Ha! 350 voters contacted by phone ????? The reason why most polls fail, including the Brexit vote, and the Canadian election, is that polls conducted by landline phones are not accurate. Many have given up landline phones and use cell phones, and those numbers are unlisted and unavailable to foreign pollsters.

Every poll taken must have at least 1,000 respondents to create a statistically significant prediction.

The ignorance of science and math and general around here is amazing -- especially the reporter who wrote this.

This has the hallmarks of Loretta's sneaky, pudgy, greasy fingerprints all over it.

So Cable Bahamas is arguing that URCA should stay behind the times, and instead of jumping in when they see that there is competitive behaviour, they want URCA to set the troglodytic rules before hand, insuring that their finger is on the scale right from the start, holding back the entire industry from being able to evolve with the times.

For too long under Governor Wendy Craigg, the Central Bank has been politically influenced, wiping out the independence gained by Governor Julian Francis. As a result, the Central Bank has complete tunnel vision and is incapable of truly progressive monetary policy reforms. It sees its main role as a protective cup athletic supporter, protecting the family jewels of foreign reserves. It is so singularly focused on tried and true methods of propping up the shaky peg to the US dollar, that it is incapable of thinking outside the box in allowing Bahamians a role in the accumulation of reserves.

Right now, if a Bahamian wants to invest in foreign securities like the Nasdaq or the New York Stock Exchange, not only are they limited by dollar amounts, but there is a 12.5% load going out and a 10% incoming load, So if a Bahamian invests in the foreign markets, whatever securities they invest in, must make more than 22.5% in profit before the investor makes any money.

So when the next Facebook or Uber comes along, Bahamian cannot invest and make a lot of money like free people in other countries can. But if Bahamians were allowed to invest without the Central Bank load, then savvy investors could actually make a lot of money, and when it is repatriated, the foreign money held by the banks could count towards the reserves. But the backwards Central Bank cannot see this, nor can the dim-witted legislators that are currently in power, as this would require new legislation. Instead the moronic half-wits go and ban drones and issue travel advisories against the US -- demonstrating the lack of horsepower in their sacculated craniums.

The biggest effect of Bahamians not being able to participate in the global village investment milieu, is that they are marginalized, second-class citizens of the world -- made so by their own government.

And as for devaluation, the threat is as real as the next hurricane. Can't say when, but its coming.

Dr. Allen is Perry Christie's cousin. And he suffered an armed home invasion. Talk dat Nottage. Crime down?????????????????

Hmmm. I see that the Tribune uses Gimp to do their photos. The particular effect on the photos is appropriate -- it is to make the photo into a comic book.

Jokes. All jokes.

Actually, again, Fred has it right. If you get screwed by a lawyer, it is useless trying to go to another lawyer -- especially if they are lodge members. You need an outside lawyer.

Cable Bahamas doesn't have the money to do jack. They have bled the company dry, loaded it with debt and now are looking for a sustainable business model, thinking that mobile will be their salvation.

You gotta give John Rolle credit. He is slick.

Let's see what he says. (1) *one:one peg with the US dollar was under “no imminent or medium-term threat of devaluation* There is NO imminent (meaning short term), or medium term threat to devaluation. Meaning that the dollar won't be devalued tomorrow. I would like to know his definition of medium term -- is 1/4 or 1/2 a year? In banking circles long term means more than a year. He does NOT rule out devaluation in the long term.

Item (2) *As of today’s date, the Central Bank’s holdings of international reserves are still in excess of $1 billion, well above the international benchmark of 12 weeks of total import cover*
Look at the words -- "at of today's date". That is key. Later on he states that the position will deteriorate, as a normal seasonal draw down. The central bank's own website states: "The seasonal pattern of flows is such that the Bank acts as a net buyer of foreign exchange during the first half of each year and as a net seller during the second half." Then he says that he expects a "stable" level, meaning not losing more reserves than they had last year. Then he trots out the old optimistic chestnut that they expect to have less of a draw-down and more reserves. This entire argument, is like the fella who fell off the the Empire State Building. As he passed the windows of each floor, folks inside could hear him say -- "So far, so good!" That is what Rolle is saying. We will finish with enough reserves if the economy stays exactly the same as it is now. If it deteriorates - ???

Point (3). Interestingly he mentions the 12 weeks of total import cover. What that means, is that we must have enough money so that if the tourism money tap were shut off, or we were hit with a hurricane, we would need 12 weeks worth of money to pay for everything that we need -- food, gas, including cooking gas -everything. Why does Rolle mention that? Because the 12 week import cover is the one international reserve standard that cannot be ignored for devaluation. If we have less than that amount, then an automatic devaluation takes place.

Rolle quickly points out that we have enough money for 12 weeks now, but we are expecting a draw-down until tourist money starts flowing at the end of year when it gets cold in Canada and the US. If they start going to Cuba or elsewhere -- well that's a doomsday scenario.

And the last item is that Rolle says that they are ready to defend the Bahamian dollar. How? If the reserves suddenly go way down, then the Central Bank will borrow enough to prop up them up. But what happens if we are degraded to junk status by Moodys? Rolle will be left without a weapon to defend the dollar. He will be like Christie who goes into a battle of wits unarmed and batsh&t crazy.

So, rest comfortably ye merry Bahamalanders. Your dollar is good until Christmas. After that -- no guarantees.

The last figure that I saw, was that average spending for those that do shop is about $35 per person. In 2010, it was about $64 per person. Fifteen years ago, it was over $100 per person.

All of my figures come from one of my network acquaintances based out of Florida, and he is a consultant to the cruise lines. He has examined and surveyed passengers for the cruise lines as well as the stop-over tourists (remember the girls giving out survey forms in the arrivals and departure halls of the airport?).

We have difficulty attracting the European air arrival and the high end cruise lines because of the "experiential factor". Nowadays tourists are looking for "the experience" rather than shopping and sun, sea, sand and tropical drinks. That is why when you go to Vegas, you can ride a Venice gondola and see a replica of the Eiffel Tower of France.

Even a unique culture is an experience, but we have been so assimilated by the American influence that we do not have a unique culture worth visiting unless you come at Junkanoo time, and even then after the first three groups, the tourists have had enough. Attention spans are short, and you have to have lots to attract them. Quite simply, we can not compete.