You may want to visit Cuba and order a "hamburger" some time. The people will not benefit from any tourist income. All the change will do is allow the govt there to buy more machine guns and listening devices to use on their people.

An income tax won't work here. If govt decides to go with it, just increase the employee % of the monthly NIB payment. NIB has the best database of Bahamians in the country (except probably any that the U.S. Embassy may have), and so there is no need to reinvent the wheel here.

Income taxes don't work in the Bah (won't work) for exactly the reason given by the previous commenter - some pay, and some don't. In the Bahamas, there is no law that applies equally to all - whether it be the most high crime law or the lowest tax offense. Because we are a small nation of "family" islands where everybody is family, it's a "who you know" and always has been.

We like to make high fines and penalties and seldom enforce them, instead of having low penalties often enforced bringing a stead stream of income. Every law in the Bahamas says "A fine not exceeding $x or a term of imprisonment not exceeding (some time) or both fine and imprisonment." It's like a stuck record. No imagination whatsoever, and everything that has a penalty risks imprisonment. With what we know about prison, it is hard to justify the national outrage at homosexuality. How do you square the two together? Homosexuality is not good, unless you steal a loaf of bread - then off you go, no problem.

Yes, investors, please go away and leave us in peace with our conch slop, and our numbered ballots. We have a D-average and are the living epitome of "Ignorance is Bliss." Don't know how to add and subtract, but man we could multiply. Muddo.

First, Trump did not say that Africa was a shit hole. He referred to "shit hole countries" around the world. You seem to imply that there are none, especially not in Africa (LOL) and then you go on to plead for assistance to Zimbabwe. Why do they need assistance? I thought everything was just fine and dandy over there.

The crazy thing about that whole "shit hole" news coverage, was that a lot of people seemed VERY upset that poor, destitute, dictatorships and others around the world should have that language applied to them. I agree the language was uncalled for and was not needed. Perhaps Trump felt that by using that language it may call attention to the plight of so many poor, horrible countries around the world and that some steps could be taken to help them, to raise them up just as he has done to every non-white race in America.

Unfortunately, nobody seemed to care that so many countries around the world truly are shitholes, but only stressed that they not be referred to as such.

It's like when a Guatemalan family is arrested by ICE in California and all the cry-baby organizations come out lamenting how terrible it is that this family will be sent back to the horrible conditions in Guatemala. but none of them seem to care about those conditions and the fact that tens of millions are living there in those conditions every day. It's as if this ONE family is all that counts. When are these cry-baby organizations going to raise the issue of terrible conditions around the world? (we have some here also).

The reality is, that they get to put pictures of these families in the papers and on their websites and thus raise tons of money for their "non-profit" organizations; all the while they really don't give a damn about human suffering. If they did, they would speak out about it. Maybe they've learned better than to raise the issue of world wide suffering, after seeing how swiftly Trump was kicked down for doing so.

The U.S. will not do anything to help us. They have stood by and watched this whole movie for the last 40 years. They are aware of our issues, the invasion taking place in Abaco, our justice system, our numbered voting ballots etc. They have the same thing over there, a pathetically unfair justice system (no lawyer? no justice), and as for ballots ... well that is now open for all who open their eyes, and they have invaders as well. The President has even been unable to deal with TikTok which is a Chinese app siphoning personal data from Americans. Even a high percentage of Americans support the App and don't want it to be banned.

It seems that both in the USA, the Bahamas, and in many places around the world, communism is preparing for a heyday. The people seem to be preferring it. This is generally what happens when the people become aware of the VAST difference in incomes and living standards between the "haves" and the "have-nots" which exists worldwide today. Bezos, Gates and the like (thousands of them who never get named) are running the show. Americans know they can't see their Congressman in person. Companies pay people to tow the line outside the Capitol Building on those days, until they get near the front and then the reps from the big companies step in and go to the meetings.

Money talks. Why would it even be worthy of mention during an election, of which Party or candidate is raising the most money? You see numerous reports about this. Of course the people know that many are persuaded by ads on television and those ads cost money. More money = more ads = more persuasion = likely win.

Now the poor are preparing to accept the minimum table scraps that Communism provides because at least under that system they will get bread if they stand in the bread line. Under the current system, without any money you get none. Witness the long lines of cars in Nassau the other day to get to the stadium for food. Bread lines. Soup kitchens. These are the poor that the new rich rulers will be ruling over. I hope they can proud of themselves at the next Interplanetary Council Meeting. They probably will be. No shame, while other planets galaxy wide are flourishing with new high living standards for their citizens.

This is a non-political situation, and I offer my condolences to the family.

Also the deafening silence from the Christian Council and the U.S. State Dept on the conditions at the prison, plays a big role in our justice system.

You make a good point, however, would it not be better overall (no matter what form it takes) to have it be clean and accessible? I like his idea of pedestrian only, but would also suggest having free trams (long golf cart like mobiles) running up and down so that tourists can get from A to B free of charge - just a tip jar near the driver (and tips not required).

Many great waitresses I have known over the years have said they have made so much more in tips in the tip not required places.

There is a lot we can do, but old lingering hatred for the white man is also a stumbling block in our path.

As I've said many times, the real losses in the Bahamas are from the proposed investments that you never even hear about. Those who consider and run or apply and run, that never make the newspapers. The high cost of electricity and many other ills that everyone knows about, but successive governments have done nothing about. The "tricks" to getting a license, that many simply will not engage in. If we had 10% of the lost investment proposed over the past 20 years, we could all have turkey for Christmas.
Let's see what happens to this Bill now before the house dealing with aragonite. I'm sure they will find some slick legal maneuver to avoid revealing the truth.

No sir. I said 'your points are accurate". Your point seems to be that people could stand to take a bit more personal responsibility and look out for themselves. We should not expect someone (esp. Government) to save us, cause if we know anything in this country, it is that that ain't gonna happen. They already crying poor mouth about they can't find no food money for January, yet they still got those multimillion dollar projects lined up. I've heard at least 3 of them so far in around June. Where those millions coming from?
You are correct, and you are correct. I have so much respect for everyone on here. Even Tal has made some wonderful comments over the last 9 months. We all know that at any time the police could demand our identities from the newspaper and any of us could experience the fish-bagging (which I often speak of) or other things first hand. Nobody would save us. Every year the USA puts out a human rights report which says all kinds of bad things about us, and yet they do nothing to help us. They still allow the ships to leave their ports stocked with lumber and supplies to build this nation of which their report speaks. Sen. Rubio speaks often about the Chinese takeover of our country, and yet .... ? What? Nothing. My hope is that Bahamians learn to obtain nourishment from talk, because that seems all we are being fed.