As a Bahamian, living outside Bahamas now for 20 years I feel I can look back in.

"You can not consume what you do not produce"

Im sure all of you can agree that Bahamians are Lazy by nature, trust me, I am. That said, the above statement rings true. It is the lack of our EXPORT that leeads us to our financial problems today, and the continued borrowing that does nothing but make us more dependent.

Another thing Bahamians do VERY WELL is Talk! Man, all TALK and NO action, but I guess TALKING is easier than DOING SOMETHING.

A few questions:

1. Why Dont we generate more of our energy from tidal currents? or other sources.

2. Why do we barge water from Andros? This is a joke.

3. Why do we IMPORT Fruit? LOL

4. Why dont we have a good FISH Export Business from renewable sourced Fish Farms?

I have tons more, but just incredable the wase of resource.

As a Bahamian, living outside Bahamas now for 20 years I feel I can look back in.
"You can not consume what you do not produce"
Im sure all of you can agree that Bahamians are Lazy by nature, trust me, I am. That said, the above statement rings true. It is the lack of our EXPORT that leeads us to our financial problems today, and the continued borrowing that does nothing but make us more dependent.
Another thing Bahamians do VERY WELL is Talk! Man, all TALK and NO action, but I guess TALKING is easier than DOING SOMETHING.
A few questions:
1. Why Dont we generate more of our energy from tidal currents? or other sources.
2. Why do we barge water from Andros? This is a joke.
3. Why do we IMPORT Fruit? LOL
4. Why dont we have a good FISH Export Business from renewable sourced Fish Farms?
I have tons more, but just incredable the wase of resource.

Laughing, then sighing "Ah boy"
We just ain't there yet. Sad to say. But its the truth. We are third world. Only thing I can say, we need some foreign investors other than people who looking for Bahamians to be servants in the tourism industry.

As a Bahamian, living outside Bahamas now for 20 years I feel I can look back in.
"You can not consume what you do not produce"
Im sure all of you can agree that Bahamians are Lazy by nature, trust me, I am. That said, the above statement rings true. It is the lack of our EXPORT that leeads us to our financial problems today, and the continued borrowing that does nothing but make us more dependent.
Another thing Bahamians do VERY WELL is Talk! Man, all TALK and NO action, but I guess TALKING is easier than DOING SOMETHING.
A few questions:
1. Why Dont we generate more of our energy from tidal currents? or other sources.
2. Why do we barge water from Andros? This is a joke.
3. Why do we IMPORT Fruit? LOL
4. Why dont we have a good FISH Export Business from renewable sourced Fish Farms?
I have tons more, but just incredable the wase of resource.

Crawl back in your hole playa.....

I don't believe we are lazy as you've stated, but i do agree that we do not utilize alot of our natural resources. One of the greatest asset a country can invest in is their own people. It's just that for a long time the focus has been on tourism and so we have lost track on where we are as a people and what needs to be done. We have been made slaves by our government to an industry that is not as stable as we think it to be e.g( look at what September 11 made us do at that time shift our marketing strategy to the european market. Which clearly suggest we didn't have a back plan if tourism had taken a much greater plunge than it did on that date. We operate on a tourist base industry where most of our bread and butter comes from we should have already been aggressively pursuing the european market before that tragedy struck.) NO PLAN 'B' IS WHAT THESE POLITICIANS GIVE TO US. WE NEED AND DESERVE MORE AS A PEOPLE!:realmad:

Like you say no plan B.

Why not?

If its not Lazy, then its stupidity.

Not aggressively presuing ... bla bla bla ... why? Lazy, or Stupitity, or Lack of education ... if education ... why? Lots of education all arround ...

Nope,

Its lazyness ....

Im sure all of you can agree that Bahamians are Lazy by nature, trust me, I am.


I wish people would stop making that generalization….

Jamaicans are ….
Americans are …..
Black people are…..
Etc.

These statements are so unfair….

** quote**
I wish people would stop making that generalization….

Jamaicans are ….
Americans are …..
Black people are…..
Etc.

These statements are so unfair….
** end quote ***


Well, first life IS NOT fair, but you should know this already. Second, since you already know that people make generalizations, and that this is a fact of life, and will not change, then why dont you DO something to improve that immage rather than just TALK about it. By YOU I mean the Collective YOU.

