Brexit: UK’s ‘Preferential Treatment’ concerning trading goods with the EU is soon over!

Latest in not so breaking news, this isn’t a newsflash. Not for some of us. Certainly the United Kingdom, Her Majesties Government should be aware, but they are dodging this sort of thing every single time. Tories Government and the negotiation team is winding down and looking at the world upside down. Trying to configure itself to its reality, without looking at the scripture on the wall. However, that has been impossible from the Brexiteers and the closes allies of the Tories. They have been thinking everything will be smooth and not cost the UK anything.

I hate to say this. If you believed anything of the smooth and soft Brexits existing. Your wrong. Your boat left for the high seas. That just sat there at the dry-dock awaiting orders and hire people to travel to the destination. However, that never happen, as the empty promises left you and the remaining crew left behind at port. That is what the Tories Government has done to you.

Your will not be special, you will not be somebody who the European Union looks differently at. The United Kingdom is the ugly duckling of Europe. The UK will not be getting Preferential Treatment by the EU. That is what the European Commission wrote in a notice on the 4th June 2018 named: “NOTICE TO STAKEHOLDERS WITHDRAWAL OF THE UNITED KINGDOM AND EU RULES IN THE FIELD OF CUSTOMS AND EXTERNAL TRADE – PREFERENTIAL ORIGIN OF GOODS”.

The signs of the wall is here:

Goods exported from the EU:

As of the withdrawal date, an EU FTA partner country may consider that goods having an EU preferential origin before the withdrawal date no longer qualify at the moment of their importation in that third country, due to United Kingdom inputs not being considered as ‘EU content’. As of the withdrawal date, in case of verification of the origin of goods exported to a third country under preferential treatment, the exporters in the EU-27 may, upon request from that third country, have to prove the EU origin of the goods taking into account that United Kingdom inputs no longer account as ‘EU content’.

Goods imported into the EU:

United Kingdom inputs incorporated in goods obtained in third countries with which the EU has preferential trade arrangements and imported into the EU as of the withdrawal date will be ‘non-originating’, in particular in a context of cumulation of origin with the EU. As of the withdrawal date, in case of verification of the origin of goods imported into the EU, exporters in third countries may have to prove the EU preferential origin of the imported goods” (European Commission, P: 3, 04.06.2018).

This here is saying what is expected. That the business side of the UK will be hit. The financial services of London will be hit. The export and the producing part of the UK will be hit. Especially the parts that is manufactured for the European Common Market. The Traders and Importers that is based in the United Kingdom. Will have to comply with a Third-Country standards and will not be treated as Member State. This means the cost, the labeling and the ways of trading will differ. When your outside, your really outside and has to do it differently.

This sort of treatment of the UK will also hit the businesses from the EU, which is working directly and have their majority of operation within UK. That is why some are moving out from the UK to secure their place in the EU. Like some moves to Germany or Ireland. To get the same secure place and secure their trading, their liabilities and their ability to trade on the same grounds as they did from London today. Which they will not be able to do as the Brexit is nearing.

This here is a business hit, this here is going at the currency and at the core of the cash-flow of the United Kingdom. This is really showing that the UK cannot get their soft-Brexit. That is impossible, because this is really showing the reality of trading. That the boarders and the customs will be harder, as the origin and the tariffs will hit the fan. They are outsider, not an insider in the Union. That has a price.

That most of us anticipated, but the Tories haven’t, if they have been deliberately blind, then they have cheated the public and they will pay. As this is destroying the ability of businesses, trading goods and will also affect other industries. They are not just toying around in Brussels. They are really showing the reality, which the Tories doesn’t want the public to know. Peace.

Lack of Due Diligence on the Exercise Duty Amendment Bill of 2018!

The nine page memo on the Exercise Duty Bill Amendment of 2018 is an insult to everyone who cares about governance. The leaked Report from the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MoFPED). Is really just a carbon copy of the initial taxes and rubber stamping the bill without any considerable efforts, arguments or questions to the new taxes.

