By KHRISNA VIRGIL
Tribune Staff Reporter
kvirgil@tribunemedia.net
FORMER Deputy Prime Minister Brent Symonette said the Christie administration cannot be trusted with the anticipated billions in revenue that Value Added Tax will bring in.
Mr Symonette said successive Progressive Liberal Party governments had a track record of misappropriating public funds. The former foreign affairs and immigration minister said the money collected from VAT should be monitored closely.
“No absolutely not (they cannot be trusted with VAT revenues),” Mr Symonette said during a recent interview. “People need to remember the reason why the government said we needed this tax which was to bring down the country’s debt.
“They have to prove themselves. You see the VAT money is going in the Consolidated Fund, which is the only place that it can go.
“But as I drive throughout Nassau and on different islands they are spending a tremendous amount of money. Look at the Bahamas Agriculture and Marine Science Institute, there is $5m more going out there, the result of one fire.
“These guys are spending money at a time that they said the FNM was reckless about spending money.”
VAT is charged at a rate of 7.5 per cent on most goods and services.
The government has said it expects to collect around $300m from VAT in the first year of implementation.
Mr Symonette said the PLP campaigned ahead of the 2012 general election to cut back on the spending of public funds, but as he sees it, there has been no evidence of this almost three years into their political term.
“We are seeing different now that they are in office. Prime Minister Perry Christie can stand up and say whatever he wants to say and Mr Halkitis can stand up too. But I personally do not believe it.
“So just show us the figures. Don’t give us these wonderful long speeches or try and veil the tax on people. Because it just isn’t good enough. Come to the people and lay the real facts on the table.”
Last week, State Finance Minister Michael Halkitis said the government had collected $28m in VAT returns since its implementation on January 1.
Mr Halkitis told The Tribune that the Department of Customs collected $11m at the country’s borders and $17m was taken in from large businesses – those making more than $5m in gross sales – during the first filing period.
The prime minister has said he is absolutely certain that VAT will be a major success story for the people of the Bahamas.
Comments
birdiestrachan 9 years, 1 month ago
This is the same man who when they came into power found the treasurer of the Bahamas , they called it the cookie jar full. when they left it was empty. As he drives around he sees Government projects going on , this should be so. He can not trust the PLP with the VAT money .HE WANTS TO GET HIS HANDS ON THE MONEY OR IN THE COOKIE JAR AS THEY SAY. to give himself contracts , and put his companies in place to receive contracts.
proudloudandfnm 9 years, 1 month ago
Birdie girl you need a lesson in economics....
WORST RECESSION IN HUMAN HISTORY....
Thank God it was the FNM in power. We would be begging Haiti for help right now if it was the PLP in office...
realfreethinker 9 years, 1 month ago
Birdie on that yellow kool aid. even now I hear her people talking about how we are coming out of the worst world recession. before the election it was the fnm fault because there was no recession . Real MORONS
ohdrap4 9 years, 1 month ago
i agree.
the hospital is going through its third auditor and the results are not revealed.
they also never revealed the nib audit.
the number of report leaks is a direct consequence of all this secrecy.
duppyVAT 9 years, 1 month ago
Brent should have said: When I was DPM, we were able to collect the people's taxes ......... but he cannot .............................. so he should just be quiet.
birdiestrachan 9 years, 1 month ago
Brent is no boy scout and he wears no badge of honour . He is a greedy man who can never get enough.. and he enjoys putting Bahamians down
duppyVAT 9 years, 1 month ago
He is good at cutting down hills for quarry as well
TalRussell 9 years, 1 month ago
I guess the Loretta pain they shared are still making them all battle ready angry with former deputy prime minister Brent over their more viable choice for party leader receiving but a dismal 106 votes at the red party’s convention.
Their memories differ from those of who can’t shake the image out we heads when ‘Sister’ Loretta came out swinging her broadside smacker right into side head that still dizzy PLP MP. How dizzy you ask? Oh I’ll tell you. The ‘Sister’ walked across to other side House floor like a filled in da holy spirit church lady pocket-book swinger at a Sunday morning church revival service. But Loretta let’s loose right there on the floor da honourable House da Assembly. Now, I ain’t saying its true but some be saying, ever since that memorable moment, how Dr. Andre head ain’t be thinking the same, All the way PLP.
Alltoomuch 9 years, 1 month ago
@Tal =- do you ever get really confused as to who or what you really believe in?? You sure as heck confuse me!!
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