Opinions
Opinion Editorial: COVID-19 Highlights Caribbean Community’s need to build resilience - Apr 30, 2020 - 10:55:39 AM
As all CARICOM Member States and Associate States now have confirmed
COVID-19 cases and, as predictions indicate that cases will continue to
rise globally, humanity’s vulnerability and that of the systems we
utilise, are again being highlighted. When we think of resilience in the
Caribbean Community, we tend to think of the natural hazards we often
face: tropical storms and hurricanes, earthquakes and threats of
volcanic eruptions; indeed, the Caribbean is often referred to as the
second most disaster-prone area, in the world...
Opinions
Opinion: We must leverage the ‘Commonwealth Advantage’ to counter the economic fallout of COVID-19 - Apr 23, 2020 - 11:19:53 AM
The world is bracing for a massive hit to the global economy in the wake
of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Experts have warned of a US$1-2
trillion shortfall in global income this year, while world trade could
contract by between 13 and 32 per cent.
As countries take drastic
measures to fight the spread of the disease, we are seeing borders and
businesses closed, domestic and international travel scaled back, and a
totally transformed way of life due to social distancing...
Opinions
Opinion: Coronavirus and climate disasters - Small vulnerable countries face dual threats - Apr 18, 2020 - 11:57:57 AM
 The widespread destruction wreaked by Tropical Cyclone Harold in several
Pacific countries just days ago has been nothing short of
heart-breaking. At least 32 people have died, while more than 45,000
men, women and children in Vanuatu’s hardest-hit province, Sanma, are
now homeless. In Tonga, hundreds of businesses and homes were gutted,
while Fiji has recorded more than US$20 million worth of damage to
crops, raising fears around food security...
Opinions
Opinion: We should not go back to business as usual after COVID-19 - Apr 7, 2020 - 10:39:57 PM
Today there is an eerie silence across the globe. Bustling cities have
gone quiet and highways that were once jammed with bumper to bumper
traffic, are empty. In homes, thousands of families are anxiously
awaiting a phone call from a hospital about their loved ones. Many have
already received the devastating news that their mother, father, child,
spouse, sibling or friend has died from coronavirus complications -
often without the comfort of someone familiar to hold their hands...
Opinions
Opinion: Extreme events are reversing development goals - Jan 9, 2020 - 10:19:36 AM
 Cyclones in the Caribbean and Pacific, devastating bushfires in
Australia, recurrent floods and droughts in Asia and Africa,
increasingly bring tragic loss of life to our nations and communities,
inflicting physical and mental trauma on survivors, and causing
irreparable damage to centuries old ways of life and undermining
prospects for future prosperity and growth.
The current bushfires
in Australia have been among the most distressing manifestations,
leading the government to declare a state of emergency...
Opinions
Opinion: Young people need our support - we must seize this tremendous opportunity - Nov 5, 2019 - 8:20:46 AM
Our world seems to be changing faster than ever – technologically,
environmentally, socially – and in so many other ways. It is hard for
any of us to keep up with the astonishing pace and scale of
developments, and their impact for better or for worse on our own lives
and the ways in which they affect the future of our planet.
Yet
too often it seems that those with the greatest stake in the future, are
least empowered to shape it: young people. This is something the
Commonwealth has for more than 50 years been working hard to change...
Opinions
Opinion: Access to justice for all is not yet a reality – but there are ways forward - Nov 1, 2019 - 9:30:07 AM
Access to justice for everyone in all communities is an important right
and requirement for building fair and peaceful societies – yet this
objective has been achieved in few if any nations, and the consequences
are damaging for social, economic and political progress and stability.
Studies
indicate that of the 1.4 billion people who for whatever reason in the
past two years felt the need for recourse to law, less than half have
had their justice needs met...
Opinions
Opinion: The world must not sleep-walk into another debt crisis - Oct 16, 2019 - 3:00:32 PM
Trade wars, protectionism, and nationalist rhetoric are combining to
weave the possibility of a nightmare debt crisis that could be worse
than any previously experienced. Global borrowing is now at the highest
levels since the 1950s – and history suggests we should take this as a
warning that a debt crisis could be looming.
Were one to
materialise, it could inflict greater dislocation on international
financial systems and national economic stability than ever previously
witnessed, especially in this highly uncertain environment characterised
by the trade war and regional disintegration...
Opinions
Nicolette Bethel on Immigration - Oct 13, 2019 - 12:21:40 PM
Much has been said of late about immigrants, especially
illegal ones. By "illegal immigrants", by the way, we really mean people
who come here on boats, not jets, people who sail here from the south,
not the north, and people who speak a different language and who worship
a different way from us.
In other words, we mean Haitians. Or Jamaicans, if we're feeling really expansive.
Send them home, we say. Even those who were here all their lives. Even
those who were born here. If they illegal, they gattie go. We're a small
country, after all.
Opinions
Appeal to US Govt for Work Visas for Bahamians - Oct 4, 2019 - 1:56:35 PM
The news about a Category-5 hurricane transiting The Bahamas has
received widespread and worldwide media coverage. Dorian was the most
powerful and destructive storm ever to hit the region, with 20-foot-high
wave surges, and wind gusts up to 220 miles per hour. Most news reports
failed to take note of the unprecedented, compassionate response of the
President and his administration in providing relief supplies and
medical care, as well as the full force of the US military, to the
hardest-hit areas. Nor did they address other matters of immediate
concern to American businesses and government officials...
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...”
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