And the Government doesn't have the money to extend the unemployment benefits indefinitely either Mr. Pinder. And they're already bankrupt!

Soneone call me out if I am wrong in thinking that Mr. John Pinder has never owned or operated a business in the Bahamas. He has never hired an employee onto the payroll of a business yet here he is the expert on Bahamian private businesses and their employees. How can his pronouncements be taken seriously?

Whether that is true or not what he is saying is true. Not many companies will ahve the funds to layoff 50% or more of their workforce if needed. So instead of saving the people they can and then hoping to grow back to where they were they will have no choice but to declare bankruptcy and then no one gets paid (and employees go to second bottom of the payout line). Government should consider extending it or amending the severance law whereby companies can defer payment for up to 5 years, with yearly payments (and even consider saying if the person gets a new job then the amount outstanding is got rid of). These events will probably speed up the process of more and more workers being hired as contractors so the company doesn't have the liability at the end.

Why would our government make a move that is anti its people and pro private businesses and where would this money come from to extend this lay off period and what amount becausd the current 150 a week will leave people homeless

Because the cost in the long term from multiple companies going bankrupt trying to pay the severance to those they would need to let go in order to survive will be much worse then carrying on the $150 per week right now.

Finally someone figured it out. Just when a company needs cash to survive, the biased, out dated and inequitable, employment act rears it’s ugly head. The very piece of legislation that was designed to protect workers will deal the final blow; company bankrupt and employee on the street with no income and no severance. And where are the unions with all their dues payments? Aren’t the monies meant to be saved to assist members in their time of need? Unions are notable by their silence.

Like I have stated before:

- no one knows when or if the worldwide lockdown will end

- the unrest in the usa is projected to ramp up to November and worsen after their election and into 2021. Some say normality will "begin" to return there in September 2021

- even the best case scenario confines us to our present financial position for another year

Our government should have already cut all salaries from March of this year. Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs puts the need for food and housing on the first tier. Without these basic essentials there will be a complete breakdown of society - riots, maraudings, and other undesired acts. I have repeatedly written that this country is on the verge of starvation - but I see no significant actions being taken. The government cannot continue to throw what little monies we have left after wishful thinking and unrealistic expectations.

@benniesun, what you saying bey? You ain see BAMSI dem giving out cassava sticks an sweet potato slips for we peeps to grow in da yard? Lol.

On a more serious note though, you are absolutely correct about the effect wide spread hunger would have on social behaviour, we're not far from it now, scary.

**It shouldn't be the blanket responsibility PopoulacesPurse** to rescue the hard straight-up truth that for **40 out of 100** businesses it is unlikely that they will be able to keep their doors open as the economic blow from COVID-19 plays out. Some were done on the financial ropes even before the virus made landfall. **Shakehead** once for Yeah business owners who so hate thought universal BahamaHealthCARE for all, along with social programs, is first to seek PopoulacesPurse corporate handouts, including not submitting employee national insurance. and extended health care premiums deductions Twice for Not?