Seems a good way to move money that the financial institutions with their trained eyes would otherwise block. And the easy transactions would generate more sales be it of legal or illegal kind.
We did ban bearer bonds.

All blame should not be thrown on Mr. Smith who is and has been using the LAW to do his job. If he was doing something illegal the authorities would have charged him like others for breaking the law.

The problem lies with the authorities who in to varying degrees carrying out their jobs over the decades and in some cases it not seem to be doing their jobs.
First with the largest unprecented number of seats 35 yhe govt has a mandate to now overhaul, do forensic audits, surgery into Immigration. Simple look at the job description policies and constitution.
Its common sense that with all the holes in the system that we cannot survive as a sovereign nation with these contrasting policies and 12 million Haitians located some 30 miles from our Southern border.

Excellent baseballs skills in throwing a curve ball that did a pretzel type motion.
VAT was so excellently done that everyone commented on its efficientcy. Most ever monies collected to pay down debt.

IF however past years economy has been sliggish, however governing has increased over the last few years, but many are recently laid off, but salaries are up, funds poured into losing agencies etcetc The Minister cannot say how much has been collected but VAT revenue has been down this quarter.

It is one thing to hear aspiring politicians before elections make some convincing speeches amd when elected it is watered dowm seemingly so because some secretarial speechwriter who has done it for previous politician does not want to contardict what position and perhaps policy they had written in previois speeches.

SP.....comment on finds repatriated is an obvious drain and figures should be 100 million plus from dome 85m many years ago.

What was never looked into was businesses raising the 7.5% to higher amount to cover administratiive costs.
Private associations were trying to raise 5,000 meals, 10,000 meals, donations to the needy etc and the Minister should know what dat means.

Serious consideration should be given to forensic investigations and selling entities like the Bank of the Bahamas requiring injections of some 300 million plus share price falling from some $5.22 to now around .92cents. Govt ownership has lost from share price drop also.
300 million could have been used in Freeport to create thousands of jobs and workers spending and govt to collect VAT.

.....Agreed. Give it a try and if not possible, fire the advisors.
Should not judge by the past when theres some hope and at least people can be fired.

shocking and alarming!!!

After all these change of govts it is progress that audits are done.
Internally in all these govt entities there must be some way that DAILY acvountability for the peoples money is balanced.

While Mr Bastion has been doing a fine job the investigations into the Bank of the Bahamas would mean that he would have to go over the business of a former Auditor General whose Chairmanship has witnesses even a lawsuit regarding the rugualtors the Central Bank.

Not only will the loans defaulted on and put into Resolve need to be investigated but all loans given the high default rate and the long existing challenges. While much attention has been placed on big loans approved and defaulted ALSO other loans need to be investigated to see who were DENIED and who were victimized.

They are trying to survive and will do whatever is also illegal.
This is not entirely their choosing as the hovt is complicit in facilitating this for decades. For instance in apprehending and deporting persons one will read the report ie 27 men and 10 women.
Guess what there a re no children. Hospitals, clinics, school datas ie what is the status of the parents of the children brought to the schools to register the kids are not followed up and investigations done in securing our Sovereign nation and the authorities is moreso guilty for the state of affairs. Forensic investigations need to be carried out in Immigration and all allegations of persons buying papers and getting straight put to rest. Amazing no fraudulent cases have ever been reported it seems in the past 45 years or since independrnce!!!
Amazing all the cars flying Foreign flags all over Nassau whichn is illegal and noone ever caught and charged. Noome it seems ever caught and charged hiring illegals etcetc.

@the MadHatter. No hostility to the good doctor.

Some OTHER persons cant remember the name are flogging investments that offers a 950% return during the morning radio show this week sometime around the news the ad comes on.

At this particular time one has to be wary.

Agreed. Is the good doctor registered and certified to give financial advice??

Tell the govt of the 'theres a lot of fraud by the (applicants.)" These fraud cases must be publictly charged and published. And added to this is the placing ambigeous ads in the papers.

The public has for years been asked to respond the nesspaper citizenship ads and there is no photo of the person many of whom seem to have similar names notwihstanding they have ambigeous addresses like generak areas like Carmichael rdOr sometimes a PO Box number.

Archdeacon Palacious has the potential of making an excellent politician.