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Govt’s Election Promises: ‘WE WILL DELIVER’

Prime Minister Allen Chastanet. [PHOTO: Stan Bishop]

Image: Prime Minister Allen Chastanet. [PHOTO: Stan Bishop]
Prime Minister Allen Chastanet. [PHOTO: Stan Bishop]
SAINT LUCIANS should know by the end of October what the new rate of the Value Added Tax (VAT) will be.

The announcement came last Tuesday in the Throne Speech delivered by Governor-General Dame PearletteLouisy at the opening of the First Session of the Eleventh Parliament of Saint Lucia.

According to Dame Pearlette, government has already begun discussions with regional and international institutions towards conducting a true assessment of the State’s financial shape.

She added that the assessment is necessary since the Estimates of Revenue for the current fiscal year, despite being tabled and passed in Parliament by the last administration, were done so without any presentation of the policy considerations that informed those estimates.

Following those discussions and the comprehensive review of the estimates, the government hopes to present revised estimates that will be guided by new policy priorities for the rst of the 2016/17 fiscal year.

Prime Minister Allen Chastanet spoke to the media on Tuesday as he made his way to Parliament, saying that he hoped that all five promises made in the “Five To Stay Alive” plan, including a reduction and an eventual removal of VAT — are implemented in the government’s first 100 days in office.

“We’ve gone through the first review of VAT and we do have a CDB (Caribbean Development Bank) meeting tomorrow and the IMF (International Monetary Fund) and World Bank and the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) coming down to review what we’re doing,” Chastanet said. “We’re actually asking them to do an audit of where we are today, so we can agree on a work plan going forward.”

The Value Added Tax became one of the most debated campaign issues over the past year. While the former government maintained that the tax was necessary – contributing nearly $346 million to government’s coffers annually – the then opposition United Workers’ Party (UWP) described VAT as an oppressive burden.

During a May 12 public meeting held in the William Peter Boulevard, Chastanet outlined his “5 To Stay Alive” plan. A week later, the Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP) held its own public meeting on the Castries Market Steps where then Prime Minister, Dr. Kenny Anthony, said removing VAT would result in a shortfall in revenue for government.

However, Chastanet countered the SLP’s argument, saying that with a reduced VAT rate, more people will be willing to invest in Saint Lucia, thereby creating more employment opportunities for the unemployed. He added that consumers, too, would benefit from reduced costs of goods and services.

On Tuesday, Chastanet seemed confident that government will be able to do what some claim to be the unthinkable: lowering VAT and then replacing it with a simpler, fairer tax. However, the opposition Saint Lucia Labour Party reiterated that it will hold the government’s feet to the fire with respect to campaign promises made, including reducing and removing VAT.

Meanwhile, politicians are not the only ones offering opinions on whether VAT should go or stay or what rate should be implemented come October. The VOICE put the question out yesterday asking people to quote what rate should be adopted by government. Three respondents suggested the following: “15%”, “10%” and “lower than 8%”.

As for the other four items in the “5 To Stay Alive” plan, the increase in the school transportation subsidy and school feeding programme will take effect in September.

Also, legislation to facilitate the introduction of the amnesty on outstanding hospital bills and a reduction in vehicular licence fees will be tabled at the next sitting of Parliament scheduled for next month. The moratorium on payment of taxes on residential property is expected to be implemented in the next fiscal year.

Stan Bishop began his career in journalism in March 2008 writing freelance for The VOICE newspaper for six weeks before being hired as a part-time journalist there when one of the company’s journalists was overseas on assignment.

Although he was initially told that the job would last only two weeks, he was able to demonstrate such high quality work that the company offered him a permanent job before that fortnight was over. Read full bio...

10 Comments

  1. /

    Because of the brainwashing of the so-called Negroes across St. Lucia by the agents of White Supremacy, and with the instigation by the House Niggers Black Pete Josie and the Castrated Negro on steroids Rick John Wayne who worships Caucasians as their God and Masters, the people of this island has made the greatest mistake in their political history since being labeled independent, when they allowed a known LIAR and THIEF Allen Chastanet to disgrace them internationally.

    This shyster who proved his ignorance and deceitful practices for years telling Lucians that the American Civil War was fought against England and was NEVER accosted or corrected by the Negro on Steroids, who has proclaimed himself as the only Journalist in St. Lucia, perpetually attacking Our Great Leader Kenny Anthony, but NEVER called this imbecile Allen Chastanet to explain his bombastics to the school children of St. Lucia.

