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Prime Minister David Thompson’s First Press Conference in 2010

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Prime Minister David Thompson

Prime Minister David Thompson has delivered on one election campaign promise; to hold regular media briefings. Tonight Thompson will host the first press conference for 2010 at his official residence at 7.30PM. Given the precarious positioning of the Barbados economy BU hopes the Fourth Estate will send senior journalists to challenge the Prime Minister. After several press conferences BU contends the Prime Minister has been enjoying a free ride.

Points of interest to BU arising from the Press Conference



  1. Prime Minister indicates success at his government containing unemployment to 10%.
  2. In response to the discussion about wage freeze the government will be discussing with the Social Partners soon.
  3. The government will do all in its power to protect jobs.
  4. The 2009 fiscal deficit number cannot be repeated in 2010 in the view of the PM.
  5. PM forced to defend the argument that the government has exacerbated the deficit problem e.g. free bus rides for school children and summer camps. PM stresses the importance of building a society and not to be seen in pure economic terms.
  6. Fiscal deficit higher than the PM wants but he deems the situation manageable. He believes positive signs in the tourism industry augurs well. March 2010 statistics will paint a clear picture of the state of the economy.
  7. Prime Minister exorcises the accusation he initiated a tax grab in government’s first budget. Many taxes have not been collected e,g, cellphone tax and taxes on casino.
  8. Increase in the water rate is defended and Barbadians told to expect improvement at the BWA down the road, restructuring has started i.e. replacement of mains, improvement to the customer service etc. He indicates increases at the BL&P and LIME to be unfortunate at this time.
  9. Prime Minister admits he prefers moratorium over wage freeze. The idea is to give the government a breathing space at a difficult time. Roy Morris forces the PM to admit a cut in Ministers salaries is a worthy one. Did Minister Estwick step out of line by jawing about wage freeze?
  10. Prime Minister David Thompson chides opposition forces for not taking a national position at this difficult time.
  11. PM hints government’s minority holdings in BNB and ICB will be placed on the selling block along with crown lands.
  12. CLICO Mortgage company approved for sale to BPWCCU. The settlement of the CLICO issue still simmering, currently an Ernst & Young acturarial study commissioned by parent.
  13. The Al Barrak matter is sub judice. PM promises to reveal more in parliament. PM Thompson admits government does not have the cash to pay. PM ask for for reasonableness.
  14. Government has allocated funds to renewable energy and developing SMEs and entrepreneurship with the diaspora. Overseas embassies to play a role among other initiatives within the diaspora.
  15. PM speaks to the problems associated with introducing integrity legislation and FOI. Draft bills at final stage of consideration.
  16. Chief Justice David Simmons term not extended PM says. He stresses the next CCJ will be appointed based on the ability to dispense justice and not to help lawyers.
  17. PM invites blogs and commenters to attend the Constituency meetings and ask questions. (He admits he doesn’t read the blogs but prints are provided to him (LOL).
  18. The new immigration law will follow soon after the town hall meetings are finished. PM fingered one journalist as being responsible for fuelling xenophobic talk. Who???

Prime Minister in closing has asked Bajans to rally around the flag as the government grapple with the widening deficit. Congrats to Roy Morris of Barbados Today for bringing a hard-nosed approach to the proceedings.

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63 responses to “Prime Minister David Thompson’s First Press Conference in 2010”

  1. Donald Duck, Esq Avatar
    Donald Duck, Esq

    The journalists were poor with their questions. When asking about CLICO they should have also asked about British american, a company that the minister has avoided providing comments on. The Minister seemed to be confused about clico life owned and what CL holdings owns.

  2. Donald Duck, Esq Avatar
    Donald Duck, Esq

    The minister made a subtle remark about evaluating the implementation of a modified VAT. Did anyone pick up on that? What does this mean? Are we going backwards to what grenada had and what we had many years ago?

  3. Donald Duck, Esq Avatar
    Donald Duck, Esq

    The minister hinted that the budget deficit for 2010/11 is likely to come out at approx 8% of GDP. I thought he was supposed to be putting a dent in the deficit. As the estimates have to reflect what the current law provides, does it mean we are going to have a massive increase in taxation in the budget?

