One would hope that with some 1,000 (One Thousand) families having lost loved ones to murder in this country and many more friends, loved ones, co-workers, school mates and even church members feeling the finite sting of the untimely death of someone due to murder, that this does not be kicked around again, like a political football and so concrete solutions to the crime saga are offered. To this day Bahamians still do not know if there is a vigilante group operating in this country who are taking out young men who they deem to be " a menance to society." As late as last week this subject came up again and there were claims that police officers may be involved in these assassinations. But crime and murder is not exclusive to the Bahamas. Do you know that in Florida now whenever there is a police involved shooting, the police disciplinary board must visit the scene? Representatives from the police union along with lawyers also visit the scene, so in Florida It is not unusual to see 30-40 officers at the scene of a police shooting along with 20-30 other persons in suits and ties? That is how complicated policing has become.

What is hard to believe is that this governments term is winding down and the main thing on which they campaigned on, crime, has gone indented. If fact the murder rate has increased under their watch. But does Minnis really offer a good alternative to the current administration? It is hard core FNM's that are asking this question, not that they support the PLP and will vote for them. They do not want the election to be a case of musical chairs, where you vote one party out, only to hear the same cries years or months later. Some still feel that there is Hubert Minnis and then there is the FNM. The time is now for them to become one and the same. Speak with one voice.

Fred Smith wann kno why da police ainn call he name yet. Ya tink he itchin fer someone ta sue? Ya tink Greenslade an he boys going thru da handbook to make sure dey do erryting correct on dis one? Then they may also be reading one book on "how ta handle cactcus and not get stick" and one called "how to get shepherds needle off ya socks", too.

It is just a matter of days before the Bahamas officially enters its silly season. This means there is less than one year left before there has to be a general election. (May 7 was the last one). This will be the first election where gaming for Bahamians in the country is legal and also the first election where the road works started and carried mostly by the former government are complete. In fact many believe that it was the long lasting, seemingly unend disruption to residents and local New Providence businesses that cost that government defeat at the polls. But do you know that if Bah Mar does not fetch a buyer and begin construction within the next 3 - 4 months, chances are slim to none that it will be finished and open before the next election? Then what about National Health Insurance? It has been postponed with uncertainty as to the actual start up date and while many Bahamians are in favor of it will they get to see NHI up and running before they go to the polls? Then there is the referendum on gender equality. Many still think this is "the sissy bill" and are not prepared to support it. Others have become even more skeptical after one of the Brussels terrorist was temporarily and wrongfully linked to the Bahamas. How will the PLP fit the referendum in its rapidly closing window of opportunity. Does it still stand that if the referendum is defeated the government will lose the election? Will the government try to tie the equality bill to the general election by having both at the same time. Then leaving the results to the new government to deal with? What about campaign finance reform and Peter Nygard and Louis Bacon? Also toggie and BoBo and the misplaced QC? Then there are the dump fires and the so many roads that are beyond a state of disrepair. Will BEC be blacking out again this summer? Will the dorm at Bamsi be replaced? Did the government do enough hurricane relief for the Southern Bahamas? Then can we overlook crime and murder? This was a major plank in the present government's platform but yet a new murder record was set last year! Then what about the FNM? Are they ready ? Can they put aside all their differences and be battle ready by May 2017? And the DNA? Some say they are looking pretty especially since they are the only party not caught up in leadership issues and the Nygard-Bacon scandal and many of their candidate s have been named. What about you...are you ready for silly season? Did you go in and sign up for the purple pill ( voter's card) yet?

It would be good if it was true but this man has no creditability. None.

Speaking of dump fires: maybe they should have a bet going to say when the next one will start and double winnings to the persons who will guess how long it will burn before they put it out...then you will get the interest you need for the demonstration.

