I have read The Nassau Guardian article entitled: Minnis blasts government on VAT. It is my view that the perspectives expressed by the Honourable leader of Her Majesty’s loyal opposition and my MP, was hypocritical, and amounts to rock and bottle politics – in my view.
Therefore, I have some questions for Doctor Minnis. Where were you sir, and what did you have to say in May of 2004 when the government of the day announced the process of preparing a white paper on sweeping tax reforms of The Bahamas’ tax system?
Where were you, and what did you have to say in 2004 when the Value Added Tax (VAT) experts from the UK-based Crown Group was here to perform a review of our tax system?
Where were you, and what did you have to say then, when The Bahamas was signing the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) with the European Union, between 2002 and 2007.
Where were you, and what did you have to say then, when The Bahamas made application to join the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2001?
Where were you, and what did you have to say when your party chairman, Mr. Darron Cash recently stated publicly, that the FNM had plans to implement Value Added Tax (VAT) in three years or thirty-six months, if the party had won the 2012 general election?
What is the Free Nation Movement’s (FNM) plan to plug our menacing, destructive and continuous fiscal deficits?
Do you think that The Bahamas need a broader tax based, in order to control our outrageous deficit spending?
When will it be an ideal time for us to get together and address our national budget, revenue and deficits; if this is not the right time?
Are your personal business interests and those of the FNM’s elite base conflicting with your political judgement and commonsense?
I’m looking forward to your reply, Doc.
Dennis Arthur Dames
