The Bruce Who Stole Christmas

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Usually on a Friday I like to post something on a light note, or even post a picture of some hot, sexy female scantily clad. And don't be fooled by the picture above, I am not even reviewing a movie! However this is not an ordinary Friday, it is the real Black Friday, not the one where you get to buy your desire at half the price, but one where you will want to hold on to your money for dear life! What is so bad about this Friday, and it's not Friday 13th?

Well, it's what was announced Thursday, that made this Friday so dark and gloomy. The Prime Minister and his henchman Audley Shaw announced yet another new set of taxes to the nation in Gordon House on Thursday afternoon! This is not just another ordinary tax package, but the mother of all tax packages that has been announced in the past, yes this one supersedes all the previous tax woes on the nation of Jamaica! Instead of being merry and enjoying the upcoming season, Jamaicans have been plunged into a solemn mood, by a picture painted with more hardship for the poor and the struggling working class of this island. But really, can one pronouncement be so bad?

Well remember a few months ago the government introduced new taxes on the poor Jamaican people who were already suffering from high prices and low pay. This is now compounded by this heavy and burdensome increase in existing taxes and the inclusion of basically all goods and services that was not previously taxed! It's as if the government unleashed the tax floodgates on the already burdened tax payers! Now let me depress you with the details:

• The standard rate for GCT will be going up from 16.5% to 17.5%
• Motorists will again be hit with an increase in the fuel tax which will increase to 15%.
• GCT will now be applied to electricity, residential customers using more than 200 kilowatt hour each month.
• Fresh fruit and vegetables, ground provisions, meat, poultry, fish, corned beef and pickled mackerel which were previously tax exempt will now attract GCT.
  
• Other basic food items such as canned sardines, mackerel, bread, buns and bullas are also included on the list of taxable items.
• Persons who require medical and surgical prostheses, orthopedics appliances will now have to pay GCT for these items.
• The Special Consumption Tax on cigarettes will be increased from $8,500 per 1,000 sticks to $10,500 per 1,000 sticks to raise $1.41 billion.
  
• TVJ Prime Time News has noted that even sanitary napkins will be taxed!

Yes my friends, it will now cost more money to even purchase the basic necessities. If the average Jamaican is now finding it hard to make ends meet, what are we going to do come January 2010? The government is hoping that these new overly burdensome taxes will correct the shortfall in the budget and impress the big bad IMF (International Monetary Fund), who they have been trying to woo for several months now. But this new tax measure will definitely put a serious dent into the personal budgets of the ordinary Jamaicans! I know this news has for a certain dampened the somewhat festive mood of this merry season. But you can still eat, drink and be merry this month, for as of January we shall starve!

Sources: http://go-jamaica.com/news/read_article.php?id=15347, http://go-jamaica.com/news/read_article.php?id=15346

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Who Seh Big Man Don't Cry?

Wednesday, November 7, 2007

Picture taken from The Gleaner 20071107

There is a popular saying that men should be tough and show no signs of weakness by crying. In other words, "Big man don't cry". But Kern Spencer, the former PNP Junior Minister, now member of Parliament wept openly in yesterday's sitting of the House of Representatives. The PNP has found itself at the helms of yet another scandal involving the wanton spending of taxpayers money. At the time Mr. Spence was the Junior minister in the Ministry of Technology and Commerce, which was headed by Phillip Paulwell, otherwise known as Baby Paulwell due to his constant fumbling and trails of mismanagement and scandals.

According to The Gleaner, the JLP has revealed that under the former ruling party it cost Jamaican taxpayers some JM$276.5 Million to distribute 4 million free light bulbs donated by the Cuban government. The JLP has launched an investigation into the issue by the Contractor General and Auditor General and has even suggested that the fraud Squad be incorporated which would make the issue a criminal investigation. It seems Mr. Spencer wanted to say something in his defense of the defense of his Ministry and Party when the charges were being thrown at him by the Minister of Energy, Mining and Telecommunications, Clive Mullings. However his was muted by the opposition party secretary several times, and that seem to triggered this outburst, or should I say pouring out of emotions. [Read the story here]

It will be interesting to see how this will play out. Will there be criminal charges? Is this just the beginning of the exposure of the corruption that was entrenched in the former ruling party? Does this mean that the new ruling party will be any better? Or will we see more bawling in the house of Parliament? Only time will tell!

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Course Changed!

