Oh dear, reality has struck home. Funny how once elections are over that we recognise existing situations and previous administrations efforts to curb the pandemic.

Look at other countries. For example in the UK there is import duty, haulage charges, 20% VAT and a minimum 20% income tax on salaries over £12500, plus national insurance plus pension contributions Gasoline has fuel duty and then VAT on top. Inheritance tax, capital gains tax etc etc. To be fair how do you implement income tax in the Bahamas for anybody outside of a salaried job.
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As a former teacher we always heard the same dreary crap coming out of inexperienced politically appointed officials how we love " our little darlings".
Most teachers do their best but how can you say we do the best for our kids when some Principals are barely out of nappies and have man management skills of a dead crab, How technical courses are abandoned simply because trained staff are not there but we sure as hell have lots of religious teachers or guidance councillors, how chemistry departments have chemicals and equipment dating back to the 70's. How woodwork and Auto departments never receive supplies how primary schools have a multitude of subjects including Spanish but students can barely function in English language when they reach high school. Add to that hairbrained schemes that fail or are not monitored like lap tops given to schools never to be seen again or online learning during covid when so many kids have neither internet nor lap top. I have seen so many talented young Bahamian teachers in the system but they will never get promoted and make a difference because they don't belong to the lodge or they vote the wrong way or fail to kiss official arses . Directors in the past have certainly talked a lot, but rarely does anything change for our "little darlings".

30,000 expat workers. |Are you smoking happy baccy or failed BGCSE maths. .I fully agree many expat jobs could be filled by Bahamians but not 30,000. Try the Ministry of Education for starters that hires Cuban teachers in many cases where there is a local established teacher on site, or a Cuban teacher that hardly speaks coherent English.

The Bahamas postal service is a total third world disgrace. For years valuable items such as periodicals, foreign newspapers etc just disappear. I myself had a subscription to a foreign newspaper. Never got one yet the company traced every copy to Nassau,. Mail especially to family islands including bills can be months late or never arrive. I know of a UK citizen in November 2020 sent many Christmas cards to Bahamian friends. NOT ONE arrived. In 2021 he decided to send all the cards in one large manila envelope clearly labelled with the name of one friend, the idea that not only could even Bahamian post office employees ignore it but if it did arrive on the family island that the recipient could then distribute the cards locally. Guess what it never arrived and one can only presume lazy employees just throw mail into some dark recess. Where are the supervisors, why is nothing done about it where does all this undelivered mail end up..Never waste money on monthly mailed periodicals and if its important UPS or Fed ex it.

Already got their noses in the "benefits trough". All that time in Barbados and taking a wife to Switzerland plus all the add on individuals. No doubt first or business class and nice hotels and certainly a large daily allowance. Oh add in a very very cursory customs check upon return. Great work if you can get it.

the messenger is absolutely right. Having worked at a government clinic firstly many of the 52 week employees were often related to staff. Secondly some not all are there simply for the pay check. First hand I have witnessed several of the 5 employees sit in the staffroom glued to their phones whilst janitorial staff twice/three times their age would help[ unload medical supplies from a truck. Turn up late, go home early, complain about getting their hands dirty but no problem collecting their pay check. A waste of public money and to be fair, they often have no skills and furthermore there is little continual work for them to do.

Are uou for real. Any more downgrades from Moodys and devaluation is a real risk. So instead of $6.72 for a box of cornflakes you will pay $6.60. Big deal, meanwhile there is a bigger picture of a growing national debt which HAS to be repaid. So please explain where the 2% missing revenue will come from.

Love the keyboard warriors like yourself who obviously have all the answers. Lets see, Minnis had a devastating hurricane but of course under the PLP it would not have happened, then a worldwode pandemic which minds far brighter than you or I struggle to solve/ contain and incur huge national debts. Of course the PLP would have completely contained this virus at no cost to the country whilst enduring that tourist arrivals remained the same as pre covid. Minnis may not be perfect and in hindsight may have dome somethings different but if you believe Brave Davies would have the majic answer you are deluded.

What makes me laugh is the ongoing debate about reducing carbon emissions, coming from the likes of Meghan Markle , Borris Jonhson and a host of other assorted people is that the common middle and lower class are supposed to bear the brunt of all these changes whilst the likes of world leaders prince Harry ,CEO's and film stars continues on their merry way with private jets, A/C on all day or gas heating on all day in cold climates, buying an electric car and so on. When the rich stop emitting their vast amounts of carbon and live like me then I will adjust my lifestyle.