Everything would go up, says Estwick
OUTSPOKEN Agriculture Minister Dr. David Estwick has rubbished the proposal by the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) to abolish the road tax in Barbados, and replace it with a levy on fuel.
Speaking at a spot meeting in Market Hill St. George to endorse candidate for St. George North Jepter Ince, Dr. Estwick described such a move as “nonsense”, adding that it would cause everything on the island to go up.
During the BLP’s recent Manifesto launch at the Plumgrove Pasture, Kingsland, BLP’s economic consultant Dr. Clyde Mascoll stated that those who used the island’s roads the most, would be those required to pay more.
“Those people who use the road most, should pay the most. It is called equity and justice, so therefore we are going to transfer the road tax to a small tax in fuel and as a result those businesses that use the heavy vehicles on the road and are on the road all day will pay it proportionately,” Mascoll added.
However Dr. Estwick believes this could have dire consequences for Barbadians. “Anytime you increase the taxes on diesel, the Barbados Light & Power is going to increase the fuel clause adjustment and cause your electricity bill to go up, your telephone bill to go up, your water bill to go up…”.
Saying that the BLP is simply “grasping at straws”, Estwick said, “If gasoline goes up, if diesel goes up, transportation costs go up, business costs go up. Everything In Barbados will go up so it is a basic arithmetic.”
Estwick also denounced claims that the DLP has brought the economy to a standstill. “They tell you we don’t have reserves. They tell you the government in debt. They tell you we have high deficits. But I want when you see [Gline] Clarke, to ask Clarke and Mottley, if these are the problems facing Barbados, how are you going to fix it. Tell Barbadians what is your strategy to fix it. Explain to one and all in Bim.”
He said the DLP is going to roll out and has rolled out a set of solutions in it sustainable redevelopment plan.
Estwick recalled that back in 2006 then Prime Minister Owen Arthur said that the country had a $500 million hole and he had to sell the land to pay the bills.
“Before DT took office the fiscal deficit was $500 million, as soon as we came to office the recession struck the country and the belly fell out of the revenue by another $400milion+ dollars. Which means we were faced with almost $1 billion in deficit within the first two years of being in Office.”
Estwick reminded that the International Monetary Fund, the rating agencies and even the former Central Bank Governor prescribed that a large section of the public service should be sent home.
“We chose to make some adjustments. Those adjustments that were made were made to make sure that public officers kept their job. If we had listened to all of them, half of you would have gone home,” he told the modest crowd in attendance.
He admitted that this affected the capacity of the Freundel Stuart-led administration to do a lot of things that it wanted to accomplish, yet it was able to provide transportation, healthcare and housing. (JH)