Gov’t extends waiver on import duties for building material

Cabinet has taken a decision to extend the waiver of import duties on a ‘wide range of building material,’ Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has announced.

The extension will last until June and could be extended further an assessment, he said on state-owned DBS Radio on Friday morning.

“The Cabinet took a decision on Tuesday to extend the period for the setting aside of the import duties,” the Prime Minister said. “So we have extended the waiver on import duties to June on a wide range of building material.”

In November last year, the government announced that it was waiving import duties on a number of items due to the passage of Hurricane Maria. The waiver was for six months in the first instance.

Skerrit gave the rationale for extending the waiver.

“We recognize that in many instances some insurance companies would have been slow or delayed in making payments to some of the clients,” he stated. “So a number of people are now receiving their checks and we felt it was necessary to give them an opportunity to benefit from the waiver of import duty.”

He said the same goes for the private sector which rebuilding businesses after the hurricane.

“We felt that it would be good to extend the import duties to allow them to bring material at a reduced rate,” he said.

The Prime Minister noted that the move means loss of revenue for the treasury “but we believe that in the circumstances it is the right decision.”

The extension means that the waiver will be for a total of nine and it could be extended.

“We will assess it when we get to June to see whether there is a need to have it extended further,” Skerrit remarked.

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32 Comments

  1. Ex Pat Maria Survivor
    March 25, 2018

    Duty and VAT need to be extended at least until the end of the year. There needs to be a list available for the public and the Customs Officers that clearly lists what is. I brought building supplies in on the ferry, a plane and on Tropical. All similar goods. Different fee or no fee charged at each port of entry. No consistency. Then I also brought in school supplies and relief items for schools and was told items were not on the “list” and what duty could I afford to pay by a Custom Officer! I’ve brought school supplies in for 13 years and never had duty or VAT. Everyone needs to be on the same page.

  2. Real Talk
    March 25, 2018

    All what the workers can do is talk, talk, talk. If the Workers Party leaders and people was engaging in helping the communities, reaching out to the people and showing care and support, then they have a chance. But they are useless, selfish leaders who’s aim is to spew hate and devising evil to take Skerrit down. As the Parl Rep, you suppose to come through to do all you can to help the people, actual work. What really is the point of this so called “Workers Party”? It is true people would like t see a different face that brings more growth in the country, but for sure Linton and the workers party would only bring hell and high waters upon us Dominicans if they were to take over. Great work Skerrit.

  3. March 25, 2018

    This decision is a wonderful thing for the citizens of Dominica as strive to re-build their homes. One of the things that makes government strong s the thoughts of thinking of the citizens and not for themselves only.
    I glad that the Prime Minister took the initiative steps to view the needs of the country and come to this decision. However, their are some that will think the Prime Minister did this for political reason and don’t agree with his decision, but to me that’s alright. In my opinion nothing that government do will satisfied all the people all the time, That what politics comes with, I say to the Prime Minister until every house in Dominica has a roof and the country return to its normal function there should not be any tariff on any house materials. I wish all Dominicans well as they endeavor to move forward in the re-building of their country, may God keep and bless Dominica and all it’s people Jesus name.

  4. WhatAmIReading
    March 24, 2018

    Mad move, we need the tax to pay people like the port workers and other services. The country cannot function without tax. I know this would negatively effect almost everyone else but people like the port workers need a better pay. How docu expect them to work with such a small salary.
    SKERRIT MUST go
    SKERRIT MUST go

  5. SMH
    March 24, 2018

    Why r there not a waiver on vehicles

  6. UDOHREADYET
    March 24, 2018

    THANK YOU FOR UNDERSTANDING!!!

  7. March 23, 2018

    They the LABOUR party is moving building materials at night to there favorite people , and the rest will be distributed before the election to gain political votes so dominica will be stuck with Skerro and his cronies for an other four years , when are we gonna wake up from the deep slumber? skerritt must go.

    • NUWP
      March 24, 2018

      Why don’t you report it to the police if you were there and you say it? ????? boy some people can make them self look foolish eh.

      But it’s a nice way to accept defeat early.

      The day will come when you all will change all you strategy and wake and realise we no longer live in the politics of the 70’s of propaganda

      Moden times with technology at our fingertips

      But again when you have a 66 years old man who was expelled from school and made no attempt to advance his education given his eloquence he inherited from his mom and dad as your leader what do you expect?

      But that’s for having him

      Makes our job easier

  8. looking
    March 23, 2018

    While i applaud the extension, we need a more thorough process. The local buyers (the poorer more vulnerable) are still asked to pay VAT when making purchases from suppliers. They too should benefit. Additionally who is monitoring that this is properly implemented? Please let the poor man benefit too and not only those who can afford to import their stocks.

    • Da Girl
      March 26, 2018

      I think the Vat is still payable.

