DID YOU BOTHER TO READ THIS, or are you maybe somewhat a con artist yourself, like so many others here in the Bahamas.
I understand that Mr. Fuhrmann may sound offensive to those who do not understand what he has been through. I do understand. Mr. Fuhrmann does not hate the Bahamas or Bahamians. He married a Bahamian woman and chose to make his life here. He purchased property here and ran into problems with people trying to "swindle" him. He took the matter to court but instead of having his property rights restored he encountered sneaky backhanded connections, corrupt lawyers who transferred the title of his property to their own names rather than his, delayed court dates and threats against his safety and his property.
When he brought these things to the attention of those "in authority" such as the Bar Association he was brushed off. He has lost nearly a half million dollars, and still, after eight years has not resolved his property issues. Now he resides in Germany and must fly back and forth for court appearances which is financially stressful to him.
Who wouldn't be frustrated and angry over all that? It's easy to understand how he could develop such a negative view towards a country where he has experienced so much injustice and distress. Instead of researching the situation (which I am pleased to see you doing) or showing sympathy, most Bahamians berate him because they are concerned about the effect all this has on tourism. Instead, they should try to assist him in resolving the matter in an equitable manner. That is the only Christian thing to do.
The whole situation is very similar to what has happened to me. And it is no coincidence that I am being victimised by the same groups. This has resulted in many distressing experiences with the Bahamian legal system. My previous posts go into more detail about my own experiences. It is no secret that things must change. It is no secret that our beautiful country is very prone to corruption. I am a Bahamian, I love this country as much as anyone else. This is my country but I can also see the evil here. That is not being negative, it is realistic and it is necessary to realise that, if things are ever to change. If you had a child who was addicted to drugs, wouldn't you still love the child. Absolutely you would, if you are a good parent. But if you are a good parent you would also recognise the wrong in the child and do what you could to correct those wrongs.
The legal system here is sluggish, inefficient, stinking of corruption and often, incapable of producing justice due to blatant incompetence. Yes, we have beautiful shores with sun-kissed sand and pure azure waters. We have wonderful, friendly people and so much potential in so many areas. But we also have our problems, and ignoring them won't make them disappear or get any better. We have to route out the evil in our society. Look at our crime rate, look at our courts, look at our leaders... there is a lot that needs to be done to clean this country up.
I hope that you are not reading this thinking "what a negative message" but rather thinking about what part you could play in improving this country. Let's not be offended by harsh words from people like Mr. Fuhrmann, let's instead look at what our country has done to offend him causing him to take this harsh approach. Isn't that what the BIble tells us to do?
Lisa Wells
www.bahamasb2b.com
Ask yourself why the tourist industry are having trouble, there are really many other places to go besides Bahamas.
What do you think will happen in Cuba when Castro finally dies, do you think it will have any affect on the Bahamas tourist industry if Cuba opens up, Bahamas is expensive and it is really crazy that not more Americans doesnt actually desides to retire here, the ones i know actually seriosly considers to leave and relocate elsewhere in the carribean.
Ostrom

DID'NT HE LOSE HIS PROPERTY TO HIS WIFE AND HE BELIVES THAT SHE AND LAWYERS WERE WORKIN TOGETHER?? SO WHERE DID YOU GET LAWYERS TIEF HIS PROPERTY. AND HOWS COME HE CARN GET NO JUSTICE AND EEN A DAMN "TRUTH, LIFE AND HUMAN RIGHTS" ORGANIZATION FROM HERE TO JABIM CAME TO HIS AID AS YET?

SO NAH YA GER SAY THAT THE WHOLE WORLD "CROOKED" HEEM TOO? MA BOUY...THA MAN EEN WAN NOTHIN BOUT "HE OWN WAY". . . AND THE WORLD DONE KNOW HE FULL ER POO POO!

HEY TELL MA SOMETING NAH. . . EEN THAS THE SAME DUDE WHO SHOOT AT THE PLANE FOR KEEP FLYIN OVER HE HOUSE ON PI AY?

oh, good job ! hot !

HEY TELL MA SOMETING NAH. . . EEN THAS THE SAME DUDE WHO SHOOT AT THE PLANE FOR KEEP FLYIN OVER HE HOUSE ON PI AY?


No that was Hans Peter Kugler who fired a flare gun at the plane. He won the case. Passed away recently.

Yes, I saw it. I don’t give it much credence. There are always those who don’t like anything that is done.

Boaters who want to come will come. Those that don’t, will not. No web site is going to have that much influence.

Hi campbell I love your answered.

WOW!! I agree with you on some points. We (Bahamians) need to improve our attitudes badly. We barely can treat each other right sometimes and it is reflected in our attitudes towards the tourists. In order for us to treat tourist the way they should be, we need training starting from in the homes.
And yes you are right we dont have a unique product, sun, sand, sea, hey thats every other caribbean and pacific island country as well, but our service and attitude can be unique among the rest. Hopefully it wont take a major economic disaster before we gear into action, and make this country a token in the region.
sweeties am in that line of work, I can tell you, if it was up to bahamian only we would'nt have so many problem with are tourists, but you have every one that trying to be bahamian deals with are tourists, day don't have pleasant attitude, because some of them come here with problem, if you think they would deal with are tourist with a smiling face, no sweetie, these people don't care, look around you, they can even deal with us.

