In his first national address of the year, the Prime Minister has announced—drum roll, please—that VAT on grocery items will be reduced to zero percent (0%). And so, we are instructed to applaud. Loudly. Enthusiastically. Preferably standing.

Never mind the inconvenient detail that when the New Day Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) government took office, this is essentially where VAT on groceries already was. But why let facts get in the way of a good victory lap?

“VAT to be axed on all groceries,” trumpeted the headlines, as though a historic burden has been lifted rather than a policy being quietly returned to its original parking spot.

According to the announcement, as of April 1, VAT will be removed from all grocery items—fresh produce, baby food, frozen items, and packaged goods—though, mercifully, not hot or ready-to-eat meals. One must preserve at least some tax creativity.

The Prime Minister described this as a “major tax policy shift” aimed at easing the cost-of-living crisis. A bold phrase, considering the same administration first reduced VAT from 12% to 10%, then from 10% to 5%, and now—after years of pressure and public frustration—has finally landed back at zero. Progress, apparently, is a full circle.

Let me be clear: it would be utterly ungrateful of me not to thank and applaud the New Day PLP government for this announcement. It reminds me so fondly of the gratitude I was expected to show when my Bahamas Power and Light (BPL) bill skyrocketed after they took office, only to later be “reduced” back to normal levels. That, too, was marketed as progress.

This is the New Day formula: raise the burden, watch the backlash, then partially undo the damage and demand applause for your generosity.

And so, fittingly, just in time for April Fool’s Day—April 1, 2026—Prime Minister Philip Davis announces the elimination of VAT on non-cooked foods, and we must all be thankful. Grateful, even. Because clearly, this is not policy correction—it is benevolence.

We must be thankful and grateful, much like we were expected to be thankful for the recent increase in civil servants’ salaries—an increase that somehow managed to disappoint nearly everyone it was supposed to help. But one gets the sense that disappointment is acceptable; ingratitude is not.

After all, the Prime Minister may well be disappointed in us if we fail to clap hard enough. He may even consider us ungrateful. Because surely, this decision has nothing to do with rising public frustration, spiralling living costs, or—perish the thought—an election conveniently lurking just around the corner.

No. This is all being done purely out of the goodness of his heart.

And for that, we are reminded once again: say thank you.

The Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) fails for one reason; it is their nature.

End

It appears that the issue if the recent increase for boaters in The Bahamas has not ended, even after the Chairman of the New Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) has come out and revealed that “the government is deeply concerned about reports of [the] impact of recently increased boat fees on tourism in The Bahamas…”

So, today we have what would seem nothing more than an advocate for the New Day government in Thew Save Exuma Alliance saying that despite concerns over recent increase in fees for boaters in The Bahamas, business in the [Exuma] Cays “is booming”, with operators reporting full occupancies.”

‘No slowdown in Exuma’ – The Nassau Guardian

Excerpt from this article; “The Save Exuma Alliance (SEA) said yesterday that despite concerns over a recent increase in fees for boaters in The Bahamas, businesses in the cays is “booming” with operators reporting full occupancies.

“Despite concerns about stopover visitor and yachting numbers elsewhere, operators of resorts, attractions and excursions in the Central Exuma Cays reported near-record or full occupancy, saying demand for the exciting and sustainable product has never been greater,” a statement from SEA said.

According to SEA, Staniel Cay Yacht Club and Embrace Resort had full occupancies over Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.

Despite worries that increased boating fees would leave marinas empty, SEA said the volume of vessels in the Exuma Cays was so large that boats were seen anchored in areas not typically used.

Operator of Chamberlain Cottages on Staniel Cay, Girisa Chamberlain said they have not experienced the slowdown in boating traffic that the Bahamas Association of Marinas has been sounding the alarm about.

“There were boats every day,” Chamberlain said.

“It was busy, and we even saw boats in places they don’t normally go.”

She added: “People love the area. They love the peacefulness. Visitors don’t come here for overcrowding or city life. They come for the authenticity that still exists here, and they value that.”

Owner of Staniel Cay Yacht Club David Hocher said his establishment was full throughout the holiday season.

