Rick Lowe
It was recently reported in the press that Mr. McCartney believes the government should do more to help entrepreneurs.
He was quoted as saying:
"There are a dozen businesses that I could name today, that with a bit of encouragement and start-up financing could benefit from revitalisation."
I'm sure he means well, but has he considered for one moment the millions of taxpayers dollars that have been dispensed like this over the years with absolutely no accountability?
I'm willing to bet he hasn't. And if he has, he can do it better, just like the hundreds of politicians before him.
The PLP started a $2 million venture capital fund a few years back. No accountability.
The FNM, in a recent video being circulated by its chairman $1.7 million they touted a programme for the youth to start businesses. No accountability.
That's $3.7 million in less than five years and no one knows what transpired.
The temptation for politicians to be "populist" must be overwhelming.
Whether or not that's the case, Mr. McCartney and his family are fine examples to the community. Why not hold that model up rather than promising people other peoples money?
Do it with your money, or like minded peoples money Mr. McCartney. Future generations do not deserve to be stuck with the bill.
A fella who has nothing left to give away,
will find himself very unpopular with those who he has made dependent.
They are grasping at straws, more desperate every day.
A wise man once said that “a fool and his money are soon parted”.. Yes the Bahamians are a nation of fools as we are broke and out of money.. Deficits grow daily and will only bring economic destruction to our beloved Bahamaland.. Who will pay the piper when the bills become due…
Just think for a moment.. The historical lending record of the Bahamas Development Bank is a national disgrace.. How is the Development Bank ever going to pay back the funds it borrowed from National Insurance?? Perhaps it is something we should be thinking about.. Why we still call it a development bank is beyond common logic.. To simple throw (away) more money at a problem is never the answer..
Just look at the mess we have created with our educational system which is in a state of national disgrace.. Can anyone show a return on investment on the hundreds of millions we have thrown at the system which today is a chaotic mess.. Don’t even try as the results (academic achievement) speak for themselves..
More and more money is not the answer without financial accountability.. We must not continue to waste our scarce financial resources until we redefine our country’s “economic of scale”.. Bigger and larger government is NOT the answer as it will eventually bankrupt our proud nation.. It is never to late to change, but time may be fast running out..
Mr Lowe, I may have been a little vague in my statement but with respect sir you have misinterpreted what I meant. I am a businessman who certainly did not rely on government for financing. I do not expect others to either! I do expect that the government ought to give certain consessions to local businesses however it would be for the business to find their own financing. Indeed, I do know the challenges out there in trying to obtain financing, especially for those entering the business world for the first time, however I do agree that they must find their own. Accountability is the key and that is what is lacking in government;just look at the situation with the student loans and indeed I can go on and on. Bran.
Dear Mr. McCartney,
Thank you for your comments, I must say I was taken aback to find a comment from yourself, and I do really appreciate it.
It is so easy to mis-interpret statements made in or out of the house by politicians, as unfortunately I have only my “mothers wit” with which to evaluate with, and as there are so many agendas at play, it can often be quite confusing.
Not meaning to imply you are unsincere or not well meaning, I would look forward to a discussion with yourself on any and many different topics, but unfortunately, living in Freeport, it is quite difficult to engage in competent discussion with our political leadership as we do not have the same access to nor perspective as those residing in the Capital.
I had always heard that Blogs such as these had the occasional attention of Politicians, but had never seen evidence of their presence.
If you are ever in Freeport, please, at your convenience stop by, perhaps we can further discuss why I believe Governments should never travel down the road of bestowing favour but should simply perform their Constitutionally mandated task, and leave the human initiative to the private sector, where it originated and thrives, in spite of governments best and most usual efforts.
To topic, I would be loath to be the one to decide who will get what, unable to even imagine what criteria I could employ that would be fair, given that all I could distribute, I would have first taken from others.
Perhaps one day we will be able to have abstract and lively discussions without noses being bend out of shape or personal affont being taken.
After all, no matter the disagreement, or the perspective, our issues remain,
as I do,
Unresolved.