Thousands of Barbadians march in protest against solid waste tax

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Thursday July 24, 2014, CMC - Thousands of Barbadians took to the streets on Thursday to protest against the imposition of the Municipal Solid Waste Tax.

The midday march, led by Mia Mottley – leader of the opposition Barbados Labour Party (BLP) ended outside the office of Prime Minister, Freundel Stuart, where she delivered a letter of protest on behalf of people across the island.

“Today is about sending a message to the government about this bad Solid Waste Tax that they need to repeal and rethink,” Mottley said before proceeding to Prime Minister Stuart’s office.

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“The people of Barbados have spoken across the length and breadth, that we’ve had 27 other taxes and fees imposed on us in the last six years. We can take no more.”

“This march is for the repeal of the Solid Waste Tax. This march is for a new government mechanism that allows us…as Bajans not to be surprised by a tax , not to be unfaired [sic] by a tax.

“But we say we know we are in trouble as a nation. Talk to your people Freundel, and let us work with you.

“And if you cannot talk to your people and let us work with you, do the decent thing and step one side.”

This new tax was announced last year with a sweeping .03 per cent charge on the site value of real estate property across the island, but there have been widespread complaints about the financial burden it places on residents.

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Thousands of Barbadians march in protest against solid waste tax

Barbados solid waste tax payment deadline extended

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Friday July 18, 2014, CMC - Government has waived all payments of the Barbados Municipal Solid Waste Tax for pensioners with property valued under BDS$190,000 (One BDS dollar = 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 real estate properties across the island, but there have been widespread complaints about the financial burden it places on residents.

The Barbados Today online newspaper reported that Cabinet agreed to the exclusion of those pensioners at its Tuesday meeting, and in addition decided to cut this tax by half where it applies to agricultural land.

First half of the tax was due in June, but that date was reset to July 28, now Cabinet further decided to push that deadline back to December 31.

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“This means that taxpayers can now pay at a more leisurely and affordable rate,” the epaper quoted a senior government official saying.

The Municipal Solid Waste Tax is regarded as levy designed to raise money for a cash-strapped government, and not one applied to garbage collection as there are already other waste disposal taxes.

Since the tax department began sending out payment notices in June, there have been complaints from all sectors of society.

“It is just another tax grab to close a deficit that we have been warning them for six years has become unsustainable and uncontrollable… this tax is hurting people who should not be hurt,” said Mia Mottley, leader of the opposition Barbados Labour Party (BLP) at a public rally this week.

“And this tax comes on the heels of 27 other taxes or fees that have been increased or imposed by this government since January 2008,” she added.

The BLP has called for a repeal of the tax, and since Monday has been holding meetings and mobilising the public against the levy.

The party says it will make an announcement on whether street protests will be held during a mass rally scheduled to be held on Sunday.

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Barbados solid waste tax payment deadline extended

Barbadians must pay new solid waste tax or face stiff penalties

Parliament buildings, Bridgetown, Barbados (Credit: Caribbean360 / Bigstock)

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Monday July 7, 2014, CMC – Barbadians have been told to pay the Municipal Solid Waste Tax even though they have not yet received information from the Barbados Revenue Authority (BRA).

BRA director of Shared Services, Wayne Forde, said the first instalment of the tax is due by July 28.

He said that property owners who have structures with an improved value on their land, were required to pay the solid waste tax, which has been calculated at a rate of 0.3 per cent of the site value.

“The Municipal Solid Waste Tax Act 2014 does not make any provisions for exemptions from the payment of the tax. However, the Minister of Finance has the authority to remit or refund part or all of the tax on the grounds of undue hardship or for any other reason, as stated in Section 5 of the Act,” Forde said.

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Forde warned that failure to pay the tax by the specified dates would result in a penalty of five per cent of the tax demanded and unpaid. In addition, interest at the rate of one per cent for each month on the penalty and the unpaid tax at the prescribed time, will be charged.

The tax was introduced this year to assist with the management of solid waste, that is, all garbage generated from residential households, apartment buildings, commercial and business establishments, institutional facilities, construction and demolition activities, municipal services and treatment plant sites.

But former prime minister Owen Arthur, is mobilising members of his constituency to protest payment of the tax, claiming that they are unable to pay.

Arthur and the main opposition Barbados Labour Party (BLP) have complained that tax places another financial burden on Barbadians.

“The people who are going to want relief most from this tax are the people who don’t know about writing no minister, (they) don’t know about using the law to help themselves,” Arthur said, adding “I am going to organise my constituency office, and bring all of my key people in St Peter together. And I am going to identify all who are living in house and shed, all the pensioners”.

Forde said that any objection to the value of a property must be made in writing to the Revenue Commissioner.

“You are still required to pay the tax although you have lodged an objection. It is advisable to pay the first instalment, and if your objection is successful, the adjustment will be made in the second instalment,” he added.

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Barbadians must pay new solid waste tax or face stiff penalties

Former Barbados prime minister rallying constituents against new solid waste tax

Former Barbados prime minister, Owen Arthur (File photo)

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Monday June 30, 2014, CMC - Former Prime Minister Owen Arthur, is mobilising members of his constituency to protest payment of a new tax by claiming that they are unable to pay.

The Municipal Solid Waste tax is a new government revenue measure introduced last year as a levy on all Barbados landowners, but Arthur and several members of the opposition Barbados Labour Party (BLP) have complained that it places another financial burden on Barbadians.

Arthur is seeking to capitalise on a provision in the new law that empowers the Minister of Finance to write off that tax payment for anyone who claims to be facing financial hardship and can prove it.

On Sunday, the former Prime Minister told supporters in his constituency of St Peter to seek out those who can show that the new tax is too much to bear, and write letters on their behalf to the finance minister.

“The people who are going to want relief most from this tax are the people who don’t know about writing no minister, [they] don’t know about using the law to help themselves,” Arthur said.

When announcing his protest plan one week earlier, Arthur said, “I am going to organise my constituency office, and bring all of my key people in St Peter together. And I am going to identify all who are living in house and shed, all the pensioners”.

In a message to Minister of Finance, Chris Sinckler, he said, “I shall on behalf of the people of St Peter, start assembling a team to make sure that all of my constituents – who I can show are facing undue hardship by this most pernicious piece of backward and bankrupt legislation – that you shall have on your desk, all of the representation of the suffering poor from St Peter who can take it no more”.

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Former Barbados prime minister rallying constituents against new solid waste tax