Always accepted donations from British citizens as my wife and I can attest. Try the USA for hang ups, they have a book of persons that cannot donate including the UK and I wonder why they consider themselves so judgemental on citizens from other countries. Guess we should ban all americans from the UK because a lady in Florida has Zeka virus.

News Flash. Perry has announced that Martians will be located very soon and that dialogue with them regarding opening a new resort on the Pineapple keys is imminent.

Terrible to say but so much of the population is under educated that they have no concept of the looming fiscal crisis. You only have to listen to the Ministers to see that they cannot think outside of the old system. This week the education minister lied when he said all family island schools were repaired and ready to go. maybe he forgot my child who did auto mechanics in CEHS where the roof has leaked for over 16 years. He knows that. Maybe he can explain why Cuban teachers are employed who in many cases struggle to speak understandable English and have little or no connection with the communities that they teach in. Wake up fellow Bahamians, because 10% VAT is coming then externalization of currency controls and then devaluation.

You forgot so many who retired were rehired on a salary whilst receiving state pension, career pension and gratuity. Start with Baltron Bethel. I try and support local businesses but its getting harder and harder because rarely do they pass on any duty reductions or wholesale price reductions.

You are so right but remember the government has so mishandled the economy and is so deep in debt that they are like a drowning man clutching at straws-----They have no wiggle room, mind you we could all go and sit in church with the duty free AC units and eat communion wafers after all that really helps the working class.

The VAT money was just like a candy box for these idiots who spent I excess of the extra revenue earned. I foresee VAT going to 10% and they will still not reign in expenditure. Things are tough, kids and adults don't eat properly, Can't pay their light bills, Can't get medication because the clinics are out but we get double taxed with VAT on VAT on duty. Recent picture posted by students in Windermere High school contrasted what $50 buys in USA and the paltry amount in the Bahamas. Amazing difference. These dim wits need to think outside the box, give tax breaks to Alburys when they import and can beans, Confiscate cars being sold illegally by the roadside, Tax the owners of rental houses ,Prosecute all those stealing from their respective ministries. Will it happen -No because first and foremost at any cost don't displease the electorate who will see you returned to your nice well paying positions. Funny how there is total silence from the PM on the white elephant hotel ?

In fairness the argument that the Auto Mall puts forward is correct and also applies to the hotel ,private house rental business. Whilst local hotels pay all sorts of government fees, health inspections etc ,the foreign home owner pay none of these taxes and remits much of the income back to the USA. I am aware on my island of houses being rented for $10,000 a week, employing a foreign handyman (yes I have seen his work permit) and paying no taxes. Constant gripe of visitors is "how do you afford to live here", "prices are so high". Lets face it there are so many more ways that the government could improve their revenue stream, from taxing these private rental properties to charging a nominal hook tax on visiting boats in Exuma for example. If the Bahamas is downgraded ,then VAT will go up, externalization controls on cash will be imposed and poverty will get even worse. And lastly of encourage us to spend at home not by empty words but by deeds. Bet Fred doesn't buy his stuff here when he can take advantage of all his frequent trips abroad.

iN 1999 I bought a 1998 truck brand new which had been on the dealers lot for 1 year .Discounted price $19500. Cost in Miami approx. $9000 for a 1998 model ??? Feel sorry for the dealers but these politicians cannot see the woods for the trees. Higher taxes, less disposable income, less purchases, less jobs, less collectable taxes. An by the way sip sip is that VAT is going up to 10 % which of course will just fund more hair brained schemes. When will they ever learn that the only way to balance the books is to cut expenditure. Seems the double taxation we are now paying was totally wasted and the government borrowed over and above the extra millions collected.When will we as Bahamians say enough is enough and have public demonstrations before prices go even higher.

Point taken,therefore why do it or better still lets think outside of the mind numbingly stupid politicians and give a tax break/incentive to Bahamian companies such as Alburys and allow them to undercut the American brand. Given the financial state of many families, support of Bahamian companies takes second place to cost.

As usual a very accurate article but just to illuminate on two items. BAMSI supposed to make this nation able to feed itself. Why is it then that Alburys home produced Lima beans are a dollar more than imported Libbys lima beans ? . Secondly we were recently showed the Cuban teachers at a garden party where the Cuban ambassador was extolling the relationship and multitude of subjects taught by Cuban teachers. What was not said is that many of these teachers do not have an adequate command of the English language, in a least one case are teaching a subject that they have never taught before and by the time they are used to the system,the students and community they are back off to Cuba with all the electronics, tools etc. Who really suffers --- the students. Finally in one family island school not one student passed chemistry at BGCSE level which was taught by a Cuban teacher.