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Tax chicken imports to encourage local support-Shaina M. Smith

According to Shaina M. Smith, supermarkets in the Virgin Islands need to make more of an effort to support locally produced goods and the government should consider taxing imported goods such as chicken that can be produced on a local level. Photo: Internet Source
Shaina M. Smith is the Vice President of Business at the BVI Chamber of Commerce and Hotels Association. Photo: VINO/File
Shaina M. Smith is the Vice President of Business at the BVI Chamber of Commerce and Hotels Association. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- Vice President of Business at the BVI Chamber of Commerce and Hotels Association Ms Shaina M. Smith says there is more that can be done from a Government and business owners’ standpoint to encourage self-sustainability in the territory.

Smith said the supermarkets need to make more of an effort to support locally produced goods and the government should consider taxing imported goods such as chicken that can be produced on a local level.

Her remarks come following talks that the territory should move towards becoming more self-sustainable.

Ms Smith was speaking on the programme UMOJA on ZBVI 780 AM on Thursday December 8, 2016.

“Apart from me as a private person, who can buy it directly from the farmer, the supermarket is where they would sell their produce to and are given a platform so to speak, but if we don’t think as a local supermarket that ‘I need to support my local farmer more so than I support my imports’, Government can actually get drastic and tax the imported chicken so that the prices on it now goes up… to encourage them to buy local, to encourage everyone to buy local,” she said.

“We have to start making decisions in our own interest and have no apology about it,” Smith said. “If the government is saying it is serious about business development there are a lot of things that they can do in terms of policies.”

Local entrepreneurs need a ‘holding hand’

Host of the programme, Mr Cromwell Smith aka Edju Enka said local entrepreneurs need a holding hand to maintain and expand their businesses.

“Our business owners not only need the helping hand but they also need a holding hand –training, management skills, accounting skills, negotiating skills, financial management, an organisational structure within the business…so our National Business Bureau if it is going to be serious about developing entrepreneurship; they are going to have to put some money to finance it, put a cadre of human resources in there- Business Managers, Marketing Experts, Masters of Business Administration, Lawyers, Financiers, Accountants to be able to identify market trends, develop entrepreneurs, finance businesses, help to install an organisational structure in the businesses, train the young entrepreneurs and help to manage the businesses so that they can stand on their own two feet,” he pointed out.

57 Responses to “Tax chicken imports to encourage local support-Shaina M. Smith”

  • pat (10/12/2016, 11:52) Like (45) Dislike (0) Reply
    Everybody trying to remain relvant these days
    • no vote (10/12/2016, 14:14) Like (37) Dislike (2) Reply
      you see why my family and I didn't vote she in. Killing the already poor man with TAX. Tax me for sleeping in my bed. well sah
  • Law Abiding citizen (10/12/2016, 12:16) Like (47) Dislike (0) Reply
    You're suggesting to increase the cost of an already expensive consumable? You may as well kill and eat the local chickens plaguing our island.
  • O-Rap (10/12/2016, 12:34) Like (35) Dislike (2) Reply
    Why is the solution always to raise taxes across the board? Ms Smith was running for political office a few years ago and if her message for a better self sustained BVI was to raise taxes on the residents of the territory I wonder if she would have done as well as she did. Taxing an already economically challenged country where making ends- meet is a challenging enough as it is cannot be the answer.
    Did she consider the people that are already struggling to purchase chicken at the price it is? The people that cannot afford to buy it at all? It’s easy for some persons to buy the more expensive” organic” or local grown products that are sometimes 100% more than that of the cheaper alternative, but to most it is impossible to even consider.
    I believe that a better suggestion that Ms Smith could have come up with was to reduce the import taxes on supplies to farmers so that they can LOWER their selling prices. Also providing tax cuts and subsidies such as reduced water, electricity and fuel rates to farmers and providers of local goods will further help with the bottom line. A lower selling price can ultimately be achieved for locally grown organic meat, fruit and vegetables. Then persons my sacrifice and purchase local as the price should be a few cents or dollars more than the imported goods.
  • fake (10/12/2016, 12:37) Like (29) Dislike (5) Reply
    I dont l**k her fake a@@!
    • el pollo loco (11/12/2016, 22:21) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
      whats makes these chickens local,theyre imported n fed imported feed.sharks back on da menu boys!
  • AJ (10/12/2016, 12:39) Like (34) Dislike (0) Reply
    I could understand what u are saying if our local producttivity levels were anywhere close to what the demand is on a regular basis but if u are going to raise taxes or tax chicken and other foods because u think that it will help the local farmers or businesses all are doing is destroying our economy because remember earlier in the year a dozen eggs imported were almost $10 per dozen our local farmers could not even produce enough eggs to offset the short fall and these are things that people in this country continue to push for because of all the wrong reasons
    What u need to push for Ms Smith is price control in this country that is the key to the problems that way people's personal finances can go along way
    Have u ever went to the service station and bought a gallon of gas in a gallon container and relize more than quarter of the gas is missing but the price that is charged is paid but u don't have the gas for the money that is what the people of this country is facing every day with price control that will be no more but again your party is not in favor of price control
    • People (10/12/2016, 15:13) Like (27) Dislike (1) Reply
      Did she ever check the prizes on local chicken in super market I have a family of five an one whole chicken is above 15 dollars how can I support my family of five we they BVI people use to love laughing down island people when the cut up there chicken now she implement that on us well sah
  • Like really (10/12/2016, 13:11) Like (23) Dislike (1) Reply
    So much for encouraging local support. We talk local and shop overseas. Bunch of hypocrites.
  • Sh#ina (10/12/2016, 13:12) Like (38) Dislike (2) Reply
    Time-out. Go sit in the corner and be quiet.
  • ausar (10/12/2016, 14:25) Like (3) Dislike (40) Reply
    Great suggestion, Shaina!

