Learn about democracy. It is not just about the majority rule! The majority cannot do whatever they want if it is going to violate an individuals freedom.

"tyranny of the majority" (or "tyranny of the masses"), used in discussing systems of democracy and majority rule, involves the scenario in which decisions made by a majority place its interests above those of an individual or minority group, constituting active oppression comparable to that of tyrants and despots.[1] In many cases a disliked ethnic, religious or racial group is deliberately penalized by the majority element acting through the democratic process.

I think the fact of the matter is Abaco and Freeport for example also have lots of land, water, much better infrastructure and larger local populations for example. The government cant force an investor to invest where they do not want too. There is a reason more faming is occurring on these two islands versus Andros despite all the efforts to turn Andros into a farm hub.

I have some experience doing this same thing in the Bahamas and for 5000 trees this is what I estimate to get them to maturity and I have been very generous with these figures.

Trees 5000 $25.00 a tree $125,000.00
Land Prep $6,000.00 per 1000 $30,000.00
Irrigation $4,000.00 per 1000 $20,000.00
Ongoing Maintenance for $262,500.00
for 3-4 years to get trees mature

$437,500.00

I don't use marijuana and don't really care too but it does have some medical benefits. Drugs like marinol are THC based medications controlled by prescriptions just like other drugs. Can he please explain the difference between medical marijuana (THC) based medical treatments and drugs versus the opioid based ones which are far more addictive and dangerous drugs that are used for pain among other things. Morphine, oxycodone, vicodin, codein etc which are all commonly abused by the way? If a substance can be used/dosed and controlled correctly with regulations for medical treatments it should be made available.

Better to start doing this now very very slowly and in controlled fashion balanced with taxes and economic growth because it will happen one day with or without VAT. Look at Barbados even with VAT they wouldn't stop spending and have borrowed so much foreign money no one will lend them any anymore they are laying off so many people and facing a currency devaluation. The market will correct itself and the longer you push it off and the bigger bubble you make the more painful it will be. VAT will make the bubble only bigger unless there is a major shift in the Bahamas economy like finding oil for example.

Spend some time talking about all the single teen parent children of this country (far more prevalent of a problem) instead of gay peoples business and get back to us on that. Religion loves keeping people in poverty that is why they don't speak about such issues with vigor. No poverty no money for the collection plate! And what better way then uncontrolled reproduction.

Actually a devalued dollar will make the Bahamas less attractive to illegal immigrants who want to export their dollars the Haiti. Also less likely they will setup shop here to trade labour for dollars. There are some benefits and most people think the whole idea is not up for discussion. You really don't understand how the monetary system works. Lets say our central bank with the government did what the USA is doing right now but, we are paying for their devaluation without any benefit decided to debase our currency by 5% over the next 3-5 years by printing more money. #1 The government could pay their bills. #2 When currency is created in this way it is given to banks and enters the money supply via loans. So #3 credit gets cheaper stimulating the economy. #4 Imported items get more expensive driving consumption of Bahamian made items. #5 less drain on our reserves. #6 more people get employed. I personally hate the worlds monetary system it is a system of debt that cant ever be repaid but, I believe this not VAT will get us out of the mess we are in quicker and for a longer term and the rich get hit with the same % as the poor there is no escaping currency devaluation actually even worse they might have money sitting in the bank. With VAT you also get decreased spending power but both local and foreign and it will hit you all at once and a drag on the economy and you can bet you bottom dollar the wealthy will find a way around this.

Actually a devalued dollar will make the Bahamas less attractive to illegal immigrants who want to export their dollars the Haiti. Also less likely they will setup shop here to trade labour for dollars. There are some benefits and most people think the whole idea is not up for discussion. You really don't understand how the monetary system works. Lets say our central bank with the government did what the USA is doing right now but, we are paying for their devaluation without any benefit decided to debase our currency by 5% over the next 3-5 years by printing more money. #1 The government could pay their bills. #2 When currency is created in this way it is given to banks and enters the money supply via loans. So #3 credit gets cheaper stimulating the economy. #4 Imported items get more expensive driving consumption of Bahamian made items. #5 less drain on our reserves. #6 more people get employed. I personally hate the worlds monetary system it is a system of debt that cant ever be repaid but, I believe this not VAT will get us out of the mess we are in quicker and for a longer term.

And you think the B dollar has not been devaluing over the past 5-10 years especially? It is pegged to the US dollar which is devaluing all the time due to the massive amounts of printing they are doing. The US dollar today is only worth about 27 cents of what it was when its current monetary system was put into place. The only thing that has not been changing is the B dollars relationship to the US dollar. Canadian dollars are on par with the US dollars now. Not because of an increase in their worth but, a devaluation of the US dollar. That is one reason imported things like fuel are getting more expensive on the world stage we are losing our value in comparison. And a 5% devaluation for example is allot better than a 8-15% increase from new taxes. And you missed the entire point about local products becoming cheaper versus imported thus helping to encourage local business. Why do you think China keeps their currency artificially low? So they can produce and especially export stuff.

How much could the government save on its own utility costs if BEC was 25% lower. How much less of a drain on reserves would exists if BEC fuel imports were 25% less or more. How much of a stimulus to the economy and reduction of the cost of living and increase in spending power would come from a 25% reduction in BEC costs? How much cheaper could hotels and our tourism product be? I am sorry BEC is the key to fixing this economy. Energy costs are killing this economy and getting lower could solve so many problems that are plaguing this nation. Can no one else see this?