“The Exuma Cays offer some of the most reliable and exciting cruising and sustainable tourism experiences anywhere — from beaching and boating to sand-barring and enjoying pristine waters,” Hocher said.

“People don’t come here to shop. They come for the tranquillity and the beauty. That’s what makes this place magical.”

It would appear that we have several things going on here; first I would just like to say that; of course the Fly-fisherman Association would back the government’s decision on cruise ship fees, their guest stay in the guest houses and fly-fishing in monitored more than any other fishing as the guest the guest go with guides.  Also, the fly-fishing industry is heavily funded by the government.  This leads me to my other point, Exuma is reporting a “booming” season while other places like Western Grand Bahama and Harbour Island are reporting empty marinas, the Chairman of the New day Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) can confirm these facts.

So, it appears that as long as Exuma is “booming”, they seem to intimate that as others surfer, they others should be left to suffer just as long as their plate is full and even running over.

The Commonwealth of The Bahamas deserve better than selfish, myopic individuals that could careless about their other countrymen and refuse to take a holistic and more comprehensive view that benefits more than the few.

End

Fred Mitchell, Chairman of the New Day Progressive Liberal Party (PLP), would have the Bahamian people believe that economic success is now so obvious it merely requires us to “look around.” According to Mr. Mitchell, despite the cost-of-living crisis, “people have money in their pockets,” tourists are “in town,” and economic activity is supposedly humming along nicely. On that basis alone, the PLP is asking for a second term — not to fix failures, but to “complete” projects that remain perpetually “in mid-flight.”

This argument, however, depends heavily on one convenient trick: resetting the baseline to the absolute economic bottom of the COVID-19 pandemic. Any first-year economics student understands that an economy forcibly shut down by a global pandemic has nowhere to go but up. Calling that rebound “progress” is like congratulating oneself for standing up after being knocked unconscious. Recovery was inevitable; prosperity was not.

Nowhere is this sleight of hand more insulting than in Grand Bahama.

While the PLP touts tourism growth, the reality on the ground tells a very different story. The opening of Celebration Key has not translated into meaningful economic spillover for Freeport. Cruise passengers are being efficiently diverted away from the city, spending their money in a controlled, private enclave rather than in local businesses that actually need the traffic. The government counts arrivals; Grand Bahamians count empty storefronts.

And the evidence is not anecdotal — it is documented.

According to The Tribune, nearly 90 percent of Port Lucaya Marketplace merchants are struggling to survive. Businesses are closing, others are “hanging for dear life,” and foot traffic has collapsed. Longstanding tenants cite the continued closure of the Grand Lucayan Resort — shuttered since Hurricane Matthew in 2016 — as a primary reason for the economic decline. That same Grand Lucayan which successive PLP administrations have promised, re-promised, announced, re-announced, and still failed to meaningfully revive.

Merchants are now begging for temporary rent relief while waiting months for basic communication from ownership. Sound familiar? It should — because that same culture of silence and opacity defines the PLP government’s handling of both the Our Lucaya/Grand Lucayan sale and the Grand Bahama International Airport. Grand Bahamians are repeatedly told that “talks are ongoing,” that “things are in progress,” and that they should simply trust the process — without timelines, details, or accountability.

So while Mr. Mitchell assures the nation that “things are in the works,” nearly an entire commercial hub in Freeport is barely surviving. While the PLP claims economic momentum, Grand Bahamians are watching money bypass their city altogether. And while the government asks for blind faith and a second term, it has yet to explain — clearly and honestly — what exactly has been delivered in the first.

The question, therefore, is not whether the country has improved since the depths of COVID. The question is whether the New Day Progressive Liberal Party has failed the people of Grand Bahama by confusing inevitability with achievement and rhetoric with results.

Grand Bahama deserves more than recycled talking points.
The Bahamas deserve better.

END

There is the now-familiar fairy tale of the Grand Lucayan Resort and casino — eternally “a work in progress,” joined at the hip with the airport and apparently destined to remain so until the end of time. According to the Chairman of the New Day Progressive Liberal Party (PLP), the public should simply visit YouTube, listen carefully, and then do what Bahamians are always asked to do under PLP stewardship: wait patiently and trust blindly.

