Happy Birthday Bahamas!

The islands of the  Bahamas are known for their beautiful beaches and pristine clear waters, a marvel many across the globe seek out in their travels. Aside from the beautiful waters, and gorgeous beaches there is a third resource that is beyond value, the people. With a rich history, dating back to the discovery of the new world by Christopher Columbus, his very first stop was an island on the eastern side of the chain of Bahamas islands, San Salvador. Following suit, the Bahamas like the rest of the Caribbean became the epicenter of a global economical transition, fueled by an undiscovered continent and the promise of untold wealth. This cultural explosion was fueled on the backs of African slaves immigrated to the New World as a cornerstone to the global expansion of the European settlers. And to this day that great migration is evident in the genetic makeup of the Bahamian people and serves as the basis for the reason why women in the Bahamas have the greatest worldwide risk of hereditary breast cancer.

The BRCA1 & BRCA2 (breast cancer 1/2, early onset) genes were first discovered in 1990, and have since been linked to a genetic predisposition to breast & ovarian cancer in women. Several other studies have linked BRCA genetic mutations to other types of cancer including pancreas and prostate. Research studies have drawn a significant correlation between individuals with a BRCA mutation and incidence of breast/ovarian cancer, with a  greater than >75% lifetime risk. Signifying that women with a BRCA1/2 mutation are very likely to develop either breast or ovarian cancer within the course of their life-time.

This genetic mutation is one of the greatest predictors on cancer among the human race. The good news is that the frequency of BRCA1 mutations is <1% (1 in 500 women) in the general population. However, specific ethnic groups have been shown to have a higher association of BRCA1 mutations, specifically the Ashkenazi Jewish population. This term refers to Jewish people of eastern European descent. In the late 1990s studies have estimated that the overall frequency of BRCA1/2 mutation within the Ashkenazi Jewish population at approx. 2.65% (1 in 40 women). Of Ashkenazi Jewish women who develop breast/ovarian cancer, ~11% were estimated to arise as a result of mutations within the BRCA1/2 gene.

These findings about the association of Ashkenazi Jews and breast cancer risk have initiated a flurry of studies about population-based risk for breast/ovarian cancer via BRCA1/2. As a result the genetics of the Ashkenazi Jewish population have been extensively studied in an attempt to understand how BRCA1 hereditary breast cancer arises. The most frequent mutation of the Ashkenazi Jewish population is 185delAG. This mutation result in an alteration of the gene expression impairing its functions and resulting in the induction of cancer. Until recently this population of women have embodied the association of BRCA1/2 hereditary breast cancer risk, and thus the medical community has invested heavily in understanding the significance of their risk.

However, in 2011 it was discovered that women in the Bahamas have a much higher association of breast cancer risk than even the Ashkenazi Jewish population. Qualitative observation of Bahamian women developing breast cancer at very young ages <40 yrs old, lead to an initial study investigating the frequency of BRCA1/2 mutations in Bahamian women who had developed breast or ovarian cancer. This lead to a conclusion that the women who had developed cancer 23% were due to BRCA1/2 mutations. As whole population studies are currently underway (Bahamas Breast Cancer Initiative Foundation), the overall frequency of BRCA1 mutation within the general population in the Bahamas is yet to be determined. However, estimates suggest that the frequency of this mutation may be as high as 4% (1 in 25 women) within the general Bahamian population. Several types of BRCA1 mutations were observed in the Bahamian population but greater that 90% of the associated BRCA hereditary breast cancer was one specific mutation (IVS13+1G>A) an African founder mutation. The Bahamas is a population with greater than 90% of African descent, therefore a founder mutation previously associated with individuals of African descent is not surprising  and reflects the essence of the African heritage reflected in the DNA of Bahamian people. Even more interesting is that this mutation has not been associated with Ashkenazi Jewish women, indicating a totally different inherent risk association.

So what does this mean? Will there be a rush to study Bahamian women, or even women in the Caribbean of African descent to determine the impact of these mutations on the general population?

In short, where exactly the future of BRCA1 hereditary breast cancer research in the Bahamas will lead no one knows. Initial studies are currently underway and hopefully will yield some answers. However, the Bahamas is not an island with vast medical resources for research and the world seems content with what they think they know about the associated risk of breast cancer via BRCA1. It is clear that these observations need to be studied further. Although we know that BRCA1 mutations indicate a higher risk, there is still a whole lot we do not know. Specifically, what can trigger the onset of breast cancer in individuals with this inherited risk? Additionally, although we know that individuals with known BRCA1 founder mutations will likely develop breast cancer we have yet to determine how to prevent the onset of this disease in those individuals aside from a mastectomy (removal of the breasts) or oophorectomy (removal or the ovaries).

