No new taxes in Budget 2025 please – Friday

Opposition Leader, Dr Godwin Friday, does not want to see any new taxes, nor increased tax measures in the 2025 National Budget which is due to be presented in Parliament next week.

Friday, who heads the New Democratic Party (NDP), made this clear when he spoke on the NDP’s New Times programme on Monday January 6, 2025.

Incidentally, that was the original date announced for this year’s Budget presentation. However, the presentation will now be done on the afternoon of Monday, January 13, when Minister of Finance, Camillo Gonsalves will present the 2025 National Budget Address.

The presentation of the Estimates, which precede the Budget Address will be on Thursday, January 9, 2025.

The Opposition Leader issued a plea to the finance minister on the New Times programme to not bring any taxes in Budget 2025.

He said over the years, the Unity Labour Party (ULP) administration has been over taxing the people.

“They better not bring any taxes in the Budget this year because that would be unconscionable.”

Friday said sometimes when government implement taxes, they make the people feel as if it’s no big deal.

“Well if it ain’t no big deal, why you putting it there?” he asked.

The Opposition Leader, who represents the Northern Grenadines constituency, said that through taxation, the current administration is taking money out of the people’s pockets.

“This year is a year the government should be giving back to the people,” Friday said.

After the Budget presentation on Monday, debate on the Appropriations Bill is expected to begin on the morning of Tuesday, January 14, with the Opposition Leader being the first person to make his presentation.

The NDP leader said he plans to use his entire four hours in debating Budget 2025, to ensure that he holds the government accountable.

He insisted that people are feeling pressure and they need to know that “somebody is going to bring relief to them.