The Coalition for Responsible Taxation on “phasing in” Value-Added Tax (VAT) over a three-year period in The Bahamas

Tax Coalition: Phase Vat In Over Three Years

By NEIL HARTNELL

Tribune Business Editor

nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

The Government should examine “phasing in” Value-Added Tax (VAT) over a three-year period, a co-chair of the private sector’s Coalition for Responsible Taxation warning: “You can’t implement taxes to the peril of the economy.”

Robert Myers, speaking to Tribune Business as the Coalition released its VAT ‘Queries and Recommendations’ submitted to the Government on October 28, reiterated that the “fear” in the private sector about the consequences of tax reform stemmed from the Government’s failure to-date to prove adequate information and consultation time.

Agreeing that the Government could be “100 per cent right” over the direction it was taking with tax reform, Mr Myers said it needed to show this was so by “sharing” all the studies and specifics it possessed.

“This is a fundamental change in this country’s way of doing business,” he told this newspaper. “This is a fundamental change in the way everyone lives and does business.

“Let’s get all the facts on the table and hash it out. There’s no need top throw rocks at each other. We all benefit from the right solution. Let’s make the right decision as a nation.”

The Coalition identified 12 areas of ‘macroeconomic concern’ in its latest missive to the Government over VAT, and Mr Myers told Tribune Business: “First and foremost, you cannot implement taxes to the peril of the economy.

“That is the primary objective. There are just too many examples, in Barbados, Grenada, where their economy was troubled. They tried to resolve it by introducing new taxes, and that sent the economy backwards.”

Mr Myers said Grenada, for example, was now reducing VAT on construction materials and providing incentives to encourage contractors after the tax’s implementation “killed” the sector there.

While there was no evidence to suggest something similar would happen in the Bahamas, he added: “It’s just to say that if this is happening elsewhere, maybe we should take a look at it.”

In the ‘Queries and Recommendations’ sent to the Government, the Coalition reiterated that VAT’s implementation was “a seismic change to the system” that meant both the Government and private sector needed adequate time to prepare.

Restating its previous call for VAT implementation to be delayed for at least 12 months after the relevant legislation, regulations and Tariff Schedule had been released, the Coalition added: “Consideration should be given to phasing in VAT over a reasonable period, for example, three years, to minimise the potential negative impacts of inflation.”

Government minister and Ministry of Finance officials, particularly those working on VAT’s implementation, have suggested that the Bahamian business community’s fears are “unwarranted” and, in some instances, amount to ‘scaremongering’.

But Mr Myers and the Coalition have both pointed out that this has resulted directly from the ‘information vacuum’ created by the Government’s failure to publish the specifics on VAT, including studies on its likely impact that have been done - or are being done - by the likes of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

Acknowledging that this had sometimes resulted in “hysteria and one-sided debate”, the Coalition added: “The lack of such information to date has contributed to the paranoia and apprehension of the business community and consumers.”

Mr Myers told Tribune Business: “There is this perception, fear in the marketplace, and you are having the result of not providing adequate time and information.

“Maybe you [the Government] know what we don’t know, but share it. Maybe you’re 100 per cent right. We don’t know, but share it. It’s so frustrating.

“You can already see certain businessmen, the fact that they’re now backtracking themselves on certain projects, is not good for the economy. That creates uneasiness.”

The Coalition, meanwhile, told the Government that VAT’s inflationary impacts, which has admitted itself, could have “consequences” for the Bahamas’ economic recovery.

Calling on the Christie administration to collaborate with the Bahamian private sector “to obtain the greatest possible buy-in by registered businesses and consumers”, the Coalition warned: “The majority of businesses have been experiencing an inability to increases prices in the past few years.

“Gross profit and net profit margins have been reduced following the recession, with no evidence of an ability of consumers to withstand price increases.

“Low net profits or net losses threaten the viability of small and medium-sized businesses.”

Mr Myers praised the Government for containing inefficiency, waste and shrinkage in its spending, and agreed that it needed more revenue to tackle its chronic deficit/debt problems, and the imbalances in the public finances.

