Vehicle Imports Double, Over 4000 cars processed at Port in Antigua

1. Are vehicle imports a driver of growth for Antigua or Korea/japan

   • Both ways

     • @Max, what percentage of those vehicles(cars) bought and outside of Antigua, then brought into Antigua are used for business purposes vs private use?
       Government taxes, fees, Gas stations to mechanics to auto parts get work and money so yes, both sides make money.
       On the other hand, looking ahead, the government is planning to advance the use electric vehicles, what percentage, of those vehicles were electric vehicles? Or, will Antigua become the Capital of Asian antiquities, that are not only damaging/polluting the air, but once our minuscule landfills and waste disposal sites are contaminated, then the flora and fauna(which Our PM Gaston have being begging monies to save from pass indescressions, by others of the fossil industries, you know, the Climate Change/Global Warming Bandwagon, Green Deal Medium/Media); again, once a large percentage of those vehicles and the damage which they would’ve caused, to the flora and fauna which we’re desperately trying to save now.

       Yes! Yeah! Yea! Yes! Transportation is needed, and a necessity in today’s HUEman development(s). However, the Nations Transportation Plans, Developments and Advancements, MUST be generated with and within a well designed, flexible, innovative matrix, that best suits our environment and future.

       Everything is for Everyone, Everyone is NOT for Everything!

       Jumbee_Picknee aka Ras Smood
       De ‘ole Dutty Peg🦶🏿Garrat_Bastard

       Vere C. Edwards

   • You are correct all the foriegn exchange just bleed out of the economy

     • I was just about to say the amount of cash leaving the country is worrying. For an economy to be great, it must encourage the local cash to circulate much more in that economy.

       • And since our manufacturing industry is almost none existing we have no choice. Everything is imported. Even most of our foods. But the fact that we have to money to purchase all these items speaks volumes.

         • @From The Sideline aka Mrs. Condescending…the reason for the lack of continued manufacturing, especially, in the Agricultural Industry, in the CARIBBEAN, as it was during the days when the #TALLY_STICK was steadily and stealthily building EUROPES empty treasuries, is PPP – Piss Poor Planning and PPM – Piss Poor Management of our CARRIBEAN RESOURCES.

           Remember, this isn’t phase by Vere C. Edwards…
           “we are individually BIG, but COLLECTIVELY SMALL!” This is the Caribbean/CARICOM of today.

           The question(s) to you, Mrs. Condescending…
           A…think pollution, from the air to the earth to the sea of Our fragile environment, the one and same which Gaston is begging monies from the Global Elitist who’re responsible for most of the damages done to SIDS! Therefore, why on one foot the ABLP is encouraging the Green Technology’s(plans to convert the entire government fleet of a large percentage of it, to Electric), then allow thousands of soon to be relics in the transportation industry?

           B…can our minuscule and inadequate garbage disposal sites, and the communities handle these soon to be garbage for dumping?
           The Communities in certain areas are littered with unwanted vehicles! Where are the recycling efforts in the future planning of Our fragile flora and fauna?

           Think roads, they’re poorly constructed and maintained today. The ironic thing, about our roads, those roads constructed decades ago(especially those made by the British – concrete roads) stood for so long, versus those being built today with more advances in the equipments, materials and technology’s.

           Here’s a secret…Montserrat has a #LEMON, and once harvested properly can produce the sweetest #LEMONADE, to drink which riding on our roads!

           Except for the astronomical increases in the Prostitution, Human Trafficking, Servitude Industry’s Our CARRIBEAN MANUFACTURING is woefully lacking in many regards, compared to what we actually CONSUME.

           The CARRIBEAN, as evident by recent statement(s) by St. Kitts PM, comparing POWERHOUSE STATUS, of Antigua, Barbuda & REDONDA to St. Kitts and Nevis is exactly why,
           “we are INDIVIDUALLY big; yet, collectively SMALL.

           Jumbee_Picknee aka Ras Smood
           De ‘ole Dutty Peg🦶🏿Garrat_Bastard

           Vere C. Edwards

2. I can remember as a young boy growing up under the UPP government, owning a vehicle seem very much impossible, my parents use to try so hard to own a vehicle. Thank God for the ABLP government with helping Antiguan with duty-free waver so its much easier for everyone to own a imported vehicle. Keep up the great work Mr. Pm

   • @ Importer, why own a vehicle that depreciates as soon as you drive it off the forecourt,

     However, when the UPP introduced entrepreneurship and business opportunities that encourages self employment and self reliance around the same time, why didn’t you mention this financial advantage as well?

     DO YOU LIVE IN A CAR???

