Tax payers respond to 2.5% increase in GST
Still on the budget, Prime Minister Dean Barrow on Monday announced what was widely expected, that he would raise taxes in light of a new budget deficit in the region of sixty-one million dollars. Government is expecting to raise about one hundred and nine million dollars in the additional taxes, a figure that pales in comparison to the ten million in tax relief. One tax that will soar the cost of living is the General Sales Tax which is projected to net forty million dollars over the course of the new financial year. The two point five percent increase, which translates into a twenty-five percent, will come into effect April first. But is the public prepared to handle the burden that it will have to shoulder? News Five took to the streets of Belize City to get a feel from tax payers.
Pedestrian 1
“Di government dehn noh di look out fi nobody and if dehn have to increase pan tax and things like dat yoh wah find dat crime and thing like dat woulda neva stop because nobody noh have no job. So weh dehn really haffi do dah create job fi di people dehn so that di crime could stop.”
Pedestrian 2
“I woulda wahn remind the prime minister what he was campaigning on right. No matter what cost of living gwein down, no matter what fuel price gwein down. Dehn claim fi seh life mi haad with PUP but under di UDP administration life geh haada. That da weh I got fih say and ah wahn he think bout weh he mi di come back and say to di Belizean people.”
Isani Cayetano
“What’s your reaction knowing that you’ll have to pay more for certain basic items this year?”
Pedestrian 3
“Well we can’t do nothing bout it, ih done do it right? We just haffi live wid it. Weh da di sense ah beat up bout something when time ih done do it already?”
Isani Cayetano
“But do you realize that going into elections in 2008 his campaign ticket was that the cost of living would be considerably lower now everything seems to be on the rise.”
Pedestrian 3
“Well dehn just haffi deal wid it, we can’t do nothing.”
Isani Cayetano
“Have you thought about how it’s going to affect you I the coming year?”
Pedestrian 3
“Ih wah affect everybody. Everybody wah feel it. But ih done do it, nothing deh fi do.”
PM Barrow during his presentation listed a number of items that would be exempted from import duties. That’s some relief but consumers across the board will be affected by the overall increase in GST.
It is true the U.D.P. did campaign against the PUP govt’s Gst movement. and i recall they had stated that the increase of tax would be the last thing they would do. personaly i dont like to pick sides because all of them seek their own good at a certain point. but is the UDP administration out of strategies, without any cards to play? you seemed strong at first with the little changes you began to make but now you seem as just any young boy that doesnt think before he acts (imature). nevertheless we do need a Government, because we are independent right, or are we not anymore?
I certainly disagree with the tax increase and can’t imagine Belize with another tax increase. There must be some other ways to get fund needed. Why don’t increase the business tax instead or decrease salary of the ministers and try to control spending in the governments departments. Good management of our money is what they don’t have. I don’t know why only in Belize can a government do whatsoever they feel like ad people don;t do anything. Lets begin a demonstration, a strike…..and if possible..let them know we are not playing and lets remove them from power like they did in Honduras. Be careful cause that will soon come…..
I definately agree with cutting government expenses and minister wages. You know some of these government officials just sit in their office and do nothing. Get rid of them or get people that will do the job. My mom had a problem in Mexico about month ago. Do you know what the ambassador of Belize in Mexico did? Nothing absolutely nothing. I thought that embassies in other countries were meant to help their citizens in these countries when there was a problem. My point is why pay and spend money on these people that aren’t doing their jobs. I guess we would be ok if they weren’t there. Cut back on the Unnecessary expenses incurred by these people that aren’t doing anything for the good of Belizeans. I think we need a government reform. No more UDP no more PUP we need a change. Someone or some people that work for the betterment of Belizeans. We don’t need anymore people stealing and lying to the Belizean people.
I agree tax is not a solution. and it was certainly not established as a means to succumb debts or any thing like that. No!! and yah Government should cut short on ministers salaries luxury cars and other commodities. didnt they hear poverty increased in Belize and thanks to those people the government rides in the latest cars. We people might not all be educated but we are certainly not ignorant. on the other hand those educated scholars that are sitting on Belizean thrones are well, you finish the phrase _________________. Belizean people i understand we are in our own crisis, but not because of what happened in the U.S. because if you heard things are picking up again there. A word of advice for every one out there ‘ DONT BE SATISFIED WITH WHAT COMES OUT BRA NANCY’S MOUTH!!! be out there and find out for your selves but most of all make your self be heard. it is true violence in unnecessary and we do have enough of that, here is were you need to be original.
tax increase will just keep more money in the pockets of belizeans. things will be too expensive to buy and it will only get worse. i am not interested in supporting the fine livelihoods of these crooked ministers while my kids suffer. NO TO THE TAX INCREASE!
Things are already rough in Belize. How worst will it get. before the UDP came in they say they will lower the cost of living no matter what. Mr. Barrow think about the poor single mothers and children.
THE POOR PEOPLE ALWAYS SUFFER DEAN BARROW IS GETING RICH EVERY DAY,AND HIS MINISTERS AND CRONIES THEY DON’T THINK IF BELIZEANS HAVE FOR EAT OR NOT….
On behalf of the people of Yo Creek and the people of Belize I say No to the TAX INCREASE,Melvin Cal- Councilor for the Yo Creek Village Council,look like from a recesion were heading to a depression.
Its disheartening to here that the government has to resort new increased taxation at a time when Belizeans are at their lowest. Fellow Citizens, let us continue to PUSH for TRANSPARENCY and the use of PUBLIC FORUM to get the WISDOM of the ELECTORATE. The Bible states that there is WISDOM in a multitude of COUNSELORS. The kings of the past surrounded themselves with MANY ADVISORS. When the BEST, MOST EFFICIENT and PEOPLE-ORIENTED legislation was passed, The King ultimately got the recognition, but the ENTIRE nation PROSPERED as a result.
