Dear goanet reader
My responses to Selma Carvalho's post:
SC1: The bulk of NRI Goans live in the Gulf. Many of them work for years and
generations away from Goa, and as a result
cannot show 25 years or even 5 years of continuous residency in Goa. During
their long tenure away, they squirrel away
money to buy flats or build homes so that they may have homes to live in when
they do return. It is ridiculous to ask them to
return to their homeland and contribute to the local economy. For those
unacquainted with economics, they are called
"invisible exports." They not only contribute to the economy but in Goa's case
virtually sustain it.
RF1: There is nothing "invisible" in Goa about our community who work in the
Gulf. Unless of course you walk around
Goa with dark sunglasses and cannot see the size and designs of their mansions,
latest cars, etc. "visible" signs of their
wealth which as you say they "squirrel away".
SC2: The tax proposed is not nominal. It is hefty.
RF2: Nominal and hefty are two sides of the same coin. What is nominal for one
is hefty for another and vice versa.
For example, I worked with someone who only travelled first class and stayed in
five star hotels around the world. He also
had several holidays a year, not just one. When he said he was planning a
holiday to Goa, I suggested what I thought was
a perfectly nice place for him to stay at a nominal cost. He told me "I have
spent my entire life only living in the best, is this
accommodation five stars?" In the end he did not stay in the accommodation I
recommended even though it would have
been perfectly adequate for him. He travelled first class to Goa and stayed at
the Taj Fort Aguada. To me it would have
been a hefty cost but he said he paid a very nominal cost to stay in such
luxury.
United Kingdom: these are just a few of the taxes we pay:
1. Council tax: paid on residential and business properties. The rateable value
is determined by the area you live in as
well as the size of the property. Council tax is also charged on those owning
second homes whether
they live in them or not. This tax is used to fund road cleaning, garbage
collection, the police, libraries, schools and other
essential services we all use.
2. Road tax: Based on the size of your car, and is payable yearly, whether you
live here for six months or not.
3. Petrol tax: Nearly 70% in every British pound is tax. Petrol shop owners
therefore sell other goods like chocolates,
crisps, newspapers just to survive.
4. Income tax: Paid on all wages earned, and also on interest on savings,
dividends, etc.
5. VAT: On most goods and services.
6. All of us coming into Goa on an economy seat on a scheduled flight pay a
minimum of 320 British pounds in tax per
person. Charter flights and flights via Arab countries are different and not to
be confused here.
7. When we die, those left behind pay "inheritance" tax above a certain amount.
The tax is 40 per cent.
8. Taxation, in all forms, is therefore nothing new to us.
9. Taxation is the same for all of us, East African Goans, Swindon Goans,
English, etc, anyone working and living here or
owns or rents a property here.
Gulf: I cannot write in the same way for those working in the Gulf and off
shore sites as I have never lived or worked there.
Do they pay taxes on their homes or on their salaries?
SC3: It is the birth and moral right of diasporic populations to retain their
cultural roots with their homeland.
RF3: We are talking here about tax proposed on properties owned by
non-residents of Goa. Are you saying that owning
bricks and mortar in our homeland is essential to us retaining our cultural
roots? Is this the reason why there is so much
building going on in Goa today? Our community, living years and years and years
away from our homeland, contributing to
the economies of other countries but still wanting to retain "one foot" in Goa
"tax free" in case they wish to return? Who
thought of this brilliant regional plan where everyone wants something for
nothing.
SC4: I sincerely wish people would put more thoughts into their arguments.
RF4: Interesting, coming from someone who calls our men "immature" and Goans a
"peg lower than cows".
SC5: I have no interest in entering into personal battles.
RF5: My goanet posting was actually addressed to Frederick who has been the
perfect example to all of us how he has
moved back to Goa and settled very successfully. Did I write to you? Last time,
remember, you bid me fare thee well and
said that thankfully, as you were leaving the United Kingdom, you would never
have to cross my path. Have I missed a
collision in cyberspace?
Recent postings show hints of Rose wine? Now you are directly writing to me
ending with "Best". How sweet, just like
dodol. Am I next to expect a telephone call from you "Hi, Rose, Selma here?"
SC6: Nor do I want to entertain frivolour points put together while munching on
fried Mars bars....
RF6: Point taken, next time I will up my stakes and entertain myself drinking
Portugal's finest Mateus Rose wine, currently
on special offer in Sainsbury, one bottle purchased and being chilled in the
fridge right now. Could be a celebration drink
with someone who wins awards, but I wish to live. On planet earth not the moon.
To finish reading Sixth Night, without interruptions!
Rose Fernandes
Thornton Heath, Surrey, United Kingdom
29 January 2012
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