    How do we get our government to understand the concept of "protectionism" in all it's forms?

    Hopefully, the New and Improved VIP candidates will take notice and implement shortly after reelection!
  • See (10/12/2016, 14:37) Like (15) Dislike (1) Reply
    never heard such stupidity . Maybe pruces are too high already all around . Cant local business earn its own way ? There is plenty of duty for protection
  • Stupes (10/12/2016, 14:53) Like (15) Dislike (0) Reply
    god gracious that make sense the local chicken done high already
  • HMMM (10/12/2016, 14:55) Like (28) Dislike (0) Reply
    she talking fowl nonsense
  • Shock. (10/12/2016, 15:01) Like (30) Dislike (1) Reply
    That is a sign of how intelligent our future Politicians are... I'm shock to hear such nonsense. I saw her on TV. Thought she had more sense.
  • Chicken Licken (10/12/2016, 15:13) Like (23) Dislike (0) Reply
    Ms Smith are you daft? You really believe that the few local chicken farmers could supply the entire BVI? Hahaha good one. The local chickens are fantastic, best you can get, but they cannot supply a population of the BVI.
  • Forchristsake (10/12/2016, 15:58) Like (27) Dislike (0) Reply

    I want to vote now. I have some big x x x x x x to make. Even if VIP bring total, eggy or yellow mehson I still voting out them ndp a$$*$. Shaina shut up. All you got people hot.

    • She it so right (10/12/2016, 17:26) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
      It have very good local chicken in the BVI ..... have any of u ever try the local chicken from KnK farm in East if not u all should try and them and then make u all comments...... real just give them a call .......4423000 they also deliver and try them chicken foot,back,back,nick,cut up,legswlegs,wings,drumstick ,Brest and so on. We have very good local chicken......
      • Really (10/12/2016, 20:40) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
        Hello breast
        • Really (12/12/2016, 07:11) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
          Really u know what the person ment ....
          And them really have great quilty chicken u all should try .....support local
      • People (11/12/2016, 11:59) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
        If u know anything about local chicken then buy that chicken from that place an then talk they chicken no good far from local chicken that why it so cheap
      • Same Mess (12/12/2016, 05:47) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
        All this local chicken talk is crap. They are feeding the chickens the same mess that the American chickens are eating. The same chemicals based feed are being fed to them via the American feed that they import, so what is the difference? The fact still remains that you are being fed chemicals. But at least in America, they are controlled by how much they put in feed and inject in the chickens. Who going control them here? They can't even control themselves.
    • LOLouddddd!!!!!! (10/12/2016, 17:48) Like (13) Dislike (0) Reply
      @Forchristsake. Laawd Haave Meerciiii!!! NDP really dead now! With this list of candidates. Wha a wuk!!! Dog Deadand ready to bury for SURE- if we have now reached to this point! LOL! hahahahaha! Mi belli a burst!!!!!!!!!!!
  • street reporter. (10/12/2016, 16:38) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    Who complemented the duty free on chicken. NDP or VIP.? That was a good move.. The small importers are passing the savings on but the Huge importers are not.
    Government need to investigate and make sure the purpose of the duty free products are meeting their objectives...
  • Real Talk (10/12/2016, 17:18) Like (12) Dislike (0) Reply

    Shut up Smith .tax what tax my @$$$ set of wicked people

  • hellboy (10/12/2016, 17:48) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
    communism in the making !!!!!!!!!!!
  • freedumb (10/12/2016, 18:32) Like (4) Dislike (2) Reply
    Support your own as much as you can.

    FYI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ju7-n7wygP0
  • Message to Shaina (10/12/2016, 18:59) Like (52) Dislike (0) Reply

    Hi Shaina,

    I like you personally but let me tell you something ms!

