Miller will lift expat tax
(
CNS): The independent member for North Side has confirmed that if he is part of any new government formed in the wake of the 2013 election he will ensure that direct taxation will be scrapped if the premier actually implements the controversial expat tax. Speaking to CNS as confusion mounted over the premier’s position on the proposed 10% payroll fee on work permit holders’ earnings, Miller said that while he may not be guaranteed any position in any new administration, if he was given a chance to serve in the next Cabinet it would be a priority to overturn the contentious tax. Commending the private sector group for its intervention this weekend, he raised concerns about the continuing uncertainty.
“Despite the efforts of the private sector group over the weekend, we note today that there is still a lack of clarity and no small amount of confusion coming from a subsequent statement from the premier,” he said in a statement Monday. “This is disappointing but hardly surprising. Sadly, it is in keeping with the frightening level of incompetence with which the premier has discharged his responsibilities as the minister of finance."
The North Side MLA, who has said he intends to retain his political independence when he stands in his constituency in May 2013, has said he will be running with any “coalition of the willing” that will work towards the removal of McKeeva Bush from office and then form a government to begin to repair the extensive damage and irregularities associated with this current administration.
He also committed to overturning any direct taxation imposed by the premier, which he hoped would reassure the business community that, even if the premier cannot be persuaded in the next few days to take a different course, the tax will be short lived.
In the meantime, however, the outspoken MLA once again called for the premier to relinquish the position of finance minister at the very least, even if he is not prepared to resign as premier.
Miller said Bush’s actions this week had shaken the financial industry to its very core, damaged Cayman's international reputation and created further instability and division in the community.
“Bush should be asked to step down as finance minister. I call upon all right-thinking members of the business community, Caymanians from all cross-sections of society and those of us in political leadership to demand of Mr Bush that he removes himself from the Finance Ministry, to prevent further damage to the Cayman Islands,” he added.
“For the minister of finance to be allowed to make such an unnecessary and reckless departure from our traditional revenue sources to a form of income-determined tax is in my view grossly detrimental to this country and he should be required to re-assign the Finance Ministry,” Miller said, calling for the financial secretary to resign as well for allowing such a shift in policy. The MLA pointed out that with no definitive statement from him saying that he did not support this income-based fee, it had to be assumed he agreed with it.
The MLA further stated that, along with the UDP's incompetence in managing the country's affairs and the continued wasteful spending, the premier could still find the time and money to travel to Jamaica this past weekend.
“While I congratulate Jamaica on its 50 years of independence, I find it difficult to accept that our premier had to be there at such a crucial time in our budget preparation,” he said.“Similarly, the minister of sports can find the time and money to take a big entourage to London to attend the Olympics, while his government has plunged the country into uncertainty and anxiety. This incompetent UDP government needs to get serious and produce a credible budget, instead of making ill-conceived policy announcements to stir up controversy while they jet around the globe as distractions from the real issues,” Miller said in an official statement.
See full statement below.
Category: Politics
Remember 2004 election, the say was vote for us and we will revoke the status. They all knew that they could not revoke anything that the Governor approved; yet another false promise. People of Cayman don't be fooled by politricking.
Dummie!!! TROLL?
The elections were held in 2005 not 2004.
People may look at Ezzard and say they don't like Ezzard, but when they get to know him and what he stands for, they end upfirst in denial, but after time, seeing that Ezzard stands for the things you stand for, it becomes hard to continue kicking against what is self-evidently true
Nice as he may be, we're not convinced he has the tools to fix the bus, let alone drive it.
Cayman deserves to be lead with accountability and truthfulness. It would of great service to the nation if we could ask some of the many fine retired Caymanian Accounting Partners declare their candidacy for 2013. They need not have much debating skill to soundly defeat the other bumbling incumbents. Uncorruptable truth trumps BS every time. Cayman simply cannot afford another era of under-qualified pocket-lining Evangelicals. We need someone worthy of the title, "Honorable" that actually knows what they are doing and will consult with all the islands' consituents with wisdom and empathy. Time to raise the standards.
What he really is saying is "I will lift the expat tax and bring in lots of other measures that will destroy the Cayman economy".
We should all be there with eggs to throw at him. I believe we need new blood along with Ezzard . Now that this joke is off the table, he never had enough education to do this job correctly. West Bayers next time you all vote try to remember people like Willie Farrington, Benson, Tom Jefferson try and vote for people who know what they are doing please. Don't go for the new washing machine and money for liquor guy no more. If he was successful with this tax we wouldn't want to know what would happen. Remember we have no place to go but here.
Thanks to the following for saving Cayman against the imposition fo Income Tax:-
1. Ezzard Miller
2. Nick Pitman
3. Cayman News Service
4. Annonymous
5. Caymanians
6.The Council of Associations
7. Caymanians & Expats United Against Taxation
8. Rooster Radio
9. Expats United
What about thanking Ellio, CG, Mark, and Rolston for their efforts? Everybody knows that once they take to the airwaves in support of any initiative that is must be seriously flawed.
I was tempted to add Mike Adam, but I honestly can't say that I have heard him speak since being elected. If he shaved his beard off nobody would be able to tell the difference between him and Capt. Eugene.
Thanks for recognising my contribution!
This is such a great honour.
First I would like to thank…
Being such a Chrisitian nation, are you not supposed to thank God first and foremost? After all our hands are clean and our hearts are pure.
