I'm still waiting to hear the other solutions that will help us to get out of the current debt that we are in.

Birdie another round of drivel yet still not solution. Sadly, that's the majority of us, we just talk because we have a mouth, it doesn't matter that we have nothing of substance to say.
As for thisis ours, the three year timeline is obviously based on the potential time limit in office considering the way we as Bahamians hold political grudges. The reality, is that they have a plan and a timeline which is better than I can say for past governments of both parties. Finally, a group is saying, we have to stop borrowing and here is a plan for it, albeit an unfavourable plan.

C'mon birdiestrachan.
We are all very aware of the Oban issue. Like many others I would like to hear a final word on what will happen with that proposed idea. Not gossipmonger but an official statement from the governing party. But let us not forget that there have been other PMs that would have misspoken as well albeit not with a signing. Most recently the "I have no horse in the race" coupled with the "We will hold a referendum on the gaming issue" which later turned into a non-binding referendum.

And do you realize that VAT was supposed to be implemented at 15% but was only introduced at 7.5%? Key word there is introduced....think about it. we can all put this discussion to rest...Using the freedom of speech that you praised just last week. Please give us your solutions to the current predicament that we find ourselves in financially as a Bahamaland.

I don't understand us as a people. How long have we said " the Bahamas need to look at more than just banking and tourism", " governments need to find new way to generate income". Finally we have new ideas, and because the ideas are new there is still grumbling. I don't own a plane, I have no desire to own a helicopter so therefore the VAT exemption on aircraft will not benefit me. However, it will benefit, Western Air, Flamingo Air, Sky Bahamas, Pineapple Air, LeAir and others that service the Family Islands. All of which I have had to travel on with the exception of Pineapple Air. So what if Sky Bahamas will be one of the companies that will benefit, what about the many other Bahamian owed airline companies that will also benefit. Isn't this about benefiting Bahamians? I'm certain that no one in the Bahamian Aviation industry is complaining, and if by some chance we are able to really develop and aircraft registry from the exemption wouldn't that be a added bonus? it would result in new jobs and new careers. Which would accommodate those yearly graduates that we complain don't have jobs, it would also allow opportunities for the bloated public service workers to go when they are eventually let go, which has to be done in order for those payroll costs to go down. So pick your poison, either which way, if there are no real solutions...shut up, please.

The results of this audit shows what most moderately educated Bahamians already know...that we do not get our moneys' worth when it comes to policing in this country. The front line is inadequate and for Gods sake I hope that the entry exams have been upgraded since I applied and passed the entrance exam back in 1997. I was amazed to see others in the exam room being unable to finish simple questions such as "don't cry over _______ _______". Not to mention years later to my surprise to see local gang affiliates wearing the RBPF uniform. We have also heard the stories of the promotional exercises, which are laughable at worst. Time have changed, criminals have changed, the technology and weaponry behind criminal actions have changed. Its time to cut ties with some of the senior officers that are incapable of passing a proficiency and health assessment and focus on training a new set of officers, with a different focus, a mindset to serve the Bahamian public and not just willing to intimidate and abuse persons in custody.

@Tal Russell - did you actually take time to read the article? Saying that on island contracts will be given to locals if fine for smaller jobs but for a multi-million dollar contract wouldn't you want to ensure that the company that is contracted is financially capable and has the necessary experience to ensure that it is done correctly? While I'm sure that the local company may have experience is smaller ventures the fact that they submitted a bid that is half the estimated cost based on the WSC engineering team

" While confirming Mr Roberts’ claim that Rowdy Boys, the Long Island-based construction firm, submitted the lowest bid of $2.66m, Mr Gibson said it would have been “too risky” to award it the contract. This, he explained, was because Rowdy Boys’ bid was less than 50 per cent of the valuation placed on the project by the Corporation’s external engineering consultants, who estimated it would cost $5.762 million. Information provided to Tribune Business showed that Rowdy Boys’ bid was only 68 per cent compliant with the tender’s requirements, containing eight so-called deficiencies, whereas BHM Company’s offer was 96 per cent compliant."

That is a clear indication of not only moving away from the cronyism and nepotism but actually seems like getting the best for the Bahamian purse.
The fact that you could find nothing else to say about the article other than "oh, he promised all jobs would go to the locals" is a sad indication of you inability to make logical observations and respond in kind. if you're going to post on every thing that seems to be FNM related at least use your time to make unbiased, significant posts to educate and stop fueling this nonsensical, politically fueled rants that are most times to hard to distinguish its relevance. Some of us younger Bahamians are tired of this old, tired, stupid nonsense that only divides us as a country when we need to start building the Bahamas back together before we have no Bahamas at all.

And for the record, as a country we are too heavily taxed to just give away money. I never ever advocate for hand outs, I believe that if our people are empowered then we can take care of ourselves and provided we don't get to big for our britches, we can help take care of the less fortunate as well.

Your reply leads me to believe that you are rather well off. So again, you sit on the opposite side. I'm sure you would say something such as " oh, I have friends that aren't well off", unfortunately that doesn't make it any better. I stand by my point that who knows it feels it, and you clearly do not know it. However, I notice your insistence on making broad statements such as "The people are too entitled, lazy and carefree. They do not behave like adults with responsibilities to a large extent and outsiders ALWAYS do better there than the natives for some reason. They steal time, goods and give away services to friends and family which contributes to businesses experiencing challenges. They love to credit and not pay bills! They love to write cheques they know will bounce!" You clearly have disdain for the people that you (I can only assume) make profits off of, at least when they aren't being lazy and stealing of course (yes, its sarcasm). Regardless as to how you feel about how taxpayers money is being used, you have no right to make broad statements that you cannot verify. Its called being irresponsible and I would hope that a successful businessman such as yourself (based on your previous boasting) is not being irresponsible. I mean after all you being irresponsible in one aspect is equivalent to lets say...some one stealing time, or writing bad cheques or maybe even obtaining credit and then not paying the bill. If you want to make such statements then provide proof to substantiate those claims.

So is better to do for none? I live in Grand Bahama, I see the roofing with tarp on them. I also see the persons sitting on the porches because the lights are out, I saw the long lines at Social Services for the unemployed, I know the economy here sucks. While I am sure that not everyone that received some assistance may be truly in need, I know for a fact that there are a lot of people that are not and have not been in a position to insure their homes. How do we take responsibility for being terminated from a job because the business closed down? Everyone has a plan until they get hit, so saying we have to plan. save and invest sounds good but that is rarely the case. Maybe we can plan but like I said when they were left unemployed what were the options? Find another job in an economy where hardly any jobs exist? Maybe they should pack up and move to Nassau, unfortunately not everyone is in that position. They should save, yeah I agree but when you aren't employed and bills keep coming and no income in coming in, that savings dwindles pretty fast and before you know it, you have no more savings. Maybe they should have invested. Really? I was lucky enough to be exposed to investing and fortunate to be able to buy local shares in a few corporations but its nothing to talk about, the return is minimal unless you were in a position to purchase huge amounts of preferred shares which in some cases cost as much as $1000.00 per share. So not only are your comments insensitive, they are one sided. This economy is a mess, and every day some people find it harder and harder to survive. In my daily conversations and perusals of topic boards such as these I often come across many who make broad based comments when they have not seen nor experienced the issue that speak of. My grandmother used to say to me "that he who feels it knows it".