the power lines aren't grounded because Bahamians steal the copper grounding wires on the poles. That isn't BPL's lack of trying. I'm sure they try to keep up with the theft but there is only so much one can do.

If the Bahamas is going to raise taxes on foreign home owners for renting to vacationers, then maybe they should start collecting property taxes from hotels first?

The Observer needs to spend more time observing. Sounds like he/she has a personal issue with a neighboring Canadian. He/she has very little understanding of what they are talking about. Canadians pay income tax regardless of residency in the Bahamas. they do this to retain access to the national health service. The vast majority of Canadians happily pay tax because they get a lot of value for money. Talk to a Canadian instead of making up gibberish.

All this fuss about taxing vacation rentals is silly. this is a literal drop in the bucket in terms of income when compared to the incredible incomprehensible tax breaks given to the hotels in this country. Large hotels in this country pay little to no taxes, don't need to pay their electricity bill, get complete duty free allowances, now they don't need to pay taxes via VAT because they pass it onto their patrons and collect a credit back on their expenses. In essence the hotels in this country contribute absolutely nothing to government revenue via taxes. someone please tell me this statement is wrong?
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As Mr. Churchill stated so aptly - a country cannot tax itself into prosperity, it is like trying to lift a bucket while standing in it.
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Raising taxes just takes money out of the economy. If the total economy is $7b and 15% of that is taxes - raising taxes to 20% doesn't mean the total economy grows, it just means that more of that $7B goes to government and less to the people.
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All good and dandy if government provides value for money. I think every Bahamian would agree that we do not see value for money.
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stop trying bait and switch, demonizing the foreign home owner to take attention away from all the other crap going on.

yall jokin! webshops make as much money as the bahamas government? well muddotakesick

how about transparency and the FOI Bill?

which part? the rice or the white? is white not rice?

so basically every single bit of construction in this country is illegal... where is ministry of works? aren't they supposed to stop anyone building without a license?

this line of thinking is delusional. not argument about it. governments don't drive the tech world, they try to keep up with it. If anyone believes different they are idiots, delusional or simply trying to pull a fast one. FPO has absolutely nothing to offer a large tech firm, unless there are very substantial tax advantages. that is the only reason they would move. Ireland was Microsoft headquarters until the EU made them raise the taxes. guess what happened? MS pulled out to find a warmer more welcoming hole.

Why such uproar? Numbers has been outside of hte VAT world so its about time they pay up some taxes. i know i've sure paid enough into hte treasury in my lifetime. I'm still fairly sure i don't get value for money.

why has no one ever considered that maybe it isn't the elected one who teifin, but maybe its the lifelong 'employees'? which would explain why no one is ever caught or prosecuted.