Columns :
Letters to The Editor
Pamela Burnside: The greater good - Aug 2, 2019 - 7:45:35 PM
Navigating through life can be a very simple process, but we human
beings, although positioned at the top of the evolution chain, are
amazingly dumb animals when you think about it, especially if we haven’t
been properly prepared and sufficiently anchored to a firm foundation.
Three
simple words – i.e. “the greater good” that can be extracted from the
firm...
Columns :
Letters to The Editor
Melissa Martin: Listen on World Listening Day - Jul 14, 2019 - 11:45:00 AM
Shhh…do you hear that? Close your mouth and eyes. Open your ears and pay
attention. It’s the sound of World Listening Day approaching; an annual
global event held every July 18. www.worldlisteningproject.org.
The
2019 theme is “Listening With” created by internationally acclaimed
sound artist Annea Lockwood. “Listening with an awareness that all
around you are other life-forms simultaneously listening and sensing
with you – plant roots, owls, cicadas, voles – mutually intertwined
within the web of vibrations which animate and surround our planet.”
The
World Listening Project (WLP) is a not-for-profit organization devoted
to understanding the world...
Columns :
Letters to The Editor
Melissa Martin: Hip hip hooray for newspapers - Jun 25, 2019 - 11:09:58 AM
“For the times they are a-changin'” sang Bob Dylan. And the digital
age has changed the way information is eaten, swallowed, and digested.
We can’t stop progress, but we must maintain the salience of our
newspapers (in print or digital). Why? Newspapers, whether country,
state, or local serve significant roles in societies and cultures. And
residents like hometown news.
“Print newspapers are suffering
declining readership and revenue in most of the developed world, such as
in Europe and Australia, though in general the problems are not as
severe as in the United States, particularly when it comes to revenue.
Columns :
Letters to The Editor
Dennis Dames: The FUSION DELUSION - Jun 25, 2019 - 8:00:04 AM
Dear Editor:
The Fusion Super-plex complex complains about BPL
and its power outages impact on their business. It's a 42 million
dollars investment with no obvious thought about reliable power in the
absence of BPL's power cuts. I cannot sympathize with their plight, as I
find it totally foolish and imprudent to construct a 42 million dollars
entertainment complex without reliable backup power...
Columns :
Letters to The Editor
Melissa Martin: Make vacation memories in 2019 - Jun 1, 2019 - 6:33:26 AM
A condo or a cabin? Beach or mountain? Country or city? USA or overseas?
What is your favorite vacation spot? Adventurer or homebody?
Some people choose a staycation—a vacation spent at home and involving day trips to local attractions.
And
some people use vacation time for home improvements—which really isn’t a
vacation. The purpose of a vacation is supposed to be rest and
relaxation. And fun...
Columns :
Letters to The Editor
Melissa Martin: Your brain on anger - May 14, 2019 - 2:30:22 PM
Annie and Arnold scream at each other when they argue about money—anger
visits every payday. When Annie’s kids don’t follow house rules, her
face turns radish red, her eyes pop, she huffs and puffs until the inner
volcano erupts. Arnold’s frustration boils and bubbles when he gets
stuck in traffic. And he is on thin ice at work for his adult temper
tantrums.
Anger is one of our most challenging emotions. But, is
anger good or bad? Hmmm. Anger is neutral, neither good nor bad—it’s how
we act, react, and what we do and whether we hurt others or self...
Columns :
Letters to The Editor
Essy Bootle: Environmentalists should take action against new Clifton power plant - May 7, 2019 - 4:30:01 PM
It's amazing how the well connected individuals in this country are able
to escape criticism, no matter what they do. More than a year ago, it
was announced that Shell would be building a new power plant at Clifton
Pier, right on top of an already disgusting and polluted area that
urgently needs to be cleaned up. Even though they were urged by
concerned members of the public to first clean up the land and sea
pollution from years of heavy fuel spills before giving anyone a
contract to build another plant, the Minnis Administration gave the
green light to Shell...
