OBA: ‘Govt Was Warned About Land Tax’

August 20, 2019

The Government was “warned that increases in the land tax would hurt seniors,” according to Pat Gordon-Pamplin, the Shadow Health Minister.

Ms. Gordon-Pamplin said, “We stood up in the House and told the Government over and over that this tax was going to hurt those less able to pay and lo and behold we have been proven correct, although it gives me no comfort to say so.

“This Government’s inability to balance a budget, despite promises from the Premier and former Finance Minister to do so, and to increase economic activity means it has only one option: to increase taxes.

“As well as the increased land tax, we have seen the dividend tax for Bermudian companies, the foreign currency purchase tax which affects all imported items and the sugar tax.

“Government has failed to solve the immigration issue and it has no workable economic stimulus plan but until we are able to get more people onto this Island, until economic activity picks up, new and increased taxes will be the norm.

“The PLP has been in power for two years, it has been in power for 17 of the last 21 years. It is due to their financial mismanagement that our seniors find themselves in this position.”

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Comments (33)

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  1. potato juice says:

    Givum time, they’ll back pedal like they’ve done on all there so called ideas so far.

  2. Paul says:

    Gov,don’t care about us…friends and family is what they are all about.

  3. Toodle-oo says:

    When a tiny island government gets itself into 3Bn of debt through their own ineptitude everyone is going to be affected , not just seniors .
    There’s a whole lot more wailing and gnashing of teeth yet to come as the nasty medicine hasn’t even been dosed out yet . All in the name of politics.
    Trust me .

  4. LaVerne Furbert says:

    How is the land tax hurting seniors when seniors are exempt from paying land tax. What is Mrs. Pamplin Gordon talking about?

    • Toadinthehole says:

      Rental properties….

    • Double S says:

      Lies. Only certain senior properties (up to an ARV of $45k) are exempt. I imagine your independence discussion will be riddled with lies and falsehoods as well.

    • Cha says:

      Seniors are not exempt from Land tax they have a subsidy. This was reduced with the change and the flat fee was created which is a direct increase to them on both fronts. So yes their land tax increased.

      Seems you don’t know what you are talking about.

      “Standing Strong for Bermudians” That is laughable.

    • Truth is killin' me... says:

      Got your blinders on innit? Of course some seniors had their land tax increased! Just ask around.

    • Sally De Silva says:

      That is not entirely correct Ms. Furbert. I live in a family home which, when the probate is complete, I will own a share of. However, I was told by the Land Tax office that I have to continue paying the tax on the apartment even though I am a senior, until my name is in writing as an owner. I have paid the land tax on this apartment for over 20 years. Now I am faced with an increase. So, yes a land tax increase does so affect seniors….
      I see the St. George’s cricket club received a $75,000 donation from Government, so what did we get. A slap in the face with a land tax increase.

      • Ringmaster says:

        Quite a response from a once Senator. A classic example of why Bermuda is in the economic shambles it is in after 19 years of PLP Government.

  5. truthertz says:

    My land tax went up 25% this billing cycle whilst my healthcare increased over 10% monthly. Sugar tax has increased groceries whilst the 25% FCPT hike has impacted prices for everything (as we import everything and pay for it in foreign dollars).

    Can someone please explain how all these tax and Government fee hikes has assisted the PLP in achieving their campaign promise of lowering the cost of living?

    • truthertz says:

      I forgot to note that I received a notice last month advising that the Minister responsible approved a gas price increase of 23%. Thanks PLP.

  6. Rotten Onion says:

    We had to deceive you comes to mind.

  7. Question says:

    All these problems. 27-11. The PLP own these problems. They caused them, and they have no idea how to solve them. Their only ‘successes’ are hangovers from things the OBA did. We are truly screwed.

  8. PHSee says:

    This has hurt everyone. Most seniors have their homes paid for and while many live on their pensions and savings at least they do not have the threat of having their homes taken.

    Some of us are trying to pay mortgage and raise children. These signifact raises in land tax have taken the equivalent of two paychecks per year from my family!

    Thanks PLP. Please stop trying to make things more affordable for us. Stop trying to out more money in our pockets. I have 11 more years on my mortgage. I can’t afford any more of your help.

  9. And the answer is???? says:

    Well NOBODY, it would appear, wants to have an increase in taxes yet EVERYBODY wants benefits.
    NOBODY, it would appear, wants to see job cuts or cuts in benefits yet EVERYBODY wants to see more benefits
    Who, therefore, is going to pay for what we want? The money has to come from some where and we learned for 4 years that it DOES NOT Grow on trees . (Oh other countries are PROVING that money does grow on trees: THE MARIJUANA TREE) Unless you have other options, you better be ready to move in that direction swiftly. Time to make a decision like they quickly got rid of Dunch and we still have NO CASINOS. Dunch should have been left UNTIL we got them open. Dumb decision and you will shortly see more.