We use to visit the Bahamas several times a year but since the increase in clearing customs and the arrogant attitude of the officials we have not been back since the increase. It's sad to think that the almighty dollar is keeping many of us away. The good news is there are many other beautiful places with good hearted people to visit. Just return from going to Montreal by way of The Hudson River, Lake Champlain and The Chambly Canal.
What an experence! Photos can be viewed at http://www.deweyswain.com/MontrealTrip

IFFIN YA CAN AFFORD THAT DAMN BIG YATCH. . .THEN PAY WE FEES. . .OR GO FREG WID SOMEBODY ELSES FISHES!

***STICKING OUT MA TONGUE AT THIS GUY*** SO IFFIN WE SO BAD WHY THE HELL YOU STILL "FIGHTING" TO GET INNA WE WATERS AND COUNTRY?

TAKE YA TAIL BACK TO :SOMEWHERE ELSE" THEN!

***ON MA KNEES PRAYIN FER SOMEWHERE ELES*** :gi:

Originally Posted by captaindewey
We use to visit the Bahamas several times a year but since the increase in clearing customs and the arrogant attitude of the officials we have not been back since the increase. It's sad to think that the almighty dollar is keeping many of us away. The good news is there are many other beautiful places with good hearted people to visit. Just return from going to Montreal by way of The Hudson River, Lake Champlain and The Chambly Canal.


There is no excuse for public officials anywhere to be arrogant.

However, the costs of living increase with time. A country without formal income tax does have to find other sources to fund the services that are expected. Whether it is health care, infrastructure (roads etc) or customs, police, defence force - everything costs money. These public servants are human beings (in case we forgot) who need to be paid and paid adequately for the job they do.

This miserable gripe about "the increase in clearing customs" is just a miserable gripe.

Having said that, we should not be beholden to tourist dollars. Important as this dollar is, we need to upgrade ourselves.

AND - none of us have an excuse to be rude and arrogant. Not to our visitors, Not to our own.

There is no excuse for public officials anywhere to be arrogant.

However, the costs of living increase with time. A country without formal income tax does have to find other sources to fund the services that are expected. Whether it is health care, infrastructure (roads etc) or customs, police, defence force - everything costs money. These public servants are human beings (in case we forgot) who need to be paid and paid adequately for the job they do.

This miserable gripe about "the increase in clearing customs" is just a miserable gripe.

Having said that, we should not be beholden to tourist dollars. Important as this dollar is, we need to upgrade ourselves.

AND - none of us have an excuse to be rude and arrogant. Not to our visitors, Not to our own.


I have personally witnessed the arrogance and lacks-a-daisical attitudes of our customs and immigration officers in both Port Lucaya and West End. They are slow to clear people "too busy watching TV in their ac'd offices" and seem to have an anymosity toward all,including Bahamian Captains,clearing US vessels.The cruising and fishing permit is expensive,but I have only heard a few owners complain about that.Most all complain about our immigration and customs peolple.

When it comes to our fishing laws....they are nearly identical to those in most northern US States. I guess the bunch from Florida and the Carolinas just need to get used to it and catch a modest number of fish or stay home. Go pillage your own recources.:tdown:

The crew of these boats are the ones that are angry because of the new laws, the majority of them have been selling their catch to local restaurants here in Abaco and now they can't! These are not the owners that are making the noise, its the scum that work on the boats, the Bahamas was warned years ago about the amount of coolers full of sea food that gets taken out of the country by these boats and failed to do anything about it. The quality boaters will still come but we will be rid of the ones who rape and pilage our marine resorces.

The crew of these boats ( the majority of them) have been selling their catch to local restaurants here in Abaco and now they can't! These are not the owners that are making the noise, its the scum that work on the boats, the Bahamas was warned years ago about the amount of coolers full of sea food that gets taken out of the country by these boats and failed to do anything about it. The quality boaters will still come but we will be rid of the ones who rape and pilage our marine resorces.

That is an important point. IF the pillagers are allowed to swipe the fish, they will wipe them clean.

Remember some years ago - the Koreans were around. There would be no local fish available now IF they were allowed to rip the resources.

Money is important. Watch the one who is offering it to you.

maybe I'm late but has anyone seen this website.www.boycottbahamas.com it tells boaters not to come here.

I didn't get on the link, but found a related one at:
http://www.badworld.net.tc/


It seems that the creator of the message is a person that gives a one sided view. The claim is the the Bahamas is bad for: Investors, etc. Come on, they want us to bend over and just let them give it to us??

I left the Bahamas, but I never give up. Nor do my posting say things are impossible. Nor am I trying to get outsiders to have carte blance in our country and economy. Sure, there are political and legal problems home. BUT THAT DOES NOT MEAN WE SHOULD JUST PRIVATIVE EVERYTHING and just give foreign investors and foreign boat owners and tourists a "BLANK CHECK".

We have to develop our own strong income streams, without resorting to: Yes sir MASTER.

Forget that, we are intelligent people. OBVIOUSLY we have to deal with the crime, and corruption. BUT THAT NOT OUR JOB, we don't have to run to the slave masters house and BEG FOR IDEAS. These capitalists, imperialists and their house negros "could run out dread". Don't fall for their tricks. They'll promise you jobs as they STEAL your whole country (and ya grandma draws).

They try to create an international climate where boaters, tourists, and their governments, force us to: "Put on the chains and do whatever they want". Haven't we tap danced long enough. Time to get rid of corruption, care for our youth, environment and country NOT go back in CHAINS.