While the Bahamian people go without a $14,000 ventilator it would be interesting to see how much the government has spent on foreign trips with their entourages as one business class ticket to the London is $9,000 and hotels are running $400 per night. These are funds better spent keeping Bahamian's alive at PMH. What about all the government cars running about doing personal business and the amount of gas they use?

But alas we will never know because their expense reports are not disclosed. Only thing disclosed is that we can't afford a $14,000 ventilator to keep Bahamians alive.

Lets get our priorities straight.

Bahamas has no history of expropriating property from foreigner or Bahamians. Let's not obfuscate the issue of environmental protection with property ownership.

Nation building and economic progress can be achieved in harmony with nature and for the benefit of current and future generations.

All it takes is a little creativity and less greed.

Arguably the most beautiful beach in the entire Bahamas and eco rich environment with a land mass almost the size of Nassau will be distroyed by short sighted politicians doing business with foreigners with pipe dreams.

You can’t put a resort in the middle of nowhere without infrastructure. By infrastructure I mean schools, homes, parks, airports, energy, water, local government, culture, stores etc.

You can’t cut canals into the mangroves for million dollar yatches and expect to be protected from rising sea levels due to global warming.

Look what happened in Bimini. Even if greater concern is what is going to happen in eastern Grand Bahama.

As Grammy said “if ya can’t learn ya ga feel”.

KP’s solution is another half step and won’t address the following further black listing issues:

1. Use of nominee directors and shareholders
2. No register of beneficial owners
3. Zero prosecutions related to STRs since 2000
4. Zero income tax
5. Painfully slow cross boarded tax information exchange
6. Lack of up to standard ML regs, and monitoring of web shops
7. Web shops performing banking services
8. Exchange controls inhibiting 2 way capital movements
9. Many industries off limits to international investors
10. Lack of transparency on government expenses
Etc etc

But KP hopefully knew all of this. So why is he caught by surprise?

John, this has nothing to do with black and white. Numbers houses are now integrated in our poorest communities and provide false hope to the most exploitable parts of our society.

JohnDoe, please, please stop castigating everyone's comments as irrelevant. Webshops pose a moneylaundering risk which may lead to blacklisting by the EU. And money laumdering can be utilized for tax evasion. KP is trying to solve the issue with more laws and regulations. While the EU is looking at actions and outcomes.

When hundreds and hundreds of STRs are made by banks and trust companies since the 2000 black listing and absolutely nothing has come of any of them, what use is the STR Law?

When more and more E&Y reports are "handed over" to the police, what good is that if you never here of any budget increase for forensic specialists on the police force. What good if the Prosecutor's office, A/g's office or the courts don't get substantial budget increases and up to date technology and technical assistance to combat white collar crime?

You sound like an apologist for the webshops. Tell us why webshops are good for our country and help our financial system and uplift our people?

Thanks Islandgal1, even Scotland, which had a referendum to stay in the UK, now regrets it because they are being carried unwilling into Brexit.

So KP, please, please stop moaning about the EU and start real governmental reforms at the most fundamental levels. Before we fall into rogue nation status. Passing a bunch of financial laws and regulations is just lip service. Nothing is implemented because of financial systems are archaic in nature and our technology is way way behind. Ever tried to make a bank deposit in the Family Islands....good luck with that.

Not sure what is complex about this situation. Its a clear conflict of interest for a member of the government to be entering into contracts with the government.

No you see why we get blacklist?

Don't pay the leases. Go to court. Fight it.

Actually the EU is an extreamly strong trading block. If Britain were to hold another referendum they would vote to stay in the EU. Leaving the EU is a big negative for the the British economy. Global trading blocks is where the world is at and it is unstoppable.

Yes, Russia is trying to manipulate social media to undermine western democracies. It will fail over time because democratic/transparent governments are the best for its citizens. How many of you want to live in Russia or China?

Not sure why KP is surprised by the blacklisting. But everything seems to surprise these novices. Answer the following questions and you will see why we are blacklisted.

1. How many financial crimes have been prosecuted in the Bahamas since our initial black listing in 2000? 0.
2. Why do we have numbers houses/financial institutions?
3. How quickly do we hand over information to developed world countries when financial crimes occur?
4. Why are IBC not filing audited financial statements at the registry
5. Why are nominee shareholders and directors still allowed
6. Why are number houses doing banking services?
7. Why is the Bank of the Bahamas forming a bridge between the numbers houses and the formal banking system.
8. Why is the Bahamian government making positive comments on crypto currencies? These currencies are not regulated and its impossible to trace transactions.
9. Why do we still have exchange controls?
10. Why is government so non transparent. E.g. W&S, Oban and Baha Mar
11. Why is our local markets closed to foreign ownership?
12. Why does KP have something to say on almost anything that happens in this country. Where Minnis in all dis?

I could go on and on but whats the point. Ain nuttin ga change.

Also BahamasForBahamians, the politician's flip once they are in power. Take for example D'Agular. When he was a director of Baha Mar he critized the new owners with statements I can't even repeat here. Now that he is the Minister of Tourism he says they are doing an excellent job.

In the meantime the original investor must be thinking to himself, what duplicity. He get swing.