This is a blog that I have differences with...
We are a tourism nation and need people from ALL over the world.
Yes The U.S. IS the closest to us, and we get more of them here for vacation/business than any othe major country. however, that should NOT stop us from trying to encourage ALL Nations (especially the bigger ones that are further away so they come for a longer period of time..) We are a peace loving SMALL island nation without ANY form of Military to fight ANY other Nation wanting to disagree with us. SO I say, YES go for it, get ALL of The Chinese, Russians, Turkish, Spanish, Spanish, etc... etc... etc... that want to come to a small beautiful island to relax and take a break. As far as the U.S. "reviewing" our plans to expand tourism, I say sure they can look at our agreements AFTER we have made them up with the other countries that we are dealing with. however, we cannot allow them just to have free reign (or dictate) WHO or WHERE we devise our tourist product from. suppose they say NO to China, NO to Venezeula, NOT to Cuba, NOT to France etc...etc.. And say "just work with the U.S. tourism product and be happy!" No no no.... We are as Democratic a Nation as anywhere else, and MUST have the freedom to work our tourism product in a manner that is best for us...

No matter what one might think of Fred Smith, there is no reason to malign the gentleman when he almost died!

"At no expense to the ministry?" Are they talking about the three officers? IF that is the case, are the officers paying their own way???

In the "old days" I played rugby with Fred Smith, and he was smart, courteous, likable and a great player... I have followed his career somewhat after that and was struck with his determination and dedication to what he believes in and standing up for what is right and wrong.
However.........................
I cannot support him on this one. Why? Because (in my opinion,) he is asking (allowing?) people to go back and live in real filth, germs and squalor. To make matters worse, IF the person is illegal, WHY should they be allowed to rebuild or to continue to live illegally in our country? If they are long term residents, they should be afforded a hearing, and if they have Bahamian sponors, family or similar, given residency. Others with no support or roots in our country, should be relocated back to where they came from, or to a country willing to take them in. We just do NOT have infrustructure, social services or financial resouces to take care of whomever wishes to come to The Bahamas, and overstay their time... And I am NOT just refering to people from Haiti. EVERY country has good and bad people.... (Fortunately and unfortunately.)

Kind of sad, but typical these days... Those that can, do, and those that can't (or won't) just complain and try to drag everyone else TRYING to do the right thing, down...

Personally I don't feel that the public is frustrated at the govenment and other agencies wanting to take their time in the recovery phase. But the problem is that the news is only "filtering" out regarding the victims... EG: The count was 5 for DAYS, then 20 for DAYS, then 43, and (now) 50 for DAYS...
What is also important is that bodies are properly identified (picutres, DNA) so that nobody can do anything criminal with the information of that person..

The buiding code MUST change. ONLY rounded such as lighthouses, (or pryamid three sided ?) structures in the areas proned to strong winds and storms... AND we probalby need to build high (split levels, multi floors or put homes on stilts.
(According to things I've read, they are the only building structures made to withstand 185-220mph wind storms..) Of course all of this would have to be veirfied. However if we are living in an area where MOST Atlantic hurricanes SEEM to want to travel to/through, we need VERY strong (and unique) building codes..

Great to see that (finally) Fred Smith QC is having some positive support from The Bahamian people...
(The price one pays for defending the unfortunate and "dredgs" of our "society..")

A legend is gone... And The greatest drummer of his era has been silenced.. But maybe not!
When we hear the "thunder, and see the lightening" in the Bahamian skies it will be our "Chippy" calling out to The Nation to "stay in the rhythm!"

I feel that maybe BOATS from The Bahamas should be utilized to take the people off of the two islands, and not planes.. Safer(?) and more room to carry load....