FNM leader Dr Hubert Minnis
By SANCHESKA BROWN
Tribune Staff Reporter
sbrown@tribunemedia.net
THE government should spend less time talking about web shop gaming and more time concentrating on VAT – specifically choosing a new implementation date, Opposition Leader Dr Hubert Minnis said yesterday.
Dr Minnis said the web shop gaming conversation should have ended when the people of the Bahamas went to the polls and voted against it. He said the government’s time would be better spent informing the people of their plans for Value Added Tax (VAT).
“The government went to the people with a referendum and they are supposed to carry out the will and wishes of the people. The Prime Minister has the mandate of the people, he could have proceeded and done what he thought was necessary, but he was obviously trying to hide behind the people and did the referendum hoping that the results would be in his favour,” he said.
“Now he can blame everything that follows on the people as opposed to him and his government taking responsibility. He says repeatedly that he is a government for the people, well (if for) the people he cannot change his mind. If you do not respect the referendum at this time, why should individuals go out and vote in other subsequent referendum knowing that the government can make a determination that they will not accept the results if they are not what they are looking for, it’s a dangerous precedent.”
Dr Minnis also said due to the lack of information and transparency surrounding VAT, the government should delay its implementation.
“With respect to VAT, the people are speaking again and if you are truly a government that listens to the people then you must listen, and right now the people are crying out for no VAT. They are saying they do not understand it, and they need to know. The people, as well as the Opposition, want to know whether the government has done any analysis to make a determination as to which type of taxation is better for the country, one size does not fit all,” he said.
“We all know some form of taxation is needed, but which one is better. They need to delay it until they can show us they decreased spending and improved on their collection. If you do not do that regardless of what sort of taxation you bring in, everything will go into this watering bucket.”
Comments
vinceP 10 years, 9 months ago
I've said it before and i'll say it again. This guy Minnis is one jack ass. He simply objects to EVERYTHING just for the sake of objecting. This guy is no leader! Pure jack ass.
TalRussell 10 years, 9 months ago
The people seeking something so differently opposite to what Comrade Minnis be always talk'in about. Regardless of PM Christie's stumbles, they ain't exactly ready go back rejoin no losing red shirts baseball team come 2017, regardless if it be's Minnis, Hubert, Loretta, maybe Bran, or the new-one on the leadership block Duane as they leader. Can't make up my mind, if he be Comrade "Abbot "or Comrade "Costello" Minnis? Now I be's rethinking Papa sure looks be more of a Costello than Minnis.
Abbott & Costello Who's On First
...// http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTcRRaXV…
Arrow 10 years, 9 months ago
I completely agree with Dr.Minnis why spend time flogging a dead horse in gambling? We vote we said No ,now let us move the hell on. Gambling is something that maybe 30-45% of Bahamians do but guess what having to pay VAT is something 80-90% of Bahamians will do, you do the maths which is more important! No wanting to quote Branville but if we can't figure dis out then we grade average is certainly D minus
jackbnimble 10 years, 9 months ago
"Dr Minnis said the web shop gaming conversation should have ended when the people of the Bahamas went to the polls and voted against it." - This statement is the thesis of this whole stupid argument. It should have ended after the referendum!!
birdiestrachan 10 years, 9 months ago
Dr. Minnis stood on the house floor when the FNM was in power and said his mother sent him to medical school from playing numbers, and he voted against the numbers business. Dr. Minnis is the opposition so he opposes,, even if it makes no sense. there is a saying ":Common sense is not common" Dr. Minnis is the poster boy for that saying.
concernedcitizen 10 years, 9 months ago
you just make up stuff as you go along huh ? i,m no great Minnis fan ,but he never said his mother sent him to medical school from playing numbers ,,birdie how did the people vote on numbers ??
larry 10 years, 9 months ago
we elected an American Republican Tax Attorney what did we expect would happen just plain ol common sense.
Mayaguana34 10 years, 9 months ago
How about lets just get something done?
SP 10 years, 9 months ago
Now we know why Hubert Ingraham placed a gag order on these idiots.
Can you imagine the "ADDITIONAL" damage Minnis, Cash & the like would have done to "One Man Jackass"
John 10 years, 9 months ago
The fact is that government (Perry Christie) said he had no horse in the race when he held the referendum. BUT HE LET ALL the other horses out the gate and now gambling has a bigger footprint in this country than ever before. It is happening on the table, under the table and I personally witnessed someone selling numbers at a funeral!! GAMBLING is drying up the regular economy of the Bahamas! Most of the money the gambling houses 'spin' does not stay here and at least if government was getting their taxes from it some of this 'filthy lucre' would find its way back into the economy, but no its leaving so grab a shovel and help load the truck..while the government tries to tax the few dollars that is left.
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