After presentations from Mr John Rolle, Financial Secretary, representatives from Citizens for a better Bahamas, and taking into consideration the views of the BUT Executive Committee and members of the union, President Belinda Wilson wishes to state that the Bahamas Union of Teachers OPPOSES the implementation of VAT, Value Added Tax.

Some of the Bahamas Union of Teachers concerns are that:

1 . The government has not provided sufficient public education

2. The educational system has not be prepared for the change ie: mathematics curriculum

3. Teachers have been identified as one of the professionals to be affected by VAT, to date, we have not been told how?

4. The revenue component of the taxation is unclear

5. The government has not given a detailed explanation with statistics/facts to show how this deficit occurred

6. The government has not outlined measures that they will take to ensure that the problem will not be repeated

7. No guarantee/commitment/plan as to how the government proposes to control future expenditure/spending

8. VAT has failed in other Caribbean countries that have similar demographics as the Bahamas ie :Barbados

9. The tax is “regressive”

10. 15% is too high

11. The consumers will bear the burden of this tax as it is a consumer tax ie: poor

12. The government does not have a good track record for collecting taxes ie: millions uncollected

13. The Government has not made the case as to how the creation of Central Revenue Agency will improve tax collection ( just another bureaucracy )

14. The workers salaries have not increased (inclusive of teachers)

15. The minimum wage has not increased

16. The cost of living has increased and is rising daily

17. The government has left consumers out of the discussion

18 . After the tax is implemented there will be a need for more funds for Social Services (making the citizens dependant on government) could be better spent ie: training, job creation, small business, ownership

19. $200 million to be collected a short fall of $300 million, unclear as to how the short fall will be achieved

20. no guarantees as to how we will avoid this in the future

The Bahamas Union of Teacher recommends:

1. The government does NOT implement VAT on July 1st 2014

2. The government should exam other forms of taxation ie: income, payroll etc.

3. The government should clearly explain the deficit giving all of the facts and showing statistics about the deficit

4. The government should give a detailed plan to the citizens on spending cuts for 2014 and beyond

5. More Public education needed

6. The government should collect the millions of dollars in taxes that are presently outstanding

7. The government should not create a Central Revenue Agency but use the system that exist now, and improve monitoring and collection of outstanding taxes

8. The government should exam the reasons for VAT failing in other Caribbean countries

9. More Town meetings should be held but smaller meetings with stakeholder such as unions, workers, opposing groups

President Belinda Wilson urges BUT members to sign the petitions against the implementation of VAT, online with the Citizen for a better Bahamas. Also make your views known to your Members of Parliament and ask them to “Vote NO” to VAT. Wilson is also encouraging teachers to use their influence to get their family, friend and colleagues to sign the petition. Wilson urges all workers to help to secure the Bahamas for our children and future generations.

Solidarity Forever!!

Belinda Wilson

President, BUT