The response to “eliminate VAT” whenever a crisis mounts shows a complete misunderstanding of how VAT is supposed to work.

Instead of eliminating VAT in the hope of aiding ’needy families’, (or with the intent of scoring political points) government should identify them and provide financial assistance for whatever is required (usually food products and basic essentials). A government should issue those identified a ‘credit card’ approved only to purchase those essential items from local providers. The idea was somewhat utilised when VAT was initiated and has now seemed to have fallen away.

Additionally if government continue to insist on having a “bread basket” list of foodstuff, it should consist of a mix of healthy food items, rich in vegetables and fruits, some of which can be sourced locally, including the seafood and other healthy ‘meats’. That way “local farmers and producers” can benefit.

Yes: Good for the government.
No: bad for ‘the people’; government employees who are forced to bank at a single institution. How can they negotiate more favourable loan deals?. Not all banks are non-Bahamian, Fidelity is not a “foreign bank”.

The attitude “let dat rest” means we accept this type of behaviour without consequences. Not a intelligent way to run anything, especially a country 🤦🏽‍♂️

I’m in Agreement with issues raised in this article.

Another pressing concern is our need to know the results of investigations as to how BOB got themselves into financial difficulties in the first place? And, if as alleged, political ‘friends of government officials’ were in defaul, whatever happened to resolved these arrears?

A focus on “Wellness” would and should be a noble effort on behalf of our major private healthcare institution. However this is as much a bandaid as it is a smoke screen to cover up Doctors Hospital’s excessive charges.

People attend healthcare and especially ‘hospitals’ when they are already ’ill’ so we need an affordable privately managed healthcare institution to fill the gap between PMH and South Florida healthcare, which Doctors is surely NOT! In fact their prices have lead a flight to Florida and many other regional healthcare providers probably stifling growth in this sector.

If Doctors want to be helpful, and indeed relevant, they should cut their flagship prices and probably cut back on their multiple ‘experiments’ throughout New Providence and the country.

Fix your house before you attempt managing your neighbour's affairs.

“…there is a need for it”?! Am I missing something? This is the Environmental Minister and this is an environmental nightmare! It destroys our trees, pollutes the environment and worsens asthma and respiratory illnesses.

If folks want coal, go to the store and purchase it. If they need fuel for stoves, use another source.

I’m told that much of it is exported to our “cousins” in Haiti, where the affects of burning trees for “coal” has damaged their ecosystem…

My god one should expect more from our government ministers…PLEASE🤦🏽‍♂️

Unfortunately it seems to be the MO of our government financial agencies to do just that: “…an arm of the Inland Revenue agency…”. Not sure what prevents one government agency from digitally sharing relevant information/documents with another government agency requiring similar information?! Laziness perhaps? The bane of our Bahamian, especially government workforce. Young people, do your best not to be infected by this laziness virus when you join our workforce…🤞🏽

Bimini has a well known population of Bull Sharks. At the very least the Bimini Bay ‘authorities’ should certainly advise “swimmers” not to venture out after dark; this time of year 6:30pm is dark.

There used to be “shark feeding” at the Big Game Club a few years ago, not sure if that’s still an on-going activity? A real recipe for disaster…especially given that the species was the renowned Bull Shark, known for their aggressiveness.

Police nor school officials should not be allowed to physically discipline students!

If you mean “Flu-shots”, yeah sounds like they should definitely be providing flu shots to those at risk and those who want it👌🏽

Dr. Minnis is absolutely correct in his assessment of the issue he raised. The present public health facilities lack the necessary equipment and both reusable and disposable supplies necessary to treat our population. And the private facility is much too costly. It is less expensive to be treated in Cayman, Cuba, Panama and Columbia, countries that now attract Bahamian healthcare dollars.

The method of government funding (and borrowing) to create new infrastructure, while not maintaining existing ones is foolish and ‘donkey’-backwards. Bahamians should focus on the issues, not political and cynical posturing. Both political parties should work together to achieve a fiscally responsible way forward.

Dr. Minnis has been brave to reveal his family’s situation, admitting their relative wealth allowed such a move. However don’t be fooled, it’s the working and middle classes who bear the brunt of this medical calamity and who suffer the physical, psychological and financial ruin.

It needs to be FIXED.