I too have noticed that once a Hatien gets papers his or her attitude sometimes changes. On the other hand there are many Hatiens that obey the rules, work hard and contribute to the economy.

Lynden Pindling was inspirational and brave in his day but eventually the power and financial opportunities took over his life. Whilst he amassed vast wealth way beyond his official income, fellow Bahamians struggled and continue to struggle.

Tragic.

Many contractors and business people prefer to work for the foreigners as they pay on time.

1.Name and prosecute those responsible for all these political hiring's and shady contracts.
2.Ask the ex deputy director of education why he continued to go to Cuba and hire Cuban teachers who have little interest in the country and when available teachers are here already often in their own houses.
3 Cut these overseas trips to bare minimum
4.Cut out all the frills that ex government ministers receive.
5.Privatise wherever possible. Governments are lousy business operators.
6 Retire all these well placed individuals who retired on two pensions and then get rehired as consultants and other made up positions.

Don't mind paying the 12% as the country is in dire financial straights but what I really object to is paying VAT on Tax. Example with air freight imports you pay Customs handling $10, Brokerage fee, Import duty and freight. Then you pay 12% on the total-double taxation. Secondly if an individual is responsible for a substantial financial misdeed they are usually held accountable but we the public are paying all these extra taxes (and there are many more than VAT) to rectify the waste, corruption, and airy fairy spending on lousy expensive often never to be completed projects. Name the persons who put their names to sanctioning these projects etc and make them accountable.

Mr Davies , you forget the numerous ceremonies and the entourage coming to central Eleuthera for ground breaking after ground breaking for the never to be built nor affordable hospital. So for all those charter trips, car hire, meals and the 7 million investment what do we have to show for it---Nothing except a large pile of curry.

Any savings will be wiped out by higher transport costs especially on the family islands.

I agree with the fact that there is not a level playing field for car dealers and hotels when they have to pay all sorts of taxes as opposed to foreign home owners and amateur car sellers, however where I disagree is the comment that these imports are disposable junk. The quality of imports is generally excellent and my little Japanese car has run without any problems for over 6 years. Once bought a new (1 year old on the Friendly Ford Lot) truck and the cost was $18950.The same truck brand new in the states was $8500. Its the lousy grab all you can in one go attitude of governments that kills the free market. And lets face it if anybody buys a new car on the family islands and it goes wrong under guarantee ,it is the purchaser to has to cover costs associated with getting it to Nassau. In short I can buy 6 excellent imported cars for the price of an average new American car.