By LAMECH JOHNSON
Tribune Staff Reporter
ljohnson@tribunemedia.net
THE government’s plan to implement the Valued Added Tax regime instead of collecting millions of dollars in outstanding taxes owed to the treasury was called into question by the Free National Movement.
Speaking to party supporters at a rally on Golden Isle Road at the FNM youth branch office, party and opposition leader Dr Hubert Minnis told the audience that “one of the problems we have today is tax collection.”
“You know, I know, and they know that that’s a problem. But I’ll get back to that at another time,” he said.
“But you don’t think they should collect the half a billion dollars owed out there in real property tax? You don’t think they should collect the millions of dollars owed out there to BEC? You don’t think they should collect the millions of dollars owed out there to water and sewerage? Or to National Insurance?”
“Instead, they want to introduce VAT which causes an increase in the cost of living so that you mothers will have problems providing food for your loved ones. Buying pampers for your babies. Buying medication for yourselves.”
Dr Minnis pointed out that VAT would decrease the spending power for families.
“No more vacation. That’s what Christie wants to give you,” he told the audience Saturday evening.
Last Friday, after returning from attending the Commonwealth Heads of Government (CHOGM) meeting in Sri Lanka, and his side trips to Rome and London, Prime Minister Perry Christie informed the media at the Lynden Pindling International Airport that the government is moving forward with plans to implement Value Added Tax next year.
While the government will continue to move towards a July 2014 implementation of VAT, Mr Christie said he was still prepared to listen to alternative solutions or considerations with respect to the timing and structure of VAT.
He added that there was a limited source of revenue currently available for the government amid major ongoing infrastructure development and maintenance.
“These things,” said Mr Christie, “have to be paid for. We are moving forward, we’re not going to limit ourselves to just the process we’re engaged in, we’re serious. I told the IMF that while all of this is going on I’m following the model that I followed in 2002 and 2007, that’s when we created 22,000 jobs. We are going non-stop, that is the reason for all of the meetings I had.”
At the CHOGM, Mr Christie said he received the support on the proposed implementation of VAT from the New Zealand Prime Minister, who offered to send consultants to explain the benefits of the tax regime to the Bahamian business community.
Mr Christie said the business community and the government were supposed to work together, with no surprises.
Comments
Thinker 10 years, 4 months ago
If you guys up there running this country cannot explain the benefits of VAT, then what makes you think we want to listen to foreign reasonings that stealing taxpayer money for expanded government services is a good idea? It's not. We are informed and you are inflated.
nationbuilder 10 years, 4 months ago
yes
john33xyz 10 years, 4 months ago
So this half-billion dollars that "is owed" - NONE of that was owed while the FNM was in power? What did the FNM do to try and collect any of it Dr. Minnis ???????????????
Suddenly you are concerned about account receivable?
If you guys tried to collect it you would be in the same boat the PM is now with the BEC Union, the civil service would rebel saying "you expect us to collect taxes owed the government? Das we job? You crazy, eh? Get out of our face before we call one strike!"
akbar 10 years, 4 months ago
Most of yall who talking about collect taxes what owed haven't paid yall real property tax since yinna build yall house. so be careful what ya wish for. I know one this as long as Haitians squatting on good land and ain't paying squat ( because they squatters) I will be hard press to pay for land as a Bahamian.
John 10 years, 4 months ago
Yes Government needs to collect taxes owed: Why is government still subsidising the Tourisim sector? They cra about the $20 million subsidy givien to Bahamasair to keep Bahamians mobile and connected when they are giving hundreds of millions to Atlantis, Our Lucaya and others to keep their hotel rooms occupied and making profits. Proportion the tax burden on the tourist sector.
Why are so many web shops, aka gambling houses, operating in this country and continuing to spring up overnight like gremlins and not paying a red cent to the tax burden. Why are these owners allowed to take their 'takings' not just earnings out the country unchecked? Why not give them a 'provixional gaming license' and tax them until you decide what to do with them. Or, in the alternative do what cable Bahamasdid; Make every webshop/gambling house open an escrow account for 'potential taxes' They would have to deposit a proportion of their intake to this account to ensure their is sufficient funds to pay taxes when government decides to tax them and make the law retro active.
Why is Government and the public service still a big, rusty dinasaur feeding off and consuming the Bahamian business sector and rpivate citizens? Why is everyone in government so afraid to touch this insatiable dinasaur and cut it down to size, right size it, modernize it and bring it into the 21st century? When God realized that the earth could not sustain the dinasaur, he destroyed it, put it in the ground from which we gat oil (fossil fuels today). Not only could the earth not sup[port this creature with food, but it posed a threat to all the other inhabitants of the earth just by sheer size alone.
The Food Bill...what additionl incintives are being given to persons with farm land to make it productive or more productive? What incentives are being given to bahamians to go back to a family island to start farming? Back before everything in this country was imported, little was heard about cancer and diabetes and heart disease and high blood and kidney failure. Children did not eat Mccdonalds and wendys and KFC and drink soda all they. They ate almonds and ju ju and goose berries and coconuts and tamarind and sugar apples and sour sops and native bananas and guava and pears (avacado) and parents cooked with organic food. The more food we import the more terminal diseases and sicknesses we import. Fast food is for fast (short) lving
TalRussell 10 years, 4 months ago
Even the less than 100 faithful red shirts who turned up for the red shirts Saturday "Rally in the Alley" was not enough to rally an attendance in an alley. It must mean that even his own reds aren't go'in be prone to such "Minnisfoolery." Gone are the glories days of the big red rallies. Welcome to the "Handful in da alley." Where is they Papa when they need him most?
.../ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0BMeX...">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0BMeX...
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