Five radio personalities are set to ramp up the Coalition for Responsible Taxation's efforts to "awaken" Bahamians to why they should demand a delay to the implementation of value-added tax (VAT) tomorrow, as they join the civic group's push to get 10,000 signatures on its petition.
On what is being termed "Wake Up Wednesday", radio listeners on Hot 91.7, Star FM, Guardian Radio, 100 Jamz, Joy FM, Y98.7 FM and Cool 96 will be encouraged to sign the petition created by the coalition.
To date, just under 2,000 have signed the petition, which states that while the $5 billion national debt must be reduced and responsible fiscal reform considered to reach that goal, not enough time has been given to inform the public about VAT, to consider suitable alternatives, or conduct dynamic financial modelling "suitable to The Bahamas."
It calls for the government to delay, provide data "necessary to make responsible decisions", and engage in private sector consultations before making final decisions.
Robert Myers, co-chairman of the coalition, said: "The intention of this petition signature drive is to put pressure on the government to be responsible with overall fiscal reform. The VAT decision is our most immediate concern. The Bahamas needs to wake up to the implications of VAT and realize the effects it'll have on the consumer and the economy. We need more time to review viable alternatives. We hope to collect a minimum of 10,000 signatures for presentation to the government, to demand a delay on implementing VAT."
'Wake Up Wednesday' is being billed as a day long initiative intended to expose listeners to "the urgent call to action required to delay a government decision on value-added tax."
Recently, Co-chair of the Coalition Gowon Bowe said that the coalition does not support the government doing nothing to address debt levels by July of this year, the intended implementation date for VAT.
He suggested that there are "interim measures", such as a payroll tax, which could and should be implemented by that time in order to begin addressing the government's revenue-raising needs and to demonstrate to international credit rating agencies that the government is committed to turning around the fiscal trajectory, while still allowing for the possibility of a delay in implementing VAT such that there is time to consider alternatives and/or prepare more adequately.

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