Hole In The Wall Lighthouse could use a few dollars too.

@Bonefish. If we had real local government and we (Abaco) were allowed to keep a fixed percentage of the taxes we produce, we would have money for Hole in the Wall. As it is we send all of our money to Nassau then hold our hands out for the pittance they give us. It’s not democracy it’s a form of colonial communism where all the money Abaconians work for is distributed to others. It’s not going to change.

What data do you have to suggest Abaco produces more revenues than it received in government funding of infrastructure, administration, etc?

Perhaps if Abaco and frankly any family island would be transparent with each other to put together their estimated economic impact, they would seem reasonable. However, these conversations tend to end with person's insinuating others "don't know the type of money we produce" to imply something significantly disproportionately higher then their budget share.

Another suggestion could be to pressure the government to provide funding sources and expenditure comparatives per regional area. This probably would not be supported by many islands, as this could reduce for some. This is possible for areas government spends for tourism promotion or facilitation versus economic results being lower than expected.

It is a fact that Abaco was the second largest revenue generator for the Treasury prior to Dorian, go ask the government for the statistics if you think we are lying. Communities like Treasure Cay, Hope Town/Elbow Cay, Guana, Green Turtle, and more are filled with second homeowners paying property taxes on multi million dollar properties. This is not even mentioning Baker's Bay and the resorts that attract a multitude of visitors every year, or the real estate industry where the government collects millions in stamp tax and VAT from lawyers and realtors. Abaco is GROSSLY undercompensated even for the amount of money that it sends to the Treasury even post-Dorian. It would have been much better off going independent.

But you still have not said how much Abaco gets back from Nassau. The schools, roads, docks, clinics, airport, BPL ( i think that plant was $200 million which even at the top rate of Real property would be 3,333 homes). Sure Abaco brings more in then others, but is it a net beneficiary or a contributor?

I agree with you in principal that you have to look at all aspects of a situation, but we on Abaco have never had properly functioning infrastructure (pre or post-Dorian).

I give this government credit that the power and water interruptions have not been as severe in the past month or two, but prior to that they were a nearly daily occurrence. It took my community about a year and a half after Dorian to have running water again. I had to bathe out of a bucket and tote water in containers prior to that. It wasn't just post-Dorian either, the central government failed at basic utilities for decades prior to that. Power and water have been going off since I was a young child.

None of the above even considers how cruelly Abaco was treated in the aftermath of Dorian by the cursed Minnis government. The first people to find my family were the Dutch, the RBDF never bothered to come looking. Lawlessness was the norm for a very long time, you could just take anything you want without repercussions.

I agree with the basis of your argument that there are a lot of things to consider, but the central government has mistreated and abused Abaco for a very long time. I get that all the islands have to pitch in together as a nation, but the central government has not held up their end of the bargain when it comes to Abaco for the majority of our existence. I truly believe that our island would have been better off as an independent nation as opposed to relying on the central government for our existence. Local government is a complete waste of time if we still have to beg Nassau for all of our funding anyways.

My question as to the financial results of these islands was not* meant to inflame or to belittle. I hope this was not assumed from my original reply. I simply wanted to know how do people know that they are not actually getting a fair share without anecdotally mentioning property taxes being HIGH in some areas based on land value and new buyers. I have inquired in the past for a client analysis for economic activity by island but was never able to receive the data for many reasons provided by local authorities inclusive of Inland Revenue and other agencies.

I ask if you have the information but you mentioned I can ask, so I mention I have asked not received. Perhaps you may make greater headway? I would be interested and I feel it would serve your concerns and the people of Abaco if that information is obtained. Information is the first tool of a reasonable argument about benefits of taxation of a community that perceives it is being short changed.

The only solution is for Abaco to go independent. Nothing will ever change otherwise.

I thought it was Elbow Cay not Elbow Reef?

Masks for thee but not for we??