Rick Lowe
Tough economic times sometimes bring us to our senses and it appears this may have brought some clear thinking where the straw vendors are concerned for a change.
And while I'm not a big fan of many things the government does, particularly their spending of $15 million on a new straw market, they deserve credit for at least demanding no counterfeit goods are sold and encouraging original Bahamian arts and crafts. That's a step in the right direction.
While I am convinced the standards will eventually fall when vendor friends of the civil servants, politicians or clergy are given a pass for not making the grade, the contracts should between the vendors and the government should be patently clear what is required and the terms enforced. After all, it's as a result of our tax dollars that the straw vendors are receiving the benefit (read largesse), of their new premises.
If we do not demand higher standards of ourselves, how on earth are we going to improve? (More on this subject in a day or two).
And it's about time the Sacred Cows at the straw market have to raise their game and live within the law, like many of us have to do.
