Afro-Trini brothers spend extra money wisely
THE EDITOR: Allow me the opportunity to compliment the honourable Prime Minister, Mr Patrick Manning, for presenting a progressive Budget for 2005-06 fiscal year. I wish to particularly highlight two (2) areas in the Budget that is significant to the development of the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago. Firstly, the pronouncement of free tertiary education at government institutions since it is a well known fact that any nation desirous to viably expand the government must invest on its human resources. Therefore I hope that the citizens capitialise on this aspect of the budget, particularly our African brothers and sisters. Secondly, the substantial amount of savings that will generate from disposable income emanating from increase PAYE personal allowances. At this junction I would like to exhort my African brothers and sisters in particular to ensure that such savings do not find itself in consumer items nor in the entertainment business like playing mas, feteing and dancing but rather to invest and engage in entrepreneurial business to absorb some of its people in the labour force like the Syrians, Indians, Chinese and Portugeses, who have been doing this for decades. Of course, I anticipated that the budget would have brought some positive relief for the people on the ground floor. I expected the budget to address relief for senior citizens for example — the removal of VAT on Electricity Bills, the removal of VAT on Wasa Bills, the removal of VAT on TSTT Bills, the removal of VAT on House Tax, the removal of VAT on Land Tax, the removal of VAT on basic food items as hereunder mentioned:- rice, sugar, meat, beef, butter, cheese, peas, milk, edible oil, salt fish, bread, flour. In conclusion, apart from the foregoing minor comments I wish to endorse that the Budget could be described as a progressive budget. Thank you Mr Honourable Prime Minister and Minister of Finance for the Phenomenal job. RONALD PREUDHOMME San Fernando
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"Afro-Trini brothers spend extra money wisely"