But he warned: “To make a mistake and it backfires.... Do you want growth to slip by 2 per cent, 4 per cent, slip into negative growth? I don’t think that’s the desired result.

“Maybe take longer to get into this. No one says you don’t need more revenue, but let’s be measured.”

And the Coalition co-chair added: “We’ve got to make sure this is right for us, and not just right for the business community or right for the Government.

“It’s got to be right for the consumer, right for the private sector and right for the Government. Right in the broadest sense of the word. It’s just not been done. That kind of inclusiveness is not there.”

October 04, 2013

Tribune242

Peter Nygard says that the Official Opposition - Free National Movement’s (FNM) politicization of the Stem Cell Therapy Bill was “small-minded” ...and the group does not deserve to be in government

Nygard slams FNM on stem cell debate

By TRAVIS CARTWRIGHT-CARROLL
Guardian Staff Reporter
travis@nasguard.com

Controversial Lyford Cay resident Peter Nygard said earlier this week that the Free National Movement’s (FNM) politicization of the Stem Cell Therapy Bill was “small-minded” and the group does not deserve to be in government.

Nygard appeared on the More 94.9 FM radio show “Real Talk Live” with Ortland Bodie on Monday and said he was shocked when saw the issue become so politicized.

“This should never, ever be politicized,” he said.

“I am so in shock that this should ever become politicized.

“My goodness, a big issue like this should be above politics. Even people like [FNM Deputy Chairman Dr. Duane] Sands who is a key doctor in the committee.

“I think he was in shock to see this become politicized within his own party.

“This is such a disfavor for the Bahamian people, for the Bahamian nation for having an issue such as this become politicized and then doing it for the wrong reasons.

“In my mind, the people, they don’t even deserve to be in government. It’s just so small-minded.

“I actually was working on this before Prime Minister Christie with the other government. I tried to bring this forward at that time and they chose not to pay the same kind of attention to it that Prime Minister Christie did.”

Sands was a member of a government-appointed task force that reviewed the stem cell issue and presented recommendations on how the procedures could be developed in the country. Those recommendations were instrumental in the drafting of the law.

FNM Chairman Darron Cash said yesterday that the party is not surprised by Nygard’s statements.

“We simply say what else is to be expected?” he said in a statement.

“He knows that he will always be clothed in the protection and comfort of the prime minister.”

He added: “One day soon there will be a new sheriff in town.”

FNM Leader Dr. Hubert Minnis blasted the government for “rushing” stem cell legislation through Parliament during debate on the bill in July.

The party later suggested that the government was pushing the law as a payback to Nygard, an assertion the government denied.

Nygard told reporters in July that he had no personal self-serving interests in the government passing the Stem Cell Bill.

However, in a recent YouTube video Nygard claimed that he “initiated and helped to write the stem cell legislation” which was eventually passed.

Parliament passed the Stem Cell Therapy Bill in August.

Health Minister Dr. Perry Gomez said the law would place strict limitations on the practice to prevent human reproduction.

A scientific review committee and an ethics committee are to police the sector.

October 31, 2013

thenassauguardian

Caribbean Blog International

The Bahamas is one of three Caribbean nations that lead in improving the region’s business climate

World Bank: Bahamas Improving Region’s Business Climate

by Rogan Smith

The Bahamas is one of three Caribbean countries in the lead when it comes to improving the region’s business climate, according to a new World Bank report.

The ‘Doing Business 2014: Understanding Regulations for Small and Medium-Size Enterprises’ report was released Tuesday.

The Washington-based financial institution said this country, along with Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago took steps to improve their business regulatory environment over the past year.

The report said The Bahamas made transferring property easier by reducing its stamp duty.

It also noted that The Bahamas enhanced its insolvency process by implementing rules for the remuneration of liquidators, allowing voluntary liquidations and outlining clawback provisions for suspect transactions.

However, Jamaica led the way in the Caribbean by adopting new legislation for private credit bureaus, reducing the corporate income tax rate and streamlining procedures for starting a new business.

