Comment history

Socrates says...

the only thing saving Inagua from a mass evacuation is this company. they should have a prayer meeting everyday giving everlasting thanks and asking for divine intervention to ensure Morton never packs up and leaves.

On Union slams Morton Salt over deal talks

Posted 31 May 2018, 10:30 a.m. Suggest removal

Socrates says...

Given the current dire financial state of affairs, i dont see how we can turn away any.potential opportunities regardless of risk. Like they say, manage it.

Socrates says...

based on past practice, we can expect that notwithstanding the stated goal of debt reduction, what will happen is more handouts, funding of dubious projects and no improvement in gov't finances. The middle class will start the slow, inevitable slide to lower class. And this is only the beginning. Expect NIB contributions to rise, introduction of a NHI levy and further increase in VAT to 15% before this term ends. Of course an increase in BPL rates is already in the works to cover upcoming borrowing/restructuring or whatever term you wish to use. Lets not forget the money gifted to loyalists from BOB either, that we also have to pay for now that it is acknowledged that most of the money is not recoverable.

On Ouch! Peter turns the screw on VAT

Posted 31 May 2018, 10:21 a.m. Suggest removal

Socrates says...

as if we need more evidence of the failure of socialism. Only the oil-rich gulf states can hand out to citizens these days and even some of them, Bahrain, Oman and to a lesser extent Saudi Arabia are quickly coming to the realization they can't continue the handouts like in the past. Read the Economist, even they are implementing VAT. hope BPL finds oil someday before we are overwhelmed by these unsustainable subsidies to SOEs like WSC and Bahamasair and my favourite, the non-contributory public service pension system.

Socrates says...

DAWES is correct. if fuel surcharge is to cover the variable cost of fuel, how could you need to borrow due the high cost of fuel? further, last 2 years or so fuel prices have been below $40 a barrel so it doesnt add up to me either.

Socrates says...

all of us know that the kitty is slowly but surely being emptied. we also know that this has been known for a long time. what pees me off is they let it get so far out of control then the only remedy is drastic measures. 1% increase a year would have been easier to digest by employer and employee as oppoosed to recommendations like this, of a doubling. and if they dont act soon to some degree, it will eventually be a tripling of contributions.

Socrates says...

minister is correct. if citizens have a gripe, you go to court and insist on your rights and/or damages as provided by law. The role of government in these things is to amend laws as needed where deficiencies are identified but not addressed in the law. Thats why you have 3 branches of gov't in a democracy, the Executive, the legislature and the judiciary.. you dont need to beg for everything.

Socrates says...

bahamas12345 is correct. i know plenty people who never paid. their position is i dont plan to sell my house, i will die there, so let someone else worry about it. So yes, just like every other law, the only incentive to comply is the threat of punitive action, a principle alien to our society.

Socrates says...

further to sheeprunner12 post, The official United Nations definition of ethnic cleansing is "rendering an area ethnically homogeneous by using force or intimidation to remove from a given area persons of another ethnic or religious group" so if we are all black people and its not religious, how is it ethnic cleansing? we need to be careful throwing these terms around. next we'll hear the shantytowns are terrorist training camps or the gov't action is a crime against humanity. come on, give it a break!

Socrates says...

leave on 'very favourable terms'.. political talk for overly generous lump sums and pensions to many who never should have been employed in the first place and others, who will be reengaged within 2 years.. and who will pay for this generosity? us of course, either through increased taxes and/or higher electricity rates. the money has to come from somewhere after all and wr know BEC doesn't have it...