If it was that important to keep food cheap why doesn't government eliminate all VAT and duty on all food products. In addition get rid of any taxes on grocers (business license and Real Property)? They won't of course. Its just easy for them to do this so they can blame the merchants for the cost of food when they themselves have a huge impact.

Ahh yes blame the expat blue collar workers. Only an idiot would hire someone at more cost if there was someone here who could do it.

It will be more every year, as the only places left to build are flood zones. And even if there were hills we would allow them to be carved out to be a flood zone.

I am not sure if this will be a huge increase on businesses, as many don't have minimum wage employees, and if they do they are not a large part of the work force. Though i can see it may affect those who rely on gratuities and commission to make up the pay being affected (if they are not taken into account when working out the minimum wage). It will have an effect on those earning just over the new minimum wage, as any increase they may have got is now used by those below. The increase in BPL will be have a larger effect on them and this will lead price increases.

Ha Ha as if URCA will do anything. Like most things they are there to rubber stamp decisions made by the Government in power to make it look correct. We all know (well apart from Birdie), that the Governments considering politics over what was necessary has cost us all much more in the long run. The price should have gone up in February, and by now would be going down. But no, a political decision was made at the expense of all in the long run.

I expect to see many of these items not on the store shelf, and major increases in all other items that are purchased. Thanks

And this is why you are part of the problem. You see no issue with Shane as FNM have someone doing stuff as well. You only care about party and not country. Until we move past people like you we will continue to be in the mess we are.

Environmental issues are only a concern when we think we can make money from the richer nations. We don't actually care about these things

Do they honestly believe the stuff that comes out of their mouths?. In a couple of months, like all those before, he will say there will be no blackouts in the summer. And i will wager everything i have there will be plenty. I sometimes feel we are run by a bunch of people who think if they say it then that's the case. They have no idea of what it is truly like.

Yet again another example of politics making it worse for everyone. When gas prices went up in February BPL should have increased their fees. However it wasn't a good time politically to do this so they didn't. I can only guess that now they have no choice and the increase has to happen. Which means the increase will be worse then it had to be to pay for the losses of the last few months and the interest on those losses. Strangest thing about it is they are doing this whilst gas prices are coming down. Imagine if gas goes down to $4.50 at the pump next year and you are still paying a lot more for BPL, due to the Government making a political decision in February. It seems although everyday is a new day, we the people are always left with useless Governments.