It is weird that the MoFPED can get away with lax work and lack of work ethic, lack of reasonable numbers and crunches of statistics. Proof that this is actually good for society, that the new taxes on Mobil Communications, Mobile Money and Cooking Oil is of an calibre good. Alas, that is not the case, the report isn’t spelling out that. It is just saying, That it is just unfair that ones actually calling is paying taxes, but the ones using mobile data is not. However, isn’t the Telecommunication Companies already paying huge level of taxes on their profits of every sale of airtime? So now just topping it off by adding taxes on Social Media Apps and on Mobile Money? Also the VAT on the Airtime as well?

You have the tax on the airtime, tax on the profits on the airtime; you will have tax on the usage of social media and mobile money. Meaning the state gets revenue from nearly all aspects of usage of the phones. Soon you cannot open anything without withdrawing money from your account as the state is billing you extra for the top services. They are calling this “over the top service” sort of like all the benefits the Members of Parliament has and is billing on the Republic.

Therefore, reading this report, that no one questioned it or had any concern, that no one said anything or looked into the amount of usage and the cost on the cell-phone user. Neither, the added cost on the basic household for any of the new taxes. Show a unpleasant disregard for the hardships of the citizens in question. You cannot expect to be enlighten on 9 pages of a report, you cannot, because your not digging deep into a problem or a situation on a 4 page brief. Your just touching the subject matter and disregarding the issues at hand. The Parliament has recklessly added this taxes, as the President ordered in his letter. The letter from 12th March 2018 dubbed “Re: Lack of Seriousness in Tax Collection”. As they are just following his words and not considering any implications. That is what is bugging me.

If these was serious MPs who cared about the constituents and the citizens in general, before imposing taxes, they would see what estimates and who would be hit. Secondly, what it would do with quality of life and consequences for the poorest of the Republic. That is if they cared about that. Apparently, they don’t, because they are just whistling after the President and his every whims.

The people should be insulted by their MPs and their lack of understanding, their lack of concern. They should be ashamed to have this sort of people representing them. That they cannot have any of these following government bodies to do, due diligence on the amendment:

Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA), Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MoFPED), and Ministry of Information and Communications Technology (MICT).

All of these should have delivered some sort of report and proper framework, the actual costs and the implications of these taxes on Mobile Money and Social Media Tax. However, the didn’t do that, because they don’t care.

Neither did URA or MoFPED. They just didn’t care to put in the work and show the reality of these proposals. They are just blindly following the blind, aka the President. That is what they do and people have to suffer because of it. Paying much more for service, being invoiced as long as they have the possibility to use the services. That is what the Exercise Duty does, that is what the state do to its citizens. Peace.

Kenya International Freight & Warehousing Association letter to KPA: “Re: Noticing to Port Stake Holders on Empty Containers” (31.05.2018)

Opinion: Trump impose tariffs on Steel & Aluminum from the EU, another proof that the world cannot trust the US anymore!

The world doesn’t need enemies, it already have Trump, President Trump. He doesn’t care and shows no tact, no mercy and no sort of dialogue. That is proven again. Now that he has over night decided to impose tariffs on Aluminum and Steel from the European Union (EU). It is like Trump wants the US to be alone in the world. That is what he is getting closer to every single day.

When your not making sure the friends of United States gets to trade with reasonable tariffs, then who do you let do that? Why does the United States think they are so special that they can hit another continent like nothing. This is just like they pulled out of the Paris Agreement on the Climate, as the US don’t want to part of the global fight against climate change. We also seen the US has pulled out of the Iran agreement, making things worse in the Middle East. That is done while the US Embassy was moved to Jerusalem and weapons delivered to Saudi Arabia. This is all decisions that makes the world more fragile and hits the nerves of the regions.

Now, the EU is imposed tariffs, which are done because of Trump’s imaginary vision of supremacy, instead he is losing end. As people knows with every day, they cannot trust the United States. Even Angela Merkel said that during April 2018. There is more and more proof, that the world cannot trust Trump and the US Government. It is erratic and unstable, it is a house of cards.

President Trump policies are short-sighted and without vision of consequences. The US will not salvage this industry, this will just make the products made with this more expensive before the industry get better sights and hired more educated people to work in the industry. You cannot just build steel mills over night and nether have the educated engineers like that too. This isn’t making copyrights on random products, this is actually producing and making them.