  4. Donald Duck, Esq Avatar
    Donald Duck, Esq

    BU. Your point 12 should refer to an actuarial study being commissioned by E&Y.

  5. David Avatar
    David

    Thanks DD Esq

  6. Donald Duck, Esq Avatar
    Donald Duck, Esq

    As to the tax on gambling and cellphone tax that was proposed in 2008, was the Minister saying that the 2008 budget was ill conceived?

    As to the give aways, can any one tell me if they have benefited from the refund of vat on low income houses or know of any one who has benefitted? It is allfine to promise something on paper and then not be able to deliver!!!!

  7. Donald Duck, Esq Avatar
    Donald Duck, Esq

    Why was it the journalists did not pursue the Minister on his famous saying shortly after taking office that his 1st, 2nd and 3 rd priorities will be the cost of living.

    All he could say on this was that Cost u less is shortly coming and the days of the middle man are numbered. How many jobs will be lost as a result?

  8. Wishing In Vain Avatar
    Wishing In Vain

    There is a calm that this Prime Minister presents that is comforting, for the first time in 14 years gone we have a Prime Minister that we all can look up to for truth and honesty and all be very proud of.

    Keep the good work up Captain you are doing a great job.

    NO MORE COST OVERRUNS AS WAS SO COMMON UNDER THE BLP NO MORE CORRUPTION LIKE UNDER THE BLP, AND HOUSES BEING BUILT AND TOURIST NUMBERS GROWING BY LEAPS AND BOUNDS.

  9. Donald Duck, Esq Avatar
    Donald Duck, Esq

    Minister:- let us know how much was incurred or revenue foregone as a result of the following concessions announced in your 2008 budget. I have noted besides the concessions how much the concession was budgeted to cost government

    >VAT on lower income housing – existing rate of increase of housing ($7.1m)
    >VAT on lower income housing -additional rate of increase of housing ($11.0m)
    >Increase in reverse tax credit ($7.5m)
    >Increase in pension for disabled ($3.0m)
    >Increase in non-contributory old age pension ($8.0m)
    >Increase in welfare grants ($ 0.2m)
    >Increase in vacation camps for children ($5.0m)
    >Expansion of school bus scheme ($11.0m)
    >Increase in marketing budget of BTA ($10.0m)
    >Restoration of credit union allowance ($2.5m)
    >Increase in Retrofitting allowance to cover energy conservation and alternative energy ——($ 5.0m)
    >Incentives for agriculture ($ 8.0m)
    >Seed capital fund ($0.5m)

    I am sure that when you check back you would have found that most of the budgeted expenditure was not incurred.

  10. Donald Duck, Esq Avatar
    Donald Duck, Esq

    WIV

    How can you have cost overruns when you have not built out anything?

  11. Donald Duck, Esq Avatar
    Donald Duck, Esq

    How about the Minister’s statement in his 2008 budget when he was referring to the environmental levy ( the Levy).

    He said “It is in this context that I wish to announce that the Levy will now be
    applied on local production as well as imports.” How come no mention was made of this levy tonight? Is it going to be still implemented?

  12. ac Avatar
    ac

    the PM stood his ground well . agree with W IV.

    donald Eq.
    No matter what the PM say you not going to be happy. Afte all he is trying to clean up most of the junk the previous party left behind like AL Barrack millions and the list goes on.

  13. Enuff Avatar
    Enuff

    WIV is back with falsehoods again.

    Late last year you were touting massive increases in tourist arrivals and denying the claims of Sue Springer that visitor spend was down $100 million.

    In January the Central Bank Governor confirmed what the BHTA said– spend was down not by $100m but $170 million and arrivals by 9%.

    With that release I noticed you went silent, now all of a sudden you are back again.

  14. Pat Avatar
    Pat

    I think you should all expect wage freezes, increased taxation and reduction in services, if the island is to survive during these difficult times. The less foreign currency spent to import food, the better the country will be.

    Time to go back to eating breadfruit boiled, mashed, fried, roasted and baked with saltfish or hard boiled egg butter gravy.

    Time to leave the cars at home and take the bus. Or walk the first two miles then take the bus. Better yet, if you have two cars, sell one. Besides taxis cheap and you will not have the headache of driving in traffic.

    I think there should also be a carbon tax on all BIG rides! Then the VAT can remain where it is at, so the poor are not unduly penalized.

