Arden calls for taxes to pay for education
Arden McLean at the Cayman 27 debate
(CNS Elections): The incumbent member for East End became the first candidate in the televised election forums so far to raise the sticky issue of taxes, after several weeks of candidates rolling out wish lists, in many cases without indicating how they propose to pay for them. But Arden McLean bucked the trend when he declared Tuesday that the next government should “tax the people” and “triple the education budget” to meet the demands of the business community who claim Caymanians are not good enough.
In the first national debate between candidates hosted by local TV station Cayman 27, five of the seven hopefuls running in North Side and East End answered a number of questions about policing, education, trade schools, tourism, the elderly and new industries.
While McLean may actually have intended his comments about increasing taxes to be ironic there was also an underlying message to major employers that if they are not prepared to take on local workers because the claim they are “not up to scratch”, then government will need to raise fees and taxes to spend on education to make sure Caymanians meet the grade.
He also stressed the need to separate the importation of labour from immigration, saying the latter should be about border control. This is a point that has been raised by many would-be and incumbent politicians over the years but so far there has been little action on dividing the two functions.
McLean suggested that a human resource clearinghouse should be the first port of call for all employers because that will be where every Caymanian looking for work will be registered. If there are no local workers available after clearing through that process, then bosses can be cleared to look overseas, he said.
There were few surprises as the candidates rolled out their wish lists and criticised the current administration. There were some differences of opinion over tourism and the clash between the mass visitors brought by cruise tourism with the overnight tourism product; John McLean Jr seemed the only one in favour of a cruise port, while the rest, even PPM candidate Ed Chisholm, questioned the benefits of mass tourism.
The incumbents also disagreed with the newcomers over a trade school. Justin Ebanks and Chisholm, who are running in North Side, and McLean Jr, who is hoping to unseat Arden McLean in East End, all said that the country needed a dedicated vocational school, though none of them offered any suggestions as to how it would be paid for.
Ezzard Miller, the North Side incumbent, pointed out that historical attempts to introduce such a facility failed due to under-subscription, and said it was better to fund vocational training through scholarships for those that want them so that Caymanians can go to the best schools for their chosen vocation.
Miller also said it was time for a national pension scheme and that constantly trying to amend the existing bad law wasn’t helping. He dismissed the idea of seeking a third pillar to Cayman’s economy by adding another industry to the existing economic foundations of financial services and tourism. He said the focus should be on homegrown business and Caymanian ownership, as there was no point in trying to introduce another new industry where the labour would need to be imported.
Category: Candidates, Election News
No more money is needed. The ministry of education is poorly run. Senior people in the ministry that don’t have a clue how to manage anything. The real issue is poor administration and no accountability. Promote the idiot principal from John Gray would turned a blind eye to everything, who was disorganized and didn’t support staff. Those are the kind of people in senior positions driving the quality of education down in the country. Add that to segregating expat and local children and now you have a mess.
There are a hand full of kids coming out of the public schools that meet the mark, but the stereotypes against gov educated kids are already strong. They have to work 3 times as hard to prove themselves.
I’m a concerned expat married to a Caymanian that sees how this education negligence will impact the society in the long term. Get it together Cayman. You can do it.
EDUCATION SHOULD BE FREE FOR EVERYONE! Why should rich folk children with the most money be the ones who get educated well, and half of them are not sensible – don’t have any bit of wisdom??? I hate to say it … but look for example what America ended up with as their President! There are alot of intelligent people who can lead out in our country, but we still have the educational system bowing down to the god of money!
This is a disaster for the human race! A well-off few with an education is a disaster for any country! Gd help us! :/
Not all private school children are rich folk children. A good majority are just regular folk who kill themselves to keep their children in private school by working odd jobs in addition to the day job.
Sad … cause not everyone has the opportunity to even work odd jobs and make ends meet. The system is rigged :/
When did the President of the USA become your business.
