More than five hundred years ago Columbus came to the shores of The Bahamas. The recent destruction of the Columbus statue has crystalized ill feeling towards him. Bahamians are now the wiser of people coming to plunder our Bahama land.

Columbus’ fleet pulled up to our shores, gave out some glass beads, exploited our people, searched for gold, spread sickness and then enslaved the natives. This was all done in the name of “Royalty”. In today’s world Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines’ (RCL) fleet comes sailing in to The Bahamas looking for riches and land. From their million dollar boardrooms they promised to buy an ailing hotel and can’t fulfill their commitment. Bahamians have been forced to carry the financial bill of their indecision and not deterred RCL also want to grab the Grand Lucayan for a basement bargain and have us finance it for them.

RCL have the whole of Little Stirrup Cay, which is Crown Land, they removed its identity and renamed it “Coco Cay”. They have paved paradise, removed the native coppice and have over 40% foreign work force while before it was substantially higher. RCL control the whole island, the Bahamian general public no longer have any access to it and all the revenues, save for a few menial janitorial jobs, are exported from The Bahamas for the benefit of foreign shareholders and the bosses’ bonuses.

RCL have also demanded to take possession of ten acres of Crown Land and Seabed on Paradise Island, they have held Bahamians bent over the Grand Lucayan barrel and now want to run roughshod over an all-Bahamian development; Paradise Island Lighthouse & Beach Club (PILH). PILH already have a Crown Land Lease, which was offered by Prime Minister Minnis in 2019 and PILH accepted in its entirety. The Minnis administration clearly ignored this matter is before the Supreme Court and so too has RCL.

Bahamians have woken up and realize that a few greedy politicians in the past regime received a good greasing and the exploitation in the name of foreign royalty becomes apparent. These past politicians have sold Bahamians down the river. The audacity of Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines wanting to heist Bahamian Crown Land from Bahamians and then RCL want to give native Bahamians a “special rate” to enjoy our own land, but only on days when Royal Caribbean guests are not over there. How much cultural segregation do they want?

Now it’s a “New Day”: A New Day for Bahamians. Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines shold carefully observe the signs stating “The Bahamas is for Bahamians”. PILH is confident that Prime Minister Davis and his capable team will see the merits of PILH’s Bahamian owned and operated boutique resort. Prime Minister Davis stated, when in opposition, he will cancel any deal done with RCL for Crown Land on Paradise Island and we know Prime Minister Davis to be a man whose word is his bond.

Meanwhile, PILH says let’s not repeat the mistakes made in the past and fall for what Columbus did to exploit the Bahamas and let Bahamians thrive in commerce and ownership.

Paradise Island Lighthouse & Beach Club also seeks to officially propose to the government that we wish the beach currently named “Colonial Beach” to help us get away from the Colonial era and the negativity it carries and request the name of the beach to be “Lighthouse” Beach. We are tired of the masters and we need our own identity and Bahamians need to stand together and oppose it being the “Royal Beach”.

Paradise Island Lighthouse & Beach Club Co. Ltd. intends to proceed with our project. Our initial investment for development will be $2M and increase significantly over the first five years of operation. We shall fully restore our Bahamian Paradise “Hog” Island Lighthouse at no cost to the Bahamian public with the revenues made from our Beach Club. We shall employ more than eighty Bahamians and have an all-Bahamian team. Generate hundreds of millions of dollars of revenues and add to the Bahamian GDP as it circulates our Bahama land. Generate tens of millions of dollars in government revenues. We shall promote our Bahamian culture and history with Bahamians. We shall provide beach access to Bahamians and amenities to enjoy it. Build a right sized boutique beach club that doesn’t exploit nature, we work in harmony with the environment. Develop a low impact experience and embrace a reduced carbon footprint and use alternative energy. Be a true expression of Bahamian culture, history and have Bahamians there to promote it. Provide for Bahamian ownership in multi facets. Assist in securing opportunities for future Bahamian generations. Provide a Bahamian excursion of scale to accommodate the growing domestic and international tourism market.

Captain Toby C.S. Smith,
Lighthouse Keeper,
Paradise Island Lighthouse & Beach Club.

Dear Editor, Within 11 months, Bahamians will be heading back to the polls to determine who will govern their affairs between 2022 and 2027.

It is now thought that the Free National Movement (FNM) is in grave danger of being ousted from office, due to the twin onslaughts of Hurricane Dorian and the COVID-19 pandemic.

What I find troubling about Bahamians is their penchant for punishing hardworking, productive MPs for the perceived shortcomings of their political parties. This broad-brush approach by emotional Bahamian voters has impeded nation building, as far too many talented MPs have been unfairly fired.

One example of this in 2017 was Progressive Liberal Party incumbent Khaalis Rolle losing in Pinewood Gardens. Rolle, in my view, was an exceptional MP who was dealt a bad hand by constituents. Based on the mood on the ground in New Providence, it would appear that the FNM’s unpopularity will cause it to lose the overwhelming majority of its constituencies in New Providence. Assuming that Free Town MP Dionisio D’Aguilar runs again in 2022, it will be interesting to see if constituents will reward the hardworking, productive incumbent with another well deserved term as their representative. As a successful businessman, civic leader and member of a prominent family, D’Aguilar is the one individual Bahamians should want in their House of Assembly. Donating his entire MP salary of $28,000 to Free Town, D’Aguilar obviously didn’t leave his lucrative private life to enter politics to earn money. Remember, he is the proprietor of the successful franchise Superwash.