On the reverse side, there are hundreds of types of BRCA1 mutations, and several of these mutations have not been linked to any cancer, and yield no answers on the appropriate approach in individuals with these inconclusive mutations. Therefore we are quite a ways from answering all the questions.

We have reached an age of mass information via our technological resources. We have gained the ability to better unlock the potential of our genes, and read our genetic code like a manual to our future. However, we are still inept at implementing the appropriate solutions when we find a problem.

Research is key to tapping into the code in our DNA, for the right prescription to our ailments. And although BRCA is seen as the holy grail for understanding breast/ovarian cancer risk there are several other known genes that poses association with cancer but are ignored due to the low mutation frequency. What do we do about those?

The solution may not be simple but it begins with a complete understanding of who were are as a people, genetically speaking & what can genetic testing tell us about our risk.







Reference:-

1. Donenberg T, Lunn J, Curling D, Turnquest T, Krill-Jackson E, Royer R, Narod SA, Hurley J., "A high prevalence of BRCA1 mutations among breast cancer patients from the Bahamas."Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2011 Jan;125(2):591-6
2. Akbari M, Donenberg T, Lunn J, Curling D, Turnquest T, Krill-Jackson E, Zhang S, Narod S, Hurley J."The spectrum of BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations in breast cancer patients in the Bahamas." Clin Genet. 2013 Mar 4.

Photo credit: bookgrl / Foter.com / CC BY-NC-ND

Photo credit: Peter Fuchs / Foter.com / CC BY-NC-SA

I was flabbergasted to hear that China was offering the Bahamas a $1 billion dollar loan at a 2% interest rate, to improve the infrastructure of the country. That's a lot of Mula! But why?! I understand that China has had an extensive relationship with the Bahamas over the past 10 years. As recently as last year the Bahamas and China marked a 15 year relationship. And if you look at the major projects underway in the Bahamas they are all backed by the Chinese government.

What would you do with $1 billion dollars?

These projects include, Bahamar, a $3.5 billion dollar mega hotel which is suppose to be the biggest thing since sliced bread by advancing the gaming and luxury hotel brand in the region, but in reality is just another Atlantis. At present we have no idea if two mega hotels can exist within the same region/island or whether both hotels will cannibalize one another. Additionally, what will happen in another economic global recession? Will the country have two giant paperweights dragging the country down? China's goal is to bring the Macao brand to the West with Bahamar.

Another Chinese backed project is the newly built Thomas A. Robinson Stadium, an Olympic quality Track & Field Stadium built as a gift by the Chinese government and handed over to the Bahamian people. The opening ceremony marked a grandiose event,  highlighting Chinese influence on the Bahamian economy. Since opening in 2012 the stadium has already hosted the Carifta games, basically the Caribbean Olympics, for the youth ages 20 and under. Additionally, the Chinese government has built a new embassy in the Bahamas and has definitely left a mark in the Bahamian economy. I always thought the invested interest of the Chinese government in the Bahamian economy was especially peculiar and I did not understand why? I did notice that the Chinese were importing a lot of their workers to build and run these entities that they had a financial stake, but admittedly that just seems like normal business practices.

On his most recent western trip, President Xi Jinping made his mark on the western civilization visting the Caribbean, Mexico and the USA. Bahamian officials flew to Trinidad & Tobago to join president Xi, marking the apparent influence of the Chinese government within the region and solidifying their stake in influencing their invested interests. The Chinese government also gave money to Trinidad and Tobago to build an international sporting complex. President Jinping has been quoted as saying that "Trinidad is the most attractive Caribbean economy." They [Chinese govt] are also loaning 3 billion dollars to Trinidadian officials to bolster economic infrastructure which include a children's hospital valued at $150,000,000 and supply grants for young people to study in China. China has also agreed to send hundreds of doctors to Trinidad to staff these hospitals. Admittedly, Trinidad is a major oil export so it is understandable why the Chinese would invest interest in the region, they have something they want. But what about the Bahamas? What do we have that they want?

China has offered loans to 9 Caribbean countries totaling 3 Billion dollars.

It is quite apparent that China is flexing its economic prowess to the neighbors of the Americas. A world away one has to wonder the economical benefit of the Chinese government investing a financial stake within the Caribbean region. In Trinidad it is clear they are interested in their natural gas resources to feed their own growing energy demands but in the Bahamas what may be their motive?

