Editorial   Quality teaching The names of many of our public schools pay tribute to master teachers whose contributions to national development were extraordinary and critical. Students should be reminded of those contributions by educators such as Mabel Walker, L.N. Coakley, N...     Acknowledging the past The Bahamas is quickly approaching its 40th anniversary of independence.  Though independent from Britain for 40 years, the history of The Bahamas and the Bahamian people hardly started in 1973.  Insufficient effort by successive government...     New Providence and the Family Islands The Family Islands are remarkably unfamiliar to many Nassuvians. We spend millions of dollars to court tourists to our islands. Incentives to encourage local travelers and developers exist but are inadequate. Even a shopping trip to Miami often cos...     Governance and the government Many may recall the scandalous fall from grace by a number of multilateral companies a few years ago. Notable among these were Enron and Worldcom in the U.S. and Parmalat in Italy. Fraudulent behavior at the highest levels of those companies resulte...     Still waiting for Freedom of Information In October 2011, the long-awaited and long-promised Freedom of Information (FOI) Act was tabled in the House of Assembly, years after it was promised. It was supposed to be enforced by July 1 the following year. Parliament finally passed the FOIA nea...     Getting serious about shanty towns As we have repeatedly pointed out, shanty towns are a major problem in The Bahamas. In 2009, then Minister of State for Immigration Branville McCartney said that 37 shanty towns had been identified in New Providence alone. The government has commis...     Freedom of conscience by law but not practice Recently in a refreshing piece of judicial news, Chief Justice Sir Michael Barnett ruled that the Royal Bahamas Defence Force violated a Muslim marine’s constitutional right to freedom of religion. The marine was disciplined for his refusal to par...     Securing environmental health Enough is enough.  Once again the New Providence landfill is on fire and Bahamians continue to suffer the ill-effects of poor management to safeguard our health.  The prevalence of spills, leaks, fires or other incidents across the archipel...     Building the country’s future As we embark on the start of 2013, our 40th year of independence, we must celebrate our stable democracy and march on to build our future.  We are a passionate and proud country; a country of superior athletes, fine artists and intellectuals. B...     The young and unemployed On May 7, 2012, many young Bahamians exercised their right to vote in an election for the first time.  But it is this generation lured by promises of a better Bahamas that continues to suffer the consequences of continually failing government po...     Reality and expectations a year later The last Free National Movement (FNM) administration had a tough time from 2007 to 2012. The financial crisis in 2008 left the FNM playing catch-up.  The crime problem it could never bring under control.  The roadwork project could not come...     Reasonable police action The Royal Bahamas Police Force has a responsibility to keep the peace and ensure that those who break the law are arrested and prosecuted.  It should not apologize for satisfying its mandate. On Thursday night police conducted operations in Nas...     Cheering mediocrity The school year is in its final weeks and there will be various proms shortly for seniors graduating and heading to new phases of life.Proms are celebrations of that transition.  Teenagers get dressed up and say goodbye to the school and friends...     A worrying crime prediction A senior U.S. State Department official is predicting that the Caribbean will likely experience a surge in drug-trafficking activity by 2015 because criminal operations are slowly moving out of parts of Latin America due to an international crackdown...     Preserving our physical heritage The Bahamas is quickly approaching its 40th anniversary of independence.  Though independent from Britain for 40 years, the history of The Bahamas and the Bahamian people hardly started in 1973.  Insufficient effort by successive government...     Embracing 4G technology in The Bahamas  Undeniably, the upgrade of our cellular network to 4G has been plagued with service disruptions causing much frustration.  Dropped calls, delayed email and failed messenger services aggravate both technology savvy and infrequent phone users. Bu...     The urgency of resolving waste problems When the recent city dump fire began it was fascinating to fly over and see where the unhealthy smoke spread on New Providence.  It drifted northwest toward the Cable Beach area over many homes and toward a new development: Baha Mar. Large dump...     Who is in charge of our government? Silence is acquiescence. Are we to accept then that our prime minister and deputy prime minister profess the same anti-foreign sentiment as is being expressed by Immigration and Foreign Minister Fred Mitchell? If not, they should stand up and make a...     