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