Huh... Let this be a lesson for everyone. If you aren't getting what you want don't show up to work. This is how our private a public sectors negotiate.

When all the tourists are on boats and cruise ships they'll be enjoying the Bahamas without the Bahamians.

What percentage of tourist traffic is currently isolated from Bahamians on cruise ships, yachts, and gated communities? I don't think that's a good thing for us.

Sounds like a good idea. Or even better make a national lottery and eliminate the private number houses altogether. The proceeds of the national lottery goes to fund public programs. This is what the USA, Canada, UK and many other countries do.

From another angle.

The Columbus statue is a tourist attraction. A historical figure that many know of outside of the Bahamas. Reinstate as an attraction using money made from taxing the tourist industry.

If society has a problem with it, inform them clearly of the commercial value it has and let them vote if the loss of money is an acceptable trade-off to support permanent removal. Heck, you could probably install a plaque denouncing Columbus and tourists would still want to take pictures with the statue.

Let democracy decide.

Bravo

Columbus did take the natives back as slaves. But the point of there being other bad actors holds.

I think people in general want to make room for new historical figures who represent current societal values and inspire the desired future. Sure colonialism, slavery, piracy etc is part of Bahamian history which we should be aware of. But what figures inspire us now that we want to display in public?

If there aren't any then that's a problem. Seems like today besides politicians maybe the "number men" have had the biggest influence (most power) over the country.

There are many systemic issues. The Bahamas systems are derivative of a colonial structure of which we are officially independent. It isn't appropriate/working for us to use those systems as our foundation.

Is it reasonable to take a wheel off a car and still manage the wheel as if it's the whole car? No, you need to transform the wheel to maximize utility/potential independent of the car.

Who are your suspects? Name names

Yes, I notice it too. They select what we can share opinions on and even remove comments they don't like.

Great to see this subject being discussed. Individuals perceive things differently and finding common ground is only possible if we try to understand the spectrum of perception. To understand we must listen and respect each other and not impose objective positions on subjective matters. Move away from right and wrong and instead think “How does this make sense?”

I don't think Lincoln Bain is objectively wrong or right. I think he and his followers are a symptom of a bigger issue in the Bahamas. We should give respect to this by allowing him and his followers the right to free speech and protest. Not allow the government, police, and media to dismiss the issue. The Government should listen to their concerns and help the public understand and provide details on their approach to the problem. The Media should provide an investigation into the issue and represent all sides without prejudice. This is the purpose of these institutions. Arresting, silencing, defaming, and persecution all erode the freedom of the people. It doesn’t matter if this behaviour is from the political right or left it’s equally troubling.

What’s the far lefts equivalent to fascism?

I don't agree with this movement, but many Bahamians have feelings similar to Lincoln Bain. They have a concern, what is it and why? How does it make sense? Three points for consideration:

1) People think there’s a fixed amount of money/opportunity and the more people added to the population the less there is to go around. This is a problem in the Bahamas. Power is too centralized, and people don’t feel there’s an opportunity to create value from their means of production. You need political connections.

2) People are nationalist, insular, afraid. Which manifests in a negative way as discriminatory. We need to educate and empower our people, so that their approach is constructive and not reliant on putting other groups down.

3) Perhaps it’s a bad thing to have a system that naturally grants persons born in the Bahamas citizenship. It could be incentivizing people to make the treacherous journey to the Bahamas to give birth to a child they think will have a better life. I doubt this is a major reason for the group but it’s something worth considering.

I believe people have a right free speech and should be allowed to challenge our government.

I also believe we need immigration reform. There must be a clear process which is enforced humanely.

I also believe our government needs to be transparent with information so the people can hold them accountable.

We have many issues in the Bahamas. I for one hate being on a return flight to the Bahamas and seeing the difference between the cheerful tourists and the apathetic Bahamians. We should be sharing paradise not selling something we don’t have for ourselves.

I agree. There should have been a revolution when the people voted no and the government did it anyway.
Also, I don't know much about this Lincoln Bain fellow but it doesn't sit well with me that the government-police won't allow him a right to free speech and to stand up for what he believes in.
I'm also disappointed every time the Tribune disables comments on news articles.
These oppressive behaviours against the people in a country that claims to be democratic but from observations seem to be more of an Oligarchy which is gaslighting the uneducated masses into thinking they're free.