They say the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again while expecting a different result. If that definition holds, then the New Day Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) government has not merely flirted with insanity — it has made itself quite comfortable there.

Upon taking office, one of the PLP’s first major acts was not progress, but pause. Not delivery, but delay. The government halted, reviewed, and ultimately cancelled the ongoing redevelopment works at the Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH), going so far as to return borrowed funds already earmarked for the project. Years later, Bahamians are left navigating a healthcare system stretched to its limits, while the promised “better deal” remains more slogan than solution.

History, it seems, was not meant to be learned from — only repeated.

Fast forward to Grand Bahama, where the same script was dusted off and reused. The PLP stopped, reviewed, and cancelled the Free National Movement’s deal for the Grand Lucayan Hotel, declaring it “not in the best interest” of the island or the country. The people were told to be patient. They were assured something better was coming.

Nearly five years later, Grand Bahama is still waiting.

As Member of Parliament for East Grand Bahama, Kwasi Thompson, recently noted, had the PLP not cancelled the sale of the Grand Lucayan resort to Royal Caribbean International (RCI) and the ITM Group, the island would have already been reaping the benefits. Jobs. Economic activity. Confidence. Instead, the property sits idle, workers endure uncertainty and delayed pay, and an island once promised revival remains trapped in limbo.

Rather than amend the deal, the PLP chose to walk away entirely — abandoning partners widely regarded as credible, committed, and capable. Since then, RCI has gone on to successfully complete major developments elsewhere in The Bahamas, while ITM has moved forward with new cruise port projects in Mexico alongside Hutchison Ports and Carnival Cruise Line. In other words, the problem was not the partners — it was the paralysis.

The PLP now points to a new agreement signed with Concord Wilshire Capital, but movement has been minimal, transparency scarce, and results nonexistent. Meanwhile, tourism in Grand Bahama suffers, the local economy stagnates, and hope continues to be deferred.

And yet, in a move that has become all too familiar, Bahamians are told once again that these projects — PMH, the Grand Lucayan, and others — can only be completed if the PLP is re-elected.

Apparently, governance now comes with a condition clause.

The New Day government still owes the Bahamian people a clear explanation as to how cancelling the original Grand Lucayan deal was in Grand Bahama’s best interest, especially when one of the very groups involved has since proven its capacity to deliver — just not for Grand Bahama.

At some point, promises must give way to performance. At some point, “review” must lead to results. And at some point, Bahamians must ask themselves whether it truly makes sense to re-elect a government that keeps pressing the reset button, only to demand more time to finish what it chose to undo.

To do otherwise would not just be hopeful, it would be insane.

The Progressive Liberal party (PLP fails for one reason; it is their nature and The Bahamas deserves better.

END

Prime Minister Philip Davis recently took to the airwaves to deliver what can only be described as a feel-good headline: the New Day PLP government would eliminate Value-Added Tax (VAT) on uncooked food as a bold move to ease the cost of living for Bahamian families.

Cue the applause.

That is, until the Nassau Guardian did something rather inconvenient — it applied basic, real-world mathematics to the figures provided by the government itself. Using the government’s own declaration that it would forgo $15 million in VAT revenue, The Guardian calculated that the average household would see savings of approximately $11 per month, or $127 per year.

Apparently, math is now offensive.

The Guardian’s calculation did not emerge from thin air; it flowed directly from numbers publicly announced by the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM). Yet instead of offering a counter-calculation or a clearer breakdown, the government chose indignation over information.

In an article titled “OPM on defensive: Guardian stands by VAT story,” the Prime Minister’s Office insisted the newspaper had committed a “miscalculation” and made an “erroneous claim.” However — and this is the truly remarkable part — OPM provided no calculations of its own to demonstrate how The Guardian was wrong.

None. Zero. Zilch.

PAUSE, because this part matters.

The $15 million figure was not invented by journalists; it was announced by Minister of Economic Affairs Michael Halkitis himself. Therefore, The Guardian’s math was not only reasonable — it was inevitable. When the government supplies the figures, it cannot later pretend shock when someone uses them.

But unwilling to relive another embarrassment reminiscent of their much-touted “budget surplus,” the New Day PLP government scrambled to reframe the narrative, stating:

“When that $15 million is averaged among the 118,221 households in The Bahamas (as recorded in the 2022 census), the savings amount to $11 per month or $127 a year.”

