They say the most difficult time in a person's life is when they find out there's a hit on their life. They are to afraid to go to the police or even if they go they are usually not taken seriously. They want to tell their family but can't find the right time, and the one or two persons who may know what's going on are too afraid it too helpless to help. Then the media paints them as lawless criminals! May God have mercy on their souls,,,amen.

In defense of B. J . Nottage: he is from an era where not only did most persons not even see a gun, but they never heard gunshots much less hear of Bahamians killing Bahamians as what is happening today. It is difficult to fathom. But we, as a nation, must question why even those who came before BJ did not take swift and decisive action against thieves and murderers. Our bible says that "thieves and murdeters have come to kill and to destroy and they MUST be taken out of society ". BJ has spent most of his life in public service. I suggest the prime minister give him a less difficult portfolio so the elder statesman can retire in and with dignity. Just don't put Keith bell as his replacement.

The minister of national security needs to bring in sociologists and criminologists to find out why young men not only feel the need to arm themselves but also to kill persons who offend them or who they feel are a threat to them. Speaking to someone about this murder problem, their insight is that a lot of young men in this country (New Providence mostly) are like dominoes lined off in a row, just waiting to fall. Some know when there is a hit out on their lives, and even though some may go to the police and ask for protection, it is just a matter of time before they are gunned down. Others just get tired of taking caution and eventually they meet their fate. In some instances, some young men are not aware that there may be a plot out to take their life. Lets say that someone's brother or best friend is murdered. Persons close to the one who is responsible will start to spread rumors that the brother or the friend is planning to take revenge. So the killer must now go after them because he feels they are a threat to him. And so in these instances these persons are innocent and gunned down in cold blood. This action leads to even more retaliation and so the battle goes on, the murder count increases and even more persons become ensnarled in the 'domino effect" of murder. These type of killings account for the majority happening in this country.

Seems like we will barely get rain from Erika as it has moved west over Cuba and heading to tampa/Jacksonville area..The storm has also weakened.. but other changes are possible.

FOUR places making money on the storm: food stores, water depots, gas stations and web shops

Good News and Bad news. Sometimes the outer bands do more damage than when the storm passes directly over. And the Bahamas will feel the effects of the Northeast quadrant which has the strongest winds. On the current course Grand Bahama and Abaco will be least affected by the storm. Freeport can least stand a storm right now.

The recent shift to the west has taken most of the Bahamas out of the direct path of Erika and hopefully Grand Bahama will be spared. This seems one of the islands of the Bahamas least able to suffer from a storm at this time as it still hasn't fully recovered from the last ones.

So who is responsible for securing the Bah Mar property for the approaching storm?..not the political one

The fuel savings alone from BEC and gas imports should have been enough alone to stimulate and jump start the economy, but it was never passed down to businesses or on to consumers. The worst thing that can happen now is another recession, when the average person has exhausted all of his/her savings and is still playing catch up with mortgages and other significant bills.

Don't get blindsided into believing that Bah Mar alone is the reason for the credit downgrade. Just look at what's going on around the world with Greece and China and even with the U.S. Economy. Retailers are complaining that even with lower gas and utility prices there has been no significant growth in sales as was expected. I phone sales are off by almost 50 percent and walmart and Target says sales are flat. Here in the Bahamas businesses and consumers have had to swallow the greatest among of tax increases in recent times and despite slowing sales, the cost of doing business and the ease of doing business continues to be challenged. The fallout from the 40 percent rise in the minimum wage is yet to be felt and the legalization of web shops while creating significant employment, has caused other problems in the economy, at least in the short term.