The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.

So, PM Davis will not increase the level of NIB Contributions although the experts, the IMO actuaries say NIB must have higher contributions and experts for 10 plus years have been telling Government it is a must..

Lest we forget such a statement of a Prime Minister and Minister of Finance verberated not only here on our 21x7 and our 700 islands and rocks but also in the Board rooms of Moody’s - S&P and the IMF.

Since coming to office the interim Budget showed politics as usual where all common sense said for the coming six-eight months go austere Davis-Cooper team did the opposite... totally unnecessary increase of Civil Service Pensions a good example zero cut back on Capital expending and a lot of talk about collecting the $600 plus million of debt to Government, Auditor General, has too much happened to take the yoke that is burdening the future fiscal financial safety net of our country - sorry little but an assurance of the Minister of Economic Affairs ‘that under his watch devaluation will not happen’. We hope but there are signs and serious signs at the ministry forecasts might have changed especially with the lack of actions and fiscal policy.

The billion-dollar question will Davis-Cooper go after the Tax delinquents? Their buddies, their financial supporters.

Budget in a few weeks....did Davis send a encrypted message No new Taxes or Tax increases by his statement on NIB? If that is his plan, we had better start preparing seriously as resulting from incorrect financial and fiscal policy of the Biden Government we will be hit by 10 -18% inflation - gas now $6.00 plus a gallon in the future could head over $8.00 and 8.00 plus then what? Yes, can BPL absorb cost of fuel - my read says that is contestable as all fuel costs under Fuel surcharge are on the consumers - Law.

Debt everywhere... what is the BTC Pension debt not included in the privatisation by Ingraham no accrual, but is on the books uncovered - how much does Government owe NIB? Auditor General says $600m in arrears of unpaid taxes so Davis-Cooper are simply going to let those issues pass like a cloud in the night crossing the full moon whilst the stray pot-cakes howl?

Yes, at present Tourism is doing exceptionally well, but look at the latest COVID variant and its very high infectious level in the US and Europe - might be only a four-five-day bad flu deal but CDC will quickly raise our COVID level to three-day.

New Day? In certain urban areas of Nassau there is horrific fear of the gun costs rising all around and no relief and no relief in sight - has the New Day syndrome already waned and now might be described differently?

State spending we saw at the opening of the new Parliament the recent HRH Visit nothing left a Camelot atmosphere everything is okay folks believe us.....is it really fool’s hope? Fool’s gold?

J HALL

Nassau,

April 15, 2022.