  15. freewilly Avatar
    freewilly

    Pat..keep your Canadian ideas to your country ok..what carbon tax what.. u igrunt?Sad to see people still making excuses for these well paid actors to come on tv and perform these Oscar winning performances.

  16. David Avatar
    David

    Question for the PM: If Dr.Estwick is a member of the cabimet why did he have to go public to advise the PM of a wage freeze?

  17. The People's Democratic Congress Avatar
    The People’s Democratic Congress

    Here are 20 reasons why the masses of voters of people in Barbados must refuse to VOTE for the DLP and the BLP in the Next Elections in the country:

    1) For the DLP and the BLP’s recklessness foolhardiness in bringing about – within the last 16 years or so – staggering and massive increases in the Government Debt ( According to the Minister of Economic Affairs, Dr. David Estwick, this debt currently stands at 120 % of GDP);

    2) For their atrocious and excessive domestic and foreign borrowings ( recently some BDS $ 240 Million that was raised through a bond issue on the Trinidad and Tobago capital markets);

    3) For their role in helping to make the state too big, too inefficient and too unrational, and at the same time their making sure that it is so expensive to run the state ( it takes about BDS $ 4.0 billion to run the state now in a roughly eight billion dollar economy – What madness!!!);

    4) For amassing huge and unmanageable fiscal deficits from time to time;

    5) For their tendencies to go and build too quickly too many huge non-income generating physical development projects, while at the same time refusing to have a structured program for the converting of many some times old, and many some times not so old abandoned “government owned” properties into good and useful purposes;

    6) For the DLP and BLP’s evil intention to continue TAXING individuals, businesses and other entities in this country;

    7) For the DLP and the BLP’ nefarious intention to continue with these very evil Interest Rates and Repayable Institutional Productive Loans Regimes in the country;

    8) For refusing to seriously reform the present Hire Purchase system in Barbados;

    9) For their dirty and reckless role over the years in helping to diminish, stagnate and weaken the manufacturing sector in Barbados;

    10) For their dastard role in helping over the years to diminish, stagnate and weaken the Agriculture Sector in Barbados;

    11) For starkly failing for a long time to remove the country’s largely contrived but unwholesome chronic dependence on the Tourism Sector, while refusing to listen to many cries for DLP and BLP Governments to diversify into other sub/sectors ( e.g. heavy duty manufacturing) and away from this type of dependence on that particular sector;

    12) For their promoting of this foolishness and stupidness called the CSME;

    13) For both the DLP and BLP’s outright refusal to totally stop our land spaces rights from being sold to foreigners – rather than leasing such land space rights to them for a relatively short period of time, say 10 – 15 years – subject to renewal and esp., when so many many Barbadians are without their own land spaces;

    14) For doing absolutely NOTHING to stop the costs of purchasing and building houses from going skyrocketing high in this country, and far out of the reaches of the ordinary man and woman;

    15) For their catastrophic failures in removing the great amount of traffic congestion that is seen on our many roads in the morning and afternoon during the week;

    16) For their downright failures to seriously arrest the pervasive and deeprooted problems at the QEH and throughout the wider health care system – having made many promises in the past to do so;

    17) For their gross and deliberate failure to Abolish this damn iniquitous Common Entrance Examination and to put in its place an appropriate National Continuous Assessment Program;

    18) For these two factions’ refusal to seriously restrain and control many of these negative destructive foreign/alien influences and encroachments, esp cultural ones, that are affecting our Barbadian realm;

    19) For refusing to Abolish the role of the Queen as Head of State of this a supposed independent sovereign country and to replace her with a local Head of State, an Executive President of the People’s Republic of Barbados; and,

    20) For their blunt refusal to grant greater sovereign power and authority to the people of this country over the entire affairs of this country.

    For sure, these are some of the real reasons why thousands upon thousands of people must REFUSE TO VOTE at the Next Election for the DLP and the BLP in this country, and instead VOTE for the PDC to redress such wrongs, where necessary, and to put in place the right modern systems and strategies, where necessary, to replace these very ineffective wicked systems and strategies that already have done so much damage to our people and to the country’s affairs.

