@ Porcupine I don't know if I agree with everything you say. I really don't agree with a lot of it. In fact why are you always in that nasty habit of painting all Bahamians with the same dirty brush? What really is your problem? If everyone was crooked and had their hands in the cookie jar, like you claim, then there would not be a segment of society calling out for punishment for those who did wrong. Neither would there be persons in authority, policemen, judges, prosecutors etc., who are willing to prosecute these people. it is sickening how y'all foreign operatives come here and try to paint all Bahamians with y'all dirty brush. We have a problem and we fixing it..now go fix yours..With ya dumb self.

Is this man ever satisfied? He admits realizing a 7.5% sales growth in a depressed and declining economy and is still groaning and moaning. Other businesses have shut down. Many are on the verge of closing. Drive through some of the inner areas of New Providence and witnesses the number of people struggling to get something to eat. Their lights are off and they tote water from the government pump. Cars are a luxury to many. New cars are affordable by only a few. But in their favor many of the car companies have started importing the small Japanese cars that sell for around $5,000.00. Is that what is driving your car sales by 7.5%

The three good things The Bahamas has in its favor: (1) If Moody's does downgrade the country's credit rating, the impact will be cushioned be the current worldwide economic conditions. Many major countries have had their credit ratings downgraded. (2) The Bahamas is not known to default on loans and despite the current cash flow challenges it is maintaining its payouts with close proximity to due dates. Even if Moody is premature in its decision to downgrade the recent revelations about mismanagement of government funds amongst other things, which includes persons going to jail, will definitely give the government greater powers to manage its assets. This in turn will lead to better utilization of tax dollars and a significant decrease in the government's need to borrow. If government is also successful in stimulating the economy and generating growth and reducing unemployment, Moody's will have no choice but to issue an upgrade in short order.

Dorestte does have Haitian roots tho.

Word is that there may be one or two more persons (Chrisite government) charged in this same matter. One who was close to the VAT money.

@Porcupine: You make an assumption with a foundation. The only allegations of wrong doing against Leon Williams are those presented by the bloggers. BTC's only statement is that they wanted to move the company in a different direction (than Leon Williams was heading it). The CEO of FORD motors was fired after only one term of no sales growth. And he was the one who took the company through the restructuring process after getting bailed out by president Obama and into one of its greatest periods of profitability.

The Tribune has always been pro PLP especially in recent times. Never mind that they ate operating a media monopoly that clearly should be illegal and most defrit is not ethical

maybe Leon Williams was the one exploited. He was brought in to complete a task a foreign, *White* man could not get done. In fact after years of struggling and grasping for air, and after not getting the job done, the foreign *white* man left the Bahamas. Scandal ridden. Clutching in his fists money that had been misappropriated. BTC's money still! (street talk). Stolen? Maybe. He too, had been f i r e d after some 20 years at Cable and Wireless! At least Mr Williams completed his assignment. And his team held the competition at bay. An all Bahamian team even. Now that being done they put Leon on extended leave until they need his technical expertise again..for the third time!

Maybe you need to join Bran an go suck lemons...wholesale. Firstly Bran was rejected by the electorate. And the whipping he got the second time around was more severe than the first. Nay a single member of his party had more chance than a snowball in hell ion a summer''s day of being elected tp the government of this country. In fact neither Bran, nor anyone in his party represents the official opposition in this country. In fact, when Bran was given the opportunity to represent his party, at least in the senate, he packed his things and left early, like a school girl on prom night. Finally the government made clear why the $700 million borrowing was necessary. In fact if the previous (but Thank God no more) government had been re-elected, their borrowing would have been near close or the same as what is being borrowed by the new government, if only because of their own careless and reckless behaviour, especially in the past 12 months..so yes Bran needs to go suck lemons and maybe you needs to join him..wholesale!

1. List item

Chrisite's Photo reminds of the poem 'Elergy in a country church yard", by Thomas Gray:

"Let not Ambition mock their useful toil,
Their homely joys, and destiny obscure;
Nor Grandeur hear with a disdainful smile
The short and simple annals of the poor.

The boast of heraldry, the pomp of pow'r,
And all that beauty, all that wealth e'er gave,
Awaits alike th' inevitable hour.
The paths of glory lead but to the grave.

Nor you, ye proud, impute to these the fault,
If Mem'ry o'er their tomb no trophies raise,
Where thro' the long-drawn aisle and fretted vault
The pealing anthem swells the note of praise.

Can storied urn or animated bust
Back to its mansion call the fleeting breath?
Can Honour's voice provoke the silent dust,
Or Flatt'ry soothe the dull cold ear of Death?
*****
2. the epitaph
Here rests his head upon the lap of Earth
A youth to Fortune and to Fame unknown.
Fair Science frown'd not on his humble birth,
And Melancholy mark'd him for her own.

Large was his bounty, and his soul sincere,
Heav'n did a recompense as largely send:
He gave to Mis'ry all he had, a tear,
He gain'd from Heav'n ('twas all he wish'd) a friend.

No farther seek his merits to disclose,
Or draw his frailties from their dread abode,
(There they alike in trembling hope repose)
The bosom of his Father and his God.