That’s the problem with Cayman. You never mind your own problems. You are always looking at other people’s.
May God help you all.
Can you imagine this man as Premier? What a crass approach.
You’re being too nice to that old blow-hard
May he should look how the private schools do business, yes some of them get grants but it costs approximately 12k pa to send a kid to private school, now to send a kid to public school is cost approximately 30k, somethings wrong there Mr Alden, oh, forgot you’re a lawyer and know nothing about money’s.
9 E simple answer could be is allow expat kids to public schools at a lower fee, say 500pm adding additional funding to the system, also why not charge for school uniforms, yes there are a few kids that can’t afford them, we’ll we can assist them, oh wait I a minute, take the 800 dollar phone away from their parents and tell them to not buy a bottle of Rum for a few weeks.
Extra taxes, um so happy he’s running in my district becuase guess what you’ve lost 3 votes from my house!
Think you got your candidates mixed up buddy. Arden who proposed the taxes is an engineer by vocation, he is not Alden, the lawyer.
Clearly you don’t have kids in school because school uniforms are not free, even in public schools.
Books, however are free which was a stupid move to remove the book fees. It was only $50 per year, everyone’s phone is more expensive than that.
As far as I know expat children are allowed to go to public schools if there is space available and they do pay a monthly fee. Or is that only for civil servant expats?
Problem with voters is that they are too fickle, not just in Cayman but in other democratic societies as well.
They vote someone in and expect miracles and when the person doesn’t deliver they vote them out, they vote in new John Brown simply because he isn’t the incumbent. Guess what? John Brown doesn’t perform miracles either so they vote back in the previous guy, who now has to waste time undoing all the foolishness that John Brown did instead of implementing or continuing the plans they had in place previously so by next election, it looks as though nothing has changed and the cycle continues.
There shud be no need to increase any annual fees in this country for any gov service or obligation. To spout such nonsense wud also be a confirmation that the candidate or person believes that the current gov spending is good value for money – which is highly arguable indeed.
6 million for a gym for NCAA games is not a priority over scholarship opportunities to educate our young ppl.
Re: the gym, whose dream baby was this anyhow? Some say the Director of Sports for personal reasons… Who can find out?
You are such a spiteful person. Why cant our community have a nice gym to use for athletics and other community use? Just get on a plane and leave because people like you is why our systems are so outdated. Our country will be way better off without your likes.
I am okay with taxes if it is on the expat. They steal from our country and laugh at us.
well said!!!
You are out of your senses.
Wow! Xenophobic much? You want the expats to come here, give their expertise and service but you want to just tax them? So they should pay for services that everyone use?
Sometimes I wish all the expats would just leave just to prove a point to all you ignorant people.
Who will be paying taxes then? Unemployment will be through the roof because businesses will leave and go elsewhere, others will close because they do not have the expertise to stay open.
Then you will see mass burglaries, robberies, theft from employers etc.
And some put back into the community. Read the press. Maybe you have never met an expat. Of course they are not always easily recognizable. Nevertheless I strongly recommend you meet a few before making any further asenine remarks. They are quite user friendly.
My sources tell me that the people of East End like the people of West Bay have finally woken up and we will see major changes in both East end and West Bay.
Those two districts are in major trouble and have seen little or know progress in 16 years.
Insanity is voting for the same people and expecting a different result.
Prediction West Bay
Mac CC Bush close win over the Lion
Smith
Wilks
Rivers
EE
Rankine close win over Jonny …Arden in the rear
Now won’t that be a cool breeze of fresh air. Come on West Bayers and East Enders we can do it.
Boy you sniffing some good stuff can you share? Mac, even tho I despise him will CRUSH Lion and turn him into a kitten. Bernie steps on Mervin, Don’t know Catherine but feel waste of breathe Eugene will beat her and Tara takes the other. So we agree on two but I think we give the Lion more credit than he deserves….