    PDC

  18. Donald Duck, Esq Avatar
    Donald Duck, Esq

    It is a worrying situation when the minister says clico barbados is not in as bad a shape as the other clico entities elsewhere. Why then is clico life barbados having problems paying death claims.

  19. Donald Duck, Esq Avatar
    Donald Duck, Esq

    I was not too sure if the minister knew if his government was going to build a new hospital or renovate the existing one. Why is the government procrastinating over this? the longer the delay in building a new one the more it will cost us. He had a plant o seel the bnb and icbl shares to pay for some of the new hosptial some time ago. If he had done that when he made that annoucement he would probably have earned more.

  20. Avatar
    Anonymous

    The PM’s cynical manipulation of Bajan’s lack of critical thinking is admirable. Imagine one could announce that the East coast would be reserved for Bajans, that windows to the sea on the same coast would be maintained, that the character of the East Coast would be preserved and then…one approves a development in Bathsheba of villas and condos which is 50% owned by a Trinidadian, will extend down to the shore and is being advertised for sale (presumably to “Bajans” ) in London by Sothebys!!! And one is applauded!

    Imagine at a time when payment of income tax refunds are delayed that the Barbados Gov’t could put $1 million in a polo match that was to be charity event for Lesotho but refuses to take even one Haitian who may need medical treatment …. and we applaud.

  21. Wishing In Vain Avatar
    Wishing In Vain

    Anonymous, grow up little boy, whatever was paid to host the event was more than well returned by the unending exposure in a very good light for Barbados and its people, exposure that we could not have paid for, further more you are an outright liar as some of these same funds raised have been left behind for various local charties as well as the Hati relief fund.

    Speak honestly and truthfully when you speak or shut up as in your case this maybe a safer bet.

  22. Wishing In Vain Avatar
    Wishing In Vain

    Enuff, they did not put you out of here as well as they did in Parliament Greenidge ??

  23. Donald Duck, Esq Avatar
    Donald Duck, Esq

    WIV

    Why don’t you try and stick to the issues?

    Explain why the minister could moan that the corporate tax take from international businesses had dropped dramatically but did not offer a soluion as to how the government was going to make up this shortfall. The government seems to have a non coordinated effort on international business with one minister having a ministry responsible for international business and another minister having responsibility for Invest Barbados. There also appears to be no plan of implementing the strategy for enhancement of this sector that was thrashed by all the stakeholders. All talk and no action.

  24. Barnabas Collins Avatar
    Barnabas Collins

    In politics in Barbados, I have come to understand when in opposition, we oppose irrespective of what it proposed. If it makes sense or not. The government on the other hand must convinced the public that everything is fine and in good hands and the opposition is a bunch of people who doesn’t want any good for barbados. Those are given. I have also come to understand that both political parties get your operatives to come on this blog and make out a case for their fidelity and trustworthiness. Another given. And then there is the PDC’s long epistolary submissions. LOL. Also a given.

    I will upset some with my deductions because it has become apparent, if one doesn’t sing in the choir one is some party’s political yardfowl. Therefore, I will declare my hand early before my parents are denigrated, the only party I am beholding to is the Collins household. Like or leave it, your choice, but some of what has affected our country comes from external forces which we have no control but some is of our own making. Al Barrack was inherited by this government, and it seems that this government thought that placing in the paper a photo of him joining the party would have stopped him from pressuring them for his money but alas it did not. The global financial meltdown was also part of this government’s inheritance but the previous government was not responsible either. Spending 404 million dollars in the first year and 500 plus million dollars in the second(according to the BSJ), and taxing us from our cellphones (which they seem not be able to find a mechanism to collect) to my son’s bicycle CANNOT BE the fault of the previous government. The taxation was so wide spread that there is no way we can be taxed further. In Barbados, any increase in any of the business operational costs are always passed on to the consumer. Therefore, increase water, light, phone means that businesses will increase their prices of goods which increases the cost of living. Therefore, this government can now appreciate that the cost of living is not instrinsically tied any government as suggested when they were in opposition.

    Now those things has passed, I am now interested in what measures will be instituted to prevent us from having unemployment reaching higher levels and our reserves being depleted. Anything outside of that is red herrings. Finally, sometimes I wonder if politicians and their operatives think that we the people are stupid. Go back to previous parliamentary papers, and see some of the things that were said by both sides on the transport board, the building of villas which block windows to the sea, the economy and yes government spending and one will see that they say one thing in opposition but something totally different when the roles are reversed. I apologise for the length.