    Here’s this Shyster Allen Chastanet, telling you retarded Lucians that the American Civil War was fought against England over Taxes without Representation, while he had a “con-plo” with this “La-jah-bles” who he has now rewarded with minster of Health – what ever happened to Doctor Mondesir ? Allen Chastanet has a fear of Black Men and will never arrest his Criminal Father for inciting the murder of Black Lucians.

    ALLEN CHASTANET:

    Why won’t you do the honorable thing and tender your RESIGNATION as the Prime Minister, without taking our people whose Language and Culture you and the Chastanet Crime Family hates with a passion. Please RESIGN before dragging our country and its people in the mud with your LYING, VILLAINOUS, DECEITFUL, AND CORRUPT SELF.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBM0gMRWgsE

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  2. ……….som,…..”Great Leader”?!……..Dr.Noodle seems more appropriate. Anyway, no surprise here…….. because someone as delusional as yourself will call any freak a GL…….

  3. This SOM person must be some kind of Oracle for his warnings about Allan Chastanet embarrassing, I think he used the phrase INTERNATIONAL EMBARRASSMENT when describing Allan Chastanet, to have materialized so quickly is nothing short of phenomenal. I have been reading his blogs and some times I have had to scratch my head at the things he raises about religion, but he has been bull’s eye on this INTERNATIONAL EMBARRASSMENT when referring to Allan Chastanet. I am simply trying to figure out how Allan Chastanet conjured up his accusing the U.S.A. of being responsible for the crimes in this country. But the numbers Allan pulled out of the hat, had the American embassy realling with Mathematicians trying to make sense of Allan Chastanet numbers. There is a saying, BE CAREFUL what YOU PRAY FOR, this Allan idea is turning out to be a real EMBARRASSMENT.

  4. /
    SORT PWEE !

    The people who followed Pharoah’s magicians, Black Pete Josie, Stephen Mayers of Candyland, Rick John Wayne, Ezekiel Joseph, have certainly led our people astray, as they now stand on the edge of calamity as the Chastanet Crime Family make plans to allow the I.M.F. to enslave the total population of St. Lucia.

    However, this Mentally Challenged Allen Chastanet, along with his Clan of deviants, will not cease being trouble-makers and an international embarrassment, until the Lucian People put this serial Crime Family in Prison or run them off the Plantation back to the caves of Europe taking the Sambo Negroes with them.

    This con-plo/plot is already afoot, and will soon ‘mat-twe-tey’ when the Crime Family attempts to hijack our Criminal Justice System by installing another pettifogger like Allen to be Attorney General to replace Ms. St.Rose, in a Mafia attempt to destroy the Laws of our country and hand us over to the I.M.F.

    https://www.facebook.com/urbanintellectuals/videos/10153595707254366/

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  5. *

    WORDS OF THE WHITE SUPREMACIST ALLEN CHASTANET WHO SEE BLACK PEOPLE AS NIGGERS AND CRIMINALS WHO SHOULD BE ASSASSINATED BY KILLER COPS:

    “some years you had 500, 600, 800 criminal deportees including murderers.”- Allen Chastanet

    This is what this imbecile Allen Chastanet is telling the world about the People of St. Lucia; you are a bunch of niggers and criminals. Just listen to this Jackass:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mONYoV6j-P8

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  6. SAMJ
    What is your SUBSTANCE as in what do you stand for- on behalf of the best interests of the majority of St. Lucians.
    I do understand that you are an acolyte of the winner of a 50% voter turn out. With just about everything up for sale in current hedonistic vogue, I wonder if po folks were paid /bribed NOT TO BE SEEN at polling stations…………………………..
    Any who, the battering ram of SOM upon the well fortified souls in the BASTILLE of conquered illiterates- uuuummm MISEDUCATED Looshan souls ——-
    has NEVER been refuted /opposed by any valid /reliable testimony from your Minor Basillica or its puppet derivatives……n.est pas?
    He often cites your own Bible in support of documented allegations. You NEVER offer a valid citation to support your JIVE………turkey!

  7. As early as mid primary school (Boys Primary adjacent to the then cathedral assou square) I was troubled by the CONFABULATION of Overt IDOL WORSHIP and the explicit biblical assertion “THOU SHALL NOT dabble with idols BEFORE or on behalf of God”
    At that time I knew of many neighbors who use idol worship (PAGANISM) as their breakaway to other protestant denominations.
    If you cannot superficially come to grips with the above minor perversions (IDOL WORSHIP) of your very own Bible – by a most autocratic faith organizations ; then how can you summon the profound rational and valid discourse to CONTEST the spiritual truths presented by MONOTHEISM versus POLYTHEISM.

