Dear Sir
After reading the article ‘St Lucia government waives 2.5 percent tax for Rodney Bay City Center Project,’ it further confirms that the Health and Citizen Security Levy (HCSL) is bad law, not intended to benefit the majority – The Malaway – but for a selected few at the discretion of the cabinet of ministers. Henceforth, HCSL should be abolished!
Here’s why!
Don’t forget that the Health and Citizen Security Levy (HCSL) which the government imposed was an additional taxation on the backs of the citizens of this country. We were told this was a tax to offset the difficulties encountered in rectifying our healthcare problems and the crime surge on the island. And they did so mendaciously.
The government lied because if you remember, they were caught and they were forced to declare that the HCSL was part of a financial arrangement called a PBL – a policy-based loan. It was implemented as part of a policy facility. Therefore, the “intentions” were “never” for health and security; but that is how the government presented it in the Parliament of Saint Lucia.
The government and parliament (of unanimity) trimmed HCSL with clever provisions that facilitate the waiver of the Levy.
This can be described as a dangling carrot and stick “provision” in the legislation to mendaciously get through things while the country is branded; a big disco, coupled with the infamous – Bam Bam Wall – while citizens are taken up in a drunken stupor with events and fetes from January – December.
In our democracy, people are not embroiled in the competition of ideas, think tanks, research and development, capable of challenging any government. The values of assembly – and the aptitude to question so-called laws that govern us are mere ideological preferences of overnight fossils, at the behest of a political party winning an election.
Government is serious business and it does not come cheap.
If citizens are not embroiled in a constant drunken stupor and fetes then they have time and something to think about how their lives are governed and to figure out what’s going on with HCSL, and other socio-political things.
In the current state of affairs, the government is very skilled at being ignorant, that citizens will not remember that HCSL – is a repressive tax – that compounds existing taxes and contributes to self-imposed inflation.
HCSL should have never been implemented. What the government needs to institute is a – progressive tax regime. And it is important why they are not moving in that direction.
Again, here’s why!
Why should the Malaway continue to struggle, putting bread on the table, seeking justice and freedom, while paying value-added tax (VAT 12.5% and HCSL 2.5 %) and their livelihood is not improving?
The reality is such that citizens are hard-pressed on everyday government-imposed inflation. The practice of delay and denial is now a recurrent decimal.
In addition, the below-average functionality of the institutions of government is widespread, however, selective sectors are benefiting from “provisions in the law” commonly referred to as loopholes, to enable “concessions.”
At present, the so-called wealthy and cartel-like functionaries are getting away with all kinds of prevailing irregularity – scheming VAT, HCSL and the soap Opera of CIP.
While citizens are most at risk from crime and healthcare, the Malaway – the largest section of the population and the voting public – are the least recipients from the government they elect.
Think about it! The Malaway – everyday consumers – are the largest contributors to VAT and HCSL, gaining the least from their government’s inherent incompetence.
It’s a case of Robin Hood! This is heartless! The population is paying a heavy price for VAT and HCSL while healthcare is still a cesspool and organized crime continues to flourish.
Question! Who, and were are these so-called stakeholders?
Truth be told! Saint Lucians flocking to Martinique is reflective of the lack of public trust in the healthcare delivery systems and its institutions. It’s a critical problem the GOSL has failed to address.
So, what’s the role of the Health and Citizen Security Levy (HCSL)? A waste of time. I must riposte!
The current HCSL is a reckless tool of government! HCSL is punishing the Malaway! HCSL is now used to benefit – favourable individuals, investors and developers – at the fancy of cabinet ministers.
The government of Saint Lucia needs to abolish HCSL and table a progressive framework for health and security!
HCSL is not benefiting anybody. It is discriminatory! The government needs to just cut it out, because, while taxpayers, the poor hard-working citizens of this country are paying are living paycheck to paycheck, the so-called wealthy are getting away scot-free.
HCSL is unfair to the public, and more egregious when the cabinet of ministers (OPM/GIS/NTN) cannot explain and communicate their policy and actions. To be fair, the communication is less than adequate with nuances and insalubrious that reflect a level of contempt for the public.
Remember: Lies and untruths in any form is an expression of contempt.
Sincerely,
Arianna Philips
