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PM Says Mobile Data Tax Corrective, Not Punitive
posted (March 9, 2018)
And here's what the Prime Minister had to say in defence of his budget and that data tax:..

Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
"The adjustments overall are extremely mild. I think this is a steady as she goes budget. With respect to the GST now on data services, it is as I explained, we all know that there has been a shift away from voice or the regular voice calls to data and as a consequence the GST collections have fallen steeply. We have to replace that loss and this is the logical way to do it."

Jules Vasquez, reporter
"How much revenue do you all hope to raise with this new measure?"

Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
"That I think is about 6 million dollars. Overall as I said the new measures including having government pay its GST with raise about 20 million. I think there is no way we would sacrifice Southside poverty alleviation phase 3."

Jules Vasquez, reporter
"Finally, me on the budget, a critic looking at it would say the void of imagination that - once upon a time you give sugar plums, now you are giving sour plum - in terms that it is a the Leader of the Opposition called it "lifeless'."

Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
"Well indeed I could have perhaps borrowed some colorful language from you in terms of your description just now, but I am saying to you that it is not a budget of pyrotechnics. It is not a budget of fireworks, it is as steady as she goes budget and in these times where fiscal consolidation is the watchword, that's how it is and that's how..."

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