Opinions
Table revised Fiscal Responsibility Bill before summer recess -
Jul 11, 2018 - 12:46:10 PM

“The implementation of the Fiscal Responsibility Bill should be treated
with at least the same level of urgency as the short-notice imposition
of the VAT increase.” These are the sentiments of The Organization for
Responsible Governance, which is pushing for the drafted Fiscal
Responsibility Bill (FRB) to be tabled and debated ahead of the
customary parliamentary summer recess.
Opinions
Kreimild Saunders: Carnival Controversies -
May 29, 2018 - 9:50:01 AM

The very founding of carnival in the Bahamas was froth with
controversies. A central controversy was the privileging of a foreign
festival rather than promoting our indigenous festival, Junkanoo, that
has not been able to sustain itself privately.
It is estimated that
between 2015 and 2017 the Christie administration spent over 20 million
dollars subsidizing carnival events with cost over-run (especially in
the inaugural event). There was a backlash from Junkanooers and the
political opposition (FNM). Carnivals are big business...
Opinions
Former M.P. Pierre Dupuch comments on rumours of an FNM Coup. -
Apr 9, 2018 - 12:08:21 PM

A short while ago it was said that I was starting and spreading rumours
about Hubert Ingraham being a part of a coup to challenge Dr. Hubert
Minnis for leadership.
For Hubert Ingraham to believe that, he
must be living in a fool's world, and suffering from delusions of
grandeur to think that I would have the time or interest in starting any
rumours about him. I was merely commenting on a rumour about a possible
vote of no confidence in Dr. Minnis and him being replaced as Prime
Minister...
Opinions
Dr. Bethel: The Oban Debacle -
Mar 27, 2018 - 11:09:41 PM

The “ceremonial signing," 19th February 2018, of Heads of Agreement
(HOA) between the Government of Bahamas (GOB) and Oban Energies, has
become a public relations fiasco for the GOB and a potential
environmental disaster for the island of Grand Bahama.
Many
details and concerns about the process and terms of the HOA have been
covered by the media, environmentalists, NGOs, BNT, politicians,
residents of Grand Bahama Island (GBI) and concerned citizens of the
Bahamas...
Opinions
"Forget The Potential Environmental Issues With The Oban Deal" -
Mar 18, 2018 - 7:20:36 AM

The Bahamas National Trust has come out strongly against the Oban
Energies deal the Government has signed citing potential environmental
damage to the nearby National Parks.
Their concerns are
reasonable and coming from the country's most important environmental
group add weight to the controversy surrounding this arrangement.
But the main reason to reject the deal is more fundamental than potential environmental fall out. The Rule Of Law comes to mind...
Opinions
Ryan Knowles Says Dual Stream to Drive Sales -
Feb 12, 2018 - 6:47:18 PM
A real estate agent whose sales total more than $70 million and who just
completed his best year yet is predicting even better days ahead,
projecting ‘a banner year for The Bahamas’ in 2018.
HG Christie
superstar Ryan Knowles made the positive prediction yesterday, saying
that two distinct factors point to overall success for the real estate
market in both the Family Islands and New Providence.
“There are two independent engines that I believe will drive buyers to purchase in The Bahamas this year,” said Knowles...
Opinions
Rick Lowe: The Learning Crisis in The Bahamas -
Feb 3, 2018 - 12:51:52 PM

In recent days the effects of the failure of many students to
successfully learn Maths and English skills have been highlighted by an
RBC Royal Bank executive.
His narrative is nothing new. In fact,
The Nassau Institute published a public policy essay by its former Vice
President, Ralph Massey on this subject in 2009.
For the first time taxpayers were able to see more than just the average results of all subjects and the details were startling.
Here's an excerpt.
"The English Language exam for the seven public high schools on New Providence
Opinions
Youri Kemp: President Trump’s ‘shithole’ comments unfortunately deserve follow up -
Jan 12, 2018 - 7:18:39 PM

In a bi-partisan meeting with Democrat and Republican lawmakers on
immigration and particularly on the Deferred Action for Childhood
Arrivals (DACA) portion of the immigration reform package, in an
unprecedented show of extreme ignorance and crassness, the president of
the USA, Donald Trump, referred to Haiti, El Salvador and African
countries as “shitholes.”
No further comment necessary, but I
will comment anyway. I will because the overt stupidity of such a
statement, particularly a statement made in the presence of Democrat and
Republican lawmakers, shows how off the rails and loose with his mouth
President Trump is...
Opinions
Rick Lowe: Government should follow the rules with law making -
Jan 9, 2018 - 5:02:49 AM