Government and police must show strength to unions Unions have a right to protest. They have a responsibility to advocate on behalf of their workers. They do not, however, have the right to take over property they do not own. The workers at the Bahamas Electricity Corporation (BEC) went too far re...     Attacking the economic engine The Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) administration has been talking tough about cutting the number of work permits the government issues to companies for foreign workers.  This rhetoric has raised concerns across the business community.  No...     An interesting idea on electoral reform The Bahamas has a bicameral (two chamber) Parliament.  The House of Assembly’s members are elected and the members of the Senate are appointed. Maurice Tynes, the clerk of Parliament, recently appeared before the Constitutional Commission and...     Our partial welcome to foreigners Last week, the Ministry of Tourism proudly revealed the heavily financed “Behold” campaign in New York City’s Rockefeller subway station.  It is good that the collective islands of The Bahamas are being represented in our tourism promotion...     Getting back to business It is time for The Bahamas to get serious and get back to work.  The honeymoon period for the elected Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) government ended decisively with the failed referendum.  As Bahamians ponder if there will be any change i...     Why block students from the House of Assembly? Police officers last Wednesday denied more than a dozen College of The Bahamas (COB) students entry into the House of Assembly.  Those students, who were led by COB Union of Students (COBUS) President Ernesto Williams, were forced to wait behind...     BEC and the government’s debt position The Bahamas Electricity Corporation (BEC) is in crisis. It has a quarter of a billion dollars in debt the government has to back, it may lose $50 million this year and it is unable to provide enough power to keep the lights on in the high-demand sum...     The prime minister is not ‘minister of everything’ College of The Bahamas (COB) Council Chairman Alfred Sears yesterday confirmed fee increases announced this week have been implemented and students’ bills for the fall semester already reflect those fees. His confirmation came one day after Prime ...     Freedom of conscience by law but not practice Last week in a refreshing piece of judicial news, Chief Justice Sir Michael Barnett ruled that the Royal Bahamas Defence Force violated a Muslim marine’s constitutional right to freedom of religion.  The marine was disciplined for his refusal ...     Moving on from the BTC issue The Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) said in its manifesto that it would seek to return the majority stake in the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) to the Bahamian people.  The party, however, did not give a detailed and plausible plan to ...     Tragedy in Boston In the afternoon yesterday two bombs went off in Boston causing death and chaos.  At last report three people were dead and more than 100 wounded. Terrorists struck at the Boston Marathon.  Blood covered the sidewalk where runners were fin...     Crime can touch all of us New Providence is the island of The Bahamas where the crime problem really is occurring.  Residents of many of our other major inhabited islands still enjoy peaceful lives. Due to the small size of New Providence all its residents should realiz...     Energy savings for all Bahamians The cost of electricity in The Bahamas is a significant economic burden.  This government has promised to lower rates, but when and how? The Bahamas Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA), tired of waiting for government action, has taken a step ...     Getting a handle on waste The Bahamas has a serious waste problem.  Not just a fiscal waste and revenue generation problem, but an actual physical solid waste problem.  For an island nation with limited land mass, our apathetic attitude towards waste management need...     Marching on to 40 As we embark on our 40th year of independence we must celebrate our stable democracy and march to build our future.  We are a passionate and proud country; a country of superior athletes, fine artists and intellectuals.  We are, however, al...     Pedestrians need greater safety Being a pedestrian in New Providence is not easy.  Many lose their lives each year navigating our streets. The Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) keeps a watchful eye on tourists and local pedestrians downtown, but elsewhere Bahamians are largel...     Intellectually curious and creative In a parliamentary democracy such as ours, the quality of the respective teams of candidates chosen by major political parties to contest general elections is crucial. From among these candidates new governments are formed, including a Cabinet with c...     Basic safety and Mayaguana The death of three people in Mayaguana last week was a tragedy.  The residents were attempting to illuminate a runway for a medical charter.  The plane struck the vehicles and two women and man were killed. The victims were identified as f...     