What if the bahamian people or its government would get rid of the Governor General's position and use Government House as the official home of the Prime Minister. The police who guard the PM's resident would not have to worry about shelter. The Governor General position is really a waste of tax payers money. I think it is about time the Bahamas rid itself of this aspect of its colonial heritage. Sure its a nice place for the tourists to visit but does it serve any other useful purpose. It just a constant reminder of a time and place in our past where the majority of our people were not seen as equals or for that matter welcome by the ruling class. This is not about race but about charting our own course and direction. This is about changing for the better. We are at a time and place in our history where we can make revolutionary changes to the way we have been doing things. That house that sits atop Goverment Hill can have a newer meaning for generations to come if we decide to act now. I know some people don't take too kindly to drastic changes to their colonial views or interruptions to their tea parties but Government House could be so much more than it is currently. Let the Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcome and entertain ambassadors in it offices. We have been an independent nation for thirty years lets start acting that way.

Originally posted by Ryan
I think it is about time the Bahamas rid itself of this aspect of its colonial heritage. Sure its a nice place for the tourists to visit but does it serve any other useful purpose. It just a constant reminder of a time and place in our past where the majority of our people were not seen as equals or for that matter welcome by the ruling class.

I think Sir Johnny Rotten said it best: God Save the Queen (http://thesexpistolsfiles.com/gstqpopup.html)

I agree with you Ryan and I am not a Bahamian. The future house of the Prime Minister (next to his present residence)will have housing for the police. I worked at the new house as a sub-contractor.

I believe the Prime Minister should be housed by the government. This house he is building is not quite the correct place to entertain "Heads of State" and dignitaries.

I see the Prime Minister in Government house or a bigger home up in Prospect Ridge, not on Bay St. in Cable Beach.

Would someone tell me why I as a taxpayer will be further burdened by all this bull crap you are stating should be.
I think that they have to much purkes as is let them pay for there own house.

Ahhhh, Let them pay for their own house? Wait a minute..It would not be "THEIR" house. It would be the residence of the elected Prime Minister, Owned by the goverment, which I thought was owned by the people, not the "Party".

Is the Bahamas a democracy? or a dictatorship?

Sorry, my americanism is showing....

When the term is over, then the prime minister should move out.

This idea will not incur additional taxes on the backs of bahamians but would eliminate the unnecessary expense of providing a home and a salary for the Governor General whose position is only symbolic in any event. I know this is a radical departure from the norm but I believe in these uncertain economic times the treasury could use a break from the vestiges of this colonial albatross. Government House could be renamed and become to the Bahamas what the White House is to America. Eliminating the post of Governor General will not have any significant affect on our parliamentary form of government but could possible usher in new era of governance for the Bahamas. Real local government unimpeded by the political desires of the central government located in New Providence. We could have governance more or less like the Port Authority in Freeport but with elections.

The question was asked by a previous writer whether the Bahamas is a democracy or a dictatorship. I believe we are both a democracy and a dictatorship. Although we have elections every five years, we don't directly choose who will become the Prime Minister of our country nor do we have true representation by our elected members of parliament. The Cabinet is appointed by the PM and only serves at his disposal. The backbenchers or elected members of parliament on the government side usually sides with the PM's position in virtually all parliamentary debates or public policy statements. The government senators are selected by the PM at his discretion. The PM appoints all the boards members of the various government corporations again at his discretion. In fact the PM decides on almost every aspect of government there is with hardly any imput from the public. Sure we have town meetings where persons get to vent their frustrations and offer their ignored opinions but when all is said and done public policy is eventually decided by the PM. Finally when it is time for the PM to step down or retire because of ill health or old age he by virtue of his godlike influence in his party grooms and selects his successor. Eventually when it is politically expedient for the PM and his MPs, consultations with the public at large begins. This phenomena usually occurs a few months prior to general elections just in time for the masses to be pursuaded that they are in fact truly part of the governing process. In essence we live under a democratically installed inherited dictatorship if you can call it that. I think what we need is not so much a change in goverment but a change of governance.

Ryan you have a lot of threads to develop. May I suggest you start one on amending the constitution?

The Prime Minister can use Government House now. But we should convert that house to the PM's residence.

We should get rid of these offices that have no real meaning.

The PM should be elected by all the people.

The MPs should not serve in the cabinet. They should be legislators and represent their constituents' interests.

The senate should be elected or abolished.

We should have local government in New Providence too.

