Kathy and Myron, I agree with you completely. And speaking as someone who has spent the past 28 years living in an off-grid solar community in Abaco, I can say with confidence that the Bahamas are the perfect place to use renewable energy. We should be building up ecotourism - scuba diving, bone fishing and bird watching - instead of risking it all for the sake of a possible oil well which will bring no jobs and little money to the country.

The rig is being serviced out of Fourchon, LA, not Nassau or Freeport. The EIA says they “might” hire 3 Bahamians, if they were qualified. And it doesn’t even mention the fact that these drilling blocks are in a Marine Protected Area. Dr. Minnis originally said he would never allow drilling in the Bahamas. Yet here we are.

I hope you are also writing to US government. Alexandra Cousteau wrote about it on the CNN website recently, and there is concern in Florida, where, ironically, drilling has been banned. If the US complained loudly enough, the Bahamas would have to listen. People need to stop thinking that money is more important than a habitable planet.

This is taken from the BNT website. Bye bye Cal Sal.

The proposed initial well dubbed Perseverance-1 by BPC is within rowing distance of the Cay Sal Bank, one of the most ecologically productive and economically important marine systems in the country. The Cay Sal Bank Marine Protected Area (MPA) was declared a protected area by pronouncement and by National Gazette in September 2015. The globally significant declaration was in fulfillment of The Bahamas’s commitment to protecting 20% of the near shore marine environment. It was also in fulfilment of inviolate obligations under the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Full Sized project.
Cay Sal has thriving marine life inclusive of commercially important species including some of the last remaining viable populations of the queen conch. The importance of the Cay Say Bank for biodiversity and the fishing industry in The Bahamas cannot be overstated. Because of its strategic importance, any pollution of the area would be devastating for The Bahamas and its fishing industry.

It says this development is “modelled on Bakers Bay”. What, the same Bakers Bay that brought in 135 Mexicans to repair the damage after Dorian, instead of hiring Bahamians? The same Bakers Bay that brought Covid to Abaco? Who needs a development modelled on that?

If we hadn’t opened the border to the US we wouldn’t now have the same percentage of cases as the US. We were doing fine until we let the tourists in. And the US has lots of doctors, ventilators, and hospital beds. We don’t.

Actually, 1,756 people died of it in the past 24 hours. And most of those were is countries that have lots of doctors, hospitals, and ventilators. You want to live in a country that makes sense, good luck. Right now they are all trying to balance money against lives. It’s not easy.

The only important question Is when will the liquor stores open???

In the midst of a huge tragedy like this, sometimes it’s the little things that really get to you - and the thought of no more fish tacos at The Bae really gets to me! So sorry to hear this. Yet another victim of Dorian. With fond memories....

So where are they going to put the debris????

Upgrading the building code won’t do anything to change construction methods in Pigeon Pea and the Mud, because nobody even applied for building permits for those houses, let alone had them inspected. My house has hurricane clips, plus rafters through-bolted to the plate. It’s still standing.

Thank you thank you Royal Navy, US Coast Guard, Rotary Club, and everyone else who is actually doing something practical to help the survivors. Thank you China, Canada, RBC, and all the people who are donating funds. As for Trump, stay away. You will only hinder relief efforts - not help them - by shutting down the one remaining airport while you prance around having your photo taken. If you really want to help, send us the money you would have spent on the security arrangements for your visit.