The simple fact remains that Bahamians are wasting their resources and abilities. Tell me again about our GDP, and Exports ....

I read the news up here, and all I hear is how Bahamians want the Gov to do MORE for them ...

** quote**
I wish people would stop making that generalization….
Jamaicans are ….
Americans are …..
Black people are…..
Etc.
These statements are so unfair….
** end quote ***
Well, first life IS NOT fair, but you should know this already. Second, since you already know that people make generalizations, and that this is a fact of life, and will not change, then why dont you DO something to improve that immage rather than just TALK about it. By YOU I mean the Collective YOU.
The simple fact remains that Bahamians are wasting their resources and abilities. Tell me again about our GDP, and Exports ....
I read the news up here, and all I hear is how Bahamians want the Gov to do MORE for them ...

I believe that a lot of our shortcomings have to be laid at the feet of this hydra-headed monster we call government! Many of us just blindly agree with what they do, 'cause we don't know any better! Thanks to them!

Big structural changes need to be made to this institution. Many of us are too naive to realise this, thus we keep going around and around the "mountain"...

Some of us, especially the govt, don't appreciate our own Bahamian professionals, who are just a qualified as any anywhere! And sometimes when they start to make "noise" the govt would give them something to keep them quiet and probably tell them, "don't mind the stupid public, dey too fool":escape:

You talk about us doing a lot of talking -- that's quite an improvement from once ago when we had practically NO public opinion and if you opened your mouth about anything against the authorities, you and your family would be victimised!

And fa sure, dey don't want to see too many of us become wealthy!!!

As a Bahamian, living outside Bahamas now for 20 years I feel I can look back in.
"You can not consume what you do not produce"
Im sure all of you can agree that Bahamians are Lazy by nature, trust me, I am. That said, the above statement rings true. It is the lack of our EXPORT that leeads us to our financial problems today, and the continued borrowing that does nothing but make us more dependent.
Another thing Bahamians do VERY WELL is Talk! Man, all TALK and NO action, but I guess TALKING is easier than DOING SOMETHING.
A few questions:
1. Why Dont we generate more of our energy from tidal currents? or other sources.
2. Why do we barge water from Andros? This is a joke.
3. Why do we IMPORT Fruit? LOL
4. Why dont we have a good FISH Export Business from renewable sourced Fish Farms?
I have tons more, but just incredable the wase of resource.


I feel that The Bahamas' best export continues to be its people.

We continue to ship off people to The US, Canada and The UK. Ultimately this is best for us. I would rather have you in one of those countries messing things up than doing it here. The only problem that I have is that people from those other countries listen to the garbage that you talk and believe it, for all our sakes cut it out. Bahamians are not lazy, we are some of the most industrious people in the world. I worked every school holiday from the age of 9. I worked every Saturday from the age of 11 and every day aftre school from 12. I haven't had a vacation in 6 years.

The thing is, I am not unusual, we have Bahamians working 10 and 20 years between vacations, when I was growing up there were kids who would sell newspapers in the morning, then go to the pump for water to bathe in, iron their clothes and then go to school for 9am. These same kids would leave school, go to the supermarket to pack groceries, get off at 9pm and go home to do homework before getting to bed. Many of the current food store managers and owners went this route. Don't ever let anyone hear you say that Bahamians are lazy again, you don't even live here anymore.

First Stafford Sands now you, it may be taking a while but we seem to be getting rid of the riff raff slowly but surely.

I feel that The Bahamas' best export continues to be its people.
We continue to ship off people to The US, Canada and The UK. Ultimately this is best for us. I would rather have you in one of those countries messing things up than doing it here. The only problem that I have is that people from those other countries listen to the garbage that you talk and believe it, for all our sakes cut it out. Bahamians are not lazy, we are some of the most industrious people in the world. I worked every school holiday from the age of 9. I worked every Saturday from the age of 11 and every day aftre school from 12. I haven't had a vacation in 6 years.
The thing is, I am not unusual, we have Bahamians working 10 and 20 years between vacations, when I was growing up there were kids who would sell newspapers in the morning, then go to the pump for water to bathe in, iron their clothes and then go to school for 9am. These same kids would leave school, go to the supermarket to pack groceries, get off at 9pm and go home to do homework before getting to bed. Many of the current food store managers and owners went this route. Don't ever let anyone hear you say that Bahamians are lazy again, you don't even live here anymore.
First Stafford Sands now you, it may be taking a while but we seem to be getting rid of the riff raff slowly but surely.

