Despite Central Bank Governor Kareem Michael’s glowing report on our economy, and the assertions therein that it is doing well, and our foreign reserve position is strong, on the ground the average Belizean is struggling with their bills. Times are tough for many Belizeans, and with Krismos (Christmas) Day less than a couple weeks away, most are scrambling to put things together.
Krismos Day, the entire season, is important to Belizeans. Overwhelmingly we are a Christian nation, and the birth of the Christ is a festive occasion. There is rich history here. In the days when we were a colony, the season was homecoming time for the men who labored in the forests felling mahogany and bleeding sapodilla trees. And when they came home, they had hard-earned money in their pockets to pay for the material things that make Krismos extra special — the ham and turkey, the trimmings, lights, house repairs and decorations.
The macro figures are looking up, but on the ground it’s paycheck to paycheck for many. Inflation, whatever its causes, has ruthlessly gouged the Belizean dollar, as have some shopkeepers who must have theirs in a time when our country, the world, is in the grip of that financial plague.
It was therefore welcomed news this week, from the government which gave minimum wage earners a 50% increase on their salaries—a move that has helped keep thousands of Belizeans afloat in these tough economic times—that GST (General Sales Tax) would be removed from most goods on the weekends leading up to the celebration. It is greatly welcomed relief for many. The GST, which when it went by another name in another era was dubbed the “Killa Vat” by a PUP in opposition, ups the price of many items purchased at the shops by 12.5%.
The GST is one of the main sources of income for the government. A report from the OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development) said “the highest share of tax revenues in Belize in 2022 was derived from other taxes on goods and services (31.1%). The second-highest share of tax revenues in 2022 was derived from value added taxes / goods and services tax (29.5%).”. Senator Chris Coye, the Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance, told Love FM earlier this week that the “no GST” weekends will cost national coffers about $5 million. The “no GST” days will be on days 14, 15, 21, and 22 of December, and for the entire month certain hams and imported turkeys are exempted from GST.
Sensible shoppers will be doing their shopping on the weekends, and that will create some logistical problems. Conscientious shopkeepers might consider opening earlier and closing later to ease bottlenecks that are bound to form. Shoppers aren’t the only ones who will be in on the fun. Shopkeepers need to service their cash registers so they don’t crash with all the business they’ll be getting because of the substantial increase of our dollar’s value in December.
Sources within the main opposition party have said that we shouldn’t be surprised if the government dissolves the House of Representatives in preparation for new elections when it meets on December 13. That would be SOME news, but not what the people are looking for. What the people are looking for is more gifts in the season of giving, in particular the popular Krismos Cheer.
Government leaders might be thinking they’ve done enough, with national coffers already foregoing $5 million, but there are many Belizeans who won’t get the full juice from the “no GST” weekends because they are barely in the money system. They can use the boost they will get if area representatives receive some extra funds to help them with the necessary groceries, and toys for their children. Hopefully, Henry money noh done.
If we get the Krismos Cheer, it will be a double tab on our kitty. It’s important that we know where all largesse from government comes from — it’s our money, from our vault; we will pay fu this; but today we will tell the government, ‘Thanks, bless you’. It’s Krismos, the Pascua; it is once a year, ‘tis the season of good cheer, and we need the ham and turkey, and the trimmings, all that makes the season bright.
Shopkeepers can regain lost goodwill this December
Runaway inflation these past few years has made the majority of Belizeans greatly suspicious about the pricing of goods in the shops and stores. The government has rapped several knuckles for price gouging, and the rotten apples who take advantage of customers have caused suspicion to fall on all involved with the sale of goods. Shoppers will be watching the price of goods keenly this holiday season. Any upward movement of the prices will be noticed, because consumers know what they have been paying for goods, because throughout the year most everyone has been trying to stretch their dollar.
Our merchants haven’t been left out of the komsohlebeh; they will get their portion through greater sales, because removal of the GST gives shoppers increased buying power. It’s the season for sharing. Our shopkeepers are expected to keep it on the level without being policed. Those ones with the best hearts might even spread a little braata, especially to regular customers.
The plank in all our eyes
This week the eyes of the world turned on Haiti in disbelief; everyone was aghast on reading a report in the foreign media which emanated from a human rights group, that a warlord/gang-leader had ordered the killing of over one hundred senior citizens whom he blamed for the death of his son. According to the story that was released, the man who ordered the atrocity had consulted with a Voodoo leader who told him that his child, who had died from a “mystery” illness, was a victim of witchcraft.
The story is shocking, and tragically all too common. It is a frightening fruit of misguided spiritual beliefs that infect nations and people all over the world. That warlord in Haiti, he ordered the horrendous act of revenge because his spiritual leader told him that other spiritual leaders had put a hex on his son. And, with the blessing of their spiritual leaders, other so-called civilized leaders extinguish the lives of tens, hundreds of thousands of innocent men, women and children, and for what—for revenge, and to steal other people’s land.
Our worst tragedy in the transportation industry was over a hundred years ago
Over the years we’ve had terrible tragedies in the transportation industry, but the one on Saturday night that claimed the lives of ten people, nine young adults and a child, and left four others injured, was the worst since the sinking of the E.M.L., which went down between Waree Bight and Sarteneja over 100 years ago, around midnight on April 9, 1923. Donia Scott, in her gripping report, “The Forgotten Story of the Tragedy of the E.M.L.”, said the records showed that those who weren’t rescued that fateful night included, “His Lordship Bishop Hopkins, two Sisters, Mrs. Lawrence and 6 children, Miss Daisy Woods and 4 children, one child of Mrs. Lucio Marchand, and two children of Mr. E.L Fuller”, a total of 18.
These tragedies remind us of how frail we are, and how much we need each other. Our sincerest condolences to those who must carry on without loved ones who have gone on to the ancestors and our God.