Predictably, the Chairman attempts to deflect by attacking the former Free National Movement (FNM) administration, accusing them of doing “nothing” for Grand Bahama. What he conveniently fails to mention is that this very PLP government cancelled the deal left in place for the Grand Lucayan Resort. Or was it the Princess Margaret Hospital deal they cancelled and sent the money back for? Or was it both? The facts seem to shift depending on the day, but the cancellations remain constant.

Now, after years of delay, aborted agreements, and photo-op announcements, the Chairman tells the people of Grand Bahama and the wider Bahamas that they must show patience because “we also know how long things take to get done in our country.” Indeed, we do — especially when nothing is being explained, nothing is being signed, and nothing is being delivered. So, the obvious question is: what exactly is being done? Beyond speeches, interviews, and election-season reassurances, where is the substance?

We are simply told, without evidence or timelines, that “the PLP is getting it done.” No details. No deadlines. No accountability. Just faith. And conveniently, we are reminded that a general election is upon us — cue the return of promises, briefings, visits, and candidates suddenly discovering Grand Bahama once again.

Yes, Mr. Mitchell, there is a general election this year. And it appears the PLP has returned to its most reliable campaign strategy: lots of talk, grand declarations, recycled blame, and remarkably little delivery. The people of Grand Bahama — and The Bahamas — deserve more than vague assurances and political sermons. They deserve honesty, transparency, and results.

END

Apparently, I have now been christened “D’Jango,” in a clumsy attempt to liken me to the character Stephen from Django Unchained. God forbid these intellectually lazy critics should at least get their movie references right—though, to be fair, expecting accuracy from people who struggle with basic logic may be asking too much.

All this outrage, mind you, because I dared to suggest that we find a sensible compromise on increased cruising fees and their impact on the yachting industry. In some corners, that apparently translates into “siding with white foreigners over Bahamians”—as if every seasonal visitor who drops anchor in our waters arrived with a treasure map and a plundering crew.

The irony here is almost poetic.

It turns out that the Chairman of the New Day Progressive Liberal Party (PLP), Fred Mitchell, is saying essentially the same thing I am. Yes—brace yourselves—Fred Mitchell and I agree. Somewhere, pigs are warming up their wings.

According to The Nassau Guardian; “Govt concerned about impact of cruising fee increase, Mitchell says”, Mr. Mitchell openly acknowledged that the marina tax issue is not simple, that government officials are “deeply concerned” about the knock-on effects, and that marinas in places like West End and Harbour Island are sitting empty. No boats. No business. No taxes.

Some marina owners are reporting a staggering 40 percent drop in boating traffic compared to 2024. The result? The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism has now promised a review of the very policy that was rolled out with such confidence. Predictable.

And yet, instead of honest reflection, some voices prefer to vilify all seasonal visitors—people who return year after year, rent homes, buy groceries, hire locals, maintain boats, support marinas, and quietly keep Family Island economies alive during the slow months. These are not pirates. They are economic lifelines.

Yes, a “happy medium” must be struck—but that phrase means nothing unless we define it with reason rather than resentment.

Perhaps the solution is not to shock the market with blunt, poorly calibrated fee hikes, but to introduce a moderate, sliding cruising fee—one that accounts for vessel size, duration of stay, and genuine environmental impact. Pair that with a targeted increase in foreign sport-fishing licences, where pressure on marine resources is demonstrably higher. That’s policy. That’s balance.

What we must first discard is the lazy narrative that every foreigner who visits our shores is here to “plunder” something. That rhetoric may be politically convenient, but it is economically reckless—and it is the Family Islands that suffer first and longest when policy is driven by ideology instead of impact.

So yes, it must be a brand-new year if it begins with the PLP chairman and myself agreeing on something. I will agree with anyone—government or otherwise—when the argument makes sense and genuinely serves the best interests of The Bahamas and its people.

Here’s to 2026. May it bring better policy, fewer knee-jerk decisions, and perhaps even a little more logic.

END