Lol! Good Come Back! I give it a 9.4.

Like you say no plan B.
Why not?
If its not Lazy, then its stupidity.
Not aggressively presuing ... bla bla bla ... why? Lazy, or Stupitity, or Lack of education ... if education ... why? Lots of education all arround ...
Nope,
Its lazyness ....

I dont think it laziness...it could be laxness and a carefree attitude. all those Bahamians- our forefather weren't lazy working on the contract. and honey im definately not lazy.

As a Bahamian, living outside Bahamas now for 20 years I feel I can look back in.
"You can not consume what you do not produce"
Im sure all of you can agree that Bahamians are Lazy by nature, trust me, I am. That said, the above statement rings true. It is the lack of our EXPORT that leeads us to our financial problems today, and the continued borrowing that does nothing but make us more dependent.
Another thing Bahamians do VERY WELL is Talk! Man, all TALK and NO action, but I guess TALKING is easier than DOING SOMETHING.
A few questions:
1. Why Dont we generate more of our energy from tidal currents? or other sources.
2. Why do we barge water from Andros? This is a joke.
3. Why do we IMPORT Fruit? LOL
4. Why dont we have a good FISH Export Business from renewable sourced Fish Farms?
I have tons more, but just incredable the wase of resource.



Kudos i endorse your assesments.

I however wonder since you have the vantage of being free from the bahamas for 20 years what would you purpose to fix the problem?

I am in agreement with you but i do look forward to seeing a program to correct these problems.

In passing may be some people (every one with a gpa below 3 points on a 4 point scale maybe) should be nutered, after all a healthy gene pool is good for the country.

It is certianly good to see lots of discussion on this one.

So, first, although I am not living in Nassau at the time (left in 84) dont think that I do not still have stong ties there. Do not assume I dont go back, and often.

As someone mentioned, they do alot of work, and have worked hard since they were young. Perhapse, Im wong in saying Bahamians are lazy because a few are not. But, would not working smarter, for more money be better than just working harder? Benefits to both I suppose.

Now then to one poster, that said Bahamas' best export it its people. I thought about it, and you may be right. I may never have been a IT Profesional in a B$ company in Bahamas, and I am proud that I am one in Canada. Incase your wondering I am white ... and the people working with me in my team are from .. asia, Gyuana, Jamacia, Montreal, Poland, Russia, Halifax, Middle East. I only mention this to say that sooner or later this black-white thing has to stop and people just move forward. But back to exporting people. Think of all the Bahamians that did not come back after leaving - denying the Bahamas the education, and experience - potential lost.

Someone mentioned the government as missleading the people. Well this is true all over the world not just Bahamas. Power Corrupts. Way back people said the UBP was the problem, well the PLP did not seem to fix the issue either, neither the FNM or the PLP again ... Stop looking to governemt ... they are all in it for themselves. Ill carry that forward to the Right/let in USA and the election going on here in canada. They all lie/fail to meet their promisses.

So this leave you. How do you move forward. Well, doing anything takes money, and requires investors, and there is not enough B$ to move major projects forward. Now the world bank has loaned, and continue to loans the Bahamas millions. What have we done with it? Im sure its gone to paying salaries, and sustaining the current way of life, but what has it done/been used for to develop ecanomic engines, that can start generating money inseted of consuming it? Im sure there is some, but after 25+ years you would think we could stop borrowing and start producing.

I agree to some poing Bahamians are not lazy, but if we are not net producers then we are net consumers (producing less than we consume). In its simplist terms we could not even produce the food to feed ourselves. Now maybe this is not purely lazeness, but there is clearly something we are NOT DOING to make things better.

Goverenment is there deciding on how they are going to devide the spoils of the next election, rather than planning how they could get water to Nassau in a cost effective and reliable mannor. Add to that Electricity. There are 2 HUGE industry potentials. And tell me why Bahamians cant grow Citrus as good and the stuff we import? I agree most of the imported produce is better, but we COULD do it Better, and while at it we COULD be exporting it too.

