The Parliament of Dominica on Wednesday approved an Amendment to the Excise Tax in order to benefit taxi operators.
“So in this case Mr. Speaker, the taxi operators will receive 28 percent exemption of the excise tax on top of the already existing policy of the government of the waiver of the import duties on these vehicles for tourism purposes,” Prime Minister Roosevelt while speaking on the measure in Parliament.
He continued, “You are talking about a 68 percent reduction in the duties…”
According to the prime minister, transportation is a major part of the consideration of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), “and so we look forward to taking advantage of this.”
“What will happen now, they are entitled to two vehicles during the period of 5 years and they will be exempted from the excise tax of 28 percent and the import duty on a luxury vehicle which is about 40 percent, ” he explained. “This is a major investment.”
Prime Minister Skerrit said this is actually money that the government is keeping in the pockets of the local investors, “because otherwise they would have to pay that to the government.”
“So this is the government almost literally taking money and telling the operators to hold it,” he noted. “You can imagine somebody buying a vehicle for $150,000 and have to pay the excise tax and the import duties…,”
Is this a latest pic of Roosevelt skerrit or is it a pic as to how he’ll look in the next 5-10yrs? Someone please tell me because I do not know. Pic does not look authentic. Reminds me a voodoo priest in Grand Bayon, Haiti. On the other hand those so called ministers have no idea what they are legislating.
The taxi business is practically dead at this moment in time. How many taxi owners who stand to benefit from this initiative is anyone’s guess.
There is an urgent need to diversify the economy. Tourism is much too fickle to rely so heavily on it. There are too many factors out of our control that could adversely affect this industry and bring it to it’s knees.
My brother taxi people alone man?? What bout us ????? Buying a bloody Toya vitz for 1000 us dollars and when it reach on Port u have to 3 times the amount to clear it.. nonsense that boss.. what rubbish is that .. on Port alone allu want to mashup poor people .. what kia country that
This makes no sense. The government is adding tax on home owners with rental apartments. Most people with rental apartments are paying a mortgage. That’s adding pressure to existing pressure. The money from the rent would most likely be the second income and maybe just to block a hole.
At the same time building home for people for free. (not saying it is bad) but what is bad is adding pressure to the middle class people.
They’re removing tax for the taxi operators while replacing it on home owners.
But please be guided, the persons renting the apartment will suck salt.
First of all this is a good incentive from the Government, I want to say that first. However, just think about the level of tax if a whole 68% can be taken off. Effectively this is merely half of the taxes persons pay for importing vehicles into Dominica.
Is that not at least an indication that the level of taxation in that country is prohibitive and therefore detrimental to any kind of investment?
If the government wants to move that country forward, they need to continue to drop the taxes and incentivize more persons to participate in building the economy.
Next to reconsider is the useless, senseless VAT.
only for taxi operators. I hope is CERTIFIED taxi operators, and not overnight taxi.
It’s for all taxi operators which are in possession of the red party bible.
Watch and see who is going to bring in luxury vehicle to drive around. I bet it will not be taxi driver. If taxi drivers can afford vehicle worth 150k then i do not know why people go looking for jobs with the government.
Is there a copy of this new tax bill available for viewing online? Also is this tax ‘relieve’ only for taxi operators?
Hear nonsense. Now will these taxi and bus drivers lower their fares? Since they paying less for bus ? What tourist and cruise ship will they be catering to if we have no visitors? Why not allow people who have provate vehicles a time when they too can import a better vehicle instead of having to always look for an older model because once all the taxes are added its too expensive. Our environment is riddles with older models of vehicles. where do they go once they are not drivable? My point is if we could afford better vehicles, we would purchase them. Not just bus driver alone that should be allowed to.