The 2010-2011 Budget will be debated in the House of Representatives
tomorrow and Friday, after which it will be passed and signed into law in time
for April 1st. A major feature of the budget is the 25% increase in the rate
of General Sales Tax from 10% to 12.5%. But not so fast says COLA - the Citizens
Organized for Liberty through Action. They are holding a public meeting at this
hour at the Constitution Park to discuss alternatives to the tax increase. COLA’s
President Moses Sulph says they are asking government to delay implementation
of the tax increase for 90 days.
Moses Sulph, COLA President
“Realistically, one hundred percent COLA believes that government
can hold that back for now because as we said before, there are other places
where we can direct the government if they are serious about getting their tax.
We know that the government needs the tax because it takes tax to run the country
and to bridge the gap that we are facing but we’re saying there are other
places from which this revenue can be collected and realistically the government
can give 60 to 90 more days. We are not saying it is going to take the entire
90 days but they can give at least 60 days before they implement this tax. Yes
they can.”
Keith Swift,
“Who should come to tonight’s meeting?”
Moses Sulph,
“We are urging all Belizeans to come out. It is not an issue that
is affecting any different sector of society. The tax implementation with regards
to the GST will bring more burden to the consumers, to the mothers, to the fathers,
to members of the unions, to members of all of society so everybody needs to
come out.”
Tonight’s meeting was scheduled to start at 6 at the Constitution
Park.
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