What I find troubling about Bahamians is their penchant for punishing hardworking, productive MPs for the perceived shortcomings of their political parties. This broad-brush approach by emotional Bahamian voters has impeded nation building, as far too many talented MPs have been unfairly fired.

One example of this in 2017 was Progressive Liberal Party incumbent Khaalis Rolle losing in Pinewood Gardens. Rolle, in my view, was an exceptional MP who was dealt a bad hand by constituents.

Based on the mood on the ground in New Providence, it would appear that the FNM’s unpopularity will cause it to lose the overwhelming majority of its constituencies in New Providence.

Assuming that Free Town MP Dionisio D’Aguilar runs again in 2022, it will be interesting to see if constituents will reward the hardworking, productive incumbent with another well deserved term as their representative.

As a successful businessman, civic leader and member of a prominent family, D’Aguilar is the one individual Bahamians should want in their House of Assembly.

Donating his entire MP salary of $28,000 to Free Town, D’Aguilar obviously didn’t leave his lucrative private life to enter politics to earn money. Remember, he is the proprietor of the successful franchise Superwash.

I promised from the beginning of this global pandemic that I would be transparent and forthcoming in sharing information with all of you. Each time we talked, I shared the good news and bad news, but today I must share some sad news.

When previously asked about redundancies, I have said that it was too soon to make that decision. Today, I must confirm that we are reducing the size of our Atlantis workforce.

For Atlantis, whose sole purpose is centered around people serving people, this is incredibly difficult to confront. I will share how we arrived at this decision and what we will do for those impacted.

Let me start with how we arrived at this decision. We are collectively living through the worst pandemic of our lifetime, and as it began to unfold, global travel came to a standstill. Our business suffered significant losses, and in response, we drastically cut costs that touched nearly every corner of Atlantis.

While these actions were necessary, it became clear that we had to go further when faced with two hard truths:

We don’t know exactly when travel will return to normal business levels When travel does return, it will be very different for everyone

While we expect Atlantis to recover fully and business volumes continue to increase since reopening, the significant changes we will undergo are not temporary or short-lived. Because of this, we need to make fundamental shifts by reducing the size of our workforce around a more focused business strategy.

Unfortunately, we have to part ways with team members that we respect and value. Out of 7,300 Atlantis team members, 700 of our colleagues will be not be returning.

This decision is not a reflection of the work and efforts of these individuals. Many teams across the organization will be reduced in size.

Today team members who are parting from Atlantis will receive a call from the senior leader of their department and an email from Human Resources. It is important to us that we inform our colleagues in a personal, 1:1 conversation.

Every detail to help provide a smooth transition for parting colleagues has been thoughtfully planned and considered.

What I have learned this past year is that a crisis brings clarity about what is truly important. Though we have been through a whirlwind, some things are more apparent to me than ever before.

I am thankful for everyone at Atlantis and have a deep respect for all of you. Throughout this unprecedented experience, I have been inspired by all of you. Even in the worst of circumstances, I have seen the very best of us. The world needs human connection now more than ever. I know that Atlantis will rise to the occasion. I believe this because I believe in you.

To our active team members, One of the most important ways we can honor those who are leaving is to let them know their contributions mattered and that they will always be part of our Atlantis family. I am confident their work will live on, just as our mission will live on too.

To our colleagues leaving Atlantis, The community will never stop seeking the qualities and talents you brought to Atlantis. I want to thank you for sharing them with us, for caring, and for contributing to the success of Atlantis.

Be well,
Audrey Oswell President & Managing Director

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I am so pleased to be able to write this letter about my successful experience with Road Traffic this month!

I messaged RTD on their Facebook page for an appointment at Fort Charlotte for my annual car and driver's license renewals. Within half an hour l received a reply indicating an available spot that same day, which unfortunately l could not make, so l requested another time. Within the hour l had accepted a date for the following morning at 9.30.

Leaving home early, not knowing what traffic would be like, l arrived at 9.15 and was met and pleasantly greeted at the entrance by a young man who took my name and confirmed the appointment time on his list. (NB the RTD entrance is through the corner on the WESTERN side by the Girl Guide Headquarters, not on West Bay Street which is the EXIT).

I was asked to drive to a spot on the line to wait my turn. He patrolled the area directing the three cars ahead of me as to when to pull up for their inspection. Although only one of the two inspection bays was operational this morning, by 9.25 l was pulling into the inspection bay, handed in my insurance papers and driver's license, was inspected and asked to drive out and park until l was told to go and pay by credit card at the cashier's window. (NB ONLY CREDIT CARD payments are accepted at this location)

I paid, received my paperwork, was told to return in 3 business days to pick up my new Driver's license (which I have since done successfully), put on my decal and drove out the exit at 9.40am!! (NB if both inspection bays had been working, l would have left even earlier!)

I was most impressed with the courtesy, organization, and efficiency of the staff and wish to thank them, as well as whoever is responsible for 'making it so'!!

If only all government agencies could be operated in a similar fashion!

I am well known to speak my mind in letters to the press when I am annoyed by rudeness, disorganization and/or inefficiency which unfortunately happens all too often! Similarly, therefore, it is so encouraging to be able to write a positive letter praising the civil servants at Fort Charlotte's RTD – a most welcome change!