That is a joke surely. Are you proposing that teachers pay a license to work?Maybe in regard to your second statement it would be better to get rid of all the Cuban teachers who have no real interest in anything but going home with as much cash and electronics as possible, Fire some of the incompetent Principals, advertise senior positions where qualified Bahamians have a chance of promotion as opposed to having the position already filled because of cronyism . Good classroom teachers often languish with no hope of promotion simply because their face does not fit.

It seems very unfair to heap all the blame on the 1 year old FNM given the reckless spending of the previous administration and unpaid bills that they left behind. That being said the added imposition of VAT will increase operating costs of the mailboats thereby increasing freight charges and therefore negating any savings on VAT free bread basket items. However I do not have the answer , maybe one of the regular critics/contributors could enlighten us as to a method of paying down the national debt, reducing the size of government without a backlash and not increasing the cost of living.

Why does it take a tragedy to get people off their backsides to donate. The average daily donation to the PMH blood bank are well below what is needed.

The web shop owners are making millions off the backs of so many Bahamians who have become addicted .That said given the frequent "give aways" held by the web shop operators it is obvious they can afford more taxation. These freebee days are just emotional blackmail to paint a rosy picture. It also defies commonsense that a National lottery has not been implemented so that properly run the total proceeds go towards the National debt.

Maybe to offset this rise which was necessary in my opinion, legislate that gratuities in retaurants are voluntary and not mandatory. This 18% added to a bill whether the service is good or bad is wrong and as things stand will add 30% to a meal. By giving the customer control it will reduce the meal cost after tax and most customers will have the choice of tipping. It is blatantly unfair that the tip is a fixed percentage based upon how much you spend.

So in August a meal out will have 30% added to the bill.18 % + 12%.

Without drastic action you may get your wish. What is your sooution?

Actually he is talking commonsense. It is you who have your head buried inthe sands of denial. That being said can you offer a non painful method of solving the pre existing financial mess that the FNM inherited ?.

I don't like the idea of a Vat hike any more than anyone else but bear in mihd that in the UK it is 20%. That said never heard the critics complain when the PLP had a continious hiring spree, exorbitant contracts given without bids, a 7 million + hole in Palmetto Pojnt for a hospital that the country coild never afford and on and on. Face facts this country is deep in debt and painful medicine now may if the revenue is properly spent reap benefits down the road. Times are tough yes but try living in Greece or Italy where national debt is beyond belief. In the UK May 29th was the first day of the calender year where the ciitizen worked for himself . In other words the average citizen worked to pay taxes for for almost 5 months. One final point despite Mr know it all Davies the PLP would have had to do the same or reserve rooms for the IMF.

What is it about Davies and Fred and all the other ex PLP MP's that they have the laughable gall to talk about extra taxes when they are totally responsible for the terrible financial state of the economy. What worries me is that the FNM will need to do some drastic pruning financially and whilst that is necessary it will open the gates to the uneducated who want instant gratification and will vote PLP in the next election. Like all maladies medical or financial you can only put off treatment for so long and failing that the IMF will dictate PLP or FNM.