EDITOR, The Tribune.
Many Bahamians seem to believe that I, Ortland H. Bodie Jr., am or maybe an unconstructed and unapologetic member and supporter of the iconic Progressive Liberal Party (PLP). I suspect that some of them may be correct. That, even if it were so, would never influence my financial or political acumen and judgment. I call a spade a spade and fear only The Lord Jesus Christ and in a good way.
It has now been one year since the Davis administration was ushered in with him as Prime Minister. Within the first year of his government, all Bahamians, except the dishonest and visually impaired, are able to see on the ground significant achievements. The country has reopened for business after the administration, generally, but through the hard and innovative health and medical conditions led by my good friend, the Hon. Michael Darville (PLP-Tall Pines), Minister of Health & Wellness along with his professional teams in the industry.
Covid still lingers, but we seem to have a grip on it where related numbers of deaths from the same have decreased tremendously and for that we thank God. The economy is roaring, again, after being as quiet as Kitty for more than two dreary and long years of the mercifully dismissed Minnis regime. Bahamians who really want to work or start or expand a business are able to do so, again. Yes, I concur that access to non consumer loans for business purposes is vexing and a severe retard to the continued growth of the economy.
Some good news, however, is now being offered by any number of domestic and internationally based fund raising entities who are registered and regulated by the relevant governmental ministries and commissions. Bahamians with a well prepared business plan and some measure of self generated capital, are now able to crowd fund and buy mutual funds and other financial assets.
Tourism is humming along nicely. It has been reported that most of the larger hotel properties here in New Providence and the bulk of Family Island resorts/lodges have been booked out straight into 2023 if The Lord continues to tarry. Sandals, God bless that corporate citizen extraordinare, also, has just announced a multi- million dollar proposed expansion right here in The Bahamas. Several other developments, driven by DFI, throughout this beautiful and wonderful nation of ours, are coming on stream.
Progressive legislation, and quite a few others which I do not support, are now being drafted and moved to Bill form for submission to the legislative process. The questions of citizenship will require mature and sober thought based on multiple principles be they scriptural; economic; cultural; constitutional or moral, must be determined by registered voters in a National Referendum. Both a change of a monarchy to a republic and questions of citizenship must be placed before the electorate. To do otherwise would decimate the trust that the people of The Bahamas has reposed in the Davis administration.
Yes, we are back, big time, as a nation. The honeymoon is not yet over but the heavy lifting is about to begin. The PM has now paid his respects to the late Queen he must now bring about the liberalization of Crown Land and the unshackeling of commonage land. In opposition, the now PM was the most vocal MP supporting both measures. Now that he is primus inter pares, Brave MUST do what is right. Some say expectations but I say why not?
We are back no Bahamians, even the most misguided ones, must be left behind or marginalized. Brave, our beloved and visionary PM is on a roll. If he plays his cards right, he could transform The Bahamas into an even more prominent position of the world stage. Never mind the braying of the rudderless FNM and its putative leader, the Davis administration would appear to be doing the right thing.
Both the marital rape bill and that for cannabis should be shelved for now. There are more pressing economical and societal issues that are debilitating the continued growth of The Bahamas. We are no longer, if we ever were, the fishing village envisioned by the late great and inscrutable Hon. Arthur A.D. Hanna, my beloved benefactor; friend and mentor.
Brother Hanna, may The Lord Jesus Christ, bless him also, was a true son of the soil. Midge, as he was fondly known, mentored and trained three Prime Ministers: the Rt. Hon. Hubert A. Ingraham, PC; the Rt. Hon. Perry Gladstone Christie and the now current Prime Minister, the Hon. Philip 'Brave' Davis, QC,MP. My own first political appointment was at the hands of Midge as a member of The Boy's Industrial School, now the Simpson Penn Centre.
All in all, we as a nation are back and the good times are about to roll all over The Bahamas. The days of doom and gloom are over. A new refurbished international airport will be constructed in West End, Grand Bahama to service that gem of an island while we await the ill-fated Grand Bahama International Airport to emerge from the ravages of Dorian and others before. West End is the easiest site and most viable and economically feasible to get up and running in the shortest space of time.
