The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.

It is disturbing that seemingly there was a very relaxed policy in the Minnis Administration concerning the basic collection of taxes. The mention by PM Davis that there is a single person a developer who owes $1.4m sends cold shivers down my back... friends can be friends but bills — tax liabilities have to be paid or Government will have to be forced to raise taxes. Hope the tax collection reinforcement group will sweep and act... zero discounts Minister... you owe, you pay others have.

Reading through the PLP Supplementary Budget a serious omission, left out, was a stricter approach on controllable — a basic management must-do. We simply can’t earn in The Bahamas and before the cash has hit your bank account jump on Bahamas-air and head for the Florida Malls — sorry we just can’t continue to do that.

Seen in Letters to Editor estimates of $2-300m tax revenue lost... with VAT added that is a further $20m! Really unless you lie to Customs there is no savings add up all the costs.

Imagine how many new jobs could be created if this new level of purchasing would occur? PM-Minister of Finance you better look at this and soon. 15+K citizens like you and me have been out of work for 24 months.

Another controllable is our love for basically non-financial sports and such events – new stricter criteria should be put in place...unless the event creates a high occupancy in the hotels no sponsorship — you are on your own... surely tourism views coverage of for example the American Football event and sees like us all virtually empty bleachers! The visual alone is very negative.

We are so hip and hype on Junkanoo, but it has to be said... Junkanoo does not attract visitors... without the parade on Boxing Day and New Years the hotels would be full that’s a fact – if 200 visitors attend the parades that’s high – make Junkanoo an attraction then, yes, but right now it isn’t.

Sorry Junkanoo groups, but there has to be financial responsibility as to how Treasury money is spent. Need a facility for year-round parades. I for one support that.

J HUTCHINSON

Nassau,

October 30, 2021.