Dear Editor,
As I see it, and we all should, Parliament should repeal all laws delegating powers to ministers of finance, or any other person, to levy taxes without the prior approval of the full Parliament and consultation with all stakeholders.
Charles I of England (1600-1649) was executed for tyrannical conducts of levying taxes without the consent of Parliament and other acts of treason. Our present minister of finance has legislative power subject to subsequent approval of Parliament, but when a minister, in reckless disregard for the adverse effect on the economy, imposes a tax to take effect within a few hours after his announcement, as in the case of cigarettes — Carreras, a major contributor to the budget — and the draconian rise in costs to those involved in distributing petrol, depriving the long-suffering society from benefiting from falling petroleum prices, it must be a time for change.
The conduct of the minister of health in arbitrarily effecting smoking regulations adversely, affecting the budget, is another reason for there to be review of laws of delegation to tax-levying ministers, who are only human and so prone not only to mistakes, but to abuse privilege.
Owen S Crosbie
Mandeville, Manchester
oss@cwjamaica.com
Limit the fall of the tax axe
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As I see it, and we all should, Parliament should repeal all laws delegating powers to ministers of finance, or any other person, to levy taxes without the prior approval of the full Parliament and consultation with all stakeholders.
Charles I of England (1600-1649) was executed for tyrannical conducts of levying taxes without the consent of Parliament and other acts of treason. Our present minister of finance has legislative power subject to subsequent approval of Parliament, but when a minister, in reckless disregard for the adverse effect on the economy, imposes a tax to take effect within a few hours after his announcement, as in the case of cigarettes — Carreras, a major contributor to the budget — and the draconian rise in costs to those involved in distributing petrol, depriving the long-suffering society from benefiting from falling petroleum prices, it must be a time for change.
The conduct of the minister of health in arbitrarily effecting smoking regulations adversely, affecting the budget, is another reason for there to be review of laws of delegation to tax-levying ministers, who are only human and so prone not only to mistakes, but to abuse privilege.
Owen S Crosbie
Mandeville, Manchester
oss@cwjamaica.com
Limit the fall of the tax axe
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