This his follow up to his ongoing campaign against the VAT, Bahamian artist, Mr. J releases "We Don't Want No VAT".
"The song and artwork represents and reflects the views of
the greater percentage of the Bahamian people that are opposed to the
new tax. With over ten thousand plus persons that have signed online
petitions against the VAT, the title of this new initiative aptly fits
the anti VAT environment that we are in," said the recording artist, Gesner Dalmon / Mr. J.
"The song describes VAT as a manufacturing tax as
opposed to a consumer tax, which has been purported. VAT was originally
designed to be used in large manufacturing countries such as Europe and
not small economies. For the mere fact that minimum wage in the Bahamas
is at a very low level, it would be unconscientious to add another
burden on the already stretched and maxed out finances of many
families."
"We Don't Want No Vat" questions conflicting reasons
the government has provided for the need of VAT.
"It has been reported
that because of the enormous national debt VAT is needed. On the other
hand, the minister for financial services Ryan Pinder has expressed that
VAT will be essential because of the Bahamas's strides to become a
full WTO member. In order to ascend to full membership, it is mandated
that countries remove it's custom duties, replace it with VAT on
imported goods and on local services. If that fails to generate the
necessary taxes the government wants, other local taxes will have to be
introduced to make up for the short fall. The problems that we as a
people are faced with are multi fold. The first concern is what level of
trade are we involved that require we become a WTO member? The second
is that the government does know what amount customs duties must be
reduced to, therefore leading us blindly into a VAT implementation, not
knowing for sure how we will truly be impacted. Thirdly, according to
the IADB's study, VAT will cause poverty levels to increase and cause
persons to have less disposable income."
"It is my hopes that the Bahamian people will wake to
what is happening, become actively involved in seeking clarity, request
of their MP's to hold town meetings with them and demand the government
to explain why we are truly headed down this road they are taking us
on," said Mr. J in closing.
The song can be requested on local stations.
