Granger living in dream world - Rohee

Granger living in dream world – Rohee

Apr 23, 2015 News

Says calls for tax reduction are politically motivated
People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) General Secretary Clement Rohee, in a press conference last

PPP/C General Secretary Clement Rohee

Monday, referred to A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change (APNU/AFC) Presidential candidate, David Granger, as a ‘Rip Van Winkle’. He is ‘living in a dream world’, Rohee said.
He was responding to commitments Granger made to review Guyana’s tax system, if elected. Granger had also spoken on having the tariffs on tyres and used vehicles reduced.
“Granger is living in a dream world. If he is ever to get into office he will see the kind of work that Ramotar and Jagdeo did on those issues.”
“So I would say he is a’ Rip Van Winkle’. I would dismiss what he is calling for out of hand.”
‘Rip Van Winkle’ is an allusion to the famous character from a Washington Irving story. Van Winkle was portrayed as having slept for 20 years.
Asked whether Government did not perceive taxes as too high, Rohee said that because taxpayers are willing to pay the set rates and taxes; any calls for a reduction were politically motivated.
The APNU/AFC candidates had made the promises, at a forum hosted by Guyana Women Roundtable (GWR) and Guyana National Youth Council (GNYC), at the Theatre Guild Playhouse, Parade Street, Kingston, Georgetown, where they addressed issues affecting mainly women and youths.
The pair was responding to a question posed by a member of the public, who wanted them to address the 30 per cent Pay As You Earn (PAYE) tax, 16 per cent Value Added Tax (VAT), and heavy import duties for used vehicles which currently oppress taxpayers.
The coalition’s presidential hopeful had explained that his party (APNU), had examined this possibility before, and had even teamed up with the Alliance for Change (AFC), during the “short life” of the tenth Parliament, to propose a reduction for VAT.
He added that the proposals were never approved by the executives. “We have made proposals for the raising of the income tax threshold with respect to PAYE, and we have been told by the executive that they would elect a Tax Reform Commission, since 2012/2013.”
Granger lamented that the “Tax Reform Commission” is yet to be implemented.
He also added, “Both the APNU and AFC have committed to, and are very likely to reduce the tariffs on used vehicles.”