Rather than digging up people grave, maybe the government should only seek to bestow awards on people who are alive to receive them. That way the living can judge the living and determine if they are worthy of the award.

@licks2: Maybe you can tell what part of the post you are having trouble with so I can help you with your problem.

Many seem to forget that BPL has been under foreign management for at last five years. So what has that foreign company done in five years to enhance and improve BPL/BEC for sure they have created a large 'dump bin' to terminate and get rid of most of BPL's experienced and senior staff. And yes many are receiving hefty and handsome packages after many years with the company. But what then will be BPL's next move? To load the company with foreign workers under the pretense that it cannot find qualified Bahamian workers? And if the equipment is soo old and antiquated why have no major units been replaced after five years. Is it easier to replace qualified people than it is to replace old equipment?

The removal of customs duties in favor of VAT may not be a bad idea in helping to curb or stamp out smuggling. Unlike customs duties, VAT checks itself at the end of the cycle. So if you are only importing one hundred cases of beer but selling 300 cases, then you have to give an account of where you are getting the other 200 cases from. And if you are only reporting 100 cases in sales but wholesale merchants claim they are selling you 200 cases, again you must explain where the other 100 cases went. Our borders are porous and smuggling will always be difficult to control, even from the time of the rum runners.

So basically what is being said is that Pop Symnonette was the Pablo Escobar of the Rum running Era. He was doing nothing more with rum than Samuel 'Ninety' Knowles or Austin "Ossie" Knowles or Sean Issacs was doing with drugs. And even more than Sebas Bastian or Criag Flowers were doing when numbers were illegal. But the country (current government) sees the need to bestow the highest honors on this man. Not let the dead rest in peace. And so this is not new and should not upset or shock anyone. After all, one of the most notorious pirates of the time was asked to clean up his act, and even without polish, he was made governor of these islands. Same shift, different day. Many do not know that two of the most celebrated presidents of the United States (prior to Barak Obama) lost their lives for illegal drugs. And in those cases they were elected to shut down international drug operations their father had started but had now grown out of control. That was in the 60's. And today illicit drugs is a multi-trillion business. The Bahamas is still listed as a narco-trafficking state even as most of the proclaimed drug lords of the current era are either dead or in jail. None being left to become premier or prime minister even...no sir!

When was the last time churches increased their tithes from 10%? Ok then!

So when is the window dressing going to stop and some real upgrades be done to the power company? Like at least one new, energy efficient generator.

"A pat on the back is only a few vertebrae removed from a kick in the pants, but is miles ahead in results."

"People always clap for the wrong things".

J.D. SalingerElla Wheeler Wilcox

When one goes into a disaster or depressed area with attempts to recover or rebuild it, the first order of business would be to throw a lifeline and try to salvage as many businesses as possible. That is to avoid too many outsiders coming in to take advantage of the concessions, only to pack up and leave when the incentives end. So you work with the normal residents as much as possible to get them regularised and up-to-date on paying their taxes and other business fees. Of course this will not happen overnight because many of these people have been operating on a negative income for near a decade and their homestead may be in even worse condition than the business, being without water and electricity and even a proper, hurricane safe structure. Many politicians have ducked and dodged the issue of bringing hope and relief to the inner cities because it is an intense and expensive exercise that will not yield results overnight. But many will be watching closely to monitor the progress.

For a man who spends Hundreds of Thousands annually advertising and promoting his own businesses, one can only assume D'Aguilar is towing the party when he says the benefits from these events are questionable. But if his government believes they are too expensive then they have to act according to their principles. D'Aguliar also promised to end subsidies to cruise ships also and hopefully this will be more beneficial to the country as one cannot justify the government having to pay cruise ships to bring passengers here.