Our Nations Future in the short term looks a bit gloomy, however, I feel that everything will work out well in the long term.
Right now the Bahamas is trapped in a time capsule that's stuck on 1973, and most Bahamians live in 2008. What's it going to take to lift this inertia? A leader who is filled with love, self-less, and completely sacrificial to himself and his political collegues.
IMO, government should only be there to create, and establish an environment where its citizens are uplifted, inspired, and encouraged to chart their own destiny, financially, socially, etc..etc...with little to NO government involvement.
The *MAN* has lost his way, not only in our country, but around the world. More particulary, the *black* man. For the most part, the entire country's future is in jeopary when there is an absense of a positive male in the home.
That said, there's a TON of work that has to be done in this country. When I see *Future* in the title of this thread, my mind immediately shift to the children of the country, and we all know why.
In a nutshell, it will always come back to love, no matter how you cut it. Love for family, each other, and country. That's where we have to start when we talk about our Nations future.
Actually i see the black man as waking up after a long slumber. African nations are organizing without to a large degree of interference from outsiders. the future is bright, we have the resources and untapped wealth. I see that western powers are loosing their grip on the world.

no matter how you cut it. Love for family, each other, and country. That's where we have to start when we talk about our Nations future.



I understand what you are saying, but still, love can not be legislated from the seats of parliament nor from the judges chair nor from within the schools classrooms…how then are we to promote love as a form of national pride?

Point taken...new prospectives are always welcome, thanks for your opinion.

You must be an attorney or a MP

You must be an attorney or a MP


Despite the great admiration some here hold for attorneys and members of parliament; I will accept your gracious statement as a compliment. Thank you for your opinion.

Actually the answer is quite simple. So simple that no one will believe it. George Herbert Walker Bush summed it up best -- "It's the economy, stupid".

A while back ago, someone posted a thesis on developmentally resistant societies. The Bahamas is one such.

Lawrence E. Harrison named the factors for development:
1) Degree of identification with others in society – radius of trust or sense of community
2) Rigor of the ethical system
3) Attitudes about work, innovation, saving and profit
4) The way authority is exercised within the society

These four points are all very sick parts of Bahamian society. So how do you fix it? My thesis at the LSE examined the very issue. And the research behind it provided a very simple answer.

In all of the developmentally resistant societies, there was one factor in common. All of them have closed economies beyond the reach of the average citizen to participate in it, except in a very marginal way.

If the economy was diversified, opened up and liberalised, and everyone so inclined had a shot at the brass ring, then automagically everything else would fall into place.

If everyone is making money legitimately, then neighbourhoods clean up. Pride is instilled. Kids who trespass tote cut hip, because people give a damn. If every kid could have a tertiary education, parents would compete to make their kids the best on the block. Everything would fall into place.

Right now the Bahamian economy is closed, except to foreigners and a select few black families. And those black families jealously guard it. The Black Crab syndrome is alive.

Hubigetty had the right idea in his last term, but now, all he seems obsessed about, is proving for once and for all, how wutless Perry Christie really is. Intelligent people already know that PC is wutless. But Hubigetty will not move on to the great ideas that he had in 2002.

Right now the Bahamian economy is closed, except to foreigners and a select few black families. And those black families jealously guard it. .


I agree with your synopsis of the state of our Nation, but this condition can be easily changed when the masses gain access to useful information and resources, and realize their right to economic empowerment. Thanks for your opinions, they are duly accepted and noted.

That may not be it. But a politician who does not have to be made accountable or even uncomfortable is a dangerous person.

Very dangerous indeed!

Lurker - I do not agree. The Bahamas is sitting ready for anyone with a forward thinking agenda and a set of you know what to make it happen. Opportunities abound in our country. But those willing to take the chance cant expect government to fund them, cant expect for society to support them, and cant expect industry to finance them. There is risk involved, but those who are prepared to take the risk, make the financial sacrifice and chance the social ridicule will succeed. People will become very wealthy from today's bahamas, but like the saying, no risk no reward.

Actually i see the black man as waking up after a long slumber. African nations are organizing without to a large degree of interference from outsiders. the future is bright, we have the resources and untapped wealth. I see that western powers are loosing their grip on the world.


Your opinions are duly accepted and noted...thank you.

