There you go...the new generation of PLP leaders thinking they can be Minister of all Ministries...stay in your lane fool. Rolle will cater and pander to foreign investment. These young dudes just like their Daddys don't care that Bahamians don't own their own economy. As long as they can create low wage paying jobs for the masses on the "Bahama Plantation" while our natural resources create billions for foreigners. A "D" average is more tahn enough to taxi tourist, fluff pillows, serve drinks, shake cowbells, and beat drums.

The decision is a good one. First, with the unemployment rate as high as it is, Bahamains need to look inward and promote some self reliance. Second, use your God-given ingenuity and evolve. Instead of being independent housekeepers and maids, form a domestic services company ala Frank Hanna and service residential homes/families. Instead of live-in maids to care for children, get together, rent a building/property and open up a neigborhood daycare service with before and after school services with van/bus pick-up and drop-off.

We are too tied to the "old ways" of doing things and the white and black elite are all too comfortable with that kind of thinking. Bran is NOT progressive in his reasoning at all. He wants to keep things/doing business the way it was when he was a little boy. These days are over. Step into the 21st Century Bahamas where innovation rules or you're dead.

No one is willing to think outside the box and provide progressive solutions to the economic challenges facing Bahamians. When life gave use limes, we made switcha, now we waiting for some d*mn foreigner to come tell us how to make it....smdh

1. Bahamians do not trust government to implement equitable policies that ensure inclusion and access for ALL
a. Politicos and are seen as gatekeepers of prosperity for a select few and “special interests”
2.Bahamians are historically/culturally complicit and comfortable being ruled by “special interest” (Slaveowners, Merchant class, Bay Street Boys, foreign developers/investors, religious, Junkanoo, and other industrial entrepreneurial conglomerates)
a. Of the 172,130 registered voters in 2012, less than 25% of the electorate opposed
-75% of Bahamians either want Webshops/Lottery or they simply don’t care about their existence. Most (60%) didn’t care enough to regulate/tax or stop it
-The government was willing to allow a handful of webshop owners to take the lion’s share of monies generated from webshop gaming as opposed to creating a system where the majority of the monies went to the participants/players
b. A small minority of Bahamians can still control the economic opportunities of the majority
-Less than 15% of the entire population of the Bahamas (300,000) determined subsequent impacts of the majority
-Foreign investors (special interests) are provided the opportunity to petition/apply and own gambling establishments
-Less than 1% of Bahamians own the total wealth produced by the country
-It took political contributions from a handful of webshop owners for the Government to even deal with the issue of webshop gaming
c. Assume of that 25% that won (NO Votes), there were 4 major factors
-Religious/Ideology/moral (church)
-Lack of Trust in Government (influenced by special interest)
-Lack of a clear implementation plan/unreadiness
-Political (Anti-PLP, FNM, or DNA)
3. The majority of Bahamians simply did not care either way on the issue and abstained from voting - 60% of Bahamian registered (based 2012 elections) did not vote
4. Voter turnout may indicate Bahamians are okay with being 2nd Class citizens in their own country
a. Gambling is legal “IN” the Bahamas. Just not for Bahamians
b. Foreigners are allowed to reside, own, employ and operate gambling establishments and become millionaires. Bahamians cannot.
c. Bahamians can shuffle and deal, count the foreigners’ riches, serve cocktails and food, fluff pillows, rush and kalik-kalik through the casino/hotels entertaining gamblers, but as long as they tithes on Sundays, they are righteous in Gods eyes.
5. The millions of dollars spent on webshop gaming will continue to go to a select few who will go 100% online and transact payouts via online/bank accounts, prepaid reloadable credit/debit cards
6. Webshop owners still win in the end and the treasury of the Bahamas will have to go fishing for another source of revenue, another foreign development project, or just simply borrow more money from the IDB or whomever else to pay its bills while remaining the land of sun, sand, sea, and opportunity…for some……smdh

Perry's cabinet is off the rails again. I don't know why he was ever put back in charge. Although I support locals gambling their homes away if they so chose to, the way Perry does things are a Cluster F-ck. His cabinet's are always rudderless and Ministers and Appointees go rogue (a la Stubbs, Shane, Moss, Miller et al). Perry 2.0 is no different. When will we learn that rehasing old L.O. protegees is not the answer for a modern Bahamas. So many talented 40/50 somethings with brilliant minds and skill are being wasted while Rome burns under this fool.

