And THIS is why these guys get paid the big bucks..."introducing Value Added Tax to the Bahamas would go “even smoother” if the opposition stands with the government instead of against it, New Zealand VAT expert Dr Don Brash said."...pure genius...why didn't we think of that..IDIOT. So basically everyone who has their doubts about VAT should just shut up and join the line of kissing the behinds of the people trying to ram VAT down our throats. Oh wait...the PLP MP's have been saying that all along, to stop objecting to it. We wouldn't HAVE to object to it if you went about it properly, cleaned up all the dirty laundry before hand and moved forward with a clean slate. Clean up the existing outstanding amounts due in the other revenue streams, present a clear and defined budget reduction plan, roll out the Freedom of Information Act, and stop just giving out multimillion dollar contracts to failed contractors. Then and only then, embark on a massive campaign on education about VAT. Have everything you need ready to go so you can answer some very pointed and loaded questions from the concerned public. As a major business owner, I still don't know squat about exactly how it is meant to play out, no one has bothered to come to our business and review what systems we have in place, and make suggestions on the best way to link into this new VAT realm in the electronic age. Oh wait, let me guess...it's all going to be handled by paper pushers...oh wait!! i get it now...that's the 10,000 jobs!! Everyone will need to file unknown and undisclosed paperwork (still haven't seen the first concept of any forms out of them), they need an army of 10,000 staff to go through the various filings, and make sure some get filed appropriately, and make sure that other 'special ones' get filed into a back office somewhere and conveniently 'lost'. You HAVE to lay the groundwork FIRST, get everything done...FIRST...before we take the plunge into VAT.

"Political Expedience'...that's the best they could come up with? Someone who was doing what is apparently the norm with most government contracts in bloating the contract after the fact to get as much money out of the treasury as possible. So when they get called on it and fired, they blame it on politics. Pretty pathetic.

So someone who may or may not have run ins with the law...AND he is Haitian...well, maybe Bahamian, but we don't accept that, he's Haitian...yeah, his days are numbered, the police gonna ride him until he turns up dead somewhere somehow. The corruption and the prejudices in the police force are just staggering. I feel sorry for this family, I hope they get some justice.

So the original project was started under the PLP with the contract being awarded to HIB...FNM come in and have to shut them down after faulty workmanship and delays and other tomfoolery almost triple the building cost. PLP back in power again, and on the sly, with the public only finding out after the fact, HIB is awarded another contract...ummm...yeah...HIB is a PLP favourite...must be some well greased palms there...sad thing is, we are going to end up with another crap building that going to cost us a fortune in repairs over it's lifetime. Man I love this govt!!

Cha-CHING!!! Even the 'experts' are refuting the bullcrap our government has been spewing to the naive masses. NICE. Open your eyes people, demand the government put forth a formal plan for budget cuts, put forth the essential Freedom of Information Act before vat , collect the revenues they are currently NOT collecting!! It's just easier for them to blindside the 'dumb' masses with a new tax, tell them what they want to hear.."yeah man, it's not going to impact food prices'...and just carry on with business as usual of spend spend spend, you scratch my back I scratch yours.

Come on man...those limes are critical to our culture...no limes, what gonna happen down the fish fry and conch stand...priorities man!! *sigh*

While I am still against VAT, until proven otherwise of it's merits...at least these guys have some sense in timelines. Sadly, we will come up on April 2015 and people will still be in the dark about how VAT fully operates, simply because our government...and the FNM were no better, are deplorable with educating the public about these issues. To date there has been NO input from the VAT team to the businesses that will be impacted on samples of forms, samples of reporting that will be needed, information about how the data will be shared, as it is meant to be electronic...all this stuff takes time from the systems side in the businesses to get set up with the software vendors...and if the original timeline were to hold true, we are 2 months out. I can't design, implement and test a system in house here, and make it 100% stable in tying into the government run system in 2 months, you are out of your head. Government needs to be going around to each and every business that will be impacted by this, and evaluate what their systems are capable of and offer up the details and information necessary to make sure the two can connect electronically properly. So far nothing. Each business is different, I run different systems and software than the guy across the street, how I handle the connects is not just some generic 'this is how it is going to work' mindset. Will be a custom set up in each and every store. They fail to realize this.

When it comes to kids that is one thing...but if you are an able bodied adult, and have the opportunity to work and refuse to because that position is beneath you and your so called pay grade, no, no sympathy or handouts for you. Do you think the people who are hired as day labourers sweeping and raking up the leaves like that job, or the pay they are getting, no. But it is money in the pocket at the end of the day. Other menial jobs like that, are not extremely labour intensive, but they must be done. Swallow your pride and get yourself out there, be productive to the betterment of the community, instead of a drain on the social welfare.

They are trying to destroy the country simultaneously from every angle. Crime is out of control and that Tourism goose is about to get hung out to dry. We will crank up the taxes and business licenses and operating costs of our next major sector...banking...so much so that they go away as well. Won't be long now before we are left with a couple abandoned 1,000+ room hotels and mega resorts, a defunct government run bank, and a few hole in the wall type retail stores to cater to all the gun slinging gang/drug lords.

It does not surprise me coming from the Grove...that little police station is about as useless as they get. He didn't 'escape'...he was conveniently let go.