Mrs Quincia Gumbs-Marie
Speaking at the government press briefing on Monday, May 16, Parliamentary Secretary, Mrs Quincia Gumbs-Marie, used the platform to address the issue of GST as it was discussed on a local radio programme earlier that day.
She noted: “There was a presentation made on radio today [May 16] where persons would have believed that GST would be charged on service charge. I want to confirm that that is not so – GST will not be charged on service charge. There will not be a double-dipping on taxation, and that is important to clarify.
“We are this far into the conversation about GST and persons are still fearmongering. I think it’s pathetic, quite honestly. We have made many efforts to educate persons. You could have written in to the comptroller and you could have attended our many consultations. To be, at this point, wilfully lying to the people of Anguilla on GST, to be fearmongering and creating unnecessary unrest about the topic is, I think, really ridiculous.
“What we have today – the GST regulation – are changes that were made in tandem with the community. If you have a concern about your specific industry, you are given multiple opportunities to voice your concerns. Most people who have voiced concerns have had them addressed and alleviated.
“Can we get rid of it [GST] at this point? No. But, we can make it something that is palatable for the people of Anguilla.”
Mrs Gumbs-Marie commended the comptroller of the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) for his undying commitment to educating the people of Anguilla in preparation for the implementation of the impending Goods and Services Tax on July 1, 2022.
She said: “I want to celebrate the Comptroller of IRD, and his team, for not only hosting and inviting, but also going out to many of the hotels, organisations and representatives – meeting with the different business industries, meeting with our commerce industry, and our commerce partners, to figure out their concerns – and to ensure that our regulations will address those concerns and alleviate any impact that should not occur as a result of GST.
“If you have real concerns about GST, the Comptroller is available to every person. At this point, we need to combat miseducation by actively educating ourselves – and, as a country, we need to come together and deal with what we have been faced with. To those persons who are trying to fracture the island, I say you will not be successful.
“Many of the people who are fearmongering are themselves preparing for GST in their professional capacity, and they understand the impact it [GST] will have, and not have, but they are going out there preying on the concerns of people with genuine concerns. I think it is disappointing and, quite frankly, unpatriotic.
