Premier has a rude awakening coming - Hon Fraser
Honourable Fraser made the comment to this news site following the wrapping up of a community meeting in Sea Cows Bay on Friday evening, February 12, 2016.
More like a State of the Territory address
“Like I've said before I've sat and listened to the Premier as he gave his budget address and it came across to me as a State of the Territory address rather than a budget address,” he said.
Honourable Fraser also said that from what he heard the meat of the budget was not even gleaned over.
He noted that while he did not expect the Premier to give any great details about the budget, the provisions of the $330 million budget should have been addressed.
“What are you doing for health? What are you doing for education? What are you doing for the security of the territory? We are having issues with our financial services. We have the McKinsey report and the Implementation Unit trying to get it out but I still think he was supposed to give us some insights as to what the budget was all about."
However, the chief concern for Honourable Fraser remains the prospect of higher taxes as announced in the budget address.
“My concern is the issue of taxes and if he is trying to settle his debt, and this enormous debt that he has been able to run up in the Ministry of Communications and Works where it has over $100 million worth of loans and as you know the airport project is going to be in the neighbourhood of $300 to $400 million dollars. If he plans on settling those debts on the backs of our taxpayers I think he has a rude awakening and I am not going to settle for that,” he said.
We have to change our ways - Premier Smith
During his budget speech on Monday February 8, 2016, Premier Smith said that based on the challenges from the international scene the territory has not been able to achieve in the past few years what it had become accustomed to in the past. This he said meant that new revenue streams were needed to handle the territory's commitment and obligations.
“We have to change the old way of doing things if we are to survive,” he had said.
He then announced that the work permit structure would be changed so that the fees will be more in line to what is charged in other overseas territories; Rates of duties granted on the CIF value of items brought into the territory will be increased. There will be a more aggressive approach to the collecting of taxes and fees; all of which are expected to rake in some $20 million in revenue to the treasury.
He had announced that in addition to these measures, the Government is to establish a more "progressive tax system" in 2017 to improve efficiency and reduce the cost associated with tax collection and said the fee structure for hotel and yachts is to be harmonised also with the aim of consolidating existing fees and making the system easier to monitor.
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12 Responses to “Premier has a rude awakening coming - Hon Fraser ”
This logistics hub is one big trick or perhaps con!! Check the annual budget speeches, and you will notice that this is a recycled rhetoric with little substance.
This tired old NDP has run out of ideas!
This is a good example of what happens when you pull your friends, family and key supporters into areas they do NOT belong. Please, please hire competent people who will get the job done. The country cannot run on 'YES SIRS' only.
Why don't you identify yourself so we could see how fat your bank account is from the BLOG CHEQUE?
Geez..so typically VIPish. Always loser friendly! " allyo" need to wise up.