The proposed seven per cent Internet surcharge on Internet purchases proposed by the Minister of Finance, is discriminatory since it selects certain people to be taxed claiming that this measure will stop the foreign exchange "leakage." And herein lies the deception since this is a clear pretext and faulty reasoning.
Is the Minister saying that if people are dissuaded from using their credit card (by the imposition of this tax) they will no longer be purchasing these goods anymore?
On the contrary, what will happen is that US allocation will move to the big importer accordingly and away from the small credit card user so the net effect on the US dollar demand remains unchanged. All that has happens is that the large importer gets official government permission to rip off the consumer.
This is as clear as day versus night. Therefore, the US dollar savings as proposed by the minister is a lie. It is a measure to benefit the already rich and further impoverish the poor and middle class, the non-owners of business.The last time I checked it was against the T&T constitution to discriminate against any citizen on any grounds–equality for all.
J Paul,
Woodbrook