Government needs to get rid of the people who are "resistant to change" and higher more mellinnials and tech savy young individuals who who can do the work of ten adults in each ministry if given the right tools. Invest in software platforms and increase the digital penertration rate in each department which can cut the entire civil service by fifteen percent and if this process was started 10 years ago there would be no need for a VAT increase today.

Tougher Immigration policies being implemented by the Trump administration is making it that much harder for Bahamians to qualify for migration to the United States. Legal migration applicants must show cause which may include political persecution. Economics reasons such as a bad domestic economy is not looked favourably upon from applicants. The brain drain is endemic for all countries and will increase because of the standard of living, salaries, ability to qualify for some citizens. However the vast majority of our citizens will have to suck up this Vat increase, try to discipline themselves like they have never done before and live by better principles and higher standards to make it in the coming years. We have to work along with this Government for a better Bahamas no matter how pain full it may seams,,.Demonstrations is a expression of freedom of speech which is a constitutional right given to every citizen but after leaving bay street we should ask our selves ...Is what this government doing going to benefit the country long term and be a saving grace for future generations. The answer is unquestionably yes. .

All BPL employees accepting the VSEP's should use their funds wisely and invest in financial products with long term yields eg: Stocks, Bonds ,Mutual funds and CD's ...Seek financial advise form reputable firms. Resist the urge to splurge of shopping trips to florida, gambling, and beware of friends who appear suddenly out of no where,because "a fool and his money are soon parted" Proverbs 21-20 .

With the wide spread use of Fracking technology in the united states and the US now being the largest largest exporter at 15.3% of the world oil supply. There is no need for the Bahamas to go this route.Get rid of BPL and and her British share holders and court green technology companies to the Bahamas

@Crawfish .....This dredging activity by the Dillingham corporation took place on Ocean cay in the 70's and 80's ....I witness this activity first hand. There were large cranes doing the dredging with mountains of aragonite loaded by conveyor belts to large barges that then left for the united states. The scene is similar to what is taking place in Inagua with the Morton salt company. .The rights to mine aragonite at ocean cay was later sold to another company. there is no aragonite mining activity going on Ocean cay presently.

Agreed .....but your name must be a fake ...what a recommendation from a Pastor.

Along with the 12% Vat rate will be a National Insurance contribution Increase recommended by the ILO and acturial studies. This government is following every advice given by the international agencies.

Editor you ended by saying **"We urge those concerned to be mindful of the bigger picture"**
The bigger picture is in three years time this country will have a Balanced budget for the first time in an independent Bahamas. Bahamians have been urged to bite the proverbial bullet for this three year period. This government is putting country before party and should be highly commented for this decision This is a generational budget that had to arrive someday. That day is now....Sure the Business community will have tough decisions to make but Right thinking Bahamians do not want this country to go the way of Greese, Italy, or Barbados in our region.

@TheMadHatter and proudloud ....yourll beifing about the closure of a road which makes no sence .....I am talking about the visionary leadership that Sir Jack and Sir Edward bought to Freeport. They always had a plan A B C D and on and on when they headed the port authority. They kept the economy of freeport Bomming.. Those guys had the respect of the international investing community and Investors were always knocking at the port doors to do business in freeport. That why it was known as the magic city. . The second and third generation of their decendants who presently own the port and the people who have the senior positions at the port have not demonstrated the vision to return freeport to the magic city days. The Government seams to be rolling out more ideas than the port such as to reciently enacted Commercial Enterprise bill to facilitate the ease of starting a business there.
Freeport being the industrial heart beat of the country should be courting businesses in the green economy and eco tourism sector. Every week the port should be leading a delegation to countries around the world seeking to attract companies to take advantage of freeport close location of the east coast of the largest economy in the world. Freeports death will end when the port develop and implement a vision 20K plan .

What baffels me is how come Bimini Abaco, and Exuma can bounce back and have booming economies after the hurricanes and Grand Bahama is still in the doldrums except for the industrial sector. My guess is Grand Bahama and in particular Freeport present situation has more to do with the lack on visionary leadership on the part of the port authority.as oppose to the government. That is what happens when second and third generation decendants of the founders lack the foresight and ability to execute on the vision of the founders for that city..