THE U S HAS A NERVE IN ITS ADVISORY
U.S. officials through its Embassy in Nassau have issued what they say is a level 2 warning for The Bahamas. This is out of four possible levels. They have now specifically warned off tourists from the Sandtrap, the Jet Skis and latterly they have added the Fish Fry at Arawak Cay at night. There is no basis for the warning on the Fish Fry at Arawak Cay. We go further and say that the U. S which has people being slaughtered in the hundreds in public venues by mad men have a nerve to call areas of The Bahamas unsafe in a manner that condemns the whole country. Fortunately few tourists pay attention to these warnings and they go where they want to go. As Tommy Thompson of the Ministry of Tourism said the majority of Americans in The Bahamas have an absolutely safe experience. We of course must work to maintain it that way. Bahamas government officials, including the Ministers of Tourism and Foreign Affairs seemed to have been blindsided by the warnings. But while it is bad for our country, it is good for them. They thought that because they were FNM and sucking up to their right wing American friends that the U S would treat them differently. What you see in Donald Trump’s America is that we are all from shitholes and so it matters not. The PLP issued a statement on the matter:
11TH JANUARY 2018
We note the latest travel advisory issued by the US Government to its citizens travelling to The Bahamas. We thought that the FNM promised that all these advisories would stop once they became the government. Alas just as in the case of the three murders in one week in Freeport, FNM policies on crime have not made a bit of difference. By many measures it is worse.
Of course, the advisories are a double edged sword in that they do not often adequately tell the true story and are often counterproductive. But unlike the FNM, the PLP takes no joy or pride in telling both the Prime Minister and his National Security Minister “we told you so”. The U S does what it feels is best for its citizens. It is now your job to do what is best for Bahamians. The PLP can help but not if the FNM continues with the blame game and victor’s justice.
A weak Ministry of Foreign Affairs also does not help, increasingly manned by political operatives instead of professionally qualified staff.
The government needs to get to work and produce the results they smugly boasted about prior to 10th May. Bahamians are watching and taking note with each passing day.
End