There is no such thing as "ease of doing business" in The Bahamas.
Read the World Bank reports for yourself.
We are not competitive because of gross inefficiencies, lack of business principles, dishonesty, corruption from top to bottom, an uneducated political class and an uncaring citizenry whose productivity levels are terrible.
We have allowed the working class to be taxed to death for the benefit of those who have the money to buy the politician's ears.
Real Estate fees are some of the most bloated fees around. They simply don't make any sense. The high fees make the rich richer, while producing little of value for anyone but themselves.
Yet, they are the first to call foul when their taxes are raised. Yet, those who work 9-5 doing work that is essential to society are burdened beyond belief.
We have become habituated to selfishness and lack of empathy.
There is more than enough to go around in this world.
Some think it is their right to have riches while others struggle.
This is a sickness that many seem to believe is ordained from above.
It is not. Humans created the unfair system and laws which protect the rich while the vast majority suffer from want.
I am tired of hearing how people make bad decisions, and that's why they're poor.
Obviously, a higher level of education, critical thinking and moral stature are not necessary for politicians, lawyers, or real estate agents. They show themselves to be ignorant and selfish at every turn.
It is merely the "all for me" attitude that governs this country.
We just don't care.

If anyone still believes in freedom.
A recent trip to the US found me reading Up and Away, the Bahamasair inflight magazine.
In the very front of the magazine was the following.

"Did You Know" that "The Department of Inland Revenue has the power to:"
Assess Taxes
Revoke a License
Suspend VAT Registration
Conduct Searches and Investigations
Temporarily Close Businesses
Publish Names of Tax Offenders
Garnish Income / Accounts
Seize Goods and Assets
Sell Property

Can anyone tell me the name of the people who are able to accomplish any of the above?
How much would it cost to take the Department of Inland Revenue to court to fight any of their actions? What percentage of Bahamians could afford to fight the Dept. of Inland Revenue in court, or even hire a lawyer?

Are any of these people in DIR elected representatives?

In addition to the above, the Department of Inland Revenue can sell Real Property, Seize Goods and Assets and Garnish Income and Accounts.

Of course, it is hard to imagine that any of these unchecked powers would be used against political opponents in this transparently fair and reasonable country of ours.

Who has the gall, or ignorance, to say we are a free nation?

The government needs to find ways to reduce their spending.
The government does not need to find ways to increase their revenue.
Politicians in The Bahamas need to realize we are more like a relatively unproductive medium-sized city, not a big time nation with money to burn.
Politicians must realize that they are here to represent their constituents, most of whom are struggling hard to make ends meet.
Most politicians see their personal fortunes rise after getting into office.
Whom do they really represent?
Many of those in office, including those in finance and business regulation have little to no understanding of economics. This is plainly apparent.
Worse, despite claiming to be Christians, most politicians do not have a clue on how to pass laws that are fair, and Christian in nature.
Politicians look out for their benefactors and contributors. These are the "business people" not the vast majority of working people.
The unfulfilled obligations, simply of having running water, reasonable priced electricity, and decent communications and internet service show clearly that we are unable to provide the most basic of services to our people.
The same rank leadership that has allowed The Bahamas to reach the dismal state we find ourselves in, are the same ones proposing these new taxes.
The failure of Bahamian leadership is on full display. We live it daily.
This is a failure of our education system.
This is a failure of our moral code.
This is a failure of our imagination to have a vision for a better country for all.
A good manager does not wear rose colored glasses, talking about how good everything looks.
A good manager has a job to do. Their job is not to get back into office. Their job is to run an efficient and productive organization for the good of the whole.
A good manager would be allowed to hire and fire according to ability.
Not according to nationality, political affiliation, gender or family name.
In my estimation, half of Bahamian workers would be fired by a competent manager on day one.
If we were honest, the government does not need to raise more revenue.
The government just needs some leaders who are honest, truly educated and not greedy.
Is that too much to ask?

Sad that in 2023 we still have people who think it is drugs that have destroyed this country.
I guess we forgot about the 10 commandments.
It is the n'tlying, the theft, greed, dishonesty, corruption, nepotism, sweet hearting, rape, incest and murder that are at the root of our ills.
No, it was the drugs.
The lack of education and critical thinking has nothing to do with it either, hey?

Ms. Burnside,
We have effectively dumbed down our entire population so that the incompetents may rule, as they do now.
The Bahamas is collapsing. Anyone who is literate can see this.
Typically, we would rather shoot the messenger, rather than start firing those so called "leaders" at the top.
We currently have no leaders worth a crap. From the PM on down, they are a worthless bunch.
Worse, our behaviour as a nation bears no relation to anything remotely Christian.
We are a nation based on dishonesty.
Mother nature will see to the rest.

Obviously never run a business or an organization that had success as a priority.

Along with the reparations requested from the global community for the damage done to the generations of those who suffered under slavery, should be a request to get reparations from the long list of Bahamian politicians who have destroyed the hopes and dreams, along with the money and opportunities of Bahamians who are still alive.
The damage done to us by our own people in the last 50 years is significant and real.
The current quest for reparations is not to be diminished.
Yet, to ignore what we have done, and are doing ourselves, to suppress the development of our country and the continuing punishment of our people for voting the wrong way, should be recognized and held to the same level of disgust.
Who has been holding us back for the last 50 years. Let's be honest.

As I myself age, I find I am losing the fear of death.
Watching what has been happening the world over does not bode well for our children and those who come after.
The Bahamas has failed, as so many other places have, by giving it all over to those who have little to offer other than money.
Your money could have come from gambling houses, drug running, liquor stores, or predatory lending as sanctioned by most bankers today.
The days of looking up to those who are honest, hard working and community oriented are gone, it seems.
The whole world seems to have jumped onto this idea of worshiping the rich, no matter how they got their riches.
Once that happens, humanity is finished.
This is the road we now travel.
The Bahamas grants citizenship and residency to those who have the most money.
Driving up the cost of living and sharpening the divide between the haves and have nots in this country.
This isn't a natural occurrence. We choose this path with greed and the absolute love of money.
Trashing our politics and justice system, and any sense of Christian ideology.
Creating an ever growing gulf between a sustainable future and the selling off of everything we should hold dear.
Soon, when the letter writer and others with the memory of how things were are gone, the current generation will know nothing but the rotten ways we currently suffer from.
Look closely at how silently we carry on, while the insults to humanity rush forth in this country.
Mr. August, I feel your pain.

You aren't very good on math.
There are 350,000,000 more people living in the US.
The entire Bahamas population doesn't match the average population of a decent sized city anywhere.
The number of people killed per 100,000 is off the charts in The Bahamas.
The way we manage and appreciate our natural resources here are a joke, anywhere you choose.
I don't like the way the US operates either.
However, to refuse to address our obvious failures as a nation is the reason things can't improve here.
Do a bit of reading and researching John.
The truth is staring you in the face, if you care to open your eyes.

Politics as usual.
Nothing new to see here.
Were we really ever a nation of laws?