Unnecessary disclosures In parliaments, vicious debates often take place. Opposing sides do everything they can to win a point or cause the other side to be derailed. Parliaments are not places for thin-skinned people or for the faint of heart. Public life in general is ...     A worrying crime prediction A senior U.S. State Department official is predicting that the Caribbean will likely experience a surge in drug-trafficking activity by 2015 because criminal operations are slowly moving out of parts of Latin America due to an international crackdown...     Government and police must show strength to unions Unions have a right to protest. They have a responsibility to advocate on behalf of their workers.  They do not, however, have the right to takeover property they do not own. Yesterday workers at the Bahamas Electricity Corporation (BEC) went t...     The concept of earned gratuity The obligatory inclusion of 15 percent gratuity is without a doubt a point of frustration for most diners.  Gratuity in The Bahamas is not so much a reflection of service but more an inflation of 15 percent in the price of food at a restaurant. ...     Stepping down from high office The world was surprised when the head of the Roman Catholic Church resigned. Popes don’t usually resign. Like monarchs they serve until death. The last pope to resign did so six centuries ago. Pope Benedict XVI is an old man. The 85-year-old s...     The role of quality teaching The names of many of our public schools pay tribute to master teachers whose contributions to national development were extraordinary and critical. Students should be reminded of those contributions by educators such as Mabel Walker, L.N. Coakley, N...     Does the immigration minister get it? Why do politicians feel that they have a right to say anything in Parliament and that those impacted will keep their lips sealed, especially when asked by the press to comment? Is the business community henpecked by the political class to the point ...     BEC and the government’s debt position The Bahamas Electricity Corporation (BEC) is in crisis. It has a quarter of a billion dollars in debt the government has to back, it may lose $50 million this year and it is unable to provide enough power to keep the lights on in the high-demand sum...     The national spelling bee It is always a pleasure for The Nassau Guardian to sponsor the Bahamas National Spelling Bee. Danielle Smith of St. John’s College won this year’s competition yesterday. She outperformed a talented field of students from around the country. Da...     Improving public education and training The names of many of our public schools pay tribute to master teachers whose contributions to national development were extraordinary and critical. As the school year draws to a close, we should recall the contributions by educators such as Mabel Wa...     Non-smokers should be protected Smoking kills.  The Bahamas needs to ban smoking in enclosed public places to preserve the health of those who do not smoke. The United States Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention says secondhand smoke exposure causes an estimated 3...     Preserving the public space The value of public space in Nassau is acutely underestimated in our most urban areas.  Urban Renewal 2.0 demolished dilapidated buildings under the premise of eradicating areas that harbor and facilitate criminal activity.  Such government...     An interesting idea on electoral reform The Bahamas has a bicameral (two chamber) Parliament.  The House of Assembly’s members are elected and the members of the Senate are appointed. Maurice Tynes, the clerk of Parliament, recently appeared before the Constitutional Commission and...     Transferring knowledge to thrive Undeniably, the current immigration system and its policies are broken and Bahamians rightly should be concerned about the proliferation of foreign workers conducting business with or without a permit in The Bahamas.  However, the government can...     The consequence of bad policy Many observers now have their eyes on Cyprus.  The country is in the midst of financial crisis and the leaders of the Eurozone have demanded a high price for the money needed to bail out the country. A condition of the loan from Europe is that ...     The national debt Governments, international agencies, rating agencies and most businessmen regard the level of national debt to the size of the economy (GDP) as one of the most important economic indicators in assessing the current and future health of the economy. ...     Incentivized performance The recent disclosure of bonus allocations to NIB executives highlights an important distinction between the public and private sectors – that of incentivized pay. We are astonished that the Bahamas Electricity Corporation (BEC) spent over $11 mil...     Getting a handle on waste The Bahamas has a serious waste problem.  Not just a fiscal waste and revenue generation problem, but an actual physical solid waste problem.  For an island nation with limited land mass, our apathetic attitude towards waste management need...     A radical change to our immigration policy We all agree that Bahamians should be entitled to every opportunity possible in The Bahamas.  It is our country.  