When since does the fact that there are poor Bahamians out there who cannot afford it ever stopped the Government from taxing our arses off! Get real! It was never about "the poor Bahamian".

NHI is NOT about improving Health Care in this country.

NHI is about a) creating more large government contracts where a small amount of well connected vested interests can profit and b) the PLP trying to desperately to boost its election prospects by offering something to the masses for free.

The implementation of NHI will further discourage the shrinking working class by burdening hard working Bahamians with another unnecessary tax. It WILL cause the credit rating agencies to downgrade Bahamas still further once it is clear that the country really can't afford the scheme at this time.

We should look to introduce a National Lottery the proceeds from which should be used entirely to improve National Health care in this country. But let's have NO MORE taxation on the hard working and honest working class and NO MORE politicians getting rich through hidden side deals at the expense of the public purse. And finally NO MORE administrations that will do and say anything just to stay in power.

For example, the Georgia lottery has funded the pre-k and post high school education for tens of thousands of students to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars per year. The program is so successful that they continue to expand the eligibility requirements for these scholarships so that they are more inclusive. People will continue to buy numbers whether the Christian Council likes or not. Why not make it beneficial for some in our community?

With these guys in charge, to me "death is better than taxes". With them at the helm most of us are dead any-which-ways. Speak for yourself cronies, you don't speak for me.

I have always personally believed that we should implement taxes to improve and maintain infrastructure and to expand our social services capabilities. To propose this level of taxation, plus VAT, with no added benefits for the middle class is indeed sad. Even the people who are accustomed to using health and other services for free won't see the benefit since they are already accustomed to free or the bare minimum. My fear is that soon it will be more beneficial for a person to not work on the books for fear of having their wages "garnished" for services that they may never require.

The US system is currently as such, that if you are not rich, it is more beneficial to be officially poor than to be middle class. Perhaps we need a flat income tax of say 10% that is then proportionately allocated and added to the additional allocated resources of each ministry. This would mean that the government ministries are then tasked with the challenge of meeting their budgets, cutting wasteful spending, and otherwise being held accountable for any shortfalls. For the MOH, this may mean going after some for monies due and writing off others. There just has to be a better way.

There is a better way but it requires the country to identify and enlist leaders who love their country more than they love their bank balance and the trappings of power. Honesty and Transparency is what The Bahamas needs in government. Unfortunately, we have neither.

I agree, but at the same time, the voting populace needs to be properly engaged and not vote for people based on personality and other factors that are irrelevant to the issues that matter. How a politician intends on addressing real and pertinent issues is key to holding them accountable. I believe that even the most sincere politician can be swayed away from their goals, when their voice is constantly silenced and they can easily see the benefit of being onboard with the politicians for profit crew.

The cost of private insurance is brutally high. I am actually prepared to pay a couple of extra dollars so that my family and I could have insurance.

There is a real need for the Bahamian People to do their very best to avoid the causes of high blood and sugar (I can not spell diabeties) It will do much to lower the cost of health care. Even as I know some of these conditions are passed down from generation to generation.

birdiestrachan and I tend not to agree very often, but she makes an excellent point. Our healthcare system should be more about prevention than treating. Thousands of Bahamians are overweight, have high blood pressure, suffer from diabetes and a host of other ailments that, in many cases, can be avoided with eating healthy, exercise and looking after ourselves.

While we all get sick at some time or another, I think more people will get even sicker with yet another tax to pay -- when we are getting so little back in return as it is!