I don’t think that Trump knows this, he thinks of ancient ways and wants to be Cesar and rule everything without any consequences. But Trump should know that the EU will react to this, they will put reactionary tariffs on products and American goods valued the same as the industries they hit in the EU. So that the different partners are making sure the Americans get to feel it too.

The US should know, that all of this doesn’t make friends, but more people looking at them and mind boggling thinking. The US Government, we cannot trust or really count on. They are just using everyone and making sure the rest is hit. While the US wants to get away without any responsibility. But the reality will hit them, when the EU answers with imposing tariffs on US goods too. That would be a natural reaction. Hopefully hit a nerve with the President and his allies. Since that was what the EU planned in the past to answer it.

Let’s see how this goes. But it is not a good look. Only making things more hostile and letting the world know. The US cannot be trusted, they are misusing their position and will only make the global diplomacy harder. Peace.

Uganda: The lowest paid civil servants would be hit by the Social Media Tax, up to about 20% of their total yearly salary!

You know that is wrong, when the state is issuing taxes that is insane. This is really banishing the poorest from certain aspects of life. By the time of November 2017, the lowest paid salaries for certain government employees are yearly about 250,000 shillings likes the U8 Local Government Workers. Others are the likes of U7 Primary School Teachers about 380,000 shillings. These are the lowest paid staff in and around in the Republic. Meaning this will be hit by the newly minted taxes that the state has imposed today in Parliament. This being the Excise Duty Amendment Bill 2018. These are on all different aspect of life and on needed services, products that people need, that will all become more expensive.

The reports said this about it!

Parliament has passed the Excise Duty Amendment bill 20l8 by imposing one percent tax on every mobile money transaction and 200 shillings on social media. The tax measures approved by parliament are close to 1 trillion shillings and government argues that they will help in improving the tax base of the country” (Mbarara Sun, 2018).

The approval implies that each person using platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook, Viber and Skype among others, will be subjected to a daily levy of 200 Shillings while each mobile money transaction will be subjected to a 1 percent excise duty. The government is projecting to collect 284 billion Shillings from the measures” (Open Gate FM, 30.05.2018).

There are also some that has calculated it be costing the citizen up to 70,000 shillings on a given year, as the person has to pay the 200 shillings for the use. That will happen from the 1st January 2019. If that is so. Out of the lowest salary, if your paying the total on the Social Media Tax, you will go from 250k to 180k. That is 28% of the salary paying for being on social media alone. That is the poorest of the poor, the salaries which is usually not on time and they are even not getting by. They are the ones that is closed out of the new services and places for information like the Social Media. This is shutting out the poorest from the Social Media, this is only making sure the elite and wealthy can log-on, but the rest will not afford it.

Who wants to use 20% of their salary to go on Facebook, Twitter, Viber and WhatsApp? Who wants to do that? Will people use the VPN to not show their IP Addresses to still come into the Social Media Accounts without paying for the barrier that the Republic has put forward.

This is really making sure the society and space of voices sounding disconcern on social media and in general on the internet. This is closing the web for the poorest. Taking a bargain of about 20% of their check in big swoop. I just wonder how they will enforce this and how they will monitor all accounts, all the log-ins and the grand issue of technical framework to put in place within the spectrum of 6 months too.

It is not like the same state together with the Mobile Industry was able to roll-out the registered Sim-Cards and whatnot over the last two years. It has been hectic, a charade and a mess. It hasn’t been professional or sincere, there been backpedaling and all sort of fatigue within the system. You cannot say the Sim-Card saga was smooth. Then you look into all the government organizations and the orders, which went back- and forth.

Time will tell how the state will enforce this one, this is not just adding a tax, but also the software and the addition of systems on the Mobile Phones. If they all have to be updated and get agreements for payment walls on the Social Media Apps and such. Will that also be on the Computers and whatnot? What is the legal framework that puts this in? Other than the 200 shillings per day!

We should really get people to address the 70k shillings a year possibly, that is lot of money. For some about 20% of their salary. That is just too much for browsing on their phone and looking at what Maureen made for dinner and what Steve wrote about Mao. But that is just what the National Resistance Movement (NRM) are doing.