Here we go again.
Four new Bills have been tabled in Parliament
yet again and the government has not followed the proper procedure as
laid down by the Westminster System of Government and agreed by the
Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.
They include: Financial Transactions Reporting Bill, 2017 - 46 pages, Integrity Commission Bill, 2017 - 110 pages...
Opinions
Oswald T. Brown: Marijuana should be legalized in the Bahamas -
Jan 8, 2018 - 7:45:48 PM
When I covered Jamaica’s independence in August of 1962 for The Tribune,
I did a feature article on the Rastafarians and their lifestyle. To get
interviews, a Jamaican journalistic colleague arranged for me to visit a
Rastafarian camp off Foreshore Road. I got there around dinner time and
was invited to have dinner with a group of them. We sat in a circle and
ate from a large bowl at the centre of the circle, and after we
finished eating, they passed around a marijuana “joint” the size of a
large cigar.
When I took a puff, I almost choked to death, and my
host repeatedly slapped me on the back while saying, “Ma bradda, you no
have to partake, this our ritual...”
Opinions
Modern Slavery -
Jan 4, 2018 - 12:57:07 PM

MODERN SLAVERY! The world is in uproar after shocking revelations of
modern slavery were reported by CNN news last month. A man was videotaped
selling African migrants at the cost of $400.00 for farm work.
Many
people have begun to petition and to speak out against what is going on
in Libya however, I have been more concerned with the fact that this
isn't some regress back to the days of old...
Opinions
Former M.P. Pierre Dupuch comments on taxes, WTO and outsourcing -
Nov 16, 2017 - 9:40:55 AM

Ah well, here we go again! The talk of the town is now saying things
like: "Let's even the playing field ... tax them!"; "By 2019 we'll be
full members of the WTO" and "Let's outsource it."
"Let's even
the playing field, let's tax them," says one Minister when talking about
Bahamians who rent their houses to visitors. Let's see now, a person
rents his house to a visitor and makes less than $100,000/year - is he
now to pay taxes on his income? Does anyone else pay taxes on their
income...
Opinions
Rick Lowe: More taxes for Bahamas businesses foreshadowed -
Nov 5, 2017 - 11:03:24 AM

Coming on the heels of the OECD and its G-20 and European Union (EU)
members threatening ‘blacklistings’ a few short months ago Mr. K. Peter
Turnquest, Bahamas Deputy Prime Minister & Minister of Finance
suggests The Bahamas might have to look at implementing a low rate
corporate income tax in order to comply with demands from the
Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
How the Bahamas will comply and whether it will be forced to adopt a corporate income tax is disconcerting.
Bearing
in mind businesses already pay a business license tax on gross income,
the threat of even more taxation, following on the heels of the
introduction of Value Added Tax that has had such a negative impact on
local businesses 2015 is casting...
Opinions
Fred Smith: Gov’t must resist this hostile foreign takeover -
Oct 25, 2017 - 8:19:19 PM

The attempted forcible buy-out of Grand Bahama Power Company by a 100
per cent foreign-owned entity is nothing less than an aggressive hostile
takeover which is clearly not in the best interest of The Bahamas.
The
proposed move contravenes Bahamian law on a number of levels and raises
serious questions about the strength of our sovereignty and the
integrity of our public institutions. All Bahamians who care about their
rights and are committed to national self-determination should call on
the government resist this ill-conceived plan. We have until November
7to make our voices heard...
Opinions
Fred Smith on Bahamas Immigration Reform: "An enlightened & progressive approach " -
Oct 12, 2017 - 4:46:05 PM