    BC

  25. Adrian Hinds Avatar
    Adrian Hinds

    Chuspe at BC. You are part of the attempt by…..

    “both political parties to get their operatives to come on this blog and make out a case for their fidelity and trustworthiness.”

    I like Thompson’s dismissal of the Legal fraternity’s concerns about the outgoing CJ.

    I am petitioning for Jeff Cumberbatch to be the next CJ.

    http://www.nationnews.com/news/local/LEAD-PM-defends-CJ-position-copy-for-web#

  26. Barnabas Collins Avatar
    Barnabas Collins

    @AH….as I said “Red Herring”…

  27. Enuff Avatar
    Enuff

    @WIV

    After another installment of your series ‘Finding Sylvan Greenidge’, the fact still remains that you were proved wrong by your ‘own’ Governor of the Central Bank.

    You like your deity, the PM, believe that sophistry and nuance are all that are necessary to retain the reins of government.

    But I got news for you, that kool aid is fast losing its appeal.

  28. Enuff Avatar
    Enuff

    @ AH

    I agree with you!!

    Why people always trying to pull wool over people’s eyes when their bias is so clear, as is yours.

  29. Adrian Hinds Avatar
    Adrian Hinds

    Red herring is good food.
    Not stupid, I wouldn’t know, but clearly partisan, that I can see.

  30. Avatar
    Anonymous

    The key to the solution to the fiscal problems of government is to institute a realistic programme of expenditure restraint.

    Critical to any expenditure restraint programme is to rein in capital expenditure.

    The big problem with cutting back on capital expenditure is that the political class, (politicians and their key supporters ) get their “fat”from capital projects. Fat is contracts for a lot of money for doing little or nothing.

    Any government that institutes serious cuts in the capital works will alienate a significant number of its supporters.

    The attitude will be – the last group got through “licking”, go and find some money so that your supporters can do the same.

  31. Adrian Hinds Avatar
    Adrian Hinds

    @Enuff:
    The sophist of our parliament has always been Mia Mottley.

    Your news is heavy of feelings and carry little facts. It is easy to dismiss most of your comments and difficult to believe anthing else coming from you. You must embrace facts and ideas to win the argument.

  32. Adrian Hinds Avatar
    Adrian Hinds

    Anonymous // February 12, 2010 at 12:31 PM

    The key to the solution to the fiscal problems of government is to institute a realistic programme of expenditure restraint.

    Critical to any expenditure restraint programme is to rein in capital expenditure.
    ————————————————–

    I agree. But understand what you are saying by embracing the realities with which we are confronted.

    Socialist and or liberal policies exacerbated by socialist liberal democrats and their Big Government is good ideology, must continually spend to constantly demostrate to their citizens the good they are doing. This spending comes from taxes in one form or the other.

    Reduce spending will ultimately lead to a reduction in the services that the government sold to the public and that the public embraced.

    It is a catch 22 for all governments control by socialist democrats, caught in a tough economic period.

  33. Enuff Avatar
    Enuff

    @AH

    I speak based purely on facts. Only the Haiti issue I was short and conceded to you on another thread.

    Here is an example of the PM:

    “In addition, he said it was very wrong for some Barbadians to criticise his administration’s decision to provide free bus fares for schoolchildren, and continue their roll-out of the controversial Constituency Councils, since those two projects, costing $9 million and $1.3 million respectively, could not break the Treasury.”

  34. Adrian Hinds Avatar
    Adrian Hinds

    I don’t know, as I have not listen to or read the PM’s comments in full.

    But are these two initiatives bad or they are good but not at this time?

    Did they indeed bread the treasury? Are you saying that he is wrong? Would 10.3 million had it not been spent or allocated to be spent, would it change the mode in the country? would it employment be lower than 10%, would the four seasons project been restarted or never stopped????????

  35. Christopher Halsall Avatar
    Christopher Halsall

    @Adrian Hinds…

    Just a quick question…

    Do you agree with the concept of a “flat tax”?

    That is, that *everyone* pays the same *rate* of tax no matter how much they earn?

    So, as a simple example, that those who make $1,000 a year pay $100 in tax, and those that make $1M a year should pay $100,000 in tax?

  36. Enuff Avatar
    Enuff

    AH

    I see nothing wrong with free buses, my issue is the timing especially after Chairman Stanford early in his tenure highlighted the board had lost
    BDS$142.8 million for the period 2005-2008 and vowed to reverse the trend.

    The constituency councils were suppose to engender public participation in the governance process; however the way they were established and structured is incongruous with this concept. As a result the bureaucratic processes remain replete with duplications. They too are ill-timed.

    The issue is not bankruptcy it is about prudence, though clever, the PM’s argument is unsound.

    Would people still be awaiting their tax refunds/reverse credits or have a better chance of being paid?

  37. Adrian Hinds Avatar
    Adrian Hinds

    @Chris Halsall
    Yes I agree with the concept of a flat INCOME tax.

    @Enuff:
    You have not answered the question, whether the 10.3 million dollars is breaking the treasury! Did it? could it?

    Your answers determines the validity of defining these two DLP initiatives as “ill timed.” If not now what do you concider to be an appropiate time to introduce them?

  38. Yuh want a slap Avatar
    Yuh want a slap

    Donald Duck he is Prime Minister not Minister. Nothing you post can be taken seriously if you dont know Thompson is PM. You are a disrespecting clown like your buddies Mickey Mouse and Woody wood Pecker .

  39. Donald Duck, Esq Avatar
    Donald Duck, Esq

    I was addressing mr thompson in his capacity as Minister of finance. last time i checked he was the only minister of finance or have i missed something.

  40. Avatar
    Anonymous

    WIV

    I applaud your loyalty. Did the Gov’t of Barbados agree to take any Haitian in need of medical care? Did the Gov’t of Barbados not contribute $1 million into the polo match? Have all approved income tax refunds been paid? So what was I being untruthful about? It is note worthy that you did not dispute the comments on the Edgewater development! By the way, what is the significant difference between a “wage freeze” and a “moratorium” on wage increases?

  41. Avatar
    Anonymous

    @ Barnabas Collins

    not a “truer” word was written when you posted “they say one thing in opposition but something totally different when the roles are reversed.”

    When will the Gov’t put into effect the increase in prices for the supply of natural gas? The increase has already been approved by the Cabinet but has been delayed on hearing that electricity and telephone rates were going up. Didn’t the DLP when in opposition accuse the then administration of not lowering the cost of living? What’s happening now? Didn’t the DLP when in opposition berate the villa and condo development on the West Coast? How am I to view their support of the marina at Six Mens, the involvement of Gov’t in the Four Seasons project, the the botched attempt at development at Harrison Point with Rosewood Hotels, the intention to build an airport in St.Lucy and now the Edgewater development on the East Coast as other than gross hypocrisy and a cynical manipulation of the lack of critical thinking among some Bajans?

    I will give one suggestion that could ease the pockets of Bajan families particularly poor families. Let children wear soft wear to school. As it is now, children have to have at least two pairs of shoes. One black or brown hard soled shoes and another pair for games. Why is this necessary?

  42. Enuff Avatar
    Enuff

    @AH

    “If not now what do you concider to be an appropiate time to introduce them?”

    Certainly not at a time when people are still waiting for their refunds, reverse tax credits or their second cheque since the first was short.

  43. ac Avatar
    ac

    hi ya all nothing is free somebody has to
    pay for it.

  44. Wishing In Vain Avatar
    Wishing In Vain

    The more desperate this bunch get the more erratic they also become this story below is a sick and sad end to this scene, the two players in this scam is Forde the Parliamentary representative for St Thomas and the idiot boy Indra UNDERWEAR Weir, up until recently Mr Underwear was seen advertising for this man on his website.

    How much lower will the BLP stoop??????

    HELD!

    The suspect is thought to have duped more than 100 people of several thousands dollars with promises of a job on a cruise liner. (File photo)

    Published on: 2/12/2010.

    by TIM SLINGER

    A ST THOMAS man suspected of having duped more than 100 people of several thousand dollars with promises of jobs on a tourist liner, is now in police custody.

    According to reports, the man was nabbed by lawmen Tuesday after one of the people he was negotiating with, arranged to give him the final payment for getting employment on a Norwegian ship.

