Tourism is what we do, and what we know. Rebuilding, maintaining and innovating the status quo in tourism should be priority one. However, diversifying the economy is decades behind schedule and must be given equally top priority!
Now is the time for the Bahamas and caricom as a block to re-write and standardize best practices for the cruise ship industry in our region that actually benefit our countries and people!
The nonsense of allowing the cruise ship industry to pit caricom states against each other for pittance gains must stop.
It is time we realized and began acting as we understand that tourists have been coming to our shores before the cruise ship industry and will continue coming to caricom states with or without cruise ships!
Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. Intitled opinions are expected. You geniuses can "TINK" and debate the masks wearing issue until GODS' kingdom comes.
I will wear N95 or KN95 masks because "N95 respirators and KN95 masks are considered the gold standard for those on the frontlines. When worn properly — securely fitted to a wearer’s face — they offer protection from about 95% of small particles (0.3 microns in size) and large droplets."
As I predicted confirmed cases are increasing the closer we get to months end. This is probably partially due to the much belated mandatory wearing of masks in public and food stores, pharmacies, etc. Numbers will most likely continue going up rapidly until around mid-May from this lack of masks wearing misstep.
Secondly, making it mandatory for people to wear face coverings and encouraging local production may be well-intentioned, however, having individuals wearing masks that do not offer **protection from the virus** is not an optimal solution at this stage of the epidemic.
**People should be wearing masks that actually both protect them from contracting the virus AND prevent them from spreading the virus.**
The Chinese use a class of masks called "KN95 civilian" masks. Although not actually rated as "medical" masks, KN95 masks are designed to protect the user from contracting and exposing others to the virus. After the virus is under control, people can go to the cloth masks.
Opening the economy now even a little as planned is a very bad idea. It will only cause numbers to explode again in two to three weeks and we will be worse off than we are now and back to square one!!
With numbers now quickly on the rise, obviously, this is not the time to relax and ease up. Better to go the opposite route, bite the bullet, and tighten down on movement by extending the lockdown as is on weekends, only allowing movement to food stores, pharmacies, gas stations, hotels, and other "real" essential workers except in cases of emergencies which should allow movement with permission.
The current 311 number **never answers,** is an absolute waste of time.
We need to seriously enforce the lockdown and encourage as many people as possible to upgrade masks to NIOSH-approved N95 respirators or at least the Chinese civil KN95 masks, or we might be in this mess for much longer than is necessary.
The Bahamas adequate foreign reserves to cover essential imports, and to preserve the parity of the Bahamian dollar against the US currency is in constant threat of decline with 1000,s of nonessential ex-pats increasing repatriation of US currency to help families in home countries reeling from COVID19!
The notion that we "can't" farm profitably is absolute nonsense. we are surrounded by water, R/O systems are a dime a dozen, there is also ample access to shallow well water, and solar and wind power is already in use throughout the islands producing power at a fraction of local cost.
The Cayman Islands and Bermuda are much smaller than we are albeit with less population, face similar challenges, but they both are more successful at farming than the Bahamas.
Hatchet Bay Eleuthera was a shining example of what could be accomplished with the right expertise and there was no hindrance to water shortage. Instead of reinventing the wheel "again" we should look into bringing in the right people for guidance and re-establishing operations at Hatchet Bay. It worked before and should work again with PROPER management and less government interference.
The Bahamas needs to source experts capable of determining what products should be grown on various islands, best methods, and how to capitalize on the $100M's in losses suffered annually by California and Florida citrus industry to cold and frost.
Our main problems are being too pig-headed to admit **we know nothing about farming** and being smart enough to seek the help we need, and mandating the government to keep their political hacks and interventions out of the business!
Michael Pintards' statement "We have to wean ourselves off the addiction of things coming from overseas" is something we the people have been warning successive governments about for decades.
To carry the importance of the point a few steps further, we have also been warning successive governments about giving foreigners 100% of development opportunities. If a potential foreign investor doesn't want a Bahamian investor component, then that foreign investor obviously does not have the well being of the Bahamas and Bahamians in mind and should be automatically denied.
Warning successive governments of the dangers of issuing work permits to nonessential ex-pat workers doing jobs that Bahamians could do has also always fallen on deaf ears. In fact, the more we warned them about the folly of this stupidity the deeper they dug-in even to the point of Brent Symonett thinking and bragging about his issuance of $20M in work permits being a good thing!
The multifaceted socioeconomic damaging effects caused by nonessential ex-pats of rising unemployment and the associated increase in crime, negative pressure on foreign reserves due to repatriation of income, a drastic decrease in local consumption because they do not spend in the local economy and the hugely negative impact on commercial banking because of the substantial amount of local currency being diverted out of circulation. These problems are now manifesting themselves and all coming home roost compliments of COVID19.
Michael Pintard needs to man-up and accept the fact that although we have the perfect climate, we have always failed, and need help in the production of food. Now is the time for us to seriously pursue cooperatives with other caricom and Latin American states with proven food production abilities. And for GOD's sake DO NOT tell us you are looking at bringing in Haitians.