200 shillings is really nothing, but when you take the whole piece of the puzzle collectively, just imagine all the other taxes put in this bills too. Are they taking 9 slices of the bread and leaving one behind to the taxpayer. Is that what the state is trying to do? Since they are already just on the Social Media Tax alone on the poorest civil servants and the local government workers who cannot afford to go there, because they have to decide to pay rent, food or school payments. Because when this is becoming this much of the salaries. You know just know this hurts the people in general.

This isn’t funny. This is serious. This is theft of the opportunities for the poorest in society. Peace.

Reference:

Mbarara Sun – ‘Parliament Endorses Tax On Social Media, Mobile Money’ 30.05.2018 link: http://mbararasun.com/index.php/2018/05/30/parliament-endorses-tax-on-social-media-mobile-money/

Opinion: Is the White House for Sale?

This is a question that the Americans should ask themselves? Because, I am wondering as a foreigner, if my Kingdom doled some funds on Jared Kushner or on Ivanka Trump’s bank-accountants. Would  the Foreign policy will change because of that? That is a important paradigm shift from the Trump Administration.

Other, then being supportive of horrific migration policies towards immigrants and the ones who has liven there for generations, because it is only White America who deserves to live in the United States. The rest just living their and squatting there for time being. That is the memo the White House is sending out recently.

However, are the for rent signs on the lawn in front of the White House? Are there ads on Craigslist? Or is there unknown LLC that are in connection with the White House and delegates the newly operations from the Trump Organization abroad. As the Trump Organization and Kushner Companies continues to operate more abroad, getting loans from Qatar and Saudi Arabia. If not getting dozens upon dozens of Chinese Copyrights, while trying to build Hotels and Golf Courses all around the world.

Is this how the arrangements are done now? That you shake hands, trade-off deals with foreigners to companies in connected with the Trump Royal Family and then let-off the hook of the Nation in question. So if the need the US Army, the US Trade or lifting of sanctions, that will be softer after signing of deals with Ivanka or Jared. Because the Foreigners will deliver them a few silver coins, if their sanctions are lifted or trade of state companies get a better deal with the US; Because they gave some little money to the White House Royal Family.

The royal family, which is allowed to be revised over 40 times and as they didn’t follow procedure for their forms. Still to get security clearance and all the perks of the White House. This is happening as they are still enlarging their pockets and trading away their value at the Public Office. They are really playing high stakes with the Republic.

It is like they can buy and trade policies now, the foreign interference is evident and the change of narratives comes quickly, especially if the ones in this Trump Administration gets a pay-off. If there is need in a government agency, if the lobbyist or company needs changes of policies.

Remember pay someone off, especially pay off the Trump Family and relatives, then you get the princess and the whole kingdom. They are easily giving way, as long as the profits are returned and delivered to a random company of the Trump Organization. If it is money laundering or any other operation. As long as the Trump businesses get their cut, they don’t mind, that is what they do.

The White House is for sale, a giant haul sale and the evidence is in every story published, as the days go. I wonder how much does it cost to get them colluding with the Russians? Because surely that had a initial price. Surely, cost more than a box of crisps and a trademark in China. Peace.

DP Ruto: Your gig is up!

Deputy President William Ruto is one of a kind. The kind that uses fine words and speeches, the ones are defending values, but his actions differs from that. He has finessed the game, using his influence and his value in the system to gain monetary funds. This at a rampant speed, that the check-books cannot recover or even account for the funds. His play-by-play book is made for unaccounted funds and for forging results.

Therefore, a man who has earned a well-fortunate salary in his position, still his wealth over the years has risen astronomically. His houses, his business and his ownership is like a Jeff Bezos of Kenya. The DP has a village called home, own newspapers and whatnot, who knows he has gotten in his hands and pockets. It’s like a giant fountain of money that spiralling in his veins.

He is the guy that praises the rule of law, but orders to not respect the court orders. He is the sort of man who speaks of fighting corruption, but is corrupt as hell. He is the sort of man who speaks of accountability and transparency, while he himself accepts bribes, graft and unaccounted funds in boatloads. He is the man who speaks in twisted tongue, but expect people to speak honest to him.

