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Momodou
Denmark
11823 Posts |
 Posted - 26 Dec 2009 : 15:44:06
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SIDIA ON TAXATION AND POVERTY ALLEVIATION
By Abdoulie G. Dibba
In his reaction to the budget speech delivered at the National Assembly on Friday 18th December 2009 by the Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs Abdou Colley, the National Assembly Member for Wuli West Hon. Sidia Jatta indicated that their concern is to develop an economy that is capable of generating revenue and employment to address the issue of poverty alleviation.
Hon. Jatta stated that their concern should be to develop an economy that is capable of generating revenue, enhancing employment and ensuring diversified sources of revenue without necessarily imposing taxes. He said he is not saying that there should not be taxation but that his contention is that economies based mainly on taxation without the reciprocal development of their productive base, cannot bring about development. Because of that Sidia said it is necessary for investment to be made into the productive base of the economy for revenue generation, employment creation and also for the sustenance of development. Hon Jatta argued that we cannot rely on taxation to sustain development particularly in a situation where employment is very low, salaries low and business trying to grow with difficulties. Sidia stressed that under such situation, taxation becomes a burden on the people. Sidia noted that they must forget the doctrine that conditions them not to invest in the productive base of the economy. He said they had tried so and they failed which led to the problem they are currently having in marketing their groundnuts because the marketing board was sold due to indebtedness Sidia argued that selling the industry has not decreased their indebtedness but it has multiplied in many folds.
On poverty, Hon. Jatta asserted that the issue of poverty alleviation needs to be approached base on our situation. Sidia asserted that since they all agreed that the Gambia is an agricultural economy and they want to get rid of poverty, one important measure that they should take is to help the farmers to grow as much as they can and then provide them with market outlets for what they produce. This is so Sidia said because one cannot stimulate productivity without providing market facilities for the marketing of the produce. He said that is so because if you have abundant produce without market for them productivity would be undermined.. Sidia argued that a quick way to alleviate poverty in this country, is to help the farmers to produce more and provide them with marketing facility.
Source: Foroyaa Online
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