The report acknowledged Trinidad & Tobago’s efforts to lower the cost of connecting to the power supply.

The Bahama Journal

Caribbean Blog International

Gaming and financial regulations in The Bahamas

Bahamas ‘10 to 15 years’ ahead of curve on casino gaming

Director of UK institute focused on financial crime suggests need to address illegal gaming




By ALISON LOWE
Guardian Business Editor
alison@nasguard.com

The Bahamas is “10 to 15 years ahead of the curve” in the region with respect to legal gaming and associated regulation, but will likely have to very soon consider the implications of illegal gaming in the “web shop” industry if it is to avoid the “very painful downsides” of unregulated gambling, an international gaming and financial crime regulation specialist has warned.

 

Kleo Pappas, director of the International Governance and Risk Institute, told Guardian Business that he expects that illegal gaming is a topic that will arise during the forthcoming “Bahamas Gaming Forum: Fostering Growth, Transparency and Social Responsibility”, which the institute is hosting at Atlantis resort next week.

 

A UK-based entity that specializes in organizing and running financial crime prevention training programs, consultations and gaming regulation seminars, the International Governance and Risk Institute’s forum will bring together regional officials and firms navigating the challenges of managing gaming regulation in an environment of evolving technology, while remaining competitive.

 

Among those expected to attend from throughout the region, the U.S., Canada and Australia are casino managers, money laundering reporting officers, gaming regulators, law enforcement officers, compliance officers and international firms seeking access to emerging markets for gaming.

 

The event will be opened by Minister of Tourism Obie Wilchcombe and Prime Minister Perry Christie, and will see speakers focus on issues such as the growth and regulation of Caribbean gaming, anti-money laundering, essentials of gaming law, customer due diligence for online gaming and “cheat intelligence”.

 

Pappas said that recently-tabled legislation in The Bahamas which would allow mobile gaming on resort campuses throughout The Bahamas certainly raises interesting new questions for regulators who might seek to ensure this type of activity is being managed in a responsible and legal manner.

 

“Without a doubt, because having mobile gaming is gambling remotely [it raises new challenges]. You’re not going to a resort, you’re not snapped on a camera or anything like that. And socially - and I don’t really know because I haven’t been immersed in this country’s regulations - I am not sure how they will effectively limit that to on-campus.

 

“If you are on the side of the fence that doesn’t want gaming to become prevalent, there is the question of how those on the other side of the fence may view (mobile gaming) as the thin end of the wedge.”

 

Pappas said that The Bahamas is a model for other jurisdictions that may be interested in pursuing gaming to a greater degree, but indicated that the jurisdiction may eventually have some catching up to do with respect to dealing with the “numbers” sector.

 

“I think for The Bahamas what you have going for you though is that you are in a place where a lot of jurisdictions are going to be in 10 to 15 years from now.

 

“You are further along this evolution of gaming and financial regulations; your financial intelligence unit is very well run and organized. There are fail-safe measures in place for the financial services industry which wouldn’t take a lot of effort to modify them for the gaming sector.

 

“But if this is something that is happening illegally, I don’t think it’s going to be a very long time before they have to look at it. And by all means look at something like they have in the UK, put the emphasis very much on the gaming operators to put money into a pot to make sure there is a social awareness, that people realize the very painful downside to gaming that is done to excess,” said Pappas.

 

He compared unregulated gaming to Prohibition in the U.S., and told Guardian Business that he expects the topic to come up at the forthcoming forum.

 

“We’re going to have one or two debates I’m sure and panel sessions, and if it doesn’t get raised I’m going to raise it,. The parallels are very similar to the Voldstead Act - the prohibition of alcohol for that famous 10-12 year period in the U.S. where they decided they would have the ‘sober society’ and concentrate on what was important.

 

“The church was very much behind that, and what was the result? People drank astonishing amounts of booze, huge amounts of money was spent on it, and you had this gangster class of people that rose up. The elicit gaming that happens here, you are not alone in that, Trinidad and Tobago has the same issue.

