Funeral Service for Solomon Butler, 86, of Port Howe, Cat Island died on Wednesday 21st September, 2011 at the Malcolm Road West will be held on Saturday 1st October, 2011 at 2:00pm at Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Port Howe, Cat Island. Officiating will be Pastor Pandora Ingraham assisted by Pastor Carol Johnson, Pastor Vernice Storr and other ministers of the gospel. Interment will follow in Port Howe, Cat Island Public Cemetery.

Left to cherish his fond memories is his 1 son: Rev. Zephaniah Newbold; 3 grandsons: Adonis, Ricky and Allessandro; 1 grand daughter: Annea; 1 daughter-in-law: Blanche Newbold; 1 brother: Pembroke Williams; 4 sisters: Bloneva Hunter, Sheila Seymour, Sadie Porter, Mavis, Adell B ...

Bahamians should monitor closely the economic events in Europe and the United States. Several European countries such as Spain, Portugal and Italy are having trouble managing their debts.  Other European economies such as Ireland and Greece have already been bailed out; but may still need additional help again soon.
There are fears that a European debt crisis could emerge creating conditions similar to the financial crisis of 2008, which led to the most significant recession since the Great Depression.
As Europe tries to fix itself, and there is no easy solution, a bitter debate in the United States over debt and spending rages.  The U.S. has a debt to GDP ratio of around 100 percent that is growing.  Conservatives want to see deep cuts to entitlement spending.  Liberals want to maintain the social programs they think support a just society
The U.S. and Western European countries had high levels of debt before the financial crisis.  The amount of money states used to support their economies after the crisis, however, significantly increased those debt levels.  Now, tough decisions have to be made.  The old levels of spending can no longer be supported. If they are maintained, collapse will eventually be the result.
The problem is that in modern states people have come to believe that they have the right to every benefit under the sun. Many think they should have free health care, free education, unemployment benefits, pensions, etc.  In previous good times when these things could be afforded, politicians kept piling on benefits and giving subsidies to appease voters and financiers.
The time has now come in the Western World to roll back these 'gifts' and rethink the role of government.
In truth, people do not have the right to any benefit or gift from the state.  The whole idea of rights is too based on religious thinking and assumptions on what ought to be bestowed to humans by a mysterious divine source.
Countries, communities and social groups can only provide the level of entitlements that can be afforded.  Governments can and ought to act as back stops for the downtrodden if they can afford to so do, and not otherwise.  So, if you live in oil rich Norway, then the sky is the limit.  That state can afford to spoil its citizens.
When you live in a developing society with a debt to GDP ratio approaching 100 percent, there is little the state can do for you.
Government should function first and foremost as a regulator.  Its job should be to ensure that fair and open marketplaces exist, through which citizens can make a living.  Government should also work to ensure the safety of the common area from internal and external threats.
Beyond this, all the other benefits a state could offer should be based on the resources at its disposal, after consultation with the people.
Under this mindset, it becomes easy for a country to make decisions as to the cuts necessary for growth in the economy to return.  Wasteful programs and subsidies, to the poor, as well as to the rich, must be cut across the board in the West in order for taxes to be reduced and for the private sector to have more space to expand.  Unnecessary and onerous regulations also need to be removed, creating a more favorable atmosphere for entrepreneurs to take risks.
Here in The Bahamas we are burdened by more and more regulations and by a large and inefficient public service.  Our solution, it seems, to the down times is to continue to impose more regulations and to pay the public sector come what may and to borrow and borrow to so do.  We cannot keep this up forever.
It is obvious what needs to be done.  But it will not be done until people here abandon the idea that a welfare state, by what ever name, is the answer.

Funeral Service for Josephine Margurita Rahming, 74, a resident of #244 Teach Place, Freeport and formerly of Bullocks Harbour, Berry Islands will be held on Saturday 1st, October, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. at Church of the Ascension, Arden Forest Road and West Beach Drive.

Officiating will be Fr. Earl Hepburn.

A final service will be held in Nassau on Saturday 8th, October, 2011 and the interment will be made in the Western Cemetery, Nassau Street.

Left to cherish her memories are her husband Edward Rahming children Nichola Eve, Basheva Eve-Bowe, Llewellyn A.W. Parker Jr. stepdaughters Elanor Rahming Scott, Greta Pintard and Nec ...

Freeport, Grand Bahama - A local Bahamian recording artist is broadening his range to include the title of author.

Kirkland
"KB" Bodie, with publishing company Media Unlimited, and illustrated by
art teachers Alisa Streathe

r-Robinson, has published a book entitled
"Bahamian Lyrical Tales" which will be launched during the opening of
the

library in Eight Mile Rock on

Friday,

September 30th, 2011 at 10am, and

then at 4pm at the

Sir Charles Hayward Library.

 

There he will be autographing the book for his fans.

The
book is a group of 15 short stories based on songs he has written that
were all hits...