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Insult to raise seaport tax on Emancipation Day – Resident

- says ancestors must be turning in their graves
Government’s decision to impose an increase on the seaport tax for residents of the Virgin Islands on the anniversary of Emancipation Day is being viewed as an insult, according to one member of the community. Photo: VINO/File
Host of the programme, Richard Courtney de Castro said he was the one who had advocated for the day to be made a holiday but instead it was a brand new tax for residents going to St Thomas, St John and St Croix in neighbouring USVI. Photo: VINO/File
Host of the programme, Richard Courtney de Castro said he was the one who had advocated for the day to be made a holiday but instead it was a brand new tax for residents going to St Thomas, St John and St Croix in neighbouring USVI. Photo: VINO/File
According to the Premier, the tax increase was implemented to allow the Territory to capture lost revenue resulting from the demographic shift over the years of visitors that travel by sea from neighbouring St. Thomas because of insufficient air lift through Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport. Photo: VINO/File
According to the Premier, the tax increase was implemented to allow the Territory to capture lost revenue resulting from the demographic shift over the years of visitors that travel by sea from neighbouring St. Thomas because of insufficient air lift through Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Government’s decision to impose an increase on the seaport tax for residents of the Virgin Islands on the anniversary of Emancipation Day is being viewed as an insult by at least one member of the community.

“I don’t like how the 1st of August, Emancipation Day, they let that tax raise to ten dollars on that day. That was an insult to our ancestors,” the resident said on the Speak Your Mind show aired on August 31, 2013.

“They (ancestors) have to be turning in their graves,” she added.

Host of the programme, Richard Courtney de Castro said he was the one who had advocated for the day to be made a holiday but instead it was a brand new tax for residents going to St Thomas, St John and St Croix in neighbouring USVI.

He argued that those that don’t know their history will have it repeated, “that’s why it was important to know your history,” de Castro said.

“I wonder why when they were giving their speeches under the Sunday Morning Well they didn’t let the people know that that is the day they used to raise the tax,” the caller stated.

“My dear lady, this revolution aint gonna happen overnight and it aint just started,” de Castro chimed in.

Government recently increased the passenger tax by sea for residents to $10 effective August 1, 2013.

“Madam Speaker, this Territory has been feeling the effects of stagnant revenue growth for some time now. As one small step towards addressing this, my colleagues and I have decided to raise the passenger tax now paid by individuals travelling by sea from $5 to $10 for BVI residents and $15 for non residents,” Premier Dr The Hon. D. Orlando Smith announced in the House of Assembly in May of this year.

According to the Premier, the tax increase was implemented to allow the Territory to capture lost revenue resulting from the demographic shift over the years of visitors that travel by sea from neighbouring St. Thomas because of insufficient air lift through Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport.

Premier Smith had then argued that the VI’s passenger tax rate was below that of its neighbours in the region. Anguilla for example, he said, has a departure tax rate of US $20 per adult and $10 per child ages 5 to 11 leaving by sea or air for visitors while residents pay a smaller tax of US $5. “In effect,” he stated, “residents in the BVI will realise a moderate increase on a tax rate that has being constant for almost 20 years.”

Third District Representative Hon. Julian Fraser, RA had seen the tax increase as targeting the poor and said government should not be solving the problems of the economy on the backs of the poor.

"It’s inconceivable at this time given the economic state and the hardship that our people are going through for the Premier to raise the passenger departure tax, and I think what they are doing is targeting those who go to St. Thomas," said Hon. Fraser.

He said that persons go to St. Thomas to fly to the USA because the rates are extremely lower than what has to be paid from the Terrence B. Lettsome International Airport at Beef Island.

"People have relatives in St. Thomas, they go there to visit their relatives, and the government should not be solving the problem of the economy on the backs of these poor people," said Hon. Fraser.

