Why not introduce a Taj Mahal Tax on homes worth more than $20 million?

Mar 14, 2013 Letters

Dear Editor,
As supporters of the poor and the working class in Guyana, we ask, why to date has the Presidential Tax Reform Commission not met and deliberated on this much vexed question of the inequity of our tax system?  Why have they not recommended tax reform measures for executive implementation?
The PPP always attempts to claim that it is the political party of the working class, but in over a decade it has failed to implement a more fair tax regime; rather with the introduction of the VAT, the poor and the working class were strangled. So much for the political rhetoric!
Every primary school child that observes the attempts of their mother to survive under this administration understands the importance of changing our tax system to make it fairer. Only the members of the cabal are oblivious of the sufferings of the people.
Why can’t the PPP introduce a Taj Mahal Tax on homes worth over $20 million? It is both practical and widely supported by public opinion. It addresses the gross unfairness whereby a person with a regular house is called upon by the GRA to pay property tax, but most of the Taj Mahals in Guyana are not taxed. Where is the fairness? We call on the AFC and APNU to champion this initiative in the name of the poor and the working class.
It is no secret that the PPP would not back a Taj Mahal Tax, since many of their former bicycle riders are now owners of Taj Mahals after short stints in Government.  But there is no reason for the majority opposition not to continue to press them to institute this Taj Mahal Tax, reform the Corporation Tax and PAYE regime to put more resources into the pocket of the engine of growth – the private sector and the working class to take more risk and expand our economy.
From our preliminary discussion with a member of the PPP Cabinet, that party does not have an appetite for a Taj Mahal Tax. It was made clear to us that they will filibuster on this issue since it will directly affect many in the government and they are of the core belief that as the political rulers, they should not pay taxes; that is the duty of Banks DIH, DDL, the public servants and the sugar workers. The people must pass judgment on the PPP for their lethargy at Tax Reform in favour of the “have-nots”.
The PPP is on record of having the most oppressive tax regimen, even worse than that of the PNC regime. It is the PPP which reaped some $33 billion in VAT in 2012.  This is a new tax for the mothers of Guyana that they did not pay in the past and thus many are expecting some tax relief from this PPP Government.  But do not expect much since the cabal represents the Sheriff of Nottingham; all they want is more gold from the poor.
The majority opposition, especially the AFC, is expected to push the PPP to deliver a more fair society enabling everyone to get a better deal.
Dr. Asquith Rose and Harish S. Singh

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Why not introduce a Taj Mahal Tax on homes worth more than $20 million?

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