Two very good and timely topics. And great points made that I can easily support.

“Insurance companies almost always win”...something my grandfather said to me many moons ago. We do need economically healthy third party insurance companies whose business model sits on firm ethical foundations. However businesses rarely do this without strong incorruptible government oversight. We would benefit from educational training of our population concerning the value, best practices and pitfalls in the insurance market, much like insurance professionals provide to their friends, family and best customers...

As for graveyards, Bahamians will eventually have to give up their fascination with “burials” and embrace more environmentally friendly options in the future. We are running out of valuable high ground on this island, as storm hit residents of Grand Bahama and Abaco can attest.

I am dismayed that we have continued to house these unclaimed victim corpses in a refrigerated truck or that we will proceed to “bury” them, given the fact that the island of Abaco is relatively flat, saturated with porous limestone caves, including natural fresh water cisterns. We seemed to have also ignored the fact that this requires suitable high ground, thus taking over land that could be used to build houses for Abaco’s relatively low-income, but hardworking community.

If, as this letter of protest suggests, there is now political patronage added to this tragedy, then we are truly lost as a society. If this Bahamian funeral services group has received NGO funding that will avoid further government expense it is worth exploring. Government should ensure that the most environmentally sensible solution be determined, taking into consideration culturally sensitive norms. If we have a repeat of the previous government’s hurricane-clean up fiasco then our integrity and trustworthiness are indeed GONE, like our landmass, by the same greed, selfishness and incompetence that got us Climate Change and storms like Dorian...Have we learned nothing?

‘Wo’-(to)-‘men’ who interject themselves into the lives of women and discuss ‘expertly’ situations and experiences they will never have.

Bahamian religious organizations have avoided this issue for good reason and we’ve benefited from the fact that abortion is not a hot-button-issue here as it is in our neighboring country to the northwest. However since we are subject to the same level of hypocrisy I am hopeful we continue to be compassionate and understanding of young women making very personal decisions and keep our emotions under wraps🤞🏽

I’ve spoken with many people, including medical professionals, who think the best course of action is to take samples for DNA and other forensic identification, then cremate these remains in a dignified way. That way these unfortunate victims can be potentially identified in the future, we can stop using valuable electricity for an unknown duration and we can avoid contamination of Abaco’s groundwater (or use of value high-ground) for burial... let common sense prevail and political unity reign during one of the greatest challenges of this young nation.

This is very good advice from Mr. Bowe. It’s always helpful to see what others have done (New Orleans in Hurricane Katrina) and proceed using current Best Practice. His observation that Abaco, especially, has been “depopulated” gives the crux of his argument greater force so we can “phase in” infrastructure and spending into these communities.

These circumstances also gives the residents of Abaco and the government an opportunity to “get Abaco’s development right”. City centres, business and residential areas can be planned and specific infrastructure placed with this overall plan in mind, not some haphazard costly and rush mishmash to appease the political punditry.

We continue to approach immigration from western Hispaniola emotionally rather than rationally. However despite our past mistakes and xenophobia we should use the best available evidence and expertise to address “land ownership, property rights and building code” issues.

If the experts, after study and careful consideration, judge that it would not be safe to build in these communities, or on any other site, then we should follow their advice. Similarly, if those same experts recommend improvement in building standards such as building on stilts in flood prone areas, additional struts and bracing of our roofs etc, then those should also be adopted.

If we are a country-of-laws and we want to avoid chaos, protect and advance all people within the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, then we all have to obey our laws. Safety comes first. Respect for everyone is a given. We should not be intimidated by anyone and if we do-the-right-thing we would have done better than most countries faced with these problems.

We will never get there until we institute a practice of fairness and compliance to our laws by All. This includes the employers who should ensure their employees have the appropriate legal documents, contribute to their NIB and ensure that they are paid a living wage.

We need to establish adequate counsellor services in Haiti; prosecute human-smugglers; and prosecute employers who take advantage of illegal immigrants. We have to solve the vexing problem of birth-right citizenship, the vain of the Bahamian electorate and the facilitator of these recurring tragedies. We need to acknowledge our mistakes and address them moving forward (and yes “upward, onward, together “).

We should consider re-evaluating how we approach “corrections, rehabilitation & reintegration” of many nonviolent convicted felons, especially those involving ‘drug offenses’. Having all our facilities in New Providence is also problematic, including our major corrections facility (HMP).

“Developing” the southeastern Bahamas is a good idea, but loosing that family island charm is a danger that we must avoid. The northern Bahamas must be rebuilt taking into consideration the new realities of recent storm strength and sea level rise. It is also important that our business and immigration practices conform to just & moral codes.

In this time of national crisis we should avoid knee-jerk reactions. Having China or any other Nation “Develop” any part of our country is not palatable to any right thinking Bahamian who is a student of history. The Bahamas should be developed by and for the benefit of Bahamians and those who love the Bahamas. Partnering with those who have our best interest and the best interest of our local and global environment can be a part of that, but the words of our Speaker diminishes his office and sullies his reputation. Let us think before we speak. Our leaders owe us even more deliberative opinions, forged from studious and collaborative evaluation and consensus. Our future can’t be determined by the willy nilly pronouncements of ill-informed politicians, no matter their position.

Yes many thanks to US Coast Guard. Helicopters are much more difficult and expensive to maintain; risk:benefit for us= “stick with the fixed wing aircraft” and leave the choppers to the Coast Guard and US military 👍🏽

“The current educational promotions on safe sex; that is, using condoms and other contraceptives, have done precious little to ameliorate the STD epidemic in The Bahamas. The government and healthcare stakeholders must promote the biblical position on sex, which is strict abstinence until marriage.”...

‘Contraceptives’ reduce pregnancy risks; ‘prevention and reduction of STD’s’ is something entirely different. While condoms, a barrier method, may act as a contraceptive, they have a poor track record of contraception prevention (although they’re better than the so called “Rhythm Method”). Condoms are a good way to reduce STD risks and so are other alternatives including “partner selection”, less sexual partners, less infidelity and postponing the onset of sexual activity.

Some would say we’ve tried “the biblical position(s)” for far too long and is one of the significant reasons why we currently have such high STD numbers. Let’s continue to collect the data, analyze it and use common sense objectively successful methods to address this (and other problems) proven to work here and in other places that can be adapted locally. Admittedly while morals have shifted to a more permissive culture than in previous generations, there is no current society where “biblical” approaches have been successful in reducing STD’s and Teen Pregnancies, while there are several programs tried locally and ‘worldwide’ that have.

Mr. Smith QC proposal is an excellent idea👍🏽