Columns :
Letters to The Editor
Melissa Martin: How do you celebrate your mother? - Apr 28, 2019 - 12:06:21 PM
Sunday, May 12, 2019. Mother’s Day is a celebration honoring mothers. An annual occasion to revere moms.
History of Mother’s Day
After
her mother died in 1905, Miss Anna Jarvis wished to memorialize her
mom’s life and campaigned for a national day to honor all mothers. Her
mother was an Appalachian homemaker and lifelong activist who had
organized “Mother’s Work Days” to save the lives of people dying from
polluted water...
Columns :
Letters to The Editor
Melissa Martin: Celebrate National Caribbean-American Heritage Month - Apr 21, 2019 - 10:16:13 AM
Start planning a party for the 2019 National Caribbean-American
Heritage Month. Listen to the sounds of reggae, meringue, calypso, rumba
and zouk music during the merrymaking. And dance. Sip a tropical
concoction and feast on seafood.
Caribbean Heritage
Month commemoration was adopted by the U.S. House of Representatives in
2005 to recognize the significance of Caribbean people and their
descendants in the history and culture of the United States. The
resolution passed the Senate in 2006 and President George H.W. Bush
issued the proclamation in 2006...
Columns :
Letters to The Editor
Melissa Martin: The lives we live - Apr 1, 2019 - 7:15:35 AM
“Someday, you will be a lot older and you will look back and reflect
upon the days of your life.” If somebody had said those words to me as
an adolescent or young adult, I would have raised my eyebrows and pursed
my lips. “What in this world are you talking about?” That’s what I
would have replied while chasing my goals and dreams.
“Stop and
smell the roses along the way. The days pass by much too quickly.” If
somebody had said those words to me as an adolescent or young adult, I
would have scrunched my face up. “What the heck does that mean?” That’s
what I would have answered while pursuing the pleasure train...
Columns :
Letters to The Editor
Melissa Martin: Reading is a human right - Mar 30, 2019 - 8:00:28 AM
Reading is a human right
Give your brain a workout—read a book.
Pump up the muscle mass between your two ears. Reading is that
important. And people in all countries around the globe deserve the
right to learn to read.
Literacy for All
The United
Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
estimates that 175 million young people lack basic literacy skills. To
address the issues, UNESCO Regional Office of Southern Africa (ROSA) is
supporting programs..
Columns :
Letters to The Editor
Melissa Martin: Remembering Bob Marley - Mar 10, 2019 - 11:00:00 AM
The footprints of Bob Marley appear on the sand in Jamaica and across
the earth wherever freedom is held hostage. Likened to Martin Luther
King, Jr., Marley desired peace for his people. And for all humanity.
Music was the vehicle for his message. His passionate personality was
his vehicle for harmony in a chaotic world of violence.
I am
remembering Bob Marley with my words in this column. “Bob, you are
missed. But your legend of light shines on and on and on.
Nesta
Robert Marley was born in 1945. Being biracial, Marley was bullied as a
child, but declared, “I’m not on the white man’s side, or the black
man’s side. I’m on God’s side.”...
Columns :
Letters to The Editor
Pamela Burnside: Passport Woes Part 1 - Mar 3, 2019 - 1:30:05 PM
Dear Editor,
I am writing this
letter on behalf of us, the Bahamian people, in the spirit of
constructive criticism and with suggestions for improving the woeful
passport office experience. I am certainly thankful that this is but a
‘once-every-10 years’ occurrence because my recent experience was a two
day/7 hour debacle.
Preparation – I made my way to the passport
office late one afternoon last month, but was told to come back the
following day because the quota had already been met for the day...
Columns :
Letters to The Editor
Pamela Burnside: Congratulations are in order - Jan 25, 2019 - 11:37:50 AM
It is with immense pleasure that I pen this letter to the Editor in
order to send congratulations to the Department of Inland Revenue in the
Ministry of Finance for ‘getting it right’ when it comes to the ease of
doing business for Business Licenses this year.
