Nevis, West Indies. ?A Non-Tourist-Trap? Blog About Nevis.

Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis
August 10, 2010 (CUOPM)

The opposition People’s Action Movement (PAM) Parliamentarian for St. Christopher 8, Hon. Eugene Hamilton deliberately misled the St. Kitts and Nevis National Assembly and the public and abused the privilege afforded him by his membership in Parliament when he said he produced of his own free will, a copy of his United States Green Card in response to the Election Petition filed by Mr. Cedric Liburd.

Mr. Hamilton, who was declared the winner in that Constituency following the January 25th 2010 General Election said he was served with an Election Petition on 5th February 2010.

He told the Speaker, other lawmakers and the country on Friday: “Following meetings and decisions of the (High) Court, I went a step further and filed a copy of my (United States) Green Card – front and back – in the Court, which was not an Order of the Court and served those copies on the Petitioner (Mr. Liburd) and the other Respondents and also on the Attorney General as Intervener in this matter.”

But one of Mr. Liburd’s Legal Counsel, Mr. Sylvester Anthony, disputes that statement.

Mr. Anthony said that at a Case Management Conference held on April 29, 2010, lawyers representing Mr. Liburd and the Honourable Attorney General, sought and obtained an Order from Resident Judge, His Lordship Mr. Justice Francis Belle, requiring Mr. Hamilton ‘to produce for inspection any passport, travel document, visa, or other instrument relating to citizenship, immigrant or residential status issued to him by any State other than St. Christopher and Nevis, on or before May 13, 2010.”

“Mr. Hamilton filed the evidence of his Permanent Residence status as required by the Order of the Court on May 11, 2010,” said Mr. Anthony, who went on to ask “Prior to the Order being made, did Mr. Hamilton ever state publicly that he was a Permanent Resident of the USA? Did he ever release to the media or the public, a copy of his Green Card?”

“It was not until he was ordered by the Court did he finally admit to having a Green Card and being a Permanent Resident of the USA,” said Mr. Anthony, adding that “any hint or suggestion by Mr. Hamilton that the production of his Green Card was of his own free will, is misleading and disingenuous.”

“It is safe to say, that if this action had not been brought by Mr. Liburd, Mr. Hamilton’s Permanent Residence status in the USA would have remained a well kept secret from the constituents of St. Christopher 8 and the people of the Federation,” said Mr. Anthony.

“As to his claim that no one visited his lawyer’s office to inspect the Green Card, that too is a red herring. There was no need to physically inspect the Green Card since copies were attached to his affidavit which was served on all parties,” Mr. Anthony added.

He further stated that it was also mischievous of Mr. Hamilton to continue, as a party to the litigation, to publicly comment on the case on the pretext that the matter is concluded.

“Once again that position demonstrates Mr. Hamilton’s lack of appreciation for truth telling. Mr. Hamilton is well aware that final submissions are yet to be filed and served by the parties, and that the Trial Judge is yet to rule. How then can he claim that the matter has been concluded and he is free to make public comments?” asked Mr. Anthony.

Related posts:

1. Statement By Eugene Hamilton On Court Case
2. Eugene Hamilton Confident In Winning Constituency 8
3. Candidate Eugene Hamilton Pledges Good Representation
4. Constituency #8 Safe With Eugene Hamilton
5. Eugene Hamilton Called Upon To Break His Silence

Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis
People’s Action Movement
July 02, 2010

Minority Leader in the Trinidad and Tobago House of Assembly and political leader of the Tobago Organisation of the People, Ashworth Jack,is slated to be the Guest Speaker at this weekend’s 45th  People’s Action Movement , PAM convention.

Jack, who also leads the Tobago United Force/Democratic Action Congress (TUF/DAC), successfully led his TOP Party in the recent historic Trinidad and Tobago General Elections in all the seats they contested  .
The  Jack led T.O.P Party is a part of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissesar’s historic  People’s Partnership Coalition .
Mr. Ashworth Michael Jack is the parliamentary representative for  the Trinidad and Tobago Providence/ Mason Hall/ Moriah Electoral District. He has represented this district for the last thirteen years as an elected member of the House of Assembly.

Mr. Ashworth Michael Jack has been involved in politics for 31 years and has participated and been the focal point in many historic parliamentary sessions, including events of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and in many conferences around the World.

Jack has been Chairman of the Tobago Democratic Action Congress and Constituency Chairman of the National Alliance for Reconstruction, Tobago .

Jack along with Party Leader Mr.Lindsay Grant are the featured speakers at Sunday’s event which is expected to draw thousands of party supporters, friends, and dignitaries to the People’s Action Movement headquarters on Lockhart Street.