Such nationalism, however, should not evolve to impractical exclusionist immigration policies. Minister of Foreign Affairs an...     Unnecessary disclosures In parliaments, vicious debates often take place.  Opposing sides do everything they can to win a point or cause the other side to be derailed.  Parliaments are not places for thin-skinned people or for the faint of heart. Public life in g...     Celebrating Bahamian talent The arts flourish in The Bahamas during the Christmas season. From the first of December to the New Year, hardly a day exists without a performance or festival. The Bahamas must embrace its talented artisans and encourage appreciation for our cultura...     Government intervention and the hotel workers It is never a pleasant time when a large number of workers lose their jobs.  Some will find it difficult to meet their responsibilities to their families.  Some will have great difficulty finding new jobs.  Yet, we must always remember...     The Bahamas in numbers Our census, a vital and complicated undertaking, describes the identity of The Bahamas through numbers.  It is also indicative of trends and analysis of data based on successive census reports. For The Bahamas this not only means comparison on ...     Cheering mediocrity The school year is in its final months and there will be various proms shortly for seniors graduating and heading to new phases of life. Proms are celebrations of that transition.  Teenagers get dressed up and say goodbye to the school and frie...     Our automobile affliction Last Monday, Prime Minister Perry Christie announced a reduction of duty on trucks to 65 percent and hinted at a possible revision of current motor vehicle duty rates.  Our automobile affliction stems not entirely from high duty rates, but more ...     Educating the people on VAT The government has set July 1, 2014 as the date for the biggest change to the Bahamian tax system in recent memory.  It plans to bring forward a value added tax (VAT), to create a central revenue service and to cut many customs duty rates. To i...     Stepping down from high office The world was surprised when the head of the Roman Catholic Church resigned. Popes don’t usually resign. Like monarchs they serve until death. The last pope to resign did so six centuries ago.Pope Benedict XVI is an old man. The 85-year-old said hi...     Energy savings for all Bahamians The cost of electricity in The Bahamas is a significant economic burden.  This government has promised to lower rates, but when and how? The Bahamas Hotel Association (BHA), tired of waiting for government action, has taken a step forward to co...     Moving on from the BTC issue The Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) said in its manifesto that it would seek to return the majority stake in the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) to the Bahamian people.  The party, however, did not give a detailed and plausible plan to ...     Immigration reform Immigration reform is a highly contentious issue in The Bahamas that must be addressed.  Our current ad hoc approach leaves eligible citizens, foreign corporations, and refugees floundering in a broken system.  Broad ministerial support is ...     An interesting idea on electoral reform The Bahamas has a bicameral (two chamber) Parliament.  The House of Assembly’s members are elected and the members of the Senate are appointed. Maurice Tynes, the clerk of Parliament, yesterday appeared before the Constitutional Commission an...     Embracing new realities Prime Minister Perry Christie is scheduled to make a mid-year budget statement today in Parliament.  The government has said it intends to seek some cuts from its agencies and dependents going forward to slow the growth of the debt it owes. Thi...     Changing the Prime Minister’s Pension Act Hubert Ingraham is the only former prime minister alive in The Bahamas at this time. He was prime minister for 15 years. Ingraham therefore is the only one who qualifies for the prime minister’s pension. And it is a generous full-salary pension ...     Getting a handle on waste The Bahamas has a serious waste problem.  Not just a fiscal waste and revenue generation problem, but an actual physical solid waste problem.  For an island nation with limited land mass, our apathetic attitude towards waste management need...     Baha Mar rising Driving west on New Providence it is hard not to be amazed by the giant of a resort rising to the sky.  Baha Mar, which is being financed and built by the Chinese, is getting closer and closer to completion.  The scheduled finish date is De...     Political retirement with dignity The Bahamas is a new independent democracy. Having already celebrated 39 years going it alone, our traditions, though rooted in the British system, are still evolving. One tradition that has not really developed yet is what to do with our leaders wh...     The continuing crime trend Despite promises of a renewed effort to fight crime, The Bahamas recorded its 10th murder on January 30.  Our preoccupation with the referendum offered a brief respite from consideration of the criminal activity that continues to plague our nati...     