So what does the hibiscus represent. Did the artist have to go into hiding?

When reality sets in, this country will, without doubt, set a new murder record this year. The saddest of this reality is that when you tear the last page for December, 2015, off the calendar, that will not be an end to the gruesome, out-of-control murder story. No one has a magic button to press to end the killings on December 31, and whatever the number of murders are on December 31, the trend will spill into January 2016. And if nothing is done and if nothing is done swiftly, the situation will get worse. Killers are growing bolder, becoming almost fearless and the frequency of murder is increasing at an increasing rate.. The fact is that measures taken to curb killings are not working as the records reflect.

Hitler built gas chambers and incinerators to get rid of persons he despised. If you were not blonde haired and blue eyed, that was your fate. Then come closer to home and do the research on how some towns in South Florida, Key West and other States were developed. Many Bahamians migrated to these areas, squatted and were instrumental in developing these township. Some, like OverTown and Carol City became o successful, the then white, racist government decided to run highways through the middle of these cities virtually destroying them, devaluing the property and turning them into ghettos, that still exist today. Fortunately places like Coconut Grove, which has a rich Bahamian heritage, survived and is still home to generations of Bahamians and Bahamian festival like goombay.

Money and other resources that could have gone to help the Southern Islands will now have to go to assist them.

The fact is 8 million people had to flee their oil-rich countries and become refugees in strange lands while IsIs plans to sell off their oil and pocket the cash, or set the oil fields on fire if they are chased out.

Squatting is as old as the bible. And while no one has issue with government dismantling the shanty towns. It just has to be done in a more humane and systematic fashion. Parts of this island have been flooding at least for the past six weeks. This weekend was probably the worst. When you take the little possessions poor people have and put them out in the rain to be stolen or destroyed are you not creating an even bigger problem? Because when these people eventually find a place to stay they no longer have a bed, a fridge, a stove, or even clothing. They may also have lost their dignity, so they are now angry and so society pays. While some of the homes in Bain and Grants Town may be legal, some are in worse conditions than the Shanty Towns. There is no water, no light, the roof may be ready to fall in and in some plywood placed on the ground serves as the floor. This is a sign of desperation. Poor people will always be around and so will immigrants. Over eight million people had to flee their homes in Iraq and Syria because of the war. Many travelled hundreds of miles on foot to seek refuge in Europe. They had to leave all their worldly possessions behind and only had hope to keep them alive. They are now trying to work agreements with the US and Canada to take in some of these people. And if the effects of global warming means rising tides and coastal flooding, all of us may soon have to seek higher ground.

Part of the problem is that there is discrimination in housing. Most landlords will not knowingly rent their apartment to Haitians. Through no fault of their own. Most of these people have not been expose do to indoor plumbing and electricity and do not know how to properly maintain same. This will cost landlords additional maintenance ecpense

You missed my point completely. My point is that if the government could destroy the shanty town then tell the residents to "go to social services for whatever assistance you need". They could also have said " go to social services for whatever assistance you need". Then destroy the shanty houses. By their own admission only a few of the residents living there were illegal. Hurricanes do not discriminate on what and who they destroy of kill.

Well the people in Long Island, Crooked Island, San Salvador, etc., only wished they were given notices, and their homes were legal...need I say more? When you mistreat people, the country suffers.

The fact that is 'terrible' is when you kick people on to the streets and in to the elements. The timing was bad as half the country is recovering from hurricane damage and in need of assistance. Now you, in an instant, make another few hundred people homeless and tell them 'go to Social Services for whatever assistance you need.' Why couldn't Social Services be involved in the first instance so that it could have been a seamless transition from the illegal shanty towns to proper housing. Social Services is presently having a difficult time trying to find suitable accommodations for those persons who were evacuated from crooked Islands and parts of Long Island. Now this makes a bigger crisis.