est. 2007

Barbados Underground

Bringing News and Opinions to the People

,

The Barbados VAT Party

Prime Minister Mia Mottley shows off a Kensington Oval ready for T20 World Cup
Submitted by Heather Cole of The Barbados Lobby
Heather Cole
Heather Cole

On December 16, 1773, there was a political protest in the Boston Harbor by the Sons of Liberty. The protest was simple but yet effective. It was simple because it was the destruction of 342 chests […]

of tea by dumping them into the harbor.

It was effective because it culminated thirteen years of increasing British oppression through taxation on the thirteen seaboard colonies in the USA. It was effective because it was the trigger that led to the American Revolution and ultimately independence from Britain.

Tea was a commodity that was used by the colonist every day and cellphones are now used by the people of Barbados every day. The situation in Barbados is similar, eight years of oppressive taxation with thirty five new taxes to which a VAT of 22% was added on cellphone calls yesterday.

A few weeks ago it seemed to be the eighth wonder of the world when the Minister of Education from out of nowhere informed the nation that cellphones which were previously prohibited would be allowed in schools. It makes one wonder if taxation was the intent that caused the Minister of Education to allow cellphones in schools.

Eventually this taxation crisis in Barbados will lead to a showdown and the cellphone tax may very well be the straw that breaks the proverbial camel’s back. This will only happen if the people believe that the 22% VAT on cellphone calls have violated their rights to speak for as long as they please.

This tax brings into question the extent and legitimacy of Parliament’s authority to infringe on the constitutional rights of the people. Will the next tax be on the air that one breathes? It may very well be if the Cahill Plasma Gasification Plant becomes a reality. If the people abstain from this tax by turning off their cell phone services the tax will not be collected and the government will be the loser. The Government’s solution should be to find projects to earn income and not resort to taxation.

There is a need for an iconic event to change the outlook in Barbados; that will lead to the first Barbados Revolution that changes politics, the government, governance and the mindset of the inertia on the island. As the Sons of Liberty proved, change can only come from the people. One hopes that the imposition of the 22% VAT on cellphones will create the catalyst for change that the island is crying out for.

Defiance and resistance are missing in Barbados. Perhaps we need our Sons of Liberty to prove that a political protest can work. So while the Government is attending all of its pomp and pageantry the people should be having a VAT party. There is no tea but there is an abundance of the sea all around the island. Symbolically, VAT can be dumped into the sea. Why not have a VAT party on November 3oth to let the government know how the people feel.

86 responses to “The Barbados VAT Party”

  1. David Avatar
    David

    BU finds it interesting the government since David Thompson has laboured to implement a cellphone tax. Not because we want to suffer more taxes, more because it amply demonstrates we have an implementation deficit.

    Also, the MoF should tell us the negative impact all these revenue measures which have been unsurprisingly delayed are impacting government’s management of the economy.

  2. de Ingrunt Word Avatar
    de Ingrunt Word

    This line is outstanding: ” Will the next tax be on the air that one breathes? It may very well be if the Cahill Plasma Gasification Plant becomes a reality” Beautiful. Perfect rallying cry bumper sticker…with a little reworking!

    These ever expanding taxes as noted are counter productive as they stifle economic growth.

    And so now we know why the cell phones were allowed in schools…one has to appreciate in a sneering, angry way the absolute deviousness of the Minister. Give the students the rope of more opportunity for cell time and they will figuratively hang themselves and their parents with some ‘tax talk’.

    And at the end of the piece above I started to get really excited as I thought the author was suggesting that Bajans do a Boston Tea Party style dumping of phones in the sea…but I expect she would definitely settle for a very realistic dumping of the wasteful cell palaver every minute of a student’s or adult’s day. That too can be an effective protest.

    @David, The context of the need to impose each additional tax goes directly to your point about “negative impact all these revenue measures”.

    It seems that government is not earning the revenue they projected with each tax imposition, based likely on a significant fall-off in use. And thus that is leading to the incremental imposition of another tax and another.

    As the author asked, is a tax on breathing next!