Belizeans let us PRAY for our Nation like never before – for our leaders in specific ways. Let us plant our backyard gardens so as REDUCE our SPENDING on the GROCERY bill. REmember the Passage in 2Chronicles 7:14 – “If my people who are called by my NAME will humble themselves and pray, and turn from their wicked ways; then I (GOD) will hear from heaven and WILL FORGIVE their sins and HEAL their LAND!”
Let us Belizeans render to Ceasar what is Ceasars,AND to GOD what is God’s!
exactly change is what we need!how longdo we as belizean have to suffer for the ignorance of these crooked politians….who will lead the people !!!! the pup cant !udp !who will be the true leader of this country!!!mein are the belizean people really blind >>>>we need a leader for the people and by the people >>>>not the PUP AND RICH FAMILY AND CROONIES….NOT THE UDP AND FAMILY AND CROONIES POLITIANS…ALL THEY DO IS GET RICH , AND DONT DO ANYTHING!!!!!!!!WHAT WE NEED IS FOR EVERYONE TO PRAY TO THE ALMIGHTY FOR A CHANGE FOR GOOD GOVERNANCE AND FOR A LEADER THAT IS FOR THE PEOPLE……..HAVE FAITH MY PEOPLE !!!!!!
Not a single mention of cost cutting in governmental departments, so expect the politicians to vote in another whopping pay increase for themselves! There is so much waste and extravagence of OUR money by the so-called custodians of Belizeans money!
Cut back on lawyers fees for all the litigation that’s going on by simply hiring Lawyers as public ofiicers, rather than going outside all the time. Surely, that’s what the Attorney Generals department should be doing? Sorry, stupid suggestion, as that would put the Barrow legal empire out of a very nice cash-cow!
Reduce the numbers of Ministers and Ministries, and CEO’s etc. Surely, to govern 340,000 people, we don’t need so many! For example – Why do we have a Minister of Ministerial Affairs?
Keep to the basics:
Ministries of (Deparments would be internal to the Ministry, rather than separate):
Security – Include Defence, Police, Immigration & Fire Brigade.
Health – To also include Human Developement, Health & Safety,
Finance – To include GST & Income Tax, Company registration, Central Bank etc.
Transport – To include Minister of Works, NEMO.
Agriculture & Minerals – To include all the Ministries and departments, such as Rural Affairs, Forrestry, Minerals, Mining, Oil etc.
Education – To encompass all educational institutions and organisations, public & private, plannin & policies.
Home Affairs – To include lands, Human Development, Labour, Ombudsman, Boundaries, Voting, Womens Affairs etc. & Introduce a Human Rights Department.
Foreign Office – All International issues – Diplomatic, Embassies, CARICOM, Commonwealth etc.
That’s 8 Ministers, PLUS the Prime Minister, who should not head any of the Ministries (Currently Minister of Finance, which means whatever he wants in the Budget, he will surely get – as he in the so-called ‘financial expert’ (With his overpaid ex- PM advisor).
Ministers should be selected on Qualification, Merit and the ability to do the job, and not as a reward just because he was voted as an Area Representative, and helped the party into power.
No more Advisers or Consultants would be required then. There wouldn’t be a need to get rid of a lot of Public Officers either, but there would be a need to weed out the ones that can’t do theri jobs, or are unwilling to take on full responsibilies in their field.
Government vehicles should not be allowed for private use. Ministerial vehicles, with the exeption of the PM should be pooled, and drivers allocated to a vehicle for official government business only. This would save a fortune in fuel, maintenance and accident damage, and reduce the ‘need’ to replace them every 12-18 months for more expensive recent models (The old ones being given or sold for pennies to the Minister, of course)! Better still, lease them from an agent in Belize, reducing Baintenance costs.
Belize is a young country, and there is so much possibility of ‘Good Governance’. We could have gotten this right, and been a world leader, with fresh ideas and fair governance. It’s a shame our ‘trusted’ Politicians are too busy lining their pockets to realise it!!!
EXACTLY COST CUTTING LETS START WITH THE TRUE LEADERS CAN THEY CUT THEIR SALARY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PEOPLE ???????CAN THEY LET GO OF THOSE HIGH PAYING LAWYERS AND ADVISORS YOU ONLY NEED ONE ADVISORS AND THAT IS OUR CREATTOR!!!!! LEADERS
I think in a way it was wrong to increase the GST as we consumers will suffer in this crucial time. Our cost of living will increase and more poverty. However, we must think that government had no option of how to rise revenues. We must also put ourselves in the shoes of the government. As usual decisions have a good side and a bad side.
Government in another way focus on the level of poverty in our country. IF the PM wants to decrease poverty he must help rural families as they are the most affected!!!!!
We are already paying 10 % GST on almost everything that we buy nowadays and now government wants an increase on that? The prime minister is saying he will exempt certain items from “import duties”, thats just what it is….duties….that won’t help the poor one bit. This will only help the rich merchants who have no sympathy for the poor…..exempting duties on certain items won’t benefit us because we will still have to pay 12.5% GST on whatever food stuff we buy. What the government needs do is to remove GST off all food products completely. Life is hard out here, things are getting rough……and everyone has to eat…..what the government needs to worry about is what the poor will be willing to do to put food on the table everyday. Desperate times call for desperate measures….crime and illegal activities will surely increase with the increase of this GST, trust me.