Once again, another LONG and detailed explanation that contains interesting facts and figures about world trade, reduction of tariffs and all sorts of good stuff - however like all other articles on the W.T.O. it fails to explain why the Bahamas should become a member.

what do we get out of it???? Everyone keeps talking about access to world markets. We don't export anything !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Almost zero exports!!!. A few million dollars in crayfish exports and a couple shillings worth of salt. Is that what we are going to sell our Independence for? Why not throw in some of our newborn children as well, just for good measure? It just seems stupid.

If I make an organization that offers nothing to its members, will YOU join it?
Here is the link. Go there and fill out the form. I'll let you in.
www.nothingforstupidpeople.org

We are getting nothing out of this future deal. at least no article has explained WHAT we get yet.

Instead maybe the government should invest in buying about 100,000 handguns and distribute them among the population and everyone can put one to their head on July 9th, 2014 and pull the trigger. Then the foreigners can come in and setup their corporations and do whatever they want on our land, cause we'll be gone. They can celebrate Independence the following day all by themselves.

Moss makes a good point. Now that he has made it known that his group was not consulted - he should engage in no consultation in the future.

IF they call (and they probably won't) - just say that the Law has already been drafted, so it's too late.

Maybe there is a PDF of the application form on bahamas.gov.bs ?? LOL I won't waste my time to look for it.

I don't understand the two negative comments above. If the PM is saying it will end by March 2014 - that is great. That is progress, and an improved future. That is fantastic.

Of course, if it hasn't ended by, say, May 2014 then I will join the critical persons above. I was with them last week then Shane said it was legal. But now things have changed and we must support a direction of progress. March will SOON be here. Time flies.

Well if we haven't used those tug boats (not operable) for 8 to 12 months - maybe we don't really need them. Cruise boats have been coming all that time.

Take them out in the ocean and sink them.

The problem with Belinda is she doesn't realize that she's ONLY a Bahamian in this country - and therefore doesn't deserve anything, even the time of day (just like the rest of us).

Once processed in Nassau, they will be given Bahamian passports, a plot of Crown land, a car, and a social services food assistance card - along with the school forms to fill out for their children when they arrive in a few weeks time.

A "recent immigrant" card will also keep building inspectors away while they build their shack in the nearest shanty town, and make connections to water and electricity (billed to us under the heading of "fuel surcharge").

It's just standard procedure now - required by the U.N.

I agree with ThisIsOurs - also i want to be clear that the main reason why I say 6 years is too long (apart from the fact that 3 years in HM Prison is no picnic and should be enough punishment for just about anything that doesn't physically hurt somebody) - is this.

We cannot put people in jail to serve 3 years for gun possession because the prison is FULL of people doing 6, 10, 15 years for gun possession and similar not that serious crimes.

If we could sentence people who do wrong things (besides rape and murder etc) to shorter times, they would get a REAL wake-up call in prison and also come out in time to make room for others who need a wake-up call.

The LIKELY reason why this guy was out on bail in the first place is because there is no room for accused criminals in REMAND section and so judges let them out to wait for trial (if they pay bail). If the prisons were not full then more people could get a taste of jail (for a short time) and it may change their ways.

Of course repeat offenders should get longer sentences for sure.

Yep, they picked the wrong island to land on for sure. There is only ONE Haitian living in Long Island for many many years now - and his "owner" is constantly harassed by the residents there. He may have even left by now for all I know.

The sad part really is that the "sponsor" part is becoming less and less important. Haitians know now that they don't need Nassau relatives to send them enough gas money to reach Nassau. They only need a few gallons to reach Ragged Island and the Defense Force will give them a free ride the rest of the way.

* * *

In terms of Karma, I feel very sorry for those local vets who have made this senseless decision.

However, this seems normal for the Bahamas. Our BEC and Batelco crews won't have Canadian techs (from whom we get all our equipment) come down and do training and analysis of the grid etc.

After Hurricane Floyd, the internationally well known group "Doctors Without Borders" tried to enter the Bahamas to DONATE their time (as they do all over the world) to providing emergency care and also psychological care especially to children who may have been traumatized by that incredible natural disaster - but were turned away at the airports by Bahamas Immigration since they had no work permits. This was just a few days after the hurricane had passed. Everyone was busy trying to get things done and fixed and find a glimmer of hope - meanwhile Immigration was busy trying to NOT get things done.

It's too bad that following that refusal they did not change their name officially to "Doctors Without Borders Except for the Bahamas"

As I've said in several posts. As Bahamians (by vast majority) - if we can't be sorrowful, ignorant and generally backward - we would rather not be alive.