:raw: Is it time for the Family Islands to govern its own affairs and not rely on central government for their development? Should local government be given more power to carry out its mandates? What do you think?

:raw: Is it time for the Family Islands to govern its own affairs and not rely on central government for their development? Should local government be given more power to carry out its mandates? What do you think?
Might be a good idea! However, how would you implement such a thing? Does each island make enough money to govern itself, even in a limited way? Do we have a big enough "pool" of able people to pick local governments from?

We would also have to drastically change the way we govern. It would have to be like the US system with a Federal and states government. Do we really need a more bloated system than we have already?

I believe we need to down size - drastically! Of course there presents another problem. What will we do with all the people who can’t get a job anywhere else but in a patriarchal government?

sounds as if you from abaco>>:D
well what does local government in the islands have to offer the islands???


well.....im waiting!!!:walk:

i would suggest that the out islands adopt the abaco model, and take more responsibility for their infrastructure issues such as waste disposal, port authority, school conditions, youth programs, fishing concerns, policing, small business development ... which they would fund by keeping most of the hotel and room taxes being collected.

instead of sending the bulk of those fees to nassau like we do now, where we in the out islands only see maybe TEN percent of that for our operating budgets, we would be in the catbird seat in terms of building out the programs that we need!

nassau and ministry of tourism programs do not support the out islands. when was the last time you went to a bahamas tourist office and actually found a brochure for an out island hotel, anyhow????????//

i would suggest that the out islands adopt the abaco model, and take more responsibility for their infrastructure issues such as waste disposal, port authority, school conditions, youth programs, fishing concerns, policing, small business development ... which they would fund by keeping most of the hotel and room taxes being collected.

instead of sending the bulk of those fees to nassau like we do now, where we in the out islands only see maybe TEN percent of that for our operating budgets, we would be in the catbird seat in terms of building out the programs that we need!

nassau and ministry of tourism programs do not support the out islands. when was the last time you went to a bahamas tourist office and actually found a brochure for an out island hotel, anyhow????????//
what does abaco have that nassau and freeport dont have??:confused:
i know!!!!:screw:
the more black owned succesful bussiness and not a total monopoly!!!:bye:
abaconians were into autonomy..not the bahamas,but............
if the out islands were to become more creative,then we could see real self governance under the capitol of new providence!!:D

sounds as if you from abaco>>:D
well what does local government in the islands have to offer the islands???


well.....im waiting!!!:walk:

Sorry for the late response. Am I from Abaco??? NO! Never been there.
The reason for me bringing it up because I was listening to Drive Time Talk one day when Vince Ferguson was the guest on the show and he had mentioned that local government should have more power because the lack of action and attitude of central govt towards the other Family Islands. You can see for yourself and listen to the cries from the people from the out islands...docks, schools, govt infrastructures, roads and airports need repairs and lack of investments. Just look at the southern islands, (Acklins, Crooked, Mayaguana, Ragged and Inagua) Although local govt deal with these things the budget is very limited to just a patch job. All the money is being sent to Nassau to do things here.
If we have to adopt the US model of state and federal to get things picked up in the F.Islands then adopt it by all means. Allow local govt to build its on islands by issuing their tax structure and recruiting people to invest on these islands. Things may change a bit then.

:raw: Is it time for the Family Islands to govern its own affairs and not rely on central government for their development? Should local government be given more power to carry out its mandates? What do you think?

It is high time that the Out Islands govern their own affairs and themselves. However Nassauvians are too afraid of loosing their autocracy. The Bahamas is too Nassaucentric in our thinking and afraid to experiment to improve itself. We are legislislatively too lazy and too relaxed in Nassau. We have everything we need and do not feel the need for change. We do not factor in that our Islanders are suffering under the burden of Nassau rather than the other way around. Nassau needs competition in order for this country to improve. Our politicialns are too afraid of that.