  3. Shaft Avatar
    Shaft

    Most Barbadians couldn’t organise a protest… Sinckler is completely out of his depth! He has an adviser, a trained economist, who has been trying for the last 14 years to bury the Nation’s dept and give Sinckler advice on how to get Barbados on its feet…! Dogs chasing their tails!
    Thanks HA…!

  4. balance Avatar
    balance

    Enlightening commentary.

  5. FearPlay Avatar
    FearPlay

    When I heard the argument put forward for the reintroduction of cell phones in schools so that research could be carried out by students, I laughed. Research on a cell phone? This devious lot of insipid little liars are so intent on destroying the nation that they will stop at nothing!

    Had the phone carriers introduced a 20% surcharge on service, would it have been acceptable? While we as a people have not risen to the level of mass protest thus far, I am heartened by the passive resistance to every tax imposed by boss idiot and hope and believe that this tax will meet the same resistance.

    For me, you can be assured that my cellular device will enter into hibernation until such time as someone with sense removes this dastardly imposition. My intention will surround the use of my cellular device for EMERGENCY only. I will not be accepting or returning any calls while away from wifi until such time as boss idiot taxes wifi too.

    On a related matter, Sir Frank is an economist of renown who was unable to advise this government on management of the economy. Will ex Prime Minister Arthur really put what remains of his tattered legacy at risk by associating with this rag tag band of bumbling idiots? I pray not.

  6. ac Avatar
    ac

    Eventually this taxation crisis in Barbados will lead to a showdown and the cellphone tax may very well be the straw that breaks the proverbial camel’s back. This will only happen if the people believe that the 22% VAT on cellphone calls have violated their rights to speak for as long as they please.

    How does an individual rights to speak on a cellphone become violated by taxation?
    llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll
    what poppy cock

  7. Hamilton Hill Avatar
    Hamilton Hill

    Not so long ago we were told by the minister of agriculture that the imposition of taxes will not get it done. For the umpteenth time Dr David spoke to the need for there to be stimulation of the economy as opposed to the concept of tax imposition.You said that you hope that your colleagues were listening. …evidently they were not. What will you do? Hang in there until the pension fund reaches maturity, I suppose.

  8. Hamilton Hill Avatar
    Hamilton Hill

    When one takes a look at the number of cellular minutes racked up by these two companies, and one remembers that VALUE ADDED TAX where Barbados is concerned is nothing more than a private sector cash cow, can there be any surprise in this move? Part of the monies collected will be used to finance the next general elections. And the beat goes on!

  9. St George's Dragon Avatar
    St George’s Dragon

    Just for clarity, the VAT rate on cellphone call charges has been raised from 17.5% to 22%.
    That means someone with a current monthly bill of $100 will pay an extra $3.83.
    I do not expect to see rioting on the streets as a result of the change.

  10. David Avatar
    David

    @St, George Dragon

    It is your kind of passive acceptance of mismanagement via continuous increasing taxes that allows this government and other of the past to do as they like. Do you know ALL entrants to the Barbados Port now have to pay $50.00 to do business?

  11. FearPlay Avatar
    FearPlay

    I like you mathematics St George’s Dragon. Based on your calculations the government can up the VAT to 22% across the board and no one should complain as the ADDITIONAL cost to consumers will only go up by a few dollars. Your reasoning suggest that the Dragon’s brain is comprised of shat. No wonder your government stopped funding higher education – obviously wasted on individuals with this mind set and thinking process.

  12. Frustrated Businessman Avatar
    Frustrated Businessman

    I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: this gov’t’s mismanagement of the BDS economy has not just changed business, it has changed the way we do business. For decades to come the only tangible taxes that will be collected in Bim will be VAT and property tax. VAT will soon be 22% across the board and commercial property tax will increase. The alternative is expenditure reduction and that will never happen.

  13. millertheanunnaki Avatar
    millertheanunnaki

    @ David November 27, 2015 at 3:15 AM #
    “BU finds it interesting the government since David Thompson has laboured to implement a cellphone tax. Not because we want to suffer more taxes, more because it amply demonstrates we have an implementation deficit.”