Vote for me…I will get rid of the expat tax..Good Lord, haven't we heard that same crap in so many forms for politicians looking to keep their seats…
We need fresh politicians..not these bunch of buffoons from either party and Ezzard who couldn't work together to save their lives..
Sorry Ezzard if i don't blieve you are Premier material…You have had your time just like the UDP and PPM
I have to agree with you but the damage done by an idiot that actually even mentioned the word tax is in my opinion certifiably insane, we may be sick of the same old "PPM turn now UDP turn" but he has forced us to vote PPM to make sure this imbecile is removed forever. We cannot afford to vote for an independant "newbie" to split the vote and let these morons back in, there has to be a viable alternative of new faces together as a group to remove them all, otherwise we HAVE to vote PPM or this moron of a premier who is completely off his meds will be the ruin of this country. We are between a rock and a hard place but if macidiot is the hard place then I am voting for the rock.
He hasn't forced me to do a damn thing. I will vote for who I please and it certainly won't be anyone from the UDP or PPM. If you think resurrecting the PPM is our only means of survival then dog eat our supper!
Missing the point, your idea, if enough fringe support follow it, could get macidiot back in, as an individual you can go to hell for all I care
The Premier will address this meeting next weak in Jamaica. Please let us hall support Cayman Airways hand emale hour travel agents to book hour flights to bye hour tickets for this coming weakend. We can bye sum Appleton and hall get drunk to hair that the expat payrole was knot 10% but 0%. Butt knot to worry, because Mr. Bushie is going to sea that Mr. Ezzie paye the 10% to make up the budget for the government enhancement fees. So better days will be announced in Jamaica, you just weight hand sea.
At a time when Caymanians were concerned with an approaching storm,and Government's plan to introduce an income based tax,Mr McKeeva Bush had a chance to set their minds at ease on both fronts but failed miserably.Instead of staying to ride out the storm with his people ,he chose to party in Jamaica.Instead of of setting their minds at ease concerning the "Community Enhancement Fee" ,he chose to celebrate in Jamaica.He could have calmed the storm of division that has hit our islands with a simple press release,something like this "AFTER FURTHER DELIBERATIONS MY ADMINISTRATIONHAS DECIDED NOT TO IMPLEMENT THE COMMUNITY ENHANCEMENT FEE AT THIS TIME.Did he do this over the weekend ?NO! Has he done it so far today? NO! In fact he is waiting until he can hold a public meeting to do so.Sure hope it is not rainy for the rest of the week. It is said that Nero partied while Rome burned;well McKeeva partied while tensions between Caymanians and expats churned. This has got to be the most callous action ever by a Caymanian politician. MR BUSH you are a cold hearted and callous person and I hope your political career is finished because of it.
There are very obvious reasons why Bush was in Jamaica. Have you ever looked at the UDP neckties for one?
Lifting the tax after it is enacted is like installing a bilge pump after the boat is sunk.
Can Cayman survive until May 2013?
IDIOT 16:50 !! He is making a statement!!!
"UDP – A Better way Forward" – YEAH RIGHT!!!!
I thought it was a Bayer way forward.
While Mr. Miller is calling upon Caymanians from all cross-sections of our society to unite and demand that Mr. Bush removes himself as Finance Minister ( I assume this would be primarily because of the proposed community enhancement fee and the possible effects upon the financial community) I trust that Mr. Miller has also noted that it was ONLY Caymanian signatories attached to the recently issued press release by persons in the business community. This I consider was very revealing. It is almost laughable to observe the expatriates using Caymanians to fight their battle. Very little has changed in these Islands since the days that Mr. Ormond Panton wrote about in his book. Sad indeed.
What utter crap! The only reason expatriates are not at the forefront of this debate is because the whole message sent by this lunatic and divisive proposal is that Bush doesn't give a fig what we think (even though many of us have invested millions in the country, create jobs for Caymanians and promote the Cayman Islands all around the world, but still don't even have a vote). The really encouraging thing is that so many decent, sensible and intelligent Caymanians have been prepared to stand up and say this is wrong in so many ways. Time will tell whether their voices are heard, but it is quite clear mine won't be.
16:14, im the words of your leader, "boy you foo-fool yunnah".
If you become the enemy of my enemy you are my friend, until I don't need them anymore..
Many of the people you've dismissed for decades as "expats" are actually now Caymanian status holders who are eligible to vote. There are hundreds of these people that will be joining you on the registry for next elections. Caymanians need to start opening your minds to that reality, and help raise the bar for all of Cayman's future public servants.
Question: When did the Premier arrive back from JAM? It just seems a little odd that tonight's meeting, which Bush is supposed to be fronting, has been postponed – alledgedly because of bad weather.
Maybe he is still partying in JAM? Either way, I cannot say I am surprised it is "postponed" – it will probably be relocated to WB again also.
A FOI should answer that question 😉
Spot on! Go Ezzard!
I am damn well insulted and outraged by the Premier expecting the public to do his job and preent alternatives to his ridiculous ill conceived tax proposal dropped at last minute, no consultation causing division damage and confusion…then goes on vacay?!
Caymanians got to be the stupidest people on Earth taking so much disrespect from their elected leaders! Wow! Wow!
AMEN. Just one word is all that is necessary.
And the campaigning really begins!