Electricity fuel surcharge should have been govt’s relief measure
The government should have targeted its recent economic relief measures in areas where the public could have better felt it, Opposition Leader Marlon Penn has argued.
Speaking on the NDP radio programme last evening, Penn said measures by the government to significantly reduce import duties given rising costs, were welcome and appreciated.
However, he argued that some of this relief is unlikely to trickle down to residents who are really in need.
“We are happy that something was attempted. Sometimes you have to make sure, if you are going to forgo tax revenue, you have to make sure that that money that you’re going to forgo – and the estimation that we have come up with is between $7 to $10 million in this exercise – you have to make sure that that money is targeted to persons who can benefit, the most burdened amongst us,” Penn expressed.
According to the Opposition Leader, the government had an opportunity to target some of the relief monies towards the fuel surcharge on electricity bills.
“In the months that we know the electricity consumption goes up, you have a targeted approach to say ‘look, we are going to address the issue of fuel surcharge, cap the amount that persons are going to pay on their electricity bill for a certain period’ – you have maximum benefit. The entire public will benefit from something like that,” the Opposition Leader explained.
Penn, who is also the Eighth District Representative, further argued that government should have met with grocers and food producers in the BVI to develop a strategy to deal with inflation in the coming months to make food cheaper.
“You can’t do these things without having conversations with the industries,” he said.
“If you are going to forgo revenue — tax revenue — you have to make sure that your people [and] businesses … get maximum benefit because you have to find some way to put that money back,” Penn argued.
He further contended that the government may need to explore ways in which it can cut costs in other areas such as projects or recurrent expenditure.
“So, some things that we require to get done in this budget cycle will not get done because we are forgoing $7 million in revenue at the lower end,“ Penn said.
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HUSH! I really do not want to hear anything from you. Get the sewage and roads fix in the 8th. This should be your priority.
Put sock in it! Why you don’t tell the minister responsible and Deputy Premier who is the 7th District Rep. and members of sitting administration? They have 6 million in loan money and for 3 years have done nothing but it is Hon. Penns Fault!?
Get from here from talking p!$$ and trying to mislead the people. Hon. Penn continue to hold these clowns accountable and don’t study these clowns.
It has been over twenty- thirty years the BVI and its people have been experiencing sewerage in the streets and horrific odors in the air, horrific roads service and other infrastructure neglect….
It has been concluded that those items will never be remedied/fixed or other, as they serve as means of redirection of money into private hands.
The deveopment of the country has never been a priority, and sadly, it will never become a priority again. Getting and hoarding money, no matter the means is priority number one..
Wonderin if the old government elected officials from 1960 forward use to appropriate as much, in so large quantities as is being done today.
He has a point he wants to make. Why must someone HUSH, its their right to speak and give an opinion. You lack respect and are deviating from the matter at hand.
WITH ALL THE DIPLOMAS THAT THESE MODERN POLITICIANS HAVE WE ARE GOING NO WHERE FAST…THE POLITICIANS IN THE PAST WERE MORE SMARTER WITH LESS EDUCATION
You have a point but looking at it the wrong way. This is not the 60’s – 90’s it’s a modern world with global issues that affect developing 3rdworlders as we are in the caribbean.
we need more unity to carry us fwd
Mr Penn has always been constant with his agendas as a politician. He is absolutely right and he has my vote. Premier Penn….