    Why are you surprised at all at the ‘implementation’ failure of the cell phone tax?
    It failed because the JA we have for a MoF cannot see the forest from the trees surrounded by a bunch of myopic jokers calling themselves economic advisors.

    What the hell was Frank Alleyne thinking when he allowed this tax to be presented by that ‘slow-learner’ (where financial matters are concerned) minister to Parliament in a form almost impossible to implement, police and enforced?
    Even Jepter Physical Deficit Ince would have spotted the major defects inherent in such tax collection method.
    Now where was Owen the great economic guru when he was needed to pull the trigger against the method of implementing that tax? Aiming his venom at upstaging Mia in her reply to the Budget?

    Here is want the stupid short-sighted maryjane smoking miller had to say even before the tax was announced in the last budget:

    “ millertheanunnaki June 15, 2015 at 3:12 PM
    @ Budget Blackbox June 15, 2015 at 2:12 PM

    Would not be surprised if your ‘suspected’ proposals are indeed included as additional tax revenue measures. The proposal to adjust the personal income tax allowances (e.g. reducing the standard personal allowance and scrapping the deduction for house improvements/repairs) is something the IMF has been pushing.

    The cell phone tax was included in a previous budget (was it 2008 or 2009?) as a revenue raising item that never saw the light of day because the ‘architect’ was a complete joker with respect to its implementation. It was proposed as a specific tax of ($4.00) to be levied on the handset on a monthly basis instead of it being an ad valorem tax levied on the monthly bill for post paid and on each top up for prepaid users.

    Why not have a separate VAT rate for cell phones that would incorporate the existing VAT and reflect government’s need to raise revenue from this easy target of a financial gold mine?

    It would be interesting if the jackass for a MoF would go against the demands of the IMF and grant exemption from this tax to the likes of Sandals.”

  14. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    How about using your cell phone only for “emergencies” or reducing the time you spend

    gossiping ?

    The best way for Bajans to reduce the tax they pay is by reducing spending on

    discretionary items and while you at it reduce the electricity you waste.

  15. Old Baje Avatar
    Old Baje

    @ David

    A little correction. It is $5 to enter the port, not $50.
    In any case you shouldn’t have to pay to enter. What next? Paying to visit the National Insurance Department?

  16. millertheanunnaki Avatar
    millertheanunnaki

    @ Hants November 27, 2015 at 9:27 AM

    No one is questioning the introduction of the tax per se but the method or approach to its implementation.
    As a matter of fact I support the tax since it is based on discretionary spending and meets all the relevant criteria of the two major canons of taxation; i.e. the ability to pay and the benefit principle.
    The tax should have been introduced long time ago at the rate of 15% plus a surcharge of 5% giving an overall VAT rate of 20% and subject to any change in the VAT base rate.

  17. Alvin Cummins Avatar
    Alvin Cummins

    @ Fear play:
    You wrote:”… , I laughed. Research on a cell phone? …
    You are obviously such a dodo (now extinct) or you are an ostrich. Cell phones today can access WiFi, they can access the internet, and any information can be accessed through Google, Yahoo, Wikipedia, or other search engines. Consequently any type of research is possible. Young people today have become addicted to the cell phone. I have a nephew who does not move anywhere without his cell phone, and he gets information on anything instantaneously

  18. TheObserver Avatar
    TheObserver

    The Boston Tea Party was because of taxation without representation. I suspect our battle cry would have to include the words misrepresentation or over-representation.

    In a more serious vein, it would be good to know how the government arrives at numbers like 17.5 or 22%,. I would hope it was done based number crunching (some research) and not because we no longer use numbers between 1 and 15. As someone has already pointed out, too large a VAT may lead to a lesser use of cellphones, thus limiting the amount of VAT collected. This may be a case where less may yield more.

  19. Heather Avatar
    Heather

    @ The Ingrunt Word. Yes I was going to say dump them in the sea but then I changed my mind because it would be harmful to the environment.

