by Ian Mabon

The Government recently announced amnesty for Real Property Tax evaders ranging from complete write offs to 50% discounts depending on whether or not those in arrears had not been previously accessed or were more than three years delinquent. Those of us who have religiously paid on time were offered a paltry 5% by comparison on the condition that we continue to do so.

Rewards for bad behavior round two, BEC is now running an ad in a local tabloid offering 10% discounts off all electricity bills 60 days or more delinquent. Where are the rewards for those of us who are not parasites? After BEC being exempted from paying taxes on their fuel to allow them to minimize their losses surely some of this windfall should be passed on to the consumer. Would someone also advise on how many of these delinquent accounts belong to the Government and are they now also entitled to 10% off.

The Government announced during the recent Budget debate, their intention of substantially raising the Business License Fees for the private sector creating an even more onerous burden on a business community that is still struggling to emerge from a particularly savage recession. The fact that this particular tax is still being levied on a business’s gross rather than their net income remains as salt in the wound. Changes to Customs entry fees and a hastily proposed and not entirely thought out VAT scheme also loom large on the business horizon.

To add insult to injury the Government, through the Chamber of Commerce, is now asking this same business community to participate in their newly implemented Summer Employment Program by hiring and teaching the latest crop of “graduating” illiterates, as well as some of the older ones, the basic essentials of the work environment, work being the operative word that far too many of them are unwilling to become acquainted with.

While this is a very commendable and noble idea and worthy of participation if for no reason other than to try and salvage some of our young people, the message that the Government continues to send to the community at large by rewarding slackness, and in many instances outright thievery, seriously inhibits any thoughts of charity or goodwill the business community might entertain on their behalf and only contributes further to the misplaced sense of entitlement that is so rampant throughout the country.

Their mantra of Believe in the Bahamas by putting Bahamians first has truly lost something in the interpretation.

June 18, 2013