You are spot on proudloudandfnm. Also, Bahamians should bear in mind that the IMF has no real interest in the future of The Bahamas. We should do what is right for the country but a payroll tax on its own won't be enough. Government needs to enforce current taxes and reduce public spending as you rightly say.

A man has just been discovered in a shallow grave - will this be classified as unlawful burial? The change in classifications of crimes can only have been designed to mislead the public and I don't care what the Police Commissioner says. The PLP made itself look foolish in the build up to the last election when it planted posters in prominent places advertising the murder count to all and sundry. Now it has "egg on its face " as it is obvious to all that serious crime has gotten even worse under its watch. Then Mother Pratt has the nerve to say that crime shouldn't be politicized! This administration will resort to anything to try and mislead the gullible and "save face". If it comes down to PMH's statistics versus the government's, I think we all know who to believe.

The way men treat women says a lot about a people. The increase in rape is further evidence of the degeneration of Bahamian society. It is totally unacceptable and the under - reporting of these cases is an outrage.

The Bahamas doesn't need another Dolphinarium. In fact the one at Atlantis should never have been sanctioned. The Dolphinarium at Blue Lagoon should have been sufficient.

If she gets confirmed, here's hoping she shows more interest in The Bahamas than her predecessor Nicole Avant. She was another Obama buddy who was totally inept in the role.

Blaming slavery for the inhumanity displayed by so many in Bahamas today is misguided. The real reason is that many young Bahamians are being sucked into a ghetto culture where being a "bad boy" is glorified and even found attractive by young women who have no sense of self worth. A lack of proper parenting and an education system that is struggling to cope with a culture of angry young people with no vision of life beyond the ghetto adds to the problem. Today's youth identifies with black African TV culture which glorifies gangsta lifestyle. The only way forward is for government to recognise that education has to be given a much, much greater priority. Blaming slavery for today's ills is a cop out I'm afraid.

VAT like all forms of taxation is recessionary in that it reduces consumer spending power. In an economy that is showing only modest economic growth the implementation of such a tax at an aggressive rate of 15% will cause consumers to spend less resulting in businesses having to similarly cut costs leading to higher unemployment. You don't have to be a rocket scientist to work this out! VAT could be a viable long term solution but ONLY if it is introduced in a buoyant economy and preceded by a properly managed implementation. The PLP needs to implement alternative short term tax reform and re-visit VAT when the time is right. If it goes full steam ahead without thinking this through then it will be ruinous for this country.

This was no over the hill establishment but a fairly high profile restaurant in Sandyport. Unfortunately the ambience of what was once a very nice restaurant has been lost and has become a bit of a lure for jungalists. Management needs to completely rethink its strategy and decide what kind of image it wants to create.

Instead of another useless referendum why not just call a general election and be done with it. After 20 months of complete misrule the Bahamian people should be allowed the chance to right their mistake. Unfortunately, this is a pipe dream. Perry will cling onto power until the last day rewarding as many as his supporters as he can in a vain attempt to increase his power base. We can look forward to another three years of incompetence, more jobs for the boys, outrageous spin, and a complete lack of accountability and transparency. May our God go with us.

Sands certainly has to work on making himself more electable but he must be a serious contender for party leader. I think it would be good for the country if Papa stays in retirement. Bahamas can I'll afford another period of Ingraham and Christie dominated politics. They have had their time and a fresh approach to this country's many problems is needed. Sands speaks with a refreshing level of maturity and comes across as more rational than Bran McCartney. Time will tell but one thing is certain, the country needs an alternative to Perry Christie and the train wreck that is the PLP.