Having received
two Business License renewals, each in approximately 7 hours’
turnaround, I did not want the month to end without sending all of the
government personnel involved in the exercise the congratulations they
so readily deserve...
Columns :
Letters to The Editor
Equality Bahamas on Minister's refusal to address increase in rape - Jan 16, 2019 - 12:54:48 PM
"On Tuesday, Minister of Social Services and Community Development
refused to answer questions about the increase in rape from 2017 to 2018
because, according to him, that is not his lane. It is unfortunate and
unacceptable that the minister chose to put distance between his
portfolio and the pervasive issue of rape. Rape disproportionately
affects women and girls who should be prioritized by the Department of
Gender and Family Affairs which is under the Ministry of Social Services
and Community Development.
The Ministry of Social Services and
Community Development exists to address the needs of vulnerable
populations. These are not limited to people living in poverty or the
provision of food subsidies. The Ministry is not just for 'poor people
who need food...' "
Columns :
Letters to The Editor
Traveling advice for old ladies - Dec 28, 2018 - 2:10:30 PM
“As an older woman, retirement should be a wonderful time to do exciting
things with your new-found freedom. A considerable part of your life
may have involved taking care of your kids and spouse and focusing on
your career, leaving very little ‘you’ time. Finally, that time is here.
This is the next exciting chapter of your life.” That’s what the
National Council on Aging Care says.
Really? I didn’t find any information about aging body bathroom parts.
Hmmm. The following are my ideas for experiencing happy hygiene while
traveling on vacation...
Columns :
Letters to The Editor
Joe Darville: A Yuletide Cry For Mother Earth - Dec 15, 2018 - 7:14:23 PM
A recent trip to Bimini, Cat Cay & Ocean Cay, by a team from Save
The Bays, has us asking more questions of this Government than we can
find answers to. Day and night, the all too familiar sound of pilings
being continuously driven into the ocean bed can be heard echoing across
Bimini as an extension to the cruise ship pier takes place. Back in
2014 Save The Bays fought the destroying “developing” resort over its
proposed pier, knowing that the island was too small to bring a 1600
person ship to such a small island as environmentalist knew too well.
The case got all the way to the Privy Council...
Columns :
Letters to The Editor
Residence Of Freeport Demand More Social Services Benefits - Dec 14, 2018 - 10:12:16 AM
Good Morning, Mr. Watson, I am trying to reach you regarding the story
of the citizens of Freeport. unfortunately, we have been missing each
other I am making this attempt again to your agency as a Bahamian
citizen. regarding an important matter pertaining to social services in
Grand Bahama.
On behalf of those citizens who rely on The
Families for Justice Organization to get there stories out publicly, we
have decided to turn to the Media for our Freedom of Expression rights
under the constitution of the Bahamas as Bahamians...
Columns :
Letters to The Editor
Essy Bootle: Time to privatize government assets - Nov 19, 2018 - 11:14:09 PM
I agreed with the PLP when they opposed the sale of majority shares in
BTC to a private company. Now, several years on, I must say that my
position has completely reversed. We now have two telecoms companies and
while I am happy to say that I do not use BTC, I understand that their
service and standards have improved exponentially through competition.
And
what was the anxiety really all about? What did we really lose –
revenue? Hardly, the old BTC was bleeding money just like the rest of
the public ‘assets’ that Bahamians...
Columns :
Letters to The Editor
Essy Bootle: Millions being lost by government - Nov 7, 2018 - 10:45:07 AM
Dear Editor,
Our failure to capitalize on our own airspace is
losing us millions of dollars each year. Most Bahamians may be unaware,
but every aircraft that flies within our national boundaries pays a fee,
a kind of tax if you will, for right of passage through our territory.
The problem is, currently those fees, which can number in the many
thousands of dollars per flight, get paid to the United States
authorities!
It cannot make sense for a free and independent
country to allow another nation to control its airspace, terrestrial
land or sovereign waters...
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