The PLP has become trapped by the Super WTO Trade Agreements we (Ingraham/Laing) have signed, (EU-EPA/Carib-Can thereby preventing discriminatory taxation on foreigners via work permit fees, and Property taxation on land undeveloped and in the out islands, where Bahamians do not pay in those circumstances.
Most favored Nation status means the opposite:you cannot play favorites.
Discrimination against foreigners thereby protecting Bahamians is finished, with a timeline established years ago.
Foreign entry (FDI) into entertainment and restaurant investment/operation is but one example, announced budget communication 2010.
The real issue is our Governments lack of competency, lack of information disemination, and lack of business acumen.
Dumb as nails, but large and in charge.
If they had any conscience at all they be rushing out tax arrears disclosures to show that they are not all closet Ishmael's!

The hole itself is not for sale, it is the land adjacent to the blue hole.
however, if the potential buyer is told in the sales pitch that he is buying all he sees including the sea, which is what often happens,
it could be jeopardized.
After all, if those Lyford Cay peeps can add land and fill in/dredge whatever they want......

In reality, we back into almost every challenge we are faced with.
Being the only former British colonies that has not outright failed at self governance, it is now just a matter of time.
Our mere proximity to the U.S. is probably the only thing that has saved us so far.
As to Mr. Halkitis, he cannot be taken seriously, his credibility is shot, his arguments feeble.
He is no doubt the fall guy, poised to have VAT hung around his neck when it fails or paralyses the economy.
He deserves it too.
Quite frankly, if it takes the implementation of VAT to be rid of the PLP,
it may well be worth it!

It is going to take time for the private sector and citizen to get beyond pandering to Government and politicians,
it is all they know, and it is what has worked for them for decades.
Unfortunately, time has run out, and we are still only at the point of a few individuals speaking out.
Consider, the few that are speaking out would have considered it suicide to do so before now.
Most still believe that things will change when Hubert comes back or the FNM find their way with new leadership somehow, and all this will go away.
How wrong they are.
If VAT does not produce the increased revenue they want, (and claim to need)
Income tax will follow, and it will be based on the information gained by VAT reporting requirements.
Note the penalties for non compliance, simply an attempt to prevent the creation of more Ishmael Lightbournes.
All Government Departmentpersonel have, through self preservation, not exercised their abilities to collect revenue, fearing the political backlash.
The Police officers on the street are no different.

Oops.
Harbor pilots are about to find out what a company town is,
and what it will probably mean for them.
I wish them luck, but this ain't Nassau.

On the Price controlled point, these goods are actually Margin controlled, or markup controlled.
You are allowed a % markup on the costs, including freight and duty.
if the costs go up, the price goes up period.
Cortesy of Government, the costs have increased significantly.
All costs of doing business, no matter what the business activity is goes into the price of the goods or service.
Same reason why Doctors and Surgeries, etc cost so much.
The doctor is, over time, recovering the very high debts of Med school.
The general population needs to wake up and realize it is these Politicians and Civil servants riding on them and taking 35%+ of their income, soon to be adding 15% more!
Duty rates should come down concurrently but the Government is trying to ride with both for awhile to boost revenue.
Even the IMF realizes there will be a hit to both Govt revenue and the economy.
Government is not being truthful or admitting this is all their doing.
Borrowing to the hilt with no conscience.
And each administration has been deferring hoping they weren't the one caught holding the bag.
Sorry PLP, your it!

From discrimination on one form to discrimination in another.
But still exempting webs shops.
Damn, they must really contribute plenty money to the political coffers for that kind of immunity!
The need to Protect Bahamians from themselves has become secondary to protecting us from our elected!

Tal, I would love to see you step outside of the redshirt/yellow shirt game you have been trapped into, but suffice to say your talent is wasted.
Our problem seems to be bill avoidance to the point the bill now due is unpayable.
(without serious and de-stabilizing liquidation)
so, where from here?
We have already seen what, 50% debt forgiveness for those who came forth acknowledging past due debt,
no doubt some are holding out for 75% forgiveness, maybe even 100%,
where do we draw the line?
If the idiots in Finance had a clue we could figure our how many years we could go back without undue stress!
First is disclosure, public and private sector.
What do they call it? Gazette?
That's it, we haven't seen one of them in a decade or so,
Gazette the names, lists of overdue.
That'll get the ball rolling!

No Bahamian group would ever be given the opportunity to dream so big,
If Government owned it it wouldn't be capable of fixing a garbage scow!

Firstly, this uncollected tax foolishness is endemic and widespread.
It also shows we are living a fools dream, not paying the proper costs for that which we have, be it business license, duty, property taxes and power & water bills.
Heaping VAT on top of this deplorable situation is lunacy.
This is a Bahamian problem, no matter party affiliation.
In fact, party affiliation is the root of the problem!
Cure this issue, and all the other leakage before implementing yet another uncontrollable noncollectable tax.
Government has got to break with this fools paradise of being the provider of all, and go back to being lawful and consistent, and use the courts!
Also hire foreign property value assessors if it is as it seems, Bahamian assessors cannot be trusted!