I agree with the disintermediation of parties like the merchant class. However the impediment to total disintermediation, is the non-convertible currency restrictions and the dis-empowerment of folks who do not possess a credit card or debit card that is enabled to deal with a hard currency.

The middle class is shrinking. Domestic debt is still at an all time high, and for a large part, the use of other parties other than the merchant class requires the use of a debt instrument (credit card).

I have serious concerns about the long-term economic viability of folks who are now deemed middle class, but will not be with further decline of the Bahamian economy. This will put them further into the thrall of closed club of the merchant class.

Growing our own food is a non-starter, because we would have to import fertilizer, seeds, fuel for the machinery and all of this stuff has VAT and import duties on top of the fact that it has to be bought and shipped here. And the massive failure of everything from chicken farms to orange groves proves that we can't compete with the highly subsidized farmers of US, Canada and to a lesser extent Mexico. Mexico enjoys the privileges of very cheap farm labour.

No, I was disappointed not to hear words about the economy, However most pundits now agree that the economy is unfixable unless of two things happens. Either the economy is diversified and diversified quickly, or the economy is Dollarized with the American dollar (ditch the Bahamian dollar). The economy as it is, is on its deathbed.

Bran: Thanks fer makin' me a senator and giving me a stage, now bub-bye! Hilarious. She getting used the way that she used the other MPs. LBT stands for Laughable Backfired Tactic! Love it.

Demonstrates a sense of entitlement. We don't need that.

Here is the real sad part -- flyfishing has been on a 17 year decline. Folks just don't do it in the numbers that they used to. See attached graph.

http://tribune242.com/users/photos/2017…

It will take more than a generation to fix.

The best prime minister in Bahamian history. Looks like he still likes his rum and a 'two-t'igh" chicken snack from Bamboo Shack. Best Wishes to the Missus and the Right Honourable Hubert Alexander Ingraham (the only holder of that title where it is a description of his character).

LBT hasn't had a hand on levers of power. She is an embalmer, a mortician, a stiff-stuffer. Hasn't had the opportunity to drain the public purse.

Ha. This man was the Ernst Young managing partner. He was fired because of impropriety (committing fraud) and the parent company EY USA paid a $3,000,000 (three million dollar) fine because of what he did. The fine was a settlement to make the Department of Justice criminal charges go away against the company.

*Ernst & Young (Bahamas), its former Managing Partner, Philip Galanis; and a current partner, Paul Clarke, are being sued in the United States for their role in an alleged $9.95 million investment fraud.*

*The complaint, which was filed on November 30, 2000 at the U. S. District Court for the District of Arizona, relates to the same events that led to Galanis being fired from Ernst & Young in 1997.*

http://www.offshorealert.com/galanis-cl…

This snake should go and hide his head in shame instead of blathering to the newspaper. His ethics and lack of moral compass are reflected in the entire PLP organisation. The PLP is nothing but organised crime -- a rackets ring and Galanis is part of it.

Here's hoping for some incredibly positive events for The Bahamas in 2017! Wishing all of my friends, family, colleagues a healthy, happy, prosperous and trouble-free New Year!