    If the NDP government would stop thieving our tax paying dollars the chickens will be here in abundance from local and international distributors.

    Many call it mismanagement but I call it "THIEVING" because a man can't be bankrupt with his business and in the twinkle of an eye he is a millionaire! HOW MANY CHICKENS DID HE SOLD TO BOUNCE BACK SO FAST? OR IS IT HOW MUCH OF OUR TAX PAYING DOLLARS DID HE THIEF?

    The BVI people know what is going on. They are not as stupid as you may think. Many including you are on FAT cheques from our taxes and you can probably open your own chicken farm but at this point where you all rape the treasury, we can NOT afford to raise another tax on what we mostly eat. Seems like you want us to LITERALLY go more hungry than we are now!

    So please go and sit down with that crazy talk about taxing our chicken because for sure WE the PEOPLE will be AXING the NDP immediately!!!!

  • Citizen (10/12/2016, 19:30) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    I am sure no one wants to see children in this territory go hungry. You know well that the chicken farmers in this territory cannot produce enough chicken for the population. If we have to go down that road it will be a sad day. Are we heading in the same direction as those countries where children are hungry from day to day?
  • farmer (10/12/2016, 19:34) Like (11) Dislike (0) Reply
    The only way bvi farmers will compete with imported food prices is when the green houses are put into use with proper management .we have to import from the baby chicks ,the feed .equipment to raise / slaughter and package them .Yet the overseas farmers sre subsided by their governments .What we need is PRICE CONTROL and CONSUMER PROTECTION AGENCY to avoid importers selling us things that state clearly " NOT FOR SALE IN USA PUERTO RICO. US VIRGIN ISLANDS " Lets make a meaningful start and leave the tax raising SMH
  • wize up (10/12/2016, 19:56) Like (19) Dislike (1) Reply
    Why we have to suffer so(some of us are still hand to mouth)...don't dictate to me how i should spend my few cents to feed my family....if i desire to purchase local chicken or imported chicken that should be 100% my choice(these NDP associates full of communistic tactics in a democratic society)...the foreign investor get most things tax free but the best solutions is tax the rest of us
  • Tallfat (10/12/2016, 20:25) Like (13) Dislike (1) Reply
    is this the kind of solution you wanted to bring to the house Missy. lol! While you sit in on an organization where you cash flow is smooth like the river flowing others are not so lucky. Just recently some persons got increase of minimum wage and what has been the result? Well still can't buy food nor pay bills as the taxes, food and other items has also gone up. What has your government refused to allow riteway sale? Will this not be in the manner of helping all the people in the BVI or are you only catering to some. Anyways am tired of sitting around my feet is itching to stomp RT kinder need to lose a few pounds.
  • Real Talk (10/12/2016, 22:36) Like (17) Dislike (0) Reply
    Trust me no day again am ever voting ndp no day .twice is a mistake not the 3rd time am done
  • Seriously (10/12/2016, 22:52) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    I buy local chicken but the texture of the meat is not the same quality as the imported ones.the local chicken is packaged with feathers all over it. Which one would you buy lady?
  • think about it (11/12/2016, 07:26) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Like she has a hidden agenda against SCATOS, PANCHI and NETOS.
  • Ya me born (11/12/2016, 08:20) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    BVI have it own version of Donald Trump..BVI could never be self sufficient in poultry production...you'll have to import everything to needed to raise these chickens..it'll be to expensive..come on people, lets not fool ourselves..times are hard and imposing a tax on poultry import would only make it harder...look at using more fish and give people incentives to raise more animals which can be used locally and which is healthier. Not the right time to impose taxes at all.
  • Wendy (11/12/2016, 08:25) Like (19) Dislike (0) Reply
    Chicken is being sold like it's already taxed. She needs to tax her mouth for sounding so stupid.
  • Curious (11/12/2016, 08:30) Like (14) Dislike (0) Reply
    one of the thing a person of your stature should have is a brain.. it does not seem like you have one or you are not using it well.. taxing chicken will only drive up the price of the product. the bvi does not have everything in place to meet the demand of basic food commodities.. chicken is a staple food in the bvi.. how will you expect people to eat? you have lost soooo much respect and votes from the public by just making that statement.
  • No Name (11/12/2016, 09:10) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    Little girl, take a back seat!
  • True (11/12/2016, 09:31) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    New Chicken farm say's all its products are already sold so why does the tax need to increase? Perhaps family ties....
  • To who it may concern (11/12/2016, 09:53) Like (12) Dislike (0) Reply

    @ms.smith. do you listen to yourself when you speak or think of these things that you suggest? Prices are already high at the supermarkets and your solution is to increase tax. I'm a consumer and I rather go to stthomas to shop any day. Because of ppl who think that they are so educated, comes up with stupid ideas like this. We are a country that depends on importion of goods, and the only solution I see to this problem is to lower tax down to a 3% on all imported produces, canned, perishables and nonperishables, wheat, meat and all dry goods. This will make we the consumer buy more and the supermarkets will move note volume but when doing so make sure you make and in force laws to protect the comuers from these money hungry stores. That one solution but theirs more , but raising tax or finding a new ways to tax people who can barely make ends meet is the way to go.

