As a Bahamian living overseas I depend on family, news agencies and sites like this to keep me abreast of the situation in my country. I would like to propose a discussion of the real issues facing the Bahamian people his election cycle. Perhaps if we get a list going, we can get some REAL debate.

What are the issues most important to you this election cycle?


1. Immigration - The problems associated with illegal immigration. The special case of Haiti- Perm Res. status for money issues.

2. Healthcare- The construction of new hospitals in Nassau, Grand Bahama and Abaco along with the development of a network of clinics throughout the Family Islands

3. NHI- How will it impact Bahamian healthcare? How will we pay for it?
4. Industrial development- How will we grow the Bahamian industrial complex an our GDP?

5. Bahamian business development- How can we encourage the growth of small AND large Bahamian owned business? What role will the government and the Development Bank continue to pay in capital sharing?

6. Education- How can we improve the dire situation in the nation's schools?

7. Banking- How can the Bahamas reclaim her spot as the banking capital of the world?

8. Tourism- How do we continue to grow our #1 industry?

As a Bahamian living overseas i depend on family, news agencies and sites like this to keep me abreast of the situation in my country. I would like to propose a discussion of the real issues facing the Bahamian people his election cycle. Perhaps if we get a list going, we can get some REAL debate.
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Issues, man you should have listened to the FNM rally lsat night.. the enertainment was cut... to have issues, nothing but issues.... check it out on

www.freenationalmovement.org

Issues, man you should have listened to the FNM rally lsat night.. the enertainment was cut... to have issues, nothing but issues.... check it out on
www.freenationalmovement.org


and that is what we call a non-partisan debate.... :)

What are the issues most important to you this election cycle?


1. Immigration - The problems associated with illegal immigration. The special case of Haiti- Perm Res. status for money issues.

2. Healthcare- The construction of new hospitals in Nassau, Grand Bahama and Abaco along with the development of a network of clinics throughout the Family Islands

3. NHI- How will it impact Bahamian healthcare? How will we pay for it?
4. Industrial development- How will we grow the Bahamian industrial complex an our GDP?

5. Bahamian business development- How can we encourage the growth of small AND large Bahamian owned business? What role will the government and the Development Bank continue to pay in capital sharing?

6. Education- How can we improve the dire situation in the nation's schools?

7. Banking- How can the Bahamas reclaim her spot as the banking capital of the world?

8. Tourism- How do we continue to grow our #1 industry?

I don't support any political party but I htink i can give some of my views on the issues.
1. As a foreigner living in The Bahamas I don't feel in the position to comment on immigration. However, favoritism to those with money should be stopped. A permanent residence already costs 10 or 20K, which more then I an afford, but I can understand that price. But once someone comes up with that money, any other funds should not affect the decision whatsoever.
2. The main problem to public healthcare in The Bahamas is understaffing. Clear and simple. There are two ways to solve this and both require money.
a. Hire more doctors at present salary levels - this will be cheaper but willl attract mostly foreign doctors (as it is now in the sector), not that I see anything wrong with that, but I know some people do.
b. Raise salaries and benefits for the medical staff. This will make working in the public more attractive for the Bahamian doctors who have the alternative of working privately - more doctors, less people pissed off about foreigners.
3. NHI needs to be properly formulated and explained to the population before it can be implemented - right now it's so unclear its frightening.
4. I would think focusing on indsutries besides tourism would help.
5. Protectionist policies would be a big way, reject free market attempts by the US. (This comes at a price though)
6. This one is perhaps the hardest. The education problems are based on many factors, includign the priorities of the majority of the population, number of opportunities in the future, etc.
7. I don' know almost anything about banking and frankly don't give a ****. Maybe some1 with more knowledge would provide a proposition.
8.I guess the way to growing tourism would be the expansion of facilities to other islands, and diversifying the services proposed.

This is what I can come up with in the limited framework of the Capitali$t system.
Other issues that are important for me, as a resident of the country and a person who loves The Bahamas and it's people:
9. Marijuana should be de-criminalized. (I would explain the reasons but i think there are a few other threads on this)
10. Discrimination against homosexuals must be stopped. (I'm straight, not that it matters anyway)
11. The prison system must be changed drastically - it is important to have an institution focused on rehabilitation rather then putting people into a hellhole as "punishment"

For me as a young parent numbers 2 & 6 are top of my list.
For me to send my girl to a private school would mean great sacrifice but at this point it is better that than overcrowded, underfinanced, falling down round your head public schools.

Her private doctor fees are up there too but as it stands now it is better that than waiting in PMH for her to see doctor.

One night she had a fever and I sat in the emergency room from after 1 till 6:30 am and they aint called not one person. I got up and left cause the walk in clinic was open by then and I got serve in 15 minutes.