15 Responses to “Insult to raise seaport tax on Emancipation Day – Resident”

  • Yes (02/09/2013, 15:13) Like (3) Dislike (12) Reply
    "Our ancestors will be turning in their graves". How ridiculous, I think they had far more to worry about in their time than we do today with the easy life we lead compared to our ancestors. Why do some people have to link back to the slave days at every opportunity. We must know our past and learn from it but please, sometime you need to give it a test. Protest the departure tax increase I you must, but not in our ancestors name.
  • son of the soil (02/09/2013, 15:22) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    NDP dont care about us it seems.
  • qc (02/09/2013, 15:28) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    well saw
  • Gromyko (02/09/2013, 15:40) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    They dont care.
  • please (02/09/2013, 15:42) Like (8) Dislike (13) Reply
    Please what insult is that .it matters what day it falls on . People complain so darn much here for every thing. Tax is tax . We complain yet she say the boat was loaded. If my brother and sisters living abroad for several years cant afford to pay a departure tax of $15 not having contributed a dime to this economy in years . Best they stay where they are. I am sick of you people.
    • JACK BE STILL (02/09/2013, 19:50) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      One can only pray for this evil backward country to become enlightened to the truth.
  • m$. p (02/09/2013, 15:48) Like (3) Dislike (3) Reply
    but they do not care about we black folks our culture under Myron is gone he just use it as a political tool for reelections
  • $10.00 (02/09/2013, 15:52) Like (12) Dislike (95) Reply
    I do not understand what the problem is? We go away to St. Thomas, Puerto Rico, Miami etc to shop for goods. These goods have tax added to them in the USA (state tax etc), But we still buy them, then we have to pay to get them to Tortola whether by airplane, local ferries or barges, then we have to pay customs. We go through all that hassel because its our CHOICE right. Well pay the departure tax! Thats the cost to go away to shop. I THINK THAT CHEAP! if we choose to incur all that expense TO GO AWAY TO SHOP why we can't pay $10.00? For example: We will go St. Thomas and buy a big 48/96 roll paper towel for $15./$17. and say it cheaper than our local shops that may have it for $18./20. But what we fail to understand is we have to pay taxi, boat, customs and not to mention time spent. And we really think that $15./$17. is cheaper? EDUCATION & ECONOMICS!
  • Don't tell the King a ting... (02/09/2013, 16:54) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    Why not only give the billionaires like Sir Richard Bronson, David Johnson and other free importation building tax? Or only a 50% exemption? Why not tax the financial service? The revenue the Gov't seeks has to fall on the low to middle class all the time?

    I would imagine the Ports project tax partners are not going to pay any taxes for all the building material they import. How much taxes is Bi-water paying?

    Why are tax payers paying a million dollars for a generator for multinational billion dollar company like Bi-Water? So we give Bi-water premium flat land, no import tax on any material, we buy them a generator for a million dollars then they turn around and make millions selling the water back to us.

    What breaks are small business getting from this government? Nothing! Noting!! Not a ting!!!

    Oh I would like to start a business Hon Ministers, I would like you to provide the people's land free of charge
    I would like tax exemption status.
    I would like you to buy with tax payers money the most expensive piece of equipment
    Then I would like a guaranteed Gov't contract for Millions of dollars a year for 10 years
    I am not willing to take too much risk but I demand huge returns

    Gotta love this country...
  • HOLDDEM (02/09/2013, 17:27) Like (4) Dislike (13) Reply
    It does not matter what day the tax was imposed, some moo-moo would have been on here blogging their tail. Think about the one that said "under Myron" culture gone. Well, for your information, "under Myron, there is a strong awareness of culture. Look what he has accomplished, territorial, dress, song, food, flower, tree, food, etc. Where was this before.? Look at the people beaming with pride to wear their Territorial fabric. Have you really seen it with depictions of our culture -- soursop, sugar apple, oleander, turtle dove and the sloop. Go sit down if you don't know what to say from on here chatting piss. Look around and feel the vibe -- Virgin Islanders beaming with Territorial Pride. Praises for Myron. We must be fair.
  • xxxxxxxx (02/09/2013, 19:02) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Well it does not matter the day or the hour for the NDP to tax the poor
  • well saw (02/09/2013, 20:23) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    I would not be coming to Tortola anymore andvi will tell my coworkers not to go there. We co mm e there 3 times a year after this we will stay in the states and visit othet caribbean islands. Tortola brokr so they robbing the public to pay for the government mess up if monies petty contracts. Good bye b v I.
  • run (03/09/2013, 06:26) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Who vex loss, I want 2 speak... This is previews of coming attractions to this nation....


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