Just when you thought that you were safe from the ‘assery’ being spouted by the opposition Progressive Liberal Party (PLP), they seem to then ‘double down’ and say to us all; “there is a lot more where that came from.”
In the latest installation of utter rubbish is the Leader of the opposition Philip Brave Davis, who is either a schizophrenic future teller or maybe it is just the power of the ‘obeah hat’, who warns the country of the upcoming taxes to be introduced in the upcoming budget debate to be presented by the governing Free National Movement (FNM).
“PLP warns of budget VAT hike and taxes” – The Tribune
Excerpt from this article; “OFFICIAL Opposition Leader Philip Brave Davis yesterday released projections for the upcoming 2018/2019 budget, predicting an increase in VAT, Customs duties and the introduction of new taxes.
Mr. Davis said country’s economic reality will clash with the Minnis administration’s key policy promises, which he deemed fiscally contradictory and highly irresponsible.
‘It [the Budget] represents a real opportunity to present a growth agenda which this administration is sorely lacking. In its first year, the administration seem more fixated on making alarming statements on the issue of fiscal management and accountability, which damaged the reputation of the country rather than improving the lives of Bahamians.’
He continued: ‘As a result, in the first year in office many of the gains made by the previous administration have evaporated. For example there has been anemic revenue growth notwithstanding the opening of Baha Mar. Revenue for the first nine months is trending on par with actual revenue for the last fiscal year. This is disturbing as the last fiscal year’s revenue was decimated by Hurricane Matthew.”

So Mr. Davis is basically saying that if the Progressive had won the last election and there was no Hurricane Matthew, with the opening of Baha Mar, they would have done wonders with the economy but this all was hinged entirely on the successful opening of Baha Mar, right but first Mr. Davis needs to explain to the rest of the civilized world these ‘gains made by the previous administration [which] have evaporated”
We must ask ourselves, if additional taxes are needed to aid the economy, as the economy has shown signs of improvement; a point which Mr. Davis wishes to downplay, what would have been the case under a Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) government; an administration that never saw a downgraded that they did not like; four economic downgrades in five years but then was Hurricane Matthew, right Opposition Leader?
Surely the leader of the opposition jests with this bold prediction but then when in opposition you have the leisure to say whatever you want, even if it does not resemble the truth or do you?
I would like to take the time to caution the Free National Movement (FNM) government as they get set to present their first true FNM budget; the previous one being mostly what was left behind, to present a through, comprehensive and concise budget, accountability is the key word here as the people are already feeling as if they are carrying too much of the fiscal burden.
One of my main concerns when value-Added Tax (VAT) was introduced was the proper collection of all taxes, so for a rise in customs duties or other taxes; is how does one make sure all other taxes are properly collected when this simple tax; you cannot get your items unless you pay this bill, cannot be properly controlled?

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“Mitchell: D’Aguilar can’t have cake and eat it too” – The Nassau Guardian
Excerpt from this article; “The Free National Movement (FNM) especially Tourism Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar, cannot take credit for the success of Baha Mar, charged Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Chairman Fred Mitchell.
Mitchell’s comments followed the opening of the final phase of the multibillion-dollar Cable Beach resort and comments from D’Aguilar, a former Baha Mar director, admitting that this position has changed on the project.
I have to send this video out to all PLP’s today, to remind them to tell the story of Baha Mar and what the PLP did for Baha Mar.”
Senator Fred Mitchell, Chairman of the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) sent these remarks via a video clip while in Barbados.

First, let me go on record as saying I never understood the saying, “You cannot have your cake and eat it too”, then why have the damn cake have in the first place? But I digress.
I wonder if this story that Chairman Mitchell wants to tell or wants told are the censored versions of events or is he and his party willing to tell the entire, uncensored version, detailing the numerous mistakes made by the previous administration that actually forced this project to a halt for over a year and finally sent into receivership; like he sad and I quote “…..can’t have cake and eat it too.”
Indeed, Senator Mitchell you must take you must take the good with the bad, the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) as a party and a government has the propensity to act as if all that they touched turned into gold and this has never been the case.
What Senator Mitchell must understand is while he claims that Dionisio D’Aguilar ‘cannot have his cake and eat it too’ neither can the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) as it pertains to this project.
Now, as they stand before The Bahamian people to take credit for this project finally reaching fruition; are they willing to also take full responsibility and/or credit for the very reason why this project was stalled, sent into receivership and millions of tax payers money lost in the process.
Will they admit to their incompetence and ineptitude as a government in dealing with this matter or will they simply attempt to have the matter glossed over by time as they fight for the right to brag about this project’s apparent success?
This within itself is nothing more that rank hypocrisy, because as I am willing to give them the credit for this project, I would also like for them to take credit for ALL of it because you cannot claim the good without owning up to the bad; life does not work that way, well not in the real world.
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It would appear that Fred Smith QC always seems to champion the cause of person just outside the laws of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas; whether it be by happenstance or not, as he seeks again to attack the sovereignty of the country.
He did this in the Jean Charles-Rony case wherein my opinion he himself was negligent on his clients behalf as he has not brought his client’s case before the proper authorities and petitioned them in a timely manner to make his client a legal resident; knowing that his client had subverted the very laws which he was then depending on to excuse his illegal acts which he had carried out for over fourteen (14) years.
Now attorney Fred Smith seeks to champion the cause of persons who have built illegally on land which may not even belong to them, again subverting the laws of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas, which all other residents must abide by.