PGC is a fool. he can't lead. None of 'em do that very well. His approach to this is ridiculously flawed. They oppose just to oppose no matter what side of the house they are on. That's why they are all hippocrites...Minnis included. he never raised a voice in cabinet 5 years ago when the FNM govt. had drafted legislation to implement regularising gambling. People don't belive the hype and how the gin up the bahamain public for political gain.

False argument...since gamlbling was made legal there, don't think it should not be characterized as an "incident". Local/public gambling may have increased but that study does not link that to an increase in illegal activity (such as robbery, violence, etc.). Singapore had a plethora of social ills before the public started gambling. And a noticeable increas in gambling by locals does not by itself create a adverse social impact. Objectivity would have led you to present a more balanced argument. Don't just focus on the parts that suit your subjective argument solely based on your opinion.

I am 'Concerned' about you my good friend. Where was Minnis on the illegality of web shops 5 years ago before defeat at the polls. Was he railing against them operating while he was an MP/Cabinet Minister of the government at the time or holdin inpromtu press conferenes as Hubert Ingraham readied the country for some sort of regularisation? If you believe he or the FNM are serious on their opposition, I suggest you take the 'jack' off of beginning of jackass and paste the ' ass' behind 'Concerned'. Stick to the issue don't throw your personal insults this way friend.

I Agree newcomer2012...what a freakin joke..LOL!! All of you hipocrites..

close the casinos then. if you r opposed to gambling dont be a 10 percenter. stick your d*ck in the ground and be unilateral on the issue. tell kerzner bahamar et al to get ta steppin then. you r either for gambling on your soil or not. you cant exclude one group over another. its called discrimination..home its called the bahamian way of doing things...smh"

Furthermore...it's hard to witness generations of future bahamians unborn even have to pay off all the debt incurred from a new airport, gateway road, other roads, electric transmission lines, etc all to facilitate "other" people coming to "your" land and gambling....win lose or draw, our children will still have make their beds serve their drinks fluff their damn pillows all with a damn smile. Liquor has devastated the bahamas more than any other drug or gambling.

Why do bahamians even pay the bcc any attention at this point in our history. Work to nuture principled minds not legislate from the pulpit.

The FNM leadership are clowns...they were set to legalize the number houses/gambling at some level as well. Wake up people. Minnis and Co. are just making noise for the sake of being the opposition party and as you can see, they take their title literally. They'll oppose just for the sake of a lights and camera...smdh.

Amen!!

@John....I have not lived in the Bahamas since the age of 17 when I left for university but have continued to keep my country near and dear for over 25 years. I am not PLP, FNM, nor DNA, but I am a son of the soil (mostly rock but...whatever). One thing that you and "FNMs in denial" have to realize is that the Bahamian electorate is far more sophisticated than politicos think they are. The same political games of pre-independence that created a "gimme" society and which LO Pindling capitalized on is no more. Providing essential resources to a society are nothing to tout and brag on. In a 21st century Bahamas, good roads, water, infrastructure, health facilities, etc. should be expected and commonplace for a progressive modern-day society. What transformative 21st century leadership in the Bahamas should be about is creating our own home-grown Sol Kerzner for example. Stop importing opportunity and exporting the prosperity derived from it period.

Empowering the minds of Bahamians to own their country is the biggest challenge for governance in the Bahamas today. Helping Bahamians to realize their full potential as world citizens. Moving beyond the same old privileged class of Bahamians (Symonnettes, Kelly's, etc.). Creating a new vibrant business/entrepreneural class of Bahamians that can innovate and broaden the tourism-focused industrial base. There is no need for Bahamians to acquire tertiary education or improve on the national "D" average when all they need is to make up beds, fix mixed drinks, shake cowbells, and say .."welcome to the bahamas". Put the Sir Stafford Sands ecomonic model to bed...Please.

Hubert did some good. I enjoyed him/his character immensely, but he was tutored by LO's opearting model which is outdated in a modern Bahamas. Perry! Watch out cause if you come with the same game, you will find yourself uttering the same words Hubert did Monday night.

coakleysd