Speeches by Scott Pearman, MP

5 Dec 2025 House of Assembly

Official Hansard Report - House of Assembly

15 words

Sorry. With clarification, in relation to clause 4, it was the prescription on regulations .

5 Dec 2025 House of Assembly

Official Hansard Report - House of Assembly

54 words

And the last one, Madam Chairman, from me , was clause 15, and that was the question . . . I know he answered that the penalty would be imposed by the agency, but my question was whether the penalty by the words “ may be” imposed. Is that intended to mean it's discretionary?

5 Dec 2025 House of Assembly

Official Hansard Report - House of Assembly

9 words

I'm grateful, Madam Chairman. That addresses all my questions.

5 Dec 2025 House of Assembly

Official Hansard Report - House of Assembly

147 words

Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker . And my interests are declared on the parliamentary website, but again, Conyers did have some in-volvement in this, not me, but Conyers, and I just would like to declare that for the record. I thank the Premier and Minister of Finance for his presentation. I also thank the contributions from the Shadow Minister and …

5 Dec 2025 House of Assembly

Official Hansard Report - House of Assembly

440 words

—not to become a victim of our own success where we enable all of these businesses to move in, to take advantage of the credit without any realistic prospect of them becoming a taxpayer. And I just mentioned that in passing. And it's not a criticism. It's just, let's be careful here. Let's be real. And I know, I know …

5 Dec 2025 House of Assembly

Official Hansard Report - House of Assembly

65 words

And then the second question is as to the definition of “entity” at page 7. I note, or someone else noted, that the Government 's new benefit companies that the prior Minister brought into effect at our last sitting, is not actually included and should that be? Has that been an oversight given that those are a new entity in …

5 Dec 2025 House of Assembly

Official Hansard Report - House of Assembly

9 words

Of course. It was in relation to clause 2—

5 Dec 2025 House of Assembly

Official Hansard Report - House of Assembly

17 words

Mr. Speaker, it appears that the strategy of the Government is to not participate in this Motion.

5 Dec 2025 House of Assembly

Official Hansard Report - House of Assembly

92 words

That is too bad. Because it is actually an important topic. It arguably is the most important topic. And what I am also struggling with is why a sensible suggestion that is coming from the Opposition of repaying our debt and taking advantage of opportunity, bank it while you can so you are ready for the future, is receiving such …

5 Dec 2025 House of Assembly

Official Hansard Report - House of Assembly

232 words

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And what the Opposition is seeking to do by this Motion is to identify the risks, opportunities , and challenges and call upon the Government when it comes back in the third week in February, or the first week in February, to confirm that it will grasp the nettle and embark upon a major repayment of …

5 Dec 2025 House of Assembly

Official Hansard Report - House of Assembly

29 words

I am being laughed at by the Honourable Deputy Premier, who happens to think that is funny. Hon. Zane J. S. De Silva: Yes, it is. [Inaudible interjections ]

5 Dec 2025 House of Assembly

Official Hansard Report - House of Assembly

75 words

But considering that we just in December, 12 months after the passage of the Bill, got to the tax credit point, one would think that would be an appropriate time. But we will wait , and we will see because we all know the expression, The Opposition gets its say, and the Government gets its way. And so it will …

5 Dec 2025 House of Assembly

Official Hansard Report - House of Assembly

92 words

And someone from the other side just said, so shut up. But no, that is not democracy. Democracy is not you standing up and saying, I do not want to listen to you over there, because you are not the Government. Democracy is not saying, Mr. DeCouto, if you want that, well, you have to win an election to become …

5 Dec 2025 House of Assembly

Official Hansard Report - House of Assembly

32 words

That is what we are entitled to do. And I am expressing it. I am expressing. I am getting chirping fr om the Premier now. So let me turn to the substance.

5 Dec 2025 House of Assembly

Official Hansard Report - House of Assembly

412 words

I am grateful for that, and I am not going to name and shame the Honourable Member who used that expression. What I will turn now to is the substance of what I would like to say, Mr. Speaker, and I am mindful of your direction at the beginning of this M otion that we do not reflect on a …

5 Dec 2025 House of Assembly

Official Hansard Report - House of Assembly

131 words

That is exactly what I am going to do, if I may. And by the way, if the Government actually thinks any of the things I am about to say are good ideas, please take them. And please put them in that budget in March. You know, there is no monopoly on good ideas. The context here, again, without reflecting …

5 Dec 2025 House of Assembly

Official Hansard Report - House of Assembly

312 words

—$187.5 [million]. I stand corrected by the Premier . Twenty -five per cent of the $750 [million] . We now understand that maybe the number will be larger than $750 [million] . And certain people have said a billion. I do not know if that is accurate or not. But we shall see, a nd indeed, as the Opposition , …

5 Dec 2025 House of Assembly

Official Hansard Report - House of Assembly

69 words

I am sorry . I am hearing some more chirping. But I guess that means they agree with me. So, let's just deal with each of those four categories. And indeed, I did say I would try and offer some solutions, and I will. And again, if they are appealing, please, Government , pick them up and run with them, …

5 Dec 2025 House of Assembly

Official Hansard Report - House of Assembly

526 words

Democracy . Thank you. Thank you. The first is the cost of food. This Government made a significant wrong turn in 2018 when it imposed the sugar tax. One of the best ways to reduce the cost of food on this I sland would be to repeal the sugar tax. And you know what? It is okay to have a …

5 Dec 2025 House of Assembly

Official Hansard Report - House of Assembly

19 words

The Premier has just asked me what I am saying has to do with corporate income tax. [Inaudible interjection]