[xml][/xml]
The Bahamas Weekly Facebook The Bahamas Weekly Twitter
Bahamian Politics Last Updated: Feb 6, 2017 - 2:32:04 PM


Bradley Roberts: The PLP has a culture of tolerance
By Bradley B Roberts, National Chairman, Progressive Liberal Party
Feb 21, 2014 - 2:42:05 AM

Email this article
 Mobile friendly page

Nobody should be surprised by the opinions expressed by the Honourable Member for Marco City on the proposed Value Added Tax regime in Parliament on Thursday, 21st February 2014. The Progressive Liberal Party has a culture of tolerance for dissenting opinions.

Also, this is not unusual for members of Parliament on our side as the party has had quite a few outspoken members on any number of national issues. Some of the younger or new generation PLP leaders are trying to find their way through the world of politics in an attempt to establish a brand and some independence. They cannot be faulted for doing so - as a matter of fact, the Prime Minister is so secure in who he is as a political leader that he encourages dissenting opinions and independent thought. That’s the PLP way.

I have said this before, but it is worth repeating that the government will eliminate some $300 million in customs duties and a large number of breadbasket items will be VAT free so shoppers will see an increase in cost on some consumer goods but will also experience a reduction in cost in other consumer items. Also the government is expanding the social safety net program to the tune of $30 million to assist the poor and the vulnerable in our society.

I will go further, the CEO of Commonwealth Bank was in the media recently explaining that the bank had to pay higher fees to the government totaling millions of dollars but are not allowed to pass those costs onto their customers. Petroleum companies, for example, will have to pay VAT but since the price of fuel is controlled by the government they are prohibited by law from passing these costs onto the consumers.

The fact of the matter is that with VAT – EVERYBODY WILL HAVE TO PAY VAT AND THERE HAS TO BE SHARED RESPONSIBILITY AND SHARED SACRIFICE IF THE GOVERNMENT IS GOING TO PUT ITS FISCAL HOUSE IN ORDER TO CONTINUE TO MEET ITS OPERATIONAL OBLIGATIONS. This idea being peddled in the public domain by the purveyors of doom and gloom that VAT will be placed exclusively on the shoulders of the poor and the middle class is simply not true.

As for the outcome of the 2017 general elections as it relates to VAT implementation, critics inside and outside of the PLP have pronounced gloom and doom on the PLP from its inception and the party is a record seventh term in office. The PLP government has navigated this country through several economic storms and each time The Bahamas has weathered the storm, emerging stronger each time.

There is an incontrovertible record and legacy that this PLP government has defied the naysayers and critics throughout more than thirty years of governance. The critics were wrong when they opposed on the implementation of National Insurance as the economy did not crash and burn as they predicted. The critics were wrong again in their opposition on the establishment of the College of the Bahamas and the Royal Bahamas Defense Force and yes once again the critics and naysayers were wrong in their opposition to Independence. HOW MANY TIMES THE PLP GOVERNMENT HAS TO PROVE THESE CRITICS WRONG BEFORE BAHAMIANS GET IT THAT THESE SAME CRITICS ARE ALWAYS WRONG?

The PLP was hired to clean up the mess left behind by the FNM and a part of cleaning up that mess is implementing tax reform. This government will take the necessary policy actions to protect the economy and the welfare of the people of The Bahamas.

Bookmark and Share




© Copyright 2014 by thebahamasweekly.com

Top of Page

Receive our Top Stories



Preview | Powered by CommandBlast

Bahamian Politics
Latest Headlines
DNA PR: It's time to change the system
DNA on Extension of Emergency Orders
DNA on shanty town demolition court order
DNA on new lockdowns on Family Islands
PLP Candidate for North Andros and The Berry Islands on Lockdowns in The Berry Islands and Andros