A National Health Care System is just around the corner. Multiple industrial and labour agreements have been signed off. Civil servants are getting what they feel reasonable and the Davis administration is trying to work with them without busting the national budget or debt. An embryonic National Youth Service is also just around the corner. A new private hospital, a subsidiary of the world respected and renowned Doctors Hospital is about to commission a huge facility over in Freeport.
Thank you, Prime Minister Davis and your stellar team on a job well done in your first year in office. There is much more work to be done and some of your cabinet appointees may need to be shuffled but, until then, in all things be the glory.
ORTLAND BODIE, JR.
Nassau,
September 20, 2022.
Continue reading here:
A job well done in first year in office - Bahamas Tribune
- Cruise bound for Bahamas rerouted to Boston because of storm - CBS Boston - December 19th, 2023 [December 19th, 2023]
- Cruise ship originally headed for Bahamas to stop in Portland due to storm - NewsCenterMaine.com WCSH-WLBZ - December 19th, 2023 [December 19th, 2023]
- Inside Lionel Richie's Star-Studded 'Dancing on the Sand' Weekend In the Bahamas - PEOPLE - December 19th, 2023 [December 19th, 2023]
- 7 Top-Rated Bahamas All-Inclusive Resorts You Should Book - TheTravel - December 19th, 2023 [December 19th, 2023]
- December Cruise To Bahamas Rerouted To Canada - Jalopnik - December 19th, 2023 [December 19th, 2023]
- Alaska Airlines starts flying to the Bahamas from Seattle and Los Angeles - The Points Guy - December 19th, 2023 [December 19th, 2023]
- You Can Now Fly Nonstop From Los Angeles to Nassau, The Bahamas - Caribbean Journal - December 19th, 2023 [December 19th, 2023]
- THE BAHAMAS AND ALASKA AIRLINES CELEBRATE FIRST-EVER NONSTOP ROUTES CONNECTING WEST ... - Yahoo Finance - December 19th, 2023 [December 19th, 2023]
- Cruise ship originally en route to Bahamas docks in Boston due to weather - CBS Boston - December 19th, 2023 [December 19th, 2023]
- Cruise Ship Originally En Route To Bahamas Docks In Boston Due To Weather - Patch - December 19th, 2023 [December 19th, 2023]
- Alaska Airlines Launches First-Ever Routes to Guatemala and the Bahamas - Business Traveler USA - December 19th, 2023 [December 19th, 2023]
- Kickin' It With Q: Cowgirls in the Bahamas (E.5) - Oklahoma State Athletics - December 19th, 2023 [December 19th, 2023]
- Atlantis Paradise Island Bahamas hotel resort review - The Week - December 19th, 2023 [December 19th, 2023]
- A Black Girl's Guide To Celebrating Junkanoo In Bahamas - Refinery29 - December 19th, 2023 [December 19th, 2023]
- The Bahamas and Alaska Airlines Celebrate First-Ever Nonstop Routes - eTurboNews | eTN - December 19th, 2023 [December 19th, 2023]
- Live from AMERICANAFEST 2023: Brennen Leigh & Bahamas : World Cafe Words and Music Podcast - NPR - December 19th, 2023 [December 19th, 2023]
- World Series of Poker Paradise part of growing sports scene in Bahamas - Fox News - December 19th, 2023 [December 19th, 2023]
- TCI young men performing well at Blazer Elite Sports Academy in The Bahamas - Turks and Caicos Sun - December 19th, 2023 [December 19th, 2023]
- Royal Caribbean Closes In on New Resort in Freeport, Bahamas - Cruise Hive - December 19th, 2023 [December 19th, 2023]
- Bahamas: Spilligate'23 concert featuring Burna Boy postponed - St Vincent Times - December 19th, 2023 [December 19th, 2023]
- Snaresbrook Manor is a Luxury Oasis in Governor's Harbour Bahamas - stupidDOPE.com - December 19th, 2023 [December 19th, 2023]
- KU falls to Bahamas in rematch, 87-81 - KUsports - August 8th, 2023 [August 8th, 2023]
- Lindsay Shiver's alleged Bahamas lover downplays plot to kill husband - New York Post - August 8th, 2023 [August 8th, 2023]
