The Bahamas is the 6th most expensive country on the planet to live in, tourism is dying a slow painful death, bankings' all but dead, and nothing works.
Firstly, Caribbean nations need to form a working group to ensure that regionally the cruise industry is properly regulated and policed more equitable to the benefit of resort destinations, instead of the cruise industry hogging up 80% of excursion tours by scaring tourist away from independent excursions because they don't profit from them!
Secondly, Bahamians with hands-on experience have been warning successive government administrations that our tourism product was dying for decades to absolutely no avail.
The powers that be never intended for average Bahamians to directly benefit from the tourism industry, which explains why today Bahamians do not own more of the tourism goose.
Especially without an MP's hands deep in your back pocket, there was absolutely NO WAY of getting into the mainstream tourist industry. We all know multiple individuals horror stories about people that presented opportunities to the government for excursions, only to be given the run around until they either stopped trying, or had the ideas stolen by MP's and given to friends, family, or lovers.
"The father of the nation" Prime minister Sir Lynden Pindling set the stage, and his proteges, Hubert Ingraham, and Perry Christie arrogantly followed his lead for the steady demise of tourism with heads held high, chest out, eyes wide open, brains off, and ears shut tight!
Despite a 1980's tourist departure survey pinpointing the lack of things to do as the worst part of a Bahamas vacation, successive "leaders" did absolutely nothing to resolve the problem.
A 1970 to 2020 comparison of tourism development between Nassau, Ft. Lauderdale, and Key West unquestionably reveals the Bahamas has been steadily moving backward. The fact is, there was more for tourists to do in Nassau in 1970 than there is today in 2021!
However, the icing on the cake is post-COVID-19, we will resume tourism with the same, or even worse broken 2020 product. We will have even more of the same bottom-of-the-barrel citizens on the front lines dealing with our tourists. Jet ski operators, hair braiders, hustlers, unimaginably rude & crooked taxi drivers, filthy inner-city, too few tours, etc'.
No politician will admit the country did not miraculously evolve to where we now find ourselves. We are where we are now because poor leadership lead us to this juncture.
How do we fix 50 years of systemic corruption, greed, and gross stupidity in a few short months?
Too late. The US, European & Canadian tourists are already bypassing the Bahamas for Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Mexico. All destinations with either legal or relaxed laws on recreational marijuana use by tourists. Anyone EVER heard of a tourist being arrested, jailed, and deported for smoking a joint in any of those countries?
only in the bahamas!
As usual, as the Bahamas spins around reinventing the wheel on recreational marijuana we have missed the bus while competing resort destinations rack in the profits.
Response to an industry survey in the early 1980's questioning tourists about what was the worst part of a Bahamas vacation experience. The biggest complaint was "there was not enough to do".
Here we are in 2021 and there is much less for tourists to do now than ever before!
Many thanks, PLP & FNM for "leading" our country, people, and tourism product, steadily into the ground.
Then minister of immigration Brent Symonette stood in Parliament with his chest stuck out bragging about the $40 million in revenue generated from work permit sales.
However, he somehow totally failed to correlate the lose of employment to Bahamians for these work permit holders and the ultimate social damage this would cause as Bahamians were displ aced from employment!
To say the least, this was a criminal act. Sadly, NOT ONE of Brent's' colleagues on both sides of the political arena either didn,t have the fortitude, care enough for the electorate, to gave a damn or to stand up for Bahamians.
The undeniable fact is, we are where we now find ourselves due to 5 decades of asinine political leadership!!!
SP says...
The Bahamas is the 6th most expensive country on the planet to live in, tourism is dying a slow painful death, bankings' all but dead, and nothing works.
Let's keep the PLP and FNM and aim for 1st place!
On ‘Tax system is broken’
Posted 25 February 2021, 8:18 a.m. Suggest removal
SP says...
This same nationality is allowed to sell liquor and food in stores that a Bahamian cannot get a license to do.
Meanwhile, corruption is killing us while we do the PLP and FNM flag-waving dance!
On ‘Tax system is broken’
Posted 25 February 2021, 8:14 a.m. Suggest removal
SP says...
Lol.....Good luck with that. Covid ambassadors are too busy doing nothing to even harris Bahamians! Stopping tourists is out of the question.
On Former PM Hubert Ingraham has COVID-19
Posted 25 February 2021, 7:23 a.m. Suggest removal
SP says...
Firstly, Caribbean nations need to form a working group to ensure that regionally the cruise industry is properly regulated and policed more equitable to the benefit of resort destinations, instead of the cruise industry hogging up 80% of excursion tours by scaring tourist away from independent excursions because they don't profit from them!
