"As at December 31, 2024, the bank maintained custody of 45,780 dormant accounts totalling $128m denominated in five currencies. "

On dis small 7 x 21 mile island the authorities cannot find the 45,780 bank account holders,
----- despite first having the owner producing all the huge amounts of info needed by law ----- to open up a bank account ----- that can take months for the opening of a bank account can be then approved ----- repeated again ----- to be opened by the laws enacted by the same authorities and now can't find the owners ?????

Frankly this massive amounts does not seem to be a glitch in well organized and designed laws, but seems to be investigated for criminal actions as it appears to have been destined and intended to capture customers money. 45,780 bank accounts untraceable owners today?????

Some research needs to be done on this area as it appears that many Bahamian ancestors from centuries earlier being in the horrible slavery plantations and the Vendue House down the street selling our ancestors as slaves and being on the plantations where in the 1700's were a llarger population than their slave masters who would have to have a burial site which were used for poor which were our ancestors. The "Potters field" comes from the bible which seems to have been allocated to the nearby Cay in reference to the area for poor ancestors passing away on plantations and buried our ancestors on the outer areas where the descendants of slave owners buried close to the church. .Potters Cay which would have only been a sliver of small land and the area in picture seems to be on the area of burial grounds of our ancestors horribly taken by slavers. The area seems the grounds where our poor ancestors were buried and across the road are concrete fancy graves of the wealthier people.

On a story by my friend who said that the commercial businesses in the area were not being successful being on the area where hundreds even thousands poor people, our ancestors were buried. Some failed businesses included Pan AM, numbers of food places, even the political party who placed the continually smelly plant, even the Bridge cant be making any money!

All this area really should be examined as to whether it was a burial ground and if is so should be just left alone. Sometime in the past privileged persons were buried within the St. Matthews Church grounds and other persons were buried further away. Records of old burial grounds should be in the history records and sites should be respected as many did not have the concrete or steel markers to mark the spot.

All this area really should be examined as to whether it was a burial ground and if is so should be just left alone. Sometime in the past privileged persons were buried within the St. Matthews Church grounds and other persons were buried further away. Records of old burial grounds should be in the history records and sites should be respected as many did not have the concrete or steel markers to mark the spot.

On the onset of the critical situation revelations in article, solutions are needed.

All previous alternating governments are responsible and persons who are responsible need to be fired. Solutions are needed immediately and not until a political party gets into power.

There must be some voice in the Opposition party immediately to put fire under those responsible for this critical situation.

All of a sudden,

Consumer chief - "He explained that an initial group of about 30 shoppers were selected to go into grocery stores across New Providence and identify discrepancies such as expired items and price gouging."

Well this is eye opening at this time when the elections Campaigning has started. and especially when the technology in inventory controlling and sales are standard in just about all the Food STores across New Providence. When an item is sold the POS point of sale register computer inventory controls adjusts balances in inventory and at levels the programs are automatically adjusted. Levels of Grocery store business is almost fully computerized to indicate what is on the shelves and shelf life and in some advanced systems the computer inventory programs are linked to foreign suppliers and at different competing sources to capture the best in future prices.

in having these persons going around stores taking pictures seems to be too intrusive and unnecessary intimidating to merchants. Frankly, seeing persons take pictures of shelf items is obvious negative image to merchants and shoppers.

Last time an owner had his photo with a competing political group in Golden Gates, lo and behold the price inspectors were at the food store inspecting.

The Consumer people could just try to ask the store owners to view their Inventory Computer records of items and view the quantities remaining in the computer recording and sales and do a sampling check, instead of being in the stone age dinosaur era and using thug like intimidating spy photo techniques approaches.

There must be more advanced techniques to be using and the question is what happens when a constituency is targeted with dozens of Govt paid personnel showing up at the stores in that constituency particularly at the Electioning campaigning time?????
The agency needs to be revamped.

The percent % -----% -----% -----% -----% used by the authorities has a continuous history of
----- repeatedly changing ----- frequently beginning with a small numbers to be not of economic concern, not noticeable, ----- and then the numbers get higher and includes others.

Just look at the $65 million price of the purchase of the Lucayan Hotel which was passed off to the taxpayers as palatable and the govt knowing costs are higher then quietly adding increasing costs to the taxpayers pockets. Just ----- look at the percentages of the VAT regressive taxes which increased and included items and then excluded items. ----- present result is plenty more people out on the streets pleading for money for food, lining up at charitable entities for food, school children have to be provided with food by the authorities.

"administration is preparing to take “bold action” on rent control."

“Yes, I’m talking about bold action even on issues like rent control."

" Mr Rolle said rent control is a “priority” for the government "

All the information with the rent control by the government. AND then saying below

“I am excited by the potential for these financial reforms to support greater competition in the market."

Well, frankly rent controls is the opposite to competition in free market where there is equilibrium derived under supply and demand forces. Further the number of 20% is picked by the government and not determined by free market forces.

Governments should not get into private enterprise businesses geared in capitalism and healthy competition to thrive and exist in Democracy.

Govt authorities kills capitalism and private enterprises and with one sided restrictions and the inevitable bureaucracy, red tape, added litigation only deters private enterprises of getting into creation of rental properties. Naturally there will be punishments to landlords who are in the wrong for following private enterprises. Penalties, fines?, jail terms? seizing of buildings?

If governments wants to have subsidized housing then build it themselves and particularly in the area of housing for elderly.

Government added controls, receits, documentations, govt approvals, govt agencies connecting submission of rent receits leads to connection logically to landlords compliance of business licences, connection of TIN, connection to NIB payments and erodes into Bahamians' culture of democracy and peoples lives and more and more areas of governments controls by way of laws. The accelerated blueprint path and govt intervention in supply and demand of Market forces and competition reeks of Communists governments.

Absolutely without shame these fellas can't even get their fellow legislators for years to comply with the financial Disclosures for years but yet can pass Financial laws for the public private sector to comply as the ink dries and laws to apply to prosecute those landlords who are guilty of not complying.

"He highlighted that by law, landlords can only charge 20 percent of the value of the of the property as rent, must provide a receipt upon payment and cannot withhold a security deposit for normal wear and tear." comments stated by executive chairman of the Consumer Protection Commission Randy Rolle.

On one hand the Governor of the Bahamas Central Bank and a chief financial advisor to the Government had indicated that the at the time of the consumer complaints on the huge bank fees by the banks are set by the "market forces" and are determined by the banks.

Now on the rents which landlords are "only charge 20 percent of the value of the of the property as rent" is the most bizarre as the very same free enterprise operations and supply and demand forces are not allowed to play in democracy for equilibrium price level is to be obtained. (One also has to bear in mind the bed and Bath rentals which fluctuate according to season.)

Quite an eye opener to Bahamians that 'Market Forces" are for the few commercial banks on the high bank fees they consider and a legislated compliance difference on rental prices landlords must charge is being communist didatorial.

p.s. the 20% rent ceiling fee on the value of the property is not rational since the rents are also decided by the location, location, location in addition to SUPPLY and DEMAND forces. Perhaps he can view some of the quite good quality homes that stand out in urban renewal areas plagued by high incidences of crime versus some tiny pool houses or guest cottage or apt above the garage for rent next to the mansions in gated communities.