PRESS RELEASE By Bradley B Roberts
National Chairman/Progressive Liberal Party
1st November 2009
It is the FNM which is demonstrably deceptive, delusional and is practicing “informational asymmetry.” They have all the information, but are releasing it selectively. This is dishonesty at its worst.
So call greatest Tax relief in 30 years? That’s very subjective, but the government did lower food items on about160 bread basket items and the reductions were minimal as the stamp tax removal from these items amounted to a paltry 2%. The FNM must answer how is it that the pricing index places the inflation on food items at 8.1%? How is it that the inflation rate in the Bahamas overall is in excess of 4% compared to 1.7% on May 2nd 2007 IF THE FNM IS CLAIMING TO HAVE GIVEN THE SINGLE LARGEST TAX RELIEF IN 30 YEARS???. THE FNM MUST ANSWER THIS BECAUSE THE EMPIRICAL DATA IS NOT CONSISTENT WITH THESE OUTLANDISH AND BASELESS CLAIMS.
On the issue of stamp tax relief for first time home owners, the government allowed that Act to expire in December 2007 even though the law provided for an extension. The government came under heavy criticism from the PLP and Bahamians in general because it was a really good piece of legislation. The government back-tracked and reintroduced the stamp tax relief for first time home owners at its 2008/2009 budget communications. I credit the Official Opposition for shaming the government and forcing them to retreat on their initial policy position.
As for the Nassau Redevelopment Act, that was narrowed down to businesses on Bay Street as the FNM amended the definition of “the city of Nassau” to exclude any business south of Dilette Street or “over the hill” as we like to call it.
But the pressing question the FNM has dodged since May 3rd 2007 is this: If the economic growth projections were downgraded from 4.5% to 2% in the 2008 fiscal year, then how is it that the FNM government predicted an INCREMENTAL revenue increase of 10% or $145 million over the previous year? HOW WAS THIS POSSIBLE??? This was possible through wide ranging and precipitous tax increases on a wide range of goods and services. There was nowhere in the budget communication where this single largest tax increase in the history of the Bahamas is mentioned. I challenge the FNM to review the PM’s budget communication; it is simply not mentioned. They did mention (many times) the tax reductions on 160 or so breadbasket items, but cowardly hid the huge tax increase.
The FNM’s press release said that the PLP Parliamentarians should have read the document before coming to parliament, but read what? It was not in the document. The Bahamian people found out when the new fiscal year began and the H M Customs were charging them the new rates that they were unaware of. Again, the government came under very heavy criticism for this.
So the argument that the FNM was deceptive and misled parliament about the huge tax increase is an argument with strong merit. The empirical data bears this out to be true. Bradley Roberts is not delusional; all of his claims can and have been substantiated.
@Think Bahamas
What an idiotic statement as the Minister of Education was nominated to be the Chairman of the FNM and did not know until the PM put his name forward at convention.lolo llo Big Brad causing Ministers to be fired and this is HAIs response.All of you other knuckleheads dont know what to say so stay in your holes.you better look at the results of the elections at the PLP convention and you will see that PLPs returned Roberts overwhelmingly.HAI knows he had to respond so he fire Johnlee and Ivoine and put his man in place.Hai is desperate and had no where else to turn lolo.Checkmate lolo.
Its clear that BR voice or words are not of any ones interest he is a dinisor and most people PLP & FNM see him as that. There is not much comments from anyone….
@Finscane
Johnlee has verbal dia…..
Bradley don’t need to debate him…the man can’t see beyond that party’s illusions ! It’s like he is living in another world! He will defend that other party to the death – debating (arguing) with him is a total waste !!! Brad..keep it in the Press – that’s what they do ! When the people finally “silence” him (Johnlee), I wonder ..”wha will he do next”!
whether fnm or plp, roberts is afraid to debate johnlee ferguson…ferguson says he will debate roberts anytime! take up the challenge roberts!! i want to see something more this time around, other than press releases and screaming in HOUSE…
BP
Looks like some of these FNM posters are totally ignoring this post. BR is calling their PM a liar and not a word from BahamasYouth, Mashup & Co.
Its becoming a glaring trend that anything you post that is critical of the PLP those FNM posters go nuts and cant seem to shut up, but when you post something that is critical of the FNM, these same FNM bloggers does suddenly forget how to post and goes into silent mode!
Looks like even FNM’s know its hard to defend HAI record!
Just an observation.
Big Bad Brad the best man for the Chairman job keep HAI and his Clowns in check.
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