charged rhetoric, rather than factual analysis, has recently been thoroughly debunked—particularly for those who have followed the USAID funding disclosures, including the widely circulated narrative on alleged 'Chinese Uyghur abuse*. I strongly recommend that you update your sources before making sweeping public statements that reflect personal beliefs rather than substantiated facts.

This latest U.S. stance on Cuban medical missions comes amid broader concerns over labour exploitation worldwide. While the U.S. has been vocal in condemning Cuban labour practices, it remains conspicuously silent on the widespread abuses suffered by foreign workers in the Middle East and parts of Asia. In many of these regions, labourers, particularly from poorer African and Asian countries, are subjected to extreme conditions, including human trafficking, wage theft, physical abuse, and sexual violence. Reports have consistently highlighted the plight of domestic workers and construction labourers who endure gruelling conditions under exploitative systems such as the controversial Kafala sponsorship system, which ties workers to their employers and restricts their ability to leave abusive situations.

Despite these well-documented abuses, U.S. policy has not applied the same level of diplomatic pressure on the governments of these nations. The lack of strong warnings or visa sanctions against these countries raises critical questions about the consistency and motivations behind U.S. foreign policy regarding labour rights and human rights enforcement.

As Caribbean leaders engage in diplomatic discussions with the U.S., they continue to emphasize the indispensable role of Cuban medical missions in providing healthcare across the region. The response to these missions, juxtaposed against the silence on severe labour violations elsewhere, underscores broader geopolitical and economic considerations that influence how and where human rights concerns are prioritized on the global stage.

This latest U.S. stance on Cuban medical missions comes amid broader concerns over labor exploitation worldwide. While the U.S. has been vocal in condemning Cuban labor practices, it remains conspicuously silent on the widespread abuses suffered by foreign workers in the Middle East and parts of Asia. In many of these regions, laborers, particularly from poorer African and Asian countries, are subjected to extreme conditions, including human trafficking, wage theft, physical abuse, and sexual violence. Reports have consistently highlighted the plight of domestic workers and construction laborers who endure grueling conditions under exploitative systems such as the controversial Kafala sponsorship system, which ties workers to their employers and restricts their ability to leave abusive situations.

Despite these well-documented abuses, U.S. policy has not applied the same level of diplomatic pressure on the governments of these nations. The lack of strong warnings or visa sanctions against these countries raises critical questions about the consistency and motivations behind U.S. foreign policy regarding labor rights and human rights enforcement.

As Caribbean leaders engage in diplomatic discussions with the U.S., they continue to emphasize the indispensable role of Cuban medical missions in providing healthcare across the region. The response to these missions, juxtaposed against the silence on severe labor violations elsewhere, underscores broader geopolitical and economic considerations that influence how and where human rights concerns are prioritized on the global stage.

Did I post this reply and forget I did? Hehehe.

Well said!