WTO and VAT are causing allot of uncertainty for Bahamian business and uncertainty in the private sector is a bigger job/economy killer than the taxes or policies themselves.
"cannot - in many instances - treat local businesses and investors more favourably than foreign-owned ones." Then why have citizenship and a country if my government cannot offer me advantage in my own country? Talk about discrimination is when a toaster can cross a border easier than a person can with less paperwork. Our government is rushing headlong into this thing and yes we have the longest accession process in history but, no one in government has really been working on this all that time. Now they want to take us from the guppie pond and throw us into the shark tank when it is the government who is the biggest hindrance to Bahamian business. They have failed miserably over the years to even supply proper basic infrastructure like roads, reliable water, electricity, and phones/internet. Proper efficient basic government services and now they want to rush head long into throwing the Bahamian economy into the shark tank when they still have not corrected their deficiencies and expect us to survive. These people got jokes. The WTO is designed for the big boys and big corporations to skirt the authority of sovereign governments. The drum beat about this being a rules based trading system is a farce. One has to only look at the US, China, and EU right now who are doing what they want. The big boys make and break the rules as they like.
This does not apply to the Bahamas. I am above average computer literate person. I can do networking, basic programing, web page building, build computers from scratch etc. I also have been waiting 8 years for RBC to setup my online banking (I finally close my account). I have also been waiting for 6 years to be able to log into my online BTC account to pay my bill. I gave up trying to get either of them to work. As for where I work I have been waiting 3 years for a credit card machine from FCIB. It also took 2 months to have online banking setup. I also have been using a sim card for internet for over a year since BTC cannot fix my DSL line. So this mantra about everyone should be online and digital in this country is a joke.
Do not fear! We are going digital with digital banking, digital id cards, digital everything! We just cant keep the water on perfected over 2000 years ago, cant deliver a paper letter been going on for thousands of years, cant keep the phones working just over 130 years and electricity. BUT We going digital with a government still working on a paper and cash base system holding the private sector back. Cant take checks, credit cards, or most anything else. What a joke this all it. The Bahamas mail service should be shut down. It is a totally useless service costing us a ton of money for nothing. Just outsource it to a private company.
How much is this going to cost? How many new people will need to be hired? Nothing should be happening that is growing the size of the government in this country. They cannot even keep the printers running for driver license. How will this system be stable? Why cannot the new NIB cards/numbers with the chip in them be used instead of something completely new? I am sure they were not cheap.
Easy to tell other people what to do with their wallet. There will no doubt be a slow down in economic activity after July 1st. This combined with the already slow season in September and October due to minimal tourist business will lead any prudent business person to be cautious and cut back more than normal. Most businesses that keep employees on during this time are just subsidizing their workers. For my business l am planning a 15 percent decrease in sales below normal in September and October. So the private sector worker suffers while the public service go on as normal wearing the emperor's new clothes.
bcitizen says...
WTO and VAT are causing allot of uncertainty for Bahamian business and uncertainty in the private sector is a bigger job/economy killer than the taxes or policies themselves.
On VAT hike sparks 10% sales slump
Posted 19 July 2018, 9:36 a.m. Suggest removal
bcitizen says...
"cannot - in many instances - treat local businesses and investors more favourably than foreign-owned ones." Then why have citizenship and a country if my government cannot offer me advantage in my own country? Talk about discrimination is when a toaster can cross a border easier than a person can with less paperwork. Our government is rushing headlong into this thing and yes we have the longest accession process in history but, no one in government has really been working on this all that time. Now they want to take us from the guppie pond and throw us into the shark tank when it is the government who is the biggest hindrance to Bahamian business. They have failed miserably over the years to even supply proper basic infrastructure like roads, reliable water, electricity, and phones/internet. Proper efficient basic government services and now they want to rush head long into throwing the Bahamian economy into the shark tank when they still have not corrected their deficiencies and expect us to survive. These people got jokes.
The WTO is designed for the big boys and big corporations to skirt the authority of sovereign governments. The drum beat about this being a rules based trading system is a farce. One has to only look at the US, China, and EU right now who are doing what they want. The big boys make and break the rules as they like.
On Private sector warned: 'pay attention to WTO'
Posted 14 July 2018, 8:25 a.m. Suggest removal
bcitizen says...
This does not apply to the Bahamas. I am above average computer literate person. I can do networking, basic programing, web page building, build computers from scratch etc. I also have been waiting 8 years for RBC to setup my online banking (I finally close my account). I have also been waiting for 6 years to be able to log into my online BTC account to pay my bill. I gave up trying to get either of them to work. As for where I work I have been waiting 3 years for a credit card machine from FCIB. It also took 2 months to have online banking setup. I also have been using a sim card for internet for over a year since BTC cannot fix my DSL line. So this mantra about everyone should be online and digital in this country is a joke.
On Post Office collapse 'killing our economy'
Posted 7 July 2018, 7:45 a.m. Suggest removal
bcitizen says...
Exactly banker. This is not some new found technology we are trying to perfect.
On Post Office collapse 'killing our economy'
Posted 6 July 2018, 12:08 p.m. Suggest removal
bcitizen says...
Do not fear! We are going digital with digital banking, digital id cards, digital everything! We just cant keep the water on perfected over 2000 years ago, cant deliver a paper letter been going on for thousands of years, cant keep the phones working just over 130 years and electricity. BUT We going digital with a government still working on a paper and cash base system holding the private sector back. Cant take checks, credit cards, or most anything else. What a joke this all it. The Bahamas mail service should be shut down. It is a totally useless service costing us a ton of money for nothing. Just outsource it to a private company.
On Post Office collapse 'killing our economy'
Posted 6 July 2018, 10:38 a.m. Suggest removal
bcitizen says...
That is what I am hoping for as well.
On 'Put brakes on WTO accession', Govt told
Posted 29 June 2018, 4:20 p.m. Suggest removal
bcitizen says...
How much is this going to cost? How many new people will need to be hired? Nothing should be happening that is growing the size of the government in this country. They cannot even keep the printers running for driver license. How will this system be stable? Why cannot the new NIB cards/numbers with the chip in them be used instead of something completely new? I am sure they were not cheap.
On Government wants single digital ID for Bahamians
Posted 29 June 2018, 1:52 p.m. Suggest removal
bcitizen says...
The private sector will suffer while the public sector get to keep wearing the emperor's new clothes.
On Budget's sacrifices can't be 'one-sided'
Posted 27 June 2018, 9:28 a.m. Suggest removal
bcitizen says...
Easy to tell other people what to do with their wallet. There will no doubt be a slow down in economic activity after July 1st. This combined with the already slow season in September and October due to minimal tourist business will lead any prudent business person to be cautious and cut back more than normal. Most businesses that keep employees on during this time are just subsidizing their workers. For my business l am planning a 15 percent decrease in sales below normal in September and October. So the private sector worker suffers while the public service go on as normal wearing the emperor's new clothes.
On Small businesses urged: Delay lay-offs to October
Posted 26 June 2018, 8:51 p.m. Suggest removal
bcitizen says...
If VAT increase was not bad enough. This is just insane.
On Tax change threat to Out Islands' 'survival'
Posted 21 June 2018, 7:10 p.m. Suggest removal