DP Ruto, we know you now, we know what your up too. We have seen it for years. It isn’t cool anymore, we know that your in your place for one reason, not to serve Kenya, but serve yourself. You are in position to enrichen yourself and your family, not to be representative for Kenya. If it had been so, you wouldn’t be the famous hustler and the famous go-to-get wealthy politician vibe. Because that is true.

We know you own K24, The Star, Karen Homes, Osere flats in Rongai, Major Amaco Insurance, Oseng Properties Limited, Orterter Enterprises Limited, Weston Hotel, 680 Hotel and Uasin Gishu Residence. This you have gotten on your meagre salary. Billions upon billions in property and ownerships of companies, while earning only millions. You cannot make this up. You have also bought a copper and whatnots of cars within your time in office. Therefore, we know you speak, but do financial warfare.

So please, don’t speak ill of corruption, when you’re the benefactor and owner of it. It wouldn’t be like this if your salary and your benefits was sincere, if your role in government and wealth was real, as your eating like there is no tomorrow. Grabbing whatever possession there is and taking it. We see that, as step by step your grabbing ownership of vital plots, of vital news organizations and also producers, which will generate more income. But in the first place, you shouldn’t have the capacity or wealth to be able to get these. Your not earning enough to be here.

So the gig is up. We know you. You can speak those fine words. But we know the reality, the fantasy is all in your mind. We know that and you cannot say otherwise. We know you will, but it is valued as nothing. None. Okay?

Just stop, it is not funny. Peace.

The simple reason for the rising prices of UNGA!

If you wonder why suddenly the prices are running high for the UNGA again in Kenya. That is because the state has added taxes, they are trying to collect more money again. This is happening because its months since the elections and the subsidized UNGA is history. Therefore, expect rising prices, the maize and milk cartels want their profits. If they happen to in the pocket of the government at the same time. Is just convenient, even some of the companies earning on the sky-rocketing prices is the President himself and his own companies. I am sure the DP also owns connected businesses that could eat of the this plate too. While the ordinary and poor population will struggle to have ends meet as the government are taxing them even more.

Added Taxes:

Poor households would be more exposed in the amendments with sweeping implications on many sectors, as the State seeks to raise Sh1.75 trillion in the next financial year. Most basic commodities are not taxed to cushion the poor, but the changes that will be proposed in the national budget will end that. “We are looking at exemptions on several products that are widely consumed, but not on VAT such as milk, sugar, maize flour, wheat flour…,” said Benson Korongo, a commissioner of Kenya Revenue Authority” (Michira, 2018).

Prediction of the reaction to the taxes:

Milk and cream, not concentrated nor containing added sugar or other sweetening matter” (…) “Suppliers of the affected supplies will not be able to claim any input tax incurred in making of such supplies. This cost will be borne by the final consumers. Reverting to exemption of these basic commodities a year later after they had been zero-rated will lead to an increase in their prices rendering them less affordable to the ordinary Citizens” (…) “The supply of maize (corn) flour, ordinary bread and cassava flour, wheat or meslin flour and maize flour containing cassava flour by more than 10% in weight” (…) “Reverting to exemption of these basic commodities a year later after they had been zero-rated will lead to an increase in their prices rendering them less affordable to ordinary Citizens” (Ey Global Tax Alert Library, 2018)

It is special when Ernest & Young (EY) whose is known for their advice for potential investors and people who plans for invest in a republic. They have usual advice, which shows the potential and the grips of reality. Their analysis from April are now coming in effect in the end of May, as the local papers like Standard write about it now. But they say it might happen in July.

The state has favorably subsidized it and also imported on its own, that might happen again. But the added tax will hit the public. Make the staple food more expensive, because of added taxes. The shops, the importers, the distribution companies will not take the hit. The hit is always ending up at the consumer, the buyer and not the ones who produce, distribute and sells. That is known and the way we play. Seriously, when the state plans with these taxes to earn over a trillion shillings, nearly two, means they are anticipating selling enough of the needed goods and services connected with the new taxes to actually be sold.

So the prices on the staple is rising, because the Jubilee Government, the President and his party is doing it. This is their orders and their will, it is not the international market or a drought, it is initial planning and what the state does to get more revenue.