Personally, I believe we are witnessing the next evolution in colonization. The last major advancement in colonization was Britain, which occupied foreign entities with military force, through navel ships giving birth to America, the Caribbean, and India as we know them today. China, a country with a billion citizens with dwindling resources has decided to expand their reach across the globe and the best way to achieve that accomplishment is through flexing their economic muscles. It has always been known that the Caribbean is the neglected cousin of the Americas (North & South). A bunch of tiny little islands known more for their natural beauty rather than natural resources. The USA has always been the place to be, and South America has always been a land of invaluable resources.

China has realized that the Caribbean serves a purpose as a colony. By investing heavily in these neglected territories they have secured the advancement of their people to this region. With the loans provided, the Chinese govt has secured rights for its citizen to work and migrate to the region. Fast forward 20 years from now, and these locals may be overrun by Asian immigrants. Its the long game China is playing. And honestly, its a smart game. China knows they can never buy their way into America, but with a population 80 miles off shore, they are guaranteed to subvert their way into american culture. This ladies and gentlemen, is the new class warfare, occupation via colonization, through monetary globalization.

China is on a mission to colonize the globe, and in a world where most countries are introverts and interested in maintaining their local brand this kind of thinking may take the world by storm and change the international boundaries as we know them.

This Question arose from the generous "offer" from the Chinese government to loan or "make available" $1 billion dollars to the Bahamas government to use for infrastructure and to benefit the country. Forget for a second that this is an exorbitant/generous offer and that mama always said "aint nothing in this world free" and just pretend for a moment that this $1 billion dollars comes without any strings attached. What do you think the Bahamas govt would & should do with the money? And what would you do if you were made Lord & Emperor of the Bahamas.

*disclaimer:: Lord and Emperor Title of the Bahamas does no exist*

I like every one else was shocked to hear about this $1 billion dollar loan entity that comes with a 8 million guaranteed "grant." For a country with a 2012 GDP of ~$11 billion, a 1 billion dollar loan is nothing to scoff at. That's 10% of GDP, and yes at a 2% interest rate it is a bargain, but why is the question? Hmmmm?!

Photo credit: epSos.de / Foter.com / CC BY

It has been suggested that the money can be used for infrastructure, but after the last government infrastructure program, the Bahamas road works project, I am hesitant to see another government run project of such magnitude with little benefit to the country and excess cost. We would need $2 billion for an estimated $1 billion dollar project.

What is needed is a stimulus bill that will increase the entire net worth of the country, and I am not talking about making the gross net worth of Lyford Cay quadruple, I am talking about the hard core Bahamian lower to middle class. And with an average GDP per capita at $24,279 that means our middle class has a lot of room to grow. So basically, if you are making more than $25,000 you are doing better than half the country. This is not on par with the high society countries but we are doing better than a lot of other countries.

As a country addicted to foreign investment we seem to only know how to spend money our money on bringing other people with money into our country and thus driving up the residential cost for local individuals. I think it is time for a change, a time to build the wealth within the country as oppose to bringing new wealth into the country. Its not the same thing, because those people will eventually leave.

However if we are going to invest in the country, I suggest we look to receive a return on our investment. If we are borrowing at a 2% interest rate we should look for economical investments that can fiscally grow the economy greater than 2% per annum, Here are a couple of my suggestions:-

1. Invest in tertiary education (i.e. The College of the Bahamas)

Over the past year the present administration has received a lot of scrutiny over the proposed budget overhauls specifically at the College of the Bahamas, that mandated a tuition increase for students currently attending the C.O.B. This debate turned into a volatile issue marking a black eye on the present administrations views on affordable education. Personally I stand on the opposite side of the aisle and view the current education cost as fiscally conservative, compared to the escalating cost of education world wide. However, I do believe that a serious investment needs to be made into the quality of education provided by C.O.B. as this is the brand of the Bahamas. C.O.B should be striving for a brand beyond a local educational resource, but instead striving to become a Caribbean University where individuals from all over the Caribbean come to study, think University of the West Indies. This can be a very lucrative adventure attracting millions of dollars influx into the country. We are set on luring tourist to vacation for a week or two and bring the dollars along with them. Imagine if you had 5,000 students each year coming from all over the Caribbean to stay for 9 months out of the year, that would surely feed the local economy.  However, to achieve this investments C.O.B would need to build dorms to house incoming students, build teaching centers, hire more faculty, qualified faculty and as the current status of the University does not impart graduate degrees these individuals would be coming from outside of the country and thus the salary would need to commensurate. Under this proposal the University of the Bahamas could become the Pillar of the local community that it aught to be, think Yale or Princeton. Nothing exists in those cities except those institutions. They define the locale, and drive the economy. Higher level institutions generate income by licensing their scholastic capabilities, especially government funded institutions. think a department of Statistics that publishes, yearly data on the country/economy. We should be striving to make C.O.B. the place to go before wanting to go anywhere else. That should be the standard.

