Chairman of the Barbados Private Sector Association, Alex McDonald said the announcement shows that government is listening to concerns of taxpayers, but he also wants relief for hoteliers.
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Saturday July 19, 2014, CMC - Government’s announced changes to the Municipal Solid Waste Tax has been welcomed by politicians and businesses, but they are saying the amendments did not go far enough.
On Thursday the Cabinet decided to waive all payments of the Municipal Solid Waste Tax for pensioners with property valued under $190,000 (One BDS$ = 50 US cents) and pushed back the payment deadline for others.
This new tax was announced last year with a sweeping .03 per cent charge on the site value of every real estate property across the island, but there have been widespread complaints about the financial burden it places on residents.
But Opposition Leader Mia Mottley on Friday, described the changes as a ‘knee-jerk reaction’
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“I welcome the news that some pensioners whose properties are valued at $190,000 or less will not now pay the tax. But there are still thousands more pensioners who still have to pay the full tax if their properties are above this value,” Mottley said.
She also welcomed the 50 per cent cut for farmers, but asked, “What about the hoteliers and other tourism providers? They must still pay this tax, yet our economy’s return to growth largely depends on their ability to survive and thrive”.
“This is still a bad tax and the Barbados Labour Party still calls for the repeal,” the Leader of the Opposition Barbados Labour Party said.
Chairman of the Barbados Private Sector Association, Alex McDonald said the announcement shows that government is listening to concerns of taxpayers, but he also wants relief for hoteliers.
“I think that is something that is going to take some more lobbying to see if we can get [relief for] them, and for other businesses who are right now to the wall and, even the payment over time may not be enough,” he said
President of the Barbados Association of Retired Persons, Ed Bushell, said he was pleased that some pensioners got the waiver, but thinks all should get it.
“We appreciate this first step in alleviating the burden placed on pensioners and look forward to further considerations for those pensioners whose land value is more than $190,000.”
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Barbados businesses, politicians call for more tax breaks
