They can't get the death penalty anyway - our British Overlords won't allow it. We have to wait until we become an independent country for that.

Why didn't PM Ingraham enhance the Local Govt Act while he was in office ? Everyone knows that in all the family islands and cays, if you don't get you want from the little pipsqueak council people - you just go to Nassau and get ya permit there.

Mr. Ingraham could have taken away their pipsqueak title and made them into genuine council persons with real authority - but I guess he was too busy playing Minister of Finance to be a real PM.

No, they won't edit it because Bahamians never do anything but talk. If the Chamber of Commerce could convince its members to do away with all accounts receivable starting Jan 1st UNTIL the law is changed - that would work. But I'm sure they won't and even if they tried the "members" would not agree because it would mean actually doing something instead of running their mouths.

This is what former Immigration Minister Roker warned us about. But did we listen? No..... Did we put a radar on Inagua to monitor the south seas? No...... Should we be surprised the country is going to ..... ? No......

The Chamber members need to band together (for once!!!!!) as Bahamians and simply DO AWAY with all credit (ie. accounts receivable) between businesses.

Will this cause a problem? You bet.

Will it cause tens of thousands of bank drafts to be sold, thus improve bank profits? You bet.

however, it is the only thing I can think of to do that is legal and that will have a very visible effect.

ACH Building Specialists wants to buy 40 bags of cement from LMQ Hardware???? Then they send a bank draft with their truck driver when he comes to get the bags.

Pain in the neck? Might slow down the economy? You bet. But that's what VAT is.

"Noting that the Bahamian companies would become liable to pay VAT to the Government as soon as the bill or invoice is sent out"

How can she NOTE that???????? Nobody has seen any documentation on VAT.

Instead of getting her NGO people together to lobby for certain exemptions she ought to get them together to lobby for the text of the Act to be released.

No jobs on the streets? You bet. No businesses are expanding right now because they don't know what fees will face them next year.

Also, VAT payable upon mailing out invoices? LOL. That's real funny. Are the banks going to provide the millions of dollars of extra capital need to fund that exercise? The money simply is not there. If you were to take the total of ALL accounts receivables on the books at ALL companies in the Bahamas TODAY and calculate 15% of that - I can assure you there is not that much money circulating among the public right now. So it will have to come from somewhere.

Oh, and you know I have to throw in a word for my favorite pet peeve issue ... I'll bet that baby food and diapers will be completely exempt - even "zero rated" as noted above LOL. Nobody can stand in the way of that freight train.

Now you really trying to get into trouble. These are the "mothers" that give most of the money to the churches. The Christian Council will not like you messing with them.

That's how they win elections every year. Until we change the Constitution so that the Governor General is elected 2 and 1/2 years after each general election - we will be stuck in the water. All this talk about changing so many things in the Constitution is nonsense. The GG is mentioned in numerous places in the Constitution as having to "be consulted" on this and that - the problem is that he is a puppet of the PM. My idea would give the people a chance to "slap the PM" mid-term if he is misbehaving by appointing an opposing GG.

"above a certain altitude". Is there some secret here? Can't the altitude be disclosed? Is it 4000ft? 1500ft? 5000ft? 2500ft? Does anybody know? Is there a journalist employed somewhere in the Bahamas who can find out? Or is it secret information like the contents of the Public Service's "General Orders" of which only a PART is published online or on paper that is accessible by the public?

So do we need to declare war on Cuba? Should we start hanging Cubans in the public square who are found on Bahamian soil? What do we need to do to regain control of the airspace over Andros?

Maybe somebody can explain how the US sits comfortable with such close airspace under the control of Cuba?

But, for us the issue is more direct and should be of grave concern. How can I be 45 years old and just be learning about this? What does this say about our school system? All we learn about in school is Arawaks, Caribs, and Lucayans. Maybe we should be learning more about who owns and controls "our" country? Did we just celebrate Independence a few months back? Are we stupid? I guess ignorant is the more precise term - a lack of knowledge.

This is absolutely ridiculous. This is an issue that warrants Ms. Martin getting thrown out of the House again to stand up and speak out against. She should speak out against this Cuban control of airspace every time she sets foot in the House and don't stop speaking LOUDLY until the Sgt. at Arms physically drags her from the House. Then when her term of being barred from the House expires - do it all over again and again.

She cannot be a Bahamian with the authority and position she has and stand for this.