Sadly I think Arden mentally is falling off the table….but he still eeeks a victory in EE…
You can all but bank on those predictions…..Mac still has far too much power in WB…
PS EE I see it Arden by a hair over JMJ and Rankine in the distance up the rare…
The Cayman Islands government collects a “sick” amount of money in taxes. There should be more than enough money for education, while still reducing duties on food.
The problem is gross mismanagement of that money. It is shocking how mismanaged the Cayman Islands government is.
Why is the government wasting money on a beauty pageant that has 5 contestants?
With the money Cayman collects kids should have a world class education for free.
I completely agree with Arden! I think he is brilliant and is brave enough to say the things many of of think but dare not say. He is correct- there is plenty of money here and if a small tax helps to improve education that is a huge step in the right direction! I am not afraid to give my part in this and to help those in need of education! As long as the money is applied sensibly and if properly monitored I think it is a brilliant idea!
I would also pay a small fee to have proper recycling!
Things cannot continue as they are and this “tax free” nonsense has limits- its fine not to put huge income taxes out but everyone that lives here should contribute something to the education of the people of this Country and to ensuring that Mount Trashmore is dealt with. That is our responsibility as citizens to our follow people.
Thank you Arden, I wish you the best of luck and I have faith in you!
Every person who lives here pays taxes every time they spend a dollar. Everything is imported and almost everthing imported has an import tax levied on it which is passed on in the cost of goods sold. Its an indirect consumption tax and everyone who lives here does contribute.
When the U.S. first introduced income tax in 1913 it was only 1 % . It quickly rose to over 90% in less then 20 years. Now the US tax code is over 10,000 pages long and so complex and so burdensome no one person can possibly understand it all. Careful what you wish for.
Government will pay more than they collect in income tax, because they will need a whole new department of Chief Officers, Managers, Supervisors, Tax Collectors an Auditors with CPAs to audit companies and individuals. At the end of the day, they will create more employment and find the taxes they collected cannot even pay for its collection. Arden is a Jackass! He has gotten too pompous. Like the rest of us, Government has to learn to live within its means.
If we would just consider one area of revenue to better the education system here in the Cayman Islands, we can start with revenue collected from the work permits. I have read over the past years that we generate somewhere between, 50 million to 80 million dollars a year on work permits. I think this amount if applied only to education, will be quite sufficient to have some of the highest standards of education, than anywhere else in the world!! The problem is, we misappropriate these funds for other expenses that should be avoided!! I am shocked to see the salaries that these politicians collect monthly, without their expense accounts covered also. Why is it that not one of them make a suggestion to cut the elected members salary? There should be a mechanism in place, to put a cap on these salaries. The problem is, mismanagement of funds. They have to look at government as a business. How many businesses want to spend excessively and stupidly, then be out of business in no time? We need the right management team elected to start running government as a business and not a “free for all” with the publics purse. I, as a Caymanian, think this is a ridiculous idea, as it would start the ball rolling for other taxes to be introduced!! Also, we the people, the government of these islands, not the elected members who is serving us, should have the right to make this decision!!! I say no to TAXES!!!
What a Jackass! John McLean for East End!
I disagree. Arden is desperately needed for Cayman and Caymanians!
Why don’t you start asking some of those dead beat parents to pay for their kids to be chauffeured to public school and to contribute towards book cost etc rather than spending money on car loans for new SUVs, cigarettes and acrylic nails?
Bit racist but fair.
How is that racist?
Gel nails are so much better. I mean really, we are so backwards,
Kendall
Manage the Temp agencies who continue to take out “temporary” permits after another for people who they don’t even have a job for.
Manage the businesses (including Government!!!!) who hire Temps to avoid pension, health care pay and to reflect an artificial lower number of “head count”…..
There is no reason ANY businesses or department should have almost the same amount of Temps as full time employees.
Well there is the payoff/buddy system
I always said it, the money has to come from somewhere. If it will improve the education system of these islands, i’m all for it. We can’t compete if our education standard remains below par. Invest in good teachers and pay them what they deserve.
