(LOL) We are on the same page for sure. The project is a Public Private Partnership and the Chamber is a partner - actually the Executing Agent. The sales figures are definitely not ambitious, we did our work. The project has to happen - and for it to really resonate, all key constituents have to be engaged. The concept and proposal was innovative and intriguing and all egos, agendas, etc. have to be subordinated. Many, many artisans and Bahamians are suffering. We need to engage you as well - your mind is racing - our value proposition embodies green products (sisal, top, etc), disenfranchised persons, single mothers, et al. I/ we can assure you - we covered many many bases - hence it had everyone salivating. We need to close as a country - the project was sold as and is a 'national initiative. Great minds do think alike....
Not at all - Absolutely no wastage!! Project is a capacity building one that involved conducting a survey, interviewing artisans around the country, hosting workshops (representatives from various islands), marketing, research, developing business plans, and the whole nine yards. In fact - there was a tremendous amount of in-kind work/ efforts, from Bahamians who understand the value of what was being developed. I was not calling for a $800k budget or anything close - the point being made was that even with a shoe-string budget, this initiative has the potential of generating millions and millions of monies for Bahamians. Low risk high reward. Bahamians need to celebrate Bahamians more - we can and do compete favourably - just need more 'right thinking heads' involved in all national discussions. I welcome input and am always looking to meet nationalistic thinking persons
I don't like the implications of this. There are (reportedly) 24,000 government employees who double dip and I do mean 'double dipping'. Our NIB insurance is intended to supplement/ mitigate against employers having to pay employees - that's why employers pay 5.8%. It is also intended to support or provide a hedge for employees who are sick, when (legitimate) deductions are made for sick leave.
If the ruling is to allow 'double dipping', then the question has to be what about the 50,000 private employees (not counting the 40,000 unemployed) who have been receiving reduced pay from their employers from inception? Is this the precedent we wish to establish? What are the implications for private sector employers? What do we now tell the private sector workers, who have been forced to apply for the NIB benefit to compensate for the deduction.
In other words, those of us in the private sector, who are basically paying the public servants, have to stand around and accept that we can only expect to (correctly) receive 100% pay while our public-sector counterparts 'double dip'.
Where is the equity? With this newly established precedent at hand, can we seek and claim our retroactive 'double-dipping' benefits?
I love my country and my fellow Bahamians to death but we cannot afford to allow greed and selfish inequitable behavior to continue to hold us hostage. We have a country to build and a hurting economy to sustain.
dondem23 says...
(LOL) We are on the same page for sure. The project is a Public Private Partnership and the Chamber is a partner - actually the Executing Agent. The sales figures are definitely not ambitious, we did our work. The project has to happen - and for it to really resonate, all key constituents have to be engaged. The concept and proposal was innovative and intriguing and all egos, agendas, etc. have to be subordinated. Many, many artisans and Bahamians are suffering. We need to engage you as well - your mind is racing - our value proposition embodies green products (sisal, top, etc), disenfranchised persons, single mothers, et al. I/ we can assure you - we covered many many bases - hence it had everyone salivating. We need to close as a country - the project was sold as and is a 'national initiative. Great minds do think alike....
On Project to unlock handicraft sector being squandered
Posted 21 April 2015, 3:21 p.m. Suggest removal
dondem23 says...
Not at all - Absolutely no wastage!! Project is a capacity building one that involved conducting a survey, interviewing artisans around the country, hosting workshops (representatives from various islands), marketing, research, developing business plans, and the whole nine yards. In fact - there was a tremendous amount of in-kind work/ efforts, from Bahamians who understand the value of what was being developed. I was not calling for a $800k budget or anything close - the point being made was that even with a shoe-string budget, this initiative has the potential of generating millions and millions of monies for Bahamians. Low risk high reward. Bahamians need to celebrate Bahamians more - we can and do compete favourably - just need more 'right thinking heads' involved in all national discussions. I welcome input and am always looking to meet nationalistic thinking persons
On Project to unlock handicraft sector being squandered
Posted 21 April 2015, 9:49 a.m. Suggest removal
dondem23 says...
I don't like the implications of this. There are (reportedly) 24,000 government employees who double dip and I do mean 'double dipping'. Our NIB insurance is intended to supplement/ mitigate against employers having to pay employees - that's why employers pay 5.8%. It is also intended to support or provide a hedge for employees who are sick, when (legitimate) deductions are made for sick leave.
If the ruling is to allow 'double dipping', then the question has to be what about the 50,000 private employees (not counting the 40,000 unemployed) who have been receiving reduced pay from their employers from inception? Is this the precedent we wish to establish? What are the implications for private sector employers? What do we now tell the private sector workers, who have been forced to apply for the NIB benefit to compensate for the deduction.
In other words, those of us in the private sector, who are basically paying the public servants, have to stand around and accept that we can only expect to (correctly) receive 100% pay while our public-sector counterparts 'double dip'.
Where is the equity? With this newly established precedent at hand, can we seek and claim our retroactive 'double-dipping' benefits?
I love my country and my fellow Bahamians to death but we cannot afford to allow greed and selfish inequitable behavior to continue to hold us hostage. We have a country to build and a hurting economy to sustain.
**
On Government approves BEC double dipping
Posted 27 November 2013, 4:05 p.m. Suggest removal