They Can Afford It - Gov't On Tax Hikes For Tourists

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BVI Platinum News

(PLTM) - Tourists who come to the BVI can afford to pay the various increased taxes that the National Democratic Party (NDP) is imposing to help buff up its coffers. Fifth District Representative and Deputy Speaker, Hon. Delores Christopher recently stated in the House of Assembly that she cannot understand what the issue is if government asks a visitor for an extra $10.00 on fees. In response to concerns raised by the Opposition over the many hike in fees, she said, "It is the guest who will be paying the money; people who are on holidays for the most part, people who can afford. You can afford to come and rent a yacht for how much and if the government says give me $10, that's an issue Madam Speaker?" She added, "So the hotel is going to be closed down because the yachting is going to flee from our waters? We have the water that they (tourists) want to cruise in." The Fifth District Representative also took a swing at neighbouring United States Virgin Islands. "The USVI are our neighbours and they are packaging and selling the waters of the BVI for sailing and making money from it, but we must not go there? Something is wrong with that line of thinking," she said about the complaints over the ferry departure tax increase. Meanwhile, Hon. Ronnie Skelton, Minister of Health and Social Development also believes that the tourists should be taxed more. He said it is not the aim of the government to burden its people. "...We cannot burden our people, we cannot talk about increasing payroll taxes, increasing family taxes, these are burden on our own people. Let us put burden on those people that come into our country and are enjoying some of the stuff. They don't mind paying because (as the Member said, they said they had a wonderful time here)," he related. Minister Skelton said that government has to fill major holes on how they tax. "On one hand you cannot make the general public feel that we are just raising taxes on them, it's not about them. Let us get monies from the 700,000 and 400,000 people that come to our shores to enjoy that we don't." He said, "This government is not interested in taxing our people, we are interested in getting monies from the activities we create for the people coming to our shores."

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