Picture this: One day we have the Honorable Chester Cooper — our very own ‘Tourism Terminator’ — boldly proclaiming to the country and the world:

“We’re not going to take part in the recession.”

This wasn’t just wishful thinking; this was confidence on stilts. The Deputy Prime Minister insisted tourism was soaring — up 11% over a record-breaking 2019 — and it was all due to careful strategies and last-minute booking magic.

He assured us this wasn’t by chance — oh no — this was a well-engineered masterpiece of missions, promotions, and forward-thinking policy. The future was so bright we were all going to need designer shades.

But fast forward a few months and — someone turned off the spotlights.

Suddenly, we find the same Mr. Cooper warning about a slowdown in tourism, a drop in future booking trends, and a whole catalogue of “uncontrollable factors”— from US policy tweaks and tighter immigration controls to a potential US recession — threatening the very industry we were supposed to be immune from downturns.

He explained to the House of Assembly during the 2025/2026 Budget debate:

“Taxes and tariffs … will likely drive-up cost of living and precipitate uncertainty.”

“Stricter and changing immigration laws … may affect Caribbean nationals.”

“JP Morgan and Goldman Sachs … put the chance of a US recession at nearly 45%. That’s a scenario we must stay alert about.”

So much for ignoring a recession!

Instead of soaring above it, we’re now boarding the ride downward alongside everyone else — proving we were not, in the end, a magical exemption from economic reality.

Of course, Mr. Cooper remained cautiously optimistic, noting The Bahamas’ close proximity to North America and — you guessed it — the power of last-minute booking strategies.

Because when all else fails, there’s always hope that tourists will suddenly realize their travel plans a few days in advance and come to our rescue.

It’s a remarkable story — a kind of “Bird Box” moment — where ignoring the warning signs seemed viable …until it wasn’t. The blindfold fell off, reality came into view, and now we’re all wondering how we missed it in the first place.

The Progressive Liberal Party fails for one reason, it is their nature.

END