3. The fact is the numbers surge because it was an election year and people got alot of duty free..now we are broke so hence increase in sales tax to make up for the goveaway

   • So true@

4. It is easy to see why persons have turned to purchasing used vehicles overseas because the cost of new vehicles are so high. So we can expect this trend to continue. What we have not been told, is the amount of citizens that have fallen victims to online vehicle scams. Many persons here have wired monies abroad to companies that they thought were legitimate companies selling used vehicle only to be scammed, thereby losing thousands of dollars. Victims include bus operators, taxi drivers, prominent business people downtown, farmers and ordinary citizens. Government might wish to regulate this online vehicle purchase and save citizens from themselves and the loses that many have endured over the years.

5. Little Antigua has already too many cars, we have mornings and lunch time and evenings TRAFFIC JAMS.
   The solution: Allow cars with even number plates every second day and cars with odd number plates every other day. This has worked in many countries of the world. Food for thought.
   Dr. Peter

6. 4000 vehicles to add to the stock already on the island is really a lot.

   I believe it will be more frustrating driving about the island.

   In any event let’s just do our best to be carful on the streets that we have left.

7. Are there any plans to deal with the non running abandoned wrecks that litter this beautiful island ?

8. Come on. Look at poor people who are trying. .. The car dealers companies …the price for purchasing a vehicle in Antigua is ridiculous that only the rich man can afford… I mean those who were born with a gold spoon in their mouths … Let’s draw a reference… Have good deals now and then etc… you rich and have money and you will die and leave all that. Who are we as human beings???? We gone die leave everything but I think these car dealer ships can do alot better. We gone borrow loan to try get a car at Harney or Hadeed then struggle to pay 800 or 1000 dollars a month like the salary here met our needs. Tax gone up… Groceries gone up….Social Security and Medical Benefit gone up….What benefit do the poor people really have??? But funny thing salary ain’t raising. Gtf outta here … Y’all better see what’s going on around us. And do remember life is short. I never hear only those that rich will live up to 100. So y’all go ahead…

9. Years ago, when a young man started working, the first thing he sought to buy was a piece of land to build a house in the future. Now all they seem to want is a vitz to crash all over the place and they for the most part live in a shack in the ghetto. A car does not increase in value and after a few years you need a new one. Instead of encouraging the young men to waste their money on cars, like Gaston did during the bi-election in St.Mary’s south, he should increase the duty on them and encourage young people to save their money. All that is happening now is that the car dealerships are getting rich, a lot of foreign exchange is leaving the country and all poor people own is a car.

   • The public transport system in Antigua has always been inefficient. Some jobs say having a vehicle is a must. To get a bus to Coolidge from Clare Hall, you’ll have to go to East Bus Station first because the bus does not come through the neighbourhood. You said young people should “save their money” but save their money from the job they can’t get to? Does this make sense to you? It’s PROVEN the country is getting hotter. Walking now versus back in the day is different. Have you heard of COVID? It brought to light the many concerns of taking public transport. Having a vehicle may not increase a person’s assets but it can improve a person’s quality of life. Maybe if we had proper bus systems that dared to run after 7 we would not be in this predicament.

     • Once a poor person buys an automobile, he can never acquire a house. After five years, he needs a new car.
       Cars are not cheap to maintain. Walking is good exercise, but people don’t want to walk anymore.
       Does the Coolidge bus run on Old Parham Road? Wear a mask.

   • “… Instead of encouraging the young men to waste their money on cars like Gaston did during the bi-election […] and encourage young people to save their money …”

     My point exactly @ Think about it.

     I witnessed many of my friends buying cars (to impress women or their mates) instead of saving to build or buy a house.

     I did the latter, and never EVER regretted it.

     I TEACH MY SONS THE SAME VALUES…

10. The government has made it easier to acquire a car than to get a plot of land. That vehicle has to be licensed every year and it must be maintained. The tax on vehicle parts is some 61 percent. Importing combustion engine vehicles is encouraged because some of the majority shareholders of WIOC are the same persons who are signing waivers. The importers who are lucky to own a Vitz, Fit, Carolla or any of the mini vans might think that they have earned or save some money with the issuance of a waiver on a 10 and 13 year old vehicle that might have cost $15k, less the environmental or sale taxes which might be circling $1100 to $2000 but the real beneficiaries are the very wealthy ones who purchased new, upscale vehicles that attract a $200k sticker price and and still get full exemption. The poor is always at a disadvantage.

11. Gridlocked roads do not make a powerhouse economy.

12. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maruti_Suzuki#Automotive_safety

    Before you import a car, or even buy one brand new from a local dealership, look it up on wikipedia to see if there were any problems with it.

13. How many of these vehicles received illegal exemptions of the ABST? Audit is definitely required, let the chips fall where they may. Stop the illegal leakage before we talk about increasing the tax rate.

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