“They don’t have a regulator because they don’t want to be seen to regulate something that is illegal, but they realize that the writing is on the wall, the end is nigh and they are at the point where they either take the plunge and legalize it or stamp it out somehow.”

The Bahamas Gaming Forum will take place from October 28 - 30 at Atlantis resort.

October 25, 2013

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CaribbeanBlog International

The Bahamas Government’s focus on Value-Added Tax’s (VAT) ‘medium-term benefits’ is “a farce” ...says Rick Lowe of the Nassau Institute

Gov'ts Medium Term Vat Focus 'A Farce'

By NEIL HARTNELL

Tribune Business Editor

nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

 

The Government’s focus on Value-Added Tax’s (VAT) ‘medium-term benefits’ was yesterday described as “a farce”, with the private sector and consumers more concerned with what happens on July 1, 2014.

Rick Lowe, an executive with the Nassau Institute think-tank, which produced a study showing VAT would have a highly negative impact on the Bahamian economy, said businesses were more concerned about the immediate, near-term effects of tax reform.

He was responding to John Rolle, the Ministry of Finance’s financial secretary, who told Tribune Business yesterday that the initial results from an Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) study showed that VAT would positively impact jobs and growth, and reduce inflation, in the ‘medium term’.

While Mr Rolle did not define that latter term, Mr Lowe said that in economic terms it usually referred to a duration of five-10 years.

He added that this ‘longer term’ outlook also failed to account for the likely immediate inflationary impact of VAT, especially on services, which accounts for 70 per cent of the Bahamian economy.

“I think it’s a bit of a farce to say what’s going to happen in the medium term,” Mr Lowe said of the Financial Secretary’s comments.

“We’re concerned with what’s going to happen the day it’s implemented, the near and immediate term.  What about all these countries where it’s caused increased unemployment, the government to lose revenue, all sorts of economic dislocation?

“Why are you talking about what’s going to happen in the medium term, five-10 years away?”

Mr Rolle said the IDB study has shown that VAT will have a “positive” impact on the Bahamian economy’s growth and employment prospects in the medium-term.

He added that despite the IDB study being incomplete, the ‘preliminary results’ showed the Government’s tax reform centrepiece would also result in reduced inflationary pressures.

“While the IDB study is ongoing, we have seen the preliminary results, which attest to the projected positive economic impact of the fiscal reforms (growth and employment over the medium term), and to the reduced inflationary pressures to which the budgetary consolidation would contribute,” Mr Rolle told Tribune Business.

“Additional historical data is being added to the economic model, which will allow the researchers to fine-tune their results.  Afterwards the results of the study will be published.”

Yet Mr Lowe suggested the fact Mr Rolle did not comment on VAT’s immediate impact was telling.

“I keep saying to people: ‘Watch the language, watch what they don’t say’.  That’s critical.  They’re masters at it.  It’s quite frustrating, honestly,” he told Tribune Business.

“It’s very unfair to the Bahamian citizen, the Bahamian taxpayer.  They don’t talk about the immediate cost of living increases that are going to happen.”

The IDB used its October quarterly bulletin on the Caribbean to confirm it is working with the Government on implementing VAT in the Bahamas.  It said its study on the new tax’s impact on the economy and wider society was only “underway”.

“The IDB has been working with the Government of the Bahamas to assist with Value-Added Tax (VAT) implementation,” the Bank’s October missive said.

“Using an econometric model, the IDB has provided specific input on the effects of the changes in revenue of the proposed VAT rates and the base on which the VAT will be charged.

“An economic impact study that assesses the effect on prices, economic growth, poverty and income distribution is currently underway. Consultations on the creation of the Central Revenue Agency, which will administer the VAT and select the IT system, are currently underway.”

October 22, 2013

Tribune 242

 

...as we celebrate 40 years of Bahamian independence ...the time has now arrived for us to complete the process ...and to honor those among us who deserve to be recognized as Bahamian national heroes

Bahamian national heroes pt. 2

Consider This...

