After the general elections, a sensible government should put a self imposed restriction on borrowing: no borrowing in the first year and at least $1 billion is paid on the national debt. Years 2,3 and 4, Government will only be allowed to borrow half of what it pays on the national debt. So assuming they continue to make $1 billion payments, By the end of year 4, the national debt will be reduced by $2.5 billion (payments less that it re-borrowed) and in year 5, being an election year government will be allowed to borrow an amount equal to what it pays down, say $1 billion, which it really will not need to borrow because of the cash it will have available that it freed up that was servicing the $2.5 billion it knocked of the debt. And if the government continues with this fiscal policy for two consecutive terms, even if parties change, it will have effectively knocked $5 billion off the national debt, rather than adding $10, billion to it in 10 years.. Can you imagine that? But wait, it is better than that. By reducing the debt by $5 billion in two terms, it will also have effectively freed up $270 million a year that was being used to service the debt (based on 5% interest) rather than tying up an additional 1/4 billion to service a debt that would now be in a range beyond $15 billion!

"*Kissinger: “Control oil and you control nations; control food and you control the people.” US strategy deliberately destroyed family farming in the US and abroad and led to 95% of all grain reserves in the world being under the control of six multinational agribusiness corporations*

This was a strategy Kissinger implemented from the 1970's to take over the energy and food supplies of nations. In fact he went even further to say when you control a country's food, you also control the health of that nation. Depending on what you put in the food supply and what you take out of it. And here in the Bahamas, like many islands in the Caribbean, the farms have disappeared in favor of imported produce and the country's health issues have escalated. Not surprising marijuana is now being smuggled *from* the United States and obviously its effects are different from the traditional *weed* that came from Jamaica and Mexico. It makes young people angry and violent and many go out of their heads. Marijuana use to mellow a smoker out, give him the munchies, and put him to sleep. But yes, that aside, the Bahamas has joined the list of many countries that have become over leveraged and is now having a difficult time meeting its obligations. Not only that but it is having a difficult time finding out how to effectively put the brakes on borrowing. It is a country confused about this needs and wants and with the VAT 'succesfully' put in place, one stroke of a pen increasing the VAT rate can change the entire country's standard of living instantly. And in the case like the Bahamas is in today, where it has increased both its tax burden on Bahamians *and* increased the amount of tax revenues the government has taken in, *but* still increasing the national debt instead of decreasing it, the country is definitely on dangerous ground. But many people do not realize that the US federal reserve is also privately owned. Just like the many central banks around the world, Cuba and Iran were the last two to be taken over, the US Federal Reserve is owned by a small group of bankers, who at whim can manipulate the entire world economy.

But on the other hand Omar Archer will remain in jail because of his expose's..get it?, got it? good! But remember governments change.

TalRussel, I am convinced. So is everyone else.

> Contacted yesterday, Mr Roberts
> suggested that he did not know the men
> were at the event and said despite
> Davilma being outfitted in a PLP shirt
> and pictured alongside National
> Security Minister Dr Bernard Nottage,
> it did not mean that he had ties to
> the governing party.

It ain't what you think it is! Come home and meet a fella in ya house with your wife and your robe and slippers on, so you go in the guest room and go to sleep because you really trust your wife right? ANd it ain't what you think it is! But on the other hand Toogie and BoBo are elegible to vote so they do have a right to attend political rallies of their choosing and to co-mingle with the PLP!

PLP's are known for 't'iefin' elections and with the large shift in voter support from the PLP, no option to win this election is off their (PLP) table. So those responsible must be vigilant, they must have a keen eye and they must hold those responsible accountable, and allow the law to take its course with those who try to corrupt the system. Let the outcome of the election be the people's will.

I would like to see a lot of the taxes consolidated and others made to disappear. It is costly to have to keep track and separate accounting for all the various taxes and it is also burdensome for businesses to have to account, for business licence, property tax, national insurance tax, vat tax, customs service tax. Government for example can add 1/2 or 1/4% on to either the VAT tax or customs duties and eliminate the business licence tax. So business would be on a 'pay as you go' plan and not have to worry about finding this huge lump sum at the beginning of each year, especially when VAT is also due at the same time. So they increase the VAT by 1/2, eliminate the Business licence fees and then companies would pay $100.00 to register their business each year, and $50.00 for each location in operation. The government will also benefit from this as there will be less paper work and accounting, and government will be relizing a steady stream of revenue, rather than waiting for the beginning of the year and companies do not have the money to pay.

Minnis did say a mouthful and did give a bellyful of hope to those in the inner city, who do not normally attend non-PLP rallies, well only for the food and drinks and music. But this Election 2017, the crowd is attentive, and seems well informed about the issues. And yes, many have abandoned the PLP, so much so that Perry Chrisite and Bernard Nottage, seem to be in trouble. They will have to fight an up-hill battle to retain their seats. And the claim is the switch to red is duplicated on many Family Islands, so the battle to retain the government will also be a tough one. But remember it is said that Hubert Ingraham lost the last election in the final few days of campaigning. This electorate is not as volatile as 2012, and they are more fed up and more desperate..for a change for the better. And eventually they will have to realize, if there is a change of government, everything will not happen overnight.
.
..
*“We will help the people in the inner city to invest in their own communities by using the tax code to spur jobs, economic activity and investment.”

#He continued: “Within this inner-city tax-free zone, there will be no import duties on construction materials for residential and commercial buildings; no real property tax or business licence fees; no taxes on household furniture within the inner-city; no taxes on business equipment after proper vetting and finally reduced duty on special vehicles necessary for your businesses.”*

This is a good idea to try to revitalize and rebuild the inner-cities. For decades the tax breaks and concessions were given to the large companies who, for the most part,happen to be foreign owned or multinational. The benefits (of the tax breaks) were not as great as they should be because these companies exported their profits and their savings and so the spin off was minimal. Many middle class or lower class Bahamians have seen their status eroded and downgraded due to the ongoing recession and the heavy tax burden they have put on their backs. For this country to survive this government must spread the tax burden more widely, over the entire economy while, at the same time, causing more dollars to remain in the Bahamas. For that to happen Bahamians must no longer just be employees. Opportunities must be made available for them to participate in every sector of the economy, including tourism ,banking, real estate development aviation and shipping and retail and wholesale. Just how the government could give $1.5 billion in concessions to Bah Mar, it can give smaller concessions to small groups of Bahamians to develop smaller hotel properties and other businesses throughout the Bahamas. Donald Trump says "Americans and America first.' And, yes BEC must be fixed, not just a band-aid soultion. And a permanent fix must be found for the dump.

Obviously the PLP are in shock. They never expected Minnis to draw such massive crowds. They never expected to see so many die hard PLPs joining the sea of red. But only Election Day will tell for sure which party will win. And 30 days is a long time to be on the campaign trail. And knowing the nature of the PLP cannot let your guard down. Not even for a minute.

Not taking sides but looks like it will even be difficult fo steal this Election. It is unusual to see the size crowds the FNM is drawing in Bain and Grants Town, the heart of the PLP strong hold. Everyone including strong PLP supporters are saying 'enough is enough ' and apparently they had enough of Perry Christie and BJ Nottage. If these sentiments translate into votes prepare for a new government 🇧🇸 Bahamas. And a new prime minister. Meanwhile Donald Trump has bombed Syria...