There is Buckingham Palace and No. 10 Downing Street. There is the White House, official residence of the President of the U.S. I am a world traveller and for the life of me can't understand the fact that after 30 years of Independence, we don't have an official residnce of the Prime Minister. In practically every country in the world there is an official residence for leaders of the country, in the case of Commonwealth countries,both the governor general and the PM. It comes complete with security and staff with adequate faciities for entertainment. When one is voted in, they move in their personal belongings, when it is time to move on, personal belongings and PM exit. We ought to stop operating like a Banana Republic. We need a national stadium as well. All for the people! It's not a personal thing.

First of all if this is bahamas issues, why are there foreign flags in the message icon catagory? Immigrants shouldn't have a say-so with the matters we discuss! And second of all I agree with most of the replies on this topic. The Bahamas should have a special residence for its Prime Minister, just like many other countries have for their leaders. And also I agree with rory about us needing to abolish a few unneccessary offices of government. We can't sit back and say that this is the way our government was for years lets not change anything. We have to start acting like an independent nation. Why do our government always have to wait for another country to do something brilliant before we try it here? I mean the government makes it seem so hard to free the country of illegal immigrants when it is plainly so easy to just go door to door, business to business weaving out illegals. If the U. S. decides to do this all of a sudden (It is such a good idea. Lets try it here.) Thats what I am so used to hearing. Webmaster, I think it would be a very good idea for this website to have a speacial thread were we can post ideas directed to the government for helping our country. Lets be good citizens and help our government out. They seem to have a lost for ideas and creativity.:raw:

First of all if this is bahamas issues, why are there foreign flags in the message icon catagory? Immigrants shouldn't have a say-so with the matters we discuss!

The foreign flags are for persons who want to represent their country of origin or their location. Flags can also be added to a topic if that country is being discussed within it.

We have members from all over the world in places such as the United Kingdom and even Sudi Arabia. Not only Bahamians can discuss issues about the Bahamas in this forum. We also have many Nationalities living right here in Nassau and since they live here they also face some of the same issues that we face and therefore they have the right to discuss them with us. What we do not want is persons discussing issues not related to the Bahamas in this site.

About your idea of a thread for helping the Government; I will consider that.

Thank you.

Originally posted by NassauRocks
First of all if this is bahamas issues, why are there foreign flags in the message icon catagory? Immigrants shouldn't have a say-so with the matters we discuss! And second of all I agree with most of the replies on this topic.
Why should immigrants not have a say in the politics of this country? After all, we are ALL immigrants, except that some have been here for a few generations longer than others. If someone decides to make the Bahamas their home, and lives works and invests here, there is NO reason that their opinion should not be taken seriously.

We have to start acting like an independent nation. Why do our government always have to wait for another country to do something brilliant before we try it here?
Absolutely. We should employ some more independent thinking, but that does NOT mean that we cannot borrow good ideas from other countries. Why re-invent the wheel? If something works well, I see nothing wrong with adopting the concept and using it here.

I mean the government makes it seem so hard to free the country of illegal immigrants when it is plainly so easy to just go door to door, business to business weaving out illegals. If the U. S. decides to do this all of a sudden (It is such a good idea. Lets try it here.) Thats what I am so used to hearing.
Now THAT is an excellent idea. The US did it with great success in WWII, tracking down all the Japanese and locking them up. But why stop there? We could go after all the Haitians, and concentrate them in camps. Maybe we could call them concentration camps? They could work for us without being paid, and when they get too old or sick, we simply execute them.


I hope that last bit of sarcasm wasn't lost on anyone. The fact is, with all the technology and communication we have in the world today, people can live anywhere, in any culture, and be accepted. Cultural diversification is what makes the world great; you need to open your mind to new ideas and new ways of thinking. Embrace the differences that make us all who we are, don't dismiss someone or something as useless because 'it ain't Bahamian'.

Absolutely. We should employ some more independent thinking, but that does NOT mean that we cannot borrow good ideas from other countries. Why re-invent the wheel? If something works well, I see nothing wrong with adopting the concept and using it here.


