LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Dear Sir,
I have been quiet for the past year but during that time I have read, listened and observed. The outcome causes me to make the following wishes for 1998:
1. that the country will earn more and spend less;
2. that the new Minister of Youth and Sports will be bold enough to introduce various pieces of legislation in an attempt to curtail the violence among the youth of the land;
3. that the parents of our Bahamaland will come to the realisation that discipline, respect and hard work - positive qualities we were taught in the past - are building blocks which can bring about a new direction for our youth;
4. that the Government will put a moratorium on liquor licences much as they have done on taxi plates and rental cars;
5. that casino licences will not spread to the Family Islands, especially to Abaco;
6. that Local Government will no longer be treated as a step child and be given a larger piece of the economic pie;
7. that Central Government have greater respect for the Local Government councils and not make important decisions without serious input from them;
8. that the Civil Service will realise that they are the servants of the people and become appreciative, respectful and productive;
9. that the Government Corporations will come to the realisation that they work for the Bahamian people and behave in such a way that the frightful waste will be reduced;
10. that the officers at the Department of Fisheries will awaken to the fact that we are fast depleting many of our marine resources and ensure safeguards are put in place to check this disturbing trend;
11. that the government will examine closely the excessive way they have been issuing citizenship, work permits and other forms of immigration status, regrettably to the detriment of the Bahamian worker;
12. that the government will pay greater attention to low/middle income businesses so as to build a stronger economic base for future Bahamians.
Patrick Bethel, Marsh Harbour.
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Dear Sir,
This is a copy of a letter I have sent to several government ministers.
Dear Sirs,
I was alarmed to read that investors have the audacity to apply to the Government to open a saw mill in Abaco and tie up land for 100 years. And want 30 acres for speculation purposes to boot. Obviously, they think the Bahamas Government and Abaconians in particular are pygmies in their outlook and thinking.
All over the world, ecologists are concerned about deforestation and conservation. Already farmers in Abaco have been concerned about the rain cycle because so much of the land has already been depleted due to the large farms. The rainfall has been affected.
Forests in South America, Haiti and Indonesia are fast disappearing due to the greed of investors who can always have a feasibility study prepared and presented in their favour. One asks the question - What are the conservation laws in the investorsÕ countries?
Wilson City, Millsville, Norman's Castle were pulp towns in Abaco. The investors came, reaped, left. What did they leave Abaco in terms of infrastructure, libraries? Museums, hospitals? Educational facilities, pension and retirement plans for their hard working employees? Prosperity? Companies know that when they go to Middle East countries they must invest in universities and hospitals. No longer should government in The Bahamas be lavishly open-handed to investors who will be reaping millions, paying workers pittances and leaving the country poorer.
As Abaconians, we are to be concerned about a heritage for our children. They have to live here. We cannot have our lands tied up for 100 years. We cannot give away our heritage. Our children must be able to dream, plan, and have possibilities upon lands that are available, free, clear, unencumbered.
A Concerned Abaconian (Name and address supplied)