BY PHILIP C. GALANIS

“My own heroes are the dreamers, those men and women who tried to make the world a better place than when they found it, whether in small ways or great ones.   Some succeeded, some failed, most had mixed results... but it is the effort that's heroic, as I see it.  Win or lose, I admire those who fight the good fight.”

– George R.R. Martin

Two weeks ago, on October 7, in part one of this series on Bahamian national heroes, we asked whether it was time for us to bring into force a national honors system for Bahamian heroes.  Two days later, on October 9, the prime minister delivered a communication to Parliament announcing that the government would bring the Majority Rule (Public Holiday) Act 2013 into force, ushering in the long-awaited recognition of the day on which majority rule was achieved in The Bahamas, January 10, 1967, as a public holiday.   Accordingly, the first public holiday to commemorate that singularly important event will be celebrated next year on January 10, 2014.

In the same communication, the prime minister announced that the National Heroes Act 2007 would also come into force on Friday, October 11, 2013, replacing the day that was previously celebrated initially as Columbus Day and later as Discovery Day as National Heroes Day.   And so said, so done!

This week, we would like to Consider This… is it time for us to complete the process of bringing into force a national honors system for Bahamian heroes?

A step in the right direction

Without a doubt the official recognition of these public holidays is a gargantuan step in the right direction.   And for this, Perry Christie and his administration should be applauded.   These two important holidays on the Bahamian calendar will forever concretize Christie’s legacy in the annals of Bahamian history.   However, these are first steps and much more is required.

In his communication, the prime minister stated that “National Heroes Day” will be a national holiday to “be observed on the second Monday in the month of October of each year”.  That is not technically correct.   The National Heroes Act specifically states in section 11 that “the 12th day of October”, not the second Monday of October, “will be commemorated as The Bahamas National Heroes Day”.   It is a distinction with a difference, one that, we are certain, will be clarified in the fullness of time.

The advisory committee

The National Heroes Act provides for an advisory committee that will make recommendations as to persons who should be recognized as national heroes.   According to the act, the advisory committee “shall consist of not less than seven members appointed by the prime minister” and be comprised of two senators and two members of the House of Assembly.  In his communication to the House of Assembly, the prime minister correctly observed that, “It would certainly be my wish, Mr. Speaker, that there be one nominee from the government and one nominee from the opposition in each of the House of Assembly and the Senate.  This will ensure optimal balance and parity.   We really do need to take partisanship and political prejudice out of the selection of our national heroes.  To do otherwise would be to debase the whole process and to detract from the sense of national unity and patriotism that should always be exclusively in view when we approach a matter such as this.”

However, if the advisory committee is constituted with the minimum number of persons provided by the act, which is seven, then the advisory committee will be dominated by the four politicians and the majority vote will be able to be cast by those politicians.   Given the profoundly partisan polarization and seemingly intractable political tribalism that has developed in the country over the past decade, this could defeat the objective of removing “partisanship and political prejudice out of the selection” process.  For far too long, an elongated and dark shadow of politics has been cast over most things in our society.  Because, as Christie put it, “this group, this ‘Order of National Heroes’, will be exceedingly small – the rarest of the rare, the greatest of the great”, the selection process must be scrupulously meticulous and not obscured by that shadow – or any other – so that Bahamians, present and future, may be confident in the impartial choices of these exceptional individuals who will carry this extraordinary title and the term “national hero”.

We therefore believe and recommend that, in order to accomplish this objective, the prime minister, in exercising his powers of appointment under the act, should appoint an advisory committee of at least nine persons, and ensure that the majority of the committee will be comprised of non-politicians.  We can only assume and hope that the non-politicos on the committee will be broadly drawn from civil society in such a manner that would firmly instill the public confidence that must be maintained in the selection process.   In addition, we suggest that the chairman of the committee should not be a politician.

The National Honours Act 2007

The National Honours Act 2007 which has not yet been brought into force, provides for the establishment of national honors, including:

• The Order of The Bahamas

• The Order of Excellence

• The Order of Distinction

• The Order of Merit

• Other honors constituted by the governor general after consultation of the advisory committee established under section 13 of the Bahamas National Heroes Act.

