Leader of the Opposition in the Anguilla House of Assembly, Mrs. Cora Richardson-Hodge, and her colleague, Mr. Niel Rogers, have said that the petition against the Goods and Services Tax was not a political issue. In fact, it was a petition of the people with many online and physical signatures by them.
Speaking on their weekly Just the Facts programme, on Radio Anguilla on Monday, August 9, Mrs. Richardson-Hodge, who led the GST discussion, said in part: “I signed the petition online …but the whole idea is that it is a petition of the people. Certainly, in this case, it is not political. It is a representation of the fact that the people of Anguilla are unhappy with the passage of the GST in the way in which it was passed.”
The Opposition Leader continued: “If the Government’s side had obtained the passage of the GST as a result of the majority of the elected representatives – you couldn’t complain about it. That is because it would have been the people you voted in who made the decision. But I believe that the reason why it has hit so hard is because of how it was passed ultimately using Governor-appointed positions.”
The former Minister of Home Affairs went on to relate how she almost forced her way in, or invited herself into, the Speaker’s Chambers where the Attorney General and the Speaker had retired for a discussion. It was in connection with a request by Opposition Member, Josie Vanterpool, for a division whereby it would be clear how each member of the House would vote on the GST Bill, rather than together and thereby the uncertainty of their individual votes.
Mrs. Richardson-Hodge emphasised that, having given the Speaker his advice, the Attorney General should have abstained from voting. Instead, he and the Deputy Governor, as ex-officio members, voted for the passage of the GST thus ensuring it had passed, while two Ministers of Government, Mr. Kyle Hodge and Ms. Dee-Ann Kentish-Rogers, voted against the Bill along with the four opposition members.
Her colleague, Mr. Rogers, also registered his dissatisfaction over the manner in which the Bill was passed. Both of them joined two thousand or more persons in signing the petition against the tax legislation.