The convention has for the last 45 years been the highlight event for the party’s faithful. It has also been a time of reflection and inspiration as members recall when in 1965 the four original PAM stalwarts (Billy Herbert, Kennedy Simmonds, Michael Powell, and Richard Caines) decided that for the love of country they would sacrifice their lives and challenge the dictatorial policies of the Labour Administration led by Sir Robert L.  Bradshaw.  Other pioneers included Colin Pereira, Cecil “Moonlight” Roberts, Joseph Sutton, Victor Maynard, Richard Shelford, Shefton Warner, and Courtney Dickenson.

The People’s Action Movement 45TH  Convention will be held on Sunday July 4th starting to 1:00 pm.

Related posts:

1. Young Pamites Receive Standing Ovation At Convention
2. St. Vincent Prime Minister To Be Guest Speaker at Labour Party Conference
3. Youths For Change Hosts Convention
4. Barbados Leader Guest Speaker At PM’s New Year’s Gala
5. Nevis Reformation Party Convention: A Grand Success!

Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis
People’s Action Movement
May 31, 2010

The ongoing discussions around the soon to be accomplished implementation of the VAT reveal several troubling issues that are bound to worsen an already difficult transition.

This first problem is the inevitable deceit that characterizes the government’s approach to the implementation; beginning with the ludicrous assertion that the current discussions being organized by the Ministry of Finance are actually consultations. As has been pointed out in this and other media, a White Paper is a policy document that outlines what a government will implement. {A Green Paper is a document of ideas and proposals to be discussed and chosen or discarded during consultations} The White Paper is therefore a fait accompli describing exactly what will happen. It should cause a case of déjà vu as people recall the “consultations” on Electoral Reform. After spending millions of dollars on local and international joyrides, the government did exactly what it had always intended in its White Paper.

So, with scarcely eight months to prepare the country will be launched into a new system of taxation without an anywhere near adequate amount of preparation or education. The ideas being pushed by this government that the VAT will not affect the cost of living, will replace existing taxes, will significantly increase government revenue and will not impair the functioning of small businesses are all assertions that can only be categorized as divorced from reality.

The cost of living

The experience of our CARICOM neighbours with the implementation of the VAT has been an initial increase in the cost of living by at least 50%. In fact, this is so common that it is internationally accepted as an integral part of implementing a VAT and the reason for advising governments to give a population at least two years of preparation and education before switching to a VAT. The rise in the cost of living is compounded if a VAT is introduced when an economy is in serious trouble like is the case in St. Kitts and Nevis. When customers face bills for everyday items like groceries and car insurance increased by 20% when they are unemployed like many here are they will try to buy much less. As demand falls the economic will shrink further and the much needed recovery inevitably delayed.

Will replace existing Taxes

The most seductive idea being pushed by the government is that twelve taxes will be removed and so, the implication is, the tax burden will be lessened. The reality is that each of the taxes that will be removed will be replaced by the VAT. This means that the 3% tax on IDD telephone calls will go to 20% (or whatever the VAT will be). The same will apply to all the other taxes and since only the Consumption Tax is currently above the expected rate on 20% at 22.5% all others will experience significant increases.

Will significantly increase government Revenue

A VAT has one purpose which is to enhance government revenues. The current revenue crisis in the Federation has two main causes, firstly the large scale pilfering of government funds for private use whether from siphoning off money from capital projects or simply diverting it into personal accounts {Lex Consulting LLC}. The other is the large scale avoidance of tax obligations mainly by businesses. The scandal of many strong party supporters failing to hundreds of thousands of dollars in electricity bills is one example. According to the Ministry of Finance tax compliance hovers around 60% which is quite low. The benefit of a VAT is that consumers will be unable to avoid it so that money will be collected but it will also induce even more people and businesses to cheat as was the problem in Greece which is now is so much turmoil. An already low compliance rate will fall when businesses are required to pay VAT on credit purchases before receiving any money themselves and inevitably many will under report earnings.

Will not impair the functioning of Small Businesses

The United States does not have a VAT at the moment ironically because times are hard now and that would make things worse. The VAT there is expected by about 2014 after the economic recovery is established. This means that the current accounting software used here will have to be replaced with much more expensive European systems. This will mean more cost. Smaller businesses will have to hire accountants to ensure that they are keeping proper records which will mean more costs. All this added cost will have two effects increases in price and reduction in staff.

The vicious cycle of hardship causing more hardship will be further fuelled.

Related posts:

1. Nevis Premier Discusses Economic Outlook
2. St. Kitts – Nevis Recuurent Revenue Up 13.8%
3. St. Kitts – Nevis Predict Strong Economic Growth In 2008
4. St. Kitts – Nevis To Implement A Value Added Tax VAT
5. Nevis Premier Discusses Economic Stimulus Package