As he criticized the Davis administration for budgeting millions of dollars for consultants in the new fiscal year, St. Anne's MP Adrian White said yesterday that the average Bahamian is under attack from taxes.

"When I see this amount of money going to consultancy contracts, Mr. Deputy Speaker, and when I see yesterday some are having tea while others are stuck on bread and bologna, I recognized that this is a budget for those well off to get more contracts while the average Bahamian feels attacked," White said during the 2023/2024 budget debate.

"The average Bahamian is under attack from taxes. You heard of this administration brag of the revenue, but they didn't produce the golden goose that created this revenue. We all know the golden goose is the amount of tax that has been collected off the backs of the average Bahamian.

"While some are having tea, others are struggling to survive off bread and bologna."

It was an obvious reference to the National Tea Party held on Sunday as one of the 50th anniversary of independence events.

The event was attended by PLPs, FNMs, and others with no known political affiliation.

The government is projecting a deficit in the upcoming fiscal year of $131.6 million - a $389.5 million decrease from the current year's projected deficit.

Recurrent revenue is projected to be $3.316 billion and recurrent expenditure is projected to be $3.085 billion.

In the current fiscal year, the government expects to spend $76.2 million for consultants. That government originally allocated $65.1 million.

In the upcoming 2023/2024 fiscal year, the government allocated $64.3 million for consultants.

White also pointed to the increase in the fuel surcharge on electricity bills that was implemented last year and expected to see an incremental rise as a continuing burden on families.

He said the government is diminishing the middle class and diminishing the savings of families.

"They are creating an even greater divide in our commonwealth," he said.

"While revenue is rebounding, the Bahamian people are not.

"They can't run from the fact that they are negatively impacting Bahamian households.

"The increase in the fuel charge is a direct result of their failure to act in the interest of Bahamians in a timely manner..."

The post St. Anne's MP:Bahamians under attack from taxes appeared first on The Nassau Guardian.

The post St. Anne's MP:Bahamians under attack from taxes appeared first on The Nassau Guardian.

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