from a friend...

Today, Tuesday, August 15, 2006, The PUP VAT, aka GST,
became due and payable by the business community after
collection from the consumers. No indication on the
productivity of the collection by the GST Unit of Musa's
Government. No indication how well Musa's new tax is
performing.

GST has forced up the costs of a great many items. For
example: was at a couple of gas stations today and almost
all items inside their convenience stores went up by 15%.
Including Coca Cola products.

Second, I had opportunity to visit 4 construction supplies
stores and found everything having gone up at least 15%:
cement, tiles, tools, plycem, windows, doors, cement
blocks...everything i ordered.

I tried buying a couple tyres for a car. Add 15% GST.
Thanks to GST.

Everything gawn up.

Even garbage collection in Ladyille ...add 15% GST. Plus
the company hasn't collected garbage for the past 2 weeks.

Vegetable stands have raised their prices, saying GST is
pushing up prices for their suppliers.

Not sure how it affects hotels but i hear they are getting
a raw deal as well.

And I hear Raul's prices have gone up 15% too. Have to
check with my friends in the cayes.

This is total unacceptable madness...this gst.

GST is 10%, although proprietors may have increased prices more than that. Does not affect hotel rooms, the tax remains at 9% and goes to BTB. We'll see.

When you look at a restaurant, the increase should be 1%, because 9% sales tax changed into 10% GST (price should be now including GST). Fuel went from 14% sales tax to 10% GST, but the sales tax was on the purchase price of the retailers.

We're suffering a "pig-in-a-python" effect right now as the merchandise in stock was imported while 9% sales tax was still being charged. Eventually, after that stock is sold off, the prices should drop back by 9% or so. Think they will? HA!!

also, i think politics entered into my friends perspective. i should have mentioned that

Doesn't this fall under basic needs of life, thus GST 0%?? - Like flour, eggs, milk etc... This is an outrage!!

As in "Raul's Rose Garden"?

GSt on TnA, hum?

"Vegetable stands have raised their prices, saying GST is pushing up prices for their suppliers."

Now I really don't understand this.....if you were at any of the GST propoganda meetings, you will remember the infamous example..."rice has no GST, beans has no GST, but if you buy rice and beans you pay GST, because it is not in the raw form. Why in the hell would produce go up?

And while we are on this topic, does anyone remember the SLOGAN that GST MUST, HAS TO BE included in the price on the shelf? EVERY store in San Pedro is charging 10% at the checkout counter. Supposedly for GST. How does that work? If you buy rice, or beans, and other grocery items, they just charge you a flat 10%, so you pay on everything.

The water taxi also raised prices, claiming that GST and "other taxes" caused rates to go up. Well, I'm no math genius, but 10% of $10.00 is $1.00, not $4.00; and the workers now pay $10.00 instead of $5.00....GOB must have put a giant GST on workers that no one knows about!

There is no GST charged on basic staples, rice, beans, veggies etc. If they are charging you, they are ripping you off.

Shuffles, there is no GST on Island Ferry, water taxi to Belize City, Corozal, or any regular scheduled public transportation like busses and air travel.

There is however GST on private chartered water taxi, land taxis and flights. For these services however, they are also able to deduct GST on expenses (fuel-maintenance), which wasn't possible before.

Short, dabunk, exactly my point. Most of the stores are charging 10% at the register. Try it. Buy some beans, canned goods, milk. Take it to the register. See if they charge 10% on the total. I realize there is no GST on the ferry, water taxi, etc. That was my point. When told the price was $14 instead of $10 last week, the boat captain stated that it was due to GST. I know it isnt due to GST, but that seems to be the standard answer everywhere lately.

Well, I am in Punta Gorda and they are not doing it here. Maybe because the expats do not know or complain they get away with it.