Which, of course, is exactly what The Guardian reported.

Then came the pivot.

OPM now claims that The Guardian mistakenly equated the government’s fiscal impact with consumer benefit, asserting that the $15 million represents a “bottom-line fiscal impact number” after accounting for business credits and substituted spending — and that the real consumer benefit is somehow “significantly larger.”

Say what now?

If that is the case, where are the numbers? Where is the breakdown? Where is the explanation that transforms $15 million into something more substantial for Bahamian families standing at the grocery checkout?

Even more telling, multiple economic and financial experts consulted by The Nassau Guardian expressed confusion over the government’s explanation — confirming that this was not a failure of public understanding, but a failure of public communication.

Then, as if the waters were not muddy enough, OPM added yet another layer of contradiction, claiming that any estimate of average monthly savings is “not credible” without updated data from a Household Expenditure Survey — noting that the last survey was completed in 2013 and a new one is still underway.

So let us get this straight.

The government announced a sweeping cost-of-living relief measure, provided a headline figure, promoted it as wealth-building policy — and now says that no one can credibly calculate its impact because the necessary data does not exist?

If that is the case, one must ask: Was this policy introduced without proper homework? And if so, why should the public trust numbers that the government itself now suggests are unreliable?

The people of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas will always welcome genuine, viable solutions to ease the crushing cost of living, especially under current economic conditions. But the Bahamian people are not obligated to suspend critical thinking — particularly when broad promises are rolled out conveniently close to a general election.

Relief announcements without transparent calculations are not policy; they are performance.

And condemning a newspaper for doing arithmetic with government-supplied figures only reinforces the uncomfortable suspicion that the New Day PLP government prefers applause over accountability.

END

Less than a year before the next general election, the New Day Progressive Liberal Party (PLP)—the very same administration that once seemed far more enthusiastic about chasing tax arrears than chasing opportunity—now wants Bahamians to believe it can casually walk away from roughly $150 million in annual revenue for the good of the people.

And what is this grand act of economic compassion?

An $11-a-month grocery savings.

Yes—eleven dollars. Not per week. Not per shopping trip. Per month.

According to the government’s own arithmetic, this works out to about $127 a year for the average household. We are told—without even a hint of irony—that this is enough to help Bahamian families “build wealth.”

Build. Wealth.

One imagines the light bill, rent, mortgage, insurance premiums, school fees, fuel costs, and grocery inflation all pausing respectfully while the average Bahamian carefully sets aside that majestic $11 to begin their journey to generational prosperity.

This revelation comes courtesy of a headline from The Nassau Guardian proclaiming: “$11 monthly VAT savings – Tax cut could put $127 in household pocket annually.” Truly inspiring stuff—if your monthly struggle exists solely in the imagination.

Prime Minister Philip Davis, in a national address, called the VAT removal on uncooked foods a “significant step.” His Minister of Economic Affairs, Michael Halkitis, assured the public that the $15 million annual revenue loss would be “offset by economic growth.”

Offset how, exactly? Details are apparently unnecessary when faith is abundant.

Let us pause here. This is the same government that only months ago triumphantly declared the economy had “turned the corner.” If that were genuinely the case, why wait until election season to suddenly discover compassion? Why not deliver this relief earlier—quietly, responsibly, and without campaign undertones?

The answer, of course, is timing. Political timing.

Instead of lifting the average citizen to a level where survival is not a monthly gamble, the PLP is offering handouts disguised as policy—$11 a month and a pat on the head. Not structural reform. Not meaningful wage growth. Not serious energy cost relief. Just enough to generate headlines, not enough to change lives.

And let us be clear: the average Bahamian is not struggling because VAT on groceries exists. They are struggling because their income cannot keep pace with the cost of living. Eleven dollars does not rebalance a household budget. It does not stop eviction notices. It does not prevent power disconnections. It does not build wealth. It barely builds a lunch special.

Meanwhile, the government asks the public to simply trust that “other revenue measures” will magically fill a $150 million hole—measures that remain conveniently unnamed, unquantified, and unexplained. Any talk of projected budget surpluses now floats firmly in fantasy territory.

