Why don't This company take the lead and give all workers who is on the minimum wage line, a increase to $250.00. In stead of giving LIP SERVICE.

... because he knows a minimum wage increase will not cause a minimum increase in productivity or efficiency nor will it cause a minimum decrease in pilferage!

Rupert Roberts is ‘ball busting.’ Notice he says he already pays his workers the $210 minimum wage but not the $250 wage he proposes. He knows this will be suicide for many of his smaller competitors and Roberts is basically ‘good eying’ the government to destroy his competition. Think of a mom and pop shop... some that doesn’t even turn over $250 a day. They may not have any employees, but If Roberts forces them to close, then not only does he inherit their customers, but he then has more leeway to increase his prices.. AND AS For VAT reduction if only temporary.. this is dangerous. A serious, caring government would seek to eliminate customs duties completely as was the intention when vat was introduced, even if it requires increasing vat to 15%. A long term reduction/elimination in customs duties WILL NOT lead to a reduction in government revenue. Consumers will still have to spend the savings they realize from the reduction in taxes so not only will the reduction in taxes lead to an increase in consumer spending, but a corresponding INCREASE in government revenue. And that is why most governments reduce taxes when they want to stimulate the economy. So instead of a consumer paying $25 tax on $100 groceries in Super Value, they will only be paying $15 tax on the same goods. But they now have an additional $10 to spend in Super Value and the government will get an additional $1.50 when they spend. And Super Value can now increase its staff salaries, reduce its prices (because of lower taxes) or do a combination of other things because it has more working capital. More money remains circulating in the economy and so there’s the potential for economic growth.

Vat was never intended to eliminate customs duties. Every country has customs duties.Vat was intended to reduce customs duties as part of our efforts to join the WTO.

Obviously you are totally misinformed and spreading misinformation again. But that is you, dude.

Don't get angry when you are wrong.

Where the customs duties were reduced, Vat made up the difference. Used to be 35%, now it is 20% plus 12% and vat on duty, working out to 34.4%.

What Vat should have eliminated was fees, like stamp duty on you check, now we pay stamp duty plus vat on stamp duty.

What is really ridiculous are the shipping costs, and no one talks about that. Customs broker make a pretty good penny.

Did you attend any of the VAT seminars or training sessions? Any ? Did you hear the address from Customs Officer Scriven, orfrom John Rolle who is now Controller of the Central Bank? Yet you come here in total ignorance, pretending to be the authority. A wolf in sheep’s clothes. The facts are easily verifiable dude.

I see this one both ways.

$250 is not enough to live off of in the Bahamas, not in Nassau at least. Rent alone, even in the worst parts, is more than likely going to be over 50% of that. Factor in crazy COL compared to even the most expensive counties in Florida, and you are not going to be able to live on your own without prostituting yourself/selling drugs like so many of our young men and women are doing.

At the same time, many Bahamians want a 500 a week salary when they don't even have 250 a week in qualifications. You would be surprised how many bank tellers cannot even calculate compound interest properly working in a financial industry, or just the general trash tier customer service that most Bahamian businesses have in general. Can I call BPL/Bahamasair/your local business and get an answer? Probably not to be honest. Am I going to pay employees a high salary when they bring absolutely nothing to my company?

This is a two way street that requires understanding from both parties.

Another issue too is that too many Bahamians want big money for unskilled labour. Nobody is going to pay you a high amount when they pick up a random Joe off the street to do your job. Most Bahamians in general just have a very poor understanding of economics and how labour markets work as well.

When you compare the craftsmanship at Atlantis to Bah Mar and to The Pointe and even compare the work at Albany, Bahamians have skill and craftsmanship. It is only those foreigners who come here and try to undersell Bahamians. Even the tourist products in this country are underpriced. And it is all based on racism. The US State Department probably issues more travel advisories against The Bahamas than it does against any other country that has a ‘friendly nation’ status. Even most Americans visiting this country cannot understand why. We say we can’t survive without the US, But Florida merchants say they have never had it worse, ‘since the Bahamians stop coming.’

Two weeks ago the rotesserie chicken was $6.72, today the same chicken is $8.95!!!! Super valu is too expensive. If they can go down on their prices , then people could afford to eat.