Reigning in the truckloads of wasted money would be a far more popular stance. As Caribbean territories go, we have close to 20x the incoming annual receivables of any other, but we still manage to fritter it all away, ignoring very serious social ills for decades. It is appalling. Taxes aren’t going to plug the leaky boat.
How about charging for Government schools? That way there is a direct relationship between those pulling money out of the system and those putting money into the system, rather than some sort of woolly Government increase in fees that may or may not make it as far as the education budget? I feel that something that’s free rarely gets valued, so if you have to pay $1k per year per child then maybe some of those parents who see school as somewhere to dump the kids while they enjoy life will be a little more involved with getting their money’s worth.
just because a person sends their kids to public school doesn’t mean they are deadbeat! All teachers and good educators know that education begins at home….regardless if you are paying through the nose for schooling or not. What’s needed is a cultural shift to people valuing education more and demanding that it’s provided by their government
Not what I said, but I’m afraid yours is a more Utopian view. Parents who care aren’t the problem, getting those that don’t care is a huge problem, the suggestion of adding a fee ensures some involvement in the process of education, although I do acknowledge that it could be seen as punishing everyone for the transgressions of a few. Maybe it’s time to start schooling some parents as well as children.
My first semester at college my parents paid for everything, I got C’s and D’s. My next seven semesters I worked two jobs and paid for everything myself, I was a Dean’s list student. If you have to pay for it, you will value it more.
Or stop having children
The country raises enough “tax”. Cutting back the civil service is the answer.
I agree. Tax the Caymanians so their kids can get a better education in their schools. Oh wait, are you talking about taxing the expats so the funds raised (that’ll be squandered on kick backs, gym’s and swimming pools instead of teachers) will go to the schools that they can’t attend. Let me think about that for a minute!
Boy Mr. Arden, I know that can not be your best suggestion. The issue with these corporations and companies saying that Caymanians are “not up to scratch” is not a reflection on that persons education (or lack there of), but more so of the employers inability to provide professional development for Caymanians!
I think you and I both know and have experienced times when even the most educated Caymanian can not find work or get further in their line of work because they do not have the required “experience.”
How can one gain experience without the opportunity?
How is that so many of these companies that operate in Cayman have only foreigners in management and executive positions for years on end? What, is there no succession planning in those organizations? Is it not possible for them to promote and provide the opportunities and resources for the Caymanians to get whatver additional education/ courses they need to transition into those positions?
This is not the issue we are facing and your suggestion does not come anywhere near to a solution.
I hope you have a meditation and realize that you a solider FOR the Cayman people, not against us. We are already marginalized, taxing us won’t help the situation.
How the government going to pass on the opportunity to tax foreigners/ work permit holders, but want to tax us, and we the ones who cant find work??!
I am sorry Arden but it seems you have lost your mind or as they say your time has run it’s course. We do not need taxes. The world wants us to have taxes because the world can’t stand it that we prosper where they don’t.
What we do need is people like yourself with archaic ideas and models to be put out to pasture, so to speak.
We need to start to expand our portfolio in finance and in tourism and other areas.
One thought which is an old taboo here in Cayman that I really wish we would SERIOUSLY consider is Casinos for all the benefits they could bring such as:
1. Construction – It would give a much needed kick in the butt to our construction industry which has been doing okay but not thriving as in years past with the stagnation of several major projects such as Iron Shore and the Beach Bay project. Casinos would need more floor space and as such some hotels would consider modifying it’s current design and layout to accommodate this along with new properties that would be built especially for this. This means JOBS for people and duties for materials coming in and maybe even some work permit fees.