- 5 Reasons To Visit This Lesser-Known Island In The Bahamas - Travel Off Path - August 8th, 2023 [August 8th, 2023]
- Ohio or the Bahamas? This kayaking paradise has crystal clear water - 614NOW - August 8th, 2023 [August 8th, 2023]
- Eric Gordon to reportedly represent Team Bahamas - Eurohoops - August 8th, 2023 [August 8th, 2023]
- Sebastian Walcott Is the Rangers'and the Bahamas'Future - D Magazine - August 8th, 2023 [August 8th, 2023]
- These Are The 10 Best Things To Do On Grand Bahama Island - TheTravel - August 8th, 2023 [August 8th, 2023]
- WHAT'S NEW IN THE BAHAMAS IN AUGUST 2023 - PR Newswire - August 8th, 2023 [August 8th, 2023]
- Deandre Ayton, Kai Jones to rep The Bahamas at Olympic qualifiers ... - Loop News Caribbean - August 8th, 2023 [August 8th, 2023]
- Reliving the Legend: Michael Jordan's Bahamas Pick-Up Trash-Talk ... - Landon Buford - August 8th, 2023 [August 8th, 2023]
- For Mayor Adams, Any Day Has the Makings of Flag Day - The New York Times - August 8th, 2023 [August 8th, 2023]
- MAKING HISTORY: 80-member team named for the CARIFTA Games - March 31st, 2023 [March 31st, 2023]
- Bahamas geography, maps, climate, environment and terrain from Bahamas ... - March 24th, 2023 [March 24th, 2023]
- Bahamas | Culture, Facts & Travel | - CountryReports - March 24th, 2023 [March 24th, 2023]
- Bahamas government structure and political parties. - CountryReports - March 24th, 2023 [March 24th, 2023]
- Is Bahamas a poor country? | - CountryReports - March 24th, 2023 [March 24th, 2023]
- Bahamas Population and Demographics from Bahamas | - CountryReports - March 24th, 2023 [March 24th, 2023]
- Bahamas interception of sea-borne Cuban migrants jumps in 2022 - January 17th, 2023 [January 17th, 2023]
- Bahamas national football team - Wikipedia - December 28th, 2022 [December 28th, 2022]
- LeBron James Sipped Champagne and Vodka All Night Alongside Katy Perry in Crazy Bahamas Party in 2010 - EssentiallySports - December 28th, 2022 [December 28th, 2022]
- Hidden Worlds and The Islands of The Bahamas Bringing Awareness to Ocean Conservation - South Florida Caribbean News - December 28th, 2022 [December 28th, 2022]
- 'Smoking a big spliff in the Bahamas': Nick's 10-year plan, and why his 'secret weapon' has him high on life - The Roar - December 23rd, 2022 [December 23rd, 2022]
- SBF's parents visited Bahamas prison where he's in custody - Business Insider - December 18th, 2022 [December 18th, 2022]
- Alex Rodriguez and Jaclyn Cordeiro share Instagram video of their stunning private vacation in the Northeastern Bahamas - Sportskeeda - December 12th, 2022 [December 12th, 2022]
- @realGeorgeHotz More Than Just a Polycule in the Bahamas, That's for Sure! - Latest Tweet by Elon Musk - LatestLY - December 12th, 2022 [December 12th, 2022]
- Bahamas' Attorney General Defends Country's Regulatory Regime Amid FTX 'Debacle' - CoinDesk - November 30th, 2022 [November 30th, 2022]
- Dayton regroups with two home games this week after 0-3 finish in Bahamas - Dayton Daily News - November 30th, 2022 [November 30th, 2022]
- The Bahamas' Club Med Columbus Set To Reopen This Month - TravelPulse - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- UH, U of the Bahamas partner in island sustainability, disaster risk reduction | University of Hawaii System News - University of Hawaii - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- Government agencies collaborating to restore East Grand Bahama - Magnetic Media - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- The Bahamas Welcomes Everyone This Winter - Vax-Before-Travel - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- Call for Entries : Development of a Private Island in The Bahamas - ArchDaily - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- VALOR OF THE VANQUISHED: PM tours Lucayans exhibit - EyeWitness News - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- Henfield: Immigration's shanty town efforts should be sustained - Bahamas Tribune - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- Rent-to-own housing initiative to provide 50 homes in pilot phase - Bahamas Tribune - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- 'Come out and support' the Fight for the Cure - Bahamas Tribune - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- Turks and Caicos thanks for Bahamas police link - Bahamas Tribune - October 13th, 2022 [October 13th, 2022]
- Trinidad and Tobago beach soccer teams to play in Bahamas Cup - TT Newsday - October 13th, 2022 [October 13th, 2022]
- 'Move the needle': IMF puts Bahamas growth back to 8% - Bahamas Tribune - October 13th, 2022 [October 13th, 2022]
- Why did 'Renovation Island' stars Bryan and Sarah Baeumler not sell their Bahamas resort? - MEAWW - October 13th, 2022 [October 13th, 2022]
- IMMIGRATION TO SEND IN OFFICERS: The Farm reported to have quadrupled in size since Dorian - Bahamas Tribune - October 13th, 2022 [October 13th, 2022]
- CBS PROstore goes hands-on with fall workshop - EyeWitness News - October 13th, 2022 [October 13th, 2022]
- Bahamas Population 2022 (Demographics, Maps, Graphs) - October 8th, 2022 [October 8th, 2022]
- WHAT'S NEW IN THE BAHAMAS IN OCTOBER 2022 - PR Newswire - October 8th, 2022 [October 8th, 2022]
- These Twin Beachfront Bahamas Mansions Just Hit the Market for $30 Million Each - Robb Report - October 8th, 2022 [October 8th, 2022]
- Unraveling the Links Between the Bahamas' Junkanoo Festival and Folk Hero John Canoe | History - Smithsonian Magazine - October 8th, 2022 [October 8th, 2022]
- The Bahamas PM says the country is in a much better place than 12 months ago, reviewing one year in office - Magnetic Media - October 8th, 2022 [October 8th, 2022]
- Bahamas Police first to answer call for help, as TCI grapples with deadly gang turf war - Magnetic Media - October 8th, 2022 [October 8th, 2022]
- MSC Cruises Seashore to Homeport at Port Canaveral for 2023 Winter Season, Will Sail to Bahamas, Western Caribbean - SpaceCoastDaily.com - October 8th, 2022 [October 8th, 2022]
- Regressive recession looming, forces UN to issue Cease and Desist message to big countries - Magnetic Media - October 8th, 2022 [October 8th, 2022]
- The best 8 places to visit in the Bahamas - Lonely Planet Travel News - October 2nd, 2022 [October 2nd, 2022]
- Take 5: What will 399000 buy in the Bahamas, Greece, France, Romania and Carlow? - The Irish Times - October 2nd, 2022 [October 2nd, 2022]
- ATLANTIS PARADISE ISLAND ANNOUNCES PARTY LIKE A ROYAL NEW YEAR'S EVE CELEBRATION AND THE CHAINSMOKERS PERFORMING ON NEW YEAR'S DAY - PR Newswire - October 2nd, 2022 [October 2nd, 2022]
- Statement to Update on the Sale of the Grand Lucayan - Magnetic Media - October 2nd, 2022 [October 2nd, 2022]
- Another Carnival Cruise Canceled Due to Hurricane Ian - Cruise Hive - October 2nd, 2022 [October 2nd, 2022]
- Coup's Notebook Vol. 26: The Toughest Job At Training Camp, Checking In On Nikola Jovi, The Next Developmental Project And Spoelstra In The Lab -... - October 2nd, 2022 [October 2nd, 2022]
- Glass Window Bridge envisioned as a symbol of resilience and sustainability says Works and Utilities Minister - Magnetic Media - October 2nd, 2022 [October 2nd, 2022]
- BUT president: Ensure there are sufficient teachers in Family Islands - Bahamas Tribune - October 2nd, 2022 [October 2nd, 2022]
- Pitch In For Youth Baseball makes inaugural visit to The Bahamas - Bahamas Tribune - September 29th, 2022 [September 29th, 2022]