What are these guys on. They must be out of their minds. They have already decimated the middle class now they are sending them into poverty. These assholes need to go and I mean now. we cant wait until 2017,there wont be any country left to govern.

Look, let's get one thing straight. This administration couldn't open a corner street grocery store in ten months far less a mammoth undertaking such as NHI! There is no way that NHI can be implemented successfully by ANY administration without the ground work being properly prepared. This administration is INCAPABLE of successfully introducing NHI within this parliament, far less from the beginning of 2016, and the cabinet knows that to be true. So why do they treat the public like idiots? Why does Perry Gomez stand in the House and spout out such nonsense? Does he not consider his reputation? NHI is a noble cause and something that the country must aspire to BUT serious research must first be undertaken to ensure that it is workable and affordable. It also needs to be implemented against a background of freedom of information and by an administration that can be trusted. The PLP was trusted with delivering the new block at PMH (a block that was on budget and almost ready to open prior to the last election) and look at the abject failure of the government to complete the project and the millions of dollars lost on missing drugs. Can you imagine how much money the country would lose if this administration is allowed to force through NHI without the groundwork being properly prepared? Once again the PLP treats the electorate like fools and many will indeed buy into their nonsense. Mark my words however. NHI will NOT be introduced within this parliament but the PLP WILL dangle the prospect of it as a carrot to sway its reducing band of gullible supporters.

The government is killing this country. Bahamians better wake up because they are going to be taxed into the dark ages and will receive just what they are getting now, NOTHING. We do not receive value for money and any right thinking person knows they are being ripped off by government. There is no value for money. Government better try and sort itself out and start to SERVE the people before they go spouting off about more taxes. Keep pushing and sooner or later the people WILL push back. Perry them are totally out of touch with what the common man is facing, cheaper they slow their roll.

I agree with your assessment of the governments carrot on a stick approach as an election tool,but don't rule out the possibility that they wouldn't try it on as their track record for pissing away other peoples money speaks for itself.And unfortunately, the ones that will buy into it are those indigents that don't have to pay for it, and even more unfortunately there are a lot more of them than the rest of us.
PGC's legacy, you know,the one he's so enamored with,could well be that Prime Minister that masterminded and presided over the destruction of the Bahamian middle class.

an article in the guardian says that nhi is 'COMPULSORY' cwhich includes legal resident, SELF EMPLOYED, UNEMPLOYED.
5.8% OF THE INCOME OF THE UNEMPLOYED IS ZERO.

The foolishness already started, and they say they will take care of undocumented illegals already.

If thgey make this compulsory, they better give me benefits. i have paid prescription drug plan from inception and cannot use it till age 60.

Honestman, they treat the public like idiots because they behave like idiots and accept it, they cannot even gather half a dozen to march against it. Most people will be blackmailed by: "remember your uncle-auntie-mother who died of a heart attack because he did not have health insurance?"

Those in Government, Cabinet, house, opposition, senate could care less about socialism, it will not affect them as they have placed themselves above the law and population.
It is the public that will pay for the failed experiment, just as the public will end up paying the debt.
Amazing how we don't lend tools, cars, houses to family or friends because we know the outcome, (loss/destruction)
but we let these miscreants trade on our assets, productivity and futures.
The private sector better wake up, it is your money they want.
Got your exit strategy figured out?

Those that can are headed for greener pastures. The middle class in this country is getting smaller and smaller. I wonder what they will do when the middle class SLOP worked so hard to create is wiped out along with all the taxes they pay? This government is playing with fire.

Comrades citizen taxpayers, by the close of 2015 we the taxpayers will have funded the present day government provided health care system, half-a-billions dollars. Unfortunately, this PLP are again going to mess up and complicate explaining why National Health insurance (NHI) is not only a good thing but it is a smart , more affordable than not to have it. If you are among the majority who CANNOT afford a visit out your pockets or private health insurance - to the Doctors Hospital, the private family doctor, medical specialists or medical testing lab, please raise your hands in favor of doing away with a broken health care system - already costing billions ...all the rest you lucky people, please don't move?

**......................... OMG How Many More Haitians Are They expecting?! ............................**

5.8 per cent pay roll tax, increase taxes on “luxury items” such as alcohol and tobacco **AND** “double” the ceiling for National Insurance Board contributions?

Why not just implement an income tax instead?

They can't do it ten months, nobody could. My fear is that they will do "something", hit rock bottom, realize the big hold they've dug us into and continue digging. How many people told them carnival needed a two year implementation? Did they listen?

This is a serious shift in how Bahamians look at governance ............ For the first 40 years, we were told that the government would take care of you. Now we are told that we must sacrifice about 20% of our salary for debt, national development, retirement, unemployment, education and healthcare. That is a serious shift in our national mindset. Welcome to the 21st century.

..." Increase taxes on “luxury items” such as alcohol and tobacco" and, wait for it, firearms! Sorry, that was probably in bad taste considering these times.

Alcohol is the one release the poor man has, say luxury, how about we tax silk suits!

Firearms "tax" already tripled!
Legally registered that is. Yep, for 40 years they were looking after us all right,
now we get to pay for it and more!
Income tax is just around the corner anyway, these are just "minor taxes"
to lube the wheels until..........
What we have is our Government joining the Governments of the world in the shift via the IMF, WTO etc in considering the wealth and productivity of their citizens as "theirs"
Theirs to tax, spend and borrow against.
Fine to say you're leaving but, where to?
Anyone else remember the influx of Jamaicans in the 60's?

The government will only succeed in tripling the Obituaries section of this newspaper. Funeral homes will become billion dollar companies!