BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – PARLIAMENT Opposition Leader Hon. Mark Brantley said he was “very happy” the government had finally decided to get “serious” about crime, but accused the administration of sending conflicting messages about the economy.
In a Labour Day (May 3) address, Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas revealed that tackling crime and violence was “priority number one” for his government, as it worked to reverse the “potentially crippling effects” of an upsurge in violent crime that has seen the annual murder rate climb to unprecedented figures.
The Prime Minister outlined three additional priorities – implementing tax reform, managing the national debt and completing electoral reform – which he said would be high on the government’s 2010 agenda.
While pleased at the PM’s announcement, Brantley said only time would tell if Douglas’ administration was “finally serious” about crime, or if it was merely trying to appease fears from its supporters.
“Since as far back as 2007, I and others have been making a hue and cry about crime. We have been agitating for the government to take responsibility on the matter. In the meantime, we’ve lost several years and countless lives. Crime remains our most significant national threat. It remains to be seen if this is further government lip service or if [Douglas] will actually marshal the resources to tackle the problem,” Brantley said.
Brantley accused the PM of sending a conflicting message about the reduction of the national debt and the implementation of Value-Added Tax (VAT), which will commence in November.
During his speech, Douglas claimed that tax reform would deepen economic transformation, and suggested that the government was also considering a reduction of corporation tax.
“On the one hand, the PM is talking about cutting down the debt, but then he also wants to decrease the corporation tax. The notion that VAT will reduce the burden of living on persons is inconsistent with curbing the national debt.
“That makes no sense; the debt can only be reduced by controlling government expenditure and improving its revenue collection. VAT is meant to raise revenue by broadening the tax base, so I am doubtful of any positive effect it will have on consumers,” Brantley noted.
Douglas closed his Labour Day message with the promise that the government would once again try to make adjustments to the electoral boundaries, after several unsuccessful efforts in 2009.
Brantley explained that he never had a difficulty with boundary changes, but stressed that they should be “sensible, legal and rational” and not an attempt by one political party to gain precedence over others.