2. Tourism – This is where I think we really reap the benefits. Casino tourism is not like vacation tourism in that it’s not exactly seasonal. It does not happen because it’s winter as much as they go where the tournaments are. So we could feature our tournaments during summer months like August and September when the Cayman Islands is at it’s slowest this would lead to a balancing of the tourism product. Casino tourism does not only mean gamblers but their families also who would be spending money in the local economy at restaurants, taxis, groceries, sites, watersports, etc. For CIG it means money from the Casinos in licenses and fees, it means taxes from hotels from room sales, duties at customs from increases in items being brought in, lower unemployment as locals would have more jobs available.
3. Investment – Gamblers are high rollers and many if not most have deep pockets. They are traditionally big spenders and possibly would consider buying real estate here or investing in businesses. It would open Cayman up to people who may not have come here before and could provide additional capital into various projects.
Now I can hear the critics already. “We would have locals gambling away their rent or mortgage payments”. No. No we won’t. We could create a licence to gamble that would remove the common man from gambling. Much like a driver’s license we would have a Local Gambling License which would cost oooh say CI$25,000 per year or two years. That in of itself would eliminate 70% of the locals right there. I would say that those who would consider paying CI$25,000 for a license deserve to play because if they want to that much they would go to the USA and do it for less.
I feel it is high time we start trying to find solid solutions and stop dilly dallying around things.
I like Ellio’s idea about Medical Research and I think the government should give it some thought even if he does not win a seat. Never been his biggest fan but I like people who are thinking outside the box. I say look into it and see if it has any merit.
I would like to see the government put serious time and energy into alternative energy solutions that go well past it’s current energy policy. I would like to use some of the proceeds from this new casino funds to be reinvested into alternative energy by making it affordable for locals to introduce solar, wind and other means into energy for their homes with things such as duty free or low duty items related to these technologies. I would like to see business license reductions of say 20% or 40% for businesses within the alternative energy field from home installations to sales of electric vehicles. For these reductions in fees to local businesses we would require them to hold workshops annually to teach people how to set up their own home system and teach people how these systems work. This would be mutually beneficial to the businesses as they get to feature the products they sell along with the teaching people how to use the technology to their benefit.
With these additional funds coming in I would like to see some roll backs on duties for household items such as milk, bread, baby products and medicines.
The short and skinny is this. Our cost of living is simply too high. We need to increase jobs and the wages while simultaneously lowering the cost of living. CUC bills should not be 2nd mortgages, food cost can be lower, healthcare can be lower, home insurance can be lower.
Marijuana – My position is simple. As a drug I am in full agreement. Effort could be made to help pave the way for this. For recreational use NO. It’s still a drug that impairs your abilities and for that reason I say NO. I am not for too much red tape over it but I would have dispensers licensed and audited. We would want to monitor pricing initially to determine fair cost as it is a new market and we would not want exploitation of the ill. Once the market settles and we can see a pattern and pricing level established them we can release the reigns.
This year we need to demand more from our representatives. No more collecting a paycheck and doing nothing. No more seat warmers like those in West Bay. We need real people with real ideas. We electing 18 we need 18 brains.
By the way Tara I dislike your pensions ideas as I think it was PRO Pension Plan Providers and against Pension Plan Contributors. We put money into OUR pension plans. WE should say how we use it not the government and certainly not the plan provider. It’s OUR pensions. Yes it’s not an ATM machine for every little itch and scratch but it’s also there for hard times. For us to retire we have to make it to retirement. I would seriously look at loosening some of the ropes she put up for her friends at the Pension Plan Providers offices.
For one. If someone is not a resident of the Cayman Islands they should be allowed to get a draft from the Pension Plan Provider upon exiting the Cayman Islands. It’s their choice what they do with those funds after all it is their money not yours.
For two. If a local wants to renovate their home or find themselves behind in their mortgage and their home is potential in foreclosure banks should be able to tap the pensions to save the home while simultaneously looking at how the payments could be done to make it affordable.
For three. Pensions should also have the ability to back up a business loan for starting a new business under the right conditions. I would have a person who wants to use their pensions to help start a business file a business plan and go through a series of hoops with the Department of Commerce and Investment such as workshops to gain a certificate that they can use to apply for the special loan. This loan could be partially government backed by the Development bank who would be involved in the process.