The Immigration Policy followed by successive governments has failed to
produce the desired results. The domestic economy has not flourished as a
result of strict control of the labor force. Undocumented migrants,
primarily from northern Haiti, continue to arrive on Bahamian shores in
significant numbers.
Meanwhile, “Immigration enforcement” has
devolved into little more than a vehicle for systemic corruption and
exploitation; a political tool for the incitement of hatred,
anti-foreign sentiment and nationalistic fervor.
The consequences
of this ill-conceived approach include the loss of hundreds of millions
of dollars in annual revenue, the establishment of an entrenched
culture of official corruption, the creation of a sub-class...
Opinions
Monte Pratt: The challenges of Renewable Energy in the Bahamas -
Oct 6, 2017 - 1:48:26 AM
Over The Last 5-years, There Has Been A Lot Of 'Novice'
Discussions On Radio Talk-shows And In Social Media About How Much
Sunshine And Breeze That The Bahamas Has. And The Fact We Need To
Embrace Solar And Wind Energy Technology To Reduce Energy Cost. But What
About The Challenges That These Solar And Wind Energy Utilities Face?
First
Of All, None Of These 'Novice Advisors' Noted The Fact That The Bahamas
Is Located In 'The Heart Of The Hurricane Belt'. Secondly, None Of
These 'Novice Advisors' Noted The Fact That The Bahamas (Every Island)
Was Hit By 3 Major Hurricanes In The Last 3 Consecutive Years And Also
Has Suffered 8 Major Hurricanes Since August 1992...
Opinions
Former M.P. Pierre Dupuch comments on "Confessions of an Economic Hit Man." -
Sep 30, 2017 - 9:20:56 AM

Sometime ago I read a rather intriguing book entitled, "The Confessions Of An Economic Hit Man."
Not
only was it intriguing, it was frightening. It was written by a man who
had been called in by the American Government to form a group whose
sole purpose, it appeared, would be to bankrupt countries making them
"economic colonies" of the United States.
This is unbelievable,
but here's basically what the author explained. They would go to a
country, big or small, find a "big-eyed John/Jane" who wanted to look
good with his/her constituents and needed money to do so. They would
find, for example, that the Government needed money to build a two-lane
highway but had none.
They would move in and convince them that
instead of a two-lane highway, they should get a four-lane one. "Not to
worry," they'd say. "We will lend you the money." Being a big-eyed
John/Jane, wanting to impress the constituents, and, of course, getting a
little under the table for themselves, they would jump at the offer...
Opinions
Rick Lowe: I’m not mad at the IMF -
Sep 16, 2017 - 12:12:49 PM
So the IMF has suggested income tax to solve our fiscal woes…
Instead of looking at their proposed remedy, I suggest we look at the cause of the fiscal problems.
Simply
put it as been fiscal imprudence by successive governments that has
caused this. Yup, spending more than they take in while singing the
praises of yet another great budget expansion without taxation to pay
for it.
Instead of raising taxes governments since independence have borrowed until hitting
Opinions
Fred Smith QC: The “Foreigner” can no longer be the Scapegoat! -
Jul 21, 2017 - 7:17:37 PM

There has been a lot of agitation and blame about “Foreigners” raping
our Marine and Fisheries Resources. In my view, this debate and blame
game is misconceived and futile. Simply blaming the "Foreigner" and
focusing on "Foreign" depletion and exploitation BUT continuing to allow
the same unregulated exploitation and depletion ONLY by Bahamians, is
not the answer. It is a recipe for environmental disaster.
In my
view, the challenges faced in the Bahamas, by the rape, pillage, ruin
and unsustainable depletion of our Marine and Fisheries Resources, and
the unrelenting destruction of our Mangroves and Corals Reefs, requires
rational, deliberate and careful attention.
It can perhaps be
most effectively addressed by the new FNM government adopting a more
enlightened and effective approach by meaningful consultation with
those most knowledgeable and experienced in the field...
Opinions
Fred Smith: If the Government fixes Freeport it will fix The Bahamas! -
Jul 15, 2017 - 10:48:30 PM
The Government has a unique opportunity to resurrect the Phoenix of
Freeport from the ashes of political red tape and recession. This will
require political courage to adopt a paradigm shift in foreign
investment policies in Freeport and Grand Bahama. References to Freeport
include Grand Bahama. If the Freeport experiment works, then with
appropriate changes the model can be applied to the rest of The Bahamas
for success!
For Freeport to succeed, Government should trust
the GBPA to be the One Stop Shop Licensing Authority for Bahamian and
foreign investment under the Hawksbill Creek Agreement . References to
GBPA include DEVCO.