Good points from William Wong. All the measures the Government is introducing at the moment are just band aid solutions. With the likelihood of the country having no external income for the remainder of this year, the Government is going to have to come up with something big otherwise many people are going to fall into despair. We cannot borrow our way out of this crisis and so those who have are going to have to do more to help those who do not have. When this is over, individuals and families are going to have to re-learn the value of money and financial discipline.
According to a recent IMF study, The Bahamas is the 45th richest country in the World on a per capita basis. With all that wealth, nobody should have to go hungry within these islands.
It is hard to imagine either Baha Mar or Atlantis opening up this year. It would be wise for government to construct a new financial Budget that assumes there will be little to no tourist dollars flowing into the country for the rest of 2020. That is a scary proposition but it is a realistic one. The Minister hinted in a recent interview that short term cruising to The Bahamas might a way for tourists to stick their toe in the water once the pandemic is substantially under control. Air passengers might be slower to return and government needs to look at all the forms of tourist tax and see what incentives can be created. The Minister is correct when he states that we are going to have to put measures in place to make sure that as far as possible tourists are not exposed to Covid-19 during any future vacation to The Bahamas. Equally government will need to ensure that all tourists arriving are virus free. 2021 may not be quite as bleak as Clamshell suggests if government can come up with a strategy.
Regardless of the Minister's protestations, government cannot avoid looking at civil wage roll as the first and most obvious big ticket expense item to be reviewed. As Mudda says, you cannot expect those in the private sector to endure all the pain when civil servants remain protected. For those civil servants who are unable to carry out their duties from home then you cannot expect the private sector to carry them for any significant period of time. Who will be carrying the straw vendors, the taxi drivers, the shop assistants on Bay Street? So like it or not, government is going to have to do something about that civil service wage roll even if the Minister doesn't want to admit it at this moment.
Queues at the food stores have been shorter and much more orderly this week (perhaps save for Tuesday which was always going to be busy coming off of a 5 day lock down). There is no need to revert to an alphabetic scheduling system next week. Would agree with 7 day shopping but only if police can keep people off the road who have no right to be there. Otherwise, I support a total lock down every weekend until we are over the worst.
I thought Chester Cooper had a bit more business sense than to spout this nonsense but perhaps he is just playing to the PLP gallery. His solution is akin to a man who has just lost his job going to the bank and asking for his credit card limit to be doubled! The Bahamas CANNOT borrow its way out of this crisis as many of the above posts have correctly stated.
Stores have to open on Tuesday - people have to eat!! However, what we don't want are people being herded like sheep in elongated queues because of ill advised shopping scheduling. Keep the stores open from 6am til 8 p.m. and people will be able to shop in relatively safe space. Other 24 hour curfew conditions must continue.
I hate being critical of government during a crisis like this but the strategy of forcing people to herd together to queue for hours on end for shopping has been a disaster. It will have caused hundreds of COVID infections. Also there is not enough enforcement of social distancing. I have no doubt that there there will be many house parties throughout New Providence this weekend especially in the over the hill communities. Many Bahamians simply don't get it. The way we are going right now this virus will run its course right through New Providence and many will die.
Honestman says...
Good points from William Wong. All the measures the Government is introducing at the moment are just band aid solutions. With the likelihood of the country having no external income for the remainder of this year, the Government is going to have to come up with something big otherwise many people are going to fall into despair. We cannot borrow our way out of this crisis and so those who have are going to have to do more to help those who do not have. When this is over, individuals and families are going to have to re-learn the value of money and financial discipline.
On Landlords ask: ‘What about us?’
Posted 2 May 2020, 2:20 p.m. Suggest removal
Honestman says...
According to a recent IMF study, The Bahamas is the 45th richest country in the World on a per capita basis. With all that wealth, nobody should have to go hungry within these islands.
On EDITORIAL: The other battle we face - against hunger
Posted 2 May 2020, 1:59 p.m. Suggest removal
Honestman says...