We need to encourage Cayman Islands young entrepreneurs to start their own businesses. Angel Investors in Cayman are not around every corner so we need to have other means and not everyone has a home or land sitting waiting for this. So let’s do more.
We can do more with more brains. We need more thinkers in the house.
Caymanian
I honestly think that Ezzard and Arden and their limited view of the Cayman Islands is nearing it’s end. We need creative thinkers. We need flush out Arden, Ezzard and Mac. They are all relics of a bygone era with archaic ideas and thought processes. They should fill the role now of mentors and councils only to help the new crop of politicians foster a new age in the Cayman Islands.
I disagree- they are the only ones who think outside the box. All the Ppm do is cater to large corporations and big money.
11.08am Do you realize how confused you sound. First you suggest that Arden, Ezzard and Mac are relics with archaic thought processes.Then you suggest that they should be mentoring the young creative thinkers. Certainly if their ideas are archaic,then we should not be asking for them to be passed on to the younger generation.And if the old guys are still smarter than the youngsters then there’s no reason that they should step down.Looks more like you having a personal dislike of these old guys rather than anything to do with their thought processes.
Construction cannot endlessly be a pillar of the economy on such a finite land mass.
Construction when it is done with people whose work permits are for other things but who the hell ever checks on a job anymore? This is more crap.
Arden, here is a better, easier, & more economical suggestion. Provide free condoms everywhere.
Abolish the anti-abortion law.
Allow the morning-after pill to be imported.
Stop unwanted children being conceived and reduce STD’s.
Lack of parenting is our BIGGEST problem.
Agree @10:40 and limited work permits for contracted government workers bringing at least 2-5 children who can go to government school without having to pay fees, plus must have their own nationals teaching them
“tax the people” and “triple the education budget” to meet the demands of the business community who claim Caymanians are not good enough.
So let’s ‘punish’ the ‘people’ with taxes for you not educating your children!!
Idiot. All ya’ll are fools if you think that’s the way forward with that attitude.
Craycray
Oh for heaven’s sake, here we go again with threatening an income tax. Firstly, Government does not have an income problem, it has a spending wisely problem. Secondly, residents (all residents) are already taxed enough with duties, fees and so on. The budget for the Department of Education adds up to nearly twice as much per student than the average private school fee. Throwing more money at it is not the answer – spending the money you have properly is. Stop blaming businesses for not wanting to employ an underachieving population (like it’s their fault) and just work on actually fixing the problem already.
OK. WHAT exactly is your suggestion? You don’t agree that the public schools need extra funding? What is the problem exactly as you see it?
Since you asked – I would privatize it, but failing that – first you need to get rid of all of the expensive deadwood civil servants clogging up the Department. There are too many who are unable to handle criticism, deeply resistant to change, and not keeping up with best practices in an ever changing discipline. Second – hire only the best teachers and administrators. Forget about where they come from, just get the best, and then support them in keeping up their training to stay current. Third – empower principals to manage and teachers to teach without political interference. Fourth – make parents and students accountable. Stop passing students who shouldn’t be passed. Support students and parents when they need it, but don’t put up with disrespect, disinterest, violence, and the entitlement complex that some have. I don’t think that more money is needed to do this – there’s already plenty of money. What is missing is the will to face some hard truths, make some difficult decisions, and spend the money efficiently where it’s needed.
How do you think a broken system will improve with more funding, if these issues aren’t dealt with?
Cayman has never lived in the real taxation world , where individuals have been taxed [on income] to pay for government services. In order to be taxed , a government has to provide services. National healthcare, good roads ,a Police service that actually functions. Hospitals that provide a service for community & profit , an airline that operates with a profit , financial stability in investment and growth .Home Insurance for everyone that is affordable. Schools for all and a tertiary education system , trade schools and colleges. An immigration system that actually functions . A civil service…amongst other services.
