Opposition’s Leader statement on the Pre-Budget Report Reckless and Irresponsible says Jache Adams

Mr Editor, I write in response to your Newspaper’s story on January 27, 2023, which covered the Leader of the Opposition’s statement on the Pre-Budget Report.

It is reckless and irresponsible for the Opposition Leader to suggest that anything within the Pre-Budget Report is set in stone. Since its inception, the Pre-Budget Report has been a tool to
increase awareness of the Government’s fiscal objectives and solicit feedback from the public.

The aim is to ensure the budgeting process is both collaborative and transparent before the tabling of the island’s annual budget.

On numerous occasions, adjustments have been made to proposals contained in the Pre-Budget Reports demonstrating the value of the consultative process.

Recent examples would be in the 2017 Pre-Budget Report, where the Government signaled that
it was considering implementing a professional services tax; however, following consultation between the Government and stakeholders, the Government decided not to implement this tax and instead adjusted the basis for notional remuneration for payroll tax. Another example would be the 2019 Pre-Budget Report, where many will recall a proposal to introduce a tax on
rental income. Again, based on the feedback received during the consultative process, the government adjusted its approach to achieve the revenue targets required to reduce the deficit.

The Government values each comment, suggestion, opinion, and concern from all sectors as we recognise that input from the broader community allows us to put forward the best budget
possible for the people of Bermuda. It is, therefore, disappointing to read recent remarks from the Opposition Leader speaking as if the proposals within the Pre-Budget Report are definitive
when that has never been the case.

 

This may have been the case under the OBA, but time and time again, this PLP Government has engaged in broad public consultation before significant
policy changes.

The Opposition Leader should also be made aware that the International Business community was consulted before the Pre-Budget Report was released; in fact, some of the proposals
included within the Report came directly from the International Business community.

 

The Opposition Leader also refers to another proposal in the Pre-Budget Report as “sheer fantasy”; however seemingly disregards the fact that the proposal came directly from the Tax
Reform Commission’s 2018 report. This report resulted from bi-partisan cooperation, and the OBA representative on the commission agreed upon the recommendations in the report. The
Government simply included the recommendation in the Pre-Budget Report to garner additional feedback from affected sectors. I’m sure the former commissioners, who have a
wealth and breadth of industry experience, have noted the Opposition Leader’s opinion and share my disheartenment at his willingness to dismiss their recommendations.

 

It is equally worth noting that during the consultative process, the Government invited the public to provide feedback. The Government received responses from the IB community, trade
unions, the hospitality industry, the local business community, and many individual citizens.

As a point of interest, the Government received no feedback or suggestions from the OBA. Therefore, it was disappointing, but not unexpected, to see the Opposition criticise proposals
from the Government in the media, but when given the opportunity to be constructive and provide feedback, they ultimately decided to do nothing.
Finally, it has not gone unnoticed that the Opposition Leader went to great lengths to comment on how the proposed changes to employee payroll tax will impact the International Business
community, yet says nothing about how those proposed changes will reduce taxes for 80% of the workers in this country. This again exposes the OBA’s true colours and whose interest they represent.

 

The proposed Payroll Tax changes, which were put forward for consultation, reduces payroll tax for 80% of taxpayers and builds on prior tax reductions for working families by the PLP – but the OBA does not support this change, as they have no solutions for providing relief to working families at a time of high global inflation.

As I close, I want to thank everyone that has contributed to the sincere consultative process and submitted their feedback to the Ministry of Finance over the last month. On February 17th, the
Premier & Minister of Finance will present the island’s budget. Bermuda’s residents and businesses would have played a vital part in shaping the policies unveiled that day.

 

Any content which is considered unsuitable, unlawful, or offensive, includes personal details, advertises or promotes products, services or websites, or repeats previous comments will be removed.

User comments posted on this website are solely the views and opinions of the comment writer and are not a representation of or reflection of the opinions of TNN or its staff.

TNN reserves the right to remove, edit or censor any comments.

TNN accepts no liability and will not be held accountable for the comments made by users.