Lurker - I do not agree. The Bahamas is sitting ready for anyone with a forward thinking agenda and a set of you know what to make it happen. Opportunities abound in our country. But those willing to take the chance cant expect government to fund them, cant expect for society to support them, and cant expect industry to finance them. There is risk involved, but those who are prepared to take the risk, make the financial sacrifice and chance the social ridicule will succeed. People will become very wealthy from today's bahamas, but like the saying, no risk no reward.

In one sense what you say is true -- for those with access to capital.

The average Bahamian does not have access to capital. For example, borrowing is onerous in the best of times. There is no domestic credit bureau. But on top of that lending for a business requires three years of track record and a pledge of your firstborn -- if you can get it at all.

And then you have the whole Central Bank exchange thing. There is a 25% load on investments (in and out), and moving money in the course of business requires Central Bank approval if it is in American currency, and it must be for business, because Bahamian currency is not freely convertible, and there is a load on the exchange of that as well.

So as a result of many factors, the average Bahamian is behind the 8 ball. And all opportunity must be freely available. Canesfins, the people that you and I know doing business in the Bahamas have access to any amounts of capital they want. The average Bahamian is not that lucky.

In one sense what you say is true -- for those with access to capital.
The average Bahamian does not have access to capital. For example, borrowing is onerous in the best of times. There is no domestic credit bureau. But on top of that lending for a business requires three years of track record and a pledge of your firstborn -- if you can get it at all.
And then you have the whole Central Bank exchange thing. There is a 25% load on investments (in and out), and moving money in the course of business requires Central Bank approval if it is in American currency, and it must be for business, because Bahamian currency is not freely convertible, and there is a load on the exchange of that as well.
So as a result of many factors, the average Bahamian is behind the 8 ball. And all opportunity must be freely available. Canesfins, the people that you and I know doing business in the Bahamas have access to any amounts of capital they want. The average Bahamian is not that lucky.

Lurker, this problem is not unique to the Bahamas or Bahamians. Your average American nor your average Cnadain does not have free access to capital either. You have to make it happen, sometimes it does take a long time, but you need to be creative, you need to find funding, start at a manageable level. You raise obstacles, but these obstacles are not unique.

Lurker, this problem is not unique to the Bahamas or Bahamians. Your average American nor your average Cnadain does not have free access to capital either.

Could you explain a bit more about this, as I'm not sure what you're referring to?
A 25% charge on funds is pretty heavy if you want to be competitive and still make a profit.

I am puzzled about your “Truth above Honour” saying at the bottom of your post. Surely, Honour implies truth. One can’t be honourable if one is not truthful. Is there such a thing as an honourable liar? :confused:

Yes there is pleanty of them! Or they does call em honourable.Need I say more?:hammer:

are you advocating that a Nation is better without politician?

I would.

A politician is only concerned with getting elected in the next election.

A statesman is genuinely concerned for the welfare for the nation for which he serves, and he is always a servant. Jesus said the first shall be last and the last shall be first.

Like I keep on telling my friends, and i will preach it to the top of my lungs until it actually happens or until i die, whichever comes first:

THE PERSON WHO WILL LEAD THE BAHAMAS THROUGH THESE TIMES, ONTO THE NEXT LEVEL IN NATIONHOOD WILL BE ONE TO WHICH MONEY IS NOT A MOTIVATOR. THE ONLY THING THAT MATTERS TO HIM/HER IS THE WELL-BEING OF THEIR COUNTRY. THIS PERSON WOULD DEDICATE THEIR TIME TO GUARDING OUR NATION'S INTEGRITY AND INDUSTRY, NOT TO JUST A COUPLE OF INTEREST GROUPS, OR EVEN TO JUST THE MASSES, BUT SOMEONE WHO CATERS TO EVERY BAHAMIAN REGARDLESS OF CLASS, CREED, OR COLOUR. HE/SHE WILL MAKE BAHAMIANS FEEL GOOD ABOUT BEING BAHAMIANS, HELP THEM TO SEE THAT WE HAVE SOMETHING TO LIVE FOR, SOMETHING TO FIGHT FOR: The Commonwealth of The Bahamas.

That person, my friends, will need the help of the entire country. We love to just elect these people and expect them to do the job by themselves. 41 persons cannot carry our nation on their backs!!!!!!!!!!!

Could you explain a bit more about this, as I'm not sure what you're referring to?
A 25% charge on funds is pretty heavy if you want to be competitive and still make a profit.

I mean in order to capitalize a venture. Bahamians are not unique iin the challenges faced to obtain capital for a venture.