It is expected that by the end of this month, Dominicans will be seeing a decrease in their electricity bills due to a fiscal measure contained in the 2022-2023 national budget which, effective August 1, 2022, increased the number of Value Added Tax (VAT) free units from 100Kwh to 150 kWh of electrical energy provided by DOMLEC to domestic consumers per billing period.
Acknowledging that the rising price of fuel has contributed sharply to the increase in electricity bills, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit made the announcement during his national budget address recently and noted that with effect from that date, there will be no VAT on fuel surcharge which forms part of DOMLEC Bills.
According to the Prime Minister, who is also the Minister of Finance, the measures will be applied to all categories of consumers, namely: domestic, commercial, industrial, Government and hotels.
“Currently, I have been advised that this measure will benefit the 14,534 domestic customers whose consumptions are currently above 100 units,” he said. “Mr. Speaker, this measure will assist all of DOMLEC’s customers except those who are already receiving the VAT-free service.”
It was revealed that DOMLEC is working on recommissioning the PADU Hydro Plant which has been out of operation since Hurricane Maria, and it is expected that the plant, which will provide further relief by reducing the amount of diesel-generated electricity, thereby reducing the fuel surcharge, is expected to be operational by November 2022.
According to the Prime Minister, in May, to further address the rising cost of fuel caused by the Russia-Ukraine War, the authorities began granting subsidies on the import of diesel and gasoline.
“Notwithstanding these subsidies, this Government remains concerned [about] the impact of the increased fuel prices on the people who provide transport services, for example, our bus, taxi, and truck owners,” he said.
As such, the government will grant a 50 percent reduction in the motor vehicle licenses effective August 1, 2022, to July 31, 2023, on public service vehicles used for carrying passengers, for example, taxis and public buses and trucks, and dumpers available for hire.
“The government will also discontinue the Highway Maintenance Levy which was imposed in September 2015, also effective August 1, 2022. The discontinuation of the Levy will result in savings of $100 for owners of private vehicles and $150 for owners of commercial vehicles, truckers, dumpers, and trailers” the PM stated.
“Therefore Mr. Speaker, between these two measures, a minibus owner who currently pays $880- that is, $730 for motor vehicle licences and $150 for Highway Levy – will pay $365.00 on renewals between August 1, 2022, and July 31, 2023, thereby saving $515 over the next year, and $150 thereafter. The savings are much higher for the large truck drivers and dumpers,” he added
Skerrit also announced that the maximum $10,000 grants to first-time home buyers and builders which started in September 2020, will continue this year. An amount of $1 million has been allocated for this program.
Also, effective November 1, 2022, the government will make permanent the reduction in fees on the transfer on purchase of land; the public will see a change in the stamp duty which has been reduced to 2 percent, judicial fee 1 percent, assurance fund 1 percent. The fee to lawyers will be decreased to a maximum of 2 ½ percent as well as the fees payable by the seller of the land will remain at 2 ½ percent.
Individuals who’ve also lost their certificates of titles during Hurricane Maria and are having difficulty in obtaining a replacement title due to the high cost, will, as of August 1, 2022, only be required to pay to the Government the lesser of the current fees or $5,000.
The Prime Minister further disclosed to the nation that on September 1, 2022, the government will remove all duties, taxes, levies, and charges on all pleasure crafts—and engines of pleasure crafts, imported into Dominica. On the same date, the creation of a small ship’s registry will be opened to small pleasure boats up to 75 feet long at a cost of US$250 for one year or US$650 for three years.
The decrease in the land transfer fees is meant to benefit the rich pals of the cabal. We need more decreases which will benefit the masses. So how about the putting on stream the electricity derived from the geothermal witch-hunt. This would really make a serious dent in the high electric prices in the country. We’ve waited long enough and spent too much already for the pie-in the sky. The Doctor Vince Henderson and the double doctorate dude don’t seem to be good at numbers.
Poverty,this jacka don’t live in Dominica,and probably not been to Dominica in more than 20 years.Very few people pay rent in Dominica,they own their own home.Dominicans prefers imported foods,but they can live on locally grown agricultural produce.Mellons,cucumbers,corn ,plantain,pineapples.dasheen,fish,pork,chicken,beef and more is available everyday of the week.The street people in Dominica live on baked chicken,Mac an cheese and ham or chicken burgers,and they live on the streets because the choose to do so.Several of them will refuse a dollar from anybody.Our ladies are the best,expensively and sexily dressed with the latest and most expensive outfits,with finger nails and toe nails to match.Today most Dominican women can drive,and several own their own vehicle.According to the police dept.there is more than 37,000 registered vehicles out of a population of 72,737.Only an uninformed,babbling prodigal ahole will mention poverty when talking about the situation in Dominica.
Who are you talking to or are you mumbling to yourself. By the way, your PM is one of the ‘few’ that doesn’t own the house he is living in. I wonder why. Isn’t he paid enough? Why does the treasury have to pay 64,000 for your CM to live in a palace at our expense. Why?
What about people who want to bring a vehicle to Dominica taxing system to high please address for us
Once again, the CM gives the people a few crumbs and his supporters are braying. When will Dominicans learn?
This illegitimate autocracy has burdened the working poor with a plentitude of regressive taxes and wanton fees. No wonder there is so much poverty in the country.
This is just a tax and spend regime. The economy is strictly based on passport sales, debilitating taxes and annoying fees.
If things continue under this present finance minister who has no clue about financial matters, Dominica will eventual end up into a dark abyss.
The fact is this. Roosevelt, with the assistance of his dubious characters, has sentenced the Dominican people to a lifetime of deprivation and excruciating pain.
Ok. I am like some commenters now. DNO stop publishing wholesale what the government preaches and do some analysis. When the government makes all these changes, there must be revenue lost. Has this been reported? How will this lost revenue be replaced? Or is that there is no need for this source of revenue anymore?
“…the government will remove all duties, taxes, levies and charges on all pleasure crafts—and engines of pleasure crafts, imported into Dominica…. How many cases of this do we have in Da?
Got your point. Maybe they got called by or about someone that felt they need more, although already benefitting along with the rest of us, so they had to throw this one in for them, maybe?
While we’re on the subject, can someone from DOMLEC please fix the low voltage issue in Church street, Grand Savannah,Salisbury !!!
How is it that yours truly is both the PM and minister of Finance? Too much room there for possibly diverting money for self enrichment, the peoples money. The Finance Minister should be a separate individual in the Treasury not yours truly. That’s why he will never tell Dominicans where all the money is going since he controls it and if some money comes up missing he controls the investigation. Who appointed him Minister of Finance, himself?
I waiting fir de low elec bill. I waiting.