Identifying food imports and development partners from caricom states and Latin American countries in the immediate term should Pintards top priority which should be implemented immediately so that our country has an established secondary food supply chain up and running just in case.
Governments are notorious for being pig-headed and ignoring our suggestions and just as notorious at failure because of it!
Dionisio D’Aguilar, minister of tourism and aviation, is seeking answers to the right questions and is 100% correct that global mega tourism destinations will soon set standards and protocols for resorts to receive and entertain tourists.
The ministry of tourism now faces the daunting task of a 180-degree rethinking and reprioritizing of the tourism industry, realizing that smaller properties i.e. Airbnb type properties will be the preferred lodging in the immediate, short and medium terms until tourist feel comfortable staying at 1000 room properties.
However, there also exist the equally important and complex questions of how to market, encourage, safely facilitate, and maximize, resort excursion spending which should be the ultimate goal of tourism!
Answers to these questions are not difficult to find but do require years of multiple levels of experience to arrive at reasonable working conclusions.
My heart goes out to this terrified lady, and the 1000's of other people caught in the middle of this COVID19 dilemma.
Unfortunately, despite trying, the governments' system is totally unprepared to provide the emergency spontaneous assistance required to citizens, not to mention the high volume of people claiming daily.
People not caught up in this mess cannot possibly begin to imagine the stress and mental anguish this poor woman and 1000,s of Bahamians must endure in these unprecedented hard time.
Churches are abundantly plentiful in every community, perhaps the government could look into using them to at least coordinating some form of immediate food assistance programs to people in need.
As an overwhelmed, self-employed small business owner that also can see no way of receiving government assistance, I too understand the frustration and fear of overnight being unable to provide for one's self and family.
SP says...
Lol well said!!
On Opening up will be slow
Posted 21 April 2020, 8:31 p.m. Suggest removal
SP says...
Tourism is what we do, and what we know. Rebuilding, maintaining and innovating the status quo in tourism should be priority one. However, diversifying the economy is decades behind schedule and must be given equally top priority!
Now is the time for the Bahamas and caricom as a block to re-write and standardize best practices for the cruise ship industry in our region that actually benefit our countries and people!
The nonsense of allowing the cruise ship industry to pit caricom states against each other for pittance gains must stop.
It is time we realized and began acting as we understand that tourists have been coming to our shores before the cruise ship industry and will continue coming to caricom states with or without cruise ships!
On INSIGHT: Abandoning tourism is a fool’s errand - we just need to reimagine it
Posted 21 April 2020, 8:19 p.m. Suggest removal
SP says...
Brave Davis has "brief moments" of sanity.....This is not one of them!
On ‘What’s the basis for easing up?’
Posted 21 April 2020, 8:04 p.m. Suggest removal
SP says...
Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. Intitled opinions are expected. You geniuses can "TINK" and debate the masks wearing issue until GODS' kingdom comes.
I will wear N95 or KN95 masks because "N95 respirators and KN95 masks are considered the gold standard for those on the frontlines. When worn properly — securely fitted to a wearer’s face — they offer protection from about 95% of small particles (0.3 microns in size) and large droplets."
https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/za…
Ditto for the Chinese KN95 masks which were approved by the FDA for surgical use in the USA!
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/03/heal…
I don't care.......**Carry on smartly!**
On Four newly confirmed cases of COVID-19
Posted 21 April 2020, 7:52 p.m. Suggest removal
SP says...
As I predicted confirmed cases are increasing the closer we get to months end. This is probably partially due to the much belated mandatory wearing of masks in public and food stores, pharmacies, etc. Numbers will most likely continue going up rapidly until around mid-May from this lack of masks wearing misstep.
Secondly, making it mandatory for people to wear face coverings and encouraging local production may be well-intentioned, however, having individuals wearing masks that do not offer **protection from the virus** is not an optimal solution at this stage of the epidemic.
**People should be wearing masks that actually both protect them from contracting the virus AND prevent them from spreading the virus.**
The Chinese use a class of masks called "KN95 civilian" masks. Although not actually rated as "medical" masks, KN95 masks are designed to protect the user from contracting and exposing others to the virus. After the virus is under control, people can go to the cloth masks.
Opening the economy now even a little as planned is a very bad idea. It will only cause numbers to explode again in two to three weeks and we will be worse off than we are now and back to square one!!
With numbers now quickly on the rise, obviously, this is not the time to relax and ease up. Better to go the opposite route, bite the bullet, and tighten down on movement by extending the lockdown as is on weekends, only allowing movement to food stores, pharmacies, gas stations, hotels, and other "real" essential workers except in cases of emergencies which should allow movement with permission.
The current 311 number **never answers,** is an absolute waste of time.
We need to seriously enforce the lockdown and encourage as many people as possible to upgrade masks to NIOSH-approved N95 respirators or at least the Chinese civil KN95 masks, or we might be in this mess for much longer than is necessary.
On Four newly confirmed cases of COVID-19
Posted 20 April 2020, 11:19 p.m. Suggest removal
SP says...
