We listened with interest last week to Senator Hon. Dr. Duane Sands voicing his support of the idea of decriminalizing marijuana. His stance has garnered the attention of the press and has been the catalyst behind a renewed marijuana debate online.

After the hard fought battles for Majority Rule, Independence and the right for Bahamian women to vote, the citizens of our beautiful Bahamaland – our parents and grand-parents – stood poised ready to reap the benefits of their hard work. After years of being denied access, and opportunity, Bahamians were finally first in line.

I pen this letter with mixed emotions today, hovering somewhere between immense relief and immense sadness. The sentencing of those arrested in my Brother Kurt’s death, marks the end of a long chapter of pain in my life and that of my family. Losing my brother is the most difficult thing I have ever faced.

Meant to be an outline of the government’s plans for fiscal prudence over its remaining time in office, the 2016/2017 budget has been nothing more than an opportunity for members of the Christie government to pat themselves on the back.

More than 4 years since the tragic passing of 11 year old Marco Archer, and more than three years since the law named in honor of his life was brought before Parliament, the government has yet to enact this key piece of legislation.