Budget 2014/15 Sept 9th

[janfar]

What you all want and/ or expect.

I'm sure we will not see a removal in any subsidies now. Govt fraid to shake the masses.

BUDGET DAY SEPT 9

PM denies distraction from local government elections

By Renuka Singh



Story Created: Aug 11, 2013 at 11:16 PM ECT
(
Story Updated: Aug 12, 2013 at 10:26 AM ECT )

Budget day is September 9.
The Office of the Prime Minister issued a short release yesterday evening stating that the date for the 2014-2015 national budget was designated after consultations between Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and Finance Minister Larry Howai.
In a telephone interview shortly after that announcement, the Prime Minister denied that the date was announced to distract from the pending local government elections.
“The budget must be called in September, it has nothing to do with the local government elections. We simply must do it,” Persad-Bissessar said.
“Some may try to push it (budget) to October but it must be called in September.”
Despite that assurance, leaders of three other political parties have stated that the budget will be used to offer election goodies on a national scale to sweeten the People’s Partnership’s reception for local government elections. Those elections are constitutionally due in October.
Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley said he hoped the Government was ready for an “early budget” because he expected it to be laced with election goodies for the country.
“They are hoping something would come to their rescue so we could expect a friendly budget,” he said in a telephone interview.
Rowley contradicted the Prime Minister, saying the budget date had “everything to do with the local government elections”.
He said it was “patently clear” that the Government would be using the State resources in the budget as part of their campaign for the local government elections.
“I hope they are well prepared for the early budget and are not going to present a rushed budget to appeal to voters,” he said.
Rowley said when the Government saw the “calamity” facing them in the Chaguanas West by-election, Persad-Bissessar “played Santa Claus and started handing out goodies”.
“The Prime Minister made promises outside the national development process, all kind of things, items that should be part of the national development, and we expect the same thing this time, but on a larger scale. We expect this budget to be used in a similar way.”
But, Rowley said, the country would see through that.
“It would not change the price of cocoa, it would not change the price of coffee.”
Jack Warner, interim leader of the Independent Liberal Party (ILP), also said he saw through to the reality behind the announcement.
“Budget day? I want to know when is local government election day,” Warner said. “If that is being used as a means of diversion, it will not succeed.”
Movement for Social Justice (MSJ) leader David Abdulah said he “suspected” that the budget would be called early in September.
“The budget would be used to offer the citizens a number of goodies as a base for the local government campaign,” Abdulah said.
He said the MSJ opposed that type of politics and called on Minister Howai to not be drawn into that campaign machinery.
“He should be wary that he is not using the country’s resources for cheap electionary tactics.”
Abdulah called on Howai to “be prudent” and ensure that the country’s resources were used wisely.
“I am sure he is under a lot of pressure to do the opposite from his colleagues. But the price of using the resources for campaigning is that it cannot be sustained,” he said.
But Persad-Bissessar denied those allegations.
“Not at all, the budget was announced when the budget was due. Win, lose or draw we must always do what we have sworn and taken the oath to do,” she said.

http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/BUD ... 08561.html

[hydroep]

This Budget is probably filled with a few goodies to butter up the populace before the Local Government Elections...like increase in pensions and whatnot.

Harsh measures like the gas subsidy removal is best done in the early to mid-term anyways so I wasn't expecting that anytime after year 3 of their governance. But look for whomsoever gets into power after the next General Elections to buss we throat early o' clock.

[toyota2nr]

Just some of what I want:

Policy or some sort of measure to subsidize and introduce hybrid vehicles.
Reduction in motor vehicle and customs duty on vehicles and parts
New initiative to restart the sugar industry as well as grow our own wheat and corn
Introduction in schools of more science and technology programs
Construction of large telescope on the coast - maybe Toco. Can be done.
More regulations for the financial sector and penalties for non compliance
Introduction of anti trust legislation

[pete]

Hybrids are a waste of time. small diesel vehicles get much better fuel mileage and arent as expensive. We just need better diesel.
I don't know why they don't try to see if lpg could be another option to cng.

[janfar]

Revamp the sugarcane industry for the manufacturing of E85 and other alcohol based fuels. We have the land and the basic infrastructure, not to mentions the expertise to grow sugarcane.

Remove the subsidy on fuel and use this money to suppliment the new iniative of an alternative fuel.

I agree that hybrids are rubbish. Most developed countries, with the exception of the US, use diesel powered vehicles extensively but I believe our legislations are achaic wrt to the importation of diesel powered vehicles.

[Greypatch]

removal of duties for specific engine sizes..we are already paying for that at the pump

[speedmelter]

hope gas prices doesnt increase again

[5onDfloor]

i love hearing you experts talk about what the GOV'T should or shouldn't do.

[rocknrolla]

as an expert citizen, i opine that it this will be another useless budget for the man on the ground. lthis government have no idea what the citizens want. and when u explain it to them they still dont understand. i will be so very surprised to see a budget that does not take us further into deficit.

keep ur hopes up if u want. but there is also a chance that this government, realizing that they will never get back in power will just decide to upscale the milking of the treasury for their last years.

[redmanjp]

hope gas prices doesnt increase again

it could.. last yr thy said the subsidy was being removed on a phased basis- 1st premium, this yr they might tackle d rest of we- super gonna raise

unless of course dey fraid backlash with the upcoming local elections

[rocknrolla]

who have dibs on a salary increase for government officials? nothing will be a clearer statement of 'HYMC' directed at the working class.

