Witnessing the public discussion about VAT is like watching a fast paced tennis match. As fast as one group makes a point the government volleys with a counter. And since the release of the draft legislation the speed of the game is picking up and creating even more confusion.
Here's a brief play by play.
One day the Government is hard and fast on VAT.
The next day they want alternatives from the private sector.
Then the payroll tax alternative won't generate the funds they need. Nor will it be as far reaching (read, tax the same folks more) as they want.
A day after that the rate has to be 15%.
The next it can be 7.5%.
Then it applies to electricity bills. But then maybe not. Then yes, but some people will be exempt.
In fact it's beginning to seem like a game of squash the pace is so fast and difficult to follow.
To be polite, The Bahamas has had high debt and other systemic problems for a couple decades or more now, that most concerned Bahamians have been discussing, but addressing them by placing a higher tax burden on consumers seems to be a way to exacerbate things, not improve them.
Just wondering what tomorrow's "discussion" will bring.
Frankly it's all a little bizarre. A moving target.
Perhaps that is the strategy,
If no one can see the ball,
who knows what game we are playing!
Which has been the problem all along,
Government conspiring with the international “stateless Bureaucracies” on who can be pillaged to save themselves, and for the most part, in secret.
SO many lines have been crossed over the last 4 decades, it is no wonder they believe they can do anything they want.
A few voices of dissent are not enough.
I know of more than a few plans and ventures on hold.
And a few leaving too.
Government has no idea what it is doing.. Blindly following the advise of the Keynesian, indoctrinated advisers from the international agencies is foolhardy at best.. The so-called government experts are nothing more than propagandists having no economic understanding of what they are talking about and only play “copycats” to the empty words of the Keynesian advisers who can’t even give a meaningful answer regarding the impact of VAT upon the economy of the Bahamas..
Time for government to use some common sense and practical judgement.. The risks to the Bahamian economy and everything that is Bahamian is far to great a risk to be left to thinking that has a record of failure and disaster.. The more than likely failure of VAT could easily result in the demise of the country we love and call our home.. Our future is being placed at risk by a government and an opposition that has no idea as to the economic dangers we confront.. Time for the people to rise up and just say “No To VAT”.. Only a policy of financial prudence can save our nation from demise, while VAT will only reek more economic destruction upon us Bahamians..