So what you are saying is that if other countries do it, it's acceptable for the Bahamas??

I doubt anyone disagrees with police preventing gross indecency as you define it. Online bullying has become so prevalent in this society that it's nearly impossible to fight. But the commissioner also stated, "If you post on Facebook or any other social media anything that is contrary to law, that is obscene or indecent, and it infringes upon the rights of any other citizen...”

That certainly seems vague enough to allow for loose interpretations to fit any negative comments. Bloggers, reviewers, and journalists beware!

There are so many terrifying implications to this story. If I am reading it correctly, people may now be arrested simply for giving an online opinion. If someone gives a deserving bad review that hurts a business, will that owner now be able to press charges? Will a journalist fear publishing now? The Bahamas is fast becoming a police state. Citizens and visitors alike should truly fear this policy.

First let me state that I firmly agree on the Mr. Mitchell's general principal of giving precedence to the local labor pool when qualified. Any given country is obligated to look after its own people's rights first. As an American, I would want my country to hire me before hiring foreign labor when and if I am the <i>most qualified candidate</i>. But I would NEVER expect any company to hire me simply because I am American. Furthermore, I would NEVER expect a legally established, valuable employee to be dismissed simply because he or she isn't American. If this employee was allowed to work for the Tribune for 15 years legally and establish a life in the Bahamas, it is heartless to suddenly say he is now unwelcome through no fault of his own.
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Competition drives a strong work ethic and quality customer service. Entitlement in any form drives laziness and a total disregard for service. When describing the effects of a championship, Pat Riley of the Miami Heat said it best. "When a milestone is conquered, the subtle erosion called entitlement begins its consuming grind. The team regards its greatness as a trait and a right. Half hearted effort becomes habit and saps a champion."
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I am an American tourist who is now scared to return to your country after my husband and I were stranded because of an emergency. We simply needed help from our insurance company to get us home, but work permit policies prevented our insurance from hiring the resources we needed to accomplish that. When we met your Department of Immigration directly to explain it and ask for help, we were met with open hostility and total lack of concern. Considering more than 60% of the Bahamian GDP is tourism, I was shocked to have been treated with such disdain. Even the locals we got to know over our month long time in Nassau said they were embarrassed on behalf of your country that we were treated so poorly.
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When speaking of immigration issues and policy enforcement, Mr. Mitchell once said, "At the same time, we do not want an atmosphere of harassment of individuals." If you are reading this Mr. Mitchell, I'm afraid that is what is happening sir. I beg you to consider the human side of your strict policy and realize that sometimes, exceptions or compromises must be made. Not everything is black and white.