    Sources told the WEEKEND NATION that so convincing was the story of the man’s ability to secure jobs on the overseas tourism market that, unwittingly, a Member of Parliament and a senior Government official got entangled in the alleged scam.

    Head of the Fraud Squad Assistant Superintendent of Police John Maxwell confirmed yesterday that police were questioning a man in connection with several cases of fraud involving visa and medical reports for overseas employment.

    Reports also indicated that police have recovered a number of passports and were conducting a search of a computer belonging to the suspect.

    One man spoke of paying the suspect more than $1 000, which was stipulated as payment for securing a United States visa and medical examination.

    According to this man, his suspicion was aroused after the man offering the job, telephoned him claiming that the final payment of money was urgently needed.

    “He kept telling me, ‘you gine miss this boat, yuh know’,” the man said.

    Another report stated that a second man held a farewell party and made his way to the airport to collect airline tickets for travel after paying the man money for a job as a porter on a cruise ship.

    The trip never materialised and the alleged victim was told new flight arrangements were being made for his travel

  45. Crusoe Avatar
    Crusoe

    I did not see the PM’s address directly, but assess based on what has been reported.

    It bothers me that the current administration appears to be refusing to face the reality that indirect taxation must be immediately, reassessed, even if a bit late.

    An increase in VAT will not substantially increase specific prices.

    The costs of a unit is more driven by primary costs, markups and duty.

    2.5% on each items will therefore not be substantial and while the lower income will pay some of the increase, the majority will be paid by those earning more, who spend more.

    Further, that 2.5% increase will go a long way to reducing fiscal deficit.

    Secondly, has the PM broached or countered the capital gains tax on real estate and shares argument, at all?

    As noted before, this is a common and fair tax , not to mention unavoidable if based on land tax value for real estate and based on published share prices for shares.

    We are told that many land transfers take place, with monies passing outside of the country.

    By having this capital gains on real estate based on land tax values, Government will ensure that funds are collected.

    Indirect taxation also does not constrict the economy, as spending is still conducted, where it is not when people are taxed at source i.e. income.

    Indirect taxation also addressed those who do not declare income.

    This is another reason it is fair.

    It is better to deal with issues than sweep them under the carpet and it looks to me as if the current adminstration is playing the popularity game, rather than biting the bullet and placing fair and balanced taxation on the ground, now.

    That said, where is commenter who goes by the name of ‘Alex Fergusson’, allegedly representing the Opposition?

    Appears fairly quiet now, no?

    Mr.Fergusson,

    Does the Opposition support increased VAT? Does the Opposition support the implementation of capital gains tax on real estate and shares?

    These are issues that must be answered.

    Whether such support exists or not and if not, why not?

    Why is the Government avoiding capital gains tax on real estate and shares?

  46. Avatar
    Anonymous

    The calf is fat no more.

    Please let the calf get some fat. At the moment has has only bones and lean.

    If you take too much from it it will die

  47. Crusoe Avatar
    Crusoe

    ‘Further, that 2.5% increase will go a long way to reducing fiscal deficit’

    To clarify, a large volume of small amounts across the board, will bring much added revenue, for the country.

  48. Crusoe Avatar
    Crusoe

    Anonymous // February 13, 2010 at 6:13 AM

    The calf is fat no more.

    Please let the calf get some fat. At the moment has has only bones and lean.

    If you take too much from it it will die

    ————————————–

    What calf are you referring to?

    Or, re capital gains, is it that ‘please let the status quo remain’, that the same ones may feast on the calf as usual, and not distribute any meat for the populace’?

  49. freewilly Avatar
    freewilly

    Thompson is following his well rehearsed script to keep the masses alive with hope when in reality he knows the bubble has already burst,no one can tell me that these Lodge members don’t know the outcome because they are actors in this well thought out play..now pray tell me ,if the Americans are sinking faster than a water filled submarine how is this actor/liar suppose to save us Bajans huh???
    http://onlinejournal.com/artman/publish/article_5540.shtml

  50. Crusoe Avatar
    Crusoe

    Freewilly,

    Note that people seem to be refusing to believe what their eyes see.

    Agreed that the unemployment rate is nothing short of miraculous, but unfortunately, by June it shall be much, much higher. Watch for the figure.

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