After numerous threats to burn down his home, kill his dogs and sink his boats, an American investor is packing up and leaving The Bahamas.
In what is becoming an almost every week occurrence the foolish prejudices and immoral behavior of Bahamians has scared off another investor and further damaged the reputation of the country as an investors paradise.
American home owner Rick Pitrone, who came to The Bahamas looking for a retirement paradise was shocked into reality by the outrageous attitude of his new Bahamian hosts.
Mr. Pitrone is set to take a heavy financial loss as he sells his five properties in a flat market because he wants to get out of the country quickly. Mr. Pitrone and his significant other are unwilling to continue to take the abuse that is routinely given to most white foreign investors.
Mr. Pitrone was recently given a stern warning from Police and Immigration officials about doing work on his own home without a work permit.
The Immigration department was called by whining Bahamians who feel they should have the right to overcharge Mr. Pitrone for work that he could easily do himself.
The situation is another example of a ridiculous application of our immigration laws. Laws which were designed to protect Bahamians and instead scare away investors, which in the long run hurts all Bahamians.
Bad feelings between Mr. Pitrone and a handful of Bahamian racists had been building for some time. But the situation came to a head after the May 2 elections when the change to a PLP government was all but an endorsement to the legions of corrupt rank and file PLPs that victimization of whites and foreigners could resume after a ten year hiatus.
Mr. Pitrone who has been ordered not to set foot on his own dock, said he believes the problem has worsened because now local officials in Great Harbour Cay feel that they can act as outrageous as they want and they will still receive the government’s backing.
Mr. Pitrone joins a long list of foreign investors whose mistreatment in The Bahamas has caused them to leave. These situations are eroding the reputation of the country and damaging our valuable tourism industry.
The Bahamas recently lost a truly wonderful opportunity where an American was interested in building a world class convention center in Andros. The structure would have allowed major events from the Miss Universe contest to major sporting events and concerts to be held in The Bahamas. The man’s wife was attacked, robbed and assaulted on the streets of Nassau and the situation has been jerked around in the dysfunctional court system for over two years. Needless to say the investor has killed any plans for investment in what he calls the “sewer of the Caribbean.”
