Mr. Moxey, many, many businesses thrive while paying 20% commissions.
Like anything else, you build it into your price.
Some people like to focus on running the business they do best, and leaving the marketing to marketing experts.
Compare the prices we pay here for everything, including VAT and shipping and VAT on VAT, and on and on, compared to what is being charged in Florida.
What, pray tell, can explain these differences?
And, you must know that the biggest complaint lodged by visitors to The Bahamas are the high prices.
Having been in business myself, and speaking with many, many business owners here, it seems as though our government is happy hindering those who wish to go into business, instead of pulling out all the stops to help our own citizens.
This is a universal feeling. Yes?
Until we completely revolutionize the attitude of our government towards small businesses, we will continue to see our economy shrink, rather than grow.
There seems to be a lack of educated leadership in our country that would allow us to develop a true vision and follow through.
So long as we have a group of men who take as much as they can for themselves for 5 years, leaving little for The People, you can train as many bonefishing guides as you wish and nothing will change.

Mr. Moxey, why don't you do a survey to see how easy the Bahamian government has made it for Bahamian business owners to be in business in The Bahamas?
You "were" a lodge owner/manager. And, how long have you been out of that?
Presently, The Bahamas appears to be against business and encouraging their youth to stay and make an investment in their future here.
This is a fact.
I often ask the question, "Why would a decent, educated Bahamian kid come back home?
You do know that your hometown of Mangrove Cay has constant water, electricity, phone and internet outages, right?
So, what is the government doing to provide the very basic infrastructure needed for a lodge to operate? What about growth? You are aware that lodge owners in Andros lose clients because of poor infrastructure, right Mr. Moxey?
The guests leave, not to return, not because of a guide shortage, but because all we hear from our representatives is bullshit.
Since you have been out of the lodge business, do you know how many rules, regulations, taxes, fees and barriers have been put before business owners?
Do you really never hear how frustrated small business people are in this country?
While we should be encouraging our youth to stay and help develop our communities and economy, why are all the doctors, nurses, teachers and educated kids leaving these shores?
If this were not true, why are we forced to bring in foreigners to staff these positions?
The answer is because we treat our own people like crap and pay them poorly.
Besides the fact that everything is political here and we continue to promote and reward the ass-kissers, family, sweethearts...............excluding the educated and competent from government jobs.
Mr. Moxey, you must know this. It is not just that the old-time guides are dying off We do not encourage nation building nor providing opportunities for our youth to stay home.

So, we crack down on businesses setting their own prices, such as in a free market.
Yet, the PM and his cronies can fly around the world stuffing their faces with good food while here at home, The People punish.
A country of 340,000 people and our politicians are flying around the world like big, big boys.
Stay home and fix the many problems here. Please quit wasting our money on your self indulgent foreign trips.
Your poor governing habits are showing themselves throughout the country.
Stay home. Our country is the size of a small city. We can't afford to pander to your need to be off foreign while your small country of The Bahamas has so so many needs.
Are you leaders, or politicians. If you don't know the difference I am not surprised.

So, we just borrowed another $100,000,000 from IDB for Water & Sewerage.
A country of 340,000 where few are paying attention.
50+ years of self rule and this is where we find ourselves.
So, now we'll have a bunch of no-bid contracts in complete secrecy.
I am absolutely sure that there will be no kickbacks to any of these politicians who signed for these odious loans.
The most qualified and professional contractors will be given the contracts to do the work..
Again, I am sure there will be no kickbacks to anyone in office.
We can expect complete transparency and full auditing from an independent accounting firm.
Only the most professional local workers and locally sourced materials will be used.
The contractors for our government jobs will all have full due diligence on their character and professional qualifications, and these will be available for all of The Bahamian People to peruse.
Remember, this is a transparent government.

thisisours and guavaduff,

Both quite right.
So, why do we continue to elect people who can't understand these basics?
Once we see an education system fail, and those in power continue to speak as if they know something, the result is what we're seeing now.
A five year window to take as much as you can, the People be damned.
We've done this to ourselves, yes?

Yup. Exactly right.
People with no boating experience, no education, no common sense,writing these rules and regulations.
Talk about shooting oneself in the foot?

Was it not just recently announced that the Bahamian government (The People) just signed for a 100 million dollar loan from the IDB specifically for Water & Sewerage?
So, why are we going down this road?
Why isn't potable water free for EVERY Bahamian?
What the hell are these ignorant and ugly politicians doing to The People?
This isn't an opportunity, except for the richest and the politicians.
It is a scam to continue to fleece the Bahamian people.
How, after 50+ years of self rule, can we still be losing money year after year?
It is because we hire and promote according to politics, not ability.
We have poisoned our country by making sure that the least educated and least qualified are hired and kept in jobs they can't do.
Water & Sewerage is a prime example.
If this wasn't bad enough, we heartily encourage dishonesty and deceit at every level of society.
These overfed, know-nothing politicians have never helped the Bahamian people.
They only know how to help themselves.
Sad, but true.

Let's put things into context.
We don't pay our own Bahamian health care workers enough to stay in The Bahamas.
Nor, do we treat our health care workers with respect and decency.
Therefore, we must look around outside for foreigners to work here.
Nothing passes through the PLP without someone getting their palms greased.
Still with me?
The idea that ANY of those in top PLP positions are not on the take, is a joke.
They are merely covering up their nasty deeds, again, only because what they are doing has come to light.
Their are no innocents in this present PLP administration.
"You are the company you keep."
The average hard working Bahamian is not being represented, they are being screwed.
Nothing can change so long as any of these jokers remain in office.

******Gov’t allocates $2.5M to National Sports Endowment******

Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg announced the funding during his Budget Communication. “For far too long, the facilities under the National Sports Authority have suffered from neglect,” Mr Bowleg said. “This government is changing that.”

Yes Mr. Bowleg, just like the National Sports Authority, The People of The Bahamas have also suffered from neglect. For years and years.

This government has allocated no money to stopping corruption, improving honest communication, or to provide the public with an inkling of transparency into government activity in this country. Does one have to wonder why?

While our oversized do-nothing ministers fly around the world on the taxpayers dime, they make a complete mockery of the Bahamian people.
For God's sake, we are a country of 340,000. A small-sized city anywhere else in the world. We are heavily in debt. A majority of our people are working poor. And, the world's economy looks very shaky. But, these geniuses are flying around the world. For what? What special knowledge, training or manners do any of these clowns have to impress the world?
Bahamian officials, including the PM should stay home and do the work they were elected to do. Ask yourself what has improved since the last election.
If like most Bahamians you can say nothing, why would we vote these people back in?
I get tired of watching these jokers continue to gain mounds of flesh, mounds of money and a pension on top of that, all for talking trash, lying and fleecing the people.
A sad situation that does not reflect well on the Bahamian people.

What you could do best for your country birdie, is to simply stay quiet.
I was told, "better to keep your mouth shut and let people think you a fool, than open your mouth and prove it.
Seems you like proving it better than most.