While letting the dollar devalue may seem scary. We are paying a price for keeping it on par with the US. It depends on how much the dollar devalues versus the increase of VAT for example. A lower B dollar would make it cheaper for tourists to visit as they get more bang for their buck, chill the desire to import so much and also give local producers and manufactures an advantage or level field versus imported products and make it easier to possibly export helping to achieve the much sought after desire to diversify the economy.

While letting the dollar devalue may seem scary. We are paying a price of keeping it on par with the US. It depends on how much the dollar devalues versus the increase of VAT for example. A lower B dollar would make it cheaper for tourists to visit as they get more bang for their buck and also give local producers and manufactures an advantage or level field versus imported products and make it easier to possibly export helping to achieve the much sought after desire to diversify the economy.

A bonus is a bonus something extra given to a employee when the company has had a good year. It is not a salary or a guaranteed income. If a company has made no profit or lost money like most private companies have in the past few years Christmas bonus have not been given. It is outlandish that BEC losses money and needs tax payer subsidization on top of their already ridiculous prices to even contemplate a Christmas bonus for anyone! No private company would be doing this.

If the dollar declines then imports prices will go up relative to local ones. And the soil problems are all a bunch of excuses people use. Countries that are in the middle of a desert grow stuff. It can be done. Yeah we wont be the bread basket of the world but, for every dollar we can keep here and not ship our reserves out that is one step closer. You can grows lots of vegetables in very little soil. Using pots and coconut bark and there are all kinds of mediums these days to grow things in.

This really says allot about how far down the rabbit hole this country has dug itself. We are just about begging people to lend us money. With the loan payments like this one being pulled out of foreign reserves that are already at sketchy levels. If we do not find a way to start growing more of our own food and cutting down on our imports this is all just unsustainable. Tourism dollar inflows are depressed and then there will be VAT increasing costs for them to come but, VAT is needed to pay back all these loans we are facing. It really is a rock and a hard place we are in.

Go Mr. Miller!

Me too! Mr. Miller has my support.

This public worker double dipping is bothering me allot. The NIB is meant to help sick people while they cannot work as a back up when ill so they are not destitute. If you pay people their full salary and they collect NIB sick pay then they have more incentive to take sick days than to go to work. It is more profitable to call in sick! What logical person (forget morals) would not take advantage of this? If a private company feels like they can afford their employees such a benefit then great. They would also quickly reign in abusive employees. The government being the employer cannot afford this. They are broke! Any private company who was operating in the hole would immediately end such excessive benefits to ensure that the persons job is preserved in the long run. They do not have the option of robbing other people to pay such excess. give all private compaines the ability to tax everyone within 10 miles of their headquarters.

I have seen what is going on in Treasure Cay. I can under some very specific circumstances with the proper environmental controls and impact studies maybe (big maybe) allow the dredge on the creek side. The beach on the other hand and the building of a dock on Treasure Cay beach where no other docks exist is disgusting. This is one of the top 10 most beautiful beaches in the world and the dock is a complete affront, insult, disgrace, piece of sh$t and an eyesore to the entire community and to the Bahamas in general.

I can guarantee you and I am not sure of the number but, if for example they get 1 week sick leave per year they take every single day of it (sick or not) and get paid twice. It is better than vacation! Double pay while your sick. No private company that was hemorrhaging money like BEC would continue this practice. Why not cut this stupid double dip robbery out and give people a bonus if they do not take any sick days over the course of a year or 6 months. I guess we all have to pay VAT now to prop up the bloated over paid double dipping. BEC is breaking this country the cost of electricity/energy is doing more damage to our economy than VAT could ever do. It effects and permeates every business and private person in the country and every sector of the economy. Imagine the economic boost if energy dropped 10-20% tomorrow. Reform at BEC should be the #1 priority of the government it would help or somewhat alleviate every other problem we have except maybe crime.