Be sorry for those who go there after this government and try to dig this country out ofvthis economic abyss

Even though the opposition parties may be in disarray, Christie need not blow his own horn or beat the election drums too loudly. The fact is that still many, very many Bahamians are disgruntled with Perry Christie and dissatisfied with the performance of the PLP government. The question is what choices will they make when faced with re-electing Christie and the PLP or taking their chances with a fractures opposition. Many believe that Chrisite and his government are sitting on too many dirty secrets (the dealings of Bah Mar being at the top of the list) and the only way to reveal them is to have his government removed from power. Of course that will spell the end to Christie's career in politics. As for global warming. It is more correct to call it "climate manipulation". Right now most of the USA and Canada is experiencing record low, below freezing temperatures with expectations that the winter has just started and will get worse. As more oil continues to be pumped out of the core of the earth, this will affect the climate, both because oil is placed inside to keep the earth cool and from overheating and when it is burned it heats up the atmosphere. Only economic reasons prevent major countries from switching to and using more renewable or greener energy sources. The Bahamas, for example, under the Chrisite administration is discouraging the use of solar power, and seems set on continuing to use bunker c fuel to power up the country. Bunker C is really waste material, sluge, that is being banned around the world.

The unemployment rate for New Providence is about 3 points below the national rate for the month of December. This puts the unemployment rate at 9%. This is not unusual for the month as many businesses take on extra staff for the holidays. What is unusual is that the restoration and repair works for hurricane Mathew is still going on so a lot more males are employed now that probably since the road works were completed. Also what is unusual is while temperatures remain relatively warm here, most of the US and Canada is covered under a below freezing winter blanket. So hotels are starting to see their occupancy numbers go up and some are hiring additional staff in anticipation of high occupancy in January and February. If Bah Mar starts hiring in January as promised with a partial opening in April, this should make the first quarter of 2017 very robust for the New Providence/ Paradise Island economies, with even lower unemployment numbers. And if the US economy continues to respond positively to Donald Trump's election to president, eventually some of that economic activity will start to flow into the Bahamas. The question is: Is the tourism plant ready and prepared to accommodate the additional inflow, and what additional advertising and promotions are being planned to attract more American visitors?

Eventually government is going to have to differentiate between goods being brought into the country by consumers/end users and goods being imported by licensed businesses for tax purposes. Is it fair that private persons can get exemptions and import goods into the country at the same rate as persons who have to pay business license fees, property taxes, national insurance and other fees and taxes to operate their businesses? These people also hire employees and contribute to the GDP. They have to pay two sets of VAT: one when the goods are imported and another when the goods are sold. How can the compete with someone who can bring goods in and not have to pay these taxes?

If you take a quick drive around New Providence, you will notice that with just a few days before Christmas many stores remain empty of customers but laden with inventory. But if you go to places like Mr. Ship It, Express It, even Fed Express and DHL they are bustling with business and some to the point that they can barely accommodate their customers or the merchandise they brought in for them. The same is true with Bahamasair, Jet Blue, The Mail Boat and The Betty K. Some people are spending days trying to locate and collect goods they purchased abroad either online or in person. And the local stores remain empty and unpatronized. So when January comes another set of stores will have to close, another set of employees will be terminated and government will have to cater to them through social services of national insurance. The internet has made it possible for consumers to go online and shop at the same prices that many store owners do. And now with the popularity of free shipping they can get their goods delivered to their door even for a fraction of what it costs to purchase them here. Yet government continue to pile more taxes on local businesses increasing their operating costs and causing more and more to fail and more and more Bahamians to become unemployed. And this is only the tip of the iceberg. Look at what is going on in the hotel\ tourism industry, the food and fast food business sector, the banking industry. The Bahamas has become a suitcase economy more now than ever, where too much of the money passing through the economy does not remain here. And the tax burden is disproportionate where many goods are being prepared or sold offshore and services are provided in a way to avoid taxes. So the economy continues to crumble.

Well you know both these women (Sharon Wilson and Allison Maynard-Gibson) had it in for Moncur because he wasn't too kind to them on his radio talk show. So not only did they come to the Senate with long knives for Moncur, but the knives were well sharpened. Moncur should not have exposed himself as he did and made to appear an idiot or someone undeserving of the senate post. He should have assumed an 'observer' status in the first few meetings or, at least, not tread on sacred ground so soon. But as time goes by Moncur will prove his worthiness of the appointment and make significant contributions. He will be the voice of the small man and ensure that the government remains aware of the hardship, pain and suffering that is going on in this country.

By making numbers legal and bringing it to light it is only now that you can see how many persons gamble and know the fact that local gambling is a $1 billion industry. And the horror stories abound, especially from the family islands, about fathers, wives, mothers and breadwinner of families becoming addicted to gambling and wrecking the home. And the numbers houses are becoming more powerful and more far reaching in their promotions and advertising, as the competition becomes fiercer and seducing more persons to gamble. With economic times already being tough it is the last thing some people could afford...to become addicted to gambling.

Do you know that the tough economic times and general hardship of living in the Bahamas is causing many Bahamians to move to the USA and Canada and live as illegal immigrants, or as dependents of friends and family? Some living like the Haitians they use to despise living here in the Bahamas. Living in overcrowded apartments and just barely making it. When you figure the high cost of living in this country, coupled with the near 50% cumulative taxes, young people, men especially, find it extremely difficult to move out and start their own homesteads. It is also the underlying reason than many turn to crime, drugs, shop breaking, car-jacking and even armed robbery. A genuine, legitimate job paying a new starter $210-$300 a week just is not cutting it. Consider the high costs of utilities, food bill and general living expenses. Those who are not fortunate to live home with parents or otherwise get a helping hand, sometimes find themselves without a roof over their heads or without a bed to sleep in. And some cannot deal with the reality of having children and seeing them go to bed hungry or lacking basic essentials. It makes them feel worthless as a parent, useless. Yet our government seems determined in its efforts to squeeze even more tax dollars rather than offering relief, help and hope.

Now go back and check who owns the oil/gasoline companies in this country.

Obviously all but one of the posters above did not red the article, or in the least they did not comprehend. the article clearly states that it was a teacher who was driving the bus, not a public service driver. The article also said that the teacher/driver experienced a medical condition *before* the accident, and while speed was not a factor, the bus may have accelerated before the crash.