[Rainman]

Diesel - 2.00/l
Super - 3.55/l
Premium - 5.75/l

[hustla_ambition101]

agriculture getting shaft for sure so i not even wasting my time

[rfari]

re-introduction of some form of property tax?

[nemisis]

Prepare angus for new gas prices.

[nervewrecker]

If gas prices go up will car prices drop?

When premium prices increased there were a few cars for sale here dog cheap that run on premium.

[ingalook]

New Gas Prices:

Diesel $2.00
Super $3.00
Premium $4.50

We can change to a flat duty like the states 3.5% on everything... simpler for customs, shares the burden etc. barring that

Reduction of duties on car suspension parts
Reduction of duties electronics
Removal of VAT on Computer Parts
Increase Personal income tax allowance to $80,000 increase income tax to 30%

Purchase 10 MRI machines, 10 dialysis - TRAIN PEOPLE

Do SOMETHING with Brian Lara Stadium

[pete]

Where you got the idea that the states has a flat duty rate?

[ingalook]

Where you got the idea that the states has a flat duty rate?

You are right pete... that 3.5% is an average, there max duty on anything is 20%, ours is 40% + VAT

MAYBE lower duties would reduce unscrupulous behavior a bit (under-invoicing, corrupt customs officials etc.)

[PapaC]

Wait is increase tax to 30% you say? What make you make this suggestion?

[pete]

Well in his scenario, if they raise the tax allowance to 80k then only if you're making more than around 200k/year you will be paying more income tax. Once you're under 16,500/month you'll be paying less.

[eliteauto]

the Minister has confirmed this will be another deficit budget, however he's saying we've experienced 3 consecutive quarters of growth and the plan is to have a balanced budget by 2016

He also indicated a new property tax will be announced

[Habit7]

Bajan Students To Now Fund Own UWI Tuition
Published: Wednesday August 14, 2013 | 7:02 am

As of next year September, Barbadians pursuing studies at The University of the West Indies, UWI, will be required to pay tuition fees, while the Government continues to foot the other costs.

This was one of the measures announced in yesterday’s Budget presentation by Minister of Finance Chris Sinckler.

He said the new policy would reduce the transfer to The UWI by an estimated US$21 million annually.

Sinckler said since around 2006, the total contribution by the Government of Barbados to The UWI had exceeded the combined contribution to all other schools in the education system.

He said the expansion at the Cave Hill Campus had resulted in major increases in the Government’s contribution to The UWI.

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/latest/article.php?id=47193

If the PP does this, I will rel applaud them

[zoom rader]

^^^ them small things like 3 consecutive growth ppl don't want to know about. All they care about us how much free thing and how to eat ah food.

[Dizzy28]

Bajan Students To Now Fund Own UWI Tuition
Published: Wednesday August 14, 2013 | 7:02 am

As of next year September, Barbadians pursuing studies at The University of the West Indies, UWI, will be required to pay tuition fees, while the Government continues to foot the other costs.

This was one of the measures announced in yesterday’s Budget presentation by Minister of Finance Chris Sinckler.

He said the new policy would reduce the transfer to The UWI by an estimated US$21 million annually.

Sinckler said since around 2006, the total contribution by the Government of Barbados to The UWI had exceeded the combined contribution to all other schools in the education system.

He said the expansion at the Cave Hill Campus had resulted in major increases in the Government’s contribution to The UWI.

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/latest/article.php?id=47193

If the PP does this, I will rel applaud them

Interesting development by Bim there. In Trinidad, with the massive unpopularity of this Govt I don't foresee the hard decisions which could be beneficial to the economy being made at this point in time.

[Habit7]

GATE needs to be given to those without the means or in areas of study where demand is great. And I hope they stop that laptop madness, we could have built and refurbished 10-20 new primary schools and include competent computer labs with all that waste.

[zoom rader]

GATE needs to be given to those without the means or in areas of study where demand is great. And I hope they stop that laptop madness, we could have built and refurbished 10-20 new primary schools and include competent computer labs with all that waste.

U know if they built 20 new school the first thing you would say that it's corruption and where they going to find teachers. As with hospitals u gonna say it corruption and where they going to find medical staff. You will always find a way to twist things in favor of your pnm party

[janfar]

GATE needs to be given to those without the means or in areas of study where demand is great. And I hope they stop that laptop madness, we could have built and refurbished 10-20 new primary schools and include competent computer labs with all that waste.

Agreed. Too many kids who dont deserve or arent able to keep up with university receiving Gate funding and just wasting it away.

[Habit7]

GATE needs to be given to those without the means or in areas of study where demand is great. And I hope they stop that laptop madness, we could have built and refurbished 10-20 new primary schools and include competent computer labs with all that waste.

U know if they built 20 new school the first thing you would say that it's corruption and where they going to find teachers. As with hospitals u gonna say it corruption and where they going to find medical staff. You will always find a way to twist things in favor of your pnm party

ad hominem

[Dizzy28]

I dunno about you all but I have a problem with the National Scholarship system as well. It should be based on where we have national gaps in skills as to whatever ppl feel they wanna do. Do we really need more philosophers and political scientists paid for by tax payers?