It will be critically important to clearly define the criteria that must be satisfied for each of the aforementioned honors and once completed, to begin identifying those deserving souls and to commence conferring such local honors upon them.   As we develop our own criteria, we can draw on the experiences of some of our neighbors: Jamaica’s National Honours and Awards Act, established in 1969, and the National Heroes Act, passed by the Parliament of Barbados in 1998, just to name two.

Conclusion

As we noted in part one of this series and as we celebrate 40 years of Bahamian independence, the time has now arrived for us to complete the process and to honor those among us who deserve to be recognized as Bahamian national heroes.   We should do so in the grand and respectful manner that Bahamian honorees rightly deserve, finally joining our Caribbean counterparts in celebrating our own, in our own way, and showing the world how much we value ourselves and the contributions of our countrymen who have helped to build this 21st century nation.

• Philip C. Galanis is the managing partner of HLB Galanis & Co., Chartered Accountants, Forensic & Litigation Support Services. He served 15 years in Parliament. Please send your comments to pgalanis@gmail.com.

October 21, 2013

Bahamian National Heroes pt. 1

thenassauguardian

What's the “current impact” of slavery on The Bahamas and Bahamians? ...CARICOM, the Caribbean Community organisation ...is suing Britain, France and the Netherlands ...for what could be millions of dollars in reparations for slavery

Lawyers Want Bahamians To Help Determine Slavery Impact

Tribune 242:




BAHAMIANS could help determine the “current impact” of slavery on the nation as part of the effort to get slavery reparations from European countries.

That’s the proposal from the British lawyers who are advising CARICOM, the Caribbean Community organisation, which is suing Britain, France and the Netherlands for what could be millions of dollars in reparations for slavery.

 

CARICOM says it hopes to reach a settlement with the European countries and will only take legal action if talks collapse.

 

It set up a reparations commission to work out who should be paid and how much, led by Barbados historian Sir Hilary Beckles.

 

Martyn Day, the British lawyer who is advising CARICOM, told The Tribune: “Our proposal is that we work with a group of academics under Professor Beckles and people from each country to determine the current impact of slavery on each nation. We are awaiting the CARICOM response to that proposal.

 

“These are still early days and we are working out a protocol with the CARICOM group.”

 

Leigh Day, the UK-based firm set up by Mr Day 26 years ago, represented 5,250 Mau Mau in the claims against the British Government regarding the torture they suffered at the hands of the British colonial regime in the 1950s in Kenya. They negotiated a total deal of around £20 million ($32 million) for them.

 

Dr Ralph Gonsalves, Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines, contacted the firm this spring to ask if they could assist in bringing a claim against the British and other governments in relation to slavery.

 

Mr Day said the request was “much in the light of the Mau Mau settlement.”

 

He said: “We advised PM Gonsalves as to the best legal route to take with the claims and then in July I made a presentation to the CARICOM leaders meeting in Trinidad of the legal route. This was a part of the resolution put forward by PM Gonsalves. The resolution was unanimously carried.

 

“Then last month I made a presentation to the meeting of the National Reparations Steering Committees re the legal case when it met in St Vincent.”

 

Bahamas Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell told The Tribune last week that although no representative from this country was present when the decision was taken, the Bahamas was still bound by that decision. He said: “We haven’t defined a position taken at the last CARICOM meeting. We weren’t represented there. However, whatever was the decision that came out of the last meeting, that would represent our position.”

 

Mr Day said: “The first step will be to put letters together on behalf of each nation in CARICOM setting out to the British/French/Dutch governments the case. That is all about the issue of the impact of slavery on each nation today. It is too early to state quite what the figure being claimed will be.

 

“The claim will be on behalf of governments who would look to use any sums obtained for the benefit of their peoples. I can well imagine that if the claims are successful and a deal is agreed with the western governments that they would look to ensure the money paid out was used on the projects discussed.”

 

October 18, 2013

 

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