Government intervention and the hotel workers It is never a pleasant time when a large number of workers lose their jobs.  Some will find it difficult to meet their responsibilities to their families.  Some will have great difficulty finding new jobs.  Yet, we must always remember...     Building a new Parliament The Bahamas needs a new Parliament. A visit to the current buildings downtown would demonstrate that to anyone. Parliament recently debated the creation of a select committee to examine the construction of a building for representatives and for tha...     Students who excel It is good to see young men excel in the school system. Often the narratives associated with young people, especially boys, relate to crime and violence. We have had several murder records the past few years and each year the overwhelming majority of...     Getting back to business It is time for The Bahamas to get serious and get back to work. The honeymoon period for the elected Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) government is decisively over with the failed referendum. As Bahamians ponder if there will be any change in the stat...     Preserving our greatest assets Developers vie for oceanfront acreage with soft sandy beaches emerging out of turquoise waters – the quintessential image of island life.  Luckily with our 700 islands we have an abundant supply of unspoiled coastline, or do we? The announcem...     Stepping down from high office The world was surprised yesterday when the head of the Roman Catholic Church resigned.  Popes don’t usually resign.  Like monarchs they serve until death.  The last pope to resign did so six centuries ago. Pope Benedict XVI is an ol...     Dying in police custody We were surprised, as were many Bahamians, when police informed the country on Friday and Saturday that two suspects died in custody. The Nassau Guardian understands that a suspect in an attempted armed robbery, who sources identified as Matthew Jac...     A revolutionary advertising campaign? Paradise Island is not representative of The Bahamas.  It is a playground for tourists conveniently separated from New Providence by a toll bridge.  Once over the bridge, tourists have few reasons to venture back to the mainland to mingle w...     Changing the Prime Minister’s Pension Act Hubert Ingraham is the only former prime minister alive in The Bahamas at this time.  He was prime minister for 15 years.  Ingraham therefore is the only one who qualifies for the prime minister’s pension.  And it is a generous full-...     Building a new Parliament The Bahamas needs a new Parliament.  A visit to the current buildings downtown would demonstrate that to anyone. Parliament yesterday debated the creation of a select committee to examine the construction of a building for representatives and f...     Coastal awareness for the government Hurricane Sandy left much destruction along the Bahamas’ coastline last year.  The accompanying storm surge was unanticipated and wreaked havoc on docks, coastal roadways, and seawalls.  The Bahamas must implement measures to mitigate and...     Baha Mar rising Driving west on New Providence it is hard not to be amazed by the giant of a resort rising to the sky.  Baha Mar, which is being financed and built by the Chinese, is getting closer and closer to completion.  The scheduled finish date is De...     The church in the public sphere The main combatants in the gambling referendum were the numbers bosses and the church. The church won after being outspent by millions. The victory speaks to the continued significance of the organized Christian community in a society that, while b...     Democracy, independence and complacency The images and news stories of the Arab Spring that have dominated the international news media for more than a year are a telling story on the importance of the basic concept of democracy, a concept that is spoken about often, but a concept often no...     The continuing crime trend Despite promises of a renewed effort to fight crime, The Bahamas recorded its 10th murder on January 30.  Our preoccupation with the referendum offered a brief respite from consideration of the criminal activity that continues to plague our nati...     Hope for the FNM The Free National Movement (FNM) was having a bad time.  It lost three elections.  Its leader resigned.  Its new leader has been criticized from within and by outsiders for not having the stuff to lead the party to victory. Then came ...     Getting back to business It is time for The Bahamas to get serious and get back to work.  The honeymoon period for the elected Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) government is decisively over with the failed referendum.  As Bahamians ponder if there will be any change...     A remarkable defeat The final official count was not in up to press time last night, but the Vote Yes campaign and Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) suffered a significant defeat in the gaming referendum.  The people rejected the legalization of web shops and a natio...     Let your voice be heard The referendum vote today on the gaming questions is a first in the modern Bahamas. We collectively will vote on a matter that is not about electing a government or changing the Constitution.  