BTW the Bahamas is unable to collect property tax, which is the simplest form of tax in the world. How would the Bahamas collect the most complex and easy to avoid tax in the word? This is what needs to be answered, before going into any hypothetical debate about any tax reforms.

Why does the Bahamas not start by collecting all the due taxes? Anybody that does not address this matter when talking about new taxes, has no credibility.

You can't look at expenditure to GDP in 2020 because of the pandemic.

List of countries by tax revenue to GDP ratio:

Bahamas 17.9
Singapore 14.1

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_c…

BTW the Bahamian economy looks much more like Caymans than Singapore. When the Bahamian economy looks more like Singapore or Hong Kong maybe we can talk about tax reform. But right now the only thing attracting individuals and corporations to this nation is the tax free regime. To start taxing them directly would be economical suicide.

As an attorney please stick to law and do not dabble into economics where you knowledge is obviously minimal.

Yes, sure everybody is ignorant except you! Like I said previously, you need to resurrect the Vanguard party so that you can get the 200 votes that you deserve.

“those who consume the most. I.E. the poor.” Since when do the poor consume more than the rich? What is your definition of poor?

Caymans, Singapore and Hong Kong collect less than the Bahamas in tax % to GDP and have a much better economy than the Bahamas or France with the highest ratio in the world.

BTW the US and Europe that you cited produce things that they export all over the world, have major domestic corporations that are internationally competitive, unlike our economy where we attract foreign businesses and individuals due to our tax advantage. Taxing them directly would be economical suicide.

You cannot compare the Bahamas to the Europe or the USA (the is no Google, Facebook, Microsoft or Amazon here)

Government spending has climbed much more than economic output since 2008. Much of this spending has been to employ an over-compensated bloated civil service. In other words, the economic problem is that there has been too much spending. The right solution to this problem is to reduce the burden of government spending back to the levels of the early 21st Century.

Well VAT was introduced by the PLP, and it was the FNM who followed the PLP on this tax and helped the poor by excluding breadbasket items from VAT. Why did the PLP not exempt breadbasket items from VAT if they care some much about the poor?

And we have not had years of irresponsible austerity, we have had years of irresponsible spending with enormous budget deficits which have left this country almost bankrupt.

Also, the PLP like the FNM know very well that the only reliable form of tax in the Bahamas is VAT, because it is collected by the private sector at the expense of the private sector. No government will be stupid enough to get rid of the only reliable source of revenue at its disposal. Whoever wins the next election will increase VAT, the only question is by how much?

How about fixing the water leaks? That would probably eliminate the deficit.

Why did the PLP not exclude breadbasket items from VAT when they introduced it?

VAT was introduced by the PLP, and it was the FNM that excluded breadbasket items from VAT, not the PLP. If the PLP had thought about the poor they would have excluded breadbasket items from VAT when they introduced it.

Are you insinuating that Chinese Bahamians engage in illicit activities?

Actually he supported Biden because Biden told him that he was not black if he did not support him…

They need to improve on the service! Here is one of the last reviews posted on Tripadvisor:

I stayed in this hotel for a week and I can conclude that it was by far my worst hotel experience ever.

1. Bellman is available but he will not pickup your bags.

2. Checking in takes about 15 min per person and normally only one receptionist is available.

3. One of the receptionist is very rude and shouted at us when we asked her about the gym which is not working.

4. While we checked in we were asked to leave a $100 security deposit. One day before we checkout we informed them that we will be checking out 5:30 in the morning so please make sure you have the security deposit ready. In the morning we had the taxi waiting for us half an hour as the security deposit was not ready and after arguing with them that we will miss our flight they gave me 40 Bahamian dollars and 60 dollars mostly of a $1 bills. Basically trying to make you leave the security deposit as a tip for them.

5. Every time we have a problem and ask for the manager he/she is not available.

6. Rooms are relatively clean but no maintenance for electricity and plumping.

7. Gym and spa are not working and you will never know until you are there.

8. The only good thing there is the water sports which I knew later is an independent company that why it is well managed.

9. Restaurants there have the same menu everyday which is a bit boring if you have a long stay.

10. We eventually encountered molds on the bread and worms in the resins which shows that food safety is an issue there.

11. Even though we were on an all inclusive stay, when you request extra water bottles in the room they reject and say you are only entitled for 3 Half liter bottles per day.

Finally I definitely recommend that you stay away of this hotel to avoid this horrible experience