No, no, no!!! Churches can continue to hold their services on-line. This is ALL about falling tithes.
On Churches press for services to resume
Posted 24 April 2020, 6:15 p.m. Suggest removal
Honestman says...
As if the private sector has not been taxed enough these last years. Now it has to incur a "compassion tax" in addition!!!!
On PM condemns wealthy owners who rushed to lay off staff : Where’s your heart ... your compassion ... your soul?
Posted 20 April 2020, 1:09 p.m. Suggest removal
Honestman says...
It is hard to imagine either Baha Mar or Atlantis opening up this year. It would be wise for government to construct a new financial Budget that assumes there will be little to no tourist dollars flowing into the country for the rest of 2020. That is a scary proposition but it is a realistic one. The Minister hinted in a recent interview that short term cruising to The Bahamas might a way for tourists to stick their toe in the water once the pandemic is substantially under control. Air passengers might be slower to return and government needs to look at all the forms of tourist tax and see what incentives can be created. The Minister is correct when he states that we are going to have to put measures in place to make sure that as far as possible tourists are not exposed to Covid-19 during any future vacation to The Bahamas. Equally government will need to ensure that all tourists arriving are virus free. 2021 may not be quite as bleak as Clamshell suggests if government can come up with a strategy.
On Tourism has 'no choice' to devise virus safeguards
Posted 17 April 2020, 4:35 p.m. Suggest removal
Honestman says...
Regardless of the Minister's protestations, government cannot avoid looking at civil wage roll as the first and most obvious big ticket expense item to be reviewed. As Mudda says, you cannot expect those in the private sector to endure all the pain when civil servants remain protected. For those civil servants who are unable to carry out their duties from home then you cannot expect the private sector to carry them for any significant period of time. Who will be carrying the straw vendors, the taxi drivers, the shop assistants on Bay Street? So like it or not, government is going to have to do something about that civil service wage roll even if the Minister doesn't want to admit it at this moment.
On Govt ‘taking from Peter to pay Paul’
Posted 17 April 2020, 4:21 p.m. Suggest removal
Honestman says...
Queues at the food stores have been shorter and much more orderly this week (perhaps save for Tuesday which was always going to be busy coming off of a 5 day lock down). There is no need to revert to an alphabetic scheduling system next week. Would agree with 7 day shopping but only if police can keep people off the road who have no right to be there. Otherwise, I support a total lock down every weekend until we are over the worst.
On Just let grocery shops open seven days a week
Posted 17 April 2020, 1:03 p.m. Suggest removal
Honestman says...
I thought Chester Cooper had a bit more business sense than to spout this nonsense but perhaps he is just playing to the PLP gallery. His solution is akin to a man who has just lost his job going to the bank and asking for his credit card limit to be doubled! The Bahamas CANNOT borrow its way out of this crisis as many of the above posts have correctly stated.
On $2bn blueprint: Cooper calls for huge increase in spending to tackle crisis fallout
Posted 16 April 2020, 2:06 p.m. Suggest removal
Honestman says...
Stores have to open on Tuesday - people have to eat!! However, what we don't want are people being herded like sheep in elongated queues because of ill advised shopping scheduling. Keep the stores open from 6am til 8 p.m. and people will be able to shop in relatively safe space. Other 24 hour curfew conditions must continue.
On SATURDAY: Four newly confirmed cases of COVID-19; 46 in total
Posted 11 April 2020, 8:38 p.m. Suggest removal
Honestman says...
I hate being critical of government during a crisis like this but the strategy of forcing people to herd together to queue for hours on end for shopping has been a disaster. It will have caused hundreds of COVID infections. Also there is not enough enforcement of social distancing. I have no doubt that there there will be many house parties throughout New Providence this weekend especially in the over the hill communities. Many Bahamians simply don't get it. The way we are going right now this virus will run its course right through New Providence and many will die.
On PM announces ban on import of non-medical masks to help develop local industry
Posted 10 April 2020, 1:29 p.m. Suggest removal