  8. I leave you with this rather simplistic notion:
    As your Chastenet diennasty umm dynasty jettisons Stlucia into the flaming embrace of the IMF -World BANK et al………………………………..controlled by the ROTHCHILD CENTRAL BANKING NETWORK…………………..
    CREATED AND LED BY A MONOTHEISTIC JEWISH family heritage…………………….
    SAMJ
    You can bet your brown, sugar cane , khaki, pale, or black rectum that your POLYTHEISTIC Minor Basillica will NEVER melt its Gold reserves in Rome -to save your economy- as the IMF et al swirl into town -at high noon-taking no prisoners!!!!!
    BUT Dr Anthony had the amicable NEIGHBOR NATION esperit to garnish the goodwill of the sons of Simon Bolivar in order to assure our enjoyment of AUTONOMY.
    For now, gloat in your decadent aristocracy- Chas Inc who bought Flambeau LLC in a pirated takeover-lock-stock and barrel has bluffed the hacienda puppets. They were made to believethat they are powerless without their aristocratic masters.
    The Sodom of your beliefs will one day be solidified with the salt of the Atlantic Ocean as you thirst for the ONE Divine Creator…..oui!

  9. SON OF MAN
    DASSAULT MIRAGE
    I GREET U-BOTH IN THE NAME OF ALLAH THE MAGNIFICENT THE MOST GRACIOUS !

    I AM SO PLEASE THAT THE BLESSING OF ALLAH BEEN POURING DOWN ON THE GOOD AND ON THE EVIL.
    FOR A FEW DAYS NOW I AM FOREVER GREAT FULL THE PLANTS ON MY FARM ARE ALSO GIVING PRAISES

    HERE ARE SOME INSPIRATION FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT UPON THE WRITER OF THE BOOK OF ” CHRONICLES AND OF SAMUEL ”
    IT’S ABOUT KING DAVID TAKING A CENSUS OF THE JEWS ( WHERE DID DAVID GET HIS “INSPIRATION ” FROM TO DO SUCH A NOVEL DEED ?

    2 SAMUEL 24 : 1….SAY IT WAS FROM THE ” LORD” WHO PROVOKED DAVID ?
    1 CHRONICLES SAY IT WAS FROM “SATAN” WHO PROVOKED DAVID?
    HOW COULD THE ALMIGHTY GOD HAVE BEEN THE SOURCE OF THESE CONTRADICTORY ” . INSPIRATIONS ?”
    IS IT GOD OR SATAN ! IN WHICH RELIGION IS THE DEVIL synonymous WITH GOD !

    11 SAMUEL 24 THE NUMBERING
    AND AGAIN THE ANGER OF THE LORD WAS KINDLED AGAINST ISRAEL AND HE MOVE DAVID AGAINST THEM TO SAY GO NUMBER ISRAEL AND JUDAH

    1 CHRONICLES 21
    AND SATAN STOOD UP AGAINST ISRAEL AND PROVOKED DAVID TO DUMBER ISRAEL

    35 : ST.LUCIA 1. AND SATAN MOVE ALLEN CHASTANET TO NUMBER THE ARRIVAL OF THE DEPORTEES.

    11 SAMUEL 24 :13 SO GAD CAME TO DAVID AND SAID UNTO HIM SHALL SEVEN YEARS OF FAMINE COME UNTO THEE IN THY LAND ? OR WILT THOU FLEE THREE MONTH BEFORE THINE ENEMIES WHILE THEY PURSUE THEE?

    1 CHRONICALES 21:11 SO GAD CAME TO DAVID AND SAID UNTO HIM THUS SAITH THE LORD, CHOOSE THEE 12 EITHER THREE YEARS’ FAMINE; OR THREE MONTH TO BE DESTROYED BEFORE THY FOES WHILE THAT THE SWORD OF THINE ENEMIES OVERTAKETH THEE.
    THE GOD THE AUTHOR OF THE ABOVE ARITHMETICAL DISCRPANCY
    OR IS IT ALLEN CHASTANET?
    11 CHRONICLES 36 : 9 JEHOIACHIN WAS EIGHT YEARS OLD WHEN HE BEGAN TO REIGH AND HE REIGNED THREE MONTH AND TEN DAYS.

    11 KING 36 : 8 JEHOIACHIN WAS EIGHTEEN YEARS OLD WHEN HE BEGAN TO REIGN AND HE REIGNED IN JERUSALEM THREE MONTH..

    SON OF MAN AND MY OTHER BROTHER DM
    I HAVE TO BE GOING BACK TO THE FARM HAVE SOME TRANSPLANTING OF CABBAGE / TOMATOES CHIVE
    ALLAH’S WILL I WILL B ON THIS BLOG SOON.

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