We have a very simple problem, since independence we have been living beyond our means and it is better to address this debt sooner rather than later. We have more government than we can afford and this budget has done little to cut expenditures. Yes, we need to increase tax revenue but our bloated inefficient civil service needs to be cut and we need to sell even at a loss these govt corporations that year after year bleed the treasury dry. Can not simply be every budget increasing taxes, there is a limit to what the country can bear.

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

There would have been a much better acceptance by the public if there were meaningful reductions in government spending, particularly in the size of the civil service. Yes, our debt is high and revenue had to be increased but expenditures could have been reduced. It is ridiculous that the cost of the civil service increased 40% in 6 years. Yes it is very hard to reduce the public service but the cold reality is we have more government than we can afford. The government should have announced plans to sell some Loss making govt corporations if only to stop the drain on taxpayers in subsequent years, even if we had to give them away. Then the private sector could right size the number of employees and run these corporations efficiently as oonly the private sector can. These unions have a stranglehold on the government and basically hold the entire country hostage. So rather than make tough, needed cuts this FNM government took the easy, lazy way out and just increased taxes. Very disappointing and a betrayal of the voters who voted for real change.

I agree with you completely. Almost all govt schools operate tuck shops where with the exception of water nothing but junk food is sold to our children. Many children buy a chocolate bar and a soda for lunch. Wow, imagine the impact on our children. And what message does it send our children that our schools are peddling and profiting of of selling such crap. It is setting them up for obesity and preventable chronic diseases and subsequently an early death. Sodas and all junk food need to be banned from being sold on campuses..period. And yes Dr. Sands is a terrible disappointment. He seems incapable of making even the most basic good health decisions for our people. All vegetables and fruits and nuts should be vat free immediately.

Yes, please close these webshops down and let us institute a national lottery where the Bahamian people benefit from 100% of the profits.

When will we finally get healthier options in the breadbasket items? How many years to make a decision? This is really pathetic for a doctor to be the minister in charge and take so long to implement obvious healthy changes. Meanwhile of over 190 countries in the world the Bahamas is in the top ten for obesity for both men and women. Everywhere you look hulking masses of fat Bahamians who can barely walk. Even primary school children. Just lumbering masses of redundant protoplasm. Ambling fire hazards due to incendiary thighs constantly rubbing together. They must use a lot of talcum powder to ease the friction.

Because of our unhealthy diet diabetes is an epidemic and getting worse. Our life expectancy will soon begin to decline because of preventable chronic diseases. Fix the DAMN breadbasket and include all vegetables, nuts and fish like Tomorrow!

You are so right. This FNM Administration is squandering away all the goodwill and mandate they had from the people to make hard, meaningful changes for the betterment of this country. Nothing in this budget reflects that, it is lazy, simply raising taxes and no cuts. Why is there no date for the sale of these unprofitable govt corporations? Not one, not bahamasair, BEC, water and sewerage. Just a never ending horizon of bleeding the treasury and the Bahamian people dry. Why is there not a commitment to reduce the bloated civil service by at least 5%. Nothing, just the easy way out raise taxes, which regardless of what they say will increase the burden on the poor. Vat is a regressive tax, the rich will not feel this but the poor will. Very disappointing so far in this government and yes because of their cowardice to make hard cuts in expenditure we will vote them out and put in the even worse, corrupt criminal PLP. We have suffered from an unmitigated succession of incompetent, cowardly leadership.

When are we going to reduce expenditures? There is no sign of that in the financial projections from the ministry of finances for three years out. This is unacceptable, personal emoluments ( civil service salaries) have increased 40% in the last 7 years. Does anyone feel that this is justified, has service from any government ministry improved even at all to warrant this? We have to reduce the bloated civil service. Getting our debt under control can not simply be raising taxes, that is lazy and easy. The pact we have with this government is that if you raise our taxes the civil service must be reduced. Period. If this does not happen I will help vote this government out that I presently support. Minister Turnquest promises this will happen, but in his own projections personal emoluments increase over the next three years, so he must be lying to the Bahamian people.

What world is this union leader living in? The Bahamian public is looking for the civil service to be reduced by 10-20% and he is asking for a salary increase! It is unfair and egregious to increase vat by 60% and not significantly reduce our bloated, inefficient civil service.

Make no mistake about it this is a massive tax increase. The impact has been somewhat mitigated on the poor through exemptions, but still likely an overall increase in taxes for even them. The middle class will have no such luck and will bear the brunt of this increase which not allowing for exemptions etc will bring in an extra 375 million per year.

I can live with this if the govt continues to downsize the civil service and our debt service ratios begin to fall. We have to get recurrent govt expenditure under control. Perhaps this saves us from devaluation down the road. If we are to bear this pain I want to see government downsized in a meaningful way. Otherwise the FNM will pay the price for this in the next general election.