Secondly, Bahamians with hands-on experience have been warning successive government administrations that our tourism product was dying for decades to absolutely no avail.
The powers that be never intended for average Bahamians to directly benefit from the tourism industry, which explains why today Bahamians do not own more of the tourism goose.
Especially without an MP's hands deep in your back pocket, there was absolutely NO WAY of getting into the mainstream tourist industry. We all know multiple individuals horror stories about people that presented opportunities to the government for excursions, only to be given the run around until they either stopped trying, or had the ideas stolen by MP's and given to friends, family, or lovers.
"The father of the nation" Prime minister Sir Lynden Pindling set the stage, and his proteges, Hubert Ingraham, and Perry Christie arrogantly followed his lead for the steady demise of tourism with heads held high, chest out, eyes wide open, brains off, and ears shut tight!
Despite a 1980's tourist departure survey pinpointing the lack of things to do as the worst part of a Bahamas vacation, successive "leaders" did absolutely nothing to resolve the problem.
A 1970 to 2020 comparison of tourism development between Nassau, Ft. Lauderdale, and Key West unquestionably reveals the Bahamas has been steadily moving backward. The fact is, there was more for tourists to do in Nassau in 1970 than there is today in 2021!
However, the icing on the cake is post-COVID-19, we will resume tourism with the same, or even worse broken 2020 product. We will have even more of the same bottom-of-the-barrel citizens on the front lines dealing with our tourists. Jet ski operators, hair braiders, hustlers, unimaginably rude & crooked taxi drivers, filthy inner-city, too few tours, etc'.
No politician will admit the country did not miraculously evolve to where we now find ourselves. We are where we are now because poor leadership lead us to this juncture.
How do we fix 50 years of systemic corruption, greed, and gross stupidity in a few short months?
On Carnival chief: Nassau needs more than port
Posted 25 February 2021, 7:07 a.m. Suggest removal
SP says...
Why anyone would waste their time watching two confirmed liars and total failures is beyond reasonable imagination!
On Would you like to see a televised debate for the next election?
Posted 23 February 2021, 5:14 p.m. Suggest removal
SP says...
Too late. The US, European & Canadian tourists are already bypassing the Bahamas for Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Mexico. All destinations with either legal or relaxed laws on recreational marijuana use by tourists. Anyone EVER heard of a tourist being arrested, jailed, and deported for smoking a joint in any of those countries?
only in the bahamas!
As usual, as the Bahamas spins around reinventing the wheel on recreational marijuana we have missed the bus while competing resort destinations rack in the profits.
Response to an industry survey in the early 1980's questioning tourists about what was the worst part of a Bahamas vacation experience. The biggest complaint was "there was not enough to do".
Here we are in 2021 and there is much less for tourists to do now than ever before!
Many thanks, PLP & FNM for "leading" our country, people, and tourism product, steadily into the ground.
On Members of Rastafarian community: We want stake in cannabis industry
Posted 17 February 2021, 8:38 a.m. Suggest removal
SP says...
This is an eye opening classic example of what can happen because Bahamians do not own our economy!
Thank you, PLP and FNM for 5 decades of asinine stupidity, that has now come home full circle to roost.
No need for naysayers and apologists. We are tone deaf to both of you!
On HAMMER BLOW: Melia closes doors for two years laying hundreds out of work
Posted 16 February 2021, 9:01 a.m. Suggest removal
SP says...
Robert standup comedy routines are getting better every day. Expecting "Accelerated efficiency" for ANY government sector is dilly-pie in the sky!
The government is always 100 steps behind where it should be, so the impact of Covid-19 is definitely deeper’ than govt realizes at this point.
On ‘Rude awakening’ awaits on true COVID-19 costs
Posted 10 February 2021, 7:57 p.m. Suggest removal
SP says...
You are WAY, WAY, out to lunch. Swedens no lockdown experiment failed miserably!
On ‘Rude awakening’ awaits on true COVID-19 costs
Posted 10 February 2021, 7:07 p.m. Suggest removal
SP says...
Then minister of immigration Brent Symonette stood in Parliament with his chest stuck out bragging about the $40 million in revenue generated from work permit sales.
However, he somehow totally failed to correlate the lose of employment to Bahamians for these work permit holders and the ultimate social damage this would cause as Bahamians were displ aced from employment!
To say the least, this was a criminal act. Sadly, NOT ONE of Brent's' colleagues on both sides of the political arena either didn,t have the fortitude, care enough for the electorate, to gave a damn or to stand up for Bahamians.
The undeniable fact is, we are where we now find ourselves due to 5 decades of asinine political leadership!!!
On 24 hours - two more murdered
Posted 9 February 2021, 8:02 p.m. Suggest removal