  10. Mark says:

    Right into OJ’s granny’s savings! Thanks 25-11.

  11. Triangle Drifter says:

    25-11. How you senior PLP followers feeling now? Will your pension cover it. How is your health insurance doing?

  12. FACT says:

    You mean the UBP wasn’t told. Stop saying oba it doesn’t work and please stop being a surrogate.

    • Tim J says:

      Ummm…….there are more UBP members in the PLP than the OBA. In fact 2 former UBP leaders! A hahahahaha! So we can say the PLP/UBP.

  13. Daren says:

    Glad I left hahaaaa

    • Mark says:

      Right behind you! Leave the ruins to the Pee El Pee.

  14. Hello says:

    Laverne, I’m a senior citizen like you and have never been exempt from paying land tax in the last 7 years. I own a two bedroom cottage and mine has gone up by $210.50 per 6 month period. What is this new Surcharge of $150.00 Please explain!

    • Hoodwinked says:

      Yes, I would like to know more about this Land tax surcharge as well. I am, like many others a struggling senior as well.

      • Politricks says:

        In the budget they announced that on top of the land tax payable there will be an annual $300 base charge on every ARV. It is basically another tax.

        It’s similar to the 200% rise in the MRF fee, which the Government says wasn’t a tax (it is, inadequate all but name). As a result of the increase healthcare premiums increased I’m some cases as much as 25% on a monthly basis.

        The last budget saw a whole raft of tax increases and fee hikes (TCD for example) along with the introduction of new taxes.

        The last budget will and has already increase the cost if living in this already expensive island. It also increased the cost of doing business which will result in cutbacks. Watch this space.

  15. Bermudian says:

    The government is meant to work for the people that voted them in power and if that’s not happening we all know what you should do the next time you’re at the ballot box.

  16. Munro Smith says:

    I didn’t hear any support for Seniors from Ms Pamplin when Her Party held the reins of Government! There were a Record number of Protests during their Tenure, mostly headed by Seniors, and the way the Seniors were Treated by her Government as regards the freezing of the Pension and the Airport Situation!

    • Pequot 1609 says:

      No these protest were led by the combined opposition under the guise of a People’s Movement.
      We all know it was orchestrated by the PLP BIU BPSU to harangue the OBA out of power. They seem to fallen off the face of the earth once the PLP came to power.
      Today we are being taxed into debt and the PLP faithful sit by without any objection.

  17. Truth is killin' me... says:

    Therein lies the problem. You have no ideas with which to stimulate the economy so your only option is to TAX, TAX and TAX THE PEOPLE! The ones that can barely handle the taxes now and who voted you in. Your honeymooon is over. GET CRACKIN’!!!

  18. Concerned Citizen says:

    Perhaps we need to do away the party system and vote for the best person. Poistions may not be created for Buddies and former premiers may be held accountable. Perhaps the public purse and the country may be saved

    • Ringmaster says:

      Agreed but if you think about it, that is how Bermuda was governed before the PLP was formed. No parties, just individual MPs. Then the UBP was formed in response and Bermuda prospered until around 2005 when Ewart Brown took over.

  19. Pangaea says:

    They pay you a pension, which is basically a long term loan to Govermnment with out you receiving interest.

    The Government gamble with that money, then the next thing they do is invent tax to pay debt with again with your money.

    Fact : Governments have no money ! Just policy and Laws and employees consequently it cost government more money to process a parking ticket than the fine collected.

    Question ? How much did Government earn over say 45 years years on your pension contributions ?

    Fact : Money makes money !
    Fact :There is not enough money in Bermuda to pay the National debt.

    We were told Land tax is the thin end of the wedge now the thick end is putting every one in “the poor house” caused by the trickle down effect.

    Every one rich and poor has commitments !

    Every thing e.g. including Paint and labour etc are taxed and what do we have to show for it the Aquarium , The Gibbs Hill Light house and a school full of mould. You know the one which has mould on the roof.

    You will not see a change until there is a change in the electoral system.

    The island finances are out of balance 360 degrees

  20. Adrienne says:

    The PLP will continue to TAX Bermudians you know why because they can DONT SEE ANYBODY marching up the HILL TO PROTEST. But let the OBA do this and you will see all the PLP voters marching up the HILL