2. Invest in sustainable Energy Cost

Over the past several decades we have watched the deterioration of the energy grid in the Bahamas under the Bahamas Electricity Corporation. The city is constantly experiencing blackouts with local residents constantly left without energy during essential periods. Additionally, these costs have grow exponentially over this period suggestively due to inefficiencies of execution and lack of technologically driven advances under all of the administrations. I do not think anyone believes that a single administration has gotten the BEC conundrum correct. And every year when the temperature hits 100 degrees when you need you A/C relief. there seems to be a problem with the generator on Blue Hill Road, or the electricity cost too much to run it. So you are left to simmer to a slow boil in the night heat while being bitten by mosquitoes. With the entire world realizing the issues with oil price fixing, by international organizations and choke holds on supply the world has started to embrace resources like natural gas. Now I am not saying that is a viable option for the Bahamas as we probably do not have the natural resources or the infrastructure to farm natural gas, but there are other options. Being a tropical location one of the major resources is sunlight, I understand that solar panels are deemed inefficient and become out dated as technology advances, but the way I look at it if the government is going to run a deficit, which it is at BEC, it might as well be running a deficit using solar energy. And some companies have found ways to turn trash/methane at city dumps into energy to fund specific infrastructure, can we explore this option? Also there are options like off shore wind turbines, a resource that China has championed, understandably as country with 1 billion people their need to invest in renewable types of energy sources is an economical imperative.

3. Increase in agricultural production

It is no secret that as an island nation, we are required to import a large percentage of our produce and live stock to maintain economic demand. It has created a vicious cycle that requires us to send a lot of money outside of the country to bring food in. Investing in the agriculture and live stock would decrease our demand on imported food, and keep more money in the country while providing jobs for skilled workers. This idea has been suggested and re-suggested every time an election comes around, however elections come and go and still the issue remains. I will not pretend to understand the intricacies of the agriculture industry, specifically what kinds of crops will grow, the inefficiencies of the market etc. But what I do know it does not make any sense having to walk into a grocery store to buy Chiquita Bananas that have been imported from Honduras, when there is Banana tree that can and will grow in your back yard. Something seems a little off with that. I am not saying we need to grow everything we make, but what I am saying is that we can increase our portion of the pie that is grown locally, to off set cost. Some skilled workers are attempting this venture in the private market because they see the demand. One group that comes to mind is Field to Fork, a local grown group striving to achieve what has been deemed impossible by local government, growing fresh vegetables to sell locally. Additionally, I understand that the farming industry is a major aspect of our food supply. And I understand that growing and maintaining a robust livestock/poultry supply may be quite expensive as it is perceived that we do not have the land/resources adequately maintain poultry livestock farms at cost compared to imports that can sustain nation demand. But what I do not understand is, how is the cost of a chicken more expensive than a fish in the Bahamas? Or better yet why does conch cost so much? In my lifetime I have watched the price of conch salad go from $5 a bowl to $11 presently in the span of about 20 years. And as the ingredients are conch, tomato, onion, lime onion and pepper, either tomatoes and onion are getting priced out of this world or the cost of conch has increased dramatically. With option #2 being the more viable option, the major reason I can think for that is, to keep up with the global demand of our fine fisheries product we have priced ourselves out of the water. Yes we know that Americans can and will pay good money for imported grouper, snapper or conch, but why are we paying foreign costs at home? Also, I understand typically schools of popular fish can be grown in farms.  There are tuna farms in Asia, salmon farms in the US along with catfish and tilapia, is this not possible with snapper? Seems like this idea should be explored.

The Laws of economics, states that in order to reduce a deficit you need to produce more than you spend. I understand the government is spending a lot of money in an attempt to kick-start the economy ($250 million deficit) and I applaud their efforts. However, I can not applaud a 40 year old pony for doing the same old tricks. Yes we know that tourism brings in money, and yes there are foreign countries who can bring business to these shores. Mega Hotel with biggest casino in Caribbean *Yawn* been there done that with Atlantis. Bankers putting money in Bahamian bank accounts, that's nothing new. Sporting events, bringing money to the country.......sure that will last.

