Caribbean Times 29th Issue - Tuesday June 14th 2016

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2 c a r i b b e a n t i m e s . a g Tuesday 14th June 2016 MP Massiah advocates for more assistance for businesses Joanna Paris Opposition Member and Parliamentary representative for the All Saints East and St. Luke Constituency, the Hon. Joanne Massiah gave sound advice to the government with regards to the implementation of the Unincorporated Income Editor’s Note Caribbean Times is printed and published at Woods Estate/Friars Hill Road. The Editor is Justin Peters. Contact: Caribbean Times, P.O. Box W2099, Woods Estate/Friars Hill Road, St. John’s, Antigua. Tel: (268) 562-8688, Fax: (268) 562-8685. Visit us online at our website: www. caribbeantimes.ag We ask you to send: Pertinent news items to news@caribbeantimes.ag. Advertisement inquiries to accounts@caribbeantimes.ag. Letters to the editor to editor@caribbeantimes.ag Tax, which was debated and passed in the Lower House on Monday. Massiah did not take the traditional route expected and opposed the bill, but rather gave a number of suggestions to enhance the legislation and increase the efficiency of unincorporated businesses on a whole. She suggested that as the government seeks to place more focus on developing a cadre of entrepreneurs, a system is also put in place to monitor the emergence of these businesses as well as to track their success. “Is there any plan to establish some mechanism for mentoring these perspective entrepreneurs and has anything been put in place to track their progress? “Because you will have people with very good ideas but without the monitoring and advice, they are bound to fail”, MP Massiah suggested. Meanwhile, with reference to the provisions in the bill, she voiced her agree- Parliamentary representative for the All Saints East and St. Luke Constituency, the Hon. Joanne Massiah ment with the suggested quarterly contributions instead of the monthly payments. This, she indicated will lessen the administrative burdens on the businesses. She also emphasized that with the abolition of Personal Income Tax (PIT) and the soon to be implemented Unincorporated Business Tax that it must be ensured that persons whose business activities are of such that their net and gross are at a particular income, they pay their fair share. The learned parliamentarian also advocated for various stakeholders to get together and discuss the way forward as the tax is implemented. She said this will further assist persons in understanding he true nature of the bill.
Tuesday 14th June 2016 c a r i b b e a n t i m e s . a g 3 PM Browne rejects ‘veiled threat’ By Everton Barnes Prime Minister Gaston Browne has condemned what he described as a ‘veiled threat’ of public unrest over suggestions that the government intends to introduce new taxes. The threat was reported in a front page story in Monday’s Daily Observer newspaper. The publication quoted Antigua and Barbuda Workers Union Assistant General Secretary, Chester Hughes, who indicated that if the government went through with the ‘new taxes’ the union would mobilise its members to stage public protest actions. Speaking in parliament Monday, PM Browne rejected the article stating that in his view it was ‘deliberately misleading’ and therefore the premise and logic for Prime Minister, the Hon., Gaston Browne civil unrest would have been faulty. “I stated last Friday that the government was looking at one of two options to make up the shortfall from the abolition of personal income tax; one was a two percent increase in the Revenue Recovery Charge or a one percent increase in the ABST. “At no time did I indicate that the government planned on introducing the two measures. It was always one or the other. Yet, the paper reported that we intended to introduce the two tax increases.” Browne revealed. He said Hughes was therefore responding to an assertion by the paper that the government planned on increasing both the RRC and the ABST. The PM called out the paper and he admonished the publication to be more responsible in its reporting as misleading reporting has serious consequences. The prime minister did not however spare Hughes from criticism. Noting that the trade unionist, and politician was quick to threaten civil unrest even when he was not in command of the facts. He recalled that Hughes Antigua and Barbuda Workers Union Assistant General Secretary, Chester Hughes was instrumental in encouraging bank workers to mount industrial action last year when the government when to parliament to debate the Banking Act. He said despite assurances from government that the severance payment issue will be dealt with by the government bank workers proceeded with the industrial action that severely affected the operations of many banks for several days. PM Browne said this ‘threat’ from Hughes is cannot be taken lightly based on what he has done in the past. He accused the trade unionist of being more interested in scoring political points that serving the best interest of Antigua and Barbuda. Social Transformation Minister, Samantha Marshall, also voiced strong criticism over the threat of civil unrest noting that it was an irresponsible statement from the union official.
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Caribbean Times 29th Issue - Tuesday June 14th 2016

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