Posts tagged as:

Economics

Peter Hallward, “Securing Disaster in Haiti”

25 January 2010

Well worth reposting, reading, and savouring in days to come. Sobering commentary indeed.
Nine days after the devastating earthquake that struck Haiti on 12 January 2010, it’s now clear that the initial phase of the U.S.-led relief operation has conformed to the three fundamental tendencies that have shaped the more general course of the island’s recent [...]

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A ‘recession vacation’ in The Bahamas

22 November 2009

Ever wonder what tourists think of The Bahamas? have a look at what one had to say.
I like it mostly because of the writing.
I imagine for Bahamians it’s a very different place. In fact, I’d be willing to offer long odds that most locals have never touched a conch fritter. Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on [...]

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Google May Hand Over Caribbean Journalists’ IP Addresses

1 September 2009

I have often wondered seriously about the American commitment to freedom, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. I have often wondered also about the American belief in the principles on which it is founded; it’s one of those things that make me deeply sceptical about any action taken by that giant of a country that [...]

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Ward’s take on the local film industry

21 August 2009
Thumbnail image for Ward’s take on the local film industry

I’m really taken by Ward Minnis’ series of blog posts on the viability of Bahamian art, and I’ve linked to them on this blog and I’ll link to them again. He’s developing a number of such posts (more power to him!) and they are very interesting reading. If you’re at all interested in entrepreneurship, in [...]

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Caribbean Tourism: it’s the same everywhere

4 July 2009

One of the stories on the news last night (that’s right, ZNS news) was a longish feature on the sufferings of Atlantis, Paradise Island, as the result of the recession. I really didn’t write down the figures, but they were enough to elicit weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth — 3% down in occupancy [...]

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On Culture, CARIFESTA, and the Bahamian Economy, Part I

17 April 2009

It came to my attention last month that our government was planning to postpone, once again, the hosting of the Caribbean Festival of Arts, if it had not yet done so. Announcements to that effect would be made very soon, I was told. The fact that such announcements have not yet been made may make [...]

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On the Recession, the Humanities, and the 21st Century

1 March 2009

But I’m going to make a prediction now. It’s not an awfully fun one, either. The Bahamian economy is very likely to crash, and hard. And soon. Why? Well, it has occurred to me (why I was so silly I don’t know) that our extended period of prosperity has lasted pretty well as long as the Cuban Revolution has lasted — the revolution and the attendant embargo. Quite simply, because Americans couldn’t go to Cuba, they came here.

That time is conceivably going to end in the foreseeable future. If you were paying attention to Obama’s state of the union address, you might be like me, and seeing it coming sooner or later.

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Microwave not recommended to bake a quality bread product

13 June 2008

I’m baking a frozen roll of French bread for breakfast.  That’s what it said on the package.
Know this.  As long as I’m awake, little things run through my head, rather like the ticker tape display you see at stock markets.  Little communications from my subconscious flash across my conscious mind and distract me from what [...]

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Budget

9 June 2008

The Bahamas’ budget debate is taking place now.  As a civil servant, I am not free to comment as I would like.  So I’ll just ask questions instead.
I am listening to the debate, and the rhetoric is impressive.  But what is the reality?  Is this budget really preparing us for the 21st century?  Do we [...]

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Hell thaws again

29 March 2008

Hat tip to Rick Lowe, for linking to this blog.
Since our brief moment of harmony, though, I think we’re going to part ways again. Here’s why hell couldn’t have stayed frozen for long.
I’m a great big fan of The Wire — the TV show about the Baltimore streets that’s set up to be the [...]

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