To a degree you are right proud, it is very much a colonial fiefdom, at an uneasy truce with the local warlords of Nassau, to whom they throw baubles and trinkets at appropriate times.
That, along with the occasional act of patronage for their charges, they can lay claim to their little island in paradise while at ascot and high society teas while regaling all with tales of their benevolence.
It is truly the last colonial plantation largely intact even though the larger plantation was deeded to the natives, who have thoroughly buggered it up.
St.George was truly a master craftsman at turning a sows ear into a silk purse, and convinced the government that he was giving them Armani and Gucci at great deals.
Not long before their tales will speak past tense, and their names forgotten.

And interesting conundrum, as even a Bahamian simply born in the U.S. Technically is a U.S citizen even if never holding a U.S. Passport or ever having resided in the U.S.
They must number in the thousands if not tens of.
Whether worth squat or millions, whether Bahamian derived wealth or otherwise, returns should be filed.
Add to this the TIEA agreements signed which gives the Bahamian government the means to make inquiries of foreign governments of Bahamian assets overseas for taxation, the same way foreign governments are now doing here on their citizens.
Can you see income tax on the horizon ?

The real question is why is Mr. Smith almost single handedly having to safeguard Bahamians and investors from our governments? The government of the day signed the HCA and subsequent administrations have done little but try to destroy it! The idiots at the port do nothing but engage in self preservation and personal enrichment,
The management is mid level incompetent at best, and yet Grand Bahama hold more potential benefit for the entire Bahamas than ever.
Who could possibly hold any respect for customs officials, inept management or political personalities when they themselves use under handed arbitrary guerrilla tactics and break their own rules seeking the destruction of people's investments and livelihoods?
Where are all the other pontificating pompous self righteous members of the second oldest but closely related to the oldest profession?
Making too much money facilitating company wind ups and political malfeasance?
Trust a class of so called professional Bahamians to perfect turning gold into lead!

Something about "show them the way they should go....." Prov.22:6
Bahamian youth have learned well, from the leadership and political faces.
As have their parents.
They have emulated you all, in your most visible habits.
You have left them to fend for themselves, and beaten them down at every turn.
You have proven that hard work is not rewarded, but theft, indiscriminate behavior, debauchery is.
How could you have expected any other outcome?
Reap what you have sown,
we are.
and will continue to do so.

After the BTC fiasco, who the hell would trust these jokers not to renege on what ever deal was cut?
meanwhile, Leslie has to embarrass his own Government into paying past due fuel bills,
and by way of seeking kudo's exposes the fact that hotels do not pay their bills!
This country is run like a Gypsie caravan, moving by night and stealing by day!

Aggressively attacking unemployment?
More like aggressively attacking the little that is left that works properly!
Hiring them into Government services is a basic license to steal or corrupt the dept,
Private sector is shedding weight,
BAMSI is a joke retold, doomed to fail again,
Is there one of you with any damn sense?

Government holding a safety net......
right.
get ready for a hard landing!
So instead of people clogging up the food store cashier lines taking their sweet time picking out what to buy out of a trolly loaded to the gills with stuff they know they ain't buying,
we will now have ATM machines crowded with people constantly checking their EBT card
for a new freebie balance!
Is there no end to this crap?

They (The corrupt) bind each other over,
Collective impunity guaranteed by the code of thieves.
No more, No less.
Petty thieves at that.

Christie was only there looking out for his piece of the $100 Billion a year promised by the First World countries.
Our Government since 1973 has been feeding on hand outs from every conceivable international source, completely unable to stand on our own two feet.
Now they (IMF) threaten to take away our training wheels,
so we can fall flat on our collective face!
Seems we are not capable of running our own affairs properly after all.

A member of the Government VAT "Tax Team" today emphasized that VAT is not supposed to cost businesses anything, Grand Bahama, BICA sponsored VAT presentation.
and then stressed that Refunds/credits to businesses on VAT tax Inputs would not be 100%.
saaaay Whhhaaaat?
So, looks like there will be added costs to doing business, unless costs cannot be properly attributed to the bottom line.
Also, seems Some Bonded vehicle Gas will be Vat-able also, apparently by some Voodoo in the minds of the VAT team/Ministry of Finance.
Not a very impressive team either, seems to have ben culled from the "Dark Side" of the accounting and Bahamas Customs world.
Still, if you want to know how computer hackers do what they do, I suppose you hire the best hackers yourself!