As residents and the Montserrat Diaspora eagerly await the completely revamped Tariff debacle introduced at July 1, 2012, following is just one of the comments served up like a tennis ace to the Governor Davis and Premier Meade’s cabinet.
“I suppose those of us who import items had already had the consequences of the July tariff. In the case of numerous and variety of items, total duty almost doubled because of increased rates on our highest volume/cost items.
In any event, the old vs. new comparison is about to become superseded so I suppose an old vs recent vs new will be required now.
Ultimately they have missed the boat. It should be possible to reduce 789 pages to about three (3). First – a list of all low tariff items (5-10% in total.) Second a list of all high tariff items (tobacco, alcohol etc). – say 60-70% in total. And finally one rate to include everything NOT explictly in either other list – say 15-20%.”
This writer says: “Of course this would probably put the customs brokers out of business. But I would be very surprised if it didn’t produce more revenue.”
Just before the end of August, the news was that the long awaited change to the new Tariff was to come into effect on September 1, 2012. Many people including especially, parents, guardians and their benefactors suffered and will continue to suffer for another month with the increased cost of purchasing items to send their new students to school or those just returning, and just living with an already high cost of living.
“Why did they not just repeal the new tariff and revert to the old, until the revised was ready?” many people asked.
At least one GoM minister had readily made that suggestion, but it is apparent that the deception in saying that new changed tariff was not a revenue raising measure, would have failed in its intent.