  20. Al Capone Avatar
    Al Capone

    Well said by the Author….Tis Gov’t intends to raise revenue by any means possible – even if it entails taxing poor people to their coffins. All this talk about bumper tourist arrivals yet continued FALLING international reserves. We giving them two more quarters to see a change or by then even Ossie Moore should see the farce. Tell us BTA who is contorting these “saber” truths. Another Dr. Gobelles ( spreading propaganda) seems to be amongst us. Alvin “Pinocchio” Jemmott or Billy ” lion- tail’ Griffith? Which one is the master mind?

    Aside :

    When will Mr. Sinclair clean out the wax from his ears and hear increase taxation will not elevate or problems? Does he give a f doah?

    Wizard Ronald Jones’ allowing cellphones in school ( more revenue) is a class act. BY ANY MEANS – you all hear muh!!!!

  21. TheObserver Avatar
    TheObserver

    @ac
    “How does an individual rights to speak on a cellphone become violated by taxation?”

    I seem to be developing a fascination for statements made by ac, I wish to point out that the imposition of taxes was one way of violating the right of others. In the US the dreaded poll tax was used to deny people of their right to vote.

    Yes, a tax can be more than a tax. By knowing your target, what appears to be a fair and equal tax may become a scalpel in the hands of a skilled politician and used to cause a disproportionate amount of hardship to one group.

    I cannot address the legal aspects of your statement and it may not rise to a violation of individual rights, but taxation is often more than raising money. Taxes can be a lethal weapon in the hands of some politicians

  22. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    @ millertheanunnaki,

    My point still stands. Bajans should protest peacefully by reducing

    discretionary spending.

    for example I have a cell phone without a data plan. I can only connect to the internet at

    home or in an area where wireless is ” free “coffee shops etc. Don’t expect youngsters to do the same as me.

  23. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    If the sell phone companies really love their Bajan customers they could reduce their

    rates by 7%.

  24. Anthony Davis Avatar
    Anthony Davis

    This letter is not only well-written, it lets us know where we stand with this government. This is the same Government which came into office with many promises – but only kept one, i.e. they will tax us, and they surely are! Mobile phones should now only be used for texting!

  25. SuckaBubby Avatar
    SuckaBubby

    Whoever said this extra tax is no big deal would have to be foolish.This is a field test to put VAT at 22% all across the board.This is the part 2 of the 17.5% VAT review.

  26. Donna Avatar
    Donna

    My son and I only use our cell phones when necessary so he can have our two cent’s worth if he wants.

  27. Artaxerxes Avatar
    Artaxerxes

    According to the Monday, November 23, 2015 edition of the Barbados Advocate: “……..Barbadians could begin paying from as early as January at least a 22 per cent VAT on data and on all other services originating from their mobile phones.”

    During his June 15, 2015 budget presentation, Sinckler announced plans for a mobile airtime excise duty on cellular phones will be imposed at a nominal rate of 0.03 per minute for both service providers LIME and Digicel.
    This imposition was expected to have generated a total of approximately $32.7 million in revenue on an annual basis for the treasury.

    The following excerpt was taken from the Financial Statement and Budgetary Proposals 2008, which was presented by Thompson on Monday 7th July, 2008:

    “I have been made to understand that there are approximately 290,000 mobile phones on the island. In realization of my Government’s objective of REFORMING THE ISLAND’S EDUCATION SYSTEM, I PROPOSE to COLLECT a MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION of $4.00 on EACH post and pre-paid mobile phone in use.”

    “The subscription fee, which must be submitted to the Treasury by the 15th day of each month, will be collected by each service provider on their customers’ behalf. This proposal will become effective October 1, 2008 and is expected to raise, after taking VAT into consideration, net revenue of approximately $6.96 m in the first six months of its operation and $13.9 million in a full year.”

    Based on the above, Thompson suggested a subscription of a fixed amount ($4) on post and pre-paid mobile phones, as opposed to Sinckler’s first suggestion of an excise duty of 0.03 per minute on AIR-TIME, and his subsequent proposal of a 4.5% increase in VAT (from 17.5% to 22%) on MOBILE PHONE SERVICES.

    The latter proposal (i.e. additional tax) is projected to raise an additional $16M in revenue.