  • chicken licking (11/12/2016, 10:06) Like (15) Dislike (0) Reply
    Girl don't ever mess with people chicken- or else you and your NDP gang will get an immediate chicken licking out the election gate.
  • Hmm (11/12/2016, 10:13) Like (12) Dislike (1) Reply
    While you're putting out that idea Ms Smith why not consider to tax the air that we breathe as well?
  • yellow tail (11/12/2016, 10:16) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
    fish buttered on both sides.
  • lmao (11/12/2016, 12:13) Like (19) Dislike (0) Reply
    We should also make importation of COMMON SENSE and brain parts duty free so we wont have to listen to or read bullshit such as this. Really?
  • Liberated (11/12/2016, 17:44) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    she still cannot beat Andrew Fahie
  • Hmmm. wake up. (11/12/2016, 20:04) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    We can't even pull off a farmers week to promote and market and sell local produce, meat and Chicken. Etc. .Hahahaha.. Sheena you sleeping.. You will make more sense if you ask for the failing Minister who are failing and discouraging the farmers to be sacked..
  • Aspiring Rastaman (11/12/2016, 20:22) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    Bless up. Fire bun fowl, fire bun flight, fire bun a deaders. We all going vegan soon. SMH while SMND(shake my head while shaking my natty dreads).
  • Yes (11/12/2016, 23:14) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    What load of fowl manure this pipsqueek upstart wannabee talking? Why doesn't she pop the NDP money tit out of her mouth and try to run a real business in the real world instead of chattong froth anout raising taxes? Not relevant please sit your tail back down.
  • E. Leonard (12/12/2016, 03:42) Like (15) Dislike (0) Reply
    Clearly, there are two basic needs/issues here. First, the VI needs to produce as much food as it practically can locally to 1)reduce food import bill, and 2)enhance food security posture. Secondly, spending money locally has a multiplier effect on the economy, i.e., generates income, creates/boosts employment, sustain business operations, grows the economy......etc. Further, a basic tenet for a country is to specialize/produce what it does well and trade for the rest. Moreover, countries produce what they have either 1) absolute advantage or 2) comparative advantage (produce at the least opportunity cost) in.

    Does the VI have either an absolute or comparative advantage in poultry production over say the US? If no, it may make economic sense to import poultry. Would raising duty on imported poultry lower the sale price? Does local producers have the capacity to consistently meet the growing demand? Would lowering duties on poultry production related products lower the sale price? Would the sale price be cheaper than imported chicken? How would government revenues be impacted with reduced duty?

    Undoubtedly, there are competitive challenges for local producers. Local producers will need to differentiated themselves and compete on more than price. They can compete on 1)organic, 2)freshness.....etc. What can be done to narrow the competitive gap? Government can set up an incubator for local producers training, lower import duty on poultry products, construct poultry farms on Crown land and leased to select producers, lower income tax, if any, on profit from poultry farm...........etc.

    Another challenge for local producers is convincing local consumers that local poultry is of at
    least equal quality to imported poultry. Additionally, producers will have to improve the packaging and marketing of their products.

    Moreover, government will have to establish poultry production standards and an establish agency or office to monitor and administer adherence to the standards. Minimum licensing requirements will have to be established. All these and other costs will have to be considered.
    • RealPol (12/12/2016, 22:16) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
      @E. Leonard, deep but mek sense. Thought it not just take building some chicken coops to raise chicken for eggs and parts. But apparently it takes much more. It takes economics, trade, finance, facilities, marketing, packaging, land, local spending, import......etc. Was of the opinion that local production of products should be cheaper than imports. But not necessarily. Ting te discuss.
  • jokers (12/12/2016, 08:21) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    if the islands use 1000 lbs of wings a month can the locals farm produce that?
  • pet (12/12/2016, 11:37) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    Shenia go sit down. Chicken already duty free and look at the price? Political suicide is what you are practicing.
  • Afu (12/12/2016, 14:33) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    Can I have a piece of Chocolate Cake please?
  • THRUSHES (13/12/2016, 03:08) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    CAN ANYBODY TELL ME WHAT I VALUE ON THE SHELF RIGHT NOW?

    WE THE THRUSHES AND ALLIES ARE PLANNING TO RETURN HOME TO THE BVI ONCE YOU THE PUBLIC GET RID OF THE NDP AND CRONIES!
  • Argh (13/12/2016, 16:20) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    She good in she head?


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