At the summoning of the Speaker of the Anguilla House of Assembly, Mrs. Barbara Webster-Bourne, her Deputy, Mr. Merrick Richardson, delivered two petitions from the Concerned Citizens of Anguilla on Tuesday, March 23, 2021. Both petitions were in connection with the Goods and Services Tax which the Anguilla Government is to implement.
Mr. Richardson, the Elected Member for Road North, is also the Ministerial Assistant in the Ministry of Social Development and Education. In his address, he said:
“Madam Speaker, I stand to present these petitions on behalf of the Concerned Citizens of Anguilla. In my opinion they are properly and respectfully worded and conform to the rules governing petitions.
“I would like to begin by saying that this team [the APM Government] firmly believes in the people using their House to shape their future and amplify their voices. Although my presentation of the petition(s) is only a matter of procedure, and not as a representative of the Concerned Citizens of Anguilla, I am proud to be able to ensure that the persons concerned are able to utilise this mechanism…
“I will now read the [first] petition, Madam Speaker, from the Concerned Citizens of Anguilla.”
‘“WE THE PEOPLE OBJECT in the strongest terms to the First Reading of the Goods and Services Tax Bill in the House of Assembly on Tuesday, 23rd March, 2021 or any attempt at the passage of the flawed and incomplete Goods and Services Act AND IN PARTICULAR OBJECT to its passing during a pandemic when Anguilla’s economy has flat-lined.
“[WE THE PEOPLE] DEMAND that the voices of our People whose signatures appear below be RESPECTED both by the Government of Anguilla and by the British Government and that the First Reading of the Bill is removed from the agenda for the House of Assembly Meeting on Tuesday, 23rd March 2021.
“WE THE PEOPLE ASSERT THAT THE PASSING OF THE GST Legislation when there is no economy is unconscionable and uncaring.
“WE HERETO SET OUR SIGNATURES BELOW…’”
(Signed by 1400 persons)
Mr. Richardson continued: “I will read the second petition from the Concerned Citizens of Anguilla:
‘”WE THE PEOPLE NOTE that there has been in the midst of the COVID pandemic a series of increased taxation that have been levelled on the people of Anguilla including the increased taxes at the hospital, electricity, water, and the ports all of which have negatively impacted the livelihoods of Anguillians especially since the pandemic has left a significant percentage of the population unemployed, many of whom have not recovered since the destructive Hurricane Irma of 2017 and who have no immediate prospect of employment in our single driven tourism economy.
“’Say no to the first reading of GST and its implementation at this time!
‘”Say we cannot accept further taxes since we already have increased hospital fees, increased water and electricity costs, increased port fees and Customs Duties and no jobs. The GST Tax must not be introduced during a pandemic. It will destroy us as a people and our economy.
‘”Oppose the GST Tax at this time!
“WE THE PEOPLE ASSERT THAT THE PASSING OF THE GST LEGISLATION WHEN THERE IS NO ECONONY IS UNCONSCIONABLE AND UNCARING.
‘”WE HEREBY SET OUR SIGNATURES BELOW…”
(Signed by 120 persons).
Mr. Richardson, the Deputy Speaker, added: “Madam Speaker, I would like to make a Motion for the establishment of a Select Committee. I move that these petitions be referred to a Select Committee for consideration. The Committee is to be comprised of at least four members of the House along with two members of the public on the recommendation of the petitioners.
“The Committee shall be established by Tuesday, 30th March, and the names of the members of the Committee circulated to all concerned. The Committee shall consider the request made in the petitions and deliver a report to this Honourable House within three months.”
The Motion for the petitions was seconded by the Parliamentary Secretary, Mrs. Quincia Gumbs-Marie.
