I’m to ask and every right thinking person must be wondering: in whose interest is the Mia Mottley Administration managing the affairs of this country?
I would not be so silly to suggest that previous administration left this country in good order. And I would be the first to admit that the new administration needed to take measures to restructure and stabilise the economy. But so far, the measures imposed by this new labour party administration has shown a merciless disregard for the plight of the most vulnerable in this society. As promised, the Government removed the much vilified National Society Responsibility Levy (NSRL), which was collected from the merchant class up front, and replaced it with a series of punitive measures that took particular aim at the poor and labouring classes in the country.
This country is badly in need of revenue and the Government seems content to raise the necessary funds to run the country by taxing the people that a labour party was philosophically set up to protect. On the other hand, this administration has moved swiftly to ensure that its friends and family are protected from the ravages of this marauding tax collecting machine that came into power on May 25, 2018.
This administration has even placed a tax on water, while at the same time forgiving the billions of dollars in income taxes that were owed mainly by the merchant class, who fund election campaigns, and by their close friends and family.
Last December the Government introduced and passed an amendment to the Income Tax Act to write off taxes that were owed by persons between 1968 and 2000. The cynical among us, including me, believe that this was a measure aimed at giving tax relief to the Prime Minister’s father.
The country did not cry out about that atrocity and that has emboldened the Government to prepare legislation that would write off the Value Added Tax (VAT) that was collected and stolen by VAT registrants between 1996 and 2000. The furniture store, Courts, is set to receive a write off of the principal sum of $35 million not included interest and penalties, that will also be written off by this legislation.
Lord, the people of this country prayed for a change but if they only knew what they would have gotten. I am reminded of what my grandmother would say: BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU PRAY FOR, YOU MIGHT GET IT.
The amendment bill is attached.
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