Then one other time she her temperature was so high she was having seizures and they admitted her to hospital. I could not find no doctors to explain her situation to me and eventually (after almost a week) had to get a private doctor to go into PMH to check her status and he discharged her saying I dont know what they keeping her for and she dont need this medication they giving her.

The only time I take her to PMH is when she having asthma cause they serve asthmatics in record time.

For me as a young parent numbers 2 & 6 are top of my list.
For me to send my girl to a private school would mean great sacrifice but at this point it is better that than overcrowded, underfinanced, falling down round your head public schools.
Her private doctor fees are up there too but as it stands now it is better that than waiting in PMH for her to see doctor.
One night she had a fever and I sat in the emergency room from after 1 till 6:30 am and they aint called not one person. I got up and left cause the walk in clinic was open by then and I got serve in 15 minutes.
Then one other time she her temperature was so high she was having seizures and they admitted her to hospital. I could not find no doctors to explain her situation to me and eventually (after almost a week) had to get a private doctor to go into PMH to check her status and he discharged her saying I dont know what they keeping her for and she dont need this medication they giving her.
The only time I take her to PMH is when she having asthma cause they serve asthmatics in record time.

It's horrible, there are some BRILLIANT doctors and nurses in PMH (not all of them are, but there are many). But there isn't enough of them. And there is only so much a limited amount of people can do.

My issues span the spectrum of government oversight

1. The archaic means of handling paperwork needs to be sped up to a realistic response time. Approve or don't approve - just make a decision in a reasonable amount of time, armed with good information

2. The redevelopment of Nassau Harbour. Is there going to be a commercial port out west or not? What's going to rejuvenate downtown Nassau for tourists and residents. Too many people are heading to Marina Village at Atlantis instead of browsing downtown shops.

3. The traffic. Too many substandard cars, unlicenced / uninsured drivers and cars on the road. The roadways need to be upgraded to handle the growth of traffic. Bulldoze some of the shacks to make wider lanes and dual carriageways in high traffic areas

4. Water. Why is it barged in from Andros by foreign-owned ships? Why isn't this a Bahamian venture? A pipe line from Andros to Nassau would allow a flow of water regardless of weather and ship's mechanical issues. The infrastructure needs an upgrade too. Piping leaks need to be repaired and the system needs an upgrade to handle population growth

5. BEC. There is NO reason for a power outage in a country that is that close to the USA. Parts, supplies, mechanics, and preventive maintenance should keep the current on all the time

6. BTC. Put it on the comedy channel it's so jokey. The rates are high, the rules are dumb, and the service sucks. Provide support for those who use Sprint / Nextel, Verizon as well as the current Cingular customer who is travelling to the Bahamas. The tourists will love you for it.

7. LNG - Decide already. It comes with risks, but reward sometimes outweighs the risk. It diversifies the economy, but could damage the environment. I'd like to see an independent review of the risks and possible rewards.

8. Crime & Prisons - We need a new prison on a different island with a well supported guard force, police force and defense force. Make it a modern facility that will turn a convict into a real man, not a tortured animal in a cage.

9. Immigration - This is a biggie. The protectionist 'Bahamianization' policy is contrary to the interest of 'foreign investment'. With a D average educational system, there's little way for future generations to get ahead in business and take a lead role in a Bahamian only economy.

10. Education - Another biggie. Someone needs to read the riot act to teachers. A quid pro quo relationship between the payscale and the level of education needs to be installed in the system.

11. Unions - They suck. The union's original idea of bringing labour under one voice has been corrupted by the leaders of the unions. Union labour pays the union bosses a good chunk of every paycheck, yet when the Royal O closed, the union who collected HUGE sums of money from the employees was nowhere to be found when Driftwood closed the property. Look at the math

Average contribution per paycheck $15
x Number of employees 350
x Number of yearly paychecks each 52
x Number of years under Driftwood 8
Total $2,184,000

Some employees had been there for 25 years! Don't tell me the union couldn't help out their membership!

My Issues (in no order):

* Clinics which are not fully equipped and which close too early...depending on the location and staff.
* The LPIA being run-down. Leaky roofs, dirt and filth, automatic doors that don't work. Such an embarrassment. Even up to Sunday I witnessed that.
* Not a single school being built, despite the overcrowding of government schools.
* The fishermen blocking up the flow of traffic on Montagu. Too much congestion there.
* The straw market needs to be rebuilt speedily. That is one of the first places that cruise/stop-over tourists visit when they enter Nassau. Vendors are struggling in the heat under that make-shift place.
* PMH. I visit the sick there with my dad and you can almost feel the germs on your skin when you enter. It is still not as sanitary as it should be. Also, service is very slow.
* Absence of capital punishment. People on death row are living on our tax money. Some have been there for years and years. Hang them.
* Employment. I have friends with science degrees that were jobless for almost two years after graduating. In this country, it seems like those with connections get the jobs first.
* Back-pay. Teachers, nurses, prison and customs officers...even our baggage porter at the airport on Sunday have to protest and demonstrate in the public and media in order to ensure they get the pay that they deserve. Not right.

