The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.

If there is any truth to the adage that “God Smiles”, then the corollary must also be true, and judging by The Tribune this morning 4th November, I would say that “He” must be frowning, if not scowling, at the Bahamas and its people.

The DUMP is again on fire, but the good news is, it is 60 per cent contained. Long Islanders are angry at lack of Government support in the aftermath of Joaquin. Your editorial marvellously documents the wholesale destruction of Nassau’s last vestiges of key touristic attributes that make us what we are. BEC engine failure to blame for more blackouts. Dr Minnis says “this is the worst government that we have ever seen”. W Thompson, writing from Scotland, in Letters to the Editor, is incredulous at the seeming implosion of the country in his absence, and Ken Knowles gives a, tongue in cheek, geology lesson on natural beach accretion. In the Business Section, the Andbanc Global Chief says financial services business is set for 25 per cent contraction. James Smith is not ruling out anything over more bad BOB loans. Gowon Bowe highlights BAHA MAR creditors now facing “big eye choke puppy”, in not considering risk reward issues of business. And a Trust Protector does not remember removing Guardians of a Trust.

And then you have the stuff not in the news yet, but doing the rounds on “sip-sip”, and the sip-sip is that one of the, as yet to be licensed web shops, has taken a lease on premises on Charlotte Street South, not far from the Criminal Courts in Claughton House, where the machine-gun-toting-armed-forces are stationed most days.

Your editorial highlights what I recall as being standard practice, some years ago, where public review and discourse, on buildings going up, or coming down, would be possible. I would have thought that notices would also have to be published in the Gazette when shop licenses are being requested/considered, and where neighbouring businesses could protest, if the proposed licensee might be considered inappropriate for the location. In a shopping centre this would normally be managed by the centre owner but in the case of Downtown Nassau, and in the absence of a Governing Authority, this falls to the Government.

I hope they sell The Tribune in Rawson Square. The House meets today I believe.

Somehow we need to change our ways I think, so that our Heavenly Father might one day smile on us once again.

BRUCE G. RAINE

Nassau,

December 4, 2015.