So, true,ThisIsOurs, regarding the movie about the HMBS Flamingo. But, that has already been done, way back in 1986. It was an opera, actually, called "our boys", entirely written by a Bahamian - innmy opinion the greatest musician/composer/lyricist - the Bahamas has ever produced, Cleophas Adderley, who recently died if I remember correctly (if not, apologies, Mr..Adderley). our boys tells the story, with artistic license, about the HMBS Flamingo and, when first performed at the Dundas in 1987, included an international and local cast. To this day, our boys, is the ONLY full-scale opera to be written and performed in the English speaking Caribbean! Look it up on youtube. our boys is the Bahamian artistic and vocal talent and experience at its apex - with apologies to 'Sammie Swain' and 'You Can Lead a Horse to Water', two wonderful, but slightly inferior pieces of work

To your point, btw, the governwnt, I wont say when, so as to not make this political, was suppossed to divert funds for a possible offbroadway run, in NYC, which would have been fantastic, but the initiative was ultimately stopped, reviewed and cancelled. Very sad.
Our Boys was again performed at the Dundas in 1998 by the way. I saw it both times and was absolutely filled with 'pride - incidentally, one of the major songs of the opera, that a Bahamian produced such masterful.work, about a Bahamian experience. Kudos, Mr. Adderley!

Pablojay, totally agree. But then, I doubt that most journalists and so called bloggers and the people in this comment section can even tell yiu the significance of HMBS Flamingo. Whats sad is these are the same people chastising our politicians for not being "Bahamian'.

Oracle, it appears your heart is in the right place. However, if the governmemt was.to take the measures you suggest (30/60%), our economy - and country - will be virtually destroyed, almost certainly without repair.

They did the country wrong, sir, as I thought I tried to explain, perhaps not very well.

Rumor has it that the Securities Commission of The Bahamas has already formulated and drafted the plans for junioe stock market. Waiting on the government to apprive it.

To your credit, Joeblow, you did offer that solution. And, yes, the tribune comment yappers did 'lynch' you for the recommendation.

Agreed, Bana10. Hubert Ingraham, who was severely ill informed and laughably out of his depth as PM, in 2000, got awfully bad advice from 'bumbling' Bill Allen and the greedy Higgs & Johnson law firm to change our legislation. It was absolutely the wrong move at the time - and a transgression that we are still paying for over 20 years later.

In all of the Bahamians yapping about numbers boys, Shane Gibson, corruption, Brent Symonette, corruption, blah, blah, blah, we have missed this awful situation, caused by H&J and Hubbigity, which, in my view, is the most significant event that has happened to the Bahamas post-Pindling. It is no hyperbole to suggest that what we did in 2000 caused us to move toward Mauritius and Jamaica (in terms of financial services) instead of moving toward Singapore, Estonia and Malta (who, btw when faced with blacklisting in 2000, told the OECD to 'go to hell'). This is and will continue to be a travesty for us. The damage is done, we are and will remain a 3rd world, banana republic country - again, unlike Malta, etc. who are 2nd world heading for 1st world status.

I ask this in all seriousness, shouldnt we just reopen the country now?

Porcupine, why are you concerned with how I spend my money? If I want to waste my money on gambling - a legal entity, now - I should be willing to do so. If I want to waste my weekly and small cheque on alcohol, why is that your concern? If I want to stay poor, that is my prerogative Are you advocating the government make our money choices for us?

I do agree with your point, however, that they should pay more taxes. Of course, that raises the issue of whether said increase tax is prejudicial to numbers houses, who - lets not forget - are now legal entities and are afforded protection under the law - whether we like it or not.

Forgive me if I am wrong, Tal, but the new order does not classify numbers boys as "essential", but rather the order offers any business, essential or not, that can offer curbside service, the ability to open...such as liquor stores, who also were not deemed essential. So, not quite sure you are accurate here. I stand to be corrected, though.