Barrow reacts to Telemedia’s stance on tax increases

Barrow also took the opportunity to respond to comments made by the Telecom about the effects that the increase would have on the company. According to the P.M., Telemedia’s stance that the additional tax will squeeze their operating margins and make them have to cut back in their expenses just doesn’t add up.

Prime Minister Dean Barrow
“Clearly rates are subject to the Public Utilities Commission and I think the current Public Utilities Commission has demonstrated that its approach to protecting consumers is robust perhaps even muscular and that nobody will get any rate increase unless it is absolutely justified. So we don’t see that cause and effect phenomenon at all that the particular talk show host—participant on one of the talk shows was alluding to this morning. But Telemedia’s pursuit of dragons has to be dealt with even at this stage. I don’t see how you can say that paying an additional three point five, three point six million dollars in tax will squeeze your operating margins so that you have to threaten layoffs. It doesn’t make any sense.”

The bill has been referred to the finance and economic committee.