  28. FearPlay Avatar
    FearPlay

    @Alvin Cummins 9:46 am: I have seen many others attack you while commenting on the level of ignorance you display, in spite of what should have been a well rounded education. Now I know why! If you rely on a cell phone to do your internet research (even with wifi, fool) you are as backward as I imagined (and I have a very vivid imagination). Listen fool, I can do things with my computer, iPad and cell phone with one eye closed and and a hand behind my back so don’t start displaying your jaundiced political bile. Next thing you will tell me is that me and my family can sail to St Vincent in an inflated tyre. Stupid little man, one uses a cell phone for research when there are no other choices. If that is to large a though for you to get your head around, let me know and I will try to simply it for you.

  29. Vincent Haynes Avatar
    Vincent Haynes

    Chuckle…….A proper Leader.

    http://thisisafrica.me/tanzanias-presay-festivities/

  30. ac Avatar
    ac

    And beginning around August next year barbadians would see a drastic reduction in electric bills in part ydue to the initiative plans by Erma in correlation to govt energy policies towards energy saving
    With those plans becoming a reality would it be not be of a sufficient saving cost to households who then can use the monetary benefits from the energy savings towards the cellphone vat.
    Countries are dependant on taxes for a sembalancr o financially stable especially countries whose economies are tourism driven
    Yardfowl politics and wishful policies these countries nowhere

  31. David Avatar
    David

    A couple of questions for the MoF:

    How is the plan by government to collect NIS and VAT arrears coming along. Has Courts, reported to have a good financial year, paid the 40 million Caswell reported on a while ago?

    Wasn’t the strategy touted to reduce telecommunications costs to create an affordable environment to use/acess the Internet?

  32. millertheanunnaki Avatar
    millertheanunnaki

    @ Anthony Davis November 27, 2015 at 11:54 AM
    “Mobile phones should now only be used for texting!”

    Sinckler knows Bajans are addicted to cell phones with Internet connectivity especially WhatsApp.

    This tax will not only apply to cell phone talking and texting but also on all top-ups for data plans.

  33. ac Avatar
    ac

    @observer you lost me in your retort with the advancement of an argument that does not fit the critercia or an assessment of an individual right to speak on their cell phone regardless (of)or if

  34. Alvin Cummins Avatar
    Alvin Cummins

    @fear play;
    Correction. My nephew informs me that it is not just a cell phone, it is a “Smart Phone” that the young people are using.Don’t worry about the cost. It is also a two way street. You get information and share information instantaneously.

  35. ac Avatar
    ac

    And beginning around August next year barbadians would see a drastic reduction in electric bills in part due to the initiative plans by Erma in correlation to govt energy policies towards energy saving
    With those plans becoming a reality would it be not be of a sufficient saving cost to households who then can use the monetary benefits from the energy savings towards the cellphone vat.
    Countries are dependant on taxes for a semblance of financially stable especially countries whose economies are tourism driven
    Yardfowl politics and wishful policies get these countries nowhere

  36. millertheanunnaki Avatar
    millertheanunnaki

    @ ac November 27, 2015 at 8:27 PM
    “And beginning around August next year barbadians would see a drastic reduction in electric bills in part due to the initiative plans by Erma in correlation to govt energy policies towards energy saving
    With those plans becoming a reality would it be not be of a sufficient saving cost to households who then can use the monetary benefits from the energy savings towards the cellphone vat”

    That’s a load of bullshit.
    What’s going to happen between now and next August? The price of fuel oil and related products are goin g to fall below $30 per/bbl?

    What does the Government have to do with the price of electricity (not the FCA) other than having a regulatory framework in place?

    Does Emera intend to closedown its high fixed-cost generating plant(s)?
    Do you believe the capital cost of any R E infrastructure would be borne entirely by the (soon-to-be) single shareholder and not recouped from the customers with an expected more than healthy exorbitant return on investment?

    Do you really feel that the more individuals and businesses turn to R E themselves and go off-grid this would result in increases in revenues for the Emera-owned BL&P business and thereby a drop in the unit cost of production of electricity to be passed on to those customers who cannot go off-grid?
    Can you imagine what would happen to BL&P revenues if the QEH, the BWA and the GAIA go totally off-grid in keeping with your government pie-in-the-sky propaganda plans?