Lets get something straight here! I did not say that we shouldn't borrow ideas from other nations. Let me explain it like I am talking to a ten yeay old. Lots of Bahamians mention things that the government should do to improve the lives of the Bahamian people. Many of the MP's can admit that they are constantly meeting with local citizens. And these people all have good ideas on how the government can resolve problems and improve services. I guess when the issues are presented to parliament they turn the cold shoulder. Maybee it's because nobody knows where to start. It is easy to make it seem like I am like the Germans and want the Haitians dead. But those with common sense know that removing illegal immigrants from society will provide lots of jobs for Bahamian people, releive the schools from overcrowded classrooms, create vacant houses and apartments for Bahamians and increase the availability of land after the villages are gone. Don't get sarcastic with me for I am the master at that!:hot:
It puzzles me to see how quick some people come to the rescue of immigrants. We really don't want a diverse society. Have you visited South florida recently? It is one of the most diversed areas in America and people don't get along. The Whites, the Blacks, the Hispanics, the Haitians, the Jamaicans. Everyone is trying to claim a part of the city and don't want to be bothered by others. You can't stop people from wanting to stick to their fellow countrymen. If we let immigrants come in by the hundreds they will divide our country. Not geographicaly but socialy! And thats a Fact! Don't reply back saying you know a few Haitians or Jamaicans and they blend in to society perfectly. Theres always going to be a few good people in a crowd. But the crowd is what we should be concerned about. Like all of those overly proud Jamaicans who want to live in the Bahamas and act like they are still in Jamaica. How can they be so proud of a country they fled? I am very pro Bahamian and anti-sub-colture. And if you are a Bahamian why are you jumping on me for being pro Bahamian. I should be considered friend and not foe! :angel:

Unless you are an IMMIGRANT :hot:

Originally posted by NassauRocks
Absolutely. We should employ some more independent thinking, but that does NOT mean that we cannot borrow good ideas from other countries. Why re-invent the wheel? If something works well, I see nothing wrong with adopting the concept and using it here.

Lets get something straight here! I did not say that we shouldn't
*snip*
In the future, please refrain from posting text from my messages in yours without using the quote tags. I would prefer not to have my words mixed with you ignorant misspellings, typos, and fascist remarks.


But those with common sense know that removing illegal immigrants from society will provide lots of jobs for Bahamian people, releive the schools from overcrowded classrooms, create vacant houses and apartments for Bahamians and increase the availability of land after the villages are gone.

If you build it, they will come. Haitians take jobs that Bahamians are too vain or snobby to take. The simple answer to the problem is to not fscking hire them in the first place. How can we as a society whine and complain about the influx of illegals if most of us employ them to cut our grass and wash our car.


Theres always going to be a few good people in a crowd. But the crowd is what we should be concerned about. Like all of those overly proud Jamaicans who want to live in the Bahamas and act like they are still in Jamaica. How can they be so proud of a country they fled?

Yeah, forget that culture stuff, we have soooooo much culture here, like Junkanoo.... and... Junkanoo..... and I think some more Junkanoo. We don't need anything else.

Have many of us in this country not fled from England, France, many parts of Africa, etc? Do we not still embrace these cultures? Last I checked Junkanoo was an African celebration, and Boxing day a US holiday stemming from the days of slavery. Do we not celebrate and embrace Guy Fawke’s Day? Do our judges and lawyers not wear dumb looking white wigs in homage of the English court system? Is this not all part of our culture? I would suggest that you think before you speak in the future. It works well sometimes.


I am very pro Bahamian and anti-sub-colture. And if you are a Bahamian why are you jumping on me for being pro Bahamian. I should be considered friend and not foe! :angel:

Might I remind you that Jesus was a member of the sub culture? The Internet connection you are using tonight was probably built by people from the evil sub-culture. Just because something doesn't meet up to the standards of society doesn't make it wrong. It is simply someone thinking outside the box, like Einstein, Newton, Darwin, Magellan, etc. These were great men who made countless priceless contributions to the world we live in today, yet they were all considered a bit less than mainstream in their days.

BTW, being pro-<insert your country here> and putting down the sub culture is what the KKK is all about. Perhaps it would be good to form a local branch here, you seem to have the same thought process as those inbred redneck hicks.


Unless you are an IMMIGRANT :hot:

OH NO MR BILL!!!! IT'S A DIRTY IMMIGRANT, GO GET HIM MR BILL!!
Sometimes I wonder if the Bahamas would be better off without the rest of the world. We could all go back to scratching out messages in the sand with sticks, and throwing rocks and coconuts at each other. Who needs the rest of the world and technology and knowledge anyway? That shiznit is overrated.

IMHO, deporting pretentious, fascist, hypocritical religious zealots such as yourself would do a hell of a lot more good than deporting the honest, hard working Haitians and Jamaicans from this rock we all live on.

Seems this thread lost it's original theme

Yeah it seems that way! Let us please get back to the topic. If you want to discuss immigration problems then create a thread that does so. This is a about finding an alternative use for government house or a dwelling place for any residing PM of the Bahamas. Go haggle about immigrants elsewhere if you have nothing else to contribute.