…over VAT
Now that the dust is settling on the VAT-on-Private- Education (VOPE) dust-up, your Eyewitness wants to have a few things cleared up. Not about whether the Government will eventually back off. No siree Bob…ain’t gonna happen! This Government knows Guyanese are like those mutts that bark at passing caravans in the desert or slow-moving donkey carts in our villages. They soon tire of the exercise and take a break until the next caravan or donkey cart.
Not about whether VAT on private education violates the Constitution, 149 (I): “no person shall be hindered in the enjoyment of the right to establish a private school which shall be under the regulation of the State”. Just read that tag phrase at the end – under the regulation of the State. The VAT will be explained as being within the right to regulate.
Not about whether the Minister of Finance REALLY meant what he said about rich folks being able to afford the VAT when they send off their little darlings to Private Schools in Land Cruisers and such like. Of course, he did!! That doesn’t mean there aren’t some poor folks who will go without supper to send their children to the ritzy private schools. But hey!! That’s not the point, is it?
Just read about Burnham’s experience of attending a ritzy school with the sons of the rich and famous. If the Battle of Waterloo was won on the playing fields of Eton and Harrow – then the indignities inflicted by Burnham on the top echelons of the Civil Service at Hope Estate were born on the playground of Queens! But Burnham got an education!
Naah! Your Eyewitness just wants to know what’ll happen to those schools paying the VAT for the students. If your Eyewitness – who frankly admits he’s challenged by anything that involves Maths above the “2+2” level – read the explanation on VAT right, it’s supposed to be paid by the CONSUMER of the goods or services being hocked. Right?
Now, as far as he can figure, there’s only one point in which the “value” is being added to an educational product – when it’s regurgitated to the rich school kids. So the VAT must be paid by the snotty kids, no? So if the schools pay the VAT to the Government, all they do is reduce the VALUE of the product the teacher delivered, no? Is the VAT calculated on this lower amount?
Aaah…what a tangled knot….
Sort of like the moral one presented when Food For The Poor paid the fine for a couple of law breakers.
Aren’t they making a mockery of the whole justice system and its punishments?
…over GECOM Chair
Now, why isn’t your Eyewitness surprised the Opposition Leader’s having conniptions jumping through the hoops set by Prezzie and which – to the surprise of all – he accepted. The individual, according to Prezzie’s fiat, “must not be an activist of any form (gender, racial, religious, etc); that the person must have no political affiliation; and that the person should have the general characteristics of honesty, integrity, faithfulness, and diligence”!!!
It’s not a matter of: “they don’t make ‘em like that anymore.” Did they EVER make them like that?? Even the brother of Prezzie’s SON-in-LAW has gone to the High Court to challenge the criteria! Not because Jagdeo’s been given basket to fetch water – but because they’re actually UNCONSTITUTIONAL!!
So, after another round of consultations with Civil Society, Jagdeo’s compiled another list – but one worthy dropped out even before the names could be announced!! Your Eyewitness thinks even Caesar’s wife couldn’t qualify.
Jagdeo should demand Prezzie submits HIS nominee – who he can then vet with Prezzie’s criteria!!
…over forensic audits
After spending hundreds of millions on 50 “forensic” audits – after which not a SINGLE charge has been laid, with 40 released – the Government’s announced it won’t release the remaining 10.
Why? They put a “strain” on the Police!!