    Do you want Emera to rundown its transmission and distribution network and not invest in its upkeep and upgrade?

    Whom do you think would have to pay for all of these plans for R E and the need for Emera to recoup its pending 100% takeover in addition to a more than -satisfactory ROI?
    The Government of Barbados or the poor customers with no alternative to turn to other than returning to pre-standpipe days?

  37. ac Avatar
    ac

    only u would see the plan as a load of bull shit ,however when the energy consumer a see difference in their light bill they would not give a frigg how it happen ,all would matter is the lower difference in the amount they have been paying

  38. millertheanunnaki Avatar
    millertheanunnaki

    @ac November 27, 2015 at 9:11 PM

    All like now they are seeing a difference in their light bill when compared to last year?
    Who or what is responsible for that? Government energy policies?

    My objective is to stop you and your ilk from pulling political wool over the eyes of naïve Bajans.

    So why is the NIS selling its shares in the BL&P with such an exciting future in the making?

  39. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    Coming to the shores of Babadus soon.

    http://www.tampabaywater.org/tampa-bay-seawater-desalination-plant.aspx

  40. Vincent Haynes Avatar
    Vincent Haynes

    @Hants November 27, 2015 at 9:36 PM #

    Chuckle …..Yup on Pg 7 of Barbados Today

    BWA NEED FUNDS

    For a desal plant and the 65m building will help it to run efficiently…….only in Bim.

  41. David Avatar
    David

    BU understands the BWA pipe laying in Roebuck Street although appearing to be finished, because of a lack of parts/funds by the BWA certain parts will have to be dug up to insert parts not in stock. If true we can only admire the headquarters sitting on the Hill and wonder.

    On 28 November 2015 at 10:44, Barbados Underground wrote:

    >

  42. St George's Dragon Avatar
    St George’s Dragon

    And beginning around August 2018 Barbadians will see a drastic increase in electric bills due to the plan by the Government and Cahill for the waste to energy plant.
    If those plans become a reality electricity bills will rise so much that households will be unable to pay the cellphone VAT.

  43. ac Avatar
    ac

    Miller the more the merrier . which gives full credence to my comment that the consumer can apply the energy savings received towards the cellphone vat payments,
    AS usual the BLP brigade would raise the flag of Doom and Gloom on every issue quickly and ever so ready to dismiss visible and vital corrective measures present or in the future for remedy,
    Miller don/t u and the other fear mongers believe it is time to engage the barbadian public with viable alternatives in order to save your party and leadership from the agony of defeat and another embarrassing beating in the coming next election.
    Don/t u guys realize that in the six years of Mottley being leadership her activism has failed to produce any productive dialogue in way of healing for the country or even for the party
    THe blp foot soldiers in the past six years have mounted an inane and insipid dialogue waging war on Barbados hoping that when all is said and done the destruction method of mouthings to embarrass barbados financial status would be of benefit and would raised a red flag of doubt and confusion with the effect for pandemonium and riots in the street,
    Have The BLP yard fowls not notice that this event has not occurred even under the most hostile and disturbing economic environment in the country
    A glaring example would be to reflect the mind back to the strike action /an action brought about to bring the country to its knees, However one in which the govt stayed the course and the society listened and followed with out the engagement of a hostile and destructive response to the negative fall out from the strikers actions
    This based line approach desire of unpatriotic destructive manner by self serving bajans calling on society to take to the streets in a disorderly fashion for quick solution would continue to ring shallow as society takes note of similar uprising in other countries and see the devastating of death and hell in the streets and comes to a true appreciation of what they have rather than having to resort to actions of disunity and division to destroy what little they have earned in social and economic rewards through out the years,
    A country which over the years can boast well of giving freely of education and health to the benefit and the advancement of the care and well being of their people cannot be all that bad when comparing to countries with bigger wealth who imposed harsh taxation on those who can least afford,
    Barbados would continue to thrive on peace and tranquility as those two elements has given leverage and credibility to good for good governance and leadership to the country and should be a point of reference for the messengers of Doom and Gloom

  44. David Avatar
    David

    Here is a point political yardfowls will never understand because they always put party politics above national priorities. We say we have deregulated the telecommunications market to encourage competition to force down price to the consumers. When some cost savings is derived, guess what, the jackasses we have manking policy intervenes by increasing taxes to erode all savings. Bear in mind the objective is to encourage the use of the Internet by ALL, the poor and the rich!