Weather it was intentional or not, this government has done more over the past four years to lead to the destruction and demise of more small and medium businesses than any other government in the history of this country And this is ***not*** a political statement. It is pure, cold hard facts. When the present government came to office, more than half the small and medium businesses were being or had been effected by the road works that were going on in New Providence. Besides that, the world was experiencing recession and near depression and economic conditions that the world had never experienced before. In fact these conditions are more long lasting than a recession and are, in fact still in effect today, some 8-9 years after they started. But the government came in and piled on tax after tax on local businesses, regulation after regulation, penalty after penalty. Most local businesses will tell you that the first three months of 2016, have been the worst in recent times. Sales are down by as much as 50%. Now while they sit in the halls of parliament and brag, yes brag, about how much money VAT has raped (not reaped) in the first year, they average Bahamian business is sitting with barely a shirt on. One business man summed it up this way; 'They are trying to make criminals out of us. It is virtually impossible to meet all the demands this government has put on us and stay in business." Government claimed they were broke and needed the money. Rather than grow the economy, they chose to tax their way out of a bad situation. This will eventually make a bad situation even worse. Very much worse. Another business owner was overheard in the bank saying that he was so far behind on property taxes, national insurance and other fees due the government, that he did not know how he was going to get his business license. This is reality. This is Bahamians who have been in business 20-30-40 years..all their adult lives now at the end of the desperation rope...and no help and hope is coming from this government. You don't have to believe this story. Just ride through Bain and Grants town and see how all, yes all the mom and pop stores have closed. Go in areas like Wulff Road and Soldier Road and Fox Hill Road and count the number of emptry stores and the number of "For Rent" signs. Go to Freeport or any other Family Island and see the same thing. The bread basket of the Bahamian economy has been wrecked, yet we wonder why it was and is so difficult for Bah Mar to open. Is the second same mistake being made at "The Pointe"? Who are the workers hidden behind the green curtain while Bahamians sit idle. Why have Bahamians been denied access to Cabbage Beach? Time to take our country back!

There are many Bahamians who are qualified to ask the question "how did we get to this?" Despite the rot and deterioration that is happening in this country, and around the world for that matter, there have been many Bahamians who have been in the trenches from day one. They have been trying to rescue this country and turn it away from the path of destruction. Some have asked, "How could the Bahamas call itself a Christian nation with all of these vices going on?" The gambling, the drugs, the casualness of sex, the destruction of the family and the lack of respect and acknowledgement of God, even by the government of the country. Well that is exactly why these things are happening. The Christ that is left in this country is under attack. The prayer warriors are under attack and the keepers of the gate have grown wary. Satan does not attack people who are doing his will. "Ephesians 6:12English Standard Version (ESV)

12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places... The saints may grow wary and cry out, how long O lord before you revenge the spilling of innocent blood.
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But God is still in control as the psalmists reminds us, "Psalm 91:1-16 ESV /

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day."

WE weep now for those who have had their lives snuffed out and who have been taken away. But weeping may endure for a night, buy joy will come with the morning light. Evil may appear to be winning, but one Day that trumpet will sound. The trumpet of the Lord will sound. Where will your soul be on The Lord's DAY? amen.

If a small vendor is selling $100 top up a day and she makes a $5 error and sends Top Up to the wrong number she has worked the entire day for nothing. She has made no profit. If she makes a mistake of more than $5 she has lost her own money and may not be able to buy top up when she runs out. Her chances are better buying numbers than selling top up.

Many Top Up vendors were hoping that the entry of Cable BahamS into the market would finally allow them to make a profit on phone cards and top up sales. With BTC,s current margin of 5 - 6% on Top Up ( the markup on most retail products is 35%), many vendors sell this product at a loss. They have to take the loss on any Top Up sent to a wrong phone number and pay all their expenses out of $5.00 they make from selling $100.00 Top Up. With many costs increasingly (minimum wage by 40%), Many stores and vendors have stopped selling BTC phone cards and Top Up after incurring frequent losses and was hoping that Cable's entry into the cell phone market would help them out. Now it appears that Cable will be a lame duck, having to rely on BTC's equipment to provide service. URCA does not seem to have the power to regulate how much margin BTC gives its vendors.