The bottom fell out of retail since 2008 and the number of businesses closing down every single day confirms the storm is not over. The cost of carrying inventory is just too high and the turnover too low. And a simple law of Economics states that as prices increases, consumption decreases so not only may more stores close, but government may not realize its targeted revenue.

There is some underhanded wickedness to totally disenfranchise Bahamians economically. Because of the constant increases in the cost of living, less and less Bahamians are able to become home owners. In face more Bahamians are losing their homes. And even though the taxes continue to increase, so does the National Debt. So Bahamians are losers both on the personal and national level.

Now there are reports of a boating accident off Long Island with one adult male confirmed dead and another missing at sea. Shooting in Fox Hill and Yellow Elder. That’s close to 50 Bahamians injured and around 10 losing their lives on a single holiday weekend.

@mudder-sic...obviously you have license by The Tribune to spread anti-Bahamian vendetta, racial slurs and venom, half truths and fantasy spurred by a twisted imagination and, yes even slander. Obviously you don’t have sufficient faculties or common decency to discuss a matter without getting personal of digging slime out the gutter. And it is just not you posts on the web shops but you are constantly attacking Bahamians. Even with the Labor Day tragedy you go from calling Bahamians terrorists, to stupid unlicensed and uninsured drivers who are usually drunk and full of drugs. Obviously you are not Bahamian. And your constant and repeated rantings suggest a sick mind, most likely driven by hate filled jealousy.

This probably the most tragedy filled holiday since the fateful Sea Hauler accident. This accident that claimed four, the one in Freeport and the shootings. Amazing that people would use the opportunity to bash Bahamians as they normally do calling them stupid, drunk, drug abusers and even terrorists. What it just an accident that was caused by none of the reasons stated? Eyewitnesses said they saw the driver run away in disbelief as he saw his truck rolling down the hill and plowing into people. Another said they saw ‘a part of the young man die as his truck rolled over the women.’ No one on the scene mentioned drugs or alcohol . Remember this a tragedy that also affects the young man and his family. Remember it is you that are demonstrating total ignorance and stupidity, a wild and twisted immigration even, when you suggest terrorism, among other things, when eyewitness and evidence at the scene does not bare that out.

Maybe it’s time to start a new road safety campaign. These small Japanese cars are very fast and because they are small and light they become airborne in an accident.

And what do you call the FUOR posts immediately above yours?

Well three points: when Government raises the taxes too much on web shops, they open the door to illegal gambling. And since the illegal and unregulated shops have less overhead they will be able to pay out more while still making greater profits. TWO. Sebas and the Web Shop industry needs to take the government to court on what is clearly discrimination. If you are going to raise taxes on gambling then do it evenly across the board. Taxes on casinos should also be increased. THREE Ever since the web shops were licensed, there was a move afoot to shut them down and chase them out of business. Why does everyone think the Bahamian web shop owners are making too much money? But not so for the foreign owned casinos. Why is everything Bahamian under attack..the fish fry, the jet ski operations, hair braiders, but yet they loading all the taxes on them.

Muddier sick stop crying like a little *itch. The web shops got taxed on all fronts and you still complaining. If they go back underground then the government collects zero, except for when a careless bookie gets caught.

Tourism who’s now the country’s most lucrative industry is also now one of the least taxed. And so it leads many tourists to ask, ‘Why are there so many poor people in The Bahamas?’ And when the government raises taxes on the web shops to a level that is unconscionable at least two things will happen. Illegal gambling will not emerge and web shop operators will be forced out of business or engaged in tax evasion. In either or all scenarios the increase in government revenue will not be realized. And the higher tax brackets will serve as a disincentive for web shops to invest and hire more staff.