Crime in GB has been on the rise for some time now. More shootings, more drug related incidents, more human smuggling incidents. We should not conflate "good job" from the Commissioner on that island with "low" numbers when those numbers are clearly on the rise. We should be ringing the alarm bell and asking what is changing and how do we stop GB from becoming Nassau in 20 years... or less.

The pattern I see is that we allow things to happen as they happen then take credit for the great job we've done if the happenings are good (tourism numbers being a great example solely due to our proximity to the US. We cant even be bothered to clean up the mess of Arawak cay, potters cay and junkanoo beach, then we describe chaos and shantyization as expressions of "bahamian" culture).

If on the other hand the happenings are bad, then "everybody" needs to take responsibility. Look at every aspect of the economy, social life, physical infrastructure.... Nassau just "happens", nobody in charge

My point is saying the "rate" is lower gives no information. It's what the rate is applied against that's critical

It's not bs as much as it's just not the right product at this time. When the universe limits in person interaction again, it'll be perfect... but then again, we have debit and credit cards...

"*A higher rate of VAT*"

The rate is meaningless without a comparison of what the rate is being charged against. We pay VAT on everything but the lowest valued food items and we pay VAT on customs duties, VAT on VAT and with JDL, we pay a further tax of 20cents per pound on every single air freight item.

"*despite a taxation system that has “the lowest rates in the Caribbean”*

The "***rate***" is lower but do we really pay less?

Do other caribbean countries compound VAT by charging VAT on VAT and customs duties?

Do other Caribbean countries pay VAT on high valued items like fuel, education, insurance, financial services, property?

Those are the comparisons to be made, not the "*rate*". 17% of 700 and 10% of 7000 are two drastically different fees.

They forgot the first rule in of marketing, "*understand your market*".

I said to someone ~5 years ago, "*cashless*" was wrongheaded. But every single "large" business was dashing to the finish line to announce, "*we're cashless!*". The central bank and govt were going as far as eliminating cheques and having all govt services x-Cash. Then they hit the roadblock. "*People*".

We are not Asia. If this were done there it would be a hit overnight... well have to account for the existing competition. Perhaps in 10-30 years this will be perfect... i.e., essentially another market.

As one lady in the know told the govt's digital transformation project manager at the IDB digital conference in 2019(?), ~"*we're going digital but people can't read. We're going to need to train first*". The project manager was **ticked off**, but... she was right.

A huge sign should have been the dropoff in adoption post covid. covid was the perfect opportunity to show everyone how much better this method was. Persons on NIB assistance, in the thousands, were forced to accept digital payments.

I find govt senior executives "*listen with their eyes*", heard that another conference, from another woman in tech.

The real problem is this has nothing to do with the US.

Somebody tell us they have reasonable evidence that a politician, high ranking, is operating a cocaine empire and using police officers as drug mules. **The house on fire!!**. We shouldnt be sitting around waiting on anybody else to find that person. We should turn the HOA upside down looking for them.

**Failure to lead and root out corruption, worse case scenario, with intention**

"*He also questioned why calls for replacement parts for the fire engines have gone unanswered and highlighted a shortage of manpower at fire stations. “We need more than promises; we need action.*"

I seriously hope the FNM is ready to rectify every single one of these age old issues they're highlighting. I am especially interested in the solution to PMH

Dealing with corruption through overpriced contracts and undeserved contracts will be a big start.

Ain't this the island Commissioner Shanta Knowles was just in charge of?

"*The Bahamian aviation regulator yesterday revealed it will not approve a skydiving excursion provider’s licence to operate due to a police probe into recorded threats he allegedly made to its officials.*"

Tail wagging the dog here. The officials have backed Mr Johnson into a corner, frustrated him to no end, stymied his efforts to move his business forward, likely doing as all bahamian service people do, "*who he tink he is, he een talking to me, he guh wait for dis 'whatever the service item is'*", then when Mr Johnson reacts negatively they say, look what he did to innocent us. Common.

Mr Johnson could also find better ways to express his displeasure.

Unfortunately in this country when you truly have an innovative idea, you are likely way ahead of the mental process of the people who need to approve and their response is predictable. Skydiving operations function world over, what are the precautions in those countries and can we manage/implement the same effectively, this decision cant take years.