But how are we making the country better? How are we making the lives of the average Bahamian better?Trickle down economics?! Don't be fooled by the Chinese, there may be a billion of them but ~30% of the population lives under what is known as the poverty line, $2 a day, that's 400 million people. And over 70% live on less that $5 a day. So when you wonder why do the Chinese have $1 billion to lend away, its because someone else is paying the price.

So if we are going to sell our soul to the Chinese, let's make sure it counts!

With the spotlight on the Bahamas due to the most recent mugging of a U.S. Embassy diplomat on Sunday June 9th, 2013 we are left to hold our head in shame. This event lead to the closing of the U.S. Embassy Monday morning, with a temporary halt on U.S. visa issuance, resulting in a rippling effect on the Bahamas and U.S.-Bahamas international relations. Over the past couple months, a series of crimes have been committed against foreign nationals either vacationing or visiting the islands of the Bahamas, including the death of a visitor to the Bahamas last month. As a nation that depends upon the influx of foreign capital, we leverage our most valuable resource, being a place that individuals across the globe desire to experience for a once and a lifetime sensation. However, with these increased attacks on our guests we are defiantly "bitting the hand that feeds us." There is no benefit to being a landscape of luscious turquoise oceans and scenic island escapes if it is accompanied by an ever present DANGER.

The enigmatic irony of the current situation comes as the global economy is recovering from a multinational recession, proposing a resurgence of worldwide travelers possibly to the shores of the Bahamas. With the increase in crime related statistics, we are left to wonder what has become the underlying motive for the increase in crime?

Photo Credit: Christian Lambert Photography / Foter.com / CC BY-ND

The police would lead you to believe that violent crime is down, and that we are turning a corner in the battle against individuals with malicious intent. But with the latest series of attacks on tourists, I doubt that anyone would deny that this is VERY BAD for everyone.

A steady state of local crimes of Bahamians inflicting damaging on Bahamians is a shame and a severely disparaging, but I believe everyone would agree that when these crimes are committed against foreign nationals, we are taking the food out of every one's mouth. With no major exports that substantiate a large percentage of GDP, Tourism and Banking are the two major sectors of the Bahamian local economy that are susceptible to this type of self destruction. Unfortunately, I feel as though we are heading down a path to learn this lesson the hard way, that will result in irrevocable harm on our economy and our global position. Usually, we as a small nation of less than 400,000 take great pride in our accomplishments on the world stage in areas of sports, finance and economic sustenance.  However, we must not become "too big for our britches." Like a beautiful flower, no mater how bright our colors shine, we are still delicate and susceptible to the violent rains and winds of the global ecosystem.

As a youngster growing up in the Bahamas, I remember being taught early on in school that:-

 "if you are to come across a tourist, visitor to this country, make sure you make them feel like Bahamian people are the most courteous people they will ever meet. Because if a person visits the Bahamas and they have a good time they may tell one person, but if they receive poor treatment they are guaranteed to tell everyone."

As I sit back and think about how important customer service was to our country back then I wonder where have we gone a stray? And in an interconnected world where,someone in Zimbabwe can know every detail that is going on in the Bahamas, protecting our brand is even more essential. And I must say my Bahamian people we are doing a poor job of protecting our brand. Although you and I may believe that the Bahamas is the most beautiful, relaxing place on this planet, if we scare the tourist away before they ever get to experience what you and I take for granted, then we will end up being the only ones who believe in that reality.

Right now anyone who googles the news in the Bahamas gets a cursory view that reads, "dead body found on shore", "home invasion," "gang wars plague the country."

*smh*

Have we lost our sense of "BAHAMA PRIDE?" Have we become a nation of "get mines", instead of building ours?

This leaves us to wonder, what is the reason for the decay of our social compass? Why do we have a nation of young adults set on bringing the entire country down? With our quest to become modernized like our big brother to the North, immersing ourselves in every aspect of American pop culture, from violent Rap music  to glorified cinematic assassinations have we lost our home grown mentality? When will we acknowledge that these victims are our Mother's, Daughters, Sons and Father's? Has the church lost its stronghold on the moral epicenter of the people? I do not know. But I hope we can rectify this sinking ship before it is too late.

Sincerely,

Forever Bahamian