We actually get to vote to advise our government on ...     The dangers of Prince Charles Drive We have written about issues of road safety a few times recently because of the significant changes here on New Providence due to the New Providence Road Improvement Project (NPRIP). Highways have been created in many places and in some instances th...     Students who excel It is good to see young men excel in the school system.  Often the narratives associated with young people, especially boys, relate to crime and violence.  We have had several murder records the past few years and each year the overwhelming...     Vote no We congratulate the government on its resounding success to undermine a democratic process.  The gaming referendum has descended into a political spectacle besieged by lies and pathetic explanations.  How can we place confidence in a govern...     Incentivized performance The recent disclosure of bonus allocations to NIB executives highlights an important distinction between the public and private sectors – that of incentivized pay. We are astonished that the Bahamas Electricity Corporation (BEC) spent over $11 mil...     Doing our part to further debate There has been much debate over the last few months over the gambling issue.  With the referendum now only a few days away, the opposing sides are making their closing remarks.  Each side wants our vote and they will push to the end to conv...     The politics of the referendum With there being just a week left before the referendum, the Free National Movement (FNM) has settled on a no vote position after its leader had several other positions. The Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) officially says it has no position.  No...     Pedestrians need greater safety Being a pedestrian in New Providence is not easy. Nearly 20 pedestrians lost their lives in 2012 and already New Providence has recorded its first pedestrian death (January 5). Pedestrian deaths are too common on this island. The Royal Bahamas Pol...     What to do with the gambling money If there is a yes vote and Parliament legalizes lottery gambling for Bahamians and legal residents, a decision will have to be made regarding what to do with the money derived from it.The money should not go into the general revenue pot of the govern...     The high-stakes vote draws near We are now only a few weeks away from the gambling referendum and there has been rigorous debate on the issue.  The church and numbers men are spending money on ads and the campaigning is intensifying in the run-up to January 28.  Bahamians...     And what is the plan for BEC? Recent disclosures regarding the waste at the Bahamas Electricity Corporation should anger us all.  Some staff members have taken home significantly more in overtime than they make in pay.  This is wasteful.  If there is that much over...     A revolutionary advertising campaign? Paradise Island is not representative of The Bahamas.  It is a playground for tourists conveniently separated from New Providence by a toll bridge.  Once over the bridge, tourists have few reasons to venture back to the mainland to mingle w...     After the referendum If Bahamians vote in support of legalizing some form of gambling for Bahamians on January 28, the real work of creating a legal local gaming sector will begin the day after.  And, it should take much consideration before legislation is brought t...     Third consecutive election defeat for the FNM The North Abaco by-election has come and gone and the Free National Movement (FNM) lost another election – its third consecutive election defeat.  It first lost the 2010 Elizabeth by-election after the Election Court’s decision. It then...     The dangers of Prince Charles Drive We have written about issues of road safety a few times recently because of the significant changes here on New Providence due to the New Providence Road Improvement Project (NPRIP).  Highways have been created in many places and in some instanc...     Pedestrians need greater safety Being a pedestrian in New Providence is not easy.  Nearly 20 pedestrians lost their lives in 2012 and already New Providence recorded its first pedestrian death (January 5).  Pedestrian deaths are too common on this island. The Royal Baham...     The PLP and the gambling referendum The Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) has had a fairly good run of momentum. It won the 2010 Elizabeth by­-election, the 2012 general election and the 2012 North Abaco by­election. The PLP now has 30 seats in the 38­-seat House of Assembly and Huber...     Resolutions for good health With the onset of January 1, resolutions for the New Year were officially launched.  Though January 1 is only just another day, the change from one year to another propels us to evaluate our lifestyles.  As we assess the previous year, we p...     Constitutional reform The Bahamas will be 40 years old this July.  In this time we have not changed our constitution once.  There was one attempt in early 2002 at constitutional reform.  That politicized effort failed.  Nothing has been attempted since...     