Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves Ralph Gonsalves on Tuesday said that the percentage increases in motor vehicle licences published in the Budget Address the previous day were not as high as the document said.
On Tuesday, the government circulated to lawmakers a new document which indicated that while the new figures remain unchanged, the gap between the old and new figures were not as wide as indicated in the Budget Speech.
“… there was an error in the appendix on the motor vehicle — the movement of the increases,” Gonsalves said, adding that an earlier number was published in the Budget Speech, rather than those that Statutory Rules &Orders No. 2, of 2016 brought into effect.
The prime minister said those were the actual current figures, upon which the increases have been added, and not the numbers listed in the Budget Address that Finance Minister Camillo Gonsalves delivered.
“So that, for instance, the car, the motor vehicle, moves from 455, which is the existing number, to $500, which is a $45 increase,” the prime minister told lawmakers at the end of the first day of the debate.
The original version of the document said that a motor vehicle not exceeding 2,000lbs tare would now be taxed at EC$500, up from EC$400 — a 25% increase.
“And you go down, rather than 520 to $650, 590 is the current and so and so forth,” the prime minister further stated.
According to the new figures, the tax on a motor vehicle exceeding 3,000 lbs tare will move from EC$720 to EC$815 and not from EC$615 to EC$815.
For good vehicles of less than 2 tonnes tare, the tax is now EC$1,095, up from EC$1,000, rather than from EC$875 to EC$1,095.
For good vehicles of 2 tonnes tare but less than 3 tonnes tare, the tax is $1,375, up from 1250 and not up from $1,100; of 3 tonnes tare but less than 5 tonnes tare, $1,565, up from $1,440 and not from $1,250.
“The only areas in which there are significant differences are in relation to those vehicles 5 tonnes and over, which were not addressed in the 2016 SR&O,” Gonsalves said.
The new document circulated to lawmakers, the old one said a truck that is 5 tonnes tare but less than 8 tonnes will attract a licence fee of EC$1,725; of 8 tonnes but less than 12 tonnes, EC$2,500; of 12 tonnes but less that 15 tonnes, EC$4,500 and over 15 tonnes, EC$6,000.
“So, it’s a typographical error which is in that column. The current actual is as per SR&O number 2 of 2016,” the prime minister told lawmakers.
“So, I just want to mention that before honourable members continue their debate tomorrow that they can see what is the actual number, not the one that was erroneously put in the appendix. The officials in the Ministry of Finance recognised their error in the typographical representation of what the sum was. So, a pre-existing sum was put rather than the one current, which is No. 2, of 2016,” the prime minister said.
Victimization and now taxation on poor people back. Thx ULP
Free isn’t free but alas so many of us don’t understand that ?? Simple maths when a government giving away something 🤔that money needs to be recouped. So my people again I say simple maths, hand out of materials ?? Electronics ?? Or even $money incentives for our students ?? Sorry 😞 tax in your tail further down the road… it name TAX for a reason
Thank Abba Father, the Honourable G. Friday has never been accused of rapeeee and after enjoying ueee sent um crazy home, ah da y yo na want cee him or speak to him ? It’s the opinion of many people.