Like duty, the government wants VAT to be forgotten about, hidden from the public scrutiny.
In the Bahamas, if it is not in your face, you do not see it.
Inflation will be seen, is being seen, but Government accepts no responsibility for it, yet it is entirely their fault.
Price control helps no one, just as government demonization of the private sector helps no one.
The more the fiscal pressure mounts, the more Government incompetence shows through.

Seems mr. Bowe needs to read up on his guiding legislation, which clearly outlines the procedures to be followed, which do not include mountains of paperwork stacked in all retail outlets.
The law requires the information to be furnished at the request of.....
But yes, persecution is indeed the program here, a total abandonment of the rule of law and the proper proceedures,
How does one say Ton Ton Mcoute in English.........

Best to take a look in a mirror,
Before starting a witch hunt!

We admit to no national responsibility, we admit to no personal responsibility, we practice little parental responsibility.
We blame others endlessly for whatever ill befalls us, and blame others for everything we lack.
We elect to serve those who personify every failing we possess and excel at.
We are faultless, and yet, it is our country spiraling out of control at an ever increasing rate.
Adhering to personalities as if they were deities, abandoning the rule of law while writing countless new laws to be equally ignored no doubt.
We apologize for nothing, because we are entitled.
our actions will ensure we receive our just entitlement.
Our unwillingness, even now, to take an honest assessment ensures we are not at the end of our current journey.
We are not even looking at a map.

And so your solution is to simply pay everyone more, as opposed to understanding the underlying cause of the socio-educational disaster?
One of the direct correlations between being poor and receiving a poor education is the poor quality of default "free" government education!
Not at all free via all the "extras" that are paid for.
As to not taking BJC's because of a lack of funds, simply stop charging for them!
Seems Government has taken the "fuel surcharge" principal to heart in taxing us AND Charging us for Government services!
If a business in the private sector tried that they'd be gone quick!

Consultants, the findings from which are ignored and have been since 1968.
The appearances of doing something while doing nothing tangible (save pocketing the funds) is a perfected art in the Bahamas!
While Port licensees pay no Government license fee, nor property taxes (soon to expire under an extended Statute law when the original exemptions expired under the H.C.A.) the Port License fees and Maintenance fees on property are not insignificant, and no accounting is given to anyone, nor from the Government incedentally.
It is time to revisit the H.C.A. but not until we revisit the Governance of the whole country, lest idiots continue to make idiotic decisions.
And Yes, it appears the current ownership has separated the assets from the Port Authority proper, making the Port Authority a pure liability with no assets.
Both Political parties in all elected incarnations have colluded with Port Authority executives and owners over the decades for their own benefit, to the expense and detriment of the potential for the country.( Port Authority shares, political contributions, Homes built, political ownerships in Port licensed companies, political appointees, etc etc)
A National legacy of shame that deserves a forensic audit.

So stop accepting crumbs by signing off on the work of others!
This practice is pervasive in the Bahamas, so you only have yourselves to blame.
Soon enough under WTO and EU-EPA rules you will not be needed for even that!

Semantics over what was, and ever shall be,
the proceeds from illicit activities prior to the sham legislation.
Incredible.

The priority our Government, either party,
is their own stasis, or preserving their positions and lifestyles.
The wealthy care not which party of thieves is pillaging the treasury, they only care about preserving their wealth.
The politicians want to be king of the hill no matter if made of gold or dung.
Ours is turning to dung rapidly.

"and which will be used for projects that benefit persons living in the Bahamas."
Used for what??????
Implemented against the backdrop of the need to pay down the National debt, and they're now saying this?
To be sure the Government needs the help in proper audit procedures and manpower,
but will no doubt revert to the tried and true intimidation and threats method.