The Caribbean and Bahamas(Caricom) must not only speak with one voice but these countries must unite in becoming less dependent on the United States for food and other basic necessities. Most of these countries were more food producers before the 1980’s when illegal drugs and tourism invaded the shores and caused many to abandon the fields for an ‘easier ‘ life. The thing about Donald Trump is he doesn’t believe in masking his feelings or not expressing his thoughts. And the unfortunate thing is that while Trump’s thoughts and feelings may not be reflective of most of America, it is a reflection of many who hold power in that country. Remember they said Black Americans were only 2/3 a human being and used this description to deny them the right to vote. It wasn’t by accident that they kept the slave trade going for over 400 years and even after the abolishment black people still spent over 100 years in the US being treated like dogs and fighting for equality. So Trumps words is the sounding of the trumpet. A call not to seek retaliation. But to find strength in numbers and become distant and independent of the former slave masters who apparently are still bitter, even the rich and powerful ones.

Illicit activities vs a place being unsafe. For sure there was a serious problem in the area just south of the PI old bridge when tourists seeking to buy drugs were baited to go in that area behind the web shop complex and robbed. Others may have been seriously injured and at least one male visitor lost his life when trying to stop a robbery. If the Arawak Cay Committee knows of this problem developing in their area, it is just as much in their interest to help to stamp it out. As simple as installing security cameras in areas where these activities are known to take place then passing the footage on to the police. Then the police can move in on the suspects. But demand also draws supply and at least if tourists coming to the Cay looking for drugs realize they will be arrested along with their suppliers then the activities will move elsewhere. Rather than turning Arawak Cay into a haven known for drugs.

Ashley stop letting your ignorance show. Happy Martin Luther King Day... our equilivant to Majorly Rule Day.

> As much as you guys may hate FRED it
> changes no fact - he is correct.

Its not about anyone hating on FWRED!. He is WRONG and so are you. WRong.. Fwreddy is using any and every opportunity to get his fat face in the press. He is desperately trying to rebuild his political career that crashed in May of 2017, and he is trying to earn brownie points for his party that, too, has been tarred and feathered. Rejected wholesale by the Bahamian electorate. But can you respect someone who is willing to use something as serious as crime to his advantage?

Keep Martin Luther King’s dream alive : ‘ I saw little black boys holding hands with little white girls’. And there is your problem lol

sheeprunner...

Bahamians are good ambassadors. There are thousands of them away in US colleges and elsewhere and few get into problems beyond the ‘things that college kids do.’ In fact many continue to live abroad with successful careers and new families. And it is when you talk to the children and grandchildren of these Bahamians you learn that their passion for the Bahamas is beyond being just an ambassador. Many want to return home and fix those things that caused their parents to leave. And if the state department has reports about incidents that occurred at the Fish Fry the the police claim they know nothing about then it is only common decency for them to pass that information on to the police. And remember too there’s more than one Fish Fry in the country. There’s maybe two in Grand Bahama, Eleuthera has one that is very popular with tourists and Cat Islands Exuma and Abaco has Fish Fries that all at some point are the center of the islands’ activities at some point at the other. So are the problems just exclusive to the Fry in Nassau or is there a general problem.

*Emphasis*Fred Mitchel must have skipped math class. If one would total the number of murders that occurred from November 01, 2017 to present, the total is more than 50% *less* than the number that occurred in the same period in the years prior. And that is despite the three murders that occurred in Freeport. In fact those three are the only murders that occurred in the country in the new year, and half the month of January has passed. And yes, there has been a spike in arm robberies and car thefts and other crimes. But as the police continue in their efforts to dismantle gangs and flush out their leaders and gang members, who they feel are responsible for much of the violent crime, these individuals are themselves committing crimes. And if you study the numbers even closer the period mentioned already is one recording the lowest number of murders in at least five years. And Fred knows crime will not disappear overnight. there has to be a long and sustained effort. A multi-pronged approach, not only by the police, but all hands must be on deck.. former politicians even. But eventually they too, will be caught and sent to prison, or curb their criminal activity. Then one also must question the patriotism of Fred Mitchel, who will use the obviously biased travel alerts by the US Embassy. The state department has been putting out these alerts since Fred Mitchel was a radical politician burning effigies of Sir Lynden Pindling, A.D. Hanna and others on Fort Charlotte and whipping "guy fawekes" built to look like other parliamentarians. And on top of that he burnt items the country held sacred, by the country, in the country's national square. Did ole Fweedy help fuel the fire to the decades of crime and lawlessness the country is now facing, especially among its young people. Notice he attacks the policies but never offers any solutions, even when he was a sitting member of the house.

If a friend invites you to their home and you have a bad experience, be it with the food, the cleanliness of the place or the rude children, would you prefer the friend to tell you about it or would you rather to have to hear about it in some public medium. Yes it is good to keep a cordial relationship with the United States but also ask them to give more assistance in helping keep their guns, illegal ones, that help contribute to the crime and violence in this country. The guns are the major problem. There were 31 shootings on a single beach in South Florida last year, on frequented by young people and visitors from other parts of the US, so the problem is not exclusive to the Bahamas. And Miami Beach got to the point of contemplating completely banning the sale of alcohol on the strip completely or, at least discontinuing the sale after certain hours. And it is not always about crime and violence but loud, disruptive and unruly behavior. Especially among young people. And since the problem is common to both countries then the common sense thing to do would be to work together and seek resolutions. Make gun smuggling a major priority among the police crime fighting efforst and the penalty for it, especially gun smuggling by foreigners, a very heavy one.

Maybe (The Bahamas Government) should be so kind to the Haitians in the Bahamas as Florida was to blacks and Bahamian and Caribbean migrants in Overtown, formerly called Colored Town. Many went to Florida to work on the railway and take other manual jobs that were available. The city grew and became a thriving success much to the envy of the jealous white folk, who decided to build a highway right down the center of the settlement.
.
."Longtime Overtown residents and Miami historians will both tell you that highway overpasses destroyed the neighborhood. The formerly segregated community, which used to be called "Colored Town," was full of renowned clubs, brightly colored homes, churches, and a thriving mix of Caribbean and African cultures that played itself out in city streets each day.

Until local officials drove a bevy of highway overpasses through the dead-center of the neighborhood in a move that shuttered businesses and bottomed-out home values almost overnight. The area never recovered.'

The city never recovered (just like the French did to Haiti) and is one of the poorest slums in South Florida even today."

.
"Given that history, it's quite odd that All Aboard Florida, which is trying to build a privately run train line from Orlando to Miami, would plunk a huge wall right between Overtown and the rest of downtown Miami. The multistory wall, which is still under construction, stretches down NW First Avenue from the I-395 overpass to the corner of NW Eighth Street. (The wall will eventually end around NW Third Street.) One break in the barrier, along NW 11th Street, is just a few hundred feet from the city's famous clubs, like Space and E11even. A few splotches of graffiti have been sprayed along the wall already.

"It’s crazy," longtime Overtown activist Edduard Prince tells New Times. "They’re destroying the community."

The wall is popping up right as negotiations for soccer star David Beckham's plans to build a huge stadium in Overtown are coming to a head. Last night, the city held a meeting to discuss the athlete's vision of a gleaming stadium in one of Miami's poorest communities — and residents were not universally pleased." Posted May 18, 2017...imagine what the stadium would do. or was it just a diversion.