The Dominica Public Service Union (DPSU) says it would have liked to have seen Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit presenting what the union’s general secretary has described as a “people’s budget” on July 17.
Union boss Thomas Letang says he would have liked to see the government consulting with the various sectors nine months ahead of this month’s coming budget presentation, to have the concerns of the various groups put on the table with a view to effectively addressing them.
“There should have been a consultation where you bring all the stakeholders together and you look at the problems that they are faced with and you listen to their ideas. And then coming out of that you now prepare a budget which would take into consideration some of the concerns of the people,” Letang said.
He used the Dominica Hotels and Tourism Association’s difficulty with the existing 15 per cent value added tax (VAT) which the DHTA insists is hurting the tourism sector, as one example of this.
The union leader said early enough consultation would have given the government adequate time to address that matter if it buys the case that the VAT should be reduced, to then be able to make alternative arrangements to ensure that it can make up for the revenue shortfall that would arise.
“You would have enough time to think of what are some of the things that you are going to do to make sure you get that additional revenue,” the union leader told DNO.
Referring to calls from some quarters for an overall decrease in the VAT, Letang said the same principle would apply.
“If you decide to decrease then you have to put things in place as to how you are going to get the additional revenue. Because when you decrease VAT you are actually losing money,” Letang told Dominica News Online.
Blah, blah, blah, blah
and he signs the same useless tune once again. The DPSU has become the laughing stock of the people it represents. A barking dog with no teeth is like a crying baby seeking attention. Garson Letang, stop making a fool of yourself and quit while you still ahead.
Mr. Letang, I am sure the PM and his followers/supporters will claim that the PSU was adequately consulted either by telephone or letter or by a wave through the windows of a black SUV, even though not necessary face-to-face around a table like serious professional gentlemen and women.
I suggest that you check your voice mail, your email and your postal box just in case a message was left or a letter was sent to consult the PSU. Then again, if you do not receive the voice mail or note of consultation, we still have a few more days to go before the budget presentation, which leave sufficient time to inform/consult with the PSU.
By the way, as the PM usually focuses on the letter of the law and not necessarily its spirit, there is no mandatory, constitutional requirement that the PM should consult with the PSU before presenting its Budget, therefore the PM will simply dismiss this as speaking rubbish, nonsense and foolishness.
I note that you have stated – if the VAT is decreased then one would have to put things in place to get the additional revenue. Indeed that is true and well supported by basic macro economics teachings. If the VAT is reduced and it makes it easier to establish and grow/expand businesses, there will be more investment and employment. More money will be in circulation, there will be more spending and government will collect much more revenue. It’s like Aid Bank or National bank reducing their interest rates and still increasing their overall profit because more people take loans, more businesses are established, more jobs are created and more interest is then collected on more loans although the burden on the individual business or/person who takes loans Therefore, lowering the VAT could actually prove to be much more beneficial to the national business environment and to the sustained health of the economy in the long run.
My union is a toothless tiger!! What a shame!
but not that the man say he giving us nuh…a people’s budget
You just can’t understand English.
Mr.letang just a comment on the last sentence. When you decrease VAT you are actually putting more disposable income in the hands of the working class, in so doing allowing the VAT to work as its supposed to. It is a a fair system. This is nothing about loosing money!
As an exprience trade unionist and years of service as a public officer i think you are asking for too much, not in my life time will we see a peoples budget in this economic times when you hear the Hon PM say there are going to be cuts. Keep hope alive Mr Letang while the unions inaction makes us strong?????????????????? Espwa mal papie, for peoples budget
IF WE COULD BRING BACK
1)the 22 million used to buy red hats and red tshirt to campagne,
2)the 27 million malace palace,
3)all the monies taken from the tresury to buy votes,
4)the bin bobol monies
5)fertilizer bobol monies
6)geothermal under de table monies
7)melvillehall realignment bobol monies
8)villas bobol monies
9)4 houndred thousand or should i say the 6 million dollar house bobol monies.
10)unvaluation land bobol monies
11) de million dollars u.s that got lost from lybia bobol.
and so much more we dont know.
WE WOULD BE IN A MUCH BETTER FINANCIAL SITUATION.
REMEMBER TONY ASTAPHANS SAID CORRUPTION BREEDS POVERTY
Same story from u all the time. Get a life
Comments like these should be deleted!!!
Oh No,it is against the Government,Leave it!!!
We only delete comments that are against our party,the UWP!!!
4 of the 11 or approximately 37% of the corruption that you have listed are directly linked to the Parl. Rep of the ROSEAU VALLEY excluding the redirection of funds from the PM office for building supplies related to houses in Fond cani and Trafalgar
– Plenty money sharing in the constituency to buy votes,
– the Garbage BIN BoBOL;
– the Fertilizer bobol monies
– Geothermal under de table monies?? (Didn’t know about that one- Tell us more)
This is not the type of representation we deserve.
8 Million Liat bawball
@**** I am sure there are several others that have not been brought to light. Can a country do well with so much bobol.
Agree with Thomas Letang full time.However this Pm is afraid to consult, debate, converse with the people, except it is his own Skerrite supporters who will swallow all the bull crap he loads down their throat. In the meantime the poverty and hell continues at the home of the poor man.
@monkey. Your name suits you so well. That’s what the truth can do. It pierces very deep holes in the flesh of mankind.
Praise God you are no longer a Trade Unionist
Don’t worry Lewhatever,
You will be pleasantly surprised at the goodies which are coming. There might just be no need for Unions after this budget next week!
Public Officer
Skerrit does not need to consult with all you dominicans- he can just inform. He has the untold power to seat in his office and prepare a budget. I would increase vat to 85%, close down all the media house and put a statue of himself in every village and by decree force every body to come worhsip at its feet.
rubbish
lol, i looking for that because i know it will happen soon
Could not be said better
you sound like a socialist, get off your hign horse am sure you are a muslem ,slavery was abolished . you are low minded and stupid.
toe knee am sure you are already kissing his feet in secrete, thats why you talk like that, that same feet will kick you in your mouth soon.
**THE BUDGET IS ALREADY DONE**
Good points Mr.Letang but you should have been pressing for these very issues a year [maybe more] before this upcoming budget. If you did then accept my apology. If you already knows what’s in the budget then again, it’s still too late!
My only hope is that this budget allows us [the people] to be more self-reliance by way of proper fundings to areas such as small business,agriculture etc. We rely too much on foreign investors.
We think we shall be viable economically only when we have these investors.But we shall only overcome our economical shortcomings with the “burning spirit & desire” to do more for our selves “FIRST” in addition with the proper help of the government!
Ok, this was just some of my opinion. I’ll stop now
-Thanks
Letang please address your union members to start producing more…enough with all these sick leave.
Then you can demand more from the budget
Reasonable suggestion but more importantly the PM should reduce the large size of his inefficient cabinet of sick ministers and advisors and inform time that the experiment is over –the people are stick and tired and it is time for them to take their leave in other to streamline the administration for increased efficiency and productivity.