VAT :: The St. Kitts-Nevis Observer

The heightened talk on Nevis is now VAT. Every place I go the people are either asking or talking about VAT. The church deacons are wondering if they will have to collect VAT and if so, who should really get it. The guys by the Vic’s bar had a big debate while I was passing and one asked the other "suppose I tell Douggie, VAT me donkey, wha he goin say"? I did not hear the answer.

Well, it is not going to be so funny come November 1, 2010, less than 4 months from today. Many nationals and non-nationals alike will be paying much higher for items purchased and services rendered. Yet still, no one seems to be fully versed on VAT. Conflicting and contradictory reports are being presented daily.

Value Added Tax is seemingly a ways and means remedy to the dire situation our federation has been driven into by our leaders. The flip side of running a country calls for prudence, prioritization, common sense and fiscal responsibility. Unfortunately, none of these attributes seemed to be on the agenda of our governments over the past years and now strident measures has to be put in place to try and balance the sinking ship that PM Douglas and Premier Parry are presently maneuvering. It is sad, it is sickening but it is true.

I listened a few weeks ago to the Let's Talk program on VON Radio as host Evered “Webbo” Herbert questioned the guests. Other callers also tried to get worthwhile answers from the guests but unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately, we were left with more questions than answers.

Opposition leader Mark Brantley has been crying out daily for the VAT rate, yet still, PM Douglas has not budged in offering an answer or explanation to the good gentleman. Who else then would out PM answer?

Our premier, Joseph Parry boasts of good relationships between himself, his ministers, the PM and his cabinet. They hold occasional joint cabinet meetings from time to time. Yet still, no one knows if premier Parry is holding the VAT rate to himself or whether or not, he has been able to get it from our Prime Minister. Things are not good in our federation and residents are living on knife's edge.

Things are not even reasonable. How did we get to be in this awful position? Is it a case of recklessness and total lack of accountability by our leaders?

Total disrespect towards the general public is alive but then again, as Paul Keens Douglas would say, "We like it so".

One wonders if St. Kitts and Nevis were separated, if Nevis would be in the same dilemma. Your guess is as good as mine but we know our government has gone on an excessive spending spree since July 2006. It seems ironic that the present government castigated the former government as being a government of concrete and steel. Yet still, after getting into office, our Minister of Works promised that his government would complete more roads in 2 and a half years than what the government of concrete and steel did in 14 years. Isn't that confusing and contradictory? But then, what else do we expect?

We the people of Nevis are anxious for meaningful and accurate information regarding VAT. We on Nevis did not vote for PM Douglas and therefore cannot hold his feet to the fire for information. However, we elected the honorable Joseph Parry as premier and as of today, if I am not mistaken, we have not heard a word regarding VAT from our premier.

We are hereby asking premier Parry, what is your take on VAT?

What advice do you have for us in preparation for VAT?

Did you have any discussion with PM Douglas regarding VAT?

Will VAT be able to accomplish the goal of taking us out of the financial crisis that our government has created for itself and our people?

What measures are in place for ensuring the reckless spending by our governments are kept in check?

Are you satisfied with the timing of the implementation of VAT?

Premier Parry, we need to hear your words on VAT. This do not have to be an election issue because when VAT goes into effect on November 1, 2010, everyone of us will be taxed on what ever measures there are, except some secretive exemptions are awaiting a chosen few. The people of Nevis await your voice on the Value Added Tax issue. Please do not disappoint us.