  9. anonymous2
    March 23, 2018

    Try a 2 yr. waiver at the minimum and govt. should be subsidizing it out of Skerritt’s pocket.

    • March 23, 2018

      Quite idiotic. This stupid politics is taking us nowhere.

  10. Me that Say
    March 23, 2018

    simple break down of how it was after the storm in terms of taxes, as to how it will be now.
    ENS is environmental surcharge, CSC is Customs service charge and VAT is Value added tax
    After the storm: Import Duty-Nil
    ENS – 1.5%
    CSC- 4%
    Vat- Nil
    Total duties: 5.5%

    Continuation for another 3 Months will be :
    Import duty-Nil
    ENS-1.5%
    CSC-4%
    Vat-15%
    Total duties: 21.33% because the VAT is compounded.

  11. Me that Say
    March 23, 2018

    Dominicans are acting like real dummies……You need to read more and not fall for every single lie that comes from Mr. Skerrit rotten mouth. Building material was 5.5% after the storm, All you PM saying to the nation he extending it for another 3 months but he not telling all you that the 15% VAT will now be added to the materials including foodstuff and clothing etc. Dominicans need to get the info correctly don’t be fools to them politicians read and understand pls I am begging the nation to read more and obtain all you own facts cause them so call media houses we have in Dominica is a waste of time. Is not all the time Q95 will be able to get the truth and come break for you guys.

    • March 23, 2018

      I did not hear Skeritt say that VAT would be waived, he said import duties, so what ignorance are you writing.

      • Me that say
        March 25, 2018

        stop being a puppet to them politicians and read the English language properly. When the PM say it is a extension from the previous 6 months, what you think people will understand by that? I think Dominicans will think that the duties at Customs will be the same as it was right after the storm and the fact that the PM saying people have to rebuild their houses and so on makes it even more sick, i mean who does that…….and when people like you come try to make the PM look like he can do or say no wrong is just heart breaking. Everyday i feel sorry for my people as i am on the ground seeing it for my self and the place just going to hell in a hand basket.

    • May 22, 2018

      Learn to read and understand don’t imply your own meaning and state it as fact. Try to put aside your political bias and show us in this article where Skeritt said vat would be waived.

  12. Wrong is wrong
    March 23, 2018

    I thank the pm for taking the advice of Hon. Lennox Linton to extend duty-free on building materials. Mr Linton has been preaching that for a while . The only thing is that decision should have been taken at the parliament by parliamentarians instead of cabinet. Cabinet shows partisan and what we need at this time is by partisan

    • March 23, 2018

      You are totally brainwashed!! Parliament can take no decision to waive duties that is the function of government. Parliament makes laws…….

  13. LaPlaine Observer
    March 23, 2018

    I think this is a good move but we must see to it that the businesses who receives the same benefits, are passing the reduced rate to the buyers of these materials and not taking advantage of our people.

    • Annon
      March 26, 2018

      6 or….half dozen, your pick.

  14. Dora
    March 23, 2018

    Thank you Mr. Prime Minister. Who JAH bless …. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO MAN CURSE!!

    • Waiting on God
      March 23, 2018

      Hon.Lennox that gave the advice you should be thanking Hon.Lennox Linton….stop your hate

      • Sot
        March 26, 2018

        Oh please. It was already being considered. Lennox just open his mouth at the opportune time so his dummies will think it all came from him.

  15. Dominican Passports
    March 23, 2018

    Good job :wink:

    • Dora
      March 23, 2018

      I like your name though “Dominican Passports”. Of all the nick names one could come up with…good job. lol :)

  16. KID ON THE BLOCK
    March 23, 2018

    Waiver on a ” wide range” of building materials. Fine and that must be complimented for; but I need some clarification on that part… WIDE RANGE.. Can examples be given.? Because at that moment when your property(house) is completely destroyed, whatever you sort to purchase in connection to building bringing back the house to what it use to be should be considered. Example lighting fixtures, dinning and kitchen and bedroom contents, would that be considered ? Some of those stuff are so expense here in D A, ONE has the option of purchasing them out of country..

    • March 23, 2018

      KID ON THE BLOCK, I think that someone has impersonated you, eh Because that passage above does not sound like your thoughts at all, at all, at all! But I stand to be corrected!

  17. Ibo France
    March 23, 2018

    I applaud this decision for it is a welcomed gesture as DLP, UWP and DFP supporters would be able to benefit . No criticism here on this one. Good!

    • KID ON THE BLOCK
      March 23, 2018

      Bro don’t expect to get any thumps up from the UWP supporters.

      • March 23, 2018

        This kid is all over the place , Once it has to do with politics. I hope you’re getting a good Stipend for you being all over the post :mrgreen:

      • KID ON THE BLOCK
        March 23, 2018

        Born in DA, How comes you know that I am all over the place?
        Ain’t you doing the same why you know that I am all over the place?
        Boss take the beam off your eyes before you tell others of theirs.

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