The FNM have shown what they will do with our hard earned VAT money: give it away! This will encourage the people to rebel and avoid taxes. With great power comes great responsibility. The FNM have shown itself to be irresponsible and reckless trustees of the people's money. The million dollars they so casually give away, even though it is a private "rich" company's responsibility, should be deducted from their sallaries!!!

Power out again for second day. The country is on its knees!!! Funds could have been used to buy new generators. What a fiasco!!!

This is why we need campaign finance reform folks. The only way this deal can "kind of" be made sense of in my opinion is if large bribes were paid before the election to ensure the Government purchased the hotel along with the dreaded staff liabilities using a BOB style SPV. Other than this explanation, it can only be described as one of the most foolish purchases in the history of planet Earth.

I say "black dudes" because previously black Bahamians' would have been against opening the Bahamian service sector to foreigners in the WTO. It is only now that the black elite have become wealthy (company and land owners) that they would consider doing this, because their personal economic interests do not feel directly threatened.

Only countries with large manufacturing populations benefit from entering the WTO.

There is no mandate for the FNM to enter the WTO. They should have a referendum to proceed. WTO will destroy the Bahamas. Devestate our fishing stocks etc.

Other than dividends from companies with monopolies, these black dudes also have large realestate holdings, so the more foreign service providers that move to the bahamas, and rent their buildings, the more they prosper. Self interest is the only interest in this country. A country for sale as long as I'm the seller.

Most likely going to trade our most valueable services and get nothing in return. The Bahamian people will be sold out. Once again, zero tansparency in the process or service sectors being offered. The problem is the black dudes in office have gotten so much equity in businesses that have monopolies, that they are willing to sell out service areas they would not have previously. Their bread is now buttered by dividend payments not professional labor, so they could give a darn about selling out the service industry.

No matter how much money they collect, VAT will never be "good." It is a tax imposed on the Bahamian people due to 40 plus years of corrupt majority rule governments. It would be completely unnecessary, if corruption were not the chosen passtime of our ellected officals. When a Freedom of Information Act, Fiscal Responsibility Act and Campaign Finance Act are passed and in force, then and only then can we begin to celebrate. As long as not a single dollar of VAT is going to pay down the defecit, but to buy derelict hotels, there's nothing to be pleased about.

I am not convinced. First get your house in order. It's like entering a boxing match without training -- you ga lose for sure. How can you expect to negotiate with other, much more organized, nations, when you can't even keep the lights on? The end result is obvious: little benefit, more corruption, more division between rich and poor and, perhaps, a complete loss of soverignty. In order to join the WTO, Bahamians' should demand a referendum! The true reason the Bahamas wants to join WTO is because the FNM and PLP lack leadership and are looking to be lead by 1st world countries. Once a slave, always a slave it appears. They just seeking out a new Master.