So yes, VAT relief is welcome. No one disputes that. But let us not insult the intelligence of the Bahamian people by pretending that $127 a year is an economic lifeline rather than a political talking point.

The real question isn’t whether Bahamians appreciate relief.
It’s whether they are expected to survive on symbolism while the bills remain painfully real.

Because wealth is not built on $11 a month.
But elections, apparently, might be.

The Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) fails for one reason; it is their nature and the Bahamian people deserve better.

Instead of taking Bishop Laish Boyd’s remarks for what they plainly were—constructive criticism rooted in a reality many Bahamians quietly acknowledge—it appears that the Attorney General, Ryan Pinder, chose offense over reflection. One would think that the chief legal mind of the country might welcome an opportunity to address public concerns about justice. Instead, he reacted as though a mirror had been rudely held up.

According to The Nassau Guardian, Bishop Boyd questioned what he described as a disparity in sentencing between the “poor black man” and those who are white or well-connected—whether white or black. Harsh words, yes. Unfamiliar words? Hardly. These are sentiments echoed in rum shops, court corridors, and kitchen tables across The Bahamas.

But suddenly, this well-worn concern is “disgraceful.”

The Attorney General—himself a product of an affluent white family, educated, connected, and insulated from the daily realities of the average Bahamian—pushed back. He cautioned against “blanket statements,” reminding us that each case has its own facts and circumstances. A fine legal answer. Also a very convenient one.

Because here’s the irony: this same New Day Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) had no such concern for nuance when it suited their political strategy. For years, they were quite comfortable deploying a black versus white narrative to demonize the Free National Movement (FNM), reduce complex issues to racial sound bites, and inflame division for electoral gain. Back then, context didn’t matter. Perception did.

Now that the very narrative they helped normalize is being used to question disparities within the justice system—now it’s offensive.

Funny how that works.

When you throw a rock into a pack of wild dogs, as the saying goes, you quickly discover who was hit.

Some may take issue with my description of Attorney General Pinder. That discomfort is intentional. It mirrors the discomfort felt by thousands of poor black Bahamians who watch the justice system work swiftly for them, but gently—or not at all—for the well-connected.

The hypocrisy here is not just glaring; it is almost impressive in its audacity. If you are part of a political organization that has repeatedly weaponized race as a campaign tool, then perhaps the wisest course—especially as a white, affluent Bahamian—is silence when that same weapon is turned inward.

You cannot light a match, burn the house down, and then complain about the smoke.

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

END

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

I see the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) has chosen to close out 2025 with what can only be described as a dark political joke.

“Rahming says govt sensitive to concerns from marina operators” — The Nassau Guardian.

According to the Guardian, Prime Minister Philip Davis met with Ministry of Finance officials to “review” the newly imposed boating and cruising permit fees after sustained complaints from marina operators. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism Chester Cooper echoed this sudden burst of sensitivity, announcing that the government would reconsider the fee increases—after marina owners reported, again via the Guardian, an estimated 40 percent drop in boating traffic compared to 2024.

Enter OPM Director of Communications Latrae Rahming, assuring the country that the government has “consulted with industry from the start” and that the prime minister is now “listening.”

Listening—now.

This entire performance reeks of disingenuousness and is frankly insulting to anyone capable of independent thought, Bahamian or otherwise. The implication is that the cries of marina operators, employees, and Family Island businesses somehow materialised in December, as if concerns had not been raised loudly and consistently since February or March, when the fee increases first began to bite.

So, we are now to believe that Prime Minister Davis has only just discovered the voices of the people? That this economic distress—felt most sharply by marina workers, small businesses, and seasonal tourism-dependent communities—was previously inaudible?

That suggestion is not only nonsense; it is condescending rhetoric of the highest order. This government creates the hardship, tightens the noose, and then expects applause when it loosens it slightly—calling that act a “favour.” Meanwhile, the real damage has already been done: cancelled bookings, lost income, and livelihoods squeezed during what should be the most productive season of the year.

Let us be clear: the PLP did not rescue the marina sector from harm. They made the situation worse, ignored warnings, endured international backlash, and only then rushed to rebrand a belated correction as evidence of compassion and consultation.

That is not leadership.
That is damage control.

The Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) fails for one simple reason —it is its nature.

END