  45. St George's Dragon Avatar
    St George’s Dragon

    The other thing that is going to raise costs for consumers is Government’s mad rush to build another desalination plant. Ministers Estwick and Sealy were pushing this like mad at yesterday’s BWA office opening ceremony.
    Don’t they realise that desalination is really expensive?
    Before going down that route the correct thing is to have a plan for reducing water consumption and increasing water retention. Desalination should be used as a last resort to fill the gap that can’t be addresses by these measures.

  46. David Avatar
    David

    @St. George’s Dragon

    Agree with you and your position is supported by that famous address delivered to the BWA by the late David Thompson in 2009.

    Some of this infrastructure is over 100 years old and the level of unaccounted for water has been estimated at 28% and 62% respectively . Systematic replacement of old mains must be pursued as a priority activity and, to this end,resources will be provided for major mains replacement.

    https://barbadosunderground.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/bwa-address.pdf

  47. millertheanunnaki Avatar
    millertheanunnaki

    @ ac November 28, 2015 at 7:33 AM
    “….the more the merrier . which gives full credence to my comment that the consumer can apply the energy savings received towards the cellphone vat payments…”

    I guess the scene you painted did not exist during the 14 years of OSA misrule and corruption. Barbados was the worst place on earth for you and the consortium, right ac& co?
    Why are you still asking the BLP brigade of doom and gloom to come up with alternative solutions? Aren’t you doing a fantastic job and with your new found sidekick OSA the management of the Bajan economy will be easy peasy.

    To be serious why don’t you take note of what SGD has to say @ St George’s Dragon November 28, 2015 at 7:07 AM & @ St George’s Dragon November 28, 2015 at 8:39 AM?

    Where would Cahill figure in all of these big plans of seeing a massive drop in electricity to consumers by August 2016?
    Can the same consumers expect a concomitant reduction in their water bills since electricity is a major cost component in the BWA operations even though the Cahill WTE firing on all cylinders will be in need of at least 30% of the water found in Barbados?

    How are you going to justify the upcoming increase in water rates to save the same BWA from financial meltdown in its commitment to pay back the massive loans for its capital works programme including the Mount Olympus theatre in the Pine? By way of transfers from the cell phone tax piggy bank?

    Get real, woman or man or both! Neither electricity cost (except for any significant drop in fuel oil) nor water rates will be falling in Barbados.
    That is not mandate the Emera management has been given by the Canadian shareholders.
    Neither is it the policy directives the moneylenders to the BWA have issued to the GoB.

    The prevailing conditions generated by Climate Change concerns and related environmental factors would ensure that the pricing mechanism applied to electricity and more so water is not designed to encourage waste or excessive consumption.

  48. ac Avatar
    ac

    Either way miller whether by conserving or by govt initiatives the consumer would be bettered including the doomsayers

  49. Colonel Buggy Avatar
    Colonel Buggy

    millertheanunnaki November 27, 2015 at 9:24 PM #
    @ac November 27, 2015 at 9:11 PM

    So why is the NIS selling its shares in the BL&P with such an exciting future in the making?
    …………………………………………………………………………………………
    As the woman in Bush Hill said ,in the early hours of the morning after a very slow night, when an old musty man approached her, ” But ah does want de lil dollar,ya know !”

  50. Colonel Buggy Avatar
    Colonel Buggy

    Speaking of the NIS. One wonders what is the status of the loan from the NIS to the Transport Board to facilitate the pay out of workers who were made redundant.
    Imagine lending money to the Transport Board, an entity that has shown a profit only once in its 60 years of existence,and every year is looking for a massive handout from Government.
    As the Bajan saying goes . De dog dead?

1 2
Newer Comments

The blogmaster invites you to join the discussion.

Trending

Discover more from Barbados Underground

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading