GCT
According to news
reports Jamaicans could see an increase in general consumption tax (GCT) and or
be required to pay taxes on items now zero rated as the Andrew Holness
administration projects to collect $16 billion more in GCT for the new
financial year. Regarding the General Consumption Tax (GCT) now at 16.5 %,
I hope will be lowered to a round figure like 10% easy to calculate then put it
on all things in sight exempting only books just to keep education and that
dying industry alive. If there is concern about the politics of poverty and
love for the poor just sell the idea as a partner plan where every citizen
should contribute to this partner and you get your draw when your child goes to
school, when you call the police, when you drive or walk on the road or when
you access any services is provided by from your GCT and other tax dollar. I
guarantee you would collect more GCT due to increased buying, selling and
production. As a matter of common sense dictates that every cent of that tax
forgone from that $1.5 million threshold would be back in government coffers
faster than you can think because more money in circulation mean more GCT
everybody happy. I would like to hear from an actuary or actuaries out there to
provide some kind of enlightenment us on this matter. We do not need to hear
any more arguments from partisan people or book bright Tax and Borrow
Economists.15/04/16
Slow Learners
There are persons
in the society who want Government to put an end to streaming, a process
wherein students are placed in a class based on their 'presumed' capabilities. Slow
learners in a class tend to slow down the progress of fast learners and make
life harder for a teacher to accomplish the relevant curricula, so what do you
do? Put speed bumps on the highway to slow down the faster cars so that the
slow cars look like they are up to par? No, you fix up the slow cars that they
can keep up with the pace. In the case of students if they are streamed special
arrangements can be made with special teachers who would target the challenges
fix that then when they are up to par transferred appropriately.15/04/16
Those Murders
Last year 2015 the number of murders recorded by the police
stood at 1,207, which was 202, more than the 1,005 reported the previous year. What
is the figure for those missing because criminals are very creative getting rid
of bodies without a trace. For example are the St Ann’s Bay police still
trying to locate a family of four who went missing since November
2015 after their house was destroyed by fire? Fifty-seven-year-old Joseph
Lynch, 43-year-old Lascelle Lynch, 50-year-old Ruth Lawrence, and
seven-year-old Rimeka Haynes, all of Authurs Mount, Lime Hall, St Ann.
recommend that the numbers of missing annually must be published alongside the
murder figures to give a more holistic view.14/04/16
It’s a long time the tables have not turned where it is the
criminal/duppy running and hiding even in a church perhaps looking for
Divine intervention. The intensity must be sustained where decent people are
not running, hiding, traumatized and cowering in fear. We must stop pet and
powder criminals in Jamaica we must bring them in or bring them down from
Morant point to Negril point.14/04/16
Mr. Bunting?
Did Former National Security Minister Peter Bunting exceed
his authority when he issued a certificate in January this year that shielded
members of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) from prosecution for the use of
mortars in Tivoli during the May 2010 operation. Is this form of
demonstrating government against justice, the people and the constitution? What
a pity as he hopes to be Prime Minister one day the top man is that an example
of top behaviour? Well Mr. Do you recall
the second state of emergency in Jamaica's history June 20,1976 to end of
February 1977 or Green Bay atrocities in January 1978 where 10 men promised
jobs were lured to that area of Helshire 5 of them shot dead by our/their own
Jamaica Defence Force soldiers. It is possible that some of those architects
are even revered today. Could it be that what Mr. Bunting has done is mild in
comparison and is on his way to be revered one day? 13/04/16
That Coconut Oil
Amazing isn’t it? The once vilified COCONUT OIL is now
taking centre stage in helping with Alzheimer's disease also called brain
diabetes, dementia and general improvement in brain function. Guess what there
is now difficulty getting adequate supplies of coconut oil at a reasonable
price and it could get worse as global demand increases. I stick with boiled
oil as this is the old tradition don't know what the scientists are saying
about that one. COCONUT OIL has a specific smell but I notice some in retail
establishments have no smell for me that's not it. Check IT. 12/04/16
I sympathize with both sides of this story and needs
immediate intervention as the environment and the law has to be taken
seriously. In all of this though it is Jamaica that is suffering in all of this
losing and have lost millions of hard currency and if we recall that society is
a whole individuals ,families, communities and the attendant problems that
arise like crime and other social ills. Therein lay the problems. 09/04/16
King Sugar Dethroned?
One challenge in saving King Sugar from being totally
dethroned is that most drinks, ice cream, pharmaceuticals and pastry on the
market use sweeteners to keep down prices so we consume them unknowingly. Let
us say therefore we do not knowingly consume artificial sweeteners and what the
package says I know does not lie in many cases that sugar added but many use a
blend. The ones that are very clear are the very sweet items that say "no
sugar added" they may as well say "artificial sweeteners added"
but that would not be creative marketing. To save oneself a little self help is
good make your own daily drinks from in season fruits /vegetables and travel
with them in a small cooler save money and save your health.09/04/16
Michael Spence
Michael Spence