Jubilee whose are eating all of the state, needs more revenue to make another NYS Scandal, take more funds from the likes of NHIF and inappropriately use unaccounted funds in the various government bodies. Peace.

Reference:

EY Global Tax Alert Library – ‘Kenya issues Tax Amendment Bill, 2018’ (April 2018)

Michira, Moses – ‘Red alert: Why the cost of food will go up in july’ (16.05.2018)

Link: https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/business/article/2001280557/why-unga-prices-are-about-to-go-up

Do the Gunners really want to be associated with Paul Kagame?

As today news show, that ‘Visit Rwanda’ has signed a sponsorship deal with Arsenal Football Club, which means that jerseys will be filled at one specific place with the logo of ‘Visit Rwanda’. Rwanda which all controlled by President Paul Kagame, the general who has blood on his hands and knows very well how to use his trigger finger. General Kagame is ruthless and unforgiving, his enemies either lingers in jail or are buried six-feet under. Therefore, the Gunners have blazed all guns with this one.

If your thinking it is legitimate to forgive the man for being the current leader of African Union, at some point Muammar Gadaffi was too and they took his dictatorial flesh all across the streets before getting rid-off him. Rwanda has their own dictator and that is Kagame. Kagame might dress smart and talk like a wise man. But he has killed and gotten rid of his enemies. There are many men and woman who has gotten at the other side of the gun. That all on orders of Kagame. This isn’t a fairytale, it isn’t a fiction either. It is the reality and the blood of the voices that stand-ups to Kagame.

Goal Reports: “Goal understands that the £10 million-a-year ($13m) deal with ‘Visit Rwanda’ is the biggest sleeve sponsorship contract in the Premier League, surpassing Chelsea’s £6m-a-year ($8m) agreement with Hyundai and Manchester City’s partnership with Korean company Nexen Tire” (Chris Wheatley – ‘Arsenal sign Premier League’s biggest sleeve sponsor deal’ 23.05.2018, Goal).

So, the state of Rwanda can afford a three year deal with the Gunners for £10m. What is ironic in this is that the United Kingdom The Department for International Development (DFID) planned total budget for Rwanda are in 2017/18 total £64m and in 2018/19 are £62m. Meaning, that the about 16,6% of the DFID budget funds are returned to the United Kingdom, through the payments of ‘Visit Rwanda’. But they are going directly to the Gunners of London and not in the pockets of anyone else.

Just to be specific about the violations of the Rwandan government in 2016 to 2017, the Human Rights Watch reported in their 2018 report, that 37 people killed as petty suspects in the Western Province between April 2016 and March 2017. This is just a small fraction of the real numbers, as there are many undocumented ones. Therefore, this is just a small sample of the pain that Kagame does to the ones who stands in his way.

He is used to blazing guns, now he is blazing the state funds on a sponsorship deal, because surely he has seen the plan and said “do it”. I doubt he wasn’t kept in the loop, because the President does it all and controls it all. That is why people are forced to vote for him and follow his laws. He says they all support him, but then if they did, his biggest rivals wouldn’t be behind bars like Victoire Ingabire and Diane Shima Rwigara. Who both had the courage to stand-up and speak against Kagame, that has a price, which is either behind bars or killed. They got the first and not the second offer.

Therefore, the Gunners are really following their nickname, Arsenal are now associated with Kagame and his tyranny. They are already flushing in monies from other questionable sources, but this is the latest. The one I know. If the Board and Owners of Arsenal Football Club knows this, then they are accepting mercenaries blood-money from the Democratic Republic of Congo and even that the aid supposed to be donated to development projects are instead ending up their to pay the fat salaries for their Premier League footballers.

That should make anyone shake their heads, usually football isn’t that serious, but when you put money into play. It becomes dead-serious and Kagame isn’t playing, he is coning and trying to white-wash his name. People like me don’t accept that, he has to many bodies on his watch to be forgiven and to many people who has suffered just he and his kin could rule Rwanda. Peace.

Central Bank of Kenya – Banking Circular No. 2 of 2018: Guidance Note on Conducting Money Laundering/Terrorism Financing Risk Assement (23.05.2018)