The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune,

Happy 50th Bahamas, we have so much to be thankful for since gaining our “sovereignty”, some of which are, but not limited to:

1. Potholes the size of blue holes.

2. Telecommunication systems less advanced and reliable than rotary dial.

3. Power that stays on for six contiguous minutes and yet charges the highest rate on the planet (by 50+%).

4. Consecutive governments that have trampled, demeaned and sold the Bahamian people out to wealthy elites.

5. An administration who on their first day in office lowered VAT (12% to 10%) on multi-million homes for the wealthy.

6. An administration that has thrust 41 pieces of legislation, most of which is to tax the Bahamian people into permanent poverty and bankruptcy, while providing all but amnesty for their crony and wealthy elites.

7. Traffic lights so advanced, Red, Yellow and Green are apparently no longer needed. Just guess when you approach the intersection.

8. An alleged parasitic Bolshevik in the Ministry of Finance so hell bent on screwing, eliminating and taxing any quality of life for the average Bahamian. I’m told firsthand this character makes Joseph Stalin and Mao Zedong blush.

9. Consecutive administrations taking your money, (yes, money the people and businesses paid into) out of NIB only to now cry broke and now going to milk you for another 5% for an insolvent fund.

10. Alleged government corruption so rampant it makes a certain neighbouring leader look like Mother Teresa.

11. A government that travels more than Delta. He’s known as Traveling Gnome (with our money by the way).

12. Hundreds of a young population who in my 30 years of asking the question and can’t give the correct answer of “what’s 20% of $100.00”? Only two to date have been correct. Fine Government Ivy League education.

13. Consecutive governments taking property from Bahamians only to gift it to international mega conglomerates.

14. Managing to get a woman has a Bahamian mother, Bahamian husband(s), Bahamian children, 100% Bahamian employees, yet her Bahamian citizenship took 55 (half a century) years! This after constant applications to immigration!

15. Bahamas Government continually allowing financial institutions to charge some of the highest fees in the entire world, completely screwing Bahamians yet again and yet refuses to take cash thereby making our monthly fees even higher to the greedy banks.

16. Crime that makes the streets of Chicago look like Main Street in the Magic Kingdom.

17. Implementing systems at customs and road and traffic causing complete chaos and disaster. However, it’s interesting if anyone at the Ministry of Finance might have interests in the expensive software being coerced on small businesses. It is now obvious it is the intention of government to eliminate small business in the Bahamas.

18. A government that has sold out our sovereignty to the WEF and new world order motto “you will own nothing, eat nothing, drive nothing and be happy”. Pindling would have never considered such betrayal on the Bahamian people.

19. A government that allows our marine resources to be stripped by international charters.

20. Forcing Bahamians out of their homes with insane, unrealistic property tax assessments to the point where Karl Marx is embarrassed.

21. Eliminating the $500,000 threshold for first time Bahamian home buyers in relation to VAT.

We could go on and on until we have 50 reasons to be thankful on our 50th year, however the Ministry would find a way to tax us on it.

Happy 50th Bahamas. Let’s enjoy, celebrate and bring in the New Day!

CHRISTOPHER ARMALY

Nassau,

July 20, 2023.