In the lead headline of one of today’s dailies, Michael Halkitis, the government’s State Minister of Finance, warned the local business community that the Christie Administration would not be bullied on the issue of Value Added Tax (VAT)

Is it a coincidence that the Minister chose that word to describe the stand being taken by the local business community? By definition to bully means to habitually badger, brow beat and intimidate. Is that not a more accurate description of the way this government has chosen to handle the impending implementation of VAT?

Rather than listen to reason, the government has ignored the very valid questions and concerns raised by business owners, threatening them instead with heavy fines, and even jail time for noncompliance; even when members of their own agencies have been found deficient in this department.

Even as it remains adamant about the implementation of the new tax system, the government has failed to table important accompanying legislation which could have, if introduced within the proper time frame, cleared up the lingering misconceptions about the way the new laws will affect the cost of doing business and the lives of the general public. Instead, we have all been left to draw our own conclusions from the disjointed statements of various ministers. This is certainly not the way to oversee the transformation of the country’s tax structure.

The level of economic uncertainty surrounding VAT could spell disaster for thousands of Bahamian businesses who are being forced to consider the termination of hundreds of hard working people.

Super Value CEO Rupert Roberts has estimated that up to 400 jobs could be lost from his operation. That’s 400 families that will be adversely affected as a direct result of this regressive regime. 400 more Bahamians forced into the unemployment by the visionless fiscal policies of successive administrations. Mr. Roberts is undoubtedly not the only company considering such drastic action ahead of VAT.

The Democratic National Alliance firmly believes that VAT could be rendered absolutely unnecessary if the government simply tightened its figurative belt through prudent fiscal policies and a comprehensive plan to recoup outstanding taxes and address wastage within the public sector, rather than add an additional burden to the backs of its citizens. We stand behind the local business community in their opposition of VAT and again implore the government to delay if not completely abandon the idea.

“The government must refrain from attacking the lifeblood of the country’s already struggling economy and prove itself true to its campaign slogan of Believing in Bahamians”, says DNA Leader Branville McCartney.