Dear Editor,
It is time the Government demonstrates to the Jamaican people that it is deserving of the confidence the 29 per cent of the voting population placed in them in December 2012. People admire strength and firm leadership from its government. A government that cowers and shows weakness time and again denigrates the office they hold and is not fit, nor capable of serving a country of willing subjects.
The Government's current record of governance is abysmal and the Opposition appears to be, at times, in comatose state. Despite the fact that the People's National Party has governed the country longer than their counterpart Jamaica Labour Party, they do not show proper governance and now, like the JLP when in office, lack the guts to carry out some of its good policies.
The withdrawal tax has been greeted with consternation, disgust, panic, and unbalanced analysis by some commentators, though it depends which side of the fence they are.
But, let us make a rational, simple analysis of the tax; the loss to the taxpayers and the overall benefit to the country.
As proposed, the tax will affect all persons with bank accounts, especially those whose salaries are lodged to the financial institutions. Each withdrawal will incur a tax liability. So, for a $100,000 withdrawal the tax would be $100 — enough to buy a drink of white rum or five ripe bananas.
Now let us put on our cynical hats and create a scenario of devastation of the financial institutions, hidden bank accounts, and there being more robberies because people are keeping their monies hidden all over the place. These thoughts aren't realistic.
This tax imposition is possibly the only method that has the least financial disadvantage to the average taxpayer. A 0.01 per cent tax will have little or no effect on the average taxpayer, so the talk about creating hardship is nonsensical as this will not happen — do the math!
Despite my strong views that the tax should remain, we have a major problem and that is what should be addressed. It is painfully obvious that the Government is running out of tax options. We as citizens should demand more accountability in how our tax dollars are spent.
Focus your thoughts for one moment. If the citizens trusted its government and the government makes an impassioned plea to all employees and employers to contribute 20 hours pay once in a lifetime to reduce the country's debt, what do you think the response would be?
As an elected government you must act decisively and seek innovative ways to grow the economy; reduce unemploy-ment, violence, corruption and inefficiency; and stop tinkering with the lives of the citizens and do the right thing. Otherwise, you do not have the guts to lead.
Tony Miles
tonymiles1940@gmail.com
Gov't should show guts and go forward with withdrawal tax
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It is time the Government demonstrates to the Jamaican people that it is deserving of the confidence the 29 per cent of the voting population placed in them in December 2012. People admire strength and firm leadership from its government. A government that cowers and shows weakness time and again denigrates the office they hold and is not fit, nor capable of serving a country of willing subjects.
The Government's current record of governance is abysmal and the Opposition appears to be, at times, in comatose state. Despite the fact that the People's National Party has governed the country longer than their counterpart Jamaica Labour Party, they do not show proper governance and now, like the JLP when in office, lack the guts to carry out some of its good policies.
The withdrawal tax has been greeted with consternation, disgust, panic, and unbalanced analysis by some commentators, though it depends which side of the fence they are.
But, let us make a rational, simple analysis of the tax; the loss to the taxpayers and the overall benefit to the country.
As proposed, the tax will affect all persons with bank accounts, especially those whose salaries are lodged to the financial institutions. Each withdrawal will incur a tax liability. So, for a $100,000 withdrawal the tax would be $100 — enough to buy a drink of white rum or five ripe bananas.
Now let us put on our cynical hats and create a scenario of devastation of the financial institutions, hidden bank accounts, and there being more robberies because people are keeping their monies hidden all over the place. These thoughts aren't realistic.
This tax imposition is possibly the only method that has the least financial disadvantage to the average taxpayer. A 0.01 per cent tax will have little or no effect on the average taxpayer, so the talk about creating hardship is nonsensical as this will not happen — do the math!
Despite my strong views that the tax should remain, we have a major problem and that is what should be addressed. It is painfully obvious that the Government is running out of tax options. We as citizens should demand more accountability in how our tax dollars are spent.
Focus your thoughts for one moment. If the citizens trusted its government and the government makes an impassioned plea to all employees and employers to contribute 20 hours pay once in a lifetime to reduce the country's debt, what do you think the response would be?
As an elected government you must act decisively and seek innovative ways to grow the economy; reduce unemploy-ment, violence, corruption and inefficiency; and stop tinkering with the lives of the citizens and do the right thing. Otherwise, you do not have the guts to lead.
Tony Miles
tonymiles1940@gmail.com
Gov't should show guts and go forward with withdrawal tax
-->