"i know i would not want to live in a country where criticizing the rulers may well put you in jail."
You mean the US?

Does anyone not see what is coming?
More studies, with less funding?
More meetings with politicians.
More time discussing "what must be done".
And then a simple well-placed campaign contribution, or donation to BNT, or a cost-of-doing-business fine, and that will be the end of it.
When has this not happened before in Bahamian history?
Cruise ships are wrong for The Bahamas.
Isn't this the starting point?

Mr. Sanders, what a great perspective and a great article.
However, you made one statement with which I feel needs discussion. You say, "caricom countries share with the US a fundamental commitment to democracy. They also hold dear another value shared with the US - true self-determination."
Study after academic study shows conclusively that there is little to no democracy in the USA.
From money in politics, to the will of the people, democracy does not exist in the US. A vote every 2 or 4 years does not constitute a democracy, just because they say so.
Here's a simple one. Nearly 70% of the American people want Medicare for All. Where is the democratic expression of this simple issue in US politics today?
The rich choose who are on the ballot, and then who actually gets into office.
The USA is not democratic, and they certainly do not believe in self determination, except for themselves. This had been adequately proven by history.
I am happy to provide details.
Otherwise, in regards to the anti-democratic, unChristian, and truly horrific treatment of Cuba by the US, you are absolutely spot on.
Thank you Mr. Sanders

There is an answer.
From day one, had we been working on securing a rapid test, we could have demanded that all people coming to The Bahamas be tested upon entering this country. If they are positive, they go home. If they test negative, have fun and no quarantine, I mean Vacation in Place. The lag time in testing, to receiving the results to then be entering our country is a failure of efficacy, a failure to protect our people, and a failure of intelligent reasoning. Yes, perhaps it is a bit more costly. Is it more costly than the paperwork presently in place? More costly than the loss of our entire economy? More costly than the ridiculous advertising campaign now proposed by our tourism boss? More costly? No! Test people when they come to our shores. No exceptions.

Love it Clamshell.
Oh, but they're out there.

We continue to believe that The Environment is something outside of our main goals.
It should be clear that the environment must be Number 1 in all of our endeavors.
There is nothing that humans do that does not depend on a healthy environment. Those who have studied this issue understand this. Without life, there is no hope. And without a healthy environment, there is no life.
We have failed here, and globally, to instill in our societies the basic understanding of what should come first in our political, educational, business and religious endeavors.
We have spent our time chasing money, instead of the health and welfare of us and our fellow species on this planet. Until this changes, nothing else can change.

So yeah, great job on "discovering" the damage done to our seabed. As if, this only started last week.
How about a complete ban on the export of conch?
How about a national plan to switch the whole country to renewables?
How about a national campaign to lead the world in climate change awareness?
How about getting AUTEC out of Bahamian waters?
How about getting a serious Green party to challenge our short term vision-less politicians who win year after year, seeking only for themselves, money, pensions, and power?
How about a national campaign to bring our kids into the fold with the education needed to carry them into this century?
We can't keep operating our country as if it is last century. Our kids will soon be paying the price for our lack of planning and irresponsible borrowing. Well, that's not entirely true. We are all already paying the price for this lack of intelligent leadership, aren't we?

Hey concerned,
You are right. However, as a national strategy, it truly seems that the "environment" is always the last consideration, instead of the clear necessity of being first. There is a nexus of denial, from political leaders, from business, from our misreading of the bible, that keeps us locked into denial and ignorance. The damage being done to our nation has not started with the anchoring now spoken of. It has been going on for decades. We have just turned a blind eye to it. Every one of our own fishing vessels throws their garbage into our waters. All of it. The only discussion around oil drilling seems to be over how much money in the short term it will contribute to the Sovereign Wealth Fund, As if, people actually believe we are not gambling with our entire future, soley to make a handful of people rich, The Bahamian people will see nothing of it. That money will not even put a dent into the million dollars a day that this country spends on interest alone, on the loans already taken out by our politicians. Our politicians, just like our business people, live for the day. Their idea of the future is next year, not next decade or next century. As a nation, it is clear we do not feel looking ahead matters. Isn't this true?
Yet, more importantly, our environmental regulators have remained silent on the vast majority of things which Must be done to insure a healthy community. Our environment is not some "other" thing, apart from business and our daily lives. The health of our people is directly tied to the health of our environment.
Were we truly serious about environmental issues and the future of The Bahamas we would have taken a strong stand against drilling for oil. Not just for us, but for the health of our planet. It amazes me that some people still don't get this, and can remain silent. Do you not think Romauld reads the same things we do regarding the burning of fossil fuels? And yet, because he is a politician he will not grow the balls to say, "Absolutely Not" to drilling for oil in Bahamian waters. These are only a few examples of how we are killing our country, our world, by a thousand small cuts. It may be too late practically. It seems too late to educate our populace on the necessities of a clean environment, if only by looking around and being honest about our summation of antisocial behaviour.

Exactly right.

And, so we see the descent of all countries, where ignorance rules and morality, decency and honesty have no place in society