Some internal control recommendations

1. Stop accepting cash. The temptation for fraud is far too high for most people. Imagine you are a billionaire coming in on your private jet and clear your $50,000 customs bill in cash...wow. That's a lot of temptation for anyone.
2. If you like cash, as it seem you really do. Then deposit all cash in the bank every night as most businesses do. Do not keep cash on the premises. It becomes a target for thieves.
3. Utilize a security monitoring company that will report immediately the loss of video communication to the police. Also, use wireless motoring systems so when the phone line is cut you don't loose all your videos immediately. How is it possible for a massive robbery like this to take place and no body sees anything until the next morning?
4. Install safes in a poured concrete and steel reinforced encasement. As most banks do.
5. Utilize 24 hour live security guards. Most commercial bank buildings have 24 live security
6. Computerize your records so that hand written files are not as critical to your operation

Tax simplification

1. Merge VAT with Customs duties to simplify the customs clearance process
2. Have one single rate of duty on all items. Similar to the one VAT rate (this will stop the perceived abuse of privilege for those fortunate enough to be importing commercial washing machines, aircraft parts, selling locally manufactured paint and large companies getting a windfall on business license reductions...the all for me baby set.
3. Eliminate the business license fee by merging it in the VAT rate and making it a flat rate of $1,000 regardless of the size of the business.
4. Enforce the payment of VAT and customs duties on all large foreign investors. Please stop exempting billionaires from paying taxes. It just looks bad to the poor people in Bain Town who just got their tax free economic zone delayed because the government is "broke"?
5. Please stop charging VAT on Customs duties. It is a double tax on the poor. Is it truly the peoples" time to just get further ripped off by the FNM? I mussy get swing.
6. Please stop changing your customs clearance rules. Mention Bahamas Customs to any US shipper or freight forwarder and they just roll their eyes and tell you "good luck with that".
7. Please allow Bahamian Businessmen to have US Dollar bank accounts in the Bahamas or in Florida to stop them being ripped of by large billionaire Canadian Bank charging draconian FX charge (0.5% which goes to the bank for doing nothing), VAT on the FX charge and nasty wire transfer fees which can be up to 3% of the value of the shipment, and VAT on the wire transfer fee. Once the Canadian banks collect hundreds of millions in profits over the decades from ripping off Bahamians they just dividend the profits out of the country and invest absolutely nothing in staff or technology. Have you been in a Canadian bank recently and waited in line? "Good luck with that".

Ok, let's not add $100 million now. Let's just borrow another $300 million in 6 months. By that time we would have forgotten about the $700 million loan.

Please add another $100 million to the loan to cover the secret Baha Mar deal. That should cover the $100 million the Chinese lent us to pay off the redundant employees and Bahamian contractors.

Reduced taxes on commercial washers and dryers, reduced taxes on aircraft part and reduced business license fee....all for the rich.

Anything for the poor? No University of the Bahamas free education. No Bain Town tax free zone. No VAT exemption on bread basket items. No nuttin for over the hill that just voted the PLP out.

Great points Sheeprunner12. But nothing will happen. Have you heard? The government is broke both financially and intellectually? The are just rehashing the same old PLP idea and then do nothing.

I agree 100%. I have been trying to get a D 8 Tractor to clear land for me to build a retirement house on Long Island. Unfortunately, can you believe there is only one D 8 on the island? That tractor can pick, choose and refuse who they want to work for and select the price they charge.

There has been complete silence from the FNM since coming to power. You can't even see the MP. The Deadman's Cay airport is a one room house and can't handle international airlift as it can't meet international standards.

But the FNM will forget about Long Island, like the PLP did, and the previous FNM administration before them.

Spoitier. You can't have solar or alternative energy sources in the Bahamas because there is no enabling legislation. Essential a protection of the energy import monopoly which finances the PLP and FNM.

D’Aguilar is talking absolute nonsense. The hotel is only 25% open, if that, being financed by the Bahamian people (via $27 million in budget transfers and vat, customs, casino tax and other exceptions). The hotel will never open fully, the hotel has no owner, the hotel only has last centuries products (rooms, beach and casino) - no entertainment or theme park and a very tainted brand.

Why doesn't this FNM get to work and stop talking. Why have they not disclosed the Baha Mar agreements made with the Chinese? What happened to Campaign finance reform? What happened to transparency in government? Where are the results of the forensic audits (or will these take forever and nothing is done with the reports as usual)? What happened to over the hill (poor area) tax breaks? The only tax break i see is on commercial washers and dryers. what happened to the removal of VAT on bread basket items? What happened to the removal of tuition at the University of the Bahamas?

Please FNM's just shut up, stop complaining and get to work. To me us seem just like the PLP all talk.

Yes, stop complaining about the PLP and fix NHI. I'm tired of hearing the FNM complain about the bills, the dump, NHI, NI, Baha Mar, the debt, etc. etc. Just shut up and get to work.

you have to be joking...you can't have world class data centers with unreliable, costly non renewable power with the slowest internet connections. Illiterate work force .