The Bahamas adequate foreign reserves to cover essential imports, and to preserve the parity of the Bahamian dollar against the US currency is in constant threat of decline with 1000,s of nonessential ex-pats increasing repatriation of US currency to help families in home countries reeling from COVID19!
We need to save our own suffering people!
On Bahamas most exposed to external fund pressure
Posted 20 April 2020, 7:06 p.m. Suggest removal
SP says...
The notion that we "can't" farm profitably is absolute nonsense. we are surrounded by water, R/O systems are a dime a dozen, there is also ample access to shallow well water, and solar and wind power is already in use throughout the islands producing power at a fraction of local cost.
The Cayman Islands and Bermuda are much smaller than we are albeit with less population, face similar challenges, but they both are more successful at farming than the Bahamas.
Hatchet Bay Eleuthera was a shining example of what could be accomplished with the right expertise and there was no hindrance to water shortage. Instead of reinventing the wheel "again" we should look into bringing in the right people for guidance and re-establishing operations at Hatchet Bay. It worked before and should work again with PROPER management and less government interference.
The Bahamas needs to source experts capable of determining what products should be grown on various islands, best methods, and how to capitalize on the $100M's in losses suffered annually by California and Florida citrus industry to cold and frost.
Our main problems are being too pig-headed to admit **we know nothing about farming** and being smart enough to seek the help we need, and mandating the government to keep their political hacks and interventions out of the business!
On Pintard: Purchasers don't foresee scarcity of food in short term
Posted 19 April 2020, 12:12 p.m. Suggest removal
SP says...
Michael Pintards' statement "We have to wean ourselves off the addiction of things coming from overseas" is something we the people have been warning successive governments about for decades.
To carry the importance of the point a few steps further, we have also been warning successive governments about giving foreigners 100% of development opportunities. If a potential foreign investor doesn't want a Bahamian investor component, then that foreign investor obviously does not have the well being of the Bahamas and Bahamians in mind and should be automatically denied.
Warning successive governments of the dangers of issuing work permits to nonessential ex-pat workers doing jobs that Bahamians could do has also always fallen on deaf ears. In fact, the more we warned them about the folly of this stupidity the deeper they dug-in even to the point of Brent Symonett thinking and bragging about his issuance of $20M in work permits being a good thing!
The multifaceted socioeconomic damaging effects caused by nonessential ex-pats of rising unemployment and the associated increase in crime, negative pressure on foreign reserves due to repatriation of income, a drastic decrease in local consumption because they do not spend in the local economy and the hugely negative impact on commercial banking because of the substantial amount of local currency being diverted out of circulation. These problems are now manifesting themselves and all coming home roost compliments of COVID19.
Michael Pintard needs to man-up and accept the fact that although we have the perfect climate, we have always failed, and need help in the production of food. Now is the time for us to seriously pursue cooperatives with other caricom and Latin American states with proven food production abilities. And for GOD's sake DO NOT tell us you are looking at bringing in Haitians.
Identifying food imports and development partners from caricom states and Latin American countries in the immediate term should Pintards top priority which should be implemented immediately so that our country has an established secondary food supply chain up and running just in case.
Governments are notorious for being pig-headed and ignoring our suggestions and just as notorious at failure because of it!
On Pintard: Purchasers don't foresee scarcity of food in short term
Posted 18 April 2020, 12:34 p.m. Suggest removal
SP says...
Dionisio D’Aguilar, minister of tourism and aviation, is seeking answers to the right questions and is 100% correct that global mega tourism destinations will soon set standards and protocols for resorts to receive and entertain tourists.
The ministry of tourism now faces the daunting task of a 180-degree rethinking and reprioritizing of the tourism industry, realizing that smaller properties i.e. Airbnb type properties will be the preferred lodging in the immediate, short and medium terms until tourist feel comfortable staying at 1000 room properties.
However, there also exist the equally important and complex questions of how to market, encourage, safely facilitate, and maximize, resort excursion spending which should be the ultimate goal of tourism!
Answers to these questions are not difficult to find but do require years of multiple levels of experience to arrive at reasonable working conclusions.
On Tourism has 'no choice' to devise virus safeguards
Posted 17 April 2020, 7:22 p.m. Suggest removal
SP says...
My heart goes out to this terrified lady, and the 1000's of other people caught in the middle of this COVID19 dilemma.
Unfortunately, despite trying, the governments' system is totally unprepared to provide the emergency spontaneous assistance required to citizens, not to mention the high volume of people claiming daily.
People not caught up in this mess cannot possibly begin to imagine the stress and mental anguish this poor woman and 1000,s of Bahamians must endure in these unprecedented hard time.
Churches are abundantly plentiful in every community, perhaps the government could look into using them to at least coordinating some form of immediate food assistance programs to people in need.
As an overwhelmed, self-employed small business owner that also can see no way of receiving government assistance, I too understand the frustration and fear of overnight being unable to provide for one's self and family.
On Left in tears as she pleads for a little help
Posted 17 April 2020, 5:55 p.m. Suggest removal