Now there is a dirty word, "nationalization"
Criminal prosecution would be a legitimate pursuit
of assets or money stolen from the treasury.

I agree SP,
while H.A.I. did represent a new era in Bahamian politics and Governance,
it quickly turned to crap for most, save a select few.
Funny, sounds like the PLP!
Today, he is no doubt doing more harm than good manipulating things behind the scenes.
True, he should be remembered for what he did accomplish,
and also for his character flaws and vindictive nature.
In the balance of things,
we really ned to do better!

OK, here we go, "waiving" obligations to pay taxes so they can collect more taxes!
Watch out, here comes Jones and co!
and all the others who have ducked out on license and business fees for years or even decades.
As for "arrangements" for getting paid, even the court system for that doesn't work,
Judge says pay the man, the defaulter laughs and walks away!
Start all over.
Incompetence personified.

Nut job.
So you're only gonna pay rent and power for the 3 days a week?
Insurance?
All your overheads except labor (which will be part time I assume, no benefits)
are year around.
As to absorbing VAT, you gross more than $100K you must register!
and you must show it on the receipt.
Your prices will cover your costs,or you will go bye bye again!

The Businesses hit hardest over the last 20 years are those who DO pay N.I.B. in full, power bills are current, insurance, rent, payroll, insurances, and vendors all paid in full.
And they pay full duty freight and shipping on imports.
Because they are honorable in their personal and business conduct,
they cannot compete!
Those are the companies that the Government wants to eliminate?
We are so Bass Ackwards......

But Mr. Morley, this is exactly what VAT is for, to uncover the fudged Bahamian way of doing business, not all i must stress, but most, their books are their own, their profits are theirs, their losses kept private, their costs evaded.
VAT is designed to give the Government and its creditors the view of assets, profits and markups that they have never had!
I do believe the Government is in for a nasty surprise, as the honest business operations could only be barley profitable in this economic environment.
In all the VAT examples Government has given, their assumptions showed 20% then 50% markup, an impossible insolvent scenario.
80 to 100% markup would be the norm, and even higher!

For the last 40 plus years the Government has always had an adequate stick to wield against unlawful behavior and non payment of taxes and fees, duties.
But instead of learning how to apply that stick,
they have opted to gain a bigger and bigger stick instead of learning how to administer with the one they have.
Welcome to the police state, where the Authorities persecute, prosecute and destroy at will all those who do not comply, not just with the law,but with their personal whim and demand.
Each will have their own little power play, dept. by department.
The days are coming when looking a Government minister/dept. head in the eye will get you jailed!
A well worn path the world over.
Government justify this progression which is caused by their own inability to govern under rule of law.
So they will govern by force.

The real question is,
Who is she being groomed by?
Personality is needed to be the tribal leader elect,
but it takes money, and plenty of it.
A freedom of information Act especially as it concerns Election finances
might just show us who has been buying our elections and for how much.
What is the going price for a soul anyway these days?

The Ignorance swilling around here is astounding,
Firstly, The Haitian people revolted for their independence, and were made to pay the french for it.
A price they met in full, and in doing so depleted and destroyed their own country.
Bahamians didn't fight for anything, it was given to them for free,
irrespective of what garbage is being fed in schools.
Therefore the destruction of the Bahamas, islands culture and society
could only be considered voluntary and irresponsible.
At least the Haitians had a purpose.
The national debt is ours, we own it, we pissed money away in our new found "Sovereign nation" which we were given but we did not take the responsibility that goes with it.
The IMF who lent us the money now want responsibility from us.
Targeting the Haitians is a side show at best,
and a serious indictment of our xenophobia and sense of entitlement.

Start first by getting Bahamians to obey the law!
That includes politicians!
It is Bahamians who have enjoyed the Haitian labor, Work ethic,
It is Bahamians who rubber stamp or sell work permits.
It is Bahamians who shun Haitians, abuse them, prevent them from integrating.
It is Bahamians who are xenophobic at large!
For the U.S. Democratic representative,
it is Bahamians who spend over 2 billion a year in Florida!
A boycott can work both ways.......