Tuesday, September 4, 2007

The preliminary results are in and from all indications Bruce Golding and the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) has squeezed power from the hands of the People National Party (PNP) after some eighteen years of being in power. It seems a certain pastor and self proclaimed prophet will have to think seriously about a career change! I use the word squeeze intentionally as this was indeed a closely contested election. The preliminary results last night announce by the director of elections was a 31-29 match up in the favour of the JLP. Also the margin between some seats were extremely close, withe even once seat being termed by the returning officer of the cluster saying it was too close for him to call.

Sista P, was not in any mood to concede a JLP victory last night due to the close tally and the citizenship issue surrounding one of the JLP's victorious candidate. And has indicated that she and her party will be seeking legal action as well as a magisterial recount. However, I just read on The Gleaner's website, that yesterday evening the PNP and its leader has conceded victory to the JLP. They will still however continue with legal action and a recount but it seems from all indications that the JLP has won the election, however narrow the margin is as The Gleaner indicated a 32-28 victory for the JLP this evening.

Eighteen years has been a long time, and although the PNP has done a lot for the country over their tenure ship, they have also done a whole lot of crap and have wasted a lot of my money...I mean tax payer's money. I guess the majority of the voting Jamaican population thinks it is time for a change and have indicated that from their votes. The JLP has made a lot of promises, and they have a tough job ahead of them to rescue this ailing country. Will they make a difference? Will jamaica be better off under the governance of the JLP? Or will things only get worse? It this the winds of change that Jamaica needs? Only time will tell, only time will tell.

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Elections Jamaican Style!

Saturday, September 1, 2007

Elections, Jamaican style is certainly here. No one can mistake this season, there isn't even any way one can try to ignore or deny it. The campaign ads have infiltrated every programme on the local TV stations and radio stations. It seems that campaign ads are the main programming and are only punctuated by a small piece of regular shows. I must admit that I find some of the ads quiet amusing, but that has now faded and have been replaced by annoyance. They are just too many ads now and too frequently! I recall driving in my card and a string of campaign ads started, so craving for some music I decided to change the station only to be slapped in the face with another string of campaign ads! I can't wait to see the end of election.

The disruptive and annoying motorcades is another piece of the Jamaican election campaigning period. An endless line of dangerously overloaded vehicles with widows blocked by protruding bodies adorned in party colours. Campaign songs ring out of speakers as the compete with the pro-party shouts of the supporters. But this is not all, the drivers of these vehicle seem to have their own interpretation of the the road rules as they have no regard for other road users, traffic signs or even stoplights. My advice to anyone is to avoid these motorcades at all costs, as having even a fender bender with one of these vehicles could end up your last. The danger is not limited to the innocent users of the road, who are going by their daily business, but also to these idiot who feel they must hang half of their bodies through the windows of these vehicles. A few weeks ago, one supporter who got killed when his head got entangled with some bamboo stalks. but this has not stopped them from protruding their bodies from the fast moving and reckless driven vehicles of the motorcades.

But the ads and motorcades are only the milder sides of elections, Jamaican style. There is a much darker, sinister side of elections. The wave of political violence that sweeps across the country like a terrible tsunami, claiming lives and leaving a trail of tears and blood. Since the announcement of the date for general elections and its subsequent postponement due to hurricane Dean political violence has certainly made itself obvious. Since then over ten lives have been claimed allegedly by the hands of political violence. And, at the rate at which these murders have been occurring, it seems as if there will definitely be more bloodshed in the few days leading to election, on election day and after the announcement of the winning party. This senseless violence always seem to be a part of Jamaican election season and it seems it will never be separated. The politicians condemn it, yet they seem to do very little to bring it to an end, but then again when the endless supply of tax payers money is at stake, it about winning at all cost.

I was hoping I wouldn't be in Jamaica for elections, I wanted to be somewhere else, but unfortunately I am stuck here. My day off is on election day and it certainly will be a day off, as I will not be leaving my house, not even opening the door to let in fresh air. I think I will watch the events unfold on my TV and hope that the violence and foolishness will die down after election day. I know some of you will be voting, or may be at work on election day, so try to be careful and stay safe whatever you do. In the meantime you can vote here on the Stunner's Election Poll below.

Stunner's Election Poll Who do you think will win the 2007 Jamaica General Elactions? The JLP The PNP Too close to call Don't give a shit! view results

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