Retailers will be demonized in this,
the Devil is never seen first hand when doing his work.
The Government is now banking on Public ignorance, stirring them up, utilizing
ignorance they have fostered in Public schools.
Retailers better have a plan and get willing to stand together
or they will be jailed and put under for no more reason than
Politics.
This will only get worse and more vitriolic,
especially holding press conferences at the scene of the "so called crime"
smells like a lynching.

Price control cannot control inflation, nor the overall costs of running a business.
First costs increase, shipping, port fees, Customs processing fees, trucking fees, insurance costs, ground rent, fuel, utilities, and on top of all these (and more) salaries must eventualy increase also.
What this Government is doing with VAT will also drive up costs.
Cause and effect.

EJ better go try find the law that deals with "Price gouging"
While certain items are "profit controlled" under Price control, he has no jurisdiction beyond that.
Margins and markups on everything else is costs and market controlled.
Seems to me like a bit of political targeting, being that Mr. Roberts has been quite outspoken.
PLP nor the FNM like that very much.

Would someone in a position of authority (Minister of Finance, WAKE UP !!)
and clarify or explain the VAT on Fuel situation?
Also, can someone recall what the fuel barrel price was when the fuel surcharge was instituted,
as if the fuel cost has dropped below that,
fuel surcharging should stop!!

Conspiracies abound,
Where the truth cannot be found.
That a Black man, no matter his nationality
would wear the garb of the most sinister anti black organization in the U.S.
Is beyond any sense aside lunacy or insanity.
It is indicative of how far we have sunk in regards to self respect and societal decency.
That our political class has led us to this point is the most glaring point to be regarded.
And somehow, we are satisfied to make this all about Fred?
We are in for a very harsh reality check, sooner than later it appears if this is the norm.

Does no one remember "witch hunts"
Repeating history by attacking anyone and everything
EXCEPT the real culprits.
Remember how many innocents were burned at the stake?
For all our xenophobia about Haitians,
we sure are in a hurry to emulate their national path and end result!

What Don Brash probably does not appreciate is the standard level of incompetence in Government,
and the general lack of record keeping and cost accounting in the Bahamas.
Considering that Sale tax in the U.S. is not labeled at all, but all Bahamians know it is there and accept it, the same should hold true here,
but for the purposes of Consumer education it should be a separate figure on labels so the consumer can see item by item what the shops price is, and what the Tax adds.
This will save consumer affairs much time in investigating complaints, being able to go directly to the shelf with the complainants receipt, rather than go inspecting company records they cannot understand anyway!
This will also help sales clerks to explain this to consumers, as
consumer ignorance will produce the most complaints.
There is an educational opportunity here the Government either does not care about or cannot fathom, and it is probably both.
The Shops aught to augment their labels to save their staff the grief!
Comply and go beyond what is required.
Government never does, rise above them!

VAT is calculated on the First cost AND Duty on everything at point of import, but ultimately on the retail price.
Duty was calculated on CIF cost but is now on FOB,
so the amount duty is based on has dropped a small amount.
Then the duty rates were dropped also.
Fuel is taxed differently than most goods, but if VAT is on fuel the assumption would be VAT on duty also.
The trick the Government has used to justify VAT on top of duty
is that the duty adds value,
although it is not a manufacturing/production Value added.

One day does not success make.

But of course the Government will shirk responsibility for VAT, and the necessity for VAT,
when have they ever owned up to their incompetence?
Apologized for their mistakes? Stood Corrected?
This is the precise reason they want VAT inclusive, so the real cost to the consumer is not connected directly to them!
Hidden so they can run the gamut of allegations of gouging, price hikes,
none of which Consumer affairs or the VAT unit will be able to correlate,
but once accused, one is forever guilty in the public mind!
Ever seen a Bahamian react to being told the truth when it doesn't Jibe with what they think?