“Smith: Don’t destroy shantytowns” – The Nassau Guardian
Excerpt from this article; “The government should not move to destroy any shantytowns in The Bahamas, human rights activist and attorney Fred Smith said yesterday.
But Opposition Leader Philip Brave Davis said he believes something should be done to rectify the health and safety issue shanty towns face.
The Minnis administration has established the Shanty town Action Task Force (SATF), which seeks to deal with the regularization and eradication of shantytowns throughout The Bahamas.
The government has said it hopes to see ‘results’ from that work by this summer.
But Minister of Labour Dion Foulkes, who heads the task force, said last week that the shantytowns in Abaco won’t be torn down until the end of 2019.
He said the challenge is finding housing for the shantytown residents there.”
As the opposition, Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) sits in the political fence with the comment of “Something must be done” but never seeming to fully commit to this initiative; probably awaiting the direction of the ‘political winds’, they too must realize that just providing potable water and outside toilet facilities would not be sufficient because for all intents and purposes these settlements are illegal and to improve of them would only be to condone illegal behavior, as was done in the Jean Charles-Rony incident.
“Foulkes has stressed that the government will treat the residents as humanly as possible.
Asked his thoughts on this, Smith said, ‘it is impossible to abuse people humanely.
‘This is an abuse, to bulldoze, eradicate, destroy and annihilate communities.
‘Rather than do that, they should bring sanitation, bring building regulations, assist in rehabilitation and help create better and sanity communities, instead of ethnically cleansing them.”
This comment is just as bad or worst as “something should be done”, as it never specifies what should be done and is uses totally irresponsible language such as “ethnically cleansing”, which only serves to gamer support from person that really do not wish to see the problem solved – because there is a problem.
Both parties, the Free National Movement (FNM) and the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) can take credit for creating this problem, as these communities we allowed to grow and fester under both governments; with very little to nothing being done to stop the illegal building of these communities, so first we should begin by viewing them as such; illegal buildings and begin from here as we assess how to treat them and also who actually owns these properties anyway?
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“Brave’S ‘U’ For FNM First Year” – The Tribune

Except from this article; “OPPOSITION Leader Philip Brave Davis yesterday gave the Minnis administration a ‘U’ in his assessment of the government’s performance during its first years at the helm.

Mr. Davis criticized the character of Prime Ministers Dr. Hubert Minnis’ cabinet, telling reporters on the sidelines of a CARICOM forum that the group’s arrogance has prevented them from seeking proper guidance to correct missteps.

He said Dr. Minnis’ appeal on Sunday to his parliament caucus for unity and humility as they marked the anniversary of their first year in government, spoke volumes to the internal workings of the FNM.

“F for failure is being kind, I given them a U,’ Mr. Davis, Progressive Liberal Party leader, said.”

Now hold on “Brave”; “seeking proper guidance to correct missteps” from whom exactly?  Brave are you conceding that your government made no missteps and each and every atrocity committed by the previous Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) government against the people was actually premeditated and intentional?

Then there is the actual issue of your assessment itself; while the economy has began to show signs of recovery; the crime rate has slowed and there are bold new initiatives being launched almost every week, which make the Bahamian people owners of their own communities and country – after one year we have the leader of the opposition, Philip ‘Brave’ Davis making light of it all with his assessment of ‘U’ for the governments performance to date; does his stand for “Utterly amazed”?

Just utterly amazed that this man that he claimed was not fit to govern could come along and do in one years that what he and his colleagues we unable to do after years in power; coming out with only a fleeting memory of once their eyes may have watered to show for their efforts and nothing much more.

Just have to sit back sometime and listen to persons like Brave make such statements such as these and wonder exactly what is he talking about and to whom is he addressing such nonsense.

One day someone will not actually care about Brave’s assessment of something but I do not feel that that day is today.

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“The show goes on” The Nassau Guardian

Excerpt from this article; “Despite the government’s decision to withdraw its support from this year’s Bahamas Carnival, participants, spectators and the event organizers, Polantra Media, are dubbing the three-day series of events a success.

