(This column was first published in the Amandala issue of Friday, April 7, 1995)
…Unto Caesar… Unto iMF. …
“Some Pharisees and some members of Herod’s party came to Jesus and said, Tell us, is it against our law to pay taxes to the Roman Emperor? Should we pay them or not?”
“Jesus saw through their trick and answered, ‘Why are you trying to trap me? Bring a silver coin and let me see it.’
“They brought him one, and he asked, ‘Whose face and name are these?’
“The Emperor’s, they answered.
“So Jesus said, ‘Well then, pay to the Emperor what belongs to the Emperor, and pay to God what belongs to God.’”
At his time of Budget and other matters financial, it leads one to review the taxes that Belizeans must live with:
1. Personal income Tax
2. Gross Receipts Tax
3. Property Tax
4. Land Tax
5. Trade License Tax
6. Departure Tax (and Security Tax)
7. Social Security Tax
8. Tax on Certificate of Deposit
9. Customs Tax
10. Deposit Taxes for BTL; BEL; WASA
These taxes are necessary, one is informed, to service our foreign debt(s), to administer the affairs of the country, and to initiate and maintain development.
We have been advised by IMF to put our house in order. That by showing sound fiscal responsibility, i.e., to pay off the loans accrued, we will be able to borrow more. The fiscal maturity will best be demonstrated by structural adjustment, the bottom line of which is to lay off workers, particularly civil servants, thus causing a shrinking of the tax base, grinding the economy to a stop, and thereby impoverishing the whole country.
These measures are so harsh that we should copy the answer of Boris Yeltsin, President of Russia, who told them (IMF) to shove it, and that of Owen Arthur of Barbados, who has recently also said “no” to them.
Now if all the Third World had the guts to say no, then the New World Order IMF is orchestrating would come to a screeching halt. It is time for the “have nots” to take their assets out of this bank. It is time to have a flight of our natural resources. Without customers there is no bank.
There are some who are tired of supporting the wasteful wars of the North, who would prefer to work for ourselves, children and grandchildren. We are growing weary of supporting their space explorations, and of paying for the pollution of their environment. The “grapes of wrath” increase when we hear that mighty and wealthy Germany applies to the IMF and the World Bank to pay for their reunification. There are some of us who wish to see in our lifetime the opportunity to realize the results of the “pursuit of happiness”.
Now since it is the people of Belize who elect their administration, it is time for us to suggest structural adjustments to the IMF.
STRUCTURAL ADJUSTMENTS
1. Declare a 3-year moratorium on all debts: this will allow the administration(s) time to streamline the bureaucracy, so that the 55 cents out of every dollar salary ratio can be gradually implemented to a more sensible one. Your way, IMF and World Bank, is HaIti, Jamaica, Rwanda.
2. After the 3-year moratorium, the interest will be decreased by 50% for 5 years. This will allow the administration(s) to use the savings to create jobs, expanding the tax base, thus making some money to pay you your monies so that you can build your $6,200,000,000.00 space station.
By agreeing with our adjustments, we will know that you are truly committed to the principles of Lord Keynes that he brought to Bretton Wood, of international prosperity, of reconstruction and development. Only God is “primer Interpares.”
On our part, with these given, we will:
1. Create the National Workers Bank.
2. Restructure our tax system: all taxes now extant will be abolished and replaced by a 5% sales tax.
3. Incorporate all revenue collecting agencies of Government, such as Income Tax, Customs, and Post Office into one unit.
4. Restructure the property tax so that everybody and every organization pays. This will allow us a greater volume of money to pay for the maintenance of the Infrastructure Project.
5. Replace our Westminister Model of government with a modified Republican model. This will allow the people to judge what mega projects are in their best interest.
Your way is the institutionalization of poverty. Our way will allow us to enjoy the sweat of our brow.
And Jesus said, “What does it profit a man to gain the world, but lose his own soul?”
Peace.