I am told that books are no longer duty free? I really think that this is sending the wrong message in a time where literacy and education in general are in a severe crisis. Is the gov't trying to make the saying, "if you want to hide something from a Bahamian, put it in a book," come true?

Your thoughts?

I am told that books are no longer duty free? I really think that this is sending the wrong message in a time where literacy and education in general are in a severe crisis. Is the gov't trying to make the saying, "if you want to hide something from a Bahamian, put it in a book," come true?
Your thoughts?

Please say this is not so!

I'm a reader and would be highly upset as I order my books from the US and ship them to my US address via MBE!

VAT!
VAT!

everything is precious to someone's priorities ... while i agree with you that books OUGHT to be duty-free, the fact is we need the minimal income generated under the present (broken) taxation system.

When taxes are lowered in one area, it will be raised in another area to make up for the shortfall. So did people think when duty was slashed on over 150 food items and suspended in BEC feul imports for nation's powergrid from Abaco to Inagua, that it was going to end at that? Did people think the government, any government would just take that loss?

Bahamians read? We do on this site but in general can the government make any money from taxing books? :confused:

It is probably assumed that only the wealthier Bahamians read and therfore can afford to be taxed. What does this mean for schools?

This is just not right, can anyone confirm duty on books because I can find it as yet, (its a really big mess) If you do, can you post the number please..

If the gov has sunk this low, then we might as well go with VAT and just scrap this mess one time.. Look at the feather mess this has caused in Freeport, like they need this!! :realmad:...

In the end I think I would have rather a duty on computers VS Books, give the poor folk half a chance..:dgi:

BTW: I've donated my entire investing & securities collection of books and CD's to the Elizabeth Estates Library, well over $5k I really hope it helps just one person, now could you imagine If I had to pay duty on them. :eek:

What da DEBIL! Whose ideas was this?



How ya ga up da duty on books! Nowomder da chirren dem loosin dey mind and ting and dey parent don buy dem dey textbooks ova tennis !

*Big suck teeth*

Parents purchase text books because the school says so!

When these parents go away to shop, see how many of them try to bring at least one book every trip for their children. Kids nowadays are just not into reading. PARENTS will bring back game boys, hand held games, cell phones, name brand tennis, bikes etc, no matter how high the duty is.

As a matter of fact, most kids will surf the internet to get info instead of sitting to read a book! Books are not on the agenda, that is why no one is complaining.


Parents pay for all those texts books every September and kids will only open them if the teacher says they have to! I have seen books that were never opened, pages still crisp and the children already graduated!