Budget cuts send consumers bleeding!

Okay first I was resigned to pay more because of the measures announced in the new budget. It seemed we were all going to face rough times but we were forging ahead with a plan. It may have not been a plan I liked with but it was a plan that seemed to have been put forward after discussions with relevant sectors.

Then the prices on everything began to increase. I do mean everything! I heard various conversations in which people contemplated finding new ways to avoid paying the extra cost on food items. Some claimed they were going to convert to vegetarian.

However, its not just food and printed material and electricity! Its also on the one thing dear to the hearts of many Jamaicans! Our phones of course!

As reported in the Sunday Gleaner May 27, 2012, ‘The tax on telecommunications would add to the existing tax charge of 25 per cent GCT on telephone services, including telephone cards and telephone instruments, and is likely to result in increased charges to customers.
The tax would be J$0.30 per minute on all domestic calls for termination to a mobile network and fixed lines and US$0.075 per minute on all international calls for termination to a mobile network.’

The government has decided to defer some taxes such as on books and electricity until July 1, 2012, but in my opinion whether we pay now or later we still pay! So how will you weather the financial storm? Let me hear from you!

Tags: economy, Jamaica, taxes