It's strange. It appears as if they're just plugging figures in an Excel sheet and moving numbers around to guesstimate how much they can make. It doesnt have to make sense like charging VAT on customs duties which is neither a good or as service, it's just a rigged up formula to increase the real VAT rate to 15% or so.

There doesnt appear to be any economic analysis going on, just blind and blunt cracking of the whip by the tax man like those period pics where the tax man takes the family goat and chickens if they cant pay the annual levy

"*Securities Commission chief also alleged that, when contacted by herself on November 9, 2022, FTX’s Bahamian attorney, Allyson Maynard-Gibson KC, said she was unaware of the turmoil engulfing the crypto currency exchange despite extensive global media coverage of the liquidity crisis that would lead to its collapse within days.*"

Stretches credulity, but after days of corresponding email, nobody saw Sam's email saying he was going to illegally transfer funds to Bahamain clients so I suppose any ignorance is possible in the Bahamas

**This was the statement from the Ministry last week**

"*The ministry has been advised that there is no extensive pressure on the fuel holding tanks. However, **Ferix and heavy fuel oil have been observed on the water’s surface**. Ferix is a slightly corrosive chemical used for water treatment and fertiliser,” according to the statement.*

"*The public is being advised that measures are being taken to address the incident, which includes the deployment of ocean booms and efforts to seal leaking fuel vents by divers. A skimmer boat is enroute to the site.”*

**This is their statement today:**

*I’ll like to report there is **no oil spill that report is erroneous. The slick on top of the water is residue from the dissolving shipment that they were carrying, which is ferix**, which is non-toxic, it is more like a corrosive,” Mr Pinder told The Tribune.*
"

**I see that Fridays statement didnt mistake Ferix for oil, it specifically referenced ferix AND oil** but who are we, they still deny the high rate of cancer around the oil refineries in Freeport. After Rubis, who knows what other toxins cabinet secrecy hides

I look at it another way. The virus already here and in the US. It travels much faster than our ability to act.

Ok **this is completely ridiculous, the govt estimated that they would earn 2m annually from air flight fees. The FAA earned 80,000 from providing like services. The airlines to date have paid 20m. What is Chester Cooper fighting? Our right to charge exorbitant fees because this our country? Clearly this is far more than they expected to earn and benchmarked against FAA numbers, the fees are at ridiculous and unsupportable levels**. Stop justifying nonsense and search for ways to grow the economy so Bahamian and non Bahamians are freed from these ridiculous and anti-innovative VAT, customs duties and service charges

"*Attempts are being made to get a boom that can go around and skirt the area to try to contain the oil that is leaking.”*

"*“There isn’t enough skirting in the country to contain this spill. I spoke to an official that was over here assessing the spill.*"

Well they "*showed up*". What more do we want? Something that's a complete solution where reality matches what we say we produced?? Thats impossible. Apparently... These guys have other duties and families too. On the bright side the statement put out on Friday about all the work that was being done was well worded and sounded great. Junkanoo to the world...

Oh this the oil spill story, not road traffic, the police, the potholes, minimum wage increase, price control, access to information, nib, digitization....

I heard one of the broadcasters make the comment "*we have to figure out how to make this parade better*". It's not rocket science. Take all the bad, low quality and boring stuff out. Have 2 events, a rush and a "Greatest show".

Hmmm... so I "suppose" you could look at it like that and in some cases you might be right.

I dont think this is one of those cases. He graduated from UWI with distinction in the 80's. This was at a time when finals were on the year as opposed to the semester system, would have been very very difficult and a tremendous feat.

Yes as a young lawyer he worked for Christie Davis & Co as did many lawyers, but he stood above the crowd and was recognized as a hard working talent and made partner at a very young age. Similarly he made chief justice at a very young age. You "could" put it down to nepotism but again I dont think so. He's a brilliant lawyer, he doesn't shirk difficult decisions and whether you agree with them or not, he always provides well reasoned legal opinions based in law for his decisions. Is he Michael Barnett? I dont know. But I dont believe Michael Barnett was Michael Barnett at 50.

As to character, they say you dont swear for anyone, but you would knock me over with a feather if you can show me any evidence of or patterns of unethical behaviour.

In years to come I'm confident our descendants will say of some other legal rising star, "*yeah, but.. he's no Ian Winder*"

Congratulations. Honours recognize people who stand shoulders above the crowd, and while some are clearly political favours this one is well deserved. He's an outstanding individual.

This is odd. Would like to know whether this was an unexpected event or not, for example does the contractor have to remove waste at regular intervals to prevent a backup or was this an anomaly. **In any event it is uanacceptable for the contractor to say they won't be back until Jan-1, this is a health emergency, where is the govt??**

"*still Treasure Cay residents are waiting for relief for their backed-up sewerage system that needs to be pumped multiple times a week so residents can live in moderately sanitary conditions.**

There's the answer, ok, contractor needs to be fired immediately. "Multiple times a week" and they went on vacation without a contingency plan? Get someone else.