#1 Voter Issue

Economy & Cost of Living

50% of reader poll voters ranked economy or cost of living as their top issue. Here's where each party stands — sourced from official platforms and governing records.

Why This Is the #1 Issue

The Bahamas imports over 90% of its food. Global supply chain disruptions and inflation have pushed grocery bills up significantly since 2022. Fuel, electricity (via BPL), and rent have all climbed. For many Bahamians, the question isn't which party has the best slogan — it's which one will actually make life more affordable.

Both the PLP and FNM have governed recently, so voters can compare promises against delivery. The COI has not held office, so their proposals can only be assessed on paper.

Head-to-Head: Key Cost-of-Living Facts

VAT Rate

PLP: Maintained at 10% (reduced from 12% by PLP in 2022)
FNM: Raised from 7.5% to 12% in 2018; now promises 0% on essentials
COI: No specific VAT policy published

Minimum Wage

PLP: Raised to $280/week ($7/hr) via Employment Act 2024
FNM: Did not raise minimum wage during 2017-2021 term; promises increase
COI: Supports higher minimum wage; no specific figure published

Food Costs

PLP: Breadbasket items VAT-exempt since 2022; agricultural modernization program
FNM: Promises 0% VAT on all everyday essentials and medical costs
COI: Advocates reducing food import dependency

Debt-to-GDP

PLP: Targeting 50%; first credit upgrade in ~20 years achieved
FNM: Also targets 50%; proposes fiscal rule requiring balanced budget
COI: Limited fiscal policy detail published

Small Business

PLP: Expanded SBDC access + Bahamian Entrepreneur Investment Fund
FNM: $100M entrepreneur investment + $10M/yr in small business grants
COI: Calls for grassroots economic empowerment and local ownership

Full Economic Platform Comparison

PLP

70%
  • •Maintain trajectory toward 50% debt-to-GDP target, building on first credit upgrade in almost 20 years
  • •Strengthen revenue administration without raising VAT; maintain primary surplus
  • •Consolidate all Encouragement Acts into one modern, sector-neutral investment incentives framework
  • •Establish Foreign Direct Investment Compliance Unit to audit concession agreements
  • •Expanded SBDC access, enhanced credit support, and a Bahamian Entrepreneur Investment Fund
  • •Require SOEs to submit binding business plans by 2027 with subsidy reduction milestones by 2029
  • •Launch National Workforce Demand Index mapping high-paying jobs across priority sectors
  • •Enact modern competition law banning price-fixing and penalising abuse of market dominance

FNM

56%
  • •Cut VAT on all everyday essentials, medical costs and educational supplies to 0%
  • •Establish Sovereign Wealth Fund, repealing the ineffective National Investment Fund Act
  • •Introduce a fiscal rule requiring a balanced budget; move debt-to-GDP toward 50%
  • •Invest $100M in entrepreneurs; $10M annually in grants to small and micro businesses
  • •Reform Business Licence Tax from gross turnover to a net-earnings basis
  • •Establish new generation of industry-specific Free Trade Zones on select islands
  • •Put National Development Plan (Vision 2040) on a statutory footing via new Bill
  • •Create Department of Innovation consolidating government entrepreneurial entities

COI

  • •Advocates for Bahamian-first economic policy
  • •Calls for greater local business ownership
  • •Proposes reducing foreign corporate dominance
  • •Focused on grassroots economic empowerment
  • •Limited detailed economic policy published so far

What You Can Do

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