Minister......"I can't say if it will come from the government, or from foreign investors, or even from local investors.......all I can say is that you've got to believe me, it will come. And for goodness sake, don't ask me for any details, or remember my lying statement in the future - just vote for me at the next General Election "

**1837 - Oliver Twist (or The Parish Boy's Progress) by Charles Dickens**

*.........."Please, sir, I want some more".
A great uproar ensues. The board of well-fed gentlemen who administer the workhouse hypocritically offer £5 to any person wishing to take on the boy as an apprentice..........*

It seems that we still live under the same appalling conditions here in the Bahamas in 2016, except that poor Oliver is the Baha Mar employee, and the well-fed gentlemen are the Government and our Chinese overlords.

> the first consolidation to occur ***in the newly-legalised industry*.**

It still makes my blood boil whenever I see this phrase. The Government totally ignored the overwhelming wish of the people at the referendum, and I would urge everyone to remember the utter contempt with which they treated us, when next you cast your vote. We must never forget what the PLP is capable of

This is the deal....They will pay you a small amount (25%?) of what you are owed at present. But only so that you will then work for them, in the hope that you get paid for any future services. Is this a joke? Who would do any work for our Chinese Masters unless they are paid 100% of current debts? What guarantee is there that they would be paid on time, in full, in the future? It's sheer madness

I wonder if the families of Christie and Maynard (among other connected parties) have put in their claims yet, for imaginary work done on their imaginary concessions? And you can bet they will be front and centre of the line, with their claims being paid in full, no questions asked.

So web shops are still more numerous than churches? It says a lot about what this government has allowed to happen to our once proud country. They obviously think more of the kick backs from the numbers houses than they do the state of their spiritual wellbeing.

Whilst I would agree that NAD needs to raise its rental fees, it is not so easy as just issuing an ultimatum to the car rental agencies - the article points out that they are already paying near the top of what they can afford, and if tourist arrivals are down some 6% (see article in today's Tribune) then the whole tourist economy is suffering. We don't hear anything from the Ministry of Tourism on how to get more inventive in our approach, nor does the Government have any solutions, other than to gift Baha Mar to our Chinese overlords.

"Hope" - what a way to run a country !! How about if they use crystal balls while they're at it, or maybe those unpaid local contractors can read the Tribune's horoscope section to estimate when their families will be fed next. For pity's sake Mr Christie, have you not done enough to us - isn't it time to go?

If, as looks likely, only NIB and the Public Treasury will prop up BOB via its next funding call, then in effect we the General Public are keeping this cesspool afloat. Our future pensions and other health benefits (including Christie's disastrous universal health scheme) will now be under severe pressure to deliver to present and future claimants, because I very much doubt that BOB will ever pay back its debts.

And for what? Just so that the same crooks, croneys and "friends of" can steal more money from BOB's bottomless cookie jar. I may not be a financial wizard, but this stinks to high heaven.

In what other country does a union leader meet with the Prime Minister to try and resolve the decision made by a private company.....**when the private company is not even represented at said meeting** ???? Absolute lunacy