Bruce says Coreas VAT-free days endorses NDP policy

An opposition senator says that the decision by one of the country’s largest companies to offer one week of VAT-free shopping is an endorsement of the New Democratic Party’s policy.

Israel Bruce said that in the meantime, the ruling Unity Labour Party (ULP) is offering Vincentians “fake orgasms”.

The NDP has proposed reducing VAT from 16% to 13% and introducing VAT-free shopping days if elected to office.

However, Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves has dismissed the proposals, saying that businesses, rather than consumers, will benefit from any reduction in VAT.

On Tuesday, Coreas Ace Hardware announced that its customers will enjoy VAT-free shopping from Jan. 28 to Feb. 3 as the company will cover the VAT cost.

Speaking on Hot 97 FM on Tuesday, Bruce, who is also the NDP’s candidate for South Central Windward, said that the ULP administration has failed to address the “cost-of-living crisis” in the country, adding that the NDP will address it by cutting taxes, among other things.

“Cost of cost of living has gone through the roof. We are living in a crisis stage in St. Vincent and the Grenadines now,” Bruce said.

“… all Vincentians know that the price of basic grocery — gas, electricity, water, all of it — has increased,” he said, adding that bread prices have increased 54% since 2021 while the cost of fresh fish had risen 33% in the same period.

“The price of bananas — bananas that we no longer export internationally — … has gone up about 38%,” Bruce said, adding that wages have not kept up with these increases.

“And so, it has to be concluded that the increases in the cost of living are essentially a ULP tax on everyday living.”

He said the NDP will tackle this by working to create employment, which would help to improve people’s economic position, and, therefore, ease or reduce the cost-of-living crisis.

“Job creation is going to assist significantly in addressing the issue of cost of living because if you don’t have jobs, you don’t have any means to satisfy you getting your basic needs…”

Bruce said that the NDP will work to create jobs for young people in SVG using the pillars of the economy — agriculture, the blue economy, tourism and the new economy.

Bruce said that since coming to office in March 2001, the ULP “has failed us dismally in that they didn’t engage in human resource management …

“So, whereas they have had some grandiose plans, what they didn’t do is understand that they will need some basics to buttress those plans that you’re saying that they’re going to deliver.

“So, what you have happening now is that we have a degree of construction happening. But we do not have the requisite skill sets in St. Vincent and Grenadines, or maybe not in a quantum that is sufficient to meet whatever they’re seeking to do. But it is not an indictment on the people; it’s an indictment on the government.”

Bruce used the example of someone setting up a radio station would have to consider the transmission as well as the studio equipment. 

“You don’t just go and get the items for the studio and say, ‘Alright. Radio, we’re ready. Let’s go.’ That is the ULP’s approach,” he said, adding that the ruling party had not done the basics.

“… and so they take pleasure, or so it seems, in bringing in workers from all over the other parts of the world, as opposed to providing opportunities for Vincentians.”

The opposition senator said this is not accidental and accused the government of liking to have people beg them.

“So, if they are away from the job, they’re not on the job, and they’re not earning, they’re maintained, sustained as beggars, and ULP used that as a basis upon which they maintain their power base.”

He said it was obvious that more young people and even mature people are migrating in search of opportunities.

“I don’t think that the Unity Labour Party cares about what is happening to ordinary people in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

“And that is why we say, respectfully, that a better choice for St. Vincent and the Grenadines at this point in time is the New Democratic Party administration. … We have set our commitment to make life easier for the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and we talk about introducing tax cuts, we talk about reducing VAT from 16% to 13%, we talk about introducing VAT-free holidays during certain times of the year.”

Bruce said that Coreas Ace Hardware’s VAT-free days is an endorsement of the NDP’s policy.

“They said, … ‘NDP is so right that we can’t even wait until NDP gets into government to offer it to us. We, of our own volition, we will get into this VAT-free thing to get business going at Coreas’,” Bruce said. 

He noted that NDP President and Opposition Leader Godwin Friday has asked the ULP to implement the opposition ideas to the benefit of the economy and people.

“And it is best if the Unity Labour Party understands that what we are offering for Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is a much better opportunity for the people and the people of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines will understand.”

Bruce said the government did not introduce or raise taxes in Budget 2025.

“… but the government hopes to spend more money. You know what that means? They are going to continue to borrow St. Vincent into the bottomless pit and as Gonsalves et al say, the hook is in the gill of the future of Vincentians boys and girls.”

He said that Finance Minister Camillo Gonsalves and Agriculture Minister Saboto Caesar have not spoken against the prime minister’s comments.

“They are happy that the hook is in our gill. And so, the longer they stay in government, the deeper our borrowings will be, the more difficult it would be for us to service our loans to countries and international agencies; the less monies will have available to provide services for the people of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and so, Vincentians will expect less and less and less.”

He noted that the other receipts category in the budget is over EC$200 million “and you don’t know where that is coming from.

“I ask people to answer these questions. Is there any wonder why … you’d see projects keep repeating themselves,” he said.

Bruce said a number of the projects are like recurring decimals, included in each year’s budget but not implemented. 

“… Julian had said that when Rayneau people saw the stones in North Leeward, they immediately got orgasms. So I don’t know if by recreating this new proposal, washed and repolished and repackaged budget after budget that Vincentians are supposed to get new economic orgasms …

“Essentially, I mean, if you ask experienced women what Gonsalves and ULP is offering Vincentians, are fake orgasms,” Bruce said.