* Financial education. Implementing a national program that will teach the financially-illiterate members of society about investing/acquiring assets like shares in all of these 20 billion dollar deals, how BISX works, reducing debt, etc.

I can agree with most of the issues posted here but to me the biggest issue - far and away - is crime. Where crime flourishes, nothing else will.

This is a wonderful forum!
I am a mother of 4, my biggest concern is Education, than crime.

I also would like to see a greater effort on affordable afterschool care, computer labs, and sporting centers, a YMCA would be great.

My elderest daughter is the headgirl of one of the Junior high schools, and I am proud of, I never attended private school and really can afford to send my children to private school, I wish I could.

The public system is full of holidays and days off: fun days, sport days, teaching meeting, too much time wasted.

My Issues (in no order):
* Clinics which are not fully equipped and which close too early...depending on the location and staff.
* The LPIA being run-down. Leaky roofs, dirt and filth, automatic doors that don't work. Such an embarrassment. Even up to Sunday I witnessed that.
* Not a single school being built, despite the overcrowding of government schools.
* The fishermen blocking up the flow of traffic on Montagu. Too much congestion there.
* The straw market needs to be rebuilt speedily. That is one of the first places that cruise/stop-over tourists visit when they enter Nassau. Vendors are struggling in the heat under that make-shift place.
* PMH. I visit the sick there with my dad and you can almost feel the germs on your skin when you enter. It is still not as sanitary as it should be. Also, service is very slow.
* Absence of capital punishment. People on death row are living on our tax money. Some have been there for years and years. Hang them.
* Employment. I have friends with science degrees that were jobless for almost two years after graduating. In this country, it seems like those with connections get the jobs first.
* Back-pay. Teachers, nurses, prison and customs officers...even our baggage porter at the airport on Sunday have to protest and demonstrate in the public and media in order to ensure they get the pay that they deserve. Not right.* Financial education. Implementing a national program that will teach the financially-illiterate members of society about investing/acquiring assets like shares in all of these 20 billion dollar deals, how BISX works, reducing debt, etc.


:hammer:
In refrence to what you said...Pulic Service upgrade....overhaul, whatever you want to call it. Too much fool going on.
I work in the public service and some of the people I come into contact with (the workers) are just awful. They want an office job, dont have the skills and aint trying to get um. They just sitting there taking up space and making things diffucult for those of us that want to work and want to be seen as functioning and professional. Reform please

Eg....

My cousin is a teacher. She was on the government grant in college. One of the requirements was that you do a BSc. degree.

When she completed and went to work for MOE they was paying her as a teachers aide. She took in her paperwork over and over and they keep loosing it or something. Every time she went in she had to deal with a different person.

It took her three years to get placed in the proper pay scale and paid properly and then they did not want to give her back pay saying she just get her BSc. and she was like yall cant read eh the date on the degree is from more than four years how you could say I just get it.

Their response is well you just bring it in so we cant give you no back pay. And she was like I bring it in ages ago, in fact yall ask for it when yall hire me so yall could know what i specialize in and where to place me yall keep loosing the copies or the file or whatever.....sheesh...you think she get pay yet?????

Issue of importance to me, in no particular order:

Education: I have one child. Right now sending him to public school, as much as I'd like to because private is very expensive, I can't. It's not an alternative to me. The teachers are complaining about money. Fix it. We have some very slack don't care teachers in the system, that need to fix too.

Crime: I am very paranoid living in this paradise. Some people just don't care anymore. If you have something and they want it they come in your house and take it. If you get in the way they killin you. I don't want to "hear een nothin much we can do about crime ya know" (which is what I've been told by many PLP's when talking political issues). I want to know that my government is devising creative, effective approaches to fight our social ills. Don't tell me een nothin we could do. DO SOMETHING!

REAL Economic Growth: I want some economic improvements that make a difference in my pocket and the pocket of all Bahamians. Not just talk and can't see nothin. Don't tell me we prosperin and I broke and can't find a job.

RESPECT: I want representation that respects me as a Bahamian, a human being. If I hire you (vote for you) to represent my interests (govern the country) don't you think that you should report to me regularly and openly on how things are going? I mean, why do we allow so much secrecy in government? I want openness, transparency. If you make a deal with someone on behalf of the people, then the people have a right to know ALL the terms of that deal.

the ramp!!! :hammer: :hammer:

(and my new fridge!) :D

the ramp!!! :hammer: :hammer:

(and my new fridge!) :D

Did you get a stove/fridge combo by renting your place out as campaign HQ?? :D