When Belinda talks about solidarity it never applies to any effort on her part to support out of contract long serving expat teachers being given a teachers pension This is discrimination Mrs Wilson, not solidarity. Upon retirement an expat doing the exactly the same job as my Bahamian colleagues will retire with no teachers pension just a national insurance pension. Mrs Wilson and all Bahamian teachers need to realise that should they decide to teach abroad in the USA or UK they would immediately be entitled to the benefits given to citizens of that country and this word 'solidarity' in the BUT means nothing.. The 15% gratuity for expats is in lieu of pension during the contract period ceases as soon as they start on month to month terms.In essence if an expat works for a further 30 years after his last contract , he is doing the same work but for less financial benefit of his Bahamian colleagues. It seems that solidarity only extends to paying the same dues as my Bahamian colleagues. Mrs Wilson, talk is cheap.

Several years ago HACE held very successful blood drives twice yearly in Governors Harbour. Mr Everette Miller of the blood bank (sadly deceased) was always enthusiastic in organising the logistics of these visits. As a regular event there was loyal support from local Bahamians, winter residents and in particular students from GHHS. In fact it was absolutely no problem to get 12th grade students to donate to the point where many continued to give when they left school and lived in Nassau. No incentive was given to these students although on occasion they would be given a $5 phone card. Normally we would send between 60 and as high as 90 pints from this two day event. Unfortunately many eligible adults despite being asked would give all sorts of excuses not to donate, but suddenly when it was a loved one in dire need they would fly to Nassau and donate.
In essence given someone who wishes to take the lead and hold these events on a regular basis especially with young adults , would find no trouble in getting donations. If we could get a minimum of 15 -20 students to give from a small high school like GHHS just think what could be obtained from the public and private schools in Nassau and other family islands. It is no good making public requests and whilst that will get some donors it is much more beneficial to take these blood drives out into the community. So many give every excuse in the book not to donate but when faced with the stark reality of a loved one in dire need of blood , will donate. Donating is quick, easy, beneficial to your health and none of us never know when we will be in the same situation as the poor young lady that recently died in PMH>

For years teachers have been victimised and moved at the whim of a poorly trained lacking in people management skills principals often leaving family island teaching posts vacant. We hear all these speeches about our "little darlings" when in reality good teachers are moved, fired on the sacrificial alter of a vindictive principal who cares more about total domination of staff and getting a power kick. The ACR is often used as a weapon and Mrs Wilson does little or nothing to support these teachers. Take Rock Sound in Eleuthera, woodwork teacher moved years ago, never replaced., The last Director of education, Mr Lional Sands told many teachers that they were needed (especially in the practical areas) and could be rehired after 65. Rarely happened and departments were left empty on the basis of no teacher was better than rehiring an experienced retired teacher.

Being involved is a lot easier if you are earning $20-$40000 pa than $12000. In the UK the threshold is £12600 before you pay tax at 20% and VAT is 20% for everyone.

Is this some home trained, home promoted so called religious bigot , because it is hard to believe any person religious or not advocates this primitive belief. Women have a perfect right to use their body as they wish. Granted a caring wife will often try to please her husband even if not in the mood but she has every right to say no if shevso chooses. If this idiot is married I feel so sorry for his wife.

when Andrew hit Eleuthera, the first ships and crew to arrive were from the UK
and a British infantry contingent flew in from Belize.

Here we go again, blaming the Queen for our failures. Almost 50 years of independance and you still want help. Our Governor General is selected by our leaders and simply rubber stamped by the Queen, and how on earth you can blame the Queen for the state of our country after 49 years of managing our ownbaffairs is mind boggling.

I know of one case on a family island where the wife refused sex to her husband unless he went with her to church every Sunday. That's sexual blackmail.

Where to start. You have on one island a District Superintendent who was a lousy classroom teacher, with poor BGCSE exam results yet was rapidly promoted. You have new principals who are sometimes promoted because of their charm/gift of the gab or political affiliation. You have successful practical courses shut down because lack of teachers or hiring Cubans with absolutely NO experience of teaching that subject or have difficulty speaking clear english. You have a union leader who preaches the big talk about salaries, working conditions etc (valid issues) but rarely personally defends a competent teacher wrongfully dismissed or transferred. New inexperienced principals in some case promoted with absolutely no man management skills and rule by dictate rather than consultation with experienced staff which of course leads to a fractured staff. Some of these principals exert their power by getting rid of staff that don't fit their plan or are not subservient to their every whim and order. Many many good young Bahamian teachers out there who will never be promoted. As for a teacher getting excellent exam results and participating in all extra school activities, just a waste of time at the end of the day from a career advancement point of view. The ACR is often wielded by vindictive principals as a weapon over teachers. Having said all that there are many, many teachers who strive to get their best from students and many good principals. Time for teachers to complete an ACR on their principal and all these Ministry of Ed staff.

Once had a bill at PMH and went to accounts to pay it. Lady eventually traced outstanding account and was taken aback that someone wanted to pay their bill.. Second time as an inpatient , went private. What a total disgrace. Room with AC directed at bed, unable to turn off. No way of turning bedside light or any light for that matter on or off from bed, Shower dirty inoperative-was given a jug of hot water. Sink leaked. Milk on cereal sour on both occasions. Staff heard laughing and talking down corridor, NEVER came to check on me. Asthma attack early hours of morning and must have got the dumbest nurse in creation who would not believe me. After gasping for breath and my wife pleading the doctor on duty was called and immediately put me on inhaled medication.
To be fair, it is beyond the ability for the working nurses to effect changes at the physical building level but it was an experience never to be repeated. Of course the politicians never get subjected to this deplorable state of public medicine.