Exactly.

How do you know this, Waterman505?

Been thinking for myself for some time now. Thank you very much. I associate with fewer and fewer people as time goes on. The studies are clear. General IQ levels are declining worldwide. Never cared about onlne commenters in the least. Or, responses to my comments. Been at this a long time. Know the parable about pearls and piggies?

Precisely right happyfly. The exporters here make a few dollars, as well, however. They are the ones who are most vocal in allowing the export to continue. And, they are Bahamians, for the most part.

Mr. Rolle is not being honest, and he knows it.
When he says, "We must have discipline in ordinary times so that people would feel comfortable with extending the country credit,” Mr Rolle said, adding that the government’s ability to raise financing is based on “a belief that this country can repay this debt”. Those who are presently lending to failed states, such as ours, know they will never be paid back. They know it. They also know that the collateral and pledges made by distressed country's politicians, far exceeds the cash they have created out of thin air to hand to these politicians. Look closely at who "owns" this debt. They will soon be in control of every small country on this planet. You think Minnis and Turnquest care if, or how, these loans, always more loans, will be repaid? Get real. These guys are knowingly selling this country out from under Bahamian's feet. Why doesn't Mr. Rolle speak clearly about this fiscal responsibility he claims is needed? Why can't he be specific, and speak directly about "what" needs to be done? Hasn't he thought this through? So, why the silence? Isn't this clear? He is a functionary in the playbook. Not because it is an insidious game they are playing, but because they can't even imagine another way. There is no way of knowing, due to the lack of transparency, lack of honesty and lack of freedom of information laws, just what parts of this country, which of our natural resources, which parks and historical sites are due to be taken over when we fail to pay up on these loans. Does anyone else find this sad and irresponsible to do to our children?

Exactly right, Clamshell.

I would like to hear good news about our conch. However, now that this is published, some of the fishermen who read will now know where to spend more of their time. Who will manage and patrol Cay Sal? The same ones who have zero to little funding now to manage marine environments, sanctuaries and "no take" zones, close by? So, I consider myself a conservationist. Why would I not be elated by this news? Because there is a much, much bigger picture here. The oceans, in general, are becoming more acidic. This is a fact. Many species of marine gastropods are finding that they can not produce their shells, due to the acid eating them away. This is also a fact. And, while I am heartened by the "discovery" that Cay Sal has a healthy conch population, responsible scientists must be willing to put all of this information into context. Were the very high unemployment rate in The Bahamas to persist, how many more fishermen will be pressured into taking whatever they find on the seabed? Just asking. Nobody, it will be said, should be allowed to stop a Bahamian from feeding their family. No matter what. As the revenues needed to run our government continue to dwindle, so too will our ability to protect our resources, right?
I am in favor of a complete ban on the export of conch from The Bahamas. Now more than ever, we need to concentrate on food security. Banning the export of a valuable food source, one that is threatened, should be a no-brainer. Why isn't it?

Personally, I am way left of "left wing". Despite your crass and incorrect characterization of the vast majority of left leaning people on the political spectrum, they are by far the more thoughtful and inclusive of the vast majority of mankind, than the dog eat dog world of the rabid right which presently is destroying civilization, and the earth's life sustaining properties while they're at it, which you seem intent on mindlessly cheer leading. Civilization to me means the most good for the most people. An idea that is repulsed by kings and queens, slavery, colonialism, and the very pompous idea that our country is better than your country perspective. As your esteemed leader Margaret Thatcher once said, "And, you know, there's no such thing as society." Bless her cold heart. As well, your claim that the left is inciting the violence goes against the whole concept of state sponsored agent provocateurs, which Britain and the US have taken to the next level, if one were to be well-read and honest. And, in any case, these do not represent the vast majority of those out in the streets. They are merely used by the authorities to maintain their grip on power and control. Do you know everything that goes on with M15 and the many "intelligence" agencies around the world, a misnomer if there ever was one? Do you not think they will go to any extremes to protect their fiefdom? Do you not think that deceit is merely one of many insidious tools to get what they want? Or, what their masters want I should say.
No Mr. Young, you are an intellectual deviant and a moral shape shifter. You are attempting to prop up a paradigm that's been destined for the rubbish bin, long time now.
I do my very best not to use the terms right wing and left wing. However, it is more than clear that the brainwashing of the world's people by Murdoch's tabloids and "news" outlets have taken what would otherwise be reasonable participants in a working democracy, and turned them into brainwashed mouthpieces for an immoral, impractical and wholly unfair way of conducting ourselves among other human beings. This goes for a failed economic system called capitalism, a failed social contract based on war and conflict, and a freedom of speech that seems reserved for those who have amassed enough money to be allowed to speak. And, if you're the right colour, have a place at the table with those who are civilized.
Yet, one sentence in your essay is more telling than others. You say, "...has contributed to people’s outpouring of anger about the perceived discrimination still being suffered by black people in Britain." Honestly Young? You couldn't just come out and say discrimination, could you? No, it is perceived. By those who don't know as much as you do, right? Why don't you color yourself black for a few days and go out in your beloved Britain and see how you "perceive" your treatment.

Mr. Young,

You sound very much like the apologists in the US. First off, the most obvious error you make, which completely discounts the validity of everything else you say is this, "Civil disobedience is not the way to bring about change." How could a person be more wrong? Did not Jesus, Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr. among many others, not prove to the world that NO change will come without civil disobedience. Not that you are a little wrong, Mr. Young. You are 100% wrong on this point, among many others. Had not brave souls put their lives on the line and risked it all by standing up to their masters, we would still have slavery, feudalism, and an absolute monarchy, which it seems you are still in favor of. Are there really people who still believe that change, true change, can come about any other way? Wow! Are you that out of touch, to make a statement like that? Civil disobedience is the only way to bring about meaningful change. You only placated your shallow readers with this nod to lawfulness.
But, I need to put another whole quote from you here next. "As legitimate and understandable as protests in the UK about racial discrimination may be, there is evidence they have been hijacked and exploited by Left-wing activists and agitators who are fomenting division and turmoil. It is claimed such people are intent on destroying western core values and restructuring the country with militant groups and far-left ideologues in positions of power – and all the while treating Britain’s history and heritage with contempt and ignoring the truth that for centuries the nation has been a beacon of liberty with a reputation for pluralism, moderation and openness. These important traditions are now under threat, as is the country’s reputation for discipline and good order – two qualities that explain in part why people from all over the world want to live there."
Mr. Young, you are merely repeating, nearly word for word, the same screed used by Donald Trump and other delusional "right wing patriots". Discipline and order.? Those, you think, are the reasons people want to come to Britain? Are you that out of touch or just scrambling for words? First off, during a bad storm many people will crawl into a big whole in the ground to survive. That doesn't mean that they want to be there. It means that things got so bad that they had to up and leave their homes. How many people do you know in all your travels who want to risk it all just to emigrate to a place they've never been before? Few right? An honest look at history would show that most of people who emigrate from their home countries do so because conditions necessary for their survival became tenuous. Now, Brits who were introspective and honest, along with their fellow whites in the US, may, just may, see a connection between imperialism and colonialism and the conditions that make for refugees. You Mr. Young, along with your right wing friends are in denial. And, you refuse to be honest.

Agreed. Both points, on hurricane shelters and curfew, show that those in charge have a ways to go on leadership qualities.