'VIP will cut taxes'- ‘Juggy’ Harrigan
He was speaking at a small meeting at the Belle Vue junction in the Sixth District held last evening May 28, 2015.
Harrigan said too that young people must not be satisfied with the occasional handout as that belittles them and undermines their dignity. “The young people must not be satisfied with receiving the white envelopes with money that some people are handing out in trying to bribe people to vote for them,” he said.
“We must reject people who want to bribe their way to high office.”
The former House of Assembly member said the issue of jobs for the young people in the district is the most urgent matter that must be addressed.
He said that reducing the taxes on a number of items are part of the party’s manifesto. “We in the Virgin Islands Party believe that we should ease the burden on the backs of the poor and we don’t believe that the Government will get less revenue by doing that,” he said.
A win/win situation
“In fact, our economic policy is to reduce taxation so as to stimulate the economy and then create a win/win situation,” he said.
Harrigan explained that a reduction in consumption tax will encourage more people to spend and this in turn helps the economy. “So ladies and gentlemen a tax reduction on essential items, goods and services is not only the right thing to do but the economically smart thing to do,” he said.
Turning to the issue of high rent, he said the VIP in Government will embark on a low income housing scheme that will build homes for people who need it the most. He said the VIP in Government will build 36 houses in 36 months throughout this territory and that the folks in the Sixth District will have a fair share of it.
Harrigan told residents that he knows that they might be suffering from some degree of political fatigue and to them all messages might sound the same. But he urged them that even under such circumstances, doing nothing is not an option.
“The only way to change the process is to organise and get involved and that is why I am calling on you for your vote. putting your hands in the air and washing young hands like Pontius Pilate is not an option. Let your vote be your ticket out of poverty,” he said.
28 Responses to “'VIP will cut taxes'- ‘Juggy’ Harrigan”
By the way (income/payroll tax or custom duties) is not a consumption tax. I am just curious where these tax breaks will come from so that the average person will get a relief. The only tax I pay are social security and payroll tax. But I would welcome a payroll tax relief.
The BVI has the lowest taxes on companies and its citizens IN THE WHOLE WORLD!!!!!!!!!!!!! We only pay income tax and duties on imports. There are a few other small fees like vehicle licensing, land taxes, trade license renewals etc. that are minimal. We pay no fees for solid waste removal, no environment tax, no sales tax, no taxes towards education, nothing. We pay a measly 8% tax as employees with the first $15K exempt (correct me if I'm wrong). We pay 21% on importing vehicles and between 5%-20% on electronics etc. In the Region these figures are 5 times or more than us. We pay such low taxes and then depend on Government for everything. Where does bush cutting funds come from? Where does money come from to fly out persons without insurance? Where does money come from to build and fix schools? Where does money come from to pay the bill for lighting and other things at recreational facilities? We need to wake up in this place and stop fooling ourselves. We should be contributing more to our Territory instead of crying all the time. The only way we can take care of the less fortunate is for those of us that are fortunate, to contribute more as we can comfortably afford. This is how genuinely caring people think. Stop trying to rape the country at every turn! Juggy you are talking sh*t and you know it. As a man that deals with figures I'm so ashamed at the nonsense you are throwing around. I can't blame you 100% for you must follow your leader.
how i understand this nhi thing I read that the wealthy are exempted or pay equal to the poor man.. how do the NDP help the poor remind me again?
NDP won in 2011 and promised government in the sunshine
For 3 and a half years there was no transparency
For three and a half years they filled the public service with their cronies
For three and a half years they lived the high life on the taxpayer
For three and a half years the NDP look down on people
For three and a half years the make them friends them rich
For three and a half years them ignore the people
For three and a half years the NDP hate the media and press
For three and a half years they left the public service with very low morale
For three and a half years the NDP spent a fortune on consultants who did nada
Now at the last minute they come begging for votes
Now at the last minutes they throwing concrete here and there to fool the people
Now at the last minute they spending hundreds of thousands on advertising to fool the people
Come JUNE 8
Vote VIP all the way
Vote for your true interests
Not the interest of the NDP and their cronies
From 2007 to 2011 - VIP ignored the schools and wasted media coverage of 98% pass rate
From 2007 to 2011 - VIP fired NDP appointees and put their people in place
From 2007 to 2011 - NDP did not stay quiet in the house
From 2007 to 2011 - nothing done in the 5th district
From 2007 to 2011 - VIP offered no incentive for small businesses, did not finish the hospital, paid for Judge Mathis to come, paid out contracts that still have no closure etc etc etc
From 2011 to 2015:
Technical High School
Schools in the 6th district have their representative's full support
Hospital completed
6th form and other positive changes in the education system
Trade assists small business owners with financing and business development
More interaction with the fishermen (despite the controversy portrayed)
Gun legislation
Appeal to the youth for bettering themselves - job training, community service, employment registry
Members on social media - not ONLY for election but accessible to the public
Vote for BVI's future not for instant gratification.
If we want to play the game in the pond on the bank, let's do it with some other thing. If this government show some progress let's give them a chance , if not , analyze , who would the business people of this world listen to, who will represent us in our only core business of Tourism? Would Disney listen to our representatives? or send them away and ask them not to come back? There is a lot to politics, business and governance. Lets take these next 7 days to analyze where we need to see our country in the next four years.