Well said.

I agree that the current regressive taxation regime is unfair and therefore unsuitable. But any effort at this point in time to replace it with a progressive income tax regime of the kind found in more developed countries would be like putting dynamite in the hands of young children. For decades now our successive spendthrift governments have demonstrated that they are simply not responsible enough to oversee the implementation and administration of a progressive income tax regime. This is mainly due to the failed two party political system we have been saddled with for the past 25 years or so whereby incompetent imbeciles are typically nominated to run for elected office, and competent, honest and hardworking Bahamians are for most part not inclined to get involved in active politics. Adopting a progressive tax regime without first fixing our failed two party political system would likely trigger 'a flight to safety' of almost all of our country's foreign-owned and domestic-owned financial capital, essentially resulting in the halting of all FDI, the depletion of our foreign currency reserves, and the destruction of the Bahamian dollar over night. Most Bahamians are too young to remember just how bad Jamaicans had it in their country for the longest time, when they could not even buy toilet paper or tooth paste. And now years later Jamaica still bears the terrible economic and social scarring from the hellish ordeal they went through for decades.

For the time being a 10% VAT with no exemptions could work, but only if accompanied by sustained belt tightening aimed at significantly (and painfully) reducing the size of our grossly over-bloated public services sector by as much as one-third or more over the next two to three years at most. Minnis and his cabinet should therefore be working overtime to create an environment conducive to significant private sector job growth. But the 2019/20 budget does vey little if anything to encourage private sector job growth - many would argue it in fact does the opposite.

And of course the scourge of the criminal empires run by the numbers bosses would have to be dealt with, in large part through much higher taxation then even currently proposed and by the establishment of a completely tax-free national lottery initially operated by reputable and seasoned foreign lottery experts from Canada or the U.S.

I agree with 100% of your post.

Ma Comrades, the 91,409 voting in 35 red shirts candidates as MP's red shirts on 10th May 2017 - don't need no handheld electronic “pocket book” showing a highlight whats in their mind's video of Imperial red shirts cabinet's plans move children's education backwards.Their mind's also showcases a newly composed theme song “We the 91,409. Don't Believe a Tear, nor a Word." Apparently, at least two of ministers cabinet colleagues, found enough time their busy days be making calls each other with prosecution of a PLP mindset.... Now, if minister Brent stood to cry - that would be theater.

Lloyd should be more concerned about the 30% graduation rate in public high schools.

Most shockingly, it's now actually less than 20% for Bahamian male students!

YOU HAVE THE WRONG MINISTER FOR THAT BLUNDER. . .IT WAS HARD HEADED JF WHO REFUSED TO LISTEN TO HIS EXPERTS WHEN THEY TOLD HIM AND HIS CRONIES THAT THEIR NATIONAL STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT PROGRAM WILL CAUSE THE "DIP" IN THE GRADUATION RATES. . .

Shame on the former deacon soon to be former member of Parliament. If his mouth
is open he is telling lies. The man does not know right from wrong. Did he spend
7000 to make a useless video.? I hope he used his own money,"

Why is he wasting the ministry money like that when there is so much suffering among
poor black people over the Hill $7000 could have been better spent and he talks about \
miss management. God has left him to himself. to talk utter foolishness and disgrace
himself. Bahamians will loose all respect for him

Should have taken the $7,000 and paid the lunch vendors.

,....Threats.....????

In all fairness how does the Minister of Education not know that the pore Bahamian citizens are the ones who feel threatened ....when dey is cant get dere child in govt school ....cause govt policies is to provide free education to all children of illegal migrants .......aint no matter how many a dem.....even without papers....law abiding Bahamians population following the laws paying building permit paying full rent whichin include vat costs to build apt and VAT goin to pay fer building schools.....and dey living in illegal shanty town polluting causing more money to clean.....how does the Minister think pore Bahamians dont feel threatened...???

An noe after Tribune artivle Monday June 11, 2018 by Denise Maycock '$2.5 bn in VAT income - yet debt went up'
'The government has collected some $2.5bn in value added tax revenue since 2015, according to Finance Minister Peter Turnquest .....former Christie administration of mismanaging the money.'

Pore people ...of all people...will tell you that why make me pay and yinna mismamage what you force me to pay you....an admit ot mismanage...and do notton bout it....an now want me to pay in the nrxt 2018 to 2022.....another $2.5 plus bn.....and on top more money increase VAT by almost double....????....
Time our Prime Minister Roc wid Doc step in and calm tings down. People supports him cause dey knows tings done bad.

Comrade Lloyd somehow decided over the unpaid bills Lunch Vendors that he could spare
lots more than just a penny produce propaganda video for personal viewing entertainment pleasuring other 34 Imperial red shirts MP's. { You don't have makes up how easily Comrade minister was prompted takes Seven Hundred Thousands Pennies, propagandize darnedest things "I Alone does Believe" production video higher priority than paying unpaid
Lunch Vendors }. Man has have American Revolutionary War Cannon sized Balls, used by the British, for Balls stands up House expecting, and receiving red MP's cheers, spending Seven Hundred Thousands Pennies..... all whilst the Speaker, again F---- MP Glenys head }.

I want to know if he was wearing Depends when he made these comments!

jeff lloyd was always a card carrying uncle tommy, but yes we will make july 19, 2018 official preturn to the plantation day, rather than make us work under the pretense that we are free and can achieve something, we willsign up to return to the plantations and live of chitlings and collard greens (hogs guts and chaff( and chicken and pig foots. rather dan seeing our sons and daughters
shot down and slaughtered in the streets even by police who mercilessly pump eighteen rounds of hot lead in him, mostly while his back was turned, we will return to the plantations and work for free. may God almighty have mercy on your souls,,,how long O Lord , how long?

first they killed you if you negroids learned to read or right, now they kills you if you learns to take one dollar and make it too. imagine if you try to make it tree or fore, poor tiger woods

Lloyd is right. this is the true test of gov't. are you going to buckle to pressure or hold the course? since we all know the debt situation, seems to me the choice is clear.

No photo of this pocket book or video of speech highlights. I'll have to switch to eye witness news.