Ask around OJ. Ask the supermarkets, the hardware stores , the real estate people, the banks, the tourist shops, the hotels, the gas stations, the restaurants, the wholesalers, and local farmers and fisherman if they were busier during AC or now.

What do you think OJ?

Question, OJ. Why did the PLP Government not abolish slavery between 1998 and 2012?

The increase is 5 WEEKS, not 5 days.

5 weeks wages for a retail worker is about $4,000 per employee. In addition to that $4,000 expense, someone has to pick up the slack at work. Does the PLP Government expect me and someone else to work 16 hours a day instead of 12 or is my boss expected to lay out an additional $4,000 for part time help, bringing the burden on the employer to $8,000 per employee? Which course to you suggest? And what about my Christmas bonus? Is that going to be what pays for all this additional expense?

Do you remember the last time that someone was one BA flight or any other airline for that matter, when the flight was cancelled because tge staff just decided to stop working because of a “meeting”. No? I didn’t think so.

I also see that someone is saying it is a “measly 5 days” and I can almost bet that this person does not own their own business. Everyone has all the suggestions on how it can work but do you actually own your own business. You might see it in a different light when you are on the other side of the fence.

And lets just put it out there that not all small businesses are retail. Alot of us did not benefit from a break for 3 years.

Let me explain something to you about your delusional belief that the taxpayers carried the burden while government offered their tax relief plan! Retailers must pay all sorts of taxes and fees to government just for the “priveledge” of of being in business! They pay import duty which is 25% before they ever sell them and even if they don’t sell. Government gets our money BEFORE we ever make a penny! Businesses alsso pay wharfage, customs clearance fees, THF fees, payroll tax, pensions, wages, sick days etc whether or not those goods ever sell. And if a business makes money – they tax extra on dividends too!

If you believe that they are doing us a favour by giving us “tax relief” just know that we pay a ton of money out to government well before we sell anything! Remember this GOVERNMENT gets its money from taxing and taking from businesses, not the other way around. Just because they took less for a short period should make anyone cheek. They had to lower taxes because their policies drove people away and ruined the f’n economy! Takes were raised by this same government because they needed us to pay for all that they were wasting! What do we have to show for the billions spent So if you want to cheer for them, go right ahead but don’t you dare suggest that they are doing us any favours by taking less! Perhaps they wouldn’t need to take as much if they didn’t waste so much!

Retailers shouldn’t be complaining if government decides to enact (long overdue) benefits for workers, especially considering how the taxpayers were subsidizing the retailers for quite some time with the retail tax relief plan. Government has to work for BOTH sides (employers and employees). Also, retailers aren’t going to receive ANY sympathy from the public considering how retailers have been riping off shoppers for years. Even with the business costs you mentioned above, a 300% mark-up on goods is simply not justified.

Want to increase mat leave, why don’t YOU foot the bill?!?!?! Companies are sinking on a regular basis and the PLP thinks it’s a great idea to increase the overhead further. On top of the dividend tax.

The gov has NO CLUE how to run an economy or even a simple business.

We are doomed. Wake up Bermuda. This gov has NO CLUE!!

Because of the way you look ! You ought to know that by now .

Retailers are struggling to compete against the Amazon’s of the world that have an advantage on ALL costs and shipping because of their sheet volume. Why government continues to knock us while we are down is confusing to me. They raised foreign currency exchange, raised payroll tax, health insurance, tax dividends and now this! All at a time when retail sales continue to decline.

Meanwhile local charities, sports teams, schools, events and organizations are looking for donations, prizes and sponsorship more than ever before. I don’t see Amazon or other etailers doing anything for Bermudians! Why are local retailers paying the same import duty as the individual that purchases from Amazon etc! The companies have a huge advantage when it comes to costs and don’t have to pay payroll tax, company registration fees, liability insurance, health insurance, TCD, corporation taxes, refuse dumping fees at tunes bay, vacation pay, sick days, holiday pay, pension, and so on! They don’t sponsor a single even or team. They give nothing back to the community and don’t have to play by the same rules. Why PLP are you kicking us while we are down!