Promoting development Dreaming of investing and planning a development in the tranquil Bahamas? By all means dream and keep dreaming, as the project will become encumbered with lengthy government approvals dismissing all investors, local or foreign, except those with an o...     Why we should vote in the upcoming referendum On January 28, Bahamians will have a direct say in the policymaking process.  Bahamians will be asked to vote yes or no on two questions: Do you support the regulation and taxation of web shop gaming, and do you support the establishment of a na...     What a ‘Yes’ vote could mean for the church The Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) and Free National Movement (FNM) have historically dared not cross the church for decades on the issue of gambling for Bahamians in The Bahamas. Instead, both parties as governments turned away and did not see the ...     Building the country’s future As we embark on the start of 2013, our 40th year of independence, we must celebrate our stable democracy and march on to build our future.  We are a passionate and proud country; a country of superior athletes, fine artists and intellectuals. B...     Embracing multiculturalism The comments of Haitian President Michel Martelly to Haitian-Bahamians when he visited The Bahamas earlier this year led to much debate.  Martelly advised Bahamians of Haitian descent to form a voting bloc, and to vote for the party that has the...     Celebrating Bahamian talent The arts flourish in The Bahamas during the Christmas season. From the first of December to the New Year, hardly a day exists without a performance or festival. The Bahamas must embrace its talented artisans and encourage appreciation for our cultura...     The concept of earned gratuity The obligatory inclusion of 15 percent gratuity is without a doubt a point of frustration for most diners.  Gratuity in The Bahamas is not so much a reflection of service but more an inflation of 15 percent in the price of food at a restaurant. ...     The evolving Christie legacy The return of Hubert Ingraham to the leadership of the Free National Movement (FNM) in 2005 marked the beginning of an all-out assault on Perry Christie.  The then revitalized FNM branded deep into the political flesh of the Progressive Liberal ...     Crimes and Christmas It is the Yuletide season once again and although this time of year was originally supposed to commemorate the greatest gift to mankind, the birth of the Saviour, the focus of Christmas has changed over the years.  The emphasis is still on the a...     The new FNM senator Free National Movement (FNM) Leader Dr. Hubert Minnis has a new parliamentarian to select.  Zhivargo Laing’s resignation from the Senate comes into effect at the end of the year and a replacement is needed. Minnis says he has 11 potential can...     The government must handle NIB funds with care The government’s financial circumstances are dire but it should not look to the funds of the National Insurance Board (NIB) for relief.  Cash flow, we understand, is severely strained as the minister of finance tries to pay its bills.  So...     Embracing 4G technology in The Bahamas Undeniably, the upgrade of our cellular network to 4G has been plagued with service disruptions causing much frustration.  Dropped calls, delayed email and failed messenger services aggravate both technology savvy and infrequent phone users. Bu...     Moving development forward in 2013 The Bahamas desperately needs to increase revenues.  Foreign direct investment through property development is often deemed as the primary path to do so even though its direct economic impact often seems overstated.  As this country strives...     The gun law debate after massacres In Connecticut at the end of last week, 26 people were dead.  Of this number 20 were children.  A lone gunman ended their lives.  He had no reasonable grievance with them.  He just decided to extend his derangement to a generation...     Same problems in 2013 Crime and the economy have been persistent problems in The Bahamas for the past few years.  There have been murder records four of the last five years and the unemployment rate is nearly 15 percent.  As we approach the New Year, these iss...     The unavailability of government It is with some relief that we now know that not even the director of the National Insurance Board (NIB), Algernon Cargill, can schedule a meeting with the prime minister.  Since the elections, this government has not been as available as it sho...     Celebrating Bahamian talent The arts flourish in The Bahamas during the Christmas season.  From the first of December to the New Year, hardly a day exists without a performance or festival.  The Bahamas must embrace its talented artisans and encourage appreciation for...     Being safe at Christmas In The Bahamas Christmas is a time for increased revelry and concern.  With more people out on the streets spending money buying gifts for loved ones, robbers think Christmas in The Bahamas is a time to work overtime at their nefarious craft. O...     The new FNM senator Free National Movement (FNM) Leader Dr. Hubert Minnis has a new parliamentarian to select.  