Arden … its not just schools & education
I say we start by confiscating all MLA salaries and put it toward education.
I don’t know why people like you bother.
Tax the people and see how quickly this place turns into sand and tumbleweeds
This will never happen because the big money people will block anything that will cut into there lifestyle. The tax system in Cayman is antiquated and failing the regular person. How is it fair that a person making minimum wages pays the same as a hot shot getting a million? This is why public education & infrastructure suffer. It is time to set up a income tax system and make all pay there fair share! Now this wont go over too big and guess the money cats will fly into action. Lets see what all the political hopefuls have to say.
The fair tax person!
There is no need to tax the people.
This country makes $1.2 billion in tax revenue every 18 months for 25,000 people…
That’s a $48k cheque for each citizen every 18 months…
Wake up, you’re being squandered…
Perhaps it would be better to advocate for less money being spent on pointless schools, free petrol cards, audit reports, turtle farm, iguana culling etc.
The pointless schools are the funding government gives to the private schools where you all send your kids. The Turtle Farm, it is not going to happen. I know you all would like to see more Caymanians unemployed by closing the TF but even if they closed it, they still have to make the payments. However since all of these things bother you why don’t you pack your bags and go back to where you came from and live the way you want us to live.
It is ludicrous to make statements like this. All that keeps Cayman afloat is because of the no income tax or anything on people with higher incomes. Why stay here and pay taxes when everything is so high priced; better to go back to Europe or America where at least goods and properties are more reasonably priced. You people must decide before you slaughter the goose laying all the golden eggs! This is just election rhetoric. Thank goodness for the current government, just elect them back in so they can keep things running smoothly.
Bullshit spoken from another blood sucker here to get everything they can for themselves!
except more is spent on the crap public education system per student than in a good private education system. The problem is parents, students and bad teachers in an overwhelmed public system. It does not need more money. It needs better management including hiring and firing decisions, and better discipline.
Cayman currently has a “use tax” system. This means that the more you spend the more tax you pay. If you think that millionaire is paying the same taxes as someone that is less well off you are very wrong.
The stamp duty on their huge house has a much bigger price tag as does his luxury car and his luxury goods.
An income tax would be less fair as over time like the US and other countries that rich person would have more loopholes. Business deductions, the luxury car would become a business expense and the party he threw would be an entertainment expense and so on.
Don’t fool yourself that an income tax system would be better. If it were all the expats that grew up under such a system would not be here.
I don’t understand your point. what is the minimum wage person ‘paying’ and what is the hot shot millionaire ‘paying’? are you taking about how much they pay for milk and bread or electricity? Are you saying that the minimum wage person should pay less for bread and rich person should pay more? what are you talking about? And by the way I started off with nothing and paid my way through school and now I do really well. I notice that others didn’t make that choice and have lots of kids for different men and smoke pot all day and hang around with guys who don’t seem to have jobs or they are in and out of prison. That’s their choice and its not for me to judge them but are you saying that I should now look after them?
No CDP candidates running in the East?
10.03pm Yes. John McLean Jr in East End, and Johann Ebanks In North Side.
OK. I hear Justin Ebanks is UDP also.
Arden to looking to lose a lot of votes right here in East End if that’s what you going to do is to raise taxes on the people especially of East End, you better rethink what you are saying, we will be listening very carefully going forward on what you say!!!
Looking to lose?? He is losing a lot of votes here in East End. He has done nothing of substance for us in East End especially in the last 8 years. He gets on the radio with his crony from the North screams and rants and raves like a lunatic. Have any of you all seen his antics in the LA?? What an embarrassment. His time is up. He needs to go!
Well done gentlemen.
Taxes? There must be a better way!
Sure, make the rich pay double duty on everything!
The Eastern districts are the guiding light for the country.
Glad to see they all got along and treated each other with respect.
Another great job by all running in the eastern districts.