Get interactive with Channel Five News
In our newscast tonight, we are starting a new segment that will enrich the daily news package we bring to you. To make the news more interactive, at the end of the first segment we will posing questions that impact the economic, political and social fabric of the country. Viewers can send their comments to these questions either by sending an email to: questions@channel5belize.com or by sending a text, using SMART phones only, to 8686. You can also participate in our online poll at www.channel5belize.com. Your responses will be aired on the same slot in the following day’s newscasts. Questions will be aired on Tuesdays and Thursdays and the responses will be presented on Wednesdays and Fridays. So be part of this addition to our newscast. All you have to do is write to questions@channel5belize.com or text to Smart at 868, or check our website at www.channelfivebze.com. Our first question is: Do you agree with the increase in sales tax from ten percent to twelve point five percent?
This UDP government can only think about taxing the working class who are already overburdened by paying Income Tax, GST and by Inflation. If Dean Borrow really wanted to help. he could have taken the Personal Relief to 24,000 for evrybody and would have put a little additional money on the Tax paying Workforce.
Also why not put a heavier charge no BNE?? They can easily afford it. This government can also tighten-up on its spending; mainly through transportation. Even on weekends, government employees can be seen driving government vehicles for their personal use. This Tax increase shall deprived people of additional money, thus I doubt government will be able to meet its target!
it wont happen margarito, cause lawyers keep holding the finance ministry in every party! And we all know lawyers is just a mispelt word for liers!
No! I do not feel its right to make the people pay for the lack of control of wasteful spending, new rides for the political elite, traveling, corruption, and the total disregard for the hardships for all of us living in Belize.
A few weeks ago I saw an article about “Perception of theft” it made good points of the wasting of fuel by government workers, Minister’s, Mayor’s, and other political elite using vehicles for personal use on weekends, after working hours etc….All at our expense.
Example: if there is 6,500 government vehicles out on the road for personal use wasting on the avg. $350.00 per week, that’s over 2.2 million in one week, in 30 weeks over 68 million in savings alone in fuel, not counting tires, shocks, and other maintenance costs.
Makes you think what else is being wasted, that we are paying for?
Remember the mind set: Attorney’s get paid regardless they win or lose, but a businessman thinks of ways to make money with creative idea’s to promote development, and by saving money not wasting it.
Maybe we need a businessman controlling the show now, without bleeding us to death with more taxes and no creative plan, only so they can have more to waste.
The people should Demand value for dollar from government, and creative plans to deal with what we have, not tax more to cover what they want to spend! Remember its our money their spending!
With a stroke of a pen our money has been devalued, and cost of living in Belize has been going up enough with the external factors, now internally.
Most economist will tell you for counties in a financial crisis, you cut expenses, lower taxes, and make incentives to promote existing businesses along with attracting new investors. For some reason our government has does the opposite?
Raising Taxes in our government’s view might be a vehicle they want to use to overcome the deficit problem, but I personally don’t agree with increasing sales tax from 10% to 12.5%. Remember the promise that U.D.P hoodwinked the Citizens of Belize with before election?. Well, now the proof is in the pudding but at the end of the day, where will the consumers get the funds to pay their Taxes? “If dehn noh have wah job fu get wah Paycheck, weh deh wah get di moni from?. According to “CPA Report”, most Belizeans are poor, so in my view, revenues will only be collected from the fortunate few that are employed, which is a drop in the bucket. This is the sorth of thing that will continue to haunt our country and we cannot only point our fingers at U.D.P, but also P.U.P as well. Both parties should have had their scope on employment and development of all Districts, by adequately distributing funds or Grants which has never happened. They need to clsoe down all the “Game Shops” or tax them harshly to discourage them from benefiting from the poor that are living on hope and at the end become compulsive gamblers who ultimately beg, steal, or otherwise. G.O.B need to heavily Tax BNE and maybe they should start by charging them Road Tax to assist in building our roads, and most of all stop spending our Tax dollars foolishly. (i.e) (a) Encouraging Greedy Investors to come into our country to benefit from Poor people and then have to use Poor people’s Tax dollars to hire High Profile Attorneys to represent G.O.B, knowing damn well that it will be a never ending saga. (b) Leasing buildings to accomodate government offices, while government buildings are empty and deteriorating for example in Dangriga. (c) Refusal of developing Southern Districts for Tourism Industry to create jobs, after all “The Forgotten South” is more peaceful, multi-cultural, and the longest Coastal area from Dangriga to Toledo. I strongly believe that if both parties had structured distribution of funds for Development and Employment in our country, it would have been better for our country today. If G.O.B cannot control or spend our Tax dollars wisely, then the Credit Unions need to educate the Ministry of Finance about financial literacy, planning, and budgeting instead of providing micro-financing for Poor people that don’t have jobs to repay loans or credit issued to them from these financial institutions,(Good thinking but wrong timing, di Carriage deh front ah di Mule long time and wah lot ah people pockets done full. Da who da Cap fit mek dem wayre it). Confusion and frustration is like fetching water in a basket and yoh can’t mek blood outtah Turnip. Tek wah advice fram wah elementary student, maybe ih wah work. Reshuffle now, and next time wi get some moni from Venezuela or Taiwan, share it with the Districts and spend it wisely like focusing on Agriculture and improve it to international level even if it mean getting our agricultural products “U.S.D.A” approved. Mek dem Civil Servants who have access to govament vehicles turn een di key fu di vehicles dem at di end ah di day and dehn deh wah stop jallificate. Di late Barry Bowens, Emory King, and Jaime Nuguera paid fi dem dues and taxes to wi country, den mek sure dat People like BNE do di same ting. Wi di waste wah lotta tax dallas to di judicial system an fu house murderrers. Bring back di “Death penalty”, cut it short and pop dem neck. These are just a few solutions to help solving our budget problem and it’s never too late, just swallow unu pride an get to work for a better Belize. Respect one another, work together to fix the mess, and stop acting like a Jackass, I’m sorry, like wah “Donkey”.
we can,t bear that increas i wan,t the P.M do what he ask the city mayer to is to lower there stipend i want him to do that to his cabinet 12.5% will be ok started from the P.M BARROW not to forget the C.E.O,s same thing gos to them.
The statistics put out by the police on crime is a far cry from the reality that is taking place out here.
I fully agree with having a curfew for teenagers but it should be sustained. It was tried before but but it was only for a while the end result was failure. In addtion parents must be held responsible for the behaviour of their children.
Government should find creative ways in lowering the deficit taxing us to death will not do it Here are a few suggestions: stop the abuse of government vehicles, the polticians should set the example by using their personal vehicles when not on official duties, all government vehicles with the exception of those used by the essential services should be parked after working hours, limit the use of telephones in government offices, instead of adding to the wage bill by hiring political cronies to do jobs that public officers are capable of doing they should instantly put a stop to this practice, reduce the perks given to public officials, these are just a few of my suggestions.
Well, with the 12.5% in sales tax and a crazy Income tax structure, the UDP has obviously sold themselves to the PUP coming next elections. Especially, since UDP didn’t properly consult with these new taxes, they by default have invited the PUP back. Sad, but that’s how democracy survives I guess.
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Awesome stuff. You made a really nice compilation. Thanks!
Great stuff said Darius Martinez. Unfortunately, I doubt these politicians visit this site to view the valuable comments people like you post.
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