Speaking to The Nassau Guardian at a carnival concert at Clifford Park on Saturday night, Polantra Media President Trevor Davis said carnival demonstrated the organizers were able to match the previous years, when the Christie administration sponsored carnival.

‘With the attendance over the weekend, it defiantly put us in a position to have a bigger attendance next year, but from the international market, because we already started our international marketing’, Davis said.

The Minnis administration announced early in its term that it would not fund carnival.”

In early January it was reported that; “THE Minnis administration aims to completely privatize Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival (BJC) ahead of its 2018 festival, according to Culture Minister Michael Pintard, who [yesterday] stressed no government should be in the business of funding a foreign culture.”

The Bahamas government pulled out of Junkanoo Carnival but rather than scrapping it engaged private entities to take it over, who then re-branded it as “Bahamas Carnival” and by all reports did a very good job at promoting and putting together a new experience not only for Bahamians but for visitors as well; this should have been the plan from its inception, to have a festival that the people owned and were able to make profitable – giving them a stake in their own economy because the pervious Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) administration was unable to do this because while they owned it, they were just unable to make it profitable.

“The inaugural Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival in 2015 cost the Christie administration $12.9 million.

The Bahamas National Festival Commission (BNFC) reported that the 2016 carnival cost $9.8 million, of which $8.1 million was subsidized by the government.

The 2017 carnival report has yet to be released.”

While I have not come to question the figures spent in the past, it is being rumored that the organizers spent under $1 million on this year’s carnival event which just does not seem right, given the money spent on the event in the previous years as we await a report being offered up by the organizers to be made public, something that they are not obligated to do.

So Carnival lives on through the people that have come together to give it life and although many may object to it for various reasons; some on a moral basis others for the same reason that the Culture Minister gave for not funding it; “…no government should be in the business of funding a foreign culture”, a view which I also share; it [Bahamas Carnival] now belongs to the people who have already vowed to make next year’s festival bigger and better.

It is the people’s things; it is the people’s time.

 END

So we awaited for criticism from the official opposition Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) on the white paper tabled in the House of Assembly last week by Prime Minister the Hon. Hubert Minnis to revitalize the inner-city communities and this is what we got.

“Davis concerned web shops, liquor stores won’t get tax breaks” – The Nassau Guardian

Excerpt from this article; “while welcoming any program that revitalizes the inner-city communities, Opposition Leader Philip ‘Brave’ Davis has expressed concern that the white paper on the government’s Over-the-Hill rejuvenation initiative excludes certain businesses from tax exemptions and benefits.

He asserted that these ‘discriminatory practices’ do not sit well with the opposition.”

‘First of all, our position, my position will be, anything to help the inner-city communities is welcomed news,’ said Davis, who noted he was still reviewing the document.”

‘The only thing I am noting off concern to me is whether or not the proposal that has been put [forward] is going to legislate discriminatory practices, as part of an administration, in the context that I think they are excluding some kind of businesses.”

“Once you start doing that, once you allow discrimination in one from, Lord knows where it is going to land”

Say “I think”, Mr. Davis do you really?  Think that is.  Mr. Davis is going to land us where the discriminatory practice of the Gaming Bill that you passed landed us, with a number of ‘number houses’ having to go out of business.

What Mr. Davis fails to appreciate is that the ‘gaming’, liquor and tobacco products are being seen as being subject to an additional tax, called a ‘sin tax’; which would most likely be used to fund government programs such as National Health Insurance (NHI), which was introduced by the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) with no way to fund it, a total lack of planning.

The Opposition Leader seems to highlight the fact his party had and has no economic plan to better the lives of the Bahamian people, as he agitates for a tax break for web-shops and liquor stores.  It is truly a shame that the Hon. Phillip ‘Brave’ Davis, while admitting to not having read the entire plan to redevelop the inner-city communities first thought is that web shops and liquor stores in the inner city communities are being discriminated against.  Then Mr. Davis goes on further to make his case of discrimination by adding, “It was suggested to Davis that web shops and liquor stores are widely considered to have a negative impact in the communities.

“Well, why license then in the community then?’ Mr. Davis asked.

‘If they are harmful are they considering revoking their licenses?’

‘I am just wondering.  If they are saying it is harmful then you don’t leave harm in the way of people do you?’

‘That’s why I am concerned about that.”

The problem of liquor stores ‘popping’ up everywhere has been a problem which has plagued the country for some time but as it relates to the growing prevalence of web shops, one must remind Mr. Davis and his party that they asked the people if they wanted them, the people said ‘no’ but yet he and his government went against the will/voice of the people and legalized them, so when he suggests that the web shops are being discriminated against I would like him to remember that if he and his government had done what they were supposed to have done as government, then we would not have to him at this time pleading a case for getting them tax breaks.

END