Government of Antigua, I deem it fit to share with the General Mass what the Government could implement and can make happen…
Many times I have heard from the yachting sector via Facebook that they get 100% duty-free items for their yachts, even unnecessary ones like a scaffolding pod, which is not necessary to a certain extent because they are not on the hard, only in the water 90% of the season.
I am saying this from my point of view: rather than imposing a 2% tax on the people of A&B, why not implement the 2% on Yacht In Transit Yachting Agents that bring all these items for the superyachts totally duty-free?
In that way, we can bolster our economy in the right direction.
At the same time, I know the PM might dismiss this idea, citing the six-month season and questioning what happens in the other six months.
Well, this is for the brightest bulb in the Cabinet to figure out. If you ask me how this is possible, I would suggest curtailing the tax movement while we are in full swing of the season of mega yachts.
We, the people, could be exempt from the 2% during this time, and when it hits the slow season, we could pay 1% while yachts are out of our waters.
However, bear in mind that not all internationally registered yachts leave Antigua unless there is a threat lurking in the ports.
In summary, if we shift the 2% tax to the yachting industry, we can pay 1% in the off-season.
The other 1% could make up the 2% in the on-season from just yachts and superyachts alone.
I believe that this move will be a windfall for the people of A&B. Thank you.
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It’s a pity that the idiot who wrote this commentary did not sign a year. Is that person aware that our main competitor is St. Maarten a totally duty free port? The yachts will simply go there to do all their maintenance and minor repair work and many, many Antiguans who earn a living painting, varnishing, making and repairing sails, welding etc would be out of work and unable to feed their families. Also with the yachts not here no fuel sales for WIOC, no rented cars, restaurants would be empty. In other words we can’t have it both ways. We give a little to get alot. The answer to increasing government revenue is to bring in some real professionals to go after those who are not paying taxes. The Inland Revenue department needs a shake up.
They dare not touch the untouchables, the entitled ones who don’t need no duty free concessions with all the smuggling that they’re involved in.
@OTTO,
You obviously know nothing about skills development, microeconomics, nor the history of the yachting industry in Antigua and Barbuda. A history that began with the Nicholsons and Pierce Hubbard followed by Stephenson and Friends of Nelson Dockyard.
Likewise, you seem to know little of the factors why Saint Marteen Yachts goes to Saint Maarten in large number as opposed to Antigua.
Antigua competition for English speaking crews is the BVI, not Saint Maartin. The EU Europeans are primarily those who goes Saint Maarten with over 10 marinas with haul out facilities for yachts up to 120 feet in length; and no language challenges and lots of marinas to cruise into some with 45 feet beams.
Some of the skills of specialty painting, varnishing, making and repairing sails, welding etc. came out of Antigua State College.
Others such as varnishing, and specialty painting were nurtured by enterprising entrepreneurs. Many of those key entrepreneurs migrated and took their skills elsewhere.
The ownership of these enterprises except for the sailmaker are economic migrants known as ex-patriates remaining jobs. Otherwise, local end up in the maintenance and minor repair work are low wage jobs. Saint Maartin wages are 2.5 higher.
The writer suggested a taxing scheme that is hybrid progressive tax rather than a the regressive ABST.
Rather than worrying about low wage jobs, think about the factors that enabled the Paul Deeth to own The Admirals Inn at the Nelson Dockyard.
Don’t relegate us to low wage jobs with your stupidity. Aspire to policies that do not take from the poor and give to the rich. Thats what this Opinion article was all about.
ANR
You really should not publish this rubbish like this, especially when the author does not use his given name. What utter gibberish.
Gaston Browne did say,he was going to borrow Antigua and Barbuda out of Debt. I have asked him for that mathematical formula.I would like to use it to enriched myself.Now he would be taxing the people from the cradle to their graves.What went wrong,his formula is flawed.
yes tax them and drive them away from antigua, great idea lol ! entire english harbour lives of those yachts, it brings millions of revenue to the economy. Tax their imports and they stay in saint maarten – that’s anyways cheaper and doesn’t have roads with potholes deep as the ocean
@foriengner,
Today’s Grifters are “Foreigners” like you. Your yachts are like campers. You drift from your hometown until you find a yobo camp like English Harbour. The potholes are partially a result a result of your tax evasion presence.
It’s unfortunate that many of the locals don’t appreciate your lifestyle.
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