Dear Editor,
The executive council of the National Republican Alliance (ARENA) held its monthly meeting last evening (April 3, 2014) at our central offices located at East Street and Andros Avenue.
There were several items on the agenda, inclusive of: web shop regulation and taxation; crime and punishment; the performance of the PLP and, of course, our political support for generational leadership changes in the PLP at the appropriate juncture.
ARENA fully supports the regulation and taxation of web shops. We agreed to urge the government and parliamentarians to impose a minimum annual taxation rate of 30 percent on the gross revenues. An annual license should be issued to the five major operators for $5 million each. If they wish, they can open or franchise as many outlets as the market will sustain at $250,000 each per annum.
Strict vetting must be done along with criminal background checks for all proposed operators. No one should be allowed to hide behind 'the corporate veil'. An insurance bond, to ensure performance, should also be required in the amount of $10 million minimum per operator.
ARENA also demands transparency and strict adherence to ethical standards by parliamentarians and the government on this issue. There should be no allegations of 'payola' or pay to play.
The police are doing an excellent job crime-wise. The problem, if there is one, would appear to be the revolving door system created by the granting of bail. Crime, contrary to what the 'lost in space' leader of the FNM is postulating, is not 'smothering' the nation. Yes, there are issues of concern here in New Providence but, overall, the Family Islands retain their innocent status.
The FNM and the out of touch DNA are merely posturing for brownie points and talking out of their co-jointed heads. Minnis has pretensions of becoming PM one day. McCartney, apparently, is delusional from a political point. Will he still be 'leader' of the DNA come 2017? When are they going to hold a national conclave or convention?
ARENA stands fully behind the eventual ascendency of the Hon. Philip 'Brave' Davis (PLP-Cat Island), the DPM and minister of works, to the leadership of the PLP. Either the Hon. Shane Gibson (PLP-Golden Gates), minister of labor, or the Hon. Michael Halkitis (PLP-Golden Isles), minister of state for finance, would make an ideal deputy leader of the PLP.
ARENA will canvas assiduously for the election of Brave as leader of the PLP when it is time for the current leader to step down or aside. We will take 'no prisoners' and we shall not be distracted. All who come up against us, so long as they are of flesh and blood, will be defeated in the political arena.
- Godfrey Collie
ARENA Secretary General
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