For the record there are Black Mexicans, who are descendants of slaves. Some were brought by force from Africa as was done in the Caribbean and America and others migrated to Mexico after slavery was abolished. But the 20,000 murder rate was mentioned to indicate how bad things can get when they get out of control. And while the massive murders may have started from the war on drugs or the failed war on drugs, the drug trade is still flourishing and the motive to kill in Mexico is 'for any reason.' Many persons are being killed because they are trying to avoid the gangs and the drug cartels and refusing to participate in their activities. Others are being killed and then having their full face removed form their skulls and shipped to family members and rival gangs just because they are friends or family of known gang members or drug lords.

Do I not have a right to express my opinion just ;iike you do? Or do I needs your permission massa?

If one was to calculate the man hours trying to police and control marijuana over the decades of "The War on Drugs", the figures might be more than staggering. But with the full legalization of marijuana, will this be a cure all and end all to the long fought battle against this drug or will it be the opening of another can of worms as well? For example there are very strong cocaine producing countries that will, no doubt, fight for the legalization or at least decriminalization of their more powerful and dangerous drugs. And of course, the legalization of marijuana will make it more available and less expensive. Will this lead to unforeseen problems. And what about those currently serving time for possession have their sentences committed to "time served". and will criminal records for marijuana be expunged or will there be a footnote to remind that'marijuana is now legal.' In any event the Bahamas need not hop on any bus or plane to speed up the full legalization of weed. A great portion of it will be automatic. And a monitor as you go policy will be better than enacting laws that may become detrimental.

It may not be the 41/2 increase in VAT that is responsible for the fall off in the sale of Independence paraphernalia as much as it is a common dissatisfaction amongst Bahamians. Many find themselves NOT in a celebration mode because many of the issues and concerns they thought would’ve fallen away with the change in government are still on the front burner today. And many Bahamians find that their financial independence is being eroded away minute by minute, Day by day. Food prices continue to skyrocket and even though a barrel of oil is still around $70, gas prices are back up over $5.00 a gallon. And crime is still out of control. Young men are losing their lives same as before and the level of personal and property safety in the country is in question. So many Bahamians are asking ‘So what is there to celebrate?’ But some will have a change of spirit even at the last hour and find the mood and yes, the money to celebrate the country’s 45th Independence.

Is it a coincidence that Every single country that has a high population of descendants of slaves are going through the exact same crisis that Porcupine describes in his letter and that is so clealy so evident in The Bahamas today. Starting with the largest population in Brazil to the Blacks in America and there's Venezuela and Jamaica and Haiti and Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago. And Cuba and Mexico..Over 20,000 twenty thousand murders in MEXICO this year already! High incidence of crime and especially murder, economic disarray, increased taxatiobn and decreasing standard or quality of life, increased poverty, high incidence of illness and disease, the deterioration of the family nucleus and society by extension and moral decay. What Independence? As one popular minister puts it "If you're Black, you already dead, at least spiritually," Can these dry bones live?

So are there any other events scheduled for the National Stadium this year? AnY? Junior Junkanno has been moved right. So the maintenance and management of this underused stadium will cost the government over a million for the next six months. Not to mention depreciation. So government will still have to spend half ot what it costs to put on the World Relays on the stadium in any event. So even if it sponsored the event and gave every Bahamian that attended a discounted ticket, iy would be financially in a better position than cancelling the event, all things considered. But wait. Maybe they can move the Post Office to the stadium. Each empty seat can be a post box and general mail can be collected at the concession stand!

Government raised VAY by 4.5% or some sixty two percent. Close to being doubled. So you are saying that despite the fact that government will collect several billion from VAT during the remainder of their term in office, they could not cough up $5 million to stage a world recognized international event? Even if they were to cancel future events they should host this one that they have already committed to. And anyone who says this event was poorly attended must be blind sighted or a pathetic liar. And while the profitability of the event may be questionable , the spinoff and future benefits from the event are unquestionable. Especially is there is truth to the government’s claim that the country has turned the country, economically and they need events and activities to stimulate the economy and cause it to grow even more. Not forgetting that other Caribbean countries that may have been in competition to host the event are still recovering from hurricane damage.

Anyone following the 12 young football players along with their coach, trapped in a flooded cave almost a quarter mile underground ? FOUR has been rescued thus far and a rescue worker lost his life? Questions How did they get so far underground and in a flooded cave? And how did they get found so far underground and behind flooded caves?

A few years ago I witnessed a family member who had cancer. The doctors told her that several treatments of chemo and would make her ok. So she went for the chemo and went back and back again until she realized that they were giving her way beyond the doses they had originally agreed. She questioned the doctors but they were nonchalant and told her to continue taking the treatment. So the family decided it would be in the best interest to seek another opinion. So they consulted another doctor who told the family ‘member ‘Yes it is that bad. The cancer has spread throughout your body and within weeks your vital organs will start shutting down. It will be painful and the only thing I can recommend at this time (off the record) is to smoke some marijuana to help with the pain and to help cope with the situation mentally. Well this family member hit the roof! ‘You mean to tell me after all them years I spend chasing my nephews and cousins from around this house smoking ‘weed’, the doctor gonna now tell me that I could light up a joint to feel better knowing that I will be dead soon? Well she never lit up a joint but went through the last days of her life in peaceful tranquility that could not be offered by any earthly being. Even as she took her last breath she was giving instructions on her funeral and who she wanted to take custody of her children. May God continue to rest her soul as she sleeps in the bosom of Abraham.

The forecasters are calling it ‘Tiny Beryl ‘ because it is not a very big storm in terms of size. But this can cause it to move more rapidly and cause damage similar to that of a tornado where it makes landfall. And so yes it is good advice to monitor the storm closely.