The first step to fixing a lot of these problems is real complete accessible freedom of information. Every government dollar spent should be accounted for and posted publically for all to easily see how the money is being used (wages, contracts, service orders, expenses, etc.) Why do we accept government secrecy? We don't have a need for secrecy, we are not developing secret weapons of war or cutting-edge advanced technologies. Government secrecy benefits a very small group and harms the average Bahamian's quality of life.

Exactly. They cook the food but don't want to eat it and wouldn't serve it to their loved ones. Slop for us five-star restaurants for them.

Agreed. It goes against the spirit of the event.

Well said

The first part of my previous post is sarcastic and absurd on purpose.

Yes, We should only listen to Bahamian music like "Who let the dogs out". This will produce intelligent Bahamians with integrity.

Step aside and let the people vote with their wallets.

They're doing great. I got my passport renewed 1 week after applying in 2024. The government should celebrate and promote this so that other agencies see that performance is noticed, appreciated, and rewarded.

Bahamians just like to complain. What are they comparing BahamasAir to? What are their expectations and is it reasonable?

For example: a round-trip flight from NAS to Miami in January is $390 with BahamasAir. The next closest and equivalent aircraft is JetBlue which is 17% higher cost and doesn't offer the same services as BahamasAir because JetBlue is a low-cost carrier business model meaning they charge for everything. So JetBlue only allows 2-checked bags per passenger at an additional $60 each. No complimentary inflight refreshments (even basic drinks or snacks).

So the actual next closest equivalent to BahamasAir is American Airlines whose ticket price is double BahamasAir. So what are people complaining about? We are blessed. We have an airline that is culturally Bahamian. Otherwise, you can go pay double the price and complain to some American who thinks you're weird trying to bring 5 oversized bags weighing +100lbs and they don't care because it's not their job nor do they relate to Bahamians. You take the good with the bad. BahamasAir is more on time than the average Bahamian.

And when crap hits the fan like COVID we have a national airline that can bring our people back home.

God bless our airline and I hope they pay our citizens more so they can raise their Bahamian families and spend money at Bahamian businesses (of course lots will go to the USA too).

The purpose of government companies is not to make a profit, and that's okay. The purpose is more to offer a service to the public, infrastructure for the economy, and jobs. Profits come from a company charging more for something than it costs. Do we want our government to do that? Because they can. The government can double electricity prices tomorrow. They could put tolls on every road and increase taxes on fuel. Roll in the profits, and increase politician compensation while the Bahamians fall further into destitution. Do you think a private company cares about the public well well-being? Their goal is to maximize profits only. Any efficiency and perceived 'better management' doesn't go to the public. They want to find the highest willingness to pay they can get away with before another company steals their customers. And if there are only a few competitors they just collude together to raise prices.

As much as Bahamas Air disappoints, I wouldn't want to see it go and I don't think most Bahmians realize how blessed we are to have a national airline. When the only options are corporate for-profit airlines then prices will rise and we'll start seeing various consumer-unfriendly practices like variable pricing, tiers, no complementary baggage (even in cabin) etc. Prices will rise, and routes to family islands without profitable passenger volumes will be removed.

Bahamas Air adds to the competition, I'd rather the government own and subsidize them than have to do the same for private airlines. We don't have the population to create a truly competitive market (if such a thing really exists).

For example, Canada has a population of +40 million, and multiple times per year private companies 'shakedown' the government for money, reduced regulations, tax breaks, etc. And the workers and public see no benefit, it goes to the owners, executives, and shareholders. They threaten that the company will otherwise go out of business and people will lose jobs and the public will lose the services (even the grocery stores). Canadian companies that were once public but later privatized include Air Canada, Telus, Petro-Canada, etc., and every province's utility was once publically owned (telecommunications, electricity, water).

None of this was good for the public in the long run. One of the provinces still has public telecommunications and telephone plans in that province are 50% cheaper even the for-profit private telecoms operating in that province compared to the same services those same private companies charge in provinces without a public company competing against them.