McAlpine is a pretty good guy - but he is obviously unaware of the many many many people in this country who work "under the table" and pay no NIB now. They will also not pay income tax because then NIB will find out they exist.

Are these tax dodgers who dont want to pay VAT on their food and lumber etc friends of his? Just asking? He seems very concerned that they be able to continue living Scott free on the backs of law abiding Bahamians.

Sheeprunner? What do you mean read it online? Where? The cabinet nor this newspaper have provided any link to the budget. Govt secrecy continues as usual.

Have they? I may have missed it. Im not perfect (very close, but not).

Does anyone have a link?

"These duty-free provisions are to be facilitated by application as well and again that's because we want to ensure that the benefits go to those who we are trying to assist."

And he is very wise not to say that "those" are the Bahamian people this time - so as not to roust the angst of the "well known" Q.C. :-)

I agree completely with LICKS2. A real PM who cares about the people is something Bahamians ain't used to. They all think the sky is falling now and everyone will go bankrupt. LOL.

"We need nice new product to attract permanent residents to come here..."

No we don't. The sloops are landing every week with more and more permanent residents slash construction workers. A reduction in construction jobs will help and have a positive effect on reducing the number of these "permanent residents." Thank God. Perhaps Bahamians will have a chance at some jobs then.

LOL. Thanks for that. I've been kind of depressed lately and needed a good laugh.

Is the sky falling also?

"The web shop industry yesterday warned that 2,000 jobs will be lost, and 75 per cent of its locations will close, ..."

LOL. Thanks for that. I've been kind of depressed lately and needed a good laugh.

"...but there was still a sizeable population that remained who would likely need assistance."

Have they asked the "well known" Q.C. for a donation?

Ms St Fleur said: “...but no places want to rent to persons with more than two young kids."

Aawwww. What a shame. I guess this was not at all their concern while they were at PMH,
P.roducing M.ore H.aitians.

How about the Haitian Ambassador. Can he request temporary funding from Haiti?

How about they send back 10% of the 58 million dollars that was transferred down last year? Heck, that's almost 6 million dollars. That could rent plenty apartments for long time.

But, i'm sure it's smarter to sit on their butts and wait for the Bahamian taxpayer. Our higher VAT rate will allow us to foot the bill. No worries.

Oh those poor insurance companies. My heart bleeds for them. LOL. Amazing how with the Obama recession of 2008 and the introduction of VAT in 2015, none have gone out of business. Just like our poor little "car balloon tying" banks. They just keep plugging along and opening new branches. Oh the tragedy. I can't bear to think of it. :-)

It is obvious to me that the hotels want the currency to be devalued...since they will then have an advantage over others by absorbing foreign currency directly.

Very devious, if true.