Zhivargo Laing’s resignation from the Senate comes into effect at the end of the year and a replacement is needed. Minnis says he has 11 potential can...     Incentivized performance The recent disclosure of bonus allocations to NIB executives highlights an important distinction between the public and private sectors – that of incentivized pay. We are astonished that the Bahamas Electricity Corporation (BEC) spent over $11 mil...     Wasting public money with glee In an interview published in today’s Nassau Guardian, Bahamas Electricity Corporation (BEC) Chairman Leslie Miller said BEC will lose significantly more than the $16.3 million he first projected it would lose at the end of this fiscal year. It was...     Tourists come first The Bahamian economy is driven by the tourism and financial services sectors.  Tourism and tourism-related construction and manufacturing combined provide an estimated 60 percent of gross domestic product. Who is the Bahamian tourist?  Is ...     Will a referendum loss slow PLP’s momentum? The Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) has had a good run of momentum.  It won the 2010 Elizabeth by-election, the 2012 general election and the 2012 North Abaco by-election.  The PLP now has 30 seats in the 38-seat House of Assembly and Huber...     The inevitable oil spill For the most part, the government has been rather nonchalant about the MSC Eugenia oil leak in Bahamian waters.  Yet, this “at sea” event was picked up by the Associated Press and made international news in places such as Vancouver, Las Vega...     The government must handle NIB funds with care The government's financial circumstances are dire but it should not look to the funds of the National Insurance Board (NIB) for relief.  Cash flow, we understand, is severely strained as the minister of finance tries to pay its bills.  Some...     The unavailability of government It is with some relief that we now know that not even the director of the National Insurance Board (NIB), Algernon Cargill, can schedule a meeting with the prime minister.  Since the elections, this government has not been as available as it sho...     Energy savings for all Bahamians The cost of electricity in The Bahamas is a significant economic burden.  This government has promised to lower rates, but when and how? The Bahamas Hotel Association (BHA), tired of waiting for government action, has taken a step forward to co...     Why we should vote in January On January 28, 2013, Bahamians will have a direct say in the policymaking process.  The question will be posed as to whether or not to allow Bahamians to gamble in web shops in some form, and whether or not there should be a national lottery. T...     Preserving the public space The value of public space in Nassau is acutely underestimated in our most urban areas.  Urban Renewal 2.0 demolished dilapidated buildings under the premise of eradicating areas that harbor and facilitate criminal activity.  Such government...     Tourists come first The Bahamian economy is driven by the tourism and financial services sectors.  Tourism and tourism-related construction and manufacturing combined provide an estimated 60 percent of gross domestic product. Who is the Bahamian tourist?  Is ...     Incorporating local knowledge The government hires consultants to provide technical analysis on complex issues in order to facilitate policy decisions.  Often, as in the case of the gambling referendum, these consultants are foreign.  When the prime minister disclosed t...     Improving road safety Driving in The Bahamas is perilous.  Sunday proved particularly tragic. Early Sunday morning on Abaco, a male passenger became the country’s 37th traffic fatality.  Then, late Sunday evening, two vehicle passengers succumbed to their inj...     The importance of the sporting life Condolences came in yesterday from all around on the death of Bahamian sports legend Thomas A. Robinson.  He died Sunday morning after a long battle with cancer at the age of 74. “As the pioneer of international track competition for The Baha...     A good move by the prime minister Prime Minister Perry Christie made a good decision regarding the referendum.  In postponing the gambling referendum he demonstrated that he has listened to the voice of the people.  This is a key component of good political leadership. The...     Growing disconnect between New Providence and the Family Islands The Family Islands are remarkably unfamiliar to many Nassuvians.  We spend millions of dollars to court tourists to our islands.  Incentives to encourage local travelers and developers exist but are inadequate.  Even a shopping trip to...     Energy savings for all Bahamians The cost of electricity in The Bahamas is a significant economic burden.  This government has promised to lower rates, but when and how? The Bahamas Hotel Association (BHA), tired of waiting for government action, has taken a step forward to co...     Vendors should pay Tenants should pay their rent.  It is their obligation for being able to use the space of another. The government has a compromised position with its tenants.  Because politicians administer governments, they have an interest in trying to ...     «StartPrev12345678910NextEnd» Page 1 of 15