Oh and while thinking about it, how come here in canada I see tons of adds for Cuba, Dominican, Mexico, Eorope for vacation destinations? BUT RARELY one for the Bahamas ... are all the hotls full ... if so then great if not then some money should get put into promoting bahamas as tourisim is money generating.

Now, another issue. Up here the bahamas is looking more and more dangerous. maybe its a preception, but preception matters ... and .. the image leaking out is that you can get a cheaper, and just as nice and SAFER vacation in CUBA or Dominican. I agree its preception ... but preception leads to reality.

SO WHO OF YOU WILL BE THE FIRST to get one of the MEDIA down there to start asking REAL questions of the parties, like what specific negotiations they are having with investors as to what revenue generating projects (other than tourisim - the easy one) they are presuing .... cause the rest of the chatter is FLUF ... and if they cant tell you, then get ready for more of the same regardles the party.


-Q

I kind of feel what you are trying to say, but Bahamians ARE NOT lazy at all!

The thing that's important to remember is that the Bahamas is only thirty-two years old - we're still very young. The problems that you highlighted, especially the one about being hyper-consumers are simply explained by the way we have thus far been socialized. We associate gardening, fishing and those types of jobss as being menial and as such we prefer to work in the hotel, law and accounting firms (by-the-way, I am an Accountant). I think what we in the Bahamas need is for people just to think a bit Capitalistically and innovatively. We have meted out a first-world standard of living while still being third-world (a developing economy) and so the impetus to work a bit harder, come up with new designs and innovate have not been produced en masse. We do have some bright spots, but I think that more of us need to dream, and then work to build those dreams IN THE BAHAMAS!

I also agree that until the Bahamas - non-government sector - has the mind / will or the resources to innovate and create, the government should do some things to stir economic fervor. For instance, BEC does not have a R&D division. I know that they have all the hell trying to keep the lights on, but the National Corporation charged with the generation of electricity in an affordable capacity should investigate various forms of electrical production. So, that's one way they could get the innovation ball rolling.

Not to start another thread or anything, but I understand why some Bahamians, after getting "educated" decide to stay wherever they are ie no opportunities. I would hope though, that at some point in their lives they come to the realisation that the only way to curb that cyclical trend is to come home and create those opportunities for the next breed. At some point, we have to be willing to sacrfice the initial $15,000.00 grand per annum to work the trenches, building the foundation of a better country and economy. To me, that's the only way it's going to work - if more people think about the long-term success of the Bahamas over their short-term profit. If you are not willing to do that, then please don't complain about the lack of opportunity or innovation in the Bahamas or its economic stagnation.

I kind of feel what you are trying to say, but Bahamians ARE NOT lazy at all!
The thing that's important to remember is that the Bahamas is only thirty-two years old - we're still very young. The problems that you highlighted, especially the one about being hyper-consumers are simply explained by the way we have thus far been socialized. We associate gardening, fishing and those types of jobss as being menial and as such we prefer to work in the hotel, law and accounting firms (by-the-way, I am an Accountant). I think what we in the Bahamas need is for people just to think a bit Capitalistically and innovatively. We have meted out a first-world standard of living while still being third-world (a developing economy) and so the impetus to work a bit harder, come up with new designs and innovate have not been produced en masse. We do have some bright spots, but I think that more of us need to dream, and then work to build those dreams IN THE BAHAMAS!
I also agree that until the Bahamas - non-government sector - has the mind / will or the resources to innovate and create, the government should do some things to stir economic fervor. For instance, BEC does not have a R&D division. I know that they have all the hell trying to keep the lights on, but the National Corporation charged with the generation of electricity in an affordable capacity should investigate various forms of electrical production. So, that's one way they could get the innovation ball rolling.
Not to start another thread or anything, but I understand why some Bahamians, after getting "educated" decide to stay wherever they are ie no opportunities. I would hope though, that at some point in their lives they come to the realisation that the only way to curb that cyclical trend is to come home and create those opportunities for the next breed. At some point, we have to be willing to sacrfice the initial $15,000.00 grand per annum to work the trenches, building the foundation of a better country and economy. To me, that's the only way it's going to work - if more people think about the long-term success of the Bahamas over their short-term profit. If you are